Message of the day

Day 3, originally uploaded by studiojenn.

Let me introduce myself...

Intro page 2, originally uploaded by jennhv.

So I apologize for my absence over the past week but I am have really been enjoying having Grand Master B around 24/7 and, I'll admit, it has taken some transitioning to become a fully functioning mama again. But so worth it. We had a really lovely barbecue in honor of his return home and to celebrate his accomplishments last weekend. More on this later...

I thought I'd share the introductory page from my art journal. I have been really attracted to this concept for while but just hadn't taken any steps to start. Then I discovered Tell Your Story, a guided class on just this subject. The teachers, Elsie and Rachel, share tips, techniques and journaling prompts every day for 6 weeks. I am feeling so energized in just what we've done in the past 3 days. This class is just the thing I needed, plus I feel developing a daily habit of journaling every day is both helpful in my creative journey AND necessary for my ongoing mental health.

I used this first page as a means to explore the many roles I play, issues and fears I am dealing with right now, trivia and tidbits about me and celebrating all that is wonderful in my life, this very minute. I painted the background with my absolute favorite aqua acrylic which gives it just the light and breezy feel I was trying to portray. Aqua just makes me happy. Then I taped down a piece of my personalized stationary for the journaling card. I used colored mists, chipboard, letters and a paperclip to build on the theme. I really love this.

I will be sharing some of the pages from my art journal over the next few weeks, as well as other items of crafty goodness. And I will share photos and stories of B's welcome home BBQ later tonight or tomorrow. Til then... Happy Wednesday, America.

Missing In Action

Just a quick check in to let you know we are alive and well. Having Grand Master B home is filling my heart to overflowing. I am so happy. I am also exhausted. This week has been full of meetings, appointments, more meetings, organizing, cleaning, worrying, rejoicing, gratitude and exhaustion. And we have a boat load of painting to look forward to on Saturday.

Anyway, you can all look forward to a return to regular blogging next week. This week I am documenting my Week in the Life project along with Ali Edwards and hundreds of other crafty ladies. Next week I'll share some of the words + pictures from this week in my life.

He's Home

The day has finally arrived! Grand Master B is home. This is what I think every single time I see his smile.

We are working like mad to clean, organize and repaint his bedroom, and this has sparked a frenzy of activity to organize the rest of the house, too. Believe me, Jim & I both have so many things that need to find another home. So it's Project Organization around here. I'll be back Monday night with an update...and maybe even a picture or two.

More Scrapbook Pages

I'll bet you thought I had forgotten my earlier promise to share the rest of my pages from Sketchbook, the online class that I took with Kelly Purkey. Well, I surely did not. In case you missed the earlier pages, you can find them here and here. This post will cover the pages that I created based on sketches 8 through 12. Enjoy!

Sketch 8

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Sketch 9 (personal information x'd out for privacy)

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Sketch 10

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Sketch 11

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Sketch 12 

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Here's to putting creativity in action! I hope all of you are experimenting with adding a little creativity in your loves, too.

So Proud of This Guy

Grand Master B has completed the residential portion of his treatment program and is coming home to stay this weekend! We are so excited and proud and happy and anxious and completely overjoyed... You get the picture. All of the sadness, all of the distance, all of the separation was worth it. I am convinced more than ever that hope is truly my little word for this year... Looking at him, knowing how hard he's worked, seeing all that he's accomplished just restores my belief in the power of hope.

Monday Fun Day

I had a wonderful night out with some of my girlfriends seeing the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra at the Holland Center. Learned some cool stuff at the lecture prior to the show & then totally grooved to the smooth sounds of Johnny Hodges, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Good times. back tomorrow with news about an upcoming crafty project!

"Goodnight John Boy..."