Here is part of a story I have been working on. 

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Who thought it would be hard to think of a different subject each day?

It's been about 3 years since I've done an altered book.  I love book arts and altered books is another part of that.  It's like making ATCs only on a much larger scale.  I can use some of those gorgeous larger images that I have in my spreads.

The little girl is from Paper Whimsy.  The lady on the tag is from ARTchix.  The text on the left says "live the life you've imagined".

I'm starting simple with these spreads.  I used just one layer of paint, a piece of pink paper to frame the little girl, a vellum pocket, the text  and tag.  Fibers set off the tag nicely.

Each spread I do I will try something a little different.  I have some cool products here I want to play with but haven't had a chance too yet.  I think also I have been a little afraid too, scared I would make a mistake and muck it up.  I'm going to play anyway.  I want to see where all this leads me.  I've had ATCs published in "Australian Stamping and Papercraft".  I would love to have some other stuff published too.

For me my art is my therapy. It helps me through each day, to pass the time when I have nothing to do. It is also one thing that helps me to recover from an episode of depression. Often when I am depressed I don't want to be around anyone. I don't want people to try and cheer me up. If I can be left alone to do art then I find I recover much easier and much more quickly than if I am forced to do something that I don't want to do.

This ATC turned out beautifully. The transperancy and heart brads are from ARTchix Studio. The papers and jewels are from my own collection of stuff. The "soul" letters are rub-ons by 7 Gypsies. I really want more of these rub-ons, they are great and easy to use.

I made this ATC yesterday, along with some others. I've uploaded them to my flickr album.

Well, so much for trying to keep updating this every day.  I have been ill with depression again and found myself in hospital.  When I went in I was suicidal.  Not because of anything anyone had done, I was sick of being depressed, sick of being unwell and felt lost.  Even though I know God loves me and does have a plan for my life, I was having these thoughts and they scared me.  I didn't want to hurt myself.  I wanted to trust God.  I didn't tell my friends because I didn't want to upset them.  I figured they were upset with me enough as it was.  And I went to hospital cause I really thought I would hurt myself.  The thoughts scared me, and I felt ashamed because I had them.  I didn't want my friends to have to deal with whatever happened if I did actually follow through on my thoughts.

Going to hospital was kinda good though.  It gave me an oppotunity to see a psychiatrist, and he changed my meds around and took me off one of them.  I'm now much better and thinking clearer.

It's hard to explain to people about what it's like to have chronic depression.  It stops you from functioning normally.  Sometimes you can't even see what needs to be done.  It's like living in a fog.  You can't see clearly enough to make decisions or keep track of things.  You have no energy a lot of the time to do the things that need to be done.  It's an effort to just get out of bed a lot of the time.

Often I don't understand what's even going on around me.  And because I was on mood stablizing meds, that slowed me down even more and made me even more depressed.  So it wasn't just the physical side of me that slowed down, but the way my brain functions slowed down as well.  So simple tasks like washing my clothes took a while to do, because I was slowed down so much.

So to ask me to keep track of my spending was asking for a miracle.  I just couldn't do it.  I can't explain why, I just couldn't do it.

Now that I've had my meds changed around I feel much better.  The fog is starting to lift.  I'm starting to write again, and that's a good sign.  Means my brain is starting to function better.  I have a lot of work to do, and it will take me quite a while to work through all the issues.  You see, this started when I was small.  It all goes back to my relationship with my mother.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming her!  I'm responsible for how I behave, but I'm not responsible for how she behaves.  What I've been doing is reacting to her how I always have since I was small.  I don't know how to react any other way.  How we react is a learned behaviour, and when you've been reacting the same way for 30 years it takes a lot of effort and work to change that.

There are a lot of things I need to learn, like how to keep a budget and set realistic goals.  Thankfully I have access to professional help for that.  It's not something I should expect my friends to do, even though they have been trying to help in that area.  I'm grateful for their help, but would prefer them to just be friends.  I need their support and friendship right now, I don't need to feel like they are standing over me with a big stick waiting for me to make a mistake.

