A Man Who Crafts

Dear A Man Who Crafts...

2010-08-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

There comes a time in every blogger's life when...well... it's time to move on...

It's not you... it's me... your not meeting my needs... I need to grow and change and to be creative with other blogs... yes... I've found another blog that can grow and change to meet my needs... and allow me to change it and grow...

Come with me to my new blog:http://apaperbear.wordpress.com

My maps...

2010-07-21T17:44:00.000-07:00

I have been exploring my maps. Internal, where I have been, what got me to this point in time. Navigating, charting, mapping. Looking at my course and trajectory. I am an explorer, a seeker. Where are you going? What are your maps?

left side

right side

Buried Treasure

2010-07-14T18:03:00.001-07:00

Hi there! It is time for Seth Apter's "Buried Treasure" Where each participant reposts some of their favorite post's from the previous year. I have picked three of my favorite posts. Enjoy!

From October 2009 one of my first art journal pages I really liked and felt was really "me". Actually it is the not this first spread, but the second one down in this post. I love all the layers and depth. It was my first time at working in a larger journal and it really felt good to work in a larger journal:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2009

A Lot of Crazy Layers...

This page titled "Who am I?" was created during OrlyAvineri's Journal workshop on “Attachment Theory ”last Sunday. It was a trial run of her upcoming class at Journalfest in Oregon. I felt really honored to be a participant. I got to meet some amazing artists and create some fun journal pages with attachments. The two glacine envelopes contain photos of my mother and father.

This journal is a new one for me, Orly told me "You work BIG! Need a big journal!" So here is a bigger journal. Click on any image for a larger view...

This is a view of the first page with Blythe Danner quote. There are LOTS of layers on this page... It all started with four pages of different writing, two from a novel, one with Hebrew text, one with Asian text. Then layers and layers of paint, even a doily throw in for good measure. We sure all had a lot of fun in class that day. Even Orly liked her page she did.

This page has the packing tape transfer of "airships"
This is a look at the completed pages from OrlyAvineri's journaling class on Tuesday October 13th at Harmony Works. We were working with layers. The quote says "I think I have a lot of crazy layers." by Blythe Danner.

And from February ok another of my all time favorites, this uses my XL Moleskine journal (11.5" X 16.5") to it's full potentitial:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2010

Seeing Things in Black & White

A black & white page spread for Orly Avineri’s Art Journaling class in my XL Moleskine journal. Using vintage images, vintage fonts, vintage advertising, decorative tape, white gel pens, Sharpie poster paint pens, acrylic paint. This spread took on a life of it’s own and was very difficult to know when to stop. With Orly’s help I flushed out the face on the left hand side. I liked that the piece was very collaborative and there was a lot of talking over it as it evolved. It also started out with a smaller picture of the man with the beard or I call him M.W.B. The spread contains a secret page can you guess where? The answer is farther down in this post. Blogger is not working to view a larger size. Click on the images on the left hand side under Flickr to view my pages in Flickr and you can see larger sizes there.

It was really fun to work only in black and white and shades of grey. I am not really a black or white thinker… I’ve always been about the shades of grey. How about you?

The left side of my black and white spread for Orly Avineri's Art Journaling group in my XL Moleskine Journal do you see a face?

The right side of my black and white spread. I love the M.W.B. I brought a couple of sizes to the group, Orly liked the larger size and used in her spread for the evening and I used a smaller one, you can see part of Orly's spread here. Can you guess where the secret page is?

Tada, the secret page...

A close-up of M.W.B. This page folds out to reveal more and a secret mini journaling page tucked in. The photo courtesy of ookami_dou on flickr.

My secret journaling page. Enjoy!

And from March probably my favorite spread so far. This for me was such a departure from what I had been doing my journaling. I felt more confident, more secure in what I was doing.

My Roots...

My pages for Orly Avineri's Art Journaling Lab, she's changed the name of her weekly art journaling group because it really is more like a lab than a class. I love the new name. This last weeks class was about "Roots". I would have used more photos of family pictures but my printer ran out of ink and I did not have time before class to head out to Staples. At any rate I digress. This has me thinking about different kinds of roots. The roots of behaviors, behaviors we can change, and those that run deep. the roots of life. The roots of fun. The roots of creativity. The roots of excess. The roots of style or taste.

I showed my art journal to my friend Stormy this past week and she said I "defiantly have a style" and my "art tends to be a bit dark." I thought it was amusing and interesting. I've never really thought much about my art journal having a style. What are your "roots"?

Click on any photo for a larger view.

The right side with my ink "roots" of my tree of life. The "trunk" of my tree is made from vintage papers, collage papers, and scrapbook papers, found vintage photos this page courtesy of Orly.

Right hand side. The photo with the pumpkins is yes of me...

Brick walls...

2010-07-14T15:51:00.000-07:00

I've had this idea in my head for some time now...

Watch this space...

brick wall courtesy of:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vizzzual-dot-com/2226095398

To be Free and Soar

2010-07-08T18:19:00.000-07:00

What does freedom mean to you? Freedom to express yourself? What is holding you back? What would you do if you knew you would not fail? Take a chance, take a leap.

