2020 Vision LIVE ONLINE Workshop Register for an 18 week (Jan-April 2020) online accountability/creativity/spiritual growth workshop with Stephanie Ackerman to Inspire, Ignite, Increase, Awake and Motivate you to live the extraordinary life God has planned for you.
Classes & Events 2019
To schedule a workshop for 2020 please email me at: homegrown1@att.net
I want to wrap up this year by taking a look back at 2017 and am starting with photos of doodles that are on my phone. This was January when Ray Johnston from Bayside Church came to Saddleback. If you have never read his book The Hope Quotient, I recommend you grab that Amazon card you got for Christmas and order it, oh and a highlighter because there is a lot of good stuff in that book!
I believe it was about 9:34 pm and that IS late for me but I was full steam ahead working on content for my book that I could not tell you about yet.
Early in the year I was using my Documented Faith Binder in several different ways. Sometimes there were doodles of quotes, sometimes verses or sometime nothing. This doodle is in my Dyan Reaveley square art journal and all I used with a Paper Mate Flair black felt tip pen. I love these pens BUT they do smear so if you drag your hand across it or accidentally drip or spill on your page..well, it will smear, smudge and run. Guess what? If that happens, it is okay.
I posted this in early March and to be quite honest, the feeling is ongoing
As I was writing, doodling and putting all of the content together for my book, I had to "practice what I preach" and give myself permission to practice, say no, say yes or even..say farewell to junk.
I have to CONSTANTLY remind myself of the things I remind you of because I simply forget and that's the dang truth.
I practice everyday and I do not like everything I do. The great thing is that because I practice on paper, I can crumble it up and start over. It is okay. Give yourself a little slack. If you are doodling, remember, it is handwritten AND IT IS NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT and while I am flattered that you want it to look like mine, if your work looked exactly like mine, it would not be you.
Good stuff doodled so that I can remember.
Probably one of my favorite pictures and reminders...and goes along with what I mentioned above that if your work looked exactly like my work, it wouldn't be you. This is where I should drop the mic but I have a few more pictures.
Almost 1/2 through the year and I was was still full steam ahead on content for my book, which I believe at this point had been given a name by the publisher. This was the beginnings of my Prayer Journal and I honestly had no idea how I would arm wrestle with the devil to get this book done. I am CERTAIN that he did not want me to finish it. There were SEVERAL times that I was trusting Jesus to help me sit and get my work done and submitted. As I just typed that I gulped. I should have been trusting Him the entire time DUH...then I would not have struggled as much as I did. double duh.
More reminders in my binder and prayers in my journal
and on regular ol' paper that I pulled out of my printer
It is opening day at the Sierra Pacific Show in Utah which is a retailers industry show debuting all of the new product coming out for the second 1/2 of 2015 and although I am here at home in California, my latest work is being presented at both the Sizzix Booth and ADORNit booth.
I am happy to have product debuting and proud of the work that I have done to get to this point but it is not about that. I am most excited and looking forward to seeing how it will bless people in their creative projects and endeavors.
PLEASE do not misunderstand me. I am completely grateful for the opportunities that I have been given and the trust that these two amazing companies have in me but I do not have that " hands in the air running through the finish line in slow motion" feeling. I never have with anything (even when I finished a real Marathon for the love of Pete!) and I don't think that I should. It is just part of how I create, how I live and as cliche as it might sound, all part of my story/journey.
Now comes the time to really work hard and by that I mean that I need to hit the ground running as I prepare to share everything that is being released, teaching online and in-store. The issue is, I can't do it all on my own. It was never a thought for this to all be about me and what I can do with it. It is about God, Jesus, faith and how you document and illustrate it.
I was asked this question last night via Facebook and my reply sums up the entire reason for Documented Faith:
Q: is it only Christian?
Here is a screen shot of my response:
Similar to the "Hokey Pokey"....that's what its all about!
So now what?
I need you to help me help others learn about Documented Faith. As much as it is not about numbers, it is. I don't look at "how many followers or friends" I have on social media channels but rather how many people we can reach to share what is going on, how documenting and illustrating your faith is spreading like a wildfire in a really really good way and how it is a life changer.
How can you help?
PRAY! It is a little hard to ask for prayer for success but I have learned that we are blessed to be a blessing. Pray that it reaches the right people, gets into the hands of those who need it and that it aids to those who need a little (or a lot) Jesus and a creative outlet.
SHARE! There will be several opportunities that I will share in the coming weeks, but for now, you can share my IG and FB posts as I share, invite your friends and family to join our Documented Faith FB group (It is a closed group, so you need to click this link and request to join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1555537877994436/
SHOW ME! I want to see your work. I already have a handful of my creative pals that are ready to create with the new stuff coming out but I need a few more. I want to see how you are Documenting and Illustrating your faith. Please email me at homegrown1@att.net with your name and links to your posts, photos of your work and what Documented and Illustrating your faith means to you....
Lastly, THANK YOU, yes YOU reading this right now. Whether you are just reading this for the first time or have been here since the beginning, you are here and for that I am really humbled and grateful. Really (insert big overflowing heart emoji)
NOTE: If you are a retailer, all of the Documented Faith product info is NOW AVAILABLE. please contact ADORNit for wholesale info by emailing: info@adornit.com
p.s TODAY (12/31/ 2014) is the last day to sign up for "A whole New Doodle" After tonight, the class is no longer open for registration and is officially retired. (once you register, the class content is yours for the rest of your life!)
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.
I wake up with 1001 things on my mind and the only way to clear my brain so that I can actually get things done is empty the junk out of my head and out onto a list.
Sounds familiar?
Here is download for you to print out and empty your junk out onto. Download Thingstodo620
I am excited and happy to share that I am starting to work on a new doodle workshop to teach online and this workshop is going to more intense and personal. I want this class to be more than just doodles.
I want this workshop to have a purpose and meaning besides a bunch of cute circles, letters, flowers and squares on a paper. I want to teaching you to focus more on what you are doodling, rather then just doodling and lettering.and I want to have alot of fun playing with doodles and color whether it comes from a paint brush, water brush or marker.
Online workshops are awesome because I have students from all over the world but unfortunately, I do not get to meet you or know you like I do when I teach in-store so this online version is going to be different than I have ever done before.
I am only going to take a certain amount of students at a time. My plan is to do the workshop once a quarter with a certain amount of students so that I can be more intentional with my contact, teaching and communication with you.
What does this mean?
My goal is to launch Oct. 2014. The cost is going to be $100.00 per student for the quarter and will include a basic kit that will be sent to you prior to the workshop starting. You will need a computer (which you obviously have it you are reading this) & access to Facebook for a Closed Group. Other than that, all of the supplies are basic and easy to find at art stores or online so do not worry about that.
**Session One is Full. 8/15/2014 - 20 spots just opened! Click below to register!
In the 52 Week Pickup 2014 class, this weeks word is HOPE and because HOPE is something we all need to have I felt a reminder needed to be shared here too..
Hope is not wishful, positive thinking or optimisim..HOPE is knowing that when things are really bad, you still have faith in God. That NO MATTER WHAT, even if you "feel" hopeless, the more you trust in God, the more power you have.
"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
