Last weekend we all got a reminder: a major thunderstorm called ‘Ciara’ drew across the land. I always felt save, as a kid and as an adult, living here and I still do. However, the storm reminded us of what it can do… my friend went for a walk after the storm and took pictures of the damage.

Friday haiku

The photo was taken by my friend Lena Schreijenberg

I submit this haiku to Recuerda Mi Corazon where our lovely hostess Rebecca brings us all together to share a haiku on Friday: Haiku my Heart.

I stayed inside all weekend and while the storm raged and rain hit my windows, I sat in my atelier and had a good time. I made a tiny little journal.

Tiny art journal

See those ‘runes’ written on the pages? Those are runes I made up myself a long time ago, when I studied to become a teacher in arts. I wrote a blogpost about this in 2009 (yep, I am blogging that long already…) and if you are interested in hearing the background and see some of my gratuation work, click the link. Anyways, I found my old notes and used that ‘self made runes’ lettering again. And what does it say, those ‘words’ on the pages? When you ‘translate’ it, it is in Dutch and it’s part of a poem from “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost…”

Online workshop “LET IT LOOSE”

Next week, my online workshop starts and I am getting pretty excited! There’s a nice group of ladies who registered and I look forward to see what they will create inspired by the lessons and prompts… since the classroom is online, it’s expandable and it provides room to a numerous account of participants. Wanna join? You are welcome!

This online workshop starts on February 20.
6 weeks – 12 lessons:
In English and Dutch: € 45.-

Here are some examples of art created at this online workshop by former members of “Let It Loose”

More examples of art by Let it Loose participants can be found here

And here’s what former students say about the workshop:

“This has been the best experience…I have found another side to me that I didn’t know existed!!!! (…) I have also learned an important life lesson….I can let it loose….creating does not have to be that perfect, orderly art piece… it can be messy, have mistakes, and even not be the greatest…but it makes you HAPPY!!” ~ Jocelyn

“I had such a wonderful time with this workshop. I learned so much. I am still using all that I learned everywhere I go! Marit is a wonderful teacher, and she is offering this workshop again. I highly recommend it!!” ~ Danielle

“I don’t know if I could pick a favorite lesson. I think what I loved most about the class was the variety! Let it Loose has been such a fun and inspiring class! I highly recommend it – whether you have never tried art journaling, or you’ve been doing it for awhile. The lessons are fun and easy to follow, open enough for interpreting in your own style, and the atmosphere is super supportive!” ~ Michelle

“I’ve took a super cool art journal class with Marit – I wish I’d had teachers like her in school! When you visit her blog, check out her work – wow! If you have the chance to take a class with her – do it! You won’t regret it.” ~ Anne

DUTCH go HERE and ENGLISH go HERE for more info and registration. (Registration closes March 1).

Thanks for your visit.
Have a lovely weekend, stay safe!

Je t’embrasse

(What’s On My Workdesk? Wednesday is a weekly blogseries/hop hosted by Julia in the United Kingdom and lots of crafty people share photos of their desks every Wednesday.)

After working on the stenciled folded booklet that I wrote a tutorial about (see guestpost
at Balzer Designs) I had some free time to play in my  ‘Chronicles’ art journal (I will publish those pages later) and to visit the internet/blogs. One thing I came across was a picture of a tiny, little journal and I got so inspired that I decided to make one too. It’s now laying on my desk, along with the other ‘mess’… come on in and see for yourself.

WOYWW #293

Desk to the left

Desk in front of the window

See that tiny little book in the middle of the photo? It’s not finished yet (I still have to alter the cover) but I liked working this small (2.5 x 1.7 inch / 6 x 4,5 cm.) I already folded pages for another ‘tiny journal.’

The inspiration for these came from Roxanne Coble over at By Bun
Not only her post about the mini journals is worth a visit, I looked around on her blog and there’s much more inspiring stuff (she creates beautiful – bigger – art journal pages too.)

Here’s some pages from my tiny journal…

It’s really satisfying to work this small… and, as Roxanne puts it: “the minis are great […] as a place to dump leftover paint or bits of ephemera.” I have the feeling I’m hooked already so I presume you will see quite a lot of them mini’s popping up on my worktable in the next couple of months.

Hope you all have a creative day.
Oh, and when you’re running out of ideas: make a mini!