Up In a Purple Haze: Mixed Media Fabric Art Journal
Up In A Purple Haze
Wow! Life has been crazy with the start of school this week. My two oldest boys started on Monday and I am home with my 18 month daughter. For now. Since my hubby’s job is on the rocks I have decided to go job searching. I was a Registered Nurse…once upon a time. Ok, it has only been 3 years but it seems like ages ago. When we moved states for my husbands job I didn’t bother getting a job right away. And than we had a baby.
Now that I am staring it in the face, I am hesitant, unsure of my medical skills and lamenting my future lack of time for leisurely activities. (Otherwise, known as crafting) I knew I would go back to work someday I was just hoping that day wouldn’t come. I have even entertained the idea of having a home business, but haven’t come up with anything tangible to sell.
Perhaps, it all stems from the thought that once I go back to work my babies won’t need me anymore and I am done mothering little ones. Letting go of that baby stage has been so hard for me. There is something unforgettable about smelling and caressing the soft skin of a brand new human. Holding a helpless miniature person that reeks of perfection makes my mommy senses go haywire. In the moment, I would choose to do it all over again even though I just barely made it through labor.
For me, getting a ‘real’ job symbolizes a new phase of life that I am unsure I am ready for. My time with the little’s has gone by in a haze. But a purple haze of course because that is my favorite color. And one of the colors on my art journal page.
Creating the Journal Page
Here is another layout in my ‘Asiatic Dynasty’ Fabric Journal.
You can see the other pages in my Asiatic Dynasty Journal here: Cover, Swimming Through Algae, It’s All about the Hair, and True North.
Again, Lynne Perrella’s Asian collection by PaperArtsy was the focal point throughout this journal. I used stamps,sprays and a stencil with green embossing powder in the background. I used a few die cuts and chipboard pieces to add dimension.
Thank your for taking the time to visit my blog today. I would love to hear your thoughts on overcoming jitters when it comes to moving past your favorite phase of child rearing or job searching.
Kate
Challenges Entered:
A Bit More Time To Craft: #51 Anything Goes
Simon Says:Anything Goes
Create Artiste: Challenge 30 Anything Goes
Altered Eclectics: Anything Goes Mixed Media/Altered Art
Art Journal Journey: Colour In My World (Purple)
Lost Coast Designs: Tip Your Hat
Your art journal pages are fantastic, and it would be a shame if you didn’t have time to make them any more. I can understand your reluctance to go back to work and give up your baby and ‘Mom’ time. I hope the right job will come along for you, and even then, I am sure you will find time for art. Stay positive and keep cheerful, hugs, Valerie
Thank you, Valerie. I am sure the right job will come along. I will do my best to make time to craft despite my other responsibilities. Have a great week.
Kate
Wonderful pages Kate. Things always have a funny way of working out. Hopefully the right job or opportunity will come along for you. Fingers crossed.
Flo x
Thank your, Flo. You are right…things do have a way of working out. Have a great week.
Kate
First of all I wish you that the right job will come along that makes you happy – can imagine that it isn’t so nice to think about working again with three kids at home!
Hope you find a solution to stay at home or at least to work at home !
And I also hope you will make time for art – since your art is so beautiful – this pages are no exception – AMAZING!
Thank you very much for joining us at Art Journal Journey again!
oxo Susi
Thank you Susi. I know a solution will present itself. I appreciate your kind words. They are encouraging! Have a great week.
Kate
I understand your dilemma. and i love your descriptions of infant love! brought back so many memories,even 33 year old ones!
Perhaps you could teach online art journaling?hint hint! Your style is fabulous and i am sure their are many who would love to sign up to learn from you!-just a thought…
These pages are just glorious and being a huge purple fan myself, speak to me- so well done!
Sending good wishes and thoughts of clarity for your decisions whatever they may be.
Namaste
Jackie
Thank you Jackie for the suggestion. I would love to teach online classes but I think that would require equipment that I do not have presently. But this is definitely something I will keep in mind for the near future. Thank you for your kind words.