Let go...fly...soar!

"Free" by the Zac Brown band is one of my favorite current songs. Enjoy. Support our troops.

And the Day Came...

2010-07-06T19:06:00.000-07:00

One day in June I treked with a friend to San Diego to my friend Pnina's beautiful home for one of Orly Avineri's art journal field trips to San Diego... It was a lovely day, we ate wonderful foods, laughed a lot, did a bit of art journaling and playing with pens, and paint, and paper and made some wonderful new friends. We revisited the roses. I finally added a bit of text and wanted to post it here.

The left side.

And here is the right side.

And here is a close-up of the quote in my awful handwriting. Bloom my friends, take some risks.

Many Lands, Many Hands!

2010-06-26T15:39:00.000-07:00

Many Lands, Many Hands by Gary Reef's Ning network | Make Your Own Book

I participated in Gary's Create and Pass Journal, book #2 from Gary Reef's NING group have an art journal page published in the new book, "Many Lands, Many Hands" and it is now out. Check it out! Have a great weekend!

Happy Mail!

2010-06-25T18:04:00.000-07:00

Mail Art!

It is always better to give than to receive. I recently received some mail art and now I have been having fun making my own. Now four lucky folks are going to be receiving these very soon! Have a really wonderful weekend! Go out and create some art. I wonder where this mail art is going???

My trees...

2010-06-11T18:02:00.000-07:00

As the old saying goes "money grows on trees", we explored in Orly's art journaling lab what if anything we wanted grew on trees? What would your tree look like? What if anything you desired could be plucked off a tree, what would you put on your tree? Love, youth, creativity? What would you put on your tree? What would it look like?

"Grows on trees" left side.

"Grows on trees" right side.

Hey, also check out "Work of Art The Next Great Artist" on Bravo. I gave it a shot last week it was fun, I think I will give it a try for a few weeks. Sarah Jessica Parker is executive producer. It follows fourteen artists competing for an art show. What brings this to my post is that there was an interesting quote from one of the judges, "an artists work is an outward expression of the artist's inner world" Welcome to my inner world.

Picture Perfect Memories...

2010-06-04T17:59:00.001-07:00

Picture Perfect Memories...

left side

right side.

Naturally Nature Journals.

2010-06-04T14:35:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Chrestline, California!

This picture was taken Sunday May 23rd, 2010 just before we left the cabin. YES, we got snow and that is hail you see in the picture falling!

On May 21 to the 23rd I joined four other amazing artists went in Crestline, CA for Orly Avineri's Nature Journal Weekend Workshop. Orly presented each of us with a packet like the one above. Each packet contained a hand made art journal I made from Teesha Moores hand made journal videos. Each journal is 16 pages. Teesha's design is brilliant and worked wonderfully for our nature journals.

Here are our completed journals from the weekend. It was a truly amazing journey. Each artist did incredible work. It was a time of sharing, laughing, growing. Orly Avineri lead us on a wonderful exploration of nature journals. To give you some idea we journaled on Saturday 22 of May for almost 12 complete hours! We just kept going on and on we were having so much fun.

If you ever have the opportunity to take one of Orly's classes I so highly encourage it!!! Orly is such a natural and gifted teacher. Orly is encouraging, engaging, challenging(in such a fun and gentle way). I am also so happy to call her my good friend. To see more photos of our group go here.

Here I am presenting my journal just before we left the Crestline cabin.

Have a wonderful weekend, I am headed to another one of Orly's art journaling workshop in San Diego! Go create some art!

Casting My Net A Little Wider

2010-05-17T21:24:00.000-07:00

Here is to casting my net a bit wider. Being bold. Be it in relationships, art, life. You never know where it will lead. Try a new technique. Use a color you've never tried. Go down a road you've never traveled. Take a leap! Do something you've always wanted to try.

Left Side

Right Side

I am excited this weekend I am joining Orly Avineri and five other wonderful artists for an art journaling weekend in Crestline, California for almost 3 days and 2 nights of art journaling bliss! I'll take some photos and post them next week. Have a great week!

This journal page came out a bit different than it started out you can see it below in a previous post.

As always click on any photo for a larger version.

Attention blogger friends...

2010-04-21T03:44:00.000-07:00

Hop on over to Rachel's blog... where she has a whopping 4 new posts, one including more pictures of our wonderful colaboration day. Sheer magic my friends. Go, go, go... You'll be glad you did! Rich & wonderful shtuff...

A Fabulous Day of Art Journaling!

2010-04-17T19:52:00.001-07:00

Back row:Me, Thalia, Jean

Bottom row:Orly, Rachel

We met today at Orly's lovely home for a day of art journaling. There was a lot of reflecting on our journeys as artists & sharing where we came from, & our process. I've learned as much from the members of Orly's Art Journaling Lab as I have in the class. I have so much respect for each of them. We will not be meeting weekly any longer, we will come together for special occasions. We shared a lot of laughs and smiles.

