Monday, January 1, 2018

A New Year and New Beginnings


  Happy New Year everyone!! I hope you and your families enjoyed the holidays. Ours was mostly quiet and peaceful. We also pretty much stayed in as it has been brutally COLD the last week or so (in the single digits-brrrr). So I've had plenty of time to get creative and reflect. But first, I want to share this very special fabric art that arrived from Elizabeth of Altered Book Lover:

                                                                 front

                                                              back

                                                           detail

 I know I didn't do justice with my mediocre photography but this is utterly charming!! How thoughtful and kind to use that special French themed fabric. And oh how I love all the stitching and loose threads along with the darling paw print on the back(thank you Squiggles and Bleubeard:)! Thank you, thank you dear Elizabeth; I totally love it!! And speaking of, I have this to share with T Stands For Tuesday- hosted by Elizabeth:



 These are from our last trip to Cape May, NJ. I have shared food plates before from Oyster Bay Restaurant as we just LOVE the food and atmosphere here! We usually sit at the bar. I tried something new (top) - a vegetarian Mediterranean Flatbread with a balsamic vinegar reduction. It was sublime (and so big I took half back to our room for lunch the next day)! Hubby had his usual crabcake sandwich along with a side of waffle fries. For those of you who have asked how he can eat so much, along with all those luscious and rich desserts-well- he's a runner, a cyclist, he lifts weights, and he boxes!

 On to the art. I'll list the blogs I'm linking to at the end since several of my projects will work for the challenges.

 First up:


 My word of the year on a journal page. The art in the center is from a We Moon calendar from a few years back. I added the quote. I had been watching and listening to the Women Unleashed online sessions the last two weeks and this word came up to me repeatedly. What I manifested was to TRUST that the universe works FOR you; not against you.

         Did you choose a word, or for that matter did a word choose YOU?

 I created this page around the New Year full moon - the wolf moon - along with one of the lessons from the Radiant Faces online class (I still haven't finished them all after signing up a few years ago):


It's supposed to be a self portrait of reflection and the opportunities the full moon brings. Acrylics, stabilo pencil, uni ball gold and white pens, pearl medium (for the moon).

I decided kind of last minute to do a new calendar journal for 2018 and chose a different format:


The cover so far. It's a Strathmore 5" x 8" mixed media journal I covered with a handmade specialty paper I had gotten from Dick Blick some years ago.

 The inside cover and intro page:


 Patterned papers are from Stampington. The silhouette on the left was a leftover scrap piece I pulled from my stash. The words on the left of the image say "the life you always wanted" How about that!

 The first week's spread:


 The whole year will be done in this manner-weekly entries on the left and a bit of art on the right. I added the words digitally and printed my journal page to fit. I'm thinking of doing mostly collage, stamping and ink for the art pages and keeping them fairly simple.

 Still with me?  Thank you! One last project:


Texture Detail:

 Products: embossing paste; Tim Holtz Honeycomb stencil; Dylusions ink sprays- Bubblegum Pink, Calypso Teal, Lemon Zest; Tim Holtz wildflowers dies and Small Talk Occasions stickers; Versafine Onyx Black ink.

 Joining these places this week: Art Journal Journey (theme of New Year, new adventures hosted by Erika this month); the Simon Wednesday Challenge (Anything Goes); the Simon Monday Challenge ( Something New); Moo Mania and More ( Welcome); Tag Tuesday ( New beginnings); and Paint Party Friday!

 " For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."     T S Eliot

47 comments:

  1. Oh I am with you. This cold is nasty. But I really like your new calendar format. It gives you a lot of flexibility, which I like. And nice word. Your journal page is just fantastic. That is a cool image. The food looks yummy and so warm too. Thanks for joining us here at AJJ. Stay warm, and happy T day. And even more so, Happy New Year Linda. Hugs-Erika

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, off to a beautiful bounty of art creations for 2018! Enjoy your new year!

    ReplyDelete
  3. How absolutely AWESOME. Your post made me smile and grin, even though it's a mere 51 F in my office right now.

    Trust is a perfect word. Mine is Concentrate, something I didn't seem to do last year.

