Art Journal Hop/Sneak Peek

Lucy's book~her pages!

Here is a sneak peek at one of the books in the Art Journal Swap/Hop...oh and HAPPY SEPTEMBER!!! This is a collaboration between 10 of the talented chics of the Arty Tea Party.  Each member chose a book from the used book sale of the local library, and using whatever our little hearts desired began to alter it creating a 2 page spread along with the decorated cover.  Then, once a month when we gather, (though the swap times have been off thanks to someone who shall remain nameless that can crank them out at will and passing them on before the next meeting time...so some of us have ended up with 3 at a time...) where was I???  Oh yes, we exchange them at our gatherings,  add our little bit of creativity to the book, and then pass it on again.  At the end, each Art Journal will have the talents of all participating members as it makes its way back to the original owner.  What fun!  

A peek at Nina's purple page of plumes...

The very cool thing about Nina's page is that it is scented. Incorporating her ground herbs that she uses to create her incense
crows (you can buy them online from her etsy shop) into some paint and then applying it to the page...well, just as soon as you turn the page, your senses become awakened!

One more peek...the beginning of my addition as I looked for pages with words that I could use to tell a story of love...lo and behold ~

Passion ~  It's all about passion!!!

Anybody who knows me, knows that passion is my middle name! Ok, right up there before "Creative Chaos", and to me the color of passion is RED...AND BURNING HOT!  

"Thanks, love."

Now since we are members of the Arty Tea Party it only seemed right to use the label and packaging from my PASSION tea that I have on hand.  The tiny teabag tag will become a mini journal with a tiny love note scribbled inside.  The image I have chosen comes from an old magazine of a couple headed off to the drive-in in one of those big old vintage automobiles, like one of these babies at the car show...did I mention passion???

For tips on how to start your own Art Journal Hop, visit Lisa at 
Priti Studio.  And stay tuned for more Sneak Peeks of our Art Journal Hop.  Thanks for stopping by.  Pop in to say hello to Nina of  Happy Herbs Soap at Two Crow Cottage and to see what the Talented Chics of the Arty Tea Party are up to.

OUT WITH THE OLD...BRING IT ON 2013

one of my "old" faves

This is an "old" altered book I made with matchbox drawers...

letter charms were sewn into the pages...

very sexy, yes???



And for 2013, I vow to complete some of the many altered book projects that I have started and pushed aside while dealing with everyday life...

BEST WISHES TO ALL FOR A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND

PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!

and if you want to be inspired with "prosperity" incense for your own ritual,

visit Nina of Happy Herbs Soap.

CHEERS!!!

Handmade Stockings

Look at these lovely handmade wool and felt stockings from Dear Andrea over at Indian Springs.  Her appliqued cardinals are so divine with incredible details.  I just had to have one for a special person who is located in the Pacific Ocean and does not experience the cold, snowy winter months like we do here in the Northeast United States.  I believe she has some more of these beauties for sale...Andrea's Cardinals.  Fa la la...

Woodland Spell Incense Crows

You can even fill up one of those fabulous stockings with the great Woodland Spell Incense from Nina at Happy Herbs Soap @ Two Crow Cottage and some of her wonderful herbal soaps.  My personal fave is the Lavender/Patchouli blend, along with her pulse point roll-on scented oils.  I always feel AB FAB, "ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS" after using one of those...I am a very "scentual" person!  So please visit my friends...you will be happy you did!  Fa la la...and all that jazz!

Incense For Inspiration

The Mixing Mirror © 2013 hula.la

The first thing on the agenda today is to mix and roll some of my "passion" incense in order to awaken the  the inner spirit that influences my inspiration.  I burn incense constantly when I am home doing my "domestic" duty all the while sneaking in some of my creative chaos along the way.  On my vintage mirror that I use to gather my supplies, are the last of the Autumn mums and gourds, along with the dried herbs and resins to mix with the 2 year old homemade wine from the grapes at Two Crow Cottage that I use to 
create "passion".

Mini scrapbook or journal

 While the washing machine is doing its thing, I have a slew of papers spread all over my work space in order to complete at least one of the mini altered book ~ scrapbook journals that I started before the storm blew into town and disrupted my inspirational flow.

I can also fit dishes and baking into this little scenario because everyone is out and about, and I have the whole place to myself in order to just LET LOOSE!

Watch out!!!  And if you want to get some incense to enhance your creativity, visit Nina of 
Happy Herbs Soap at Two Crow Cottage.

Autumn Inspiration with Clay

The mini clay tiles and incense burner for hippie Mary came out beautifully, and of course once fired I had to test the burner with my own "passion" incense...works just fine!  I am a scent-ual person.

Thank goodness for Nina who keeps me involved in the discovery and mystery of new scents.