Orly and I and our art journals. I have so much respect for Orly. She challenges me to expand beyond my comfort zone and work more organically. She's helped me to find the courage to believe in my own creative process my own worth as an artist. Orly was my inspiration for going to this bigger journal (it is an 11.5 x 17.5 Moleskine) and I love each and every page. These are one of my favorite spreads from Orly's and my journals.

Here I am with my WIP(work in progress) I'll show this page when it's finished soon. Have a wonderful creative weekend.

I LOVE colaborations...

2010-04-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

I love collaborative artworks. I spend a lot of time on the internet viewing blogs, art journals, art work, images on flicker. I can not view them and be influenced by them. I enjoy taking art journaling classes, I can't take a class from someone and not be influenced by their work even in some small way. Even from the aspect of having an opinion on some one's art work or class.

Today's post is a wonderful example. In this week's outing to

Orly Avineri's Art Journaling Lab we spray painted some found natural found items on long strips of paper in the picture above, we then cut out pieces that spoke to each of us and glued them to our art journals. We then used pastels provided by the wonderful amazing artist Rachel Peterson , she demonstrated the different types of chalk pastels, soft, oil, and pencil pastels, then we all went to town on our journals. I find pastels very, very addictive... When I got home I added some oil pastels on top of the chalk pastels, and yes even some Sekura white and black gel pens. Oh yes, we even threw in a bit of black india ink for good measure in class. Can you spot our original spray paint pieces? I can't wait to see Orly's post on this her journal page was amazing!!!

Click on any image for a full sized view, grrrr this isn't working click on the my flicker image for a larger view, good ole blogspot....

Collaboration Journal Spread 4.10.10

left side

right side

And a little collaboration from nature for you, one of my clematis blooming in my garden. My garden is one of my biggest influences when I am journaling at home. Have a great week!

A Rose is a Rose...

2010-03-29T03:35:00.001-07:00

The picture does not do justice to how well this came out! One of my favorite journal pages from Orly Avineri's Art Journaling Lab. It was one of those classes that was a long process and I loved every single step. I knew from the start it was going to be a magical page. I love the vintage timeworn look it has. Yes, it is wrinkly, I have wrinkles too... I earned them. After we were finished I was sooo nervous about doing lettering and harming how beautifully it came out. The quote from Dale Carnagie says "One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden instead of enjoying the roses outside our window today."

As always click on any image for a larger view.

Left side.

I had a landscaping business for several years. I love climbing roses. I tend to love things that climb and cover, clambor over things. I love how after only a few years they look as if they have been there for ever. My wisteria & clematis are just about to bloom in my back yard. I love plants that are tucked in and you have to walk around and really look at. They are my little treasures. I will take a few pictures and post of my back yard soon. I love my backyard, it is completely enclosed and is like my own secret garden and sanctuary. I love my yard so.

Right side.

How does your garden grow?

Orly's House of Blues & Art Journaling:Shelf Life

2010-03-27T20:27:00.001-07:00

Today at Orly's Art Journaling Lab we hand played some blues music and doodled and drew some still lifes. Who knew listening to the blues could be inspiration for art journaling? I was very inspired and had a lot of fun. Have a great weekend! I am going back to my art journal to continue doodling and drawing... click on any image for a larger view.

Close-up of the left side.

Close-up right side.

How Many Hats Do You Wear?

2010-03-26T19:26:00.000-07:00

How many hats have do you wear? This spread for Orly Avineri's Art Journaling Lab about exploring the hats many we wear. Click on any image for a larger view.

Here is a close-up of the left side, my Public Social Interactive Hat.

This side is about two other hats I wear:

Top:My Natural Hat - the gardener, artist.

Bottom: The Warriror Hat - sometimes I feel like a warrior.

How many hats do you wear?

Comments

2010-03-07T12:22:00.000-08:00

I have just received notice some folks are having trouble posting comments. if so please email me directly. Your comments are important to me. Thank you!

My Roots...

2010-03-04T03:48:00.001-08:00

Click on any photo for a larger view.

The right side with my ink "roots" of my tree of life. The "trunk" of my tree is made from vintage papers, collage papers, and scrapbook papers, found vintage photos this page courtesy of Orly.

Right hand side. The photo with the pumpkins is yes of me...

My Page for the Create & Pass Journal Group

2010-02-19T18:36:00.001-08:00

My Page for the Create & Pass Journal Group
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

This is my journal page for the Create & Pass Journal Project, Journal #2, on Gary Reef's Art from the Heart on NING.com. I feel really honored to be a part of this project. This journal is very special it started in Europe, was lost for a while and is now back in circulation. Eventually all the journals will be published. Have a great weekend!

Just a Glimps...

2010-02-11T20:45:00.001-08:00

of one of my pages for The Traveling Corpse Project...

The reveal soon...

Seeing Things in Black & White

2010-02-08T19:08:00.000-08:00

A black & white page spread for Orly Avineri’s Art Journaling class in my XL Moleskine journal. Using vintage images, vintage fonts, vintage advertising, decorative tape, white gel pens, Sharpie poster paint pens, acrylic paint. This spread took on a life of it’s own and was very difficult to know when to stop. With Orly’s help I flushed out the face on the left hand side. I liked that the peice was very collaborative and there was a lot of talking over it as it evolved. It also started out with a smaller picture of the man with the beard or I call him M.W.B. The spread contains a secret page can you guess where? The answer is farther down in this post. Blogger is not working to view a larger size. Click on the images on the left hand side under Flickr to view my pages in Flickr and you can see larger sizes there.

