Hello and Welcome Back to Going Gentle, where we pace ourselves and do what we love to keep balance in our lived full of responsibilities! 
For this post, I will be sharing about 2 of my favorite art supplies as a response to the Question from Karen Abend who is the host of Sketchbook Revival! I had so much fun watching some of the art sessions from varying artists that Karen interviewed, and I decided to share my favorite art supplies, both below and in a video where I actually demonstrate why I love them so much. 

I had so much fun demonstrating the different things I love to do with these two supplies that I use daily. From lettering and illustrating to coloring and choosing how to highlight the bits I draw.

The Pentel pen is EXCELLENT for fine detail in my lettering and illustrating, and the Neocolor IIs are great for vibrant color and texture! 

Come join me for some fun art inspiration as we celebrate our favorite art supplies together! 

What is your favorite art supply and why do you love it so much? You're welcome to share below in the comments! I'd love to hear from you. 

I so appreciate your view on my YouTube Channel videos and your subscribing; it means a lot to me. 
Enjoy and remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Hello and Welcome Back to Going Gentle! I love sharing the easy approach I'm taking to the Inktober 2024 event where we draw with ink from a prompt list provided; and I am getting inspired!

For Day 9, Sun was the prompt and I decided to put my own artistic twist on it and drew a fashion ensemble inspired by the Sun! How fun is that? 

I love the spiral as a design element and used it to create a sun motif for fashion I created from my imagination! And how fun is that? 

Sunshine on my shoulders! Yes, the top features a sun-patterned motif with sun-patterned scarf with a sunny pleated skirt, also with sandals and jewelry to match! I really enjoyed bringing this "vision" to life on the page! 

I initially used fine pen to draw the basic structure, which includes some highlights to create more depth and dimension, plus oil pastel in yellow and gold to liven it up with some color, since fashion just inspires me to get creative with color. I would so wear this if it existed in form! (hey, you never know...maybe some day!) 

I really enjoy drawing my own wardrobe choice each evening in my sketchbook journal so I thought I would take a similar approach with this Inktober prompt of sun for Day 9. 

The video shows my process from start to finish. There is a bit of light wash-out toward the end since I had a light in the background as well as on the desktop, just so you know. But you can still see the design being created.  

Thanks so much for reading/watching as I share my Inktober journey with you! I am having so much fun and thought you would appreciate the fun vibe too! 

Are you doing Inktober? Let me know in the comments! 
And remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Hello and Welcome Back to Going Gentle, where we talk about making things easier and paying attention to what works for us! 

For today's post, I am sharing a video about a certain collection I created for 2024, my LAUGH Collection, and how the collection served its purpose until it didn't. I describe the decision making process for making a change to something I intended to do for the whole year and why I decided to take a different approach. 

It's important to pay attention to the Collections in your bullet journal and whether or not they are serving the original purpose for which they were intended. 

It's always about how your life is improved, organized, inspired or how you can create a focal point that you look forward to working/playing with in your journaling practice. 

My Laugh Collection worked for several months, but as time waned, not so much. So I found another approach that I describe in the video! 

It's ok to change things up to suit your own aesthetic. That's what I love about bullet journaling. It is so customizable from month to month, as I make my pages, I can evaluate what stays, what goes and what to add if there is a new focal point that has come onto my radar that is worth paying attention to in its own space. 

If you are new to bullet journaling, I wanted to record this video to share with you my experience with my Laugh Collection and what the purpose of it was and how it has worked (or not) up until now. I hope it helps you with the decision making process as you make pages in your bullet journal each month. 

Let me know how it's going for you! I'd love to hear about your journaling practice! It's one of my favorite subjects! 

Thanks for watching/reading and subscribing to my channel. Remember I have The Art of Journaling videos right here on my website with tips and prompts for you to run with, as well as The Art of Journaling Prompt Play Book & The Art of Journaling Toolbox! Enjoy! 

