My two 50# suitcases & I flew up to San Jose on Friday morning. We were greeted by my friend Andrea, an empty ice chest, two styrofoam cups and a Honda Odessey gassed up and ready to hit the open road.
We stopped by her studio to gather a few last minute things, pit stopped at the market for some snacks that consisted of carrots, hummus, crackers, ice, instant coffee, apples, diet coke, a bag of ice and M&M's (duh) for out weekend and we got on out way towards Art-Is-You in Petaluma.
We were armed and creativley dangerous. Your modern day Thelma and Loiuse, except maybe more like Lucy and Ethel or peanut butter and jelly
We stopped at an amazing farm to market resturant called Blue Barn where the food was freshly prepared and cold water was served in mason jars. Water just tastes better in Mason jars, but shoot, so do margaritas.
We departed full with freshness and hit the road. Next stop, Petaluma.
We crossed the big red bridge chatted, laughed, giggled, missed a turn or two and made our way to where we were staying. Because I had waited to long to make reservations at the Sheraton where Art-Is-You is held, Andrea found a little cottage on Airbnb to rent for two nights.
Google's navigation lead us to a quint little cul-de-sac in Petaluma that was going to be our home sweet home. It was all very "Braverman-ish" (If you are a fan of Parenthood than you know what I mean.) Kinda dreamy.
We followed the rocky path past the main residence, through the garden gate and found our little cottage nestled in a really lovely yard and garden. The entire yards was filled with a 100 shades of green, overflowing with homegrown vegetables, pretty flowers, a variety of herbs and oh, cannabis... also known as marijuana.
insert screeching brakes.
I broke out in a silly nervous giggle and kinda dorked out because I have never seen a marijuana plant in real life (just on COPS and silkscreened tshirts at the skate shop) and really on tshirts for boys?
Okay, so maybe it wasn't as "Braverman" as I had thought but really, it probably is.
Did you know that Framelits will cut 100% wool felt? Yep.
Did you know that if you lay a piece of paper on a magnetic platform and them place the framelits on top of the paper, you can use them as "doodle tools?" Simply use a pencil to trace around the outside or inside (or both), remove the dies and then add color :
and lastly, did ya know that you can paint paper, cut it into strips, run it through a xyron, put the paper on the magnetic platform, place your framelits on the paper,cut them out and use them on your Project Life cards? yep, you can.
Even though I was born and have lived in sunny Southern California all of my life, I am convinced that my heart is a little bit country (sorry of you are now humming the Donny & Marie song) Actually my heart is more than just a little bit country because when I stood in a field on a windy, chilly day in Kansas, I felt fully alive. Have you ever felt fully alive?
Gosh, I hope you have but in the case that you haven't, my hope would be that TODAY you start to take note of what it is that makes your heart swell up and makes you want to live fully, the way you were made to.
Insert FEAR. The dumb thing that gets in the way.
You can not let fear stand in the way of an opportunity to feel fully alive and let me be the first one to say that FEAR will try its hardest to stand smack dab in front of you every single time. If I had let my fear of leaving home stand in my way, I would not have a new group of amazing women that I now call friends.
I would not have had the opportunity to stand in a field full of sunflowers
and here is the thing, I do not like bugs at all (so I guess that I would not be a very good farmer) but given the chance to stand in a field of MILLIONS of sunflowers which includes just as many bees and grasshoppers (blahhhhkkk!) I was the first one in.
I could not let my fear/dislike of bugs keep me from the experience. Now, I will say that a fuzzy caterpillar did find refuge in the ruffles of my dress but luckily one of my sweet Camp Create sisters came to my rescue swiftly and calmly. THANK YOU Beth!!
You guys, I went to Camp Create to teach and to serve. That is what I do but this time, it was different. I felt like I had received more than I had given and for the first time, was able to openly recieve it without any doubts or negative feelings. I came home with much more than I could have ever even imagined and learned that RECEIVING is part of living and Dreaming Big Dreams. Right there is the reason I must not fear stand in my way.
You either.
That is what living a life of purpose feels like and I was able to feel it because I allowed myself to be open to it.
You need to allow yourself that too.
