I will survive!!!!

Hi Everyone!
It has been a very rough day, new opportunities are showing, old fears are also showing up.
As I look around, I am starting to second guess so many decisions.  Fear has taken away so many dreams, they were there... so close, at reach point, but my fear to failure got in the way.
That sweet voice that sings it way into my head and heart, just waiting for that moment of weakness and attacking brutally, until I just give up and start convincing myself that I am not good enough or deserving or talented enough.
This time I am armed with an armor of faith, I need to fight. What is worst failure or not trying, not giving myself the opportunity to do it?
I will do this, I will try! I will survive this fear and will be a better me.

Love,
Julia

Sweet...

Hi everyone!

As promised yesterday I am sharing an art journal page with lots of color and flourishes.
the image is from Rick St Dennis called Ice Cream Sundae

The backgrounds were created with Gesso, Dylusions Inks, India Ink, Golden Fluid Acrylics and Ranger's Distress Inks.
Image was colored with Prisma coloring pencils.
Flourishes are hand doodled and the lettering is one of my first attempts of doing something a little bit artistic. Used Charcoal, Signo White Gel pen, Permapaque Black Pen and black PITT pen.
Thanks for stopping by!
Have fun, create and enjoy yourself!
Love,
Julia

Long day!

After a very long day, I am starting to feel tired.
Had a very creative and productive day. Fun, fun, fun...
I am putting together my work and will share it tomorrow.
Here is a little detail of what will be posted tomorrow

Hope you can visit tomorrow!
Love,
Julia

Fun with letters...

Hello everyone!
After a rough couple of days, I am feeling better... yay!
It has been a long process, little sleep and lots of coughing, but little by little I am getting better.
A quick update in The Artist Way journey... this week was hard, wrote my morning page,  every day for seven days; had my artist date, completed all the tasks and did my check in yesterday... Yay, me!!!!
It is a eye opening experience and a scary one too. Facing our fears is not easy, and we carry so much inside, that we tend to cover up, put a happy face and make everyone believe that we are fine, when we really are struggling.
Yes, lots of work to be done!
I am also part of the The Art of Whimsical Lettering group on Facebook. In this group Joanne Sharpe is helping us develop our lettering skills and it is amazing, we are having so much fun.
Here is the journal I made for my lettering practice

Used scraps of paper, composition notebook, Sharpies, Tombow markers, Signo white gel pen watercolors and Washi Tape.
Hope you like it!
Love,
Julia

The Art of Whimsical Lettering!

I feel, yuk, so sick!!!!
Day has been terrible, but I am now laying cozy on my bed, a up of tea in one hand and an amazing book in the other.
Just received my copy of The Art of Whimsical Lettering by Joanne Sharpe.

Can't wait to read it I am sure going to have fun practicing different styles of lettering.
Will share my progress with you.
Love,
Julia

Recharging!

Hi everyone!
What a day...
I am so tired and drained, my energy level is so low.
After a very rough day, I came home to delicious dinner cooked by my daughter and my son is doing the dishes, so I have some me time.
This is what I am listening right now

Take some time and relax and recharge, that's what I am doing.
Love,
Julia

Relax

I've been working on my Design Team projects and posted a canvas today that I crated during the week
Used an image by Fred She Said called Growing Together

Image was colored with Prisma coloring pencils. Background was created with gesso, texture paste, acrylics, fluid acrylics and Gelatos. I use a recycled cardboard to create the clouds; loving the texture. everything was put together with gel medium.

Hope you like it, I do!!!

Love,

Julia

Long Day!

Hello everyone!
It has been a very long day.
First thing done: worked on my check-in for Week 2 in The Artist Way, and did amazing, very proud of myself.
Cleaned the house, yes... extra points for me!!!
Watched my lovely Labrador girl while she became a mom and started taking care of seven cute puppies

My oldest and youngest are home from College and will stay for the week, so some cooking will be done during this time, hopefully by them!!!!
I even had time to play with watercolors and made an ATC, stamp is from Unity Stamp Company. added some doodles to the border.

By night I watched a sports event with my partner in crime, sorry... husband.
I am tired, but very happy!!!!
Love,
Julia

These Boots...

Hi everyone!
It's Friday, yeap, and I am happy!
Made a mini art journal spread with gelli prints background.

