I have been loving the art journal backgrounds that I created in the online class I took. I love the idea of pulling color combinations from life and mixing them up in new ways. The background above was inspired by a geometric print throw pillow I saw. But once I saw the colors in my journal, I knew that the pages needed an octopus.

And this page was just where I was getting rid of excess paint that was on my brayer. But how great does this pelican go with those shades of green?

And lastly, I received this gem in the mail on the same day that I got a gift of sharpies from a dear friend.

I am enjoying working my way through the compositional prompts. I have some ideas for holiday gifts that need a little polish and I think once I get through this book I will be good to go.

What are you working on?

I went and got myself a ukulele a few weeks back and have been enjoying it tremendously. I was able to play the Happy Birthday song for my youngest on her birthday (which is both incredibly cheesy and incredibly fun). I know about 7 or 8 chords and can play a bunch of different silly songs (I totally rock the Hokey Pokey). The ultimate goal is to be a ukulele playing Storytime librarian, so I am going to keep plugging away until I have the confidence necessary to play to a room full of small, eager faces.

There are few things in life that make me happier than painting. Over the past two weeks, I have been working on prepping a new art journal. I'm taking Alisa Burke's online Art Journaling class (because learning new things is good!) and some of the stuff I already knew but some of it is brand new.

When you have been painting for most of your life (I remember getting my very first watercolor set when I was 5), you feel like you have tried everything there is to try. It is really exciting to learn a new twist on an old technique or (as is common in Alisa Burke classes) to see techniques combined in a way that makes them feel new and fresh again.

The best part about taking a class is that it rearranges all the stuff you know. It's like somebody flipped a switch and now I am able to make new connections and bring together things that I wouldn't have considered before.

If you are even a little bit into making stuff with your hands, I highly recommend checking out Alisa Burke's website ( http://alisaburke.blogspot.com ) and classes.

I have this life rule about learning new things. And the rule goes something like this: DO IT.

So when my friend Jenny offered to teach me how to make lamp work glass beads I said yes. Actually, first I said "that would be cool" and then a few months went by and then I was ready to learn.

So one sunny Friday afternoon, I got to play with fire and molten glass.

Once the beads are made, they go into a kiln to be annealed. Then you have to removed them from the mandrel with a special tool.

At first it was intimidating because that butane torch is both loud and REALLY REALLY hot and I was sure that I was going to make a huge mess.

My first bead was a sloppy lopsided melted lollipop looking thing. I asked Jenny to make another so I could watch her and figure out what I was doing wrong.

My next few beads turned out better. Obviously to be proficient I would need to make more than five beads. I had fun and it was really cool to see the finished product.

For the record, working with fire and molten glass is really satisfying.

Hey guys! I have been working on painting and planning and figuring out this whole work/art/life balance and it has taken me a few weeks, but I think I have got it.

Maybe.

We will see.

I recently purchased a whole mess of new Sharpie markers and needed a way to move them from room to room (as I am a migratory doodler). I did what any of you would do--I went to the art room and looked at what I already had to work with.

I present to you: a washi tape marker caddy.