​And remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Welcome Back to Going Gentle, where we focus on what really matters to our heart of hearts! In this post, I am sharing an unconventional sketchbook flip through starting back about 6 years ago (2018?) This sketchbook covers a LOT of ground and with changes in media over time. 

In the video, I share a non linear approach since it involved many projects, from pen and marker illustration to making colored pencil and pastel art for my Podcast, The Way I See It, to doing pen illustration combining cartooning and fashion. It's all in there and I share the visual and talk about each project in depth. 

Some are super special, like family member pencil or marker and pen sketches; others are more for visuals that I used on my website. 

Coming up with visual art for content I was creating was deeply satisfying and fun. 

Some use sketchbooks for urban sketching with buildings and people out in public spaces. Some use it for sketching wildlife and nature. 

In this sketchbook, it was more about illustrating (whether faces or fashion) and some cartooning since those subjects have always been of interest to me. 

I love being able to change up my media to keep things fresh so I don't fall into an artistic rut which can lead to boredom. I am blessed to have various tools of the trade in my studio practice, which, of course, has taken years to acquire and use with skill. 

I dove into drawing with pencil as a child and dabbled with pen and ink later in my youth, so there's that history I have experienced over time. 

I still love trying out new tools and learning how they work best for the effects I am looking to create, that are the most visually appealing and satisfying to my eye. To me, that's all that matters. If I'm happy, then I know I'm on the right track. 

Oh, and FUN. I say that word frequently as I share different projects from my sketchbook in the video. 
I'm always looking and enquiring about how I can inject fun in to my sketchbook, whether this one where I'm showing drawings and illustrations or the sketchbook I use for my daily journaling, where I use hand lettering to illustrate what I did in my day as well as my wardrobe pieces, which you can see on my fashion page here. 

If you desire to start a sketchbook, don't worry about what others are doing and compare what you're doing. Of course there is a place to be Inspired by other artists (I follow many!) but I always come back to what makes me happy. Faces, fashion, and hand lettering. Always go with subject matter that you are drawn to, no matter what it is. And look for inspiration in varying places. Not just online. But what's right in front of you. 

Follow your curiosity and see where it leads. Follow your artistic heart! 
And let me know if you keep a sketchbook practice for any reason; I'd love to hear about it in the comments! 
​Do enjoy the video of my sketchbook flip through and remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Hello and Welcome Back to Going Gentle, where we find ways to get more present and make life easier for ourselves! For this post, I am sharing with you a video I've titled A Scarf Extravaganza, where I share my in-real-time process of sorting and organizing my growing collection of scarves. 

If you know me, or if you have watched any of my fashion styling videos, you will see that I wear scarves pretty much every day. They have become an essential part of my wardrobe. I'm sorta, kinda obsessed with them. Ha! I always find myself scouting about looking for new colors, designs and fun fashionable looks with scarves whether from retails stores (often on clearance!) to estate sales and even antique shops! You just never know when I'll come up with one that simply suits my aesthetic and is a color I've been searching for for a while! Yes! 

In recent months, I've found myself struggling to keep it all organized. I came upon some great options for creating more ease with my colorful collection and decided it was time to sort and organize what I've got. 

So I decided to film the whole process (it took about 30 mins from start to finish) and share it with you; perhaps it will inspire you with getting your own collections of accessories in better shape if it's been a while since you've done so. 

At this writing, we are heading into autumn, but this can work any time of the year! So if you're interested in watching my behind-the-scenes scarf extravaganza, I'd love for you to join me. Even organizing can be FUN when it's all about FASHIION, Right?? 

My process was to start sorting by type, not necessarily by weight. And it seemed to move rather logically as I worked through the process, And then deciding where each scarf would go was the fun part too! 

Would you like to see where we started and where we ended up? Well, watch the video and see what it's all about! I'm having so much fun sharing my FASHION experiences with you! And if you're a scarf fan, leave a comment below! Let me know which scarf I show is your favorite or one from your own wardrobe. Yes, one of the perks of watching the video is you get to see most if not all of the scarves in my collection, from animal print to florals, to plaids and beyond! Yay! 

