Yay for Artfire Collections!

So, I've been a bit out of the loop crafty-wise lately, although I've actually been making a lot of stuff.  I participated in Brave Girl Soul Restoration (I'm actually enrolled in that again now, since I wasn't able to finish) and I'm taking Christy Tomlinson's She Art Workshop (she's so cool). So, I've been playing with stuff, but its more in the toddling-around-from-thing-to-thing manner than in the concerted let's-really-go-for-it manner....  But at the moment, it's working for me. 

Of course, I've also been frantically grading papers and trying to stay on top of all the school stuff, while also reading and re-reading tons of Brit Lit texts, and creating PowerPoints and lectures and stuff for them. THAT's been fun! But there's really been no jewelry making this year, because, you know, 8 classes!!  (What was I thinkin'...)

So it was really nice when I saw I'd been included in an Artfire Collection put together by Intentional Stones. Now I can't wait to get back to jewelry making!  Eventually.... (thank goodness summer starts soon... fewer classes!!)

So take a look! Some great pieces!!

Think Spring

Curated By: Intentional_S...

ArtFire.com

Craft Tutorials

Thanks for reading!

Soul Restoration Blog Hop: A Life Well Lived

Hi all! Welcome to the Soul Restoration Bloghop!  If you've just hopped over from Donna's Orangalicious page, welcome! If you've stumbled here through elsewhere, also welcome! 

So, late last year, on one of my favorite websites, Bravegirls Club, I learned about Brave Girls Camp.  While I can't attend a Camp yet (someday I hope to...) I was able to take the Online version, Soul Restoration.  It was a wonderful experience that, while the class itself is over, I'm not actually done with. I don't know if I'll ever be done!  

I've been pondering the Soul Restoration experience, trying to decide what I should focus this blog post on, and honestly, it's hard finding one thing.  So, I think I'm going to focus on the effects the class had for me (after all, I require my students to write a cause/effect paper, why shouldn't I!)

To me, Soul Restoration is about making time for ME. What's very funny/ironic about that statement, as my friends will tell you, is that I am, at least so far as anyone else is concerned, All About Me... And I try to be fairly honest with myself in that regard.  But, I'm a professor, with 8 classes, and a mortgage, and a sometime boyfriend, and cats, and problematic vehicles and schedules, and an extended family whom I love and all those things that come with a Life Well Lived.  Having had (and still having) a Life Well Lived, I lost sight of who I am. The Me I wanted to be 15 years ago, fresh out of college.  The Me I planned to be heading into graduate school. The Me who got lost in all the ephemera of the daily grind.  I admit, I was able to get some of that Me back each time I got laid off (4 times... apparently it's my "thing"...), but then I would lose that bit of Me in the day to day stuff that happens... You know, teaching classes I don't love (I like them, and I love my students, but I don't love the classes), dealing with people who either don't know how to be helpful or just won't be helpful,  paying the bills, cleaning the house... you know, all the things we have to do, but don't really want to do...  Somehow, without even realizing it, I had lost my self.  Soul Restoration showed me that I had lost that Me, and, even better, how to get back to that Me. 

Throughout the course, Melody provided encouragement and a place to be safe. Nothing I posted in the forums would be ridiculed (admittedly, I didn't post a lot, but it wasn't through lack of desire) and anytime I had a concern, someone, either Melody or Kathy or other BG staff-type folk, or one of my Restoration colleagues, would address it. Whether it was a concern about how far behind I'd gotten, or that I occasionally felt like a fraud, no comment I made was looked down on. And in this age of anonymous, scathing, and often just downright reprehensible online behavior, that was soooo refreshing! It was wonderful to know that there was a place I could go online and talk to other women about the trials of just living life! 


And the art!  See, I've never one for the "self-help" book idea. Possibly because I am an English teacher, so pretty much all I do for work is read. So, when I read outside of that forum, I want to read a basic story to take me out of myself for a while.  But Melody came up with an awesome way to have us ponder what we need to improve about ourselves, why we might need (and want) to do that, what we need to change to make those improvements, and then how to go about doing it through the art! And as a non-arty crafter, that was awesome for me!!!  I created art pieces!!!! Whoo-hoo!!! Possibly my favorite, and the type that I'll continue for years to come, are the Truth cards.  Kinda like ATCs, but better.  

