MOVING DAY . . .

I am combining my two blogs into one and moving to typepad - click here www.libertystar,typepad.com! Please come for a visit sometime soon. There are still things to work on but the basics are finished so today is the day! xoxx, Renée

moLy x 28

Ready to take flight . . . this is my moleskine that will start traveling in a Moly exchange. Visit here to learn more about the international moleskine exchange!

ILLUSION - June Mail Swap

my swap

This is Lucy's wonderful swap with the envelope - I love how she added 6152008 which is the date it was supposed to be mailed - WAY SMART!

This is Linda's beautiful swap with her always clever use of words!

more of the Sabrina Ward Harrison workshop

with cameras in hand we set out on a walk around the neighborhood to take photos of what we found interesting . . . my first photo was of this trash can with the word "TRUTH" written on it

The arrow on this road sign pointed towards the curb . . . wonder what it means . . . I liked the "T" in the middle of these rocks

we laid down on the sidewalk to enjoy the view of looking up through the leaves of the blooming Jacaranda trees - it was a walk appreciating our world to see things that we miss in our busy everyday lives

here is Sabrina kicking up her heels at the end of second day together . . . we felt her exuberance for life, she shared herself openly and freely, her love for Ireland & John O'Donahue, her gift of self discovery, her insight to help each of us become our true authentic self - I felt very lucky to spend time with this incredibly talented group of women

A little taste of the first day of the Sabrina Ward Harrison Workshop

the entrance to Carol Park's studio . . . .

we were encouraged to use our hands for some collaborative painting

Heidi's hands

Emily's hands

"Spilling Open" . . . .

more journal pages . . .

Thank you Lisa, Edina and Beth for the nice comments and for visiting - it is nice to know someone is still reading out there!

It has been fun to have my journal home (from 1000 artist journal pages) - most of the pages have a base of artwork so I can play a little bit on different pages and read what I wrote before! Off to Burbank VERY early tomorrow morning - I am planning on taking lots of photos to share the weekend with you.

I'm back . . . . .

If anyone is still reading this blog you must have bloglines otherwise most people would surely have lost interest by now with the lack of fresh posts. On that note if you aren't using bloglines you should try their free subscription service . . . . I was resistant at first but it is a great time saver. The feeds let you keep up with lots of your favorite blogs without visiting if there isn't a new post.

this journal page has paper I made in a class with Anne Bagby at ArtFest 2007

another page using some more of the same paper

This weekend I am headed to Carol Park's Studio in Burbank, CA for Sabrina Ward Harrison's workshop . . . it should be very inspiring! I am just wrapping up everything from Spring Quilt Market for my pattern business, Liberty Star, the workshop will be a welcome repose from the flurry of activity over the last few weeks.

A little bit of play in my journal that just came back home . . . this is my journal that has been away on an adventure of sorts getting photographed for 1000 Artist Journal Pages by Dawn Sokol. I got to peek at Dawn's copy of her book yesterday and it is BEAUTIFUL! Congratulations to Dawn on such a fantastic job - every page is absolutely beautiful . . . lots and lots and lots of inspiration - it is an eye candy extravaganza! I can't wait to get my copies! I am lucky to have my journal on the front cover and you can see a little bit of this page here before I worked on it last night.

Flower Mail Swap

This is mine . . . the mica covered shadow box is
inspired by Nina Bagley's "Gatherings" class at ArtFest

Linda Dee's wonderful layered artwork
with her always clever use of words!

Lucy Lee's beautiful inspiring artwork
she always incorporates the theme in a cool, creative way!

Our mail swap theme i.e prompt is usually a single word (this month it was "flower") with a two month due date and no other rules . . . it's a great way to try new ideas, supplies or techniques and get some really great artwork in the mail! I highly recommend it!

. . . more ArtFest

I made this necklace (on the center hook) in the "Stone Soup" workshop with Nina Bagley at NinaFest i.e. ArtFest. I started calling my retreat NinaFest because I enjoyed all three days of classes with Nina. She is one of the most creative people I have ever met - I love her style and she is very generous with her knowledge. Thank you Mz. Nina! That is a tatting shuttle above the locket with two buttons. We drilled stones and glass in class which was a really cool thing to learn to do.

My friend Lisa gave me this wonderful double Yo Yo -

. . . more from the "wee book"

Back from ArtFest in Port Townsend, WA

ArtFest just might be my favorite weekend of the year . . . getting together to create art with friends - old and new! It is held in beautiful Port Townsend, WA and most of us stay at Fort Warden where all the classes are held. Can you think of anything better?

I made this little book the first day in "Wee Book" with Nina Bagley!

Live Your Best Life

ready for some thoughts

The second page is going to have something like "IT'S ALL ABOUT LUCY" written on it since that is who the sweet little girl is in the photos! I think Lucy loves her pretty skirt don't you? I got this photo from my friend, LINDA and thought it was her but she recently told me it was her sister LUCY! I suppose it would have been humorous to have my original words "IT'S ALL ABOUT LINDA" written on the page instead! Perhaps sisters may have thoughts on that? Sometimes did you think it was all about your sister?

More from my paper bag journal

I love working on the pages of this journal . . . I got the idea to make this journal using grocery store paper bags from Judy Wise (Nov 2, 2007 post) who shared the idea on her blog several months ago. I cut all the pages first from the bags and then painted the pages with a student grade runny gesso. Next I made signatures and sewed them into a book. My journal is made from six large grocery bags. I make my journals like Teesha Moore - visit here on her website where she generously gives instructions on how to make one. Try one - I hope you'll like working on paper bags too!

I started this last Saturday at Lisa Kokin's workshop at the Paper Studio in Tempe. I suppose it is work in progress . . .

a few more pages from the same journal . . .

thank you to each of you have left comments . . . keeping up with all the daily tasks lately has been about all that I can manage but I want you to know that I really appreciate and am encouraged by your thoughts.

. . . another journal page

end of AUTUMN

This is a page in an old forgotten journal I found as I was putting kits together for this weekend. I will be teaching two workshops at the Country Loft in La Mesa, CA . . . I will post more pages over the next few days before I leave Friday for my adventure.

my heart mail trade . . .

Happy Valentine's Day

balance . . .