Jane Davenport Blog Hop!! 3 Creative Journal Inspirations!

Hello Inkies!
It has been quite the quiet corner over on here on my blog, but I thought I'd jump right back into the hot seat and throw some creative spark starters at you using the new Jane Davenport Artomology Range.

Today I want to show you three simple quick creative ways in which I've tweaked Jane's wonderful stamps for my journal pages. I love to look at stamps in a different light, how can I make it look quirky and a little weird because that's what I like to create and draw.

This is probably the most 'normal' way I've used the ADORABLE Narwhal.

I grabbed a blank project life card and the shade Scallop Shell! (by far my favourite shade) I stamped this at the top of the project life card and just cut around the top part of our Narwhal's body so that my tip in has a nice shape, which is a cute feature when all the items around it are straight lines. I've used the Smooth Markers to create a bright pink boarder and some sketchy lines for Journalling at a later date.

Very simple and instant gratification which I am ALL about when it comes to journal keeping, we only have so many hours in a day, we want quick yet beautiful way to add things to our memory keeping books.

Speaking of quick ways to add things to our journals, sometimes we only have time for the highlights! We want to get down the daily highlights just so we have a record somewhere, short on time and want to make note of one thing that happened that day. I saw this stamp in Jane's range and again looked at it..with my sort of eyes heehe.

 Grabbing my Smooth Markers again, I coloured in her hair bright and crazy knowing full well I will be giving her a haircut and separating her locks from her face changing the entire look.

I wanted to create a cute and colourful way to capture daily highlights. The little things that stick out from the day, when you don't have a large chunk of time this is a great way just to get the important forget me not highlights! I LOVE how this came out and have already made several more to shoot across my pages in the coming months.

Last fun way to use Jane's stamps is a cute little bug girl! I love creating creatures and whimsical takes on things. When I saw these little droopy flowers I instantly saw bug antennas! I then wondered how I could create the wings for our bug, and a flower cut in half would do just the trick! I grabbed a simple girls head with the same floral motif to make it look like a bug head wear.

I took inspiration from an oddball version I created in a pocket art journal that I work in from time to time. So I decided to create a bit of a bug sisterhood on my page. I think the Jane's version is the fancy well traveled bug sister. I used a fine tip black pen to create the line work on her bug body and the page boarder.

Stamp Sets:
Unicorn Sparkle
Relaxed Narwhal
Hair Lines
Poppy Girl
Flower Girls
Marker Sets:
Smooth Markers Feathered Friends
Smooth Markers Mermesmerising

Ink Pads

Squid Ink Scallop Shell

Squid Ink Cave Black
Other Supplies
Black Fineliner
Blank Project Life Cards
Red Copic Marker.
Glue Stick

I hope you've enjoyed my 3 ways to play with your Artomogy stamps! There are so many more ways to play with these! I shall make sure I create some more for you very soon!
Pop on over to Jane's Blog where the hop begins. but if you have started with her then pop on ove4r
to see the lovely Zinia Redo
The other blog hoppers are below:
Kate PalmerMona TóthAnna Komenda
Spellbinders
 

There is also a giveaway for US Davepeeps! If you're interested jump over to the Jane Davenport Artomology Collection Bundle Sweepstakes

Have an AWESOME ARTY DAY Guys!
xx Courtney

The Altered Sewing Book - The beginning of the Fear

Many years ago now, I started an altered sewing book, a huge vintage sewing book that I turned into an art journal, little did I know back then that this journal would be one of my very favourite art journals that not only I adored but many others had come to adore.

So one sleepless night (I have so many) I laid awake thinking of new ideas for my Y
outube channel, when I decided I would teach people  (and I use this term teach SUPER loosely) how to create a sewing book altered art journal for themselves. Not realizing the absolute magnitude that this project would become I decided to set the wheels in motion and present the idea to my viewers.

Streams and streams of positive feedback hit my inbox, I was actually very overwhelmed with the amount of YES PLEASES! I got. People wanted to see this happen, and now it was my job to make it happen...and so I took the steps to begin planning this mammoth task.

In between this project we moved house (and it was a nightmare) we also got hit with a superbug as you do when all your defenses are down due to the previously mentioned move, and then the dreaded school holidays.  My poor sewing book idea was put on the back burner as I got my barrings in the new house, created my studio space and generally took a break (if you can call school holidays a break).