It was really fun to work only in black and white and shades of grey. I am not really a black or white thinker… I’ve always been about the shades of grey. How about you?

The left side of my black and white spread for Orly Avineri's Art Journaling group in my XL Moleskine Journal do you see a face?

Tada, the secret page...

A close-up of M.W.B. This page folds out to reveal more and a secret mini journaling page tucked in. The photo courtesy of ookami_dou on flickr.

My secret journaling page. Enjoy!

Rain, rain, go away...

2010-01-20T16:40:00.000-08:00

"Mercy for Haiti"

"Mercy for Haiti" started out very Teesha Moore"ish" and I added the photo of Haiti photo on the right side, from the Los Angles Times newpaper Sunday. The image of our lady of guadalupe is a packing tape image transfer(image from Flickr). Click on any photo for a

close-up.

"Frame of Perspective"

"Frame of Perspective" was done in Orly Avineri's Art Journaling Class this week. We did an interesting crackle finish for the background. I will definatly be doing it again.

Close-up right "Frame of Perspective"

Close-up left "Frame of Perspective"

These are close-ups of the images I chose for our frame of perspective.

January 2010 Calendar

The January 2010 Calendar is for part of a calendar challenge on "the kathryne wheel" blog. I am not sure if I will be continuing the calendar for the rest of the year but it was a lot of fun to do. I used some favorite papers and some hand-made paper we did in a class with Orly Avineri's Art Journal group.

It is currently pouring down rain in Southern California. I born and raised in Montana, and they certainly have some severe weather up there. I have been in southern California since 1984 and am very climatized to the warm weather we enjoy here. I sort of chuckle every time it rains in southern California we have "Storm Watch (fill in year)" on EVERY news channel. We are currently getting a lot of rain here. There is actually flooding in areas of Long Beach, the ground cannot absorb the moisture fast enough. We are actually getting flooding in our area here. I will be home on "Storm Watch" tonight.

The Traveling Corpse Project...

2010-01-15T22:50:00.000-08:00

This is a photo of the front side of my page for "The Traveling Corpse Project"

Now I couldn't possibly show you the actual photo now could I? What would be the fun in that?

Check out the The Traveling Corpse Blog for future posts... What do you think it is???

What?

2010-01-15T19:20:00.001-08:00

What?
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

What... a prompt from "A Year in the Life of an Art Journal"

What keeps you from creating art or journaling?

A Model Sanitarium...

2010-01-08T14:59:00.001-08:00

A Model Sanitarium

"Sometimes I think I need to have my head examined"

"Hands down"

Here are some photos of my explorations in my XL Moleskine journal. No prompts, just what comes to mind when I am left to my own devices and just let go...

Enjoy... please click on any pic for a larger view. Have a creative weekend & get out and make some art. I spent a couple hours enjoying some 74 degree weather here in Long Beach, CA.

49... Human Interaction...

2010-01-07T03:22:00.001-08:00

49... Human Interaction...
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

This my musings on aging. Being in the "happiest place on earth" and feeling isolated and lonely, this one does not feel finished to me I may change it or add more...click on any photo for a larger view. Have a great day.

Let Us Love Winter...

2010-01-07T03:17:00.001-08:00

Let Us Love Winter...
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

Journaling for the Quote "Let Us Love Winter...For it is Spring of Genius" from Orly Avineri's Art Journaling Class, the last class of 2009. Click on any photo for a larger view.

Growth...

2010-01-07T03:14:00.001-08:00

Growth...
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

From Orly Avineri's Art Journaling Class, regarding personal growth within the last year of 2009.

Words...

2010-01-07T03:10:00.001-08:00

Words...
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

Doing some catching up and adding some journal pages from my smaller journal. This is from a prompt from Orly Avineri's Art Journaling Class regarding the love of words and giving thanks...click on any pic for a larger view.

I am working in my new XL journal but the problem is it is too big to scan and it is hard to photograph. More pics to follow.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T03:54:00.001-08:00

Here's to a wonderful New Year!

Hope your's is creative, healthy and happy!

Brian, Ed & our cat posse, Tyler & Hank!

I couldn't take it any longer....

2009-12-18T11:00:00.001-08:00

I could not take it any longer... our house is holiday crazy... I had to do some artwork, besides cards, etc...

Orly had been urging me to start a larger journal and it kept nagging in the back of my mind. I took a half hour and played with some Liquitex paints, my XL Moleskin 11 1/2 X 16 1/2 and this is my results... enjoy! It REALLY feels good to work larger! This is the inside cover and first page done as backgrounds. Enjoy and have a wonderful holiday!

Orly Avineri's Art Journaling Fundraser! Please come!

2009-12-10T03:57:00.000-08:00

For my good friends Orly and her wonderful son Ilan! A copy of her flyer for her Holiday Art Journaling Fundraiser and Bazaar on Saturday!!! Please come!

