oh yes. i signed up for another class.

Well, e-course, which means I get it all in one place. No daily check-ins where I get antsy if no new posts are up, I can work in any order I want, and I can look at all of the pretty pictures however many times I want. It's great. And it's even more great because it's an Elsie Photo Journals e-course all about paper and pictures...what more could I ask for? There's just something about how simple and quirky her drawings, lettering, even stitch lines, and color choices turn out - I just love it.

I mean, look at all of these wonderfully cute, thoughtful, and soon-to-be-envious-of-and-want-one-Hannah-can-you-make-me-one-too photo journals:

I can't wait to get started!! And if I can get my act together, I'll try and post updates on how my little books are coming together....

*all photos are courtesy of Elsie Flannigan via Elsie's Photo Journal e-course (private) site.

Makes you want to check it out, huh?

4 simple goals.

Sweet Elsie came up with this great goal adventure for those willing to embark on before 2011. I know I'm not one for keeping up with things, i.e. this blog for one, but this seemed very do-able!

1. Organize old photos into albums. This will keep the mental pressure off to not have to go back to 2004 and continue my scrapbooking. I already have prints of my pictures in a box, so these will go in albums and I'll continue my current scrapbooking guilt-free!

2. Paint & decorate "steproom" in house with photo display. When my guest room was turned into the "steproom" that leads to my craft studio, it became the hub for boxes, piles, and complete disorganization. I have the paint, I have the pictures, and I have the frames. All it needs is a little love and dedication.

3. Spend time with my sewing machine. I've made a few things in the past - nothing too major - but now that I'm signed up for Home Ec, I plan on spending a lot more time with the 'ole gal. It would be my ultimate goal to make enough to sell, but if I put pressure on that, it might take a little of the fun away. Class started last Tuesday, and I plan on making some napkins tomorrow (1st project)...excited!!

4. Art Journaling. I've started two art journals from classes I've taken in the past, and I so enjoyed this focused time for journaling. My goal is to complete pages on a more regular basis whether they're happy, sad, angry, time-consuming, etc. It really helps me to be creative, and art journaling is such a therapeutic way to get some stuff out and feel those creative sparks.

So, there they are. I'm linking back up to Elsie and getting to "work!"

photo albums via flickr (adapted by me); frames, sewing machine (original painting by Elsie Flannigan), and art journals via weheartit

two journals.

My niece will be so proud of me for FINALLY posting my journals on my Etsy. She took all of the pictures and has had a post on her blog written and ready...for about two months now. Yeah, I'm like that. And now she's in Paris. That lucky little bird.

These are the first books I've ever made with stitching - I've used d-rings before and staplers of course as a kid, but this was a new undertaking for me. Well, I'm hooked. The first day I made 4, and followed with a few more...changing the design little by little each time. It all started with Rachel Denbow's tutorial in she and Elsie's art journal class (which, is now sadly over) and a Sunday afternoon in my craft space...

the doily.

I've sold 2, and gave 3 away as gifts to my nieces for their travels abroad this summer. I can't wait to see them filled! These are the 2 that I have left of this batch. I hope to make some more soon.

three blue flowers.

Both of which are for sale in my Etsy shop.

*Washi tape embellishments courtesy of Pugly Pixel. Head on over there and get you some....

testing, testing, 1...2...3...

Trying out the Flickr to Blogger convenience... bear with me while I figure all of this stuff out. I'm trying to make a comeback to the blogging world with my journals I've been working on, as well as adding them to my Etsy shop. So, let's start with one and see how this turns out....

Little Red Journal 6

Originally uploaded by valntine_89

{turquoise} tuesday.

The goal was to post on Tuesdays first thing in the morning, so that I could be inspired for the day. Well, this morning I was assisting at a home birth (it was a boy!!), so I came home this afternoon and crashed! Which makes this Tuesday's inspiration all the more meaningful.

This was the door to my beach cottage last summer. How perfect! I long for a joyous reunion with this door, to walk through and reacquaint myself with its coastal simplicity. I want to greet the sea on the other side...shake hands with the sun. I want sand on my toes and salt in my hair. I want the Mother Ocean to hold me in her arms and give me the biggest hug of her life.

overwhelmed.

Just opened up the floor for my thoughts, ideas, and the little things that give me a tiny flutter.

Now what?