Collage Play with Crowabout #46

This week's collage elements from Nancy B.of Crowabout, had a fabulous retro theme. I knew that creating this collage would be so much fun for me, as I love all things retro. All I needed was the vintage image of 1950's-era cherubs and Nancy's collage sheet and I was on my way.

If you haven't yet visited the Collage Play with Crowabout blog, you really must do so. There is an abundance of inspiration and fun waiting for you there.

Collage available in my Etsy shop.

© Nancy Lefko

Journal to the Rescue

What do you do when you're having one of those days? Your tendinitis is acting up and the cortisone shot just makes it worse, you go 15 rounds with your teenage son over video games and it's been raining for two days. Your heart aches and you feel powerless to change things that are beyond your control. You feel like burying your face in your pillow and having a good cry. But then...you remember the "Collage Play with Crowabout" that you'd decided against this week....you couldn't quite drum up an idea for the images given. But in an effort to find solace you turn to your journal with collage elements, paint, markers and glue stick in hand...and if for only an hour or so, you forget the tears that are just behind your eyes. If only for an hour or so.

Sometimes journaling is the best medicine.

© Nancy Lefko

"Mix It Up with Melange" Challenge ~ HARBOR

This week's word prompt at the "Mix It Up with Melange" Challenge is HARBOR and my first thought was not of the literal harbor filled with boats, but rather the safety of a harbor. I offer this mixed media ACEO entitled, "harbor of my heart," as it expresses the wonderful feeling of knowing that your love is safe with whom it is entrusted.

Please stop by the Melange Team blog and join in on the "Mix it Up" challenge....we'd love to see where inspiration takes you.

Collage available in my Etsy shop.

© Nancy Lefko

Help the Sisters Make a Difference

From its inception, it was the intent of the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Canvas," to give back to our community through the sale of our canvas. The recipients of the proceeds of that sale were to be sisters everywhere, so what better charity than one which funds Breast Cancer Research. All women have either known someone afflicted, or been impacted themselves, by this horrid disease.

With sincere thanks to Monica of Girl Gone Thread Wild, our canvas will be among a beautiful collection of art auctioned off to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Please visit Monica's blog post to read about The Pink Artist Drawing and see how you can help by joining in the auction. It's a win-win situation when you can help this important cause and receive a wonderful piece of artwork as well.

The Sisters are also deeply grateful to Monica for her lovely post about our collaborative journey.

"Mix It Up with Melange" Challenge ~ WHISPER

When I knew that WHISPER was the challenge word this week at "Mix it Up with Melange", I kept thinking of the presence of whispers in our lives. Sometimes it is the whispered "I love you" from someone close to your heart; sometimes it is the whisper of a friend confiding a secret too big not to share and sometimes it is God's voice whispering in our ear. The latter was the inspiration for this collage. Not only does God whisper in our ears, but He listens to the whispers in our hearts; the feelings that we can't even put into words but reside there and need to be heard.

Please stop by the Melange Team blog and join in on the "Mix it Up" challenge....we'd love to see what inspires you.

Collage available in my Etsy shop.

© Nancy Lefko

The Sisterhood is Back

When a group of lively and talented women gather together to work on an extraordinary project, what happens when the project comes to an end? Well, if the women are those of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Canvas, then the answer is, they continue on to the next adventure.

Thanks to the ingenuity of our dear sister, Pam Carriker, the Sisterhood is back on the map with our very own BLOG. How great is that? Now, we'll be able to share with you our artful journeys, new publications, workshops and adventures, big and small, as well as the spirit that makes the Sisterhood so strong.

Please join us at our blog and follow along with our first new endeavor...The Pink Artists Drawing. We have donated the canvas and journal that was featured in Somerset Studio Magazine to be auctioned off to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research. This cause is one that is near and dear to our hearts and we are honored to help in some small way. Please take a moment to visit the link and see all of the wonderful items that will be auctioned for this fine cause. It's a win-win situation!