Dear friends and family
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please help me raise the funds needed for my trip with People to People Student Ambassador Program
traveling to Japan this summer.
http://www.peopletopeople.com/
Thank You, Ilan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Join us this saturday, dec. 12, for our
exciting holiday bazaar/ fundraiser
at our home at 2101 curtis ave. #3 in redondo beach
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---bring your family and friends with you---
come for a few minutes between your holiday outings or hang out with us for a while.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCITEDLY FEATURING
***************************************

from 10am to 12:30pm
all you can art journal buffet ($20)
(please bring a blank journal)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from 12:30pm to 7pm

for sale
one-of-a-kind (really), upcycled,
art journals and other paper arts,
made by one-art-jounalist named Orly,
and by one man-who-crafts named Brian
-
celebrate the 2nd day of Hanukkah with us,
nosh on exotic (yes it's possible) Latkes,
with various sweet and savory toppings,
and enjoy a cup of java, courtesy of The Bean Counter
(located in the Redondo Village Shopping Center
at Beryl Street and Prospect Ave)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope to see you on Saturday
Check out my new blog dedicated to the documenting of my exciting journey leading up to my trip http://thejaplan.wordpress.com/
Thank you, Ilan

How Do You Play the Game?

2009-11-20T12:12:00.000-08:00

How do you play the game? My journal page for Orly Avineri's Art Journaling Group this week. Our topic was "It's in the cards". The pockets in the bottom left, upper right and bottom right contain my journaling booklets.

This picture contains all my journaling booklets I made to contain my journaling. Click on any picture for a larger view.

Quieting the beast...

2009-11-14T03:31:00.000-08:00

The beast... You know the beast... We all have the beast... The beast is that nagging, critical voice in our head that says "Oh your can't create" or "your not an artist" or "that is ugly", fill in with your own critical saying... you get the picture. In my art journaling class with Orly Avineri she talked about that very beast & putting a name to it. We name it so we can tell it to "BE QUIET!!!"

Here is my sneaky little beast and quieting him down... have a great weekend and go create something fun.

Click on any image for a larger view.

Creative Explosion...

2009-11-09T21:37:00.000-08:00

From Orly's Avineri's latest art journaling class on "Wild doodling". This week we were joined by ten amazing teenagers. The class was a blast and everyone enjoyed it. This page is titled "Welcome to My World" Click on any page for a larger image.

"Fishes"

"What does the Stamp of Your Life Say"

"What does the Stamp of Your Life Say" page 2.

"Cowboy Dance" page 2.

"Cowboy Dance"

"What are You Hiding"" page 2.

"What are You Hiding?"

Many sides page 2. Includes my hand-cut stencil of myself as a teenager.

"My Many Sides" includes my hand-cut stencil of myself as a teenager.

Welcome to my journal page 2.

Welcome to my journal. 1st page.

Being in Orly Avineri's art journaling class has inspired me to do more art journaling on my own. These are my pages enjoy. Click on any page for a larger image.

My Hand-made Journal.

2009-11-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

D'oh! I forgot to actually post pictures of my handmade journal. Here it is! My version of Teesha Moore's Amazing 16 page hand-made journal. Click on any image for a larger view.

I made a book!

2009-11-02T15:22:00.000-08:00

Today I made a book! I made my own copy of

Teesha Moore's Amazing 16 page journal.

I used Fabrino Artistico sheets

I purchased last spring but waited

until I actually found a journal method that was easy

enough and the right size for my journal.

Here are the links:

The Traveling Corpse

2009-10-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

Good day! I am participating in a collaboration called "The Traveling Corpse". It is based upon a collaboration started by Ingrid Dijkers, "The Exquisite Corpse". You can also see an article in the September/October issue of "Somerset Studio". Here is a link to the blog created to document it, The Traveling Corpse.

A Lot of Crazy Layers...

2009-10-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

This page titled "Who am I?" was created during Orly Avineri's Journal workshop on “Attachment Theory ” last Sunday. It was a trial run of her upcoming class at Journalfest in Oregon. I felt really honored to be a participant. I got to meet some amazing artists and create some fun journal pages with attachments. The two glacine envelopes contain photos of my mother and father.

This journal is a new one for me, Orly told me "You work BIG! Need a big journal!" So here is a bigger journal. Click on any image for a larger view...

This is a view of the first page with Blythe Danner quote. There are LOTS of layers on this page... It all started with four pages of different writing, two from a novel, one with Hebrew text, one with Asian text. Then layers and layers of paint, even a doily throw in for good measure. We sure all had a lot of fun in class that day. Even Orly liked her page she did.

This page has the packing tape transfer of "airships"
This is a look at the completed pages from Orly Avineri's journaling class on Tuesday October 13th at Harmony Works. We were working with layers. The quote says "I think I have a lot of crazy layers." by Blythe Danner.

Busy weekend...

2009-10-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

It was a really busy weekend of journaling for me. Much inspiration going on in my life & I felt it was really productive and fun.