Even though I haven't technically finished (I still have some art stuff to finish up and a number of things I want to revisit) I feel much more secure in my Me-ness... Which means that I'll be a better teacher, a better daughter, a better sister, a better friend, a better crafter, and maybe, one day, a better artist.  Basically, a Better Me.   

So, how can you Restore?  Here's how!

Join us for the powerful and fun online workshops taught by Melody Ross that are being enjoyed and loved by women all over the world! Soul Restoration on-line classes - Now expanded to TWO sessions: Soul Restoration Part 1 – Finding Your Truth (6 weeks) April 5, 2011 Session: $99 – Register HERE and Soul Restoration Part 2 – Living Your Truth (6 weeks) For graduates of Soul Restoration 1 only June 7, 2011 Session: $99 – Register HERE

Interested in following the rest of the Soul Restoration Bloghop?  Go see Judy at My Crafting Room next! Thanks for visiting!

Wowzers! How cool is this?

So, I've always been a writer.  I've written in journals my entire life... sometimes hard-bound books, sometimes a word file, and sometimes just bits of notebook paper here and there.  At the same time, I've always envied people who could be artistic in their journals.  I always thought it was just beyond me.

That is, until this past week.  See, this week, I started the Brave Girls Club Soul Restoration online course.  I joined Brave Girls Club back in August or September, and really enjoyed reading the blog posts and whatnot, then I found out about Brave Girls Camp, and was lusting to go (can't afford it anytime soon.  But I hope one day...)  Anyhoo, they decided to do an online course for gals like me, who can't afford to attend the Camp.

Okay, back to my main point... So, Melody, one of the founders of Brave Girls Club and a rather brilliant artist, posted pics of one of her journals in a blog she did ages ago (I can't seem to find it...), and I remember looking at those pics and once again thinking, "man, I wish I was that talented..." Cuz, see, I'm crafty, and I can make cards, and could probably scrapbook if I really wanted to, and I have a craft stash that is just terrifyingly out of control... But I'm not "artsy"... or at least, I didn't think I was... But this past week, looking at videos that Melody posted int he class for us, and making a determined effort to go outside my comfort zone, I've actually managed to create one of those journals that I've always been so envious of.  It' still not totally where 'd like it to be, talent-wise, but I'm likin' it.... I'm not going to post pics of this one, because quite frankly it is a bit personal, but as I start work on a more general art journal, I will post pics and share the ideas that I have. 

Although, there is one tip I want to share now, and yes, I got this from Melody--credit cards rock.  And not for spending money and jacking up your credit, either... they make a PHENOMENAL paint spreader! You want lots of color on your page but you don't want to saturate the page with paint and wait hours for it to dry?  Squeeze some paint on the page, grab your credit card or equivalent thingy (I'm actually using old student IDs from my college days) and spread away! Works great!!!!! And then you just need to find a decent pen to write on it with.  On my black pages, I used a Sharpie silver paint pen.  On the rest of them, just a Pilot Precise.  Seems to work fairly well!  Although, I am going to go invest in a few good waterproof journaling pens.  Need to get to Michaels anyway.  About to run out of Mod Podge!  Horrors!!!!

Oh, and glittery nail polish works great for an embellishment! lol!

So, I'm going to get back to my journaling, and then to bed.  After all, it is a wee bit late.... Stay well!

What's been happenin'?

Well, I haven't done much specifically jewelry-related lately, but I have been playing.  I've decoupaged a table and a box, my iPhone's case (twice, actually) and I made a whole bunch of cards.  Plus, you know, there's that pesky "real job" business that I've been trying to take care of.  And, speaking of that, I just got another class!  woot!

