It's Michelle Wards 61st and final Crusade over at the GPP Street Team. The theme was "restraining order" and the goal was to create a journal page with minimal elements. I've been meaning to do this all month. In fact I've been meaning to do the crusades just about every month for the last year, but have only managed to do a few.
So why am I jumping on the bandwagon at the 11th hour? Two reasons.
1. Tammy's creativity queue challenge has been a powerful motivating force to tackle those half finished projects and half baked ideas.
2. This blog might not exist if not for Michelle's crusades.
The page at the top is not particularly restrained. But if you look closely, you'll see it's dated 4/19/11, and on the right hand side it reads "discovered the Street Team challenges. I will need a blog or flickr to play along"
My journal entry 6 days later notes that "I am Rushmore is up and running with 11 posts" (I was so full of good ideas I did 11 posts at once and back dated them. If you look at my archives it looks like I've already celebrated my one year anniversary. Don't believe everything you read.)
And so, since words cannot express my gratitude for the motivation to stop making secret art, and start this little blogging adventure, I will say it minimally:
so you did not have a blog until then,and you only started in 2011 well you have made up for your late start as being a strong force in the artworld.
ReplyDeletedude. yeah. blogging adds an element to creating... it's like our own little stage where it's totally acceptable to be all, 'LOOK AT MY SHIT YO!'
ReplyDeletei'm sorry Karen's mom.
i won't say the s-word over here again.
xxa
What a nice tribute and thanks for the info about the site. I will have to peruse the archives. So glad she gave you the push you needed to start your blog!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post and journal page. You should check out my blog post going up tomorrow. I just wanted to say thanks too.
ReplyDeleteBlogging does help get the fire under our butts nice and hot....doesn't it? You've been in overdrive since you started it seems.....and I'm so glad you're here :)
ReplyDeleteI'm suffering from 3rd degree burns on my bum as I've been sitting on the fire rather than getting up and arting....a bit of slump....
....but.....there is always the hope of tomorrow...
Awesome website you linked to, I am sorry I found it just as her last ever prompt went up. I hope they stick around in cyberspace, because after I finish the prompts on Daisy Yellow's website, I am going to look for new inspiration for my second art journal.
ReplyDeleteYour minimal page is great. Sounds like the great end to an art journal based on those prompts.
I"m so glad you started your blog, Karen -- I have enjoyed it and been very inspired by it and I have loved "meeting" you....
ReplyDeletelove your minimalist style in that piece (is that a journal?) - nice!
ReplyDeleteAMAZING restraint. I like it and your posts get more entertaining by the day. xox
ReplyDeleteLove the white on white look! Perfectly simple
ReplyDeleteI really like the white one, both really but the white one is so interesting and calm at the same time.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I thought I was the queen of half finished projects and half baked ideas.
That is a great page you have created especially love the first layout.
ReplyDeleteSo now I have to go look at all your archives!!! Can that be a Daisy Yellow Creative Queue Challenge I wonder??? May have ot try it as I know you have some fab stuff on here!!! Love that journal page BTW!!
ReplyDeleteI hear you loud and clear.
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for stopping by my blog..I will get to the IMAU..(mail art union) some time this weekend and find you. I need to set some time aside to find out what the site has to offer. After I signed up I wasn't sure what I got myself into. You will hear from me again soon!
ReplyDeleteFab! I participated in a couple of Michelle's Street challenges too - am sorry to see it go, but I know it takes so much time to manage something like that! Love your restraint page - I've started a restraint journal with a different focus after reading Daisy Yellow's comments on it. There's just SO much inspiration out there! :)
ReplyDeleteOoops, correction - it was iHanna's blog where I read about the restraint journal idea....hard to keep them all straight :)
ReplyDeleteKaren, I just came across this today while browsing blogs - you never left a link on the team site! I love seeing the first spread and hearing that you were motivated to start a blog to join the challenges. You've come a long way in a year - congrats! I love the second spread - so handsome and serene. Love the subtle colors and juicy texture. I appreciate all the kind words and thank you for participating often and with enthusiasm Karen. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteYour minimalist page is awesome. I always really like that pale, scratchy, layered look - reminds me of something hidden and then uncovered to be enjoyed all over again. And so much texture.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy my "end of month, and the newspaper's finished, blog cruise 'n comment" time. It's been lovely to meet you and your work via the Crusades. Thanks for sharing what you do with everyone. May the rest of 2012 be filled with creative happiness for you.
Beautiful page here. I like the sort of pure feeling of white and off-white, it's like a deep breath. Great texture to keep the eyes occupied but not busy. Love it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great tribute to Michelle. I love your minimalist page, that creamy, rich, aged look and wonderful texture. Now I have to go check out the rest of your blog!
ReplyDeleteLove your pages especially the thanks to Michelle.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!!! Gorgeous!!!Gorgeous!!! So glad you came to play for the last Crusade. I'm going to browse around and see more of your work.
ReplyDeleteCriminy Whipsnade! Exclamation points infinity!!!!
ReplyDeleteSeriously. Quit kidding around.
This really makes a stunning point and is a fitting tribute to a project that has improved the creative lives of so many of us. You say it for us all.