    I like your new art calendar format. It really still puts mine to shame. I love the painting you included with the full moon for the first month. Good luck with the new calendar style, too.

    Thanks for sharing your art with us at Art Journal Journey, and thanks for joining in for T this Tuesday.

    I'm SO glad you liked your little art quiltlet, too. Thank you for being so good to me over the years. It isn't forgotten, that's for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Forgot to mention happy 2018. Seems like only yesterday it was 2017!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happy New Year to you and yours, I hope all your new beginnings flourish, and that you continue to be so wonderfully creative this year. Love the pieces you got from Elizabeth. Thanks, too, for joining us at Tag Tuesday, much appreciated. And thanks for the gorgeous card you sent me. Happy T day, hugs, Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  6. Keep warm my friend ! Your new calendar format is super. A great word for the new year - that's something we need all! The journal pages and the art you already have done for the new calender and the WORD page and this lovely tag- all is just AMAZING! I am really looking forward to your art - year dear Linda!
    Happy 2018! Thank you very much for supporting Erika's AJJ theme !
    Much appreciated as you know!♥
    You are always a wonderful inspiration!
    Happy first T-Day of the Year!
    That yummie food makes me hungry - it's nearly lunch time here and I had no breakfast today - so I am already very hungry!
    oxo Susi

    ReplyDelete
  7. Brrrr the weather has been brutal here too not something we are used to any more since moving here. I love your art you are sharing today-I am really loving your moon and self portrait-that is really awesome and would have been stunning in framed too. I like the way you have set up your new journal.
    I do not usually think of word for the year but I may contemplate on that. The food looks delicious. Happy New Year and Happy T Day Hugs Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  8. A wonderful post full of amazing art pieces. Your new calendar journal looks great and your sweet girl painting is beautiful
    Happy T day and best wishes for 2018 to you and your family.
    Yvonne xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. oh my, where to start... a great word for the year, and your wolf moon page is gorgeous. as is the tag and the outside of the calendar Journal.
    oh, and great gift from elizabeth, too! happy t-day and have a wonderful year 2018 ♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, that fabric art is really pretty! What a special gift :)

    The full moon / portrait art is gorgeous! She has such a pretty face and a dreamy look in her eyes. Lovely stuff!

    Happy new year!

    ReplyDelete
  11. You have definitely started the New Year with a bang! Great art and a beautiful word to accompany you through the year. I'm still thinking about my one at the moment.
    Have a wonderful 2018.

    ReplyDelete
  12. i love that self portrait you have captured the warm friendly you..happy new year

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yes, brrrrrrr! It's been highs in the teens here, though I know it won't last. I like your full moon and the pose of the woman in the piece. The tilt of her head and the way of her shoulders. I keep going back to look at her :) Happy T Tuesday!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow! Linda ~ such an array of creativity on your post ~ both yours and your friend and the foodie shot (are you missing the beach?) ~ lovely post ~

    Wishing you a Happy New Year,
    A ShutterBug Explores
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a lovely fabric tag Elizabeth made for you, Linda. Oops I forgot to credit Squiggles and Bleubeard 😉

    Yes, I choose a word for each year or often – as you suggested - a word chooses me. Last year, my word was “Welcome”. This year, I’m pretty sure it’s “Bloom.”

    Your radiant face self-portrait is beautiful!!! I love her.

    This was a wonderful post to read! It inspired me in several ways.

    Happy New Year and Happy T-Day. Hugs, Eileen

    ReplyDelete
  16. So many beautiful pieces of artwork and a lovely quote to finish it off! Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Glad you are keeping warm and staying in with those cold temperatures - brrrr! I love the piece that Elizabeth made for you, it looks so pretty and detailed - perfect 😁. Both of your meals look yummy and all of the different artwork that you created to celebrate January and the New Year is amazing! Wishing you a happy and creative 2018 and Happy T Day! J 😊

    ReplyDelete
  18. Just LOVE that girl with the moon Linda. What a great job you did with that. I don't think i'm choosing a word this year .. instead maybe a little more formal list of resolutions.. might help me get some things accomplished with a little more intention.. lol i doubt it but maybe.. lol Happy New Year.. stay warm.. we are starting to come out of the deep freeze starting tomorrow.. thank goodness..Big T day hugs! deb

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your journal pages and tags are so unique and fun! I am loving your themes. And that fabric from Elizabeth is so pretty!
    Happy Tea Day,
    Kate

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful work! Such fabulous images and coloring!!