It's going to be a long road to get well, being on the right meds is just the beginning.  It doesn't mean I'm going to change overnight.  It means that I can see more clearly to make the changes I need to make.

I spent today making stuff again.  Although I did have a really good long nap this afternoon.  I really needed it seeing as I didn't sleep so well last night.

I made 5 more ATCs, and finished the cover for my book I'm making.  I'm going to add pages to that tomorrow, so will upload pics when it's done.  Let me just say I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

I think my artwork has matured.  I'm now not so worried about "getting it right".  Man, that used to hold me back no end.  Playing and having fun is such a release, and enables me to make better art.  Sometimes the mistakes make better art than if I plan my piece from the beginning.  When I start I have no idea what a piece will be like when it's done.  I choose a background, sometimes I alter it by layers of paint and ink and/or rubber stamps.  I then pick out images that go.

This ATC was lots of fun to make (but then again they all are).  The background paper is from Basic Grey.  I love their papers!  The little girl is from Paper Whimsy, the red German scrap and transparency are from ARTchix.

The little girl looks like she's about to get on the train to go off to bording school early in the 19th century.  She doesn't look very happy at the prospect of being separated from her family, but her father thinks it is for the best.  Her mother doesn't agree and cried an ocean of tears at the train station, severely embarrasing her daughter.  The little girl is about to embark on an adventure of discovery, discovery of herself and the world outside her home.  She is daunted by this and doesn't feel she is ready to grow up just yet.


The ATC to the right was exceptionally fun to do.  All the images are from Paper Whimsy, including the background paper.  The image is the same as in the Discovery ATC, only much smaller.  It's one of my favourites.

The hand was a gift with my last purchase from Paper Whimsy.  I wanted to use it in an unusual way, and I think I succeeded.  The fish fit nicely into the hand.  I painted over the background paper with Twinkling H2Os.  They are my favourite watercolour paints to use.  Lots of fun for creating sparkley backgrounds.  I used some Glossy Accents to put air bubbles on the paper.

I'm still trying to think of a title and a story for this one.  Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.  Just leave a comment.

So overall today was a good day.  I got lots of art done, and am starting to participate in some of my old groups again.

Okay, I've been busy these last few hours.  I've made some ATCs and scanned the ones I had done yesterday.

This one is very different for me.  I used a button paper background and then used Jacquard Textile paints in yellow and red to paint over it.  I then added some random brushstrokes of Lumiere bronze, and painted the border using the same paint.  I glued the zetti head down and added the German scrap to the crown.  Glossy Accents is my new favourite glue.  I used it to stick down the transperancy.  3 little jewels at the top of the crown finished it off.

I really love the images from Zettiology.  They are unique and different.  I love their stamps even more.  You can find out more about zettiology by visiting Teesha Moore or Zettiology (which is Tracy Moore's site).

The little girl to the right is also an ATC.  I made her the other day.  The little girl and her background paper are from Paper Whimsy and her wings are from ARTchix Studio.

Paper Whimsy, ARTchix Studio and Zettiology are currently my 3 favourite online stores.  If I had more money I would have at least 1 of everything from each shop.  Unfortunately my income is very limited.  Or maybe that's a good thing.

Please let me know what you think of my ATCs.  They are available for trade.  Just let me know if you're interested in a comment.

You can see more of my artwork at my Flickr Album.

Well, I guess I should start by introducing myself.  My name is Johoanna, I'm 35, widowed and currently going through rehab for a back injury.  I live with a couple of friends, my 2 cats, and their dog.  Life is pretty interesting at the moment, to say the least.

I'm not working at the moment, my injury prevents me from doing so.  But when I am well enough I hope to get some part-time work in the local craft shop.

I do all sorts of arty stuff.  I love mixed media the most, and altered art.  I make my own books, I spin, knit, sew, collage, and journal.  Once I get a little more organised I will post a link to my flickr account so I can share my artwork and other photos with you all.