While doing this, the comments kept coming, are you still doing this? Is this book still happening? Did I miss a video? Almost daily I would get 1-2 of the same questions about my sewing book. A constant reminder of what I have undertaken.

This book became a force, a force I was starting to get petrified of! So many people wanted to see the book happen, am I really going to be able to give them what they want?...What if they hate it?, What if they end up hating me? My anxiety went through the roof! The thoughts of this book not living up to peoples expectations or even my own were starting to plague me day and night, maybe this idea wasn't such a good one.

People ask me all the time to do a paid class...ALL THE TIME! Why am I not teaching a course? and to be honest, I don't feel I have enough original content in me to do a paid course. I also like showing people what I do, for nothing...because I've had nothing before, I've not been able to afford to do a course due to our finances (previous marriage was struggle street) and so it means that a HUGE portion of people wouldn't get to see this book happen..if I made it a paid class, and that in my opinion is sad. One day I will get the courage to do a paid course....but today is not that day people.

Then there is the negative Nancy on my shoulder saying...no one would pay anyway so why try.... So I'm just going with what feels best...giving it over to the masses and hope that it inspires a few to create their own.

I wanted to write this blog post so you saw a little bit of my mindset when creating this series, my own perfectionism gets in the way of me doing half the ideas I have in my head. Sometimes when you think an artist can just produce ideas and art at the drop of a hat, (some artist may but I assure you I am not one of them) believe me when I say this journey has been a long one. One that has been riddled with self doubt and self questioning. I am not an expert nor do I claim to be one, I create what I enjoy and share because I enjoy sharing.

I hope this has given you a little idea of how sometimes I may make it look simple and effortless...but it truly does take all I have within me to create things for my viewers, that I not only am proud of but also love aswell.

Enjoy the series of the Altered Sewing Book Art Journal.

x Courtney

Links To Remember
The Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1768757050026250/
Playlist of the Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkPW8RVX5YDwTlztIJpJpRlRw62DNGQWM

Inktober is happening with LittleRavenInk

Hello!
It's been a while hasn't it? and I feel like I say this every blog post! but here I am, with my studio half overhauled in the chaos of it all there is INKTOBER!  a creative adventure I've watched from the sidelines most years, but this year I'm actually going to participate! I'm nowhere near the caliber of some of the artist I've seen participate in past years but that isn't going to stop me from inking a nook dweller!

My darling friend Julia over at Julia's Bento and I were talking art and drawing as we usually do each day...and we decided that we would tackle Inktober this year! I am heading to Melbourne for 3 days so will be tough to draw while away but I'm going to make sure I draw!

So starting October 1st I will be drawing using my various inky pens and uploading my drawings to Instagram with the hashtags #inktober2015 and also #raveninktober I may also do a Youtube video but that I'm unsure of! I will do a Friday post here on the blog showing my weeks worth of inkings!

If you are going to participate in Inktober please leave a comment below with your IG name or your blog where you're going to post your drawings I would so love to see them!

Take care! Seeya next with with some drawings!
x Courtney

Plus Size Capsule Wardrobe - Fave Outfits #1

We are currently at the halfway through month one for the capsule wardrobe, and I am loving it! I have come up against a few instances where I've done omg what am I going to wear, to putting something on in many different ways and hating each way it looked! but I haven't buckled!
I have found a way out, out of each and every lost for an outfit moment so far! So I am calling that a win in my eyes!
The urge to shop is STRONG! I've picked up a few items and gone ohhhh this would look cute with this and this and this...and then I stop, and remember its not two weeks before spring yet (the time to shop and collate for next seasons capsule)...so what are you going Courtney? ...and I put it back.

I thought I'd do a fortnightly/monthly post on some of my fave outfits that have been worn during each three months. Some images will be actual photos where I've made an effort to pose, and some will be in front of my wardrobe mirror before I run out the door (expect more of the later, I'm a mum with a hectic home life most days) I will also show you when an item pops up more than once in a week, and how it looks in different styles,  I have a grey oversized boyfriend cardigan that made it into two outfits this week!.

So outfit one with above mentioned cardigan was with a floral dress, tights and grey leather boots.
this outfit soared to the top of my faves very quickly, its girly and comfy, and totally wearable for winter!