Hope you like it!
Love,
Julia

A date!

I woke up to a wonderful feeling, my heart was filled with positive energy.  The sadness of yesterday was transformed into a feeling of hope and joy, at least for today.
Went to work, and surprised myself with a lunch date at the museum. It is at walking distance from my work and has a wonderful exhibition.
Some pictures

It was kind of strange to be by myself, but it also made me look at things very differently, capture images, colors and forms.
Had an amazing date!!!
Love,
Julia

Sadness...

Sadness...
That is how I feel today. I am reading The Artist Way and writing my morning pages; and for some strange reason it is bringing out a feeling of sadness.
Maybe it is because I realized, that all those things that I've dreamed, all my feelings and my needs have been placed behind everything. I totally forgot that I am a human being.
I need to do things that I want to do and feel things that I want to feel.
I have never been my own priority. I have always lived my life thinking of others and how will they feel if I do a certain thing.
I need to work on this, I need to feel comfortable been my own priority.
There's a lot of work to be done. and it starts today, right now...
This is what I am hearing now

Love,
Julia

Smeared Ink New Release Blog Hop - April 2014

Hi everyone!
It's time for a new release at Smeared Ink.

The two new sets:

Daemon Horses

Guardian of Spring

You should have arrived here from Susan's Blog, if you didn't then please visit Terra so you can be inspired by all the amazing creations.
I made two art Journal pages.
My first page features Acacia, Guardian of Spring

 My second project features Daemon Horse 4

All images were colored with Prisma coloring pencils.
The backgrounds were created with Gesso, Dylusions Inks, India Ink, Golden Fluid Acrylics and Ranger's Distress Inks.
Hope you liked them and feel inspired to use your digital images in your art journals.
Remember that you can find this and many other images in digital format and rubber stamps at the Smeared Ink Store.
Here is the Blog Roll:

Blog Roll

Black Dragon

Shell

Susan

Julia

Creepy Globugg
Kapree

Thanks for joining us.

Love,

Julia

Inspiration!

Hi everyone!
Today I was inspired by vibrant colors and a digital image by Rick St Denis called Dali

Image was colored with Prisma coloring pencil. Details for the background can be found here.Hope you like it!
Love,
Julia

Tired!

I am so tired!!!

Worked on three Art Journal pages for my design teams and made some cards for Easter.

I am cover with paint, ink pieces of paper, gel medium and Gelatos.

I'm sharing a little secret, I am tired but it is tired good, happy, accomplished...

One of the background's I worked on today.  Tomorrow I will post the finished page.

Love,

Julia

Family Day!

Hi everyone!
My kids are home and I have been having so much fun.
This is a very sort post, just want to share an ATC I made today while my daughter was finishing a project.

Hope you all had a wonderful day!
Love,
Julia

Happy!

I must say that the past days have been rough. I am so tired, but there is a silver lining... today is Friday!

I really need to rest during this weekend, yes I am happy...

So, hear this song and feel free to dance along, I am doing so!

Have fun, laugh hard and smile... we are almost there.

Love,

Julia

Balancing act...

Hello everyone!
My post will be really short, I am in deep need of some me time.
After a very difficult day at work and a long ride home, I am feeling exhausted, not just physically but spiritually.
I am taking some time for me tonight, no paints, no inks, no markers, no glue... just me and my search for balance.

This music helps me meditate, I am sharing it with you, hoping that it will help you also.
Love,
Julia

Playing with Ink: A Tutorial

Hi everyone!
Had a non so wonderful day at work, and ran home to channel all my frustration on an art journal spread.
As soon as I started adding inks to the pages, I felt happy and free again.
Worked on my mini art journal and it is so easy and quick to finish a project.
Here it is

Supplies

• Gesso
• Ranger's Distress Stains:Mustard Seed, Peacock Feather,Picked Raspberry, Picket Fence
• Distress Ink: Black Soot
• Distress Ink Reinkers: Broken China, Mustard Seed
• Spray bottle with water
• Signo white pen
• Black Sharpie Pen - Ultra thin
• Gel Medium
• Workable Fixatif
• Cosmic Swirl Stencil - The Crafter's Workshop

How to:

Hope you like it, I know I do.
Love,
Julia