So, what's in store for Definitive Designs?  Well, I have this multi-chain earring idea stuck in my head, and I'm dying to try some steampunk-y stuff... And, I want to try making frames for some of my work, so they can be displayed on the wall. It's something I've been pondering for ages for the pieces I have in my own collection, and Melody, over at Brave Girls Club blogged on it a few days ago. So I'm feeling inspired!

I also joined Creating the Hive, and have been very much enjoying getting to know people over there. And thanks to all of your help, I won the Viewer's Choice portion of Beads-n-Blessings' Art with Heart Contest.  So, you know, go me! (and you!!) Cycle 3 of that contest will be starting soon, and I'm very much looking forward to working with that kit, as well.

So, that's just a quick update for you!  Hope you're all well!

R.Wilson

Mini Patchworked Table

OMG! I had so much fun with this!!!!!  Okay, a few days ago, I saw this dresser over at Mod Podge Rocks! blog. And, once I saw it, there was nothing for it but to spruce up the dull little table that holds my desk spill overs... Here's the original:

[caption id="attachment_157" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="poor, old, tired table..."][/caption]

Poor thing.  All beaten and battered. My mom found it years ago at a garage sale, so it has been truly used and abused. It really did deserve a make-over, don't you think?

So, first order of business, find all the supplies!  So up the stairs I went to the craft room, and armed myself with a mostly full jar of Mod Podge, some brushes (and the one lone sponge brush I could find) the FolkArt beige paint, the Dollar Tree Scrapbook paper (I love Dollar Tree Scrapbook paper... it's pretty good quality, and you get a little pack of coordinating sheets for a buck!  awesome!!!!!), and my paper cutter.  Cuz, you know, gotta have straight lines here.... Back down the stairs I traipsed, and got ready to 'podge!!!!

But, first I had to paint... not my favoritest thing, but I did have fun.  Although, I think I may have needed a bigger spongy-brush:

[caption id="attachment_160" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="hmmm... an awful lot of area still to cover there...."][/caption]

But I eventually got it all covered, and covered well!

[caption id="attachment_161" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="okay, yeah, still have to do that bottom section here...."][/caption]

So once the painting was done, it had to dry.  What to do when the paint is drying... Why not read a post over at Brave Girls blog? So I did:

[caption id="attachment_176" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Yeah, totally got the idea to document what I was doing while paint dried from the Brave Girl blog post I was reading while the paint dried... and watching some Netflix... :)"][/caption]

Finally, the paint dried.  Now to have fun with paper!!!  I love cutting up paper.  Well, I should, I make cards, and LOVE IT!!!!!! For the top of the table I just cut random-sized squares; I think the biggest was a 6-inch square, while the smallest was a 1-inch square. I think I also tossed in a couple of rectangles just to mix it up a bit.  Then, I arranged them in a pleasing manner, grabbed the 'podge, and went to town!  Man, did I make a mess.  But it was fun!  And in the end, very pretty (and can I just say, again, I soooooo need a brayer... bubbly bits all over the place!!!!) So here's the top:

[caption id="attachment_163" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="not quite dry yet... oh, boy, more waiting!!!"][/caption]

Once I had that done, I turned my attention to the drawer:

[caption id="attachment_164" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="stripeys!!!"][/caption]

And then I had to ponder the sides:

[caption id="attachment_167" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="left"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_168" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="back"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_169" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="right (and oops on using the same pattern as the front...)"][/caption]

And the bottom shelf!  Basically, that was a repeat of the top, but with smaller pieces of paper:

[caption id="attachment_170" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="and again, not quite dry! I'm an impatient photographer..."][/caption]

And then finally, it was dry and ready for a coat or two or acrylic sealer (okay, yeah, maybe I should do more, but the can is empty now.  AND!!!!! I'm down to half a jar of Mod Podge!!! yikes!!!!)

So here it is, all done and pretty:

[caption id="attachment_171" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="The distance view"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_172" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The drawer and knob"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_174" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Pretty!!"][/caption]

So yeah, I am just totally tickled with myself!  I had fun!!!

RLW