The boots are from city chic currently on sale 

Dress from asos - no longer sold

belt is also Asos (came with a skirt)

Cardigan is Rivers.

Tights are from City Chic (and super comfy)

I wore a long silver chain with a amber pendant gifted from my sister years ago to tie it all together

Then a few days later I put the cardigan to work again with a more casual look

Ignore the dirty mirror and my ghastly hair! ( I do try and clean the sucker daily but apparently missed a spot)
I paired the boyfriend cardigan with a tucked in graphic tee and a navy middi skirt, tights and black boots.

Boots are from target

Skirt is from modcloth 

belt is from Asos (came with a dress)

tights are from city chic 

Graphic Tee is from Rivers 

Caridigan is from Rivers.

I'm also wearing a SUPER adorable handmade necklace for some pop which is from Hello Emily Green Store

Other outfits to make the cut this fortnight was that dress I bought, that was a new edition to my capsule

I fell head over heels for this dress when I saw it on sale, it had to be mine! I paired it with a long cardi and belted it in, tights and boots. It was perfect for a Saturday out with the family, was comfy and I got so many compliments on the dress from strangers!

Cardigan with Belt from Citychic 

Dress is from Citychic

Tights from CityChi

Boots from Target.

Lastly is another item that I bought for my capsule is the 17Sundays chambray button up, it was on sale so I snapped one up for my capsule and I am ever so glad I did! it is such beautiful top and so comfy! I have two outfits with this top, although I wore it over a babydoll dress aswell but didn't get a good photo in that outfit.

This outfit was the top buttoned and tucked into an Asos Midi skirt. I wore it with bare legs (and regretted it as I froze) I paired with with simple black pointy flats and a Ena and Albert rainbow double strand necklace which also gets heaps of compliments on.

 Chambray shirt is from 17sundays - Currently on Sale

Skirt is from Asos

Pointed Flats from Betts For her

Necklace Ena and Albert

 The Chambray shirt got worn quite a bit in the two weeks prior this is the second outfit I snapped for a simple sunday food shopping trip I wanted to be comfy but not in gym attire as I spend so much of my weekdays in gym clothes, its nice for a change!

 

 I wore the 17Sundays top with a long black singlet, and a pair of leggins, and pointy flats. The hello emily green necklace again, and my black raybans. 

Chambray shirt is from 17Sundays

Long Black singlet  is from Crossroads 

Black leggins are from City Chic

Pointed flats are from Betts for Her. 

 So that is where I am so far! if you have any questions about anything please leave a comment I love answering questions! or even if you have outfit ideas for me! leave them too! 

x Courtney

The Book Nook - Jane Davenport Beautiful Faces Review.

Hello,
and welcome to a monthly feature here on the blog 'Book Nook' Where I'll review an art and journal related book on here and also on my Youtube channel. Once a month I'll do a written and verbal review for you guys! This month I've decided to chose a very in demand book Beautiful Faces by the lovely Jane Davenport. Not only do I adore Jane as a teacher but as a person, but she has created a book that stormed the amazon charts for mixed media taking number one spot for many weeks! Even now shes at number 6 and I only think its there currently because the colouring book craze is mammoth at the moment.

This book is filled with not just eye candy, but it is also bursting with information, techniques, ideas and inspiration. I feel personally there isn't a book like it on the market. Published by Quarry books (where I feel the best art/mixed media books are published) Jane's book is not just a book, but an experience.

I did not get sent this book in exchange for a positive review, I purchased this book with my own money, as I have done with almost all of her classes. Others were gifts, and also a scholarship. Now you all know I am a mumma on a family budget, so I make sure I am buying things I think are worth the price tag, and let me tell you this book is.

I've taken many of Jane drawing classes and they are always the ones I recommend to people first, 'Supplies Me' is still by far my very favourite of her courses on offer, for beginners and beyond! even with all the class videos, this book is fantastic reference material for when I'm on the couch or at my desk and want to just draw! instead of watching a video refresher.

Beautiful faces is slightly different to everything else out there, for while Jane was writing this book, she was also filming a sister class, so the pages were bought to life in front of your very eyes. Now I am not a member of this class YET, but it's on my classes to take, I have friends in the class and have only heard great things. Like I said this book in an experience on its own, but I can imagine how amazing it would be to watch them be created layer by layer face by face.

