Taking a Break

All of us are getting busier right now. Between NaNo this and NaNo that, and trips to NaNa's house for Thanksgiving - we're just dog-gone strapped for time. Don't despair! I'll be back after Thanksgiving where you can catch your breath for a challenge or two, then we'll break for the next busy season, Christmas and New Year's.

For those of you waiting for your prizes, I appreciate your patience. They will get out in the mail soon. Enjoy this break!

~ky

Motivation

First off, congratulations to our winner from last week - Kerri! So many of us live by Michael's craft store sales and coupons that it was natural to see it appear in a journal page! Terrific work, Kerri!

This week's challenge is designed to help you look inside yourself. There are so many things that are negative in our world. We are our own worst enemy in so many respects.

As many of you know, I completed an 8-mile race. I will be examining what motivated me to enter this race with the crazy preparation of 1.5 weeks. Normally, we train for 8 weeks or more for such a race.

This is what I'm asking of you for this challenge - explore what motivates you! When you are absolutely at your lowest - energy-wise, emotion-wise - what picks you up to complete that next task? Use any method, techniques and supplies to help you tell this story. We are all busy - if you're doing NaNoJouMo, or following some other prompt - feel free to double-up your page purpose. You might just find a real nugget of wisdom for the future.

Enjoy your week!!
~ky

All Hallow's Eve

Or Samhain in my native land. It's a celebration of the change of things. The end of the living year, and the start of the resting year. This old tradition has spawned many events held sacred by many cultures. To me, it's a time to reflect on the year past, and to have a brief glimpse toward the future.

This period causes a time of introspection for me. I find that I slow down now and look at the everyday bits of life. I see ephemera, the flotsam of daily living, in a new light. I realize that we sell the seconds, minutes and hours of our lives to the temporary, greedy, needy monster of progress. I stop to think what value I am getting in exchange for the breaths I take, the people I lift up, those that pull me down. It's stunning.

It's not negative, in essence - it's just the give and take of nature. I want to look for the enlightenment in little things through the day. I sift through the receipts, consider the packaging of services rendered, cheer in the small victories with friends.

How do I make those important details stick? I use a very particular net. A sieve actually - observe, collect, record. That is what I want you to focus on this week. As you plow through your day, what detritus is created? What is worth spending your time on and what should you let pass you by? This is your challenge this week. Document the detritus that lies in your wake at the end of the day.

{click to enlarge}

Just how do you spend your 86,400 seconds of each day? What progress can you report that is lasting in exchange of a day in your life? Pin it down. Write about it. Commit to what you learn and like or want to change. Come, walk with me. We will grow in the season of hibernation.

Create an art journal page about this challenge. Come back here and link it up. You have all week to consider a day in your life. What will you exchange it for?

~ky

Last week's winner is Leah! Congratulations Leah - I will get your prize in the mail to you soon. Keep playing!!

Doodlebugs

I remember as a child being confused about one object having 2 or more distinct names. Like doodlebugs and ant-lions, or Siamese fighting fish and beta etc. Now we have a new 2-name thing in the art world (yes, I know there are tons of doubles out there, but just roll with me!).

ZENTANGLES/ZENDOODLES

This week's challenge is two-fold to celebrate the multiplicity of word meanings. First, create an art journal page based on a dream you've had. In this example, the Moon is watching over my sleeping fairie. When I was little, and life wasn't what a child's life should be, I always knew the moon would be there. How did I know? I had a moon shadow of course! I still dream of cool nights and a comforting moon.

Secondly, use Zendoodles in your piece. Here, the moon is made from zendoodle components. Don't know how to zendoodle? Need some fresh patterns to excite you? Check out this site - Flickr Freehand Doodle patterns. There are lots of other sites, too. Like Zentangles.com , Zentangles on flickr, even Italian artists have a site!

Did I mention the prize? Yes Prize!! Up for grabs this week is a Univenture 1/2 inch binder! Trust me. You really should play along!

Last week's winner was Kimber! Kimber's page must have impressed Random.org as much as it impressed me! I love her funky skeletons! Send me your address, Kimber!

Note to past winners - I apologize for the delay in getting prizes out. We did a major reorganization of the studio, so I finally have access to my prize goodies. They will all go out this week: Sheri, Darcy, Julie and Ketsia! Thank you for your patience. I will add a little extra something in the packages!

Now - get off the computer and go create!!

~ky