Creative Girls' Tribe: A Unique Place for Young Female Entrepreneurs

I am just so excited to introduce the 'Creative Girls' Tribe'. This is a summer art camp created specifically for young women that want to learn the business of art while having lots of crafty fun in the process! I was (and still am) a crafty lady. I was encouraged to sell my art to neighbors growing up but my entrepreneurial skills were not developed much beyond that...although if classes like that were available, my parents would have signed me up! Creative Girls' Tribe

So I created the 'Creative Girls' Tribe' so that I can mentor other young women into following their passions and being profitable in the process.

After rolling out this camp, many other women came to me and were asking for help in getting their creative passions off the ground. What an honor, a true honor to be seen as this type of person in the community. Not only will I be working with young women, I will be working with women of all ages and encouraging them to follow their dreams and live a art-filled life. I am rich on many levels.

Sunday Solace //

It's definitely summer here in Blacksburg! My calendar is filling up so quickly...I feel blessed with so many opportunities and overwhelmed at the same time. I want to give my daughter a wonderful summer vacation and I want to continue to pursue my creative, spirit fueled life. I found my solace for the week--through time in the studio, time on the yoga mat and time in nature. I even found some time this past weekend to spend alone...I have decided that may be the best solace of all... First up is the gorgeous handmade paper book by Maggie Puckett. I want to try to get a handmade paper with things found in nature off the ground this fall...I think this book just might inspire this idea into reality. Are you drooling over this book yet?

handmadepaperbook_053115

Next up is something that I continue to teach my daughter. I chose an alternative way to live life. I chose to work part-time so that I can focus on making art and getting closer to something bigger than myself. Just because we chose a different path, does not mean we are living life wrong...just different.

Confused maybe but definitely not lost...

Of course I am featuring a beautiful eco-print! This one is from India Flint. It was Flint's work that inspired me to start printing! I remember seeing these outrageous leaf prints and thinking to myself, "What the hell is that and more importantly, how do I do it?" I fell down the rabbit hole right then and there and never looked back...

India Flint's Eucalyptus EcoPrint on Wool

 

I found this adorable handlettering on Pinterest. It linked to an art website but I cannot find a specific artist...which is a bummer. I would love to know who made this so I can give them credit!

Look Deep Into Nature

How about this beautiful artist journal spread by Orly Avineri?

Orly Avineri

And finally, an article on being raw and vulnerable and all those lovely things that are just so damn scary sometimes... I found this gem on Rebelle Society.  I love their articles and how to live a life on your own terms. I may do my own thing, but I still need some guidance...

Being Raw and Vulnerable...

What do you do to find solace in amidst chaos?

 

Sunday Solace //

I just love Roxanne Coble's 'Friday Finds' that I have decided to do something similar on my blog. I am on a crazy spiritual journey full of twists and turns, falling apart and falling into place, prayer, mediation and writing, writing, writing. I decided to focus my finds on this journey to keep me engaged and focused. 'Letting Go is the Hardest Asana'

Oh how I have been learning to Let Go! Rather I want to learn this lesson or not, the Universe is determined to teach me this concept. I find some much freedom in this but find it so hard to actually practice. Fortunately, I have a very free-spirited 4-year-old that gives me a lot of practice on conscious parenting...

'Bohemian Spirit Vintage Lace Dreamcatcher'

I have loved Karen Michel for years. I fell in love with her art journaling style and then her dreamcatchers. She also has a passion for environmentally sustainable art supplies. As I learn to ride the wave of this crazy, art-filled life, I work hard on creating a low emissions studio. Not quite at zero but lowering my footprint bit by bit each day.

'Non-Attachment: How to Set Ourselves Free'

During one of my many journaling sessions, I kept hearing a voice that was telling me to detach from a dear friend of mine. Not so much leave his life, but to detach from the outcome of the relationship. While detachment is something that I continue to work on daily, it allowed our friendship to deepen and we became closer while still maintaining individuality to pursue our own lives. One of the greatest and most powerful lessons I have learned to date...

'Eco Printing' by Elizabeth Bunsen at 'Be...Dream...Play'

Of course I am featuring eco-printing! This is one of my favorite eco artists, Elizabeth Bunsen. Her work is breathtaking! How does she get those colors? Her journaling technique is just as gorgeous as her prints. While she is not blogging as consistently as she once was, her posts are definitely worth the wait!

'I Beg of You' A journal spread by Roxanne Coble of By Bun

Ok...I admit. I have a total fem crush on Roxanne Coble and her work. She has become so inspirational to me! Check out this journal page spread...what is not to love about her work? i have been copying her technique and little illustrations in my own altered books.  I am digging the results and am looking forward to making my journals my own. For now, I will continue to drool over her work!

'Life Slipping Away' Handlettering by Rebecca Blair of Rebecca Blair Art

I have really stepped up my own handlettering in my journals over the past year. When I say this spread by Rebecca Blair of Rebecca Blair Art, I knew I had some more work to do. I love the circle and arch in her lettering. I am excited to try that particular technique in my personal journals. I typically draw lines and letter in between. I want to make handlettering a part of signature as an artist. But much like yoga, art gets easier with practice! I hope you have enjoyed my very first 'Sunday Solace'. I am eager to share more spiritual and environmentally conscious finds. Do you have any favorite finds? I would love to share what you love too!

NEW Works from the Bimbur Books Studio

I have been wonderfully busy creating little handbound books for the various galleries that sell my work. I debate daily on rather to open my own online store. I tried Etsy several years ago and became overwhelmed by the upkeep of a store front. Some seasons I am super busy making pretty little things and marketing them and other times, I am in a bit of a hibernation period and am making very little. For now, I will continue to sell at my favorite local galleries and street fairs but you never know, I might make that leap to online sales...Enjoy! 'Progress': Butterfly Ledger 8 x 5 3/4 x 1"

'Progress' 8 x 5 3/4 x 1" Spine

'Progress' 8 x 5 3/4 x 1" Back Cover

'Progress' 8 x 5 3/4 x 1" Front Cover Detail with Mica

'Progress' Ecoprint Endcover 8 x 5 3/4 x 1"

'Intention' Front Cover 4 1/4 x 6 x 1"

'Intention' Spine 4 1/4 x 6 x 1 Ecoprint papers and fabrics

'Intention' Back Cover 4 1/4 x 6 x 1 Ecoprint papers and fabrics

'Intention' Front Cover Detail 4 1/4 x 6 x 1 Ecoprint papers and fabrics

Sweet Little Eco-Print Scrappy Collages

I have so many sweet little eco-print papers that are too little to sew into one of my handmade books but too pretty to throw away. I have been hoarding them like the leaf apocalypse is right around the corner. Instead of keeping them all to myself, I took them out of the plastic baggie I store them in and decided to make these scrappy collages. Scrappy Collage: OrangeI got some much orange color from all the rust from my last dye pot, I just decided to go with it and accent this collage with orange scrappy papers.

Scrappy Collage: Orange Close UpI love the black around the leaf on this little bit and the fern stencil/stamp sitting side by side

Scrappy Collage: Brown

Scrappy Collage: Brown Close Up

Scrappy Collage: Red

Scrappy Collage: Red Close Up

I am going to add some embroidery, mica bits and eco-printed fabrics. I am considering adding some inspirational words or quotes along the bottom on the white watercolor paper. Maybe some walnut ink splatters? I don't know...I love the endless possibilities of book and paper arts! I will matte them and add a rustic barnwood frame.

What do you do with your little scrappy bits? Hoard them? Give them away? Throw them in the trash? Add them to your art journals?