I didn't think I'd participate in LSNED this year, since September is a crazy busy month for us, but when does that ever stop me from piling it on? I'm taking a very no stress approach - a tiny Moleskine notebook, a small sketch or photo, and that's about it. I've already skipped a couple of days and haven't done Tuesday's entry, but oh well. I'm just surprised I've gotten this far! Is anyone else playing? I do love Shimelle's classes. Her lessons are always so well written and the photos are inspiring. If you've never taken an online class from her, I highly suggest you try one. As an added bonus, her annual classes, such as LSNED and Journal Your Christmas are lifetime memberships. Once you buy the class, she automatically sends you the prompts every following year, free of charge. There is always an active forum, too.
Things have not been going as well with my Sketchbook Project. I have the pages prepped, but only two are actually worked on, and they're not complete. I have a concept, so I don't know why it's been so slow. I need to kick my own butt.

I made a few small changes to four pieces of clothing that have been rotting sleeping in my closet for way too long. I ran out of light this evening to finish the after pictures, so I'll save those for another post.

I had a request to post a picture of the seat protectors, from my tutorial, as I use them in the car. Sure! It has been added to the original post.

No, not dead people, although I do watch Ghost Hunters every week in hopes of catching a glimpse. I see faces. Everywhere. It's been that way as long as I can remember - in rocks, clouds, hillsides, cracks in the pavement, paint splotches - they are everywhere. I'm sure I'm not alone in this proclivity, but it is great creative fodder. I saw this tree out my back window.

Do you see the face? Here's what i jotted in my sketchbook:
Your challenge today? Find a face. Sketch it on the back of a receipt. Take a picture of it with your cell phone. Take a walk and look. There is a world of faces looking back at you! (If you do find a face and post about it, link it up in the comments. I'd love to see it!)

I have developed quite a "thing" for aprons. I've worn full aprons for years when baking, and I did make matching Christmas aprons for the kids when they were younger, but now it's beginning to turn into something more. For Madeline's last playdate, I made matching aprons from a vintage table cloth for them to wear while baking cupcakes.

(they are large enough for adults to wear, too!)

My favorite apron lately has been this vintage one:

I have been tying it on before cleaning or working, and for some strange reason, it makes me more productive. Not that I'm channeling June Cleaver (she wouldn't be caught dead in a Mickey Mouse t-shirt), but it is like slipping on a costume. When I was in college, I was in a production of Macbeth set in Medieval Japan. The director kept telling me that I looked to strong, too American, no matter how I held my body. But, as soon as I slipped that kimono on, my demeanor completely changed. Yuki even asked me what happened; it was the costume. So I suppose, the apron is my domestic costume. I'm thinking it's time to make another, more fitting to my personality. I'm participating in an Alice in Wonderland circle journal, so I'm thinking about a Mad Hatter themed apron. I'll leave you with some pages from my sketchbook that I used for the Alice paper dolls I had published in Somerset (you can see the final product here)




So tell me, who is your favorite Alice In Wonderland character? Have a mad weekend!

I've been knee deep in projects this week - a Thanksgiving book (you can see the pictures and tutorial on the MDW blog, here), a new art journal for an online class, some fiber bookmarks for a trade, an altered jumper, another altered book, and since the sewing machine is out, I finally stitched a little skirt from a vintage tablecloth to protect my beautiful desk chair. (breathing now...)

I suppose that will have to be all for now - the kids have little gift certificates from Build A Bear for their stuffed animal's birthdays (yes, their STUFFED animal's birthday - great marketing!), and the day off from school, so a trip to Build A Bear is in order. I hope my pocketbook survives the trip!