Choosing Wisely

All of my Houses are Gone!

Some local friends and I get together on Thursday afternoons to make art and talk and laugh. :)   Lately, we've usually been at the White Rabbit Coffee House and Bakery in Aurora, OR.  Oscar (the sweet owner, baker, artist, cute guy) lets us play there in spite of our boisterous behavior.  We call ourselves the Art Chix, and Oscar let us do a show in his beautiful establishment for the month of September!  I did a collaged wood box, and put up 3 Mixed Media Houses.  I learned the technique from Lisa Kaus at her studio/home in Portland several months ago.  She is an amazing artist and recently has had her work licensed with the Lang Company and others!  So, she's somewhat of a star, really!

Anyway, my wonky houses are nothing like hers, but I had to have something to hang up at the show.  I really had made these houses for myself and had picked out which rooms to put them in.  Well, last Thursday when I went to my art afternoon with the Chix, the sign that Jan made for me was still there but my wood houses (sealed in beeswax and smelling good in the bakery, said Oscar), were gone!

I looked at him and he was excited for me, and told me they had all sold.  He and employees there told me that 2 ladies were fighting over the last one (seriously).  :)  Funny.  Oscar wanted to buy one too, but they just flew out of there.  Well, now the month is nearly over, so I don't think I'll have time to make anymore for our little show, but I'll definitely make another one or two for myself and some other friends.  What fun we've had!

p.s. The nicest pics here, I've swiped from Jan.  If you go to her blog, you'll see what an awesome artist she is!  Don't look at the pic of me tho... I thought we were just supposed to show up to hang art!  Apparently,  I'd forgotten that every time I'm with Jan there is a photo session involved.  I look like a psycho killer in that pic.  Ugh.  The fuzzy pics are from my Iphone, and we all know I can't blame the quality on the phone.  :)

More pics and a lot more news coming soon!

Sheila

Saudade

Perhaps the Beach!

It's All About the Swag, Right?

I know, I know... "what kind of a blog is this lame-o one with the name "Journal Swag" that has no swag??"  I know, I know.  Life!

Anyway, as promised, (although implicitly), let's start looking at some swag, trying it out and reporting back with reviews, etc.

Have you ever tried "Tria" art markers?  Me either, but they looked so different, the colors so soft and chalky, and they were on clearance for $1.00 apiece.  I can risk that!  

Multi Media Sketch book.  I've not seen this particular one yet, have you?  Heaven knows, I've tried every brand I've seen.  Watercolor notebooks tend to have paper that is way to thick and textured.  The texture on most of them (Strathmore, do you hear me?) shows up more than the finished product.  It's like a million tiny textured circles all over your pages.  It sucks the ink out of markers like no tomorrow (and if you're paying for Copics, you know that can be an expensive proposition). Oh Copics, how I love you!  You're just too rich for my little art supply budget, so I am cheating on you and going out with other markers.  Shameful, but true, sorry!

Sketchbook paper never seems heavy enough for everything I put it through.  We will see.  

Uhu glue stick.  Love it!  I've tried every other one out there, and  I haven't found one that sticks like this one.

The Sketchbook Project (Worldwide)

We were fortunate to have "The Sketchbook Project" tour stop by Portland for a few days.  It's making it's way around the world!

The pics below came from:

This is my FAVORITE from Alison's Journal.  An aerial drawing/painting:

The next set of pictures are from:

Isn't she AMAZING??

And this is my favorite of Caren's:

Wait, maybe this one:

Oh, I can't choose! I love them all!  Great job, Caren!

Thanks Sketchbook Crew!