This page set is from Orly Avineri's Journal Group at Harmony works in Redondo Beach. I missed the class but this is my interpretation of our inspirations for journaling... meaning they come from everywhere... and come to us at all times... This piece includes an image transfer of myself as a boy and my dog Moochie in our front yard(under the pumpkin head) & crackle paint.

For the one I run 2... This page set was inspired by love & a song I can relate to. Includes a gel medium image transfer, Tim Holtz Stamp(heart).
A WIP (work in progress), I wanted to show you a page set that is not quite finished... still have to add a few items to it. Enjoy! Click on any image for a larger view. I even have a few more images from my new larger journal, I need to scan the pages. Go out and make some art & play!

Sweet & Sinister Tags

2009-10-09T12:36:00.001-07:00

S & S1
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

Hi there, it's been a while... I am back... These are Sweet & Sinister Tags for the Sweet & Sinister Swap in the Itty Bitty Book Group I belong to. Enjoy! Click on any image for a larger version.

I am off to put these in the post...Have a great weekend!

Sweet & Sinister with Address portion

2009-10-09T12:33:00.001-07:00

S & S2
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

Both sides of the tags. When you open it you can see my "ATC info". Enjoy!

26 Sweet & Sinister

2009-10-09T12:30:00.001-07:00

26 Sweet & Sinister
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

26 Sweet & Sinister Tags for the Sweet & Sinister Swap in the Itty Bitty Book Group I belong to. Well, 17 for the group and the rest for me for Holloween treats. Enjoy! Click on any image for a larger version.

9.21 Abstraction

2009-09-27T15:14:00.001-07:00

9.21 Abstraction
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

From my Wednesday evening class with Orly Avineri. Abstraction, We watched the Lifetime movie "Georgia O'Keeffe" & researched her art online and on youtube. Actually in class I had a lot going on in my head and did not enjoy the exercise but after I got home and worked on it today I do like my result. Click on the image for a larger view. Go out and use your experience to make art!

leartiste at heart

2009-09-24T05:29:00.000-07:00

My good friend Patricia has started a blog leartistatheart. Patricia is the artist that started me on my creative journey. Patricia makes beautiful handmade cards and jewelry. Way back when she invited us to her wonderful home to make cards. That started us both going to stamp conventions and I was hooked! Go check out her blog and give her your support! Pat has always been a supportive and caring friend.

Little book side 1

2009-09-22T11:27:00.001-07:00

Little book side 1
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

Start at the first of these postings titled "Artcub and Playful Journey" to get a feel for the journal from the first page. I am trying posting from my Flickr account. It is fast but not exactly what I was hoping for....

Little book side 2

2009-09-22T11:26:00.001-07:00

Little book side 1
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

Little book adde to my Moleskind journal for Orly Avineri's Art Journal Group.. We did the little book in our first class at Harmony Works.

Evidence & little book

2009-09-22T11:25:00.001-07:00

Evidence & little book
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

Evidence...

2009-09-22T11:24:00.001-07:00

Evidence
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

Long Journey

2009-09-22T11:23:00.001-07:00

Long Journey
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

Playful Journey unfolded. This is from my first class with Orly and her Saturday morning Art Journaling group. This cronicles my journey from Kalispell, Montana in 1984 to present day, living in Long Beach, Calfiornia, with a few stops along the way....

Remember, click on any image for a larger view...

ArtCub & Playful Journey

2009-09-22T11:22:00.001-07:00

ArtCub & Playful Journey
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

The first page of my journal for Orly Avineri's Art Journal Group. We made the Playful Journey Page in her class and I did the Artcub page for it. The Playful Journey Page unfolds into a large map, see the pic above. The bear is an image transfer using Golden's Regular Gel Medium(gloss). If you haven't done an image transfer I highly recommend it! it is so fun slopping on the gel, leveling it out. You let it sit over night and then rub off the paper and your left with your image to put on whatever you'd like, so fun!

Orly Avineri is an amazing artist and teacher. Her journaling groups are fun, informal. For me the classes are part instructional and a HUGE part fun. I look forward to each and every one. Stop by her blog and check out her amazing art.

Click on any page for a larger view.

4 Helping Us See

2009-09-15T17:55:00.001-07:00

This two page spread is for Orly Avineri's 2009 Art Journal Round Robin. Here is a link to her original post regarding the Round Robin. Orly is a wonderful supportive artist and friend. She has been published in Artful Blogging. She is going to be teaching at Teesha Moore's Journalfest this fall. I am attending her Art Journaling Classes at Harmony Works on Wednesday evenings. Click on the image for a larger view.

The eyes are a gel 'skin' image transfer I did using Regular Gloss Gel. I printed the image on plain cardstock and applied the Regular Gloss Gel and waited over night. Once it was dry I spritzed some water on the paper, rubbed off all the paper and then cleaned up the image transfer. It was actually really easy to do and you get a wonderful result. I then applied the 'skin' to my journal page with Soft Gel and it worked like glue.

My pages also include scrapbook paper, vintage ephermia, stenciling and spray painting & glimmer mist for some shine(and grunge)... enjoy! Give image transfers a try.

Stranger in a Strange Land

2009-09-05T21:55:00.000-07:00

An Alice in Wonderland ATC for the Itty Bitty Book Swap I belong to.