So without further ado, Enjoy watching A Scarf Extravaganza! See you on the other side (wearing a scarf, of course)! 

And Remember to have FUN WITH FASHION! 

Welcome back to Going Gentle! In today's post, I'm sharing an In The Studio video where I feature the many tools of my art trade as I work through subsequent layers of the making of an art journal spread with collage, gesso, and mark making. 

I love the whole intuitive process of creating an art journal spread, and this particular spread has been many months in the making. With a combination of collage elements (paper and fabric), plus stamping, and mark making with various tools, it continues to give me a satisfying place to express my emotions and build a history of how I'm feeling each time I come to it. 

I'm never in a hurry or wonder why it's taking me so long to complete. It's not about the final "product", so to speak; it's all about listening. To my heart, to my soul, to those intuitive nudges, to the colors and textures I'm drawn to use and make. 

In the video, I share specific tools from my art studio stash that come in handy with the visual interest I am building with my current spread. As you watch, it is my delight for you to be inspired to follow your own heart with your creative expression no matter what media you choose! Enjoy and you're welcome to share below in the comments about what tool you liked the most and how I used it in my art journal spread. 

My goal and aim with art journaling is not to be rushed but to Go Gently and intuitively, honoring my heart's message and what it has to say. I want to be always listening. 

I wish you the same. 
​And remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Welcome back to Going Gentle, where we talk about every day strategies to decrease our stress and increase our peace! 

Have you ever found yourself stuck in the decision making process and you're just not sure which way to go with something? We've all been there, right? But how frequently does this happen? Every day? 

It can help to have reliable strategies to help ourselves get UNSTUCK while in the process of deciding what to do in any given situation. 

For more complex issues, it can help to compare the Pros with the Cons. Writing down the details of what you are deciding and making it visual can sometimes make all the difference. (I talk about this more in the video.)

One of the issues and keys to making an informed decision is to GET Clarity on the issue you're addressing. 
Sometimes writing down and/or keeping track of your decisions and why you made them and then looking back on how it turned out can turn out to be a learning process so you can get more strategic next time! 

I talk about other ways to make decision making easier in the video, so you're welcome to check it out! 

Nothing is more challenging than feeling STUCK, because we want to get UNstuck ASAP but we're often uncertain as to how. 
It can help to trust ourselves more by looking back on where we went right with decisions in the past; so take the time to reflect! It might just give you the clue you're looking for! 

Journaling Prompt: 
What was your most recent success with making a decision. Detail the ins and outs of the context, any relationship impacted, and why it went right. 

Now contrast that with a decision that went inevitably wrong and where you got derailed in the process of that decision. What didn't you see coming? What did you learn from that decision so you can avoid that same trajectory next time? 
Don't beat yourself up when your decision doesn't work out. Just Learn and Live! 
​And remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Hello and Welcome Back to Going Gentle, where we share every day strategies to decrease our stress and increase our peace! And this week, we're talking about COMPARISON and how it can create unnecessary stress in your life and what you can do instead! 

In the video I share about how falling into comparison that undermine your confidence, leaving you feeling inadequate. That is not a fun place to be, is it? 

It is easy to look around at what others are doing, perceiving that they have it all together, while you feel like you're just not measuring up. 

Well, I propose a radical idea of Just Being Yourself, no holds bar! Unapologetic. Being YOU means all the parts of you, even your quirks! Or maybe especially your quirks? (I'm all for quirks; that is part of what makes us unique!) 

So, when was the last time you took a good look within at Who You Are, what your skill sets are, what your POV is? Your thoughts, ideas, strategies, problem solving skills, what you know that no one else knows? 

If it's been a while, perhaps it's time! Celebrate Yourself with no apology. 

Wear those crazy clothes if that makes you happy. Dance like no one is watching. Make that art you're been itching to make. Write that song and sing! Go for your dreams. 

