new art journal and a new challenge.

It's my turn to host the Design Team Challenge at A Million Memories. I'm really excited about this one too! It's based on a book I'm currently reading called Awakening the Buddha Within by Lama Surya Das. In the book I came across a list he wrote while studying in a monastery in Nepal. It's a Daily Necessities To Do List. Reading this list inspired me so much and my mind was flooded with a ton of creative ideas based on each item. So, for my challenge I posted the complete list as written in the book and am asking people to see how it inspires them! If you want to join in you can see the whole challenge here: DT Challenge Sept. 30 - Oct. 13

I've decided to use this challenge as an opportunity to start an Art Journal. This is something that I've been wanting to do since I started scrapbooking but have been so scared to do (why, because I'm weird! LOL!) I think I've been nervous because I always love looking through Art Journal galleries and was afraid that I wouldn't love mine like I love what I see from people like Anahata Katkin, the sweet sisters from Journal Revolution and Visual Chronicles (Linda & Karen), Roben Marie, Christine Adolph, oh and about a million other artists, scrappers, and amazing people that I admire.

But of course that's silly right? As an artist (or whatever label you want to give yourself) you should always love what you create, no matter what - it comes from you, from your heart, and is a manifestation of what is important to you on a very deep level. This is my lesson and one that I am constantly struggling to accept in my life. I'm tired of being afraid to just create and I'm done of looking at my own work with harsh critical judgement. I'm always the most harsh judge of myself in general and it's time I just start accepting and loving me! Whew!

So you want to see what I'm actually babbling about right? LOL. Okay here is the journal I started last night.


So far I have only finished the cover but I will be doing an entry every day during the challenge and hopefully by then it will become something that I do forever. I really loved making this. I used an inking technique that I actually read while checking out the new Journal Revolution book on Amazon. The EXCERPTS from this book inspire me! I can't wait to get it (it's on order!) The transparency is a photo I took of a Ganesh wood carving that Joe bought me last Christmas. I knew this journal wouldn't be right if I didn't start off honoring new beginnings.


It's a gorgeous Sunday afternoon in SW Florida. It's hot, yes, but there is a really nice high wind blowing and it made my morning walk with Crystal quite nice! Next door the neighbors are putting up all of their Halloween decorations. I so wish we could decorate more here but unfortunately since we are moving at the end of the month it just isn't too practical. I can't wait to get somewhere where I can stop thinking about being practical all the time!

I hope everyone has a beautiful Sunday!

{hugs}