The house, the 17 women that are now friends, the amazing attention and love that was poured into every room, the love for handmade and home cooked food that was lovingly prepared every day for each meal by Kimberlee, the porch, the lights, the yard and the mulch that was lovingly scattered by Megs hand so that everything looked just right, the old broken down barns, the sunflowers...everything that was Camp Create left a beautiful scar on my heart and I am totally praying (and slightly begging) that I am able to go back.
For those of you who have asked if there will be another Camp Create in 2015, that is undecided as of right now. Pray that there will. Pray for Meg & Kimberlee to be open to doing it again.
I am taking you right through my Bible journaling process and will try to answer all of your questions along the way.
Q:What inspires me to create around a verse in my journaling bible?
A; Before I start my day with anything, I start with prayer. Okay and coffee.
I pray specifically to be lead to the right verse to create around. I also have a very stuffed binder of notes from all of the sermons I have heard through the years that I look at (not really knowing what I am looking for.) Something usually jumps out at me and then I look it up in my "regular" bible. (I have a NIV Study Bible ) My Journaling Bible is an ESV English Standard Version. I compare the two translations and then create something either based on the words I have read or I rewrite the verse on the margin of my journaling bible reflecting the NIV translation.
Okay, so with all of that out of the way, here is my step-by-step creative process. This margin is based on 2 Corinthians 4:6.
I always "highlight" the verse in light blue watercolor : The watercolor technique is simple.
Place a piece of paper UNDERNEATH the page or area you are working on. Add color to your brush, brush over verse and then blot with a paper towel. The blotting removes a little color as well as the moisture and helps it dry.
*KEEP THE PAPER UNDERNEATH YOUR PAGE THE WHOLE TIME*
Once the verse is highlighted, I draw a little something out inspired by the verse (Not always though. Sometimes it is just words.) There is no right or wrong way to do this. It simply is whatever I feel lead to do.
For this margin I drew out a cross with a heart in the center (which represents Jesus and love) a little sunlight to represent the light and a few clouds to represent the dark. I am using a Pilot G-2 .5 black pen.
Q: Do I pencil it out first?
A: No. Not on these pages.
If you feel unsure about this process, draw something out on white paper and place it underneath your page margin. The bible paper is thin enough to see the image. Then you can trace it out. *I keep that paper underneath my page because these bible pages are thin and the fine tip point of the pen is sharp. That paper underneath helps the pen from ripping the page when you are writing.
Once I have my image drawn out, I add words.
It can be words directly from the verse or it can be words from your mind and heart.
Here is the MOST IMPORTANT thing.
This is not just about the process of "doodling" or creating in your bible but about WHAT the inspiration is, which is the verse, the truth, the Word.
If you find yourself consumed with how it looks, fussy over whether it is bleeding or crinkling your page, you need to STOP and realign your mind. Remember WHY you are doing this and what it is all about.
Yes, it is about creating, but it is more about the Word.
Okay so now that the Public Service Announcement is done, lets continue.
I added some key words from the verse.
Here is a look at the reverse side of the page. YEP, it does bleed a little and the sharper the pen you use, the more the reverse page is going to appear to be embossed. IT IS OKAY. Time to add some watercolor.
Q: What watercolors do I use?
A: I have a set of watercolors that I bought at Micheals. It is their store brand, "Artists Loft" I also use a waterbrush instead of the regular brush included with the set. I don't have any professional watercolor skills. It is water, brush, color. That's it...oh and blot.
I added color to the heart and to the cross. Notice that I stay away from the edges most of the time. If the moisture hits that pen line it will bleed a little. Just remember to blot, DON'T WIPE.Remember: It is water, brush, color and blot. I added gold and grey blotted and then added blue and yellow.Here is a look at the reverse of the painted page. It really doesn't bleed too much and again, it is okay if it does. It is IMPORTANT to let the watercolors dry completely.
While my colors were drying I did a little shadowing on the lettering using a Zig Writer Marker in Platinum. Once I finished adding the shadows, I went back with the Pilot G-2 .05 pen and doubled up the lines on the letters. Add little details to the white space inbetween the lines. Sometimes I fill in the double lines with pen ink, some I leave alone. Go back and forth between these two photos (above and below) to see the very subtle differences.Once the watercolors are dry, I double up the lines on my image. Look closely at the photo above. See how the cross, the sun rays and the clouds are just a single line?
