Small Ginkgo Works

Today I created several small works using some of the (many) ginkgo leaves that a dear friend gifted to me this past autumn. These are works in process. I'm not sure what they'll become, whether they'll evolve into larger pieces, singularly or in combination. Those inspirations will come to me, I'm sure, in whispers from Mama Gaia and Mama Muse, when I return to the studio to continue this particular journey.

In any event, that's what I made today and that's what I'm posting for "What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday." 

Incidentally, I'm very pleased with how these are coming out.

Peace.

ChookHead

Today I captured a good-enough photo of a journal entry I created ten days ago for January's Mix it Monthly Challenge. You might want to click over to the challenge to check out the other entries. It's great fun! In any event, I've dubbed this image "ChookHead."

So, yeah. That's what I made today.

Peace.

Gelli Creations

Last month I broke down and purchased a Gelli plate and I have to admit that playing with the seemingly infinite possibilities has been quite addictive. I mean, what you see here is just a wee sampling of what I've made manifest using the Gelli plate.

Today I'll be making my way to the studio to play with some other pages I've made that will be stitched together to become little journals. Yeah. That's what I'm making today. 

And hey! ~ If you're interested in seeing more Gelli creations, click over to Carolyn Dube's "A Colorful Journey to see more inspirations!

Peace.

Time to Art Journal

Next week I'll be teaching two journal-making workshops at my sweet little studio at Whiting Mills in Winsted, Connecticut, and I'm excited about them! We'll be learning a super-simple method of bookbinding to create our very own handmade journals. I have Effy Wild to thank for teaching me this method, and I'm so grateful to her for it. I've been rather addicted to the process since I learned it and use only my own handmade journals for my art journaling. I'm creating some others for writing and for sketching too. It's such a joy!

On my shelves you'll discover handmade journals created by others, as well as my old moleskins that I started with many years ago. I almost always have a journal with me, no matter where I am or where I go. Journals are just another bit of holistic Goodness in my Medicine bag. Know what I mean?

But it's art journaling that is my dedicated daily practice. I fill journal after journal with color, texture, symbols, forms, words, feeling, heart, and play! Again, Good Medicine.

As the pages fill, the journals line up on the shelves like loving sentries, colorful faeries, divine guides. And they are those things, and more.

So if you're anywhere near the northwest hills of Connecticut I'll hope you'll join us to learn this wonderful skill on either Thursday evening, January 9 or Sunday afternoon, January 12! 

As for now, I have a fire to tend, heArt journaling to do, and who knows what else? 

Peace.

Sweet Deals

Merry first day of our shared calendar! Today turned into a kitchen day. Among other hearth tasks, I roasted one of my Long Island Cheese squashes. It's such a delicious garden gift. I used a generous quart in a farm-n-garden casserole that's in the oven as I type, and I'll have another four quarts to freeze. Sweet deal, that.

I finally made a batch of Bliss Balls, or Balls of Bliss, as I'm prone to call them. They're a delicious winter Medicine that was shared by herbalist, Guid Masé at an autumn Connecticut Herb Association event. I used a modified recipe from a dear friend and fellow herbalist, Kim, which I, in turn, modified further. Not much, really. I didn't have maple syrup, so I used some of my own homemade black currant syrup. The only other change I made was to toss in a spoonful of roasted Maca root. These are so flippin' good. Three a day will support me and keep my immune system toned and tuned up through the rest of the cold-n-flu season. Sweet deal that.

Yeah. That's what I made today. Sweet deal.