Happy Valentines Day!

Helllooooo!  After a very weird January that included a quick trip to Florida and a bad case of the chicken pox, I am almost back to full steam.  I hope you are all enjoying a lovely Valentines Day!  Mike was very sweet to me, and took care of me during my itchies, he even bought me chocolate kisses to cheer me up.  I will be making him all his favorites for dinner:)  I guess true love knows no bounds!  I was kind enough to keep my pox to myself.

But selfishly, much of what is in this post was just for me. For years now, I've been collecting quotes I enjoy, just for myself.  I started in lined journals, just page after page, with no organization, or system.  Just collecting them, because they touched something in me. 

The last couple years, I've been making these little "theme" journals.  In them, I keep quotes on one theme.  I also practice my sketching here.  I practice transferring my sketches here. I practice technique here, color combos, or work with new pens here. 

By working this way, I can finish an entire journal in just a few days!  15 minutes a night of lettering or sketching, to wind down.  And at the end of it all, I've got a collection that I can enjoy, rather than hoarding away in a scrabbley mish mash of hundreds of handwritten pages. 

When it was announced that February's theme on Sketchbook Challenge was "Sweets"  I had such fun, pouring over old journals to find quotes with the word 'Sweet' in them.  Here is what I've found so far.

So after the chocolates and sweets, take some time and do some art for yourselves, and please have a wonderful Valentines Day!

Welcome 2013!

Wow!  Can't believe this year is flying by ALREADY! 

I have been buried at my art table working on all sorts of wonderful polymer clay projects for Sculpey!  My blog on their site launches today, and I've been soo busy scrambling to creat new and exciting art to intrigue and inspire!

That and I've been getting ready to begin travelling for this years workshops and retreats!  Combined with proposals for 2014 workshops too- can you believe it that some of them are already due???

I'm so thrilled to kick off this years line up with my friend Judy Gula at Artistic Artifacts in Alexandria VA!

•Friday, January 25:

Vintage Vessels as well as Relic Rings that evening!

•Saturday, January 26:

No Sew Journal On The Go! as well as Delectable Doodles & Funky Fonts that evening!

•Sunday, January 27:

Moodlings

Merry Christmas!

I love this time of the year!  I want to make sure I love it for the right reasons, so I've been keeping a journal of the cool Christmas quotes I find over the years.  Adding one a day assures I'll always keep the reason for the season centered in my heart, no matter the hustle and bustle.  Here's a peek of some of my favorites.  You can see a few more pages over on Sketchbook Challenge.

I feel great love and happiness and wish you all the Merriest of Christmases, and Happiest of New Years!  May you spend it in the loving embrace of family and friends!

Last minute push!

It's all out pandemonium for the Holbrook household!  Deadlines to be met, projects to be finished and photographed, proposals to be written, a house to be cleaned, bills to be paid and TONS of catching up on paperwork and advertising details!  PLUS, it's an all out push to finish up the details of my Workshop in France next year!  (Details coming soon I PROMISE!  I had to wait for some info back from the travel agent, and some from the dept of tourisim!)

It seems a bit overwhelming, and I LOVE the holiday season. This year, all my deadlines converged on me for the months of November and December! 

So in advance, to those wonderful friends out there waiting to hear from me, January is coming.  I hope to have things well in hand by then and will be calling for get togethers and catch up visits!  I will barely have time to stop and smell the Christmas smells until then.

I can only give sneak peeks, but here are just a few of the multitude of projects I've finished and submitted!  Next year promises to be an exciting one- filled with Love, Joy and ART!

12/12/12 Once in a Lifetime

Today is a special day!  Over on Sketchbook Challenge, the hosts are showing art collections that we have on our desks today.  Mine is Sculpey's Premo! Polymer Clay-  I'm in a super clay mood these days!  So since it's such a special once in a lifetime kind of day today-  I intend to live it as a special one anyway!  My plan is to eek every viable minute making art today.  My favorite thing to do- so why not indulge on such a special occasion.  I purposefully took care of all my errands today, so I can get up and indulge in a special cup of Organic Chai Vanilla Rooibus tea, and head straight to my art.  I'm all set up and ready to go.  I have several last minute deadlines I must meet, but I am enjoying them.  12/12/12 will be an all polymer clay day!  Project prototypes, Christmas gifts, class samples and about 9 other things to be accomplished.  I'm aiming for 12- a nice even dozen to cross off my list!  So if you don't hear from me, I'm neck deep in art.  If you drop by to visit, be warned.  I do NOT plan on answering the door, but if you do get in, I don't plan to waste time cooking- leftovers it will be!  Nor getting dressed up. 12/12/12 is a day for ME, arting in PJ's ALL DAY. 

Spices of Life

Today over on the Sketchbook Challenge Blog, it was my turn to pick the theme for the month.  I happily picked The Spice of Life!  I can't wait to see what everyone does with that challenge!

One of my motivating factors for this challenge is the time of year, obviously.  For some it may be wonderful, for some it may be more challenging.  Will their color schemes and images be darker?   It will be interesting to see what spices the other artists lives. Another thing behind this choice was how I spice up my art life, so it won't fall into a routine or rut.  In effort to continually keep learning, I self assign projects or studies.  For this particular sketchbook, I chose Georges Seurat, specifically his Pointillism. If you would like to know a bit more about him, check out the Web museum, Paris.  Finally, I love how spices are good for so many things!

For instance, did you know many people use Nutmeg as a natural sleeping aid?  I've had insomnia for years, and tried most of the prescription and over the counter stuff with little effect.  However, a glass of warm milk that has nutmeg in it really seems to relax me!

My mom makes these wonderful spice "Nerve" cookies.  They had tremendous buzz, as her doctor gave her the recipe originally. Supposedly, they had all the "happy" spices, the ones that release joy endorphins in the brain.  I don't know about the claims, but I DO know I was always happier with a cookie than without one! 

Mom's Nerve Cookies

1 1/2 cups butter

3 cups brown sugar
2 eggs plus 1 tablespoon water, well beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
6 cups flour
1 pinch allspice
2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 1/4 teaspoons nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves

Cream butter and sugar until creamed. Add eggs one at a time until incorporated. Sift remaining dry ingredients together. Add to the creamed mixture. Shape into rolls, wrap in waxed paper and chill for 2 hours. Slice thinly and bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes.

Polyform Products Design Squad 2013

I'm so excited I'm ready to bust!  I just had to share the news- I was chosen to be a member of the Polyform Products Design Squad for 2013!  As you've seen here, I adore all things Sculpey, and love the availability and ease of use of the product line. 

They've been so kind, and sent me all sorts of goodies to experiment with- I can't wait to jump in!

If you can't wait either- I encourage you to check out their website and blog- GREAT information and tutorials there for you!

http://www.sculpey.com/

Starting in January, you'll be seeing regular creations and tutorials- so stay tuned:)  Same Bat channel, same Bat time for all you Halloweeners!