Here is the front and back designs of the ATC.
This is an image transfer I did using gel medium on my visual journal for The Art Journal Stimulus Project

Here is my first page of my visual journal. I titled this page "Stranger in a Strange Land".

Red, White & Blue ATC with Crackle Paint Background

2009-08-02T21:58:00.001-07:00

Red, White & Blue ATC Crackle Paint
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

This group of ATC's has a background of Tim Holtz Picket Fence Crackle Paint(white), it is for a Red, White & Blue ATC swap for the Itty Bitty Book Club I belong to. Have a fun day and create something today!

Red, White & Blue ATC Spray Paint Background

2009-08-02T21:54:00.001-07:00

Red, White & Blue ATC Splater Paint
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

This group of ATC's is for the Itty Bitty Book group I belong to for a Red, White & Blue ATC swap. I spray painted the bacground behind the flags. On the stars and stripes I used some Tim Holtz Distress Stickles in Blue. Enjoy!

2 pages, plastic lace placemat

2009-07-20T11:12:00.001-07:00

2 pages, plastic lace placemat
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

These pages may end up being backgrounds but I like how complex they are as is...enjoy!

Inspired & my Large Visual Journal.

2009-07-20T10:08:00.000-07:00

Good morning! I have been overwhelmed by the traffic and comments to the blog since joining Seth Apter's Buried Treasure on The Altered Page . "Thank you!" does not do justice to how much I appreciate your kind words. You can click on any photo for a larger view of it.

This page uses one of my favorite wall stencils above Afro Girl's head and some lace cut number scrapbook paper, Afrom Girl is from Stencil 1 book.

This page uses dragon from Stencil Me In and wrestler from Stencil 1, a Tim Holtz mask on the top. I tend to do pages in twos, I am going to bind these loose ones in a book.

I have large 11" X 14 1/2 " Journal I have been using as a visual journal. It has been so fun to just spray right on it! At first I was first a bit hesitant but I just jumped in and it is working out to be great!

These pages use a lace plastic placemat on the left and stencils from Stencil Me In book.

This page uses bug stencils from Ginny's Small Studio and a stencil from Stencil 1 book, punchella. Everything has been oversprayed with Glimmer mist in copper. I love how it came out all grungy and aged.

The inside cover, with punchella and stencils from Stencil Me In & Stencil 1 books, Heidi Swapp masks.

This page is only a spray painted background. All of my pages start out like this before I spray on them. Have a great day and go make a mess and make some art today!

Buried Treasure

2009-07-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

My internet friend Seth Apter over at The Altered Page is doing a collaborative project called "Buried Treasure" in which invites bloggers to find special features of their past blog entries and repost their favorite posts. I have started blogging relatively recently so my favorite post is actually a very recent post. I have very recently taken up being creative and expressing myself through "art". I actually believe I did was not fully aware of how important creating and expressing myself until I took Mary Ann Moss's "Pure Experimentation: Stencilry" class over on Dispatch From LA. It freed me of many of my fears of color, and and my need for perfection. It allowed me to just play... And it freed me to fail and just spray over something I did not like and start all over again from the same piece of paper. More importantly it is just plain and simple fun in the sun... Increasingly these spray paint art features are becoming more and more personal for me.

Here is the original post "This is a some artwork done with a stencil I cut of an old picture of my Great Grandpa Barley on my father's side. I still need to do some work on it and I need to get better at scanning these but you get the idea..."

This time I have decided to include the original photo of my great grand father Barley.

My blog has led me to make some amazing artist friends I may never meet but their support is very important to me. Thank you for stopping by.

Family Stencils Part 1

2009-07-15T21:50:00.000-07:00

The first of my hand cut stencils in my Family Series. This is of my sister Sheila, it is her high school graduation portrait. I will probably recut it again I was not too happy how her right eye turned out. I have not had time to do anything creative in a while so it felt good to do some spray painting.

I certainly enjoy spray painting in my beautiful back yard on a nice summer evening.

Summer Fun!

2009-07-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

Here is an ATC I did for my Itty Bitty Book Group I belong to. This time around the theme is Summer.

Here is another one I did for the Summer themed Itty Bitty Book Group. I hope your having a great summer! Today is a beautiful day! I am going to do some stenciling and enjoy my yard.

Sad News

2009-06-18T05:42:00.000-07:00

I was so sad to open my email this am to find out Strictly Scrapbooking store in Cerritos, CA is closing it's doors. It was/is my favorite and first scrapbooking store. I took my first class there from Mary Ann. Sophia the owner, my friend Joe have always been so supportive and inspirational in my creative journey I am so grateful for them. Support your local scrapbooking/crafting store.

Learning...

2009-06-17T19:24:00.000-07:00

Brandi, Tim and I

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to take two Tim Holtz classes up in Elk Grove, near Sacramento at Stampers Corner. It was a blast! I went with my good friend Brandi, we had a great time. Tim is an amazing teacher and Mario did an amazing job keeping us organized. The staff at Stampers Corner did an amazing job with the event! Brandi and I took two amazing classes, "Exploring Alcohol Inks" on Saturday and "Nostalgic Metal Memories" on Sunday. The Sunday class was 4 hours long! It was like two classes in one. The first class was about making hand made books. The second part was learning about working with embossed metals from

Ten Seconds Studio. We had a fantastic time.