Once you double up those lines and add a little something to those double lines it changes the entire look. Compare this picture below to the one above. At this point, I feel like my page is done...for now. Thanks for taking to time to go through the process. I hope to see you over at the Bible Journaling Community on Facebook.
If you are interested in learning a little more about my doodling and lettering, I have an ongoing online workshop that you can purchase, download and work at your own pace, wherever you are in the world. To check it out, simply click here.
Really, perfect in every single way. Each room in the house took my breath away over and over and over.
As we spent the day preparing for the girls to arrive all I could say was "oh my gosh"
My heart was overflowing before anyone even arrived.
It was everything I had dreamed it would be without really knowing how it would be. It was just "right."
Like the feeling you have when you don't have the correct words to explain something except for to say that it was just exactly the way it was supposed to be. Every single person that was there was there at the right time.
Actually (and this is not an exaggeration) the best way for me to explain the entire experience from start to finish is to say that every single night felt like I was 10 and it was Christmas Eve. I could not wait to get to bed but then I could not go to sleep because I was excited to wake up each morning.
Every moment of each day I spent in Kansas was just perfect. Really, it was that good. My cheeks continually hurt from smiling, even when I went to the bathroom.
Was that too much information?
Sorry, but that is the truth.
The early morning conversations over coffee sitting around the kitchen island The evenings out under the lights (along with the gigantic bugs that had engines on them and liked to dive bomb Shannan & I) were full of laughter and love (and me running from bugs)
It was that good.
Honestly as I sit and type this post, I am homesick for the Whatever Craft House, for my new friends and "God Wink" moments and memories we made.
But it was not just about the house. It was also about the creative, God loving women under one roof dreaming, sharing, creating and experiencing Gods love for each one of us, the importance of dreaming big dreams and forming friendships that will last a lifetime...
Oh and really good food...good, fresh handmade, home-cooking oh, and shopping at big gigantic barns full of old stuff, and thrift shopping, and antique shopping, and Sonic, don't forget Sonic and runs to Wal-mart because "one" of us didn't pack correctly for the perfectly chilly/cold windy Fall weather (#duh)and so so much more...
I headed for the airport last Tuesday calm as a cucumber which actually startled me because I was heading to Kansas for just about a week and that is not my usual schedule.
I fly in, teach, sleep, teach, fly home.
I don't allow extra time for anything besides eat, sleep, teach. This was a whole new gig and I was handling like a champ.
But why?
This was NOT normal for me and instead of looking to the positive I questioned myself on why was I so calm.
As I hoisted my ridiculous "easy to identify" pink and salmon flowered colored suitcase onto the scale, it came up about 7 pounds over. This would be the part where I would start to tremble but not the case.
Nope.
I just simply moved things around without flinching. Again, I questioned myself on why I was handling this so easily. It is usually the dumb stuff that often causes me to crumble, sweat and say " I want to go home."
For reals. I am not kidding.
I continued to calmly rearranged my things when my friend Karri popped up beside me and said "Hi!" I looked at her, said "Hi" like I had just seen her the day before and then gasped "Hi!" and practically tackled her to the ground.
Besides one time a few years ago, I had not seen her in about 18 years, maybe even longer.
Time must have stopped when we had talked last because we picked up right where we left off and talked like the giddy teenagers we once were. As luck would have it, we are just now giddy adults, well and more wise and grown up.
Luckily for all the other passengers on the flight to Denver, we were on the same flight only separated by two rows. We could not text each other during the flight because we would break the FAA regulations and we'd get kicked off like Alec Baldwin. My macguyver skills were trying to kick in and I told her that I needed a string and two cans so that we could talk to each other.
We also couldn't go smoke in the lavatory either.
Duh, why in the heck do they even say that anymore?
Anyhow, we talked quietly and smiled at each other during the flight as not to disturb anyone Anyways, we laughed, confided, hugged and took photos until we had to go our separate ways as she was staying in Denver and I was heading for Kansas. I love the "true friendship" factor that you pick up right where you left off. It is a connection like no other.
I am back and do not have the words gathered to recap the past week. From start to finish, it was filled with moments, memories, tears, joy, pain, love, prayers and creativity..oh and food, lots of homemade yummy food.