 I have enjoyed sitting with the technique pages,  just pouring over every single detail. This alone is so lovely to be able to do, as with the classes I've taken I spend more time rewinding to catch things than I'd like to admit! But with this book, I spend ample amount of time on each step, so that I too can get the right amount of shading, or my face symmetry right. These book literally has endless tips and beauty to behold...I'll admit more than I expected before purchasing.

The step by step images are all very close up, so the detail you can see is truly helpful when you have the book only as a reference. (I'm just a glutton and want the class as well) I don't want to show too much of the tutorial modes within the book, as that will spoil it for you, but know there is lots of step by step guides for you to fawn over not just for eye candy but for genuine help with your own artworks.

Within the pages of the book is also supply advice! giving you some of Jane's very much love supplies, which are photographed beautifully and also very tempting to buy everything she says is lovely...That is one thing with Jane she will never steer you wrong when it comes to supply buying, I have yet to hate something shes recommended to me. Including paper tips...

All in all I think Jane's book was well worth the pricetag! and I can see myself purchasing copies of this for my nieces as gifts when they are a touch older. I can already picture my niece Sophia losing her mind at all the colours and the step by step guides and shes 7 next weekend. This book is a fantastic one to have in your collection for the beauty and for the brains.

If you'd like the book and the course pop on over to Jane's Website where all the links to all the things are! its a very magical place over there!
On my review scale I give this book a 9/10, truly a must to have in your collection. If I ever manage to squirrel away enough cash for the course as well I'll review it too!

If you have any questions about the book, or have a book you'd like me to review for next month, pop it in the comments! I'd love to hear recommendations!

Tomorrow I'll be filming the youtube review which will go up on Friday the 12th of June, when its uploaded I'll add the video down here  for you to watch aswell.

Take care, Cx 

Capsule Wardrobe Plus Size Version- What made the Cut?

Thank you for such a positive response on all my media platforms about the plus size capsule wardrobe  post! It really made me stand up and take notice that it is a big gap that needs filling! I am here to fill the gap just a little!

After last post I left you with the room of doom, where I sorted, and collated my wardrobe bit by bit and now its time to show you what made the cut! and also what I purchased. The total of my items and maybe and outfit or two.

Each week I will try to do a collection of outfits, I'll show you what items I wore and how I wore them. So both you and I can see what has gotten the most amount of wear, what is the most versatile and what could have been left out by the end of the three months.

I have a total of  40 items altogether broken up into, tops, bottoms, outerwear, shoes. I have considered adding scarves to my total but the jury is out on that at present moment. I am seriously considering not counting my handbags and my scarves as they come under accessories. (in the end scarves and bags were not counted although my total for both is still very low)
Moving onto the clothing items:-

For tops I have

1 x Black lace 3/4 sleeved top - Thrifted
1 x Chambray button down - 17sundays (currently on sale) this was a new addition
1 x Deer Print Top - MINK DENIM - no longer available but MINK do some amazing tshirts! I have my eyes on a few for spring. available at myer.
1 x long sleeved black top with puffer sleeves CityChic-no longer available(bought for new york trip)
1 x Color block grey long tshirt - Best and Less - no longer available 
1 x Bird print grey 3/4 sleeves Jersey Top - H&M
1 x White Grapic Tshirt - Rivers no longer avialable
1x grey quirky neckline jersey top - Katies  no longer available
1 oversized grey top with yellow details - h&m australia - can't find it online (new edition to my wardrobe)

1 x Over sized off white long sleeved top with sheer detailing - Big W no longer available
1 x Long White top with layering detail - Piper Woman no longer available
1 x Long white singlet - Rockmans currently on sale for half price
2 x Black long singlets - Rockmans currently on sale (these are staples and go under all my slightly too short tops.
Above are all my tops so 14 all together.
For outer wear I have

1 x Black trench coat - City chic no longer available but there is a similar one on their site
1 x Denim Jacket - Lee Cooper Big W no longer available but he brings out jackets to big w a lot.
1 x Biker type jacket - Autograph no longer available but have similar items on their store currently
1 x Grey long sleeve boyfriend cardigan - Rivers  no longer available (new addition to my wardrobe)
1 x Black chiffon layered zipped jacket City Chic no longer available but similar online at the moment
1 x Dark grey long sleeved flowy cardigan - Katies  no longer available
1 Long sleeve Belted Cardigan - City Chic bought in current sale but no longer in stock
1 x Grey turtleneck cable knit poncho - Rivers no longer available
1 x Mustard cardigan - Forever21 bought in new york should have bought more of them!