    Happy New Year!

    Thank you very much for joining us this week at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

    hugs...
    Melissa

    ReplyDelete
  21. A wonderful creative start to 2018 Linda! I love the tag especially. Your journal is inspiring. I received my beautiful quiltlet from Elizabeth as well - aren’t we lucky?!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Linda. Everything's so lovely, but my favorite is your tag. It is scrumptious! Happy 2018! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  23. A fabulous page and self-portrait Linda, and I love your colourful tag!
    Alison x

    ReplyDelete
  24. A great collection of art this week and I love the calendar idea! If I even remotely thought I would keep up with one, I'd give it a try but I know myself better than to set myself up for failure.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog for a visit and sorry I'm so late getting around to visit you. Life is always in my way :)
    Happy Belated T Day and NEW YEAR!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Lots of wonderful artworks dear Linda and I like them all. I would name your first page "Everything is possible", but "Trust" means nearly the same I think. The girl with the moon is a very nice image.
    Happy New Year
    Dear Greetings
    Sabine

    ReplyDelete
  26. Moon painting is lovely ~ so creative ~ Blizzard arriving tomorrow ~ oh well ~ tis Winter in New England ~ ^_^

    Happy Week to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  27. wow, everything in this post is utterly beautiful! happy new year! xo

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh Wow Linda! Such fabulous art of yours and of course Elizabeth's quiltlet! The girl in the moonlight is my favourite! I love 'Trust' too and think it is such positive word! Good to see your food/drink as well! Sorry to be so late visiting, we have been setting our alarm for 6.45 for the last couple of days as we have had to travel up to look after our grandchildren! Belated Happy T Day and stay warm! Chrisx

    ReplyDelete
  29. Tag is awesome and love the New Year Trust creation! Beauty!

    Happy Week to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Gorgeous artwork. Happy 2018

    Thank you for joining us at MOO MANIA & MORE

    ReplyDelete
  31. Beautiful art, happy PPF, hugs, Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  32. Awesome post full of beautiful art.
    Happy PPF and new year 2018 ❤

    ReplyDelete
  33. Such lovely pieces! Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Lovely art this week! I am going with hope and respect for my words.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Linda, I love the post and all of the art, however your moon child painting just captured me. Really beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  36. wow great pages, and lovely work

    ReplyDelete
  37. The tag is my favourite. Luv the detail of the texture
    Thanks for dropping by my blog today
    Happy New Year

    Much🎶love

    ReplyDelete
  38. I'd have to go with your hubby's choice - I can't turn down a crabcake. :)

    What a sweet and thoughtful pretty girl in her red dress! I really like the style of that last piece, too. Happy 2018!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi Linda

    What a BRILLIANT post..... I love that you are having a word for the year and that it found you. I am in LOVE (excuse all the capitals!) with your calendar idea for 2018. Before I even read it was a self portrait I thought it reminded me of you....

    Wonderful tag and quote too....

    Karen x

    ReplyDelete
  40. A really gorgeous project with so much lovely detail and fabulous texture...I adore it and thanks so much for sharing and for playing along with us over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog... x

    ReplyDelete
  41. Wow, that is one wonderful creative start of a year! Happy new creative year to you!

    ReplyDelete
  42. I like yoru Wolf moon girl. She has a beautiful expression on her face :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. I agree with this Wintry frigid weather ~ we are blessed to be in a warm home and snuggled here with my Yorkie ~ hugs and doggie kisses to you,

    Happy Week to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  44. Lovely projects and great word choice for the year! Especially enjoy the portrait with the moon - great work!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I love your new calendar/journal and especially your self portrait! Nicely done!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Love your self portrait..looks like a mohair sweater..stunning work and those tags are fabulous! Great word too! Id never have expected that one from you! Gorgeous art and fabric gift!

    Peace Giggles

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!