© Pam Carriker, Glenda Bailey, Kathy Maximo, Denise Hayden, Jodi Ohl, Alisa Nordholt-Dean, Kim Geiser, Nancy Lefko

Words of Love

I'm back in the studio again and the mixed media collage entitled "Words of Love" is the result. When I came across this image in my collection, I immediately thought of the song, "Forever My Love," by Carly Simon. The couple sharing a whisper of love brought to mind that particular line from the song. Naturally, I was either singing or humming the song throughout the creation of this collage...trouble is, now I can't get that song out of my head! Well, at least it's a lovely little tune.

Collage available in my Etsy shop.

© Nancy Lefko

Collage Play with Crowabout #44

With fabulous collage elements from Nancy B. of Crowabout, I created this mixed media collage on 140 lb. watercolor paper. I didn't have a clear picture in mind when I received the collage elements, except for the trio of queens...the rest of the collage came together as I played with the elements. I suppose that's why it's called, "Collage Play."

If you haven't yet visited the Collage Play with Crowabout blog, you really must do so. There is an abundance of inspiration and fun waiting for you there.

Collage available in my Etsy shop.

© Nancy Lefko

Home Again

Our much anticipated road trip has come and gone and we are home again in New Hampshire.

Before leaving on vacation, I packed a tote filled with my journaling supplies: Moleskine watercolor notebook, watercolor pencils, water reservoir brush, Pitt pens, pencil, eraser, scissors, glue stick and pencil sharpener. (I had stamped some background images on half a dozen pages before packing up the journal.) My collage elements were garnered from tourist brochures and travel guides found at rest areas along the way. Not only was this journal a great way to pass the time as we rode along but is now a wonderful memento of a fabulous road trip.


Our journey began on June 29th when we headed West to Wisconsin. We spent the first night in Erie, PA after a smooth start, eight hours of drive time and two stops. These journal entries were made as I "rode shotgun" and kept the kids filled with snacks and juice and made sure their power cords were plugged into ports. That was my job. (It seems video games, iPods and portable DVD players have replaced "the license plate game.")


The morning of June 30th greeted us with torrential rain, thunder and lightening. The hotel lost power and quickly switched to generator as we were waking up and getting ready to leave. We drove through some of the heaviest rains I have ever seen and thankfully avoided the reported flooding. Shortly after entering Ohio the rains let up and the drive was much better into Illinois.


Arriving in Chicago brought a special feeling and a flood of memories. It always brings me back to the many car trips we took when I was young to visit family who lived in the suburbs. Staying in the suburb of Schaumburg naturally included a visit to the Woodfield Mall, the number one tourist attraction in Illinois (go figure.)


On day three of our road trip we arrived in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and were lovingly greeted by cousins, aunts and uncles. I am so grateful to have had this time with my family and we spent the next four days talking, laughing, eating, celebrating, swimming, boating and laughing some more. Much too soon, and with a tearful goodbye, we head back to Chicago and the final highlights of our road trip.


July 7th began with a trip to the Field Museum and oh, what a museum! There was a thrill around every corner, especially for my ten year old son who could hardly contain his joy amidst the Egyptian mummies and prehistoric creatures. His wealth of knowledge on these particular subjects came pouring out at lightening speed. (We had our very own tour guide and expert for the day.) After barely scratching the surface of what the Field Museum has to offer, we head to Clark and Addison...home of the beautiful, historic Wrigley Field.


Before entering Wrigley we made sure to find the personalized brick paver, in memory of my dad, on the concourse surrounding the stadium. We take in all the sights and sounds of this wonderful ballpark and after a disappointing Cubs loss head back to the hotel and prepare for our journey home.

An art journal can be used for many things, among them recording events we want to remember. My advice is to make sure to pack your journal and supplies along with your swimsuit and sunscreen...you'll be glad you did.

© Nancy Lefko