Kate
Where does the time go, it must have been lovely spending time with your kids and seeing them grow 😁. I’m sure that you find the right solution for you and your family, and you both sounds like such caring parents even if you have to go back to work all will be fine! Your page is lovely with your purple haze, and you always create such beautiful texture and detail too 😀. Wishing you a happy new start to the week! J 😊
p.s. thanks for your lovely comments on my blog! I’m sorry I haven’t been around to visit, we have family staying for the week and I just haven’t found the time. I’ll be catching up the best I can before bedtime and in the early morning, if I’m not too tired …lol 😉. Happy September! J x
Hi Jo! Hope that you are enjoying your company. It can be so enjoyable but also exhausting to to host company. Thank you for your sweet words. I know all will be fine. Somehow, God always seems to work things out. But I admit I worry too much at times. 😉 Happy Monday.
Kate
Your Artworks look great, very good Design. I think you should make cards and sell them, you are good enough. I wish you and your family all the best for the future.
Dear Greetings
Sabine
Thank you, Sabine for your suggestion. I am working on setting up an Etsy shop so we will see what happens.;) Have a great week.
Kate
Fab pages. Love LP. The hat is very cute. Maybe baby nursing is the answer, Or childcare. Thanks for joining the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity challenge. Hugz
I totally understand your feelings Kate. I do have a very demanding job, and trying to do my hobby and share it with lovely people like you at the same time. It’s harder, but definitely not impossible 🙂 I’m sure the right job will come to you and eventually you will have your new rhythm and continue creating your awesome projects! women CAN multitask 😉 I loveeedd these pages, and thanks so much for leaving me lovely comments all the time. I really enjoy reading them and I’m sorry my pace is not like yours because of the reasons I just told you. Please forgive me. I wish you all the best! Love and kisses. Umut
Thank you Umut. I am glad that you still find time to craft despite being busy. Your art is so lovely! You are SO right. Woman can multi-task…thank goodness. And your pace is just fine. 🙂 Life and the people around us come first. Blogging can take over our lives if we let it. We are all busy in our own way and thankfully, we understand. Have a great week!
Kate
Thank you for sharing your beautiful pages at Art Journal Journey.
Your explanation of your purple haze made this a lovely post to read. The heart ache of deciding to go back into work is never easy and I’m sure just the right job is waiting for you out there.
We never forget our time caring for our babies, each stage of their growing up is special.
I hope all will go well for you all.
Yvonne
Thank you, Yvonne. I have been so blessed to be able to stay home and care for my babies. We have made some amazing memories together!
Have a great week.
Kate
really love this – so much of interest here and your composition and colors work so well together. thanks for joining the lcd monthly challenge!
Fabulous pages and loving the background work! Thanks for joining us at Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge Blog 🙂
I have been in your same shoes. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but it is equally rewarding to know that you are taking care of your family the best way that you can. In the end, you will savor the moments more and hopefully MAKE time for your art. I just let the kids come in the studio and play or talk while I work and stop if I need to. That’s why I do mixed media crafting and not fine arts, because you can stop and start and stop and start in a busy household. 🙂 Best wishes to you and this may be my favorite page yet! LOOOOOVE! Hugs, Autumn
This is fabulous!! Love all of the texture! Great design and colors too!!
Thank you very much for joining us this week at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!
hugs…
Melissa
Wonderful page with incredible texture and detail .Thank you for joining us at Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge Blog for our September Anything Goes Challenge.
Good luck
Lynda
x
Lovely art journal page. Great textures and colour. Thank you for joining us at Altered eclectics this month. Hope to see you back here again soon. Judy DT
Love your piece as well as the colour way you went with. My friend just went back to teaching as a relief teacher as she recently divorced, other than having to update her skills she was surprised how much money she is now making and so glad she went back and that was after a 10year break. Good luck with it all, our babies never stop needing us and it will just be in different ways. Thanks foe joining us over at http://creativeartistemixedmedia.blogspot.com.au/
What fabulous pages you’ve made! I was lucky when my kids were little in that I didn’t give up my job, and I returned to work on reduced hours, so I was still bringing home some cash but was also just Mum for 3 days a week. I hope everything works out for you, and thank you for joining in with our challenge at Lost Coast Designs. Sue xx
Thanks for joining the tip your hat event over at the portal. This piece is stunning.
Love this, you’ve done a fabulous work!!!
Thank you for joining us at Altered Eclectics!!!
Atlette DT