Journals!

So this weekend I decided to make some journals.

I have been working so much on drawing and painting so much lately, that I decided that I needed a little break.

So I made some journals.
It was a lot of fun, challenging fun. I haven't made a journal in some time, and I kinda had to re-learn a couple of things...and make some of it up along the way.

I also decided to make some book cloth. Which I haven't done in years.
Book cloth is an easy thing to make. You take some material, any material really, make some wheat paste, and wheat paste the cloth to some paper. I like sketch book paper.

The wheat paste is easy to make too.
It's one cup of really hot water, mixed with a cup of cold water and 3 tablespoons of flour.
Brush the wheat paste mixture onto some paper, and place the fabric on top. You will also want to brush the wheat paste on top of the fabric. It takes awhile to fully dry.
It makes a great material for using on your books or journals.

On another note...
One of the hardest things about being a working artist is not knowing how much income you are going to have at the end of the month. It can make paying bills really stressful sometimes. I've done okay so far, but this month was looking grim. I ran out of quite a few supplies this month, and I also purchased some space on Poppytalk. I didn't realize how much those things all added up! Well, thank goodness I made the front page on Etsy today! I sold quite a few things, and will be able to meet the demands of all my bills this month! Yay! I am VERY happy about that! Thanks for EmmaLambs treasury! :D

Busy busy busy

Very busy day today.

Lots of printing.
Need to go to Utrecht.

Not a lot of time to write/talk.

Anyway, hope everyone had a lovely Wednesday.

Michele
ps. My treasury made the front page :)

Experimenting...

I spent the first part of my workday kinda experimenting with some ACEOs.
Just trying out some new ways of drawing and using gouache.
It was fun :)

I don't think that these are really done yet...but here is was I have so far...
I am really considering the collage elements in my work, and wondering if that is a direction that I continue to keep working in. I don't really know. I feel like I have been doing it for so long that I don't really know what else I would do...

I prepped some panels earlier today and I am planning on using them in another upcoming experiment. No collage...we shall see, and of course I will post photos.

I really took my time with these newly prepped panels. They are beautiful. They aren't done yet, but I will post some pictures of them when they are. Janice, or anyone else that might be curious, you can e-mail me if you'd like to know the secrets to beautifully prepped panels :)
michelemaule@gmail.com
They are so smooth, and white, and beautiful. Like porcelain. I almost don't want to paint on them. The surface is amazing, and I love drawing on it...maybe that will be part of my experiment. I have no idea, but I am really excited about them.

I also have some larger panels ready for work. I am really excited about these too. I think I might do some more water towers and bridges on them. I have a lot of images from New York that I still haven't used and I think I might use them for these.

So yeah. That's what I did today. I still have one more coat of gesso to do on the new panels, so I should get on that.

Oh! and I was on the front page today :)
Sweet...

New Found Talent

Yes!
Guess who's treasury made the front page again! Yup!
I think I might have a new found talent for picking things to go on the front page :)

I am also at my 199th sale!!
Wow! I have had almost 100 items sell since April. That's almost 100 items to sell in three months...which is not a lot for some people...but that is A LOT for me...

My 200th sale will get something awesome with their order! Yay! Presents.

Alright. I have been printing almost all day...mostly doing a special order. It seems as though some of my plates are really well behaved and some want to cause nothing but agony for me. But, I got a few really good ones and I am overall very happy with them. I love my press. I love love love it.

I am hungry and I think Chloe needs a W A L K.

PS

Hey!

My pretty treasury made it to the front page!

Whoohoo!!

Thanks Susan (ArtKitten) for the screen shot!
That totally made my week :)