All together I have 9 outerwear items some get a lot more wear than others I've discovered but you will get that with any wardrobe in coming posts I'll sure what gets the most wear, and how I've used an item in many outfits to create different looks.

For Bottoms + Dresses I have.

1x Polka dot Midi Skirt -  City Chic was in current sale but sold out.  This was a new addition
1 x Floral Dress - Asos Curve no longer available but asos always update stock!
1 x White Origami print smock dress dress - Asos Curve currently out of stock
1 x Blue Middi Button Skirt - Modcloth  - link takes to you to similar one
1 x Black Midi Skirt - Asos Curve currently not available but always have similar styles
1 x Boyfriend Jeans - Target
1 x Dark Wash Jeans - City Chic currently on sale but can't find online - new edition.
1x Gold Zip flirty skirt - City Chic - no longer available.
1 x Black Dress with kite details City Chic - currently on sale but not online.

This brings my bottoms and dresses total to 9


For Shoes I have selected 5 Pairs - one not photographed (totally forgot - but you will see in outfits)

1 x Black pointed ballet flats - Betts for Her currently on sale just not online - New addition
1 x Charcoal Suede Leather ankle bots - City Chic Currently on Sale - New addition
1 x Black ankle boot - Target currently not available but have many boot styles in store similar
1 x Brown ankle boot - Rivers currently not available but again have many similar styles in store.
No photographed - 1 x camel coloured ankle boots - Rivers not currently available but have many styles
Total shoes 5 pairs.

Which brings all of the above items to 37 items I want to make my capsule number an even 40 so these are the current maybes.

Current maybes which are fence sitters.

we have
1 x black and white flowy dress - h&m  currently unavailable
1 x Hot pink and black dress - City Chic currently unavailable (this is high contender for being added just for a pop of colour and because its a heavy winter dress)
1 x black button down dress - Big W the Chrissy Swan range - currently not available
1 x Black maxi skirt - I own one, its packed is that a sign to leave it packed.... we shall see if I get it out of the boxes/bags or not.

the two handbags which I will be using (which I'm not counting as part of my total are

1 x brown leather tote - whippingpost, this is my everyday carry 99% of the time.

1 x Teal Green handbag - Michael Kors (bought from Nordstrom Rack in NYC)

I also purchased a plaid scarf to wear with my capsure wardrobe and that thing is already a workhorse! I bought the scarf from Forever21 the Sydney store and as far as I know is till currently available.

 For now this is all I have, in the coming posts I will be posting outfits and clothing combinations to show you what has worked well and what really hasnt.

Which of my 'maybe' clothes do you think should make up my 40 items? There will be a pair of  black leggins added to the 40 so only 2 items from the maybe's will make it.

I will be back once a week with a capsule post, another part of the series will be #projectwearit, where I purchase a high end item and a low end item and wear them the same amount of times to see if spending an extra few dollars will be worth it.

what items do you want to see in outfits?
x Courtney

Let's talk about - New series coming to my blog.

I want to just pop on and introduce a new series that will come to my blog monthly called 'Let's Talk About' where I talk about subjects that are a little more on the personal side. I get a lot of emails and questions about certain things, and thought I could cover them in these blog posts, dealing with depression, weightloss, weight gain, big girl issues, how to stay motivated. A whole range of issues that I get asked a lot.

I'm no expert by any means but I do know a thing or two about the subjects above as I deal with them on a day to day basis. If there is an issue you would like my thoughts and insights into please don't hesitate to pop them in the comments section. I will take all topics from art to life, and one by one do a blog post on them.

You will also see a few changes happen to my blog in the coming weeks as I give it a little make over. I am re evaluating my word of the year, 'accountability' and grasping it again with both hands as we come to the middle of the year when big plans usally get laid to waste in the wings of life. I want to be more present on my blog, and on my yt channel, the daily filming burnt me out so after quite a long break I will be taking on 2-3 blog posts a week as well as 2 videos a week on my channel, not too many to overwhelm me!

So with that note! get your suggestions into the comments section so I can start putting together some posts! it can be anything you really want to know from my point of view.

I'll be back later on in the week with an updated one little word post.