Just Doodlin'

Our third lesson in Art Journaling with Pam Carriker is the wonderful world of the doodle. What a simply fun endeavor! It brings me back to those days in high school, doodling on my notebook during a boring class. But I must say that doodling on my journal pages is far more enjoyable. It was the perfect kind of art for me this week. I could doodle away while sitting with my sick child as we watched SpongeBob for the umpteenth time.



© Nancy Lefko

Fabulous Award

It is always great fun to discover a wonderful new blog and even more fun to realize that the blogger enjoys MY blog as well!

I received this totally chic award from Lil Sweet Pea and am honored to pass it along. One caveat is to list five things that I am "into" right now. Here goes...

1. art journaling (thank you, Pam)
2. creating in my new studio
3. staying warm
4. creating my workshop lessons
5. and always and forever, being MOM

I pass along this fabulous award to the following fabulous artists!

Pam Carriker
Gail Schmidt
Kathy Maximo
Stacey Merrill
Heather Holbrook

More Journal Pages

The fun continues as I work on my journal pages for the online workshop, Art Journaling with Pam Carriker. I used leftover paint from another project to paint the background color of two new pages. Pam is right about that...it's a great way to use up leftover paint. In the past I had thrown away a good deal of paint that could have been used in a journal. Now that I have discovered art journaling there will be no more wasted paint.





© Nancy Lefko

Illustration Friday ~ Climbing

When you are CLIMBING, remember, the sky's the limit.

This collage for Illustration Friday is available in my Etsy shop.

© Nancy Lefko

Art Journaling Workshop

I have never been one to keep a writing journal filled with my innermost thoughts. And I had never even given a second thought to keeping an art journal...until now. I am currently taking an online workshop in Art Journaling with the very talented Pam Carriker. Pam frequently shares her journal pages on her blog and I was intrigued by this wonderful form of self-expression and what looked like "plain old fun." Well, I'm hooked. There is something wonderfully "freeing" about this business of "art journaling." There is no right or wrong, no concern over "saleability," no critic waiting in the wings. It is art for art's sake and it really is "plain old fun!"

If you have ever toyed with the notion of keeping an art journal I strongly recommend Pam's workshop. It is easy to follow, professionally presented and enables one to work at her own rate.

Below are examples of my journal pages in progress. Thus far, we have completed Lesson Two (but you can join the class at any time and not miss a beat.) These pages will be further embellished as we go along. So come on along and join the fun!




© Nancy Lefko

Sweet Award

The very kind and talented Thelma has given me this sweet blogger award. Isn't it so luscious...love those colors !

Along with passing this to 7 other bloggers, I need to list 7 things that I love (in no particular order except the first.)

1. my boys and my husband
2. living in New Hampshire
3. the beach, the ocean and everything related
4. coffee, coffee and did I mention coffee ??
5. long girl gabs
6. creating art
7. curling up fireside on a winter day

Wow, I'm done? I could have gone on and on.

The following bloggers will knock your socks off when you visit their amazing blogs !
Fannie Narte
Diana Evans
Jodi Ohl
Kim Geiser
Alisa Nordholt-Dean
Roberta Baird
Lisa Rivas

Mixed Media/Collage Backgrounds Workshop

I am pleased to announce that I will be teaching a five-session ONLINE WORKSHOP at the wonderful site, Creative Workshops. The course will begin on March 9 and will explore the process of creating backgrounds rich in pattern, color and design. My thanks to Gail Schmidt for her magnificent support and encouragement as I have prepared the course. Thanks, also, to my dear friend Pam Carriker for bringing my artwork to Gail's attention. I hope to share time with friends and meet new people through this wonderful experience.

© Nancy Lefko

Custom Orders

I have been busy over the past two weeks working on a custom order for a sweet gal from Sweden. The four collages pictured here will be on their way overseas on Monday morning. It is always fun for me to think that my art will visit countries that I probably will never see myself. The internet has, in many ways, made the world quite small.



© Nancy Lefko

Thank You, Alisa

This beautiful pendant arrived in the mail the other day from my dear friend Alisa Nordholt-Dean. Alisa is an extremely talented artist whose collages and pendants are simply joyous. Her craftsmanship, in the soldered pendants she makes, is unparalleled. This pendant is even more beautiful in person than in the photograph! You will completely enjoy a visit to Alisa'a blog and Etsy shop...where you will be VERY tempted to buy yourself a New Year's treat!!

pendant © Alisa Nordholt-Dean