But Do not fall for comparison. It will only steal your joy. So. Not. Worth. It. 
Just BE YOU. You're the only one who can be YOU. And if you don't, we'll be missing out! 
And we don't want that to happen, do we? 

Journaling Prompt: 
When was the last time you compared yourself to someone else? What was it about that person that got your attention? Detail that in your entry. 
Now look within at your skill set, what sets you apart. What are you naturally good at? Detail that in your entry. 

Is there any overlap? Is there something about your own POV that feels familiar to what you're seeing in that other person. What we see in others is often a reflection of our own hearts. Celebate who you are today! 
​And remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Welcome back to Going Gentle where we talk about strategies we can use every day to decrease our stress and increase our peace! 

This week we're talking about a way we can set the tone for our day and feel the most accomplished and relaxed by Choosing Just One Thing! I talk about the benefits of following the strategy of One Thing so we don't feel so overwhelmed with the Many Things on our To Do list. We all have them, don't we? 

Sometimes it can be helpful to take a closer look at what we want to accomplish and determine what we think would have the most impact, leaving us feeling confident and more relaxed. 

And who doesn't want to feel that way every day? The more relaxed we can feel, the more we can do with ease and flow, rather that stress and constriction. 

What would be your ONE Thing to choose today that would set your day in the right direction? Perhaps it would be helpful to take it to your journal for some clarity on the subject! 

Journaling Prompt:
Make a list or reference the one you already have and ask yourself the question: What would ONE Thing on this list accomplished make the most difference in my day today? Is it something I'm putting off? Something time consuming? Consider your list and choose one thing to do. When you're finished, record a follow up entry describing if it made a difference in how you felt afterwards. Did you get more done? Were you more at ease with yourself? 
Yay if so! It's all about being aware of what creates stress and choosing ways to increase our peace! 
​Remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Welcome back to Going Gentle and my new Surprise Series, where I share something in my surrounds that comforts, inspires or makes me laugh and that I desire to share with you! Perhaps a Surprise will inspire you to appreciate afresh what you love in your surrounds! 

Today' Surprise features a musical clown figure that sits on my dresser in my bedroom. 
I originally found this delightful clown at an estate sale several years back. I recall how, when I saw her, my inner child heart made me feel like Awwwww! So let me tell you why I responded that way and why I chose to take her home with me! 

When I was a child, I was especially drawn to the faces of porcelain dolls that had somewhat of a sad facial expression. There was something in that expression that drew me, where I felt it deep down in the recesses of my soul. I was touched when I viewed them, and wanted to take them home with me. Perhaps as a child, I thought I could cheer them up! 

When I would go to the mall with my mother, we would always visit this one store that carried these porcelain doll figures. Oh, there were so many! I would gaze at each one with somewhat of a melancholy appreciation for the beauty of their expressions. I could just stand there for hours to view them, but alas, it was always time to leave at one point. But I always left with a feeling of anticipation for the next time, almost like they were my porcelain friends I wanted to visit. 

What child doesn't experience their dolls with such devotion, right? <3

So, on the day I saw this beautiful clown doll who sits on a beautifully decorated music box, I was taken back to those times in the mall when I would view them in the store with Mom. It touched my inner child heart and I knew I just had to have her!

She is featured with clown face markings, a clown style head covering, beautiful lacing on the upper portion of her garment, plus a beautiful shimmery clown dress. What's not to love??  She sits prominently on my dresser, where I can see her and appreciate her beauty. 

And of course, recall the sweet memories of looking at those doll figures as a child. It almost gives me a wistful feeling looking back on those times. 

My mother has since passed this year of 2024; so I am grateful to have this sweet repeating memory of her taking me to that store just so I could gaze upon my favorite figures. Thank you, Mom, for honoring my joy in such a way. I will always remember. 

So what do you have in your surrounds that brings back sentimental memories that remain in your heart and what do they mean to you? You're welcome to share below. I would love to celebrate those memories with you! 

​You have yourself a delightful day and remember that Gentle is Magic!