Sketchbook ... um ... Thursday?

Happy New Year!!!

This week's sketch is based on a photo I pinned to my Inspiration pin-board.  I made it today during a game of Scrabble, whenever it wasn't my turn.  See?  You can sketch just about anytime, anywhere!

The holidays for our family were a chance to rest, be together, catch our breath, and watch a whole lot of movies.  I can rarely just sit in front of a television, without something for my hands to do.  So instead of being in my studio for the last 13 days, whenever we'd watch a movie I'd grab something to work on, then dump it back in the studio when I was done ... over and over again, until I really did get a lot done, but my space here is a wreck!

I must say, I am looking forward to seeing my desktop again soon!

The good thing about a creative mess, though, is that lovely things usually emerge from it!  One of those things, for me, was these storytelling blocks I made for all the small nieces and nephews, and the kids' teachers, for Christmas.  They were fun to make, and even more fun to play with.

However you spent your holidays, I hope they were full of good things - and that good things keep on coming for you in 2014!

Romance at the Book Festival.

On our first date, my husband took me to Northwest Bookfest.  Really, he was a keeper from day one.  Most of the day is a heady blur, but I do remember some of the amazing book art on display.  And I was most impressed with the books that had been altered in some way.  Growing up in a family that reverenced books to the degree we did, it had never occurred to me to take a sharp blade and some glue to one - the horror!  So my world opened up to new ideas, I said "yes" 3 months later, and we are living happily ever after.  

I thought about that day recently, when I saw an idea for a journal made from an old book.  It looked fairly simple to do, and more than that it looked like fun.  And it was.  Here's a peek at the results:

What do you think?  Seriously, they were so much fun, I think everyone should make them.  

Of course, if you'd rather, you can find them in my shop.

Sketchbook Tuesday and A Very Exciting Happening

As promised, here is this week's offering from my sketchbook!

And, I am pleased as punch to announce another offering I've been working on for weeks and weeks and weeks: The Paper Loom is now an open shop on Esty!  

Here's a little bit of what you'll find there, with more to come soon!