Hello and Welcome Back to Going Gentle where we share a slower pace and get creative at the same time. 
For this post, I will be sharing about an Art Journal Spread that I've been working on since late 2023 (now that's going gentle!) 
I've been slowly making progress with lots of layers, fabric cutting and using stamps and making marks with oil pastel. 
My goal is to complete this spread before 2024 has concluded. 
Right now I'm in the midst of adhering the layer of fabric that I cut many months ago as part of the design element. 

The video above shows my process of adding a watch/clock stamp in varying places with pattern and overlapping, showing the passage of time I am expressing through the deeper meaning of this spread. 

I also use black and vibrant green oil pastel, by Faber Castell, making marks in various places. 

I do not include any narration in the video. I recorded it on the weekend while I was home with hubby. I do add a few notes to the screen clarifying what I am doing. So if you want a peek behind the scenes of playing in  my art journal, this is for you! 

My delight is for you to be inspired with your own creative pursuits! You are welcome to engage in whatever inspires you creatively while you watch. It's an 8 minute video, so just enough time to do something fun and inspiring! 

If you haven't already, and if you enjoy the video, please give it a like, leave a comment (either below or on my YouTube, and subscribe. I truly appreciate your support. 

I had fun filming this for you and I trust that fun with translate to you as you watch! 

​Remember that Gentle is Magic! 

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 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! 

Hello friends and welcome back to my new Going Gentle Series, the Surprise Series! where I share something that comforts, inspires or makes me laugh, whether it's in my personal space or something I ran into that I just HAVE to share with you! 

So, this week's Surprise is all about Sparkle! And about purposefully enjoying something outside the original context it is specifically meant for. Why not, right? 

So, I love holiday decor; I don't have much of it in my house, but what I do have, I love to keep around for the long haul. 

When I came across this sparkly gold/silver star, I just had to have it for my Christmas decor! But guess where I put it? Not on a Christmas tree. Nope. Although it would look awfully perty there, wouldn't it? 

I decided to hang it in a space where I would see it all the time. It hangs on one of my vision boards above the illustration area in my art studio space! Yes! I wanted it to be front and center along with several other items of joy. 

This sparkly star just gives this space some holiday punch, so basically it's a visual holiday year 'round! Yay! 

So, do you have an ornament or some other item of decor variety that you have/keep in a special spot so you can see it all the time? One that you never put away? You're welcome to comment below and share! 

Remember that making a simple choice to make yourself happy is all about Going Gentle...because Gentle is Magic! 

Ode to the Star: 
I love how you
sparkle
No matter
if someone is
looking
or not. 

You just hang in your
space happy to 
grace 
my visual desire
for joy. 

Happy star, silver 
and gold, 
a place to hold
that sparkle that
                                                                                                           never dies. 

Hello and Welcome Back to my new Surprise Series! Are you ready to be inspired? I'm excited to be sharing a moment of colorful appreciation with you for this second surprise! (You can check out the first one here!)

Everyone loves a fun surprise, and I wanted to share my color joy with you. 
Here's the back story: 
I love color in my spaces for sure. Years ago, I went to my local Target and found this set of office supplies in orange and yellows, those vibrant hues being at the top of my color list at the time. 
I've used them on repeat and still keep them in my art studio space because just having that vibrant visual makes my eyes happy! 

I recently added some olive green accessories from a recent estate sale find for 50 cents! 
There's nothing like color joy to liven things up; and when I feel that sensation of appreciation for those colors and when they can be put to practical use to hold my stacks of collage papers, mag clippings and photos together, that just spices up my space! 

So, do you have a favorite color that you feature in your environment? Perhaps on a desk, in your kitchen or some other nook where you spend time? Why not include what makes your sense of sight light up! How fun is that? 

Why not make life a little more colorful? Let's celebrate color together! Leave a comment and share what your favorite color is and how you have incorporated it in your surroundings! I'd love to hear about it. 

Here's to more Sensational Surprises!