Where Women REALLY Create- A challenge!

I really wanted to work in my Art Journal this weekend, but as you know, life sometimes gets in the way of art. My little guy was sick with that nasty flu that is going around, so art took a backseat.

Do you ever feel like sometimes people online only post how wonderful everything in there life is? How truthful do you think that is? Don't get me wrong, I also see many people who only post their woes. But, I will leave that for another post. Right now, I want to talk about the people who's lives are "perfect." "Look at my wonderful family, art, art studio, husband, children (you name it)." I feel the pressure sometimes to make it seem like my life is so wonderful, but that isn't always the case. Don't get me wrong, I feel very blessed in my life and I am very thankful. But sometimes life is hard. Family is hard, our jobs are hard, making art is hard. I don't always have the perfect life and I think it is dishonest to put on the facade that I do. So I am declaring on this blog to try and be real. This is the place where I should be able to be truthful, right?

Let me start out with the "studio" (I use that word loosely). I really don't have a "studio" but a few walls off of our kitchen where my hubby and I share an office.  Here is what mine looks like right now. I know it isn't THAT bad, but let's face it, I won't be on the cover of "Where Women Create" anytime soon.


This is my main work area. Notice the hairband, the ripped up walls and the "Don't forget your Dentist appointment" reminder postcard. Yeah, everything pretty much gets thrown on my desk.

 

See, my Art journal is on my desk. I had every intention of working in it.

This shot is behind my paper organizer. You can't see it unless you look behind it. I'm sneaky like that.

This is my corner. My husband says I have a lot of clutter here. I don't know what he is talking about.

The only somewhat organized part of the room, my little sewing/craft paint credenza.

Welp, there it is. My "studio."

I'd love to know what your work area looks like. If you have a blog, post some pictures. Let's make it a challenge of sorts! Let's see Where women REALLY create!! Are you in?

Re-purposed Box Pin Cushion Tutorial

I received a cute little box of chocolates for Valentines Day and decided to see if I could re-purpose the box and make a pin cushion. Well, it worked and so I made a little tutorial for you. You don't have to use a box of chocolates, any little box will work.

Here is what you will need:
A Small Box
Fabric (I used a cute bandana that found at Wal Mart for $.98)
FiberFill
Ribbon (the picture shows washi tape, but I realized it wouldn't be sturdy enough)
Scrapbook paper (not shown)
Matte Medium (or Modge Podge)
Glue Gun

 

                                                                 

                            Hot glue fiberfill to top of the lid.                                 

 

 

 Cut fabric about 1 1/2 inches larger than the top of the lid.                                                                      

 

                           Hot glue the fabric tightly around the lid and cut off any of the excess fabric.

                                           Your box should now look like this.
                                          

 

Hot glue your ribbon around the edge of the box covering the bit of fabric that is still showing.

There was still some of the box showing at the bottom, so I decided to hot glue some white ric rac to cover the rest.

 

Now it is time to cover the bottom of the box (I really didn't want to be reminded of how many calories those chocolates were). Cut some decorative scrapbook paper to size and glue it to the bottom.

 

Here is what is looked like after I glued it.

 

                Add your sewing supplies and some pins in your cushion and you are all set.

 

                                           Here is what it looks like closed.

 

I hope you try this tutorial. I would love to see how yours turns out. Have a great week!
Shonna

 

Abstract Journal Page

Every once in awhile, I just want to play with paint!!

Have a great week!!

Shonna
 

Mumford Monday!

Hey All!

I am in love with the band Mumford and Sons! Last night they won a Grammy for Best Album of The Year and totally rocked the stage (did you see them?). They are an English Folk band and I really like their sound. More than that, I love the lyrics that singer Marcus Mumford puts down on paper. He seems to come from a very spiritual place and I just love that. A theme throughout both of their albums seems to be the struggle between our spiritual self and human self. This is also a theme I have explored in my Art Journaling. Maybe that is why I connect to their music so much. Here is the song that really made me fall in love with this band; it is called "White Blank Page." I hope you enjoy.

