The craziest thing has happened since I've stopped blogging.
I met an art friend. IN REAL LIFE.
We've been having a lot of fun, and I'm getting introduced to all kinds of products on the US market that that probably would have otherwise eluded and bewildered me. (Here's a post she wrote about sharing her pan pastels if you want to see us dorking out)!
Last week she let me play with her homemade alcohol inks. I've never used any kind of alcohol ink, so I had no idea how cool they were. And get this: all she did was pull apart a Sharpie and marinate the little ink pad in rubbing alcohol which she funneled into a mini spray bottle!! Genius!
Since meeting Goog, I've completely changed the way I work in my Moleskins. Before I was kind of picky and boring. I used Moleskins as my lab documentation. Moleys were my decompression zone where I made my lists and jotted down ideas for later. And although they're still not where I'm going to do a lot of "pretty work" I am slopping more and more stuff in there and not really caring if stuff bleeds through, sticks together or runs all over the edges of other pages. Too much anyway.
There are many days where I miss everybody in the blog-o-sphere, but I can't help but notice that since I've stepped away from my computer, I've stepped more into my life.
I've painted my nails. I've dyed my hair red, I've gotten a library card. I've got some potential jobs cooking on the side. I'm networking. I'm doing some private mail swaps without all the hoopla of a big public one.
What I miss most is visiting friend's blogs and keeping up with what everybody is doing. I hope that soon I can find a way to hop around occasionally so I don't lose track of everyone.
Beginning February, I start my first class at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts. I'll be back to share that adventure... but until then, keep on crack-a-lackin! xx tj
All that work with Goog required a LUNCH BREAK...