Before the kiln

The clay stones are from Gen, the kiln owner, with her nicely written words to 

keep my mind focused and help me to breathe deep...the red wine helps!

I have a best friend, I smile, I have hope, I must practice patience, and I will learn to trust...again.

© 2012 hula~la

The smudge bowl is from the beautiful clay at Two Crow Cottage and the smudge stick is made from the lavender gardens that surround the property there.  Lavender is a calming agent used to reduce stress and promote relaxation.  The ritual of smudging can be defined as "spiritual house cleaning".  In theory, the smoke attaches itself to negative energy and as the smoke clears it takes the negative energy with it, releasing it into another space where it will be regenerated into positive energy. 

As the autumn leaves continue to fall, we must take the time and notice all the beauty that this season brings.  The bright colors of the mums, the scarecrows popping up out of the cornfields with the brightly colored ears for decorating.  The gourds have such a unique style all their own with colors and shapes of all sizes.  And don't forget the pumpkins...for soon they will be transformed into jack-o-lanterns with unique personalities all their own.  Yes, let us rejoice in all the beauty of this colorful, bountiful season.

Autumn Activity

This year's Little World's Fair in Grahamsville was absolutely fantastic!  

We had such a great time! 

 Of course the burning of  "prosperity" incense brought us just that...prosperity.  

Along with that we made some new friends. As usual, our booth looked FABULOUS!!! 

(BEST IN SHOW ~ ACCORDING TO OUR ARTY TEA PARTY GANG)...

HAPPY HERBS SOAP

And now we prepare for our next few shows, including the GIANT PUMPKIN PARTY. 

Altered Books/Mini Journals~Scrapbooks © 2012 hula~la

Meditation Journal© 2012 hula~la

Dream Journal © 2012 hula~la

These are my latest creations...

ready to take in some

wonderful secrets or pictures.

Or maybe they will expound on a deeper tale that is released from a place within the soul as you begin your journal journey!

Remember to burn incense for inspiration as you write your way to enlightened peace.

Patience © 2012 hula~la

THINKING SPRING!!!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful!  Those of you in the northeast know what I'm talking about! 
Enough said about that!

And since we have no place to go...we sew, we sew, we sew:)  Made some cutesy valentines today!
Tomorrow's another day!  Hope we have no place to go again so I can play some more in the studio!

Did you check out Nina's cute little crows?  http://www.etsy.com/shop/happyherbssoap LOVE THEM!

Let It Snow...Man

Well, it's a good thing we love the snow here:)  Another 7 inches or so, no school, no work...a wonderful day to play in the art studio!

The wood stove is burning hot~and so is Nina's incense.  Candles are lit all over the house as the wind picks up.  IT'S ALL GOOD!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

Winter In The Big Woods, Again...

YAY! SNOW DAY!...No school, no work (means no pay), but a day in pj's drinking hot chocolate and making peanut butter/kiss cookies and sitting by the fire watching Nina's "Rebecca" dvd...well, nothing could be finer!  Perhaps I can even persuade the little darlings to make a snowman named, Just Bob!

Had a wonderful day at Nina's soapmaking studio yesterday at Two Crow Cottage.  I got to grind up all those lovely roots, and herbs and flowers and such that she uses in her all natural soaps and incense.  Then the sifting process, which is much more tedious, as the grind must be a fine powder for incense blends.  I even got to mix my own blend.  I made a batch of it up last night and my cones are drying nicely on my shelf making me smile:)

OH, TO LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST!  COULDN'T LIVE ANY PLACE ELSE ON EARTH!

Here's wishing everyone a "Great Creative Day"!

Affectionately posted by:
Vicki, who is outofhand today with papers, fabric, and lots of ribbons and lace.

Winter Wonderland...

Oh, to live in the Northeast!  The remains of the blizzard are melting away. It's a brand new year... Putt putt in the foreground has a new driver...and me, well I have a few new gray hairs as a result.  It has been so comforting to have everyone home all at the same time.  Yet, the time has passed too quickly and we must all reconvene back to schools and work, etc...
The crafting corner has been in full swing over the holiday season in preparation for an upcoming Valentine's Day event.  This year will be full of new milestones.  May they all be positive and uplifting and bring everyone great joy!
I want to thank all of my friends for their continued support of my "artistic" endeavors.  It gives me inner peace to be able to use my hands, envision in my mind, and draw from my heart and soul that which becomes my art.  I am an Artistic Mother, and you can join my friends and I on our journey.

http://happyherbssoap.blogspot.com
http://artyteaparty.blogspot.com

I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
(And as I burn Nina's "Prosperity" incense, I wish everyone a PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!)


Affectionately posted by:
Vicki, hula-la