 

Mumford and Sons also inspired my latest journaling page. The quote says "Plant your hope with good seeds, don't cover yourself with thistle and weeds."- Thistle and Weeds by Mumford and Sons.

Have a great day!!!
Shonna
 

Working In My Journal Again

It has been since September 2012 since I have worked in my Art Journal. I was so busy making Christmas Ornaments that I didn't have time and then when the hustle and bustle was over, I lost any inspiration to do art. Does that ever happen to you? Do you have dry spells? I recently watched Mystele's new You Tube Video and was so inspired by her, that I opened my journal and began painting. Her excitement over creating art is so infectious and she is a great teacher as well. Thank you Mystele for helping get my mojo back!!

Here is the Art Journal piece inspired my Mystele.

 

This is a commissioned piece I did for someone who's best friend is having a baby. The woman who commissioned me to do the piece is the only one who knows the sex of the baby. The mother and father did not want to know, but gave her the envelope with the result. Now the mother is getting ready to deliver and this painting will be presented to her in the delivery room. Isn't that so cool?? I can't wait to find out how it goes.

Lastly, I was asked to substitute teach an Art Class for a home schooled group of kids. I taught two Thursdays in a row and had an absolute blast! Watching children make art is so exciting to me. They are so free when they create. You can see in their eyes how excited they get when they are given licence to get dirty with paint. And they make art for nobody but themselves. Here are the results...

                                      

Thanks for hanging in there with me, even though I'm not the best blogger in the world. :)

If you haven't liked my Facebook page, please hop on over...I would love to see you there as well.
Twisted Figures Artwork By Shonna Bucaroff
Shonna

 

I'm A Bad Blogger

Ok, so it has been forever since I have posted anything...sorry about that!! I feel like I spend so much time on Facebook and Pinterest that I seem to have little time to blog. If you would like to follow my Facebook page, please click here. I post most of the things I am working on there.

I have been working on Christmas ornaments like crazy since September. I sold some of them at a craft fair and the rest of them I have listed in my Etsy shop.

Here are some of them:

Ho Ho Ho!!
Shonna
 

You Matter!

Ok, so life totally got in the way of my art these past few weeks. My son had different things going on at school that I volunteered to help out with and then he graduated from Kindergarten!! I'm kind of sad about it to be honest, he is growing up way too fast. We went camping for a few days at the beach and my son had closing ceremonies for little league. I also just completed a 10 day kick start to weight loss challenge through a trainer at my gym. Last year I lost 65 lbs. and was doing really great!! (I still had about 30 more lbs. to go) Then I had some issues with my heart (so they thought) that I let derail my weight loss efforts. I could use my health as an excuse, but I'm not going to. My Dr. told me to stop working out until they figured out what was going on, but I stopped watching what I was eating as well and gained back about 20 lbs. within a 6 month period. Eating healthy is 80% of the battle, Exercise is 10% and genetics is 10%. So I totally had the control and chose not to use it. Anyway, I digress...after the 10 day challenge, I lost 6 lbs. and 2 1/2 inches all around. I feel like I am on the right track again. As far as my health goes, they performed every heart test you can think of and couldn't find anything wrong. I feel fine, so I am going to continue to exercise. I'm one of those strange people who actually enjoy it. :)


                      Camping at Carlsbad State Beach. How about the ocean as your backyard!!

                                     Closing Ceremonies (Escondido National Little League)

                                           "Spring Sing" performance at Jordan's School.

            I went with Jordan's school to Legoland Sea Life Aquarium. It was a lot of fun!!

Sorry about the rambling. Today I finally finished the art journal page I was working on in my last post. I decided to write little messages to myself on this page so I can look at it and be encouraged to keep working hard on my health! If any of you are struggling with weight issues, I hope this page will inspire you. "You Matter" enough to be the best version of you that you can be!! You are strong!!! You are powerful! Believe in yourself!! You can do anything you put your mind to!! Stay the course! And Don't ever give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!