Collage + quote every week of 2020

Few years ago I discovered http://www.swap-bot.com/. A place where you can participate in different snail mail swaps. And soon I discovered the technique I love the most is collage. 

And I watched tons of youtube videos and discovered art journaling. All the journals were so pretty! But I am not the paint kind of girl. And I don't like using actual journal. I like loose pages. Maybe because I created postcards for so long, maybe because I can just throw away the page if I don't like it. 

But as the year 2020 was beginning, I decided I want to have my own art journal. My way. Loose pages, collages, quotes or song lyrics. I made so many pretty collages over the years and I send them away. I wanted to have something that I can keep and flip through it, when I seek inspiration.

I came up with the idea of creating collage + quote every week of 2020. I shared the pages on social media. And people liked it and wanted to join me and to know more about the project. But is there more? It is just my way to make an art journal. What they want me to share about it? They want to know how they can join me...

So I promised a blog post. There is no big project or every week prompts. I can only share what I do. And you can find your own way to do something like this, be inspired by my idea and make your own project or just create a page or postcard.

I type the quotes I like to a document and print them out. Then I make copies on brown Kraft paper and velum. I tear each quote out and store them in a binder in those 9 pocket protectors people use for pocket letters. 

I use font called Veteran Typewriter. And where I find my quotes? Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, songs, books, other peoples art journals... I like these two sources a lot - Typewriters voice and Word Porn. 

I have bunch of pages from printer paper cut to size (A6, close to a postcard size) and with punched holes ready. And a make a collage. And store the finished pages in a binder. I know, I know, you want to know HOW I do it. Honestly, I just do. Which is not the answer you want, I get it. So I will try to explain it a bit more.

Sometimes I just play with pieces of paper. I store magazine images in plastic envelopes and use also bits of scrapbook paper, music sheets, book pages... And I am using glue stick.

I trim excess paper from around the page and find the quote and focal image.

I usually add stamping and some fun details. And that's it. 

Sometimes I pick the focal image first and build the collage around it (dog page), sometimes I pick the quote that speaks to me the most and find perfect focal image at the same time (unplug page). There is no right or wrong way, there is no I do it this way every time. 

And here is a process of this week's collage in pictures: 

Here are some quotes for you to print out, if I inspired you to play with collage. 

And that is all. Create something with the quotes I shared or your quotes. And if you post on social media, let me know or use #53collages. 

Dasha

Here comes the sun, summer, color and fun!

New jewelry with summer feeling in the store.  More to come soon.

In the color of the sunny sky

Birdies

Little bit of bird inspiration...





...and here are some new birdies born under my hands :)




Yellow leaves match the color of window curtains in a special place. Day center called "Garden" in a Home with special regime for seniors with dementia.

 


This little birdie with a crown will make one little princess over the ocean happy. :)




And this great tit is a brooch i made for myself. But my mom felt in love with it the moment she saw it, so i need to make some more these birdie brooches to have at least one to wear myself. :)

Where I've been...

I know I was little bit quiet here lately... Well, it seems like there still are things that are just "more important" at the moment, or just needs to be done right at the moment.

But there were some tiny moments to create, to be lost in that artsy world of mine, no worries friends. Even if i don´t have time for important things, i always find time for art. :)

Some sketching of new soft dolls/animals,






spring style jewelry packaging,




a new journal/sketchbook/notepad,




a cute card, a bit new style for me.




and some watercolors too.






And finally, I finished a litle masterpiece. Anthropologie inspired peacock set. Speaking of Anthro, i felt in love with this store while in USA. I even have some treasures at home. Will certainly share with you soon some of the great pictures i took in the stores in NY and MA during past few years. They still inspire me and you will understand why, once you see the pictures.

Back to the set. I painted two plates with two Anthro peacock designs i liked the mosts and add two cups that match the style. Whole set is a gift for my friend, hope she will like it, cause i am tempted to keep them myself :)










Will be back soon with some colorful pictures of spring flowers spotted here and there. ♥
Hope you had a wonderful first Spring day!

Package that made my day bright (red)

Today I have something to share with you. I got an unexpected package. Full of awesome and bright (red) things. It made my day.

This girl is awesome!



Love the gold pen with butterfly.




And these kitties are my favorite, because i wanted to buy them. Maybe she can read minds. :) And if you like it too, you can buy it here.




All that bright red and orange colors encouraged me to finally change my inspiration board. it looked the same for months and I needed a change from the blue color. So here it is, my new inspiration/mood board.



Link love:

Little elephant drawing is from Jou-Jou
Weekly planner can be found and printed from here.
Round kitty stamp can be purchased here.
Two cards with cutout pictures are from Czech artist Kornelie Nemeckova.
Owl calendar can be downloaded and printed from here.
Peace card is from Quotablecards. It was sent to me by my friend Christie to encourage me in hard times.
And the flower card is made by an artist i really admire, Marjolein Bastin .


Hope I bright up your day with some inspiration.

Zoe

I decided on the name. Zoe. Don't ask me why, just think the name fits her personality. :)


I added some stitching with the black thread on Sunday night, it helped a bit with the shape. Plus added a little tag with a heart and letter r (first letter of my shop name).




I love the green fabric on the back. Thanks for fabric scraps, friend.




And that's Zoe. I like all her imperfections, it makes her unique.

And the doll was born...

First there were drawings. Lots of them. And then I picked one, made it desired size.




I thought she was a cutie. Don't you think?




I painted her on fabric, having fun choosing colors and adding some details.




Cut her our, choosed a fabric to go on the back. Sew. (That included some bad words, cause my sewing machine is old. Or maybe it is not about the sewing machine. Maybe it's more about hands...)




Reversed, stuffed with fibre from an old pillow. Done.




I am happy about some things, not so happy about some others. I think there will be a second and even a third one at some point. That will help me to find the right shape etc. But all in all, she is a cutie.



Now she needs a name. Any suggestions?