I am sure that for weeks I will be sharing the amazing gifts that came from Whatever Camp Create.
I am just going to leave you with a an image and I promise that I will be following up with words. I just don't quite have them all gathered and sorted yet.
It was that good because that is exactly the way HE is,
Great news as I head off to the airport...my Homegrown & Handmade line is now available at Sizzix.com. Please be sure to check with your local scrapbook stores too as all order are now shipping and arriving daily.
yay.
Next week I will start sharing more and more about what to do with all of this! For now, I am off to the airport...start prayin!
Once again, there is alot on my plate but it is all in preparation for a big faith filled casserole. What that really means is that everything I am reading, preparing, creating and working on is all connected in one way or another so even though it seems like alot at one time, they are all ingredients that work together for something good.
Now that you have a casserole recipe in your head, today I am just going to go over a bunch of miscellaneous junk (remember, when I use the word junk, it is in a good way) that I am currently working on for your reading and viewing pleasure.
Tomorrow I leave for Kansas for this event, but before I leave, I have to finish packing, buy a new big suitcase because my old blue one died during the last trip and just added in, I have to take Ben to the Dr. because he just woke up with a double eye infection.
yay.
I am on the 37th week of the Documented Life Planner and working my word, TRANSFORM and although I am a bit behind on my challenges, tips in and photos, I have managed to write/doodle in a few things here and there. My plan is to catch up this next week while I am gone. and speaking of being a little behind, I am also a tad behind on my Weekly Words for all of my friends in the 52 Pick{ME}Up class but I have asked for their forgiveness on being late and everything will be up to date today.I am LOVING the Bible Journaling and the huge community of people that are taking part in this. Here is a look at a few of my most recent pages. I have been using alot of the things I already have to create on which means I am using PROJECT LIFE CARDS because I have alot of them.
a whole lot.
I used the "wood grain" lines on this 4 x 6 Project Life card to write out a verse and added watercolors to every other line. It is attached to the edge of the page with Washi Tape.
and I am daring greatly by using markers on other pages and yes..because I know what you are thinking or what you might ask. It does bleed, but it is okay. This is what to reverse looks like but guess what??? On the reverse side, if you use your pen and doodle in lines around the bleed, you now have a page that is beautiful. Here is an example of the bleed and the bleed doodled on
and my page from yesterday after another homerun sermon from Pastor Rick. One of those messages where you wonder why everyone else is at church because clearly he was speaking to me. (p.s. you can watch it here)
okay, time to call the dr. to get Ben in and get this day rolling...Have a great day!
For the past several years, I have had a yearning to do something. You know, really DO SOMETHING. Something that is meaningful, that has purpose, that changes the world. Okay, maybe not the world, but maybe the world to someone...but I didn't have a clear picture of what that was. At the same time, I have been learning what it means to dream big and even harder, allowing myself to dream big. It is alot to have swirling around inside your heart, mind and stomach!
So what is my one big dream? Well, up until now, I didn't have that "lightning bolt dream" and seriously, in one conversation I had last week with a very special friend, I learned in 10 seconds what I have been trying to figure out all along.
My One Big Dream is to stay OPEN. (and yes, that will be my word for 2015)
OPEN to what HE has for me.
OPEN to opportunities.
OPEN to possibilities.
OPEN to failure and lessons learned.
OPEN to receiving.
OPEN to know when to say YES and also to say NO.
OPEN.
duh.
I was looking too hard.
So, with all of that said, I want to start sharing more of what I have been working on quietly for a while. Soon I will share all of the amazing information but for now, I would LOVE for you to go here to get to know Daughters of Hope, who they are and what they do. If you are a prayin person, I would ask for you to Pray for these women and children. Pray for Dylan, Molly, Cy & Lane. Pray for continued growth and opportunities for DOH, Pray for me staying OPEN to what HE has planned for me as I begin to make arrangements to sit and create with these women and hey, PRAY that when I go there and get my nose pierced that it won't hurt very much.
I will be sharing more and more very soon, but for now, please take a little time to get to know Daughters of Hope. I think you will love them. I do.
So, you knew I would ask.. What is your BIG DREAM?