My first handmade book and the sample we made during the Exploring Alcohol inks class.

A detail of the cover of my handmade book, made with embossed metal and Tim Holtz embellishments.

And last a detail of my hand stitched spine of my book, using Tim's "kettle stitch".

And today I signed up for an art journaling class from Orly Avineri at the South Bay School for Adults. I am really excited to start the class next week!

Care For A Cup 'o Tea?

2009-06-08T16:07:00.000-07:00

These are some tea cups for an itty bitty book group I belong to. I did some stenciling for the background and then added my image, I also added some Tim Holtz Crackle Paints to them as well. These were very labor intensive because I had to cut out each individual image, front and back. They were a LOT of work but worth it in the end. I just sent them off. I can't wait to receive my book when they are finished, I will show you when I receive it. Click on each image for a larger view.

A video to make you smile

2009-05-21T03:51:00.001-07:00

Last night I went to dinner @ Mazzo Pizzaria and then to an "UP" screening with Ed, Patricia, Christina and her boyfriend's son Cameron... Ok, I cried three times during the movie... it is going to be a HUGE hit for Disney/Pixar! Very cute with a lot of heart! Bring your hankies... very sweet...

Here is a video to make you smile... copied from Mary Ann Moss's blog... very cute

The Lost Tribes of New York City from Carolyn London on Vimeo.

Thank you!

2009-05-19T03:50:00.000-07:00

I get up for work at 3:15 am for work, yes an UN-GAWDLY hour... I have my coffee and the cats usually meet me and I hop on the internet and parooze some blogs... what do I happen upon this fine morn but my dear Dylan has featured lil' ole me on her blog! She is awesome! Check her out checking me out.... http://www.dyan-reaveley.blogspot.com/

Great Grandpa Barley!

2009-05-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

This is a some artwork done with a stencil I cut of an old picture of my Great Grandpa Barley on my father's side. I still need to do some work on it and I need to get better at scanning these but you get the idea...

No FEAR of Color

2009-04-27T17:15:00.001-07:00

no fear of color
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

sort of speaks for itself...

heroes 3

2009-04-27T17:14:00.003-07:00

heroes 3
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

heroes 3

heroes 2

2009-04-27T17:14:00.001-07:00

heroes 2
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

Heroes 2

heroes 1

2009-04-27T17:13:00.001-07:00

heroes 1
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

This is part of a series of hand-cut stencils called Heroes.

Please Mum, could I have some more...

2009-04-25T03:42:00.000-07:00

I sleepie.... I have to go to work.... For you here is some more of my stencil art. We are learning how to cut sun rays. I also cut the California Republic stencil. I am learning how to use a stencil burner, and by accident how hot they are... OUCH!!! DO NOT TRY THAT @ HOME!!! Take my word for it.

Some will have more added to them but I wanted to post more... These are actually going to all be part of an art journal. I need to add a bit more stuff to time and a bit of journaling.

Have a great weekend!

It is what's inside that counts...

2009-04-21T03:41:00.000-07:00

At last working on some stencil journal pages... I love exploring more color and making "mistakes"... enjoy. I took advantage of our 99 degree weather yesterday and did a LOT of spraying. The bottom two pics use my first hand cut stencil. Wonder who that character is?

Inside My Portfolio Covers

2009-04-19T16:38:00.001-07:00

Here are pics of my inside covers!

Covers for me journal... Arg....

2009-04-15T03:49:00.000-07:00

Ok It is 3:45 am and I am soon off to work! Here is a pic of my stenciled covers. You can't really see it clearly but the center picture on the left is North and South America and the right pic is the rest of the globe. I used stencils from Heidi Swapp, and http://smallstudio.typepad.com/, also a lace placemat for the border, and some punchella for the top pics. Then I applied repeated coats of Maya Mists and Glimmer Mists in copper, gold and red. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did creating it. Have a great day.

Everybody's doin' it!

2009-04-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

My friend Mary Ann at dispatchfromla.typepad.com is teaching an online class all about stenciling! From using pre-made stencils to making and cutting your own. All in her marvelous style! I am so excited to start!

ATC's for a Itty Bitty Book Swap

2009-03-23T18:52:00.000-07:00

Here is an ATC I did for a Green Itty Bitty Book swap. The second picture is of the reverse side with my info.

more cards

2009-03-23T18:41:00.001-07:00

These are some cards done in the style of Tim Holtz Alcohol inks air splatter and an envelope.

Cards and ATC's

2009-03-23T18:24:00.000-07:00

I guess it is about time I published some cards and atc's here are a few, thank you cards and hollween 2008 I did from a Tim Holtz, technique.

My first blog entry

2008-06-07T06:43:00.001-07:00

I have wanted to start a blog about my crafting for some time. I am new to crafting/art as well as blogging. I have long adimired the blogs of Tim Holtz, Ali Edwards, among others, they have inspired me to start.