old sketchbooks, poetry + some really good news!

so how on earth did i find all of the space to split my studio into two rooms? 

well, one of the fun things about giving my studio a makeover was cleaning out the closet that now houses all of my printing and packaging supplies! inside, we'd stored piles and piles of books-always intending to turn the room into a library.

right now, all of those books went into another closet (we're lucky enough to have lots and lots of them!).

but as i was going through all of that closet chaos, i found so many things i'd forgotten!

like my old sketchbooks! this one is actually from high school. AND it stands out in my mind as my first mixed media sketch. we were told to draw an object from the still life. and then give it some kind of emotion and energy. i couldn't help myself from using ink, pastels, watercolors and pencil all at once! it seemed totally natural to me. 

and, while the scissors themselves are quite boring, i just adore how the paper is torn and wrinkled from watercolor puddles and lots and lots of scribbling!

i also remember my art teacher walking by and saying how much he loved my drawing. encouragement is so important. i mean, i remember this sketch because i tried something new and my teacher showed it (with admiration) to the rest of the class!i'm super happy i still have it and it was a really nice memory to find.

i also came across this poem-thin spaghetti strings. i love short bursts of writing like this. it's from my university poetry class. i remember the teacher saying it takes pages and pages of bad writing to get to that one shimmer of light. and sometimes you might think it's terrible or you'll have only one line and you don't find the rest of the poem or story and your love for it all until you come back to it years later.

all of these journals were in that closet. and there's tons and tons of poetry in these. slowly, i'm going through them all-finding old goal lists, dreams, reflections and memories. i've kept a journal since i got my first little pink hearted one with the lock and key at age 8. they all have their stories. and it's fun and dreamy to go back and read.

and then there's the pile of books that i'm letting go. i've kept so many from move to move (and i used to move at least once a year since college). i collected many from my job as an assistant editor in minneapolis (where i got to go through the book editor's books!). 

it's a funny thing to see them all and to know i'm finally ready to let them go to new homes.

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and my good news? well,  my blog is going to be featured in the spring issue of ARTFUL BLOGGING! i can hardly believe it! Somerset Studio in jan/feb and now Artful Blogging too! i am in total awe over both of these magazines and drool over every issue! so i cannot even tell you how honored i am by all of this!

and i am so very grateful, grateful for all of your support and encouragement! you're super sweet comments always keep me going and pushing myself.

THANK YOU all so very much!!!

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ps. my BUY ONE GET ONE FREE PRINT SALE is still on until the end of today! stop by my etsy shop + leave the title of your free print in the note to seller at check out! happy holidays! xo.