Removable Binding - Thoughtful Thoughts

I started this booklet eons ago... Then later did a bunch of stuff for it and then put aside again and forgot about it. Was looking for something else and came across it and finally pulled it out again and finished it...

Size: 6"w x 4.5"h x 1/2" thk.
Pages using dark green slightly textured misc 12x12 cardstock. Two pages adhered together with a piece of light green Canson Colorline. A slit put in the middle of the folded Colorline piece for the geli print accordion folded strip to slip through and the medium light green strip to be inserted to hold the pages together.

Most of the text and outlining done with a pointed nib using W/N white Calligraphy ink (for pen and brush). A Juice Up white pen for some detail work and Kuretake gold paint for the accent words.

One of my geli prints cut in half and adhered to the back and front covers. Title (thoughtful thoughts) in funky lettering outlined with a black Juice Up pen. 

BOOKLET TEXT:
Most of the time people don't need advice they need someone to be present as they process what their gut is already telling them.

Over thinking is the biggest cause of our unhappiness. Keep yourself occupied. Keep your mind off things that don't help you.

Think Positive

The razor blade is sharp but can't cut a tree, the axe is strong but can't cut hair. Everyone is important
according to their own unique purpose. Never look down on anyone unless you are admiring their shoes.

Nine things to tell yourself before bed tonight
1. I did my best today and it was enough
2. I am allowed to rest and recharge
3. I can try again tomorrow
4. I am grateful for any small wins today
5.I release all negativity from my body
6. everything is working out
7. My body is capable of healing
8. I'm letting go of what I can't control
9. I'm proud of myself for showing up.

Sometimes we have to remind ourselves: that we are not responsible for other people's poor behaviour towards us or their gaslighting, or their manipulation, or their unkindness. That's on them.

What's on you is how you choose to respond, set boundaries, know your worth, and not let their actions impact the beautiful soul that you are. @H.E.L.E.N.M.A.R.I.E

You become your best self when you work on things people can't take away from you. MINDSET

CHARACTER
INTEGRITY
AUTHENTICITY
DISCIPLINE and
KINDNESS

as I was lying around pondering the problems of the world, I realized that at my age I don't really give a rat's ass anymore.

1. If walking is good for your health, the postman would be immortal
2. a whale swims all day, only eats fish, drinks water, but is still fat.
3. a rabbit runs and hops and only lives 15 years, while
4. a tortoise doesn't run, and does mostly nothing, yet lives for 150 years.
5. and you tell me to exercise?? I don't think so. 
Always make sure someone in the relationship has good credit
that's why it's called
SIGNIFICANT other
sign/if/I/cant

Mahatma Gandhi as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him (oh man, this is so good... 
a super - calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.
7 rules of life
1) Let it go
Never ruin a good day by thinking about a bad yesterday
2) Ignore them
Don't listen to other people, live a life that's empowering to you.
3) Give it time
Time heals everything
4) Don't compare
The only person you should try to beat is the person you were yesterday.
5)Stay Calm
It's OK not to have everything figured out. Know that in time you'll get there.
6) It's on you
Only you are in charge of your happiness
7) Smile
Life is short. Enjoy it while you have it.
He who blames others has a long way to go on his journey. He who blames himself is half way there. He who blames no one has arrived. Chinese proverb
When people say "You're gonna regret that in the morning", I sleep in till noon because I'm a problem solver 
And finally be someone that makes you HAPPY

Danish 2 - No Limits

And here is the black & white version I mentioned yesterday
size: 4.25"w x 6"h
On Canson Pen & Ink paper, black Brush pen (no name), Juice Up pen and Zig Writer.
words: There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond. Bruce Lee

Scribbled Lives - Wk 25 - Madness - Imperfection is Beauty

Size: 7" sq
On Canson Mixed Media paper using my favorite blue w/c (Holbien Peacock Blue) painted the rectangular shapes, inked the words with a Zebra nib and W/N white Calligraphy Ink. For the larger words (Beauty, Genius) I used a Unibal gold gel pen and then painted the rectangular box.

words: Imperfection is BEAUTY madness is GENIUS and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring. Marilyn Monroe

Danish - A Day Wasted

I saw a black/white design of these circular shapes (next post...) but didn't really want to do black and white... When I looked at them they reminded me of Danish with icing (haven't had one of those in eons...).
size: 4.25"w x 6"h
On Canson Pen & Ink paper, Distress & Tombow markers. Text written with a marker and colored.
words: A day without a Danish is a day wasted.

Doodle - Grand Mosaic

Just playing again... I did that colored area first and then just let it sit since I didn't know what to do next... You can't see it in this image but I used clear heat embossing powder to give a shine and dimension to those colored blobs...
size: 4.25"w x 6"h
On Canson Pen & Ink paper, Prisma colored pencils, Zig Writer. Text written with a Zig Calligraphy marker (Baby Blue).
words: I am but a small shard in a grand mosaic. Fred Crane

Doodle - You Can't Stop The Waves

Just playing again...
size: 4.25"w x 6"h
On Canson Pen & Ink paper, w/c, Kuretake gold paint, metallic gel pen. Text written with a Zig Calligraphy marker (Baby Blue).
words: You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf.

Celtic Circles - Hindsight

size: 5"sq
During a class with Valerie Akkerman I started this design...
On Genoa Bond Calligraphy paper drew out my intersecting circles and added the pattern details.
words: Always remember that hindsight is better than foresight.

Celric Decorated Weave - I'm Not Perfect

size: 4.25"w x 6"h
I ABSOLUTELY love this Celtic Weave pattern...
On Canson Pen & Ink paper, Prisma colored pencils, Splender Blender, Uniball White Gel pen, Zig Writer & Juice Up pen.
words: I'm Not Perfect But I'm Trying

Workshop Week 2025 - Islamic Patterns - Buckle Up

I spent all week watching Workshop Week. This is the only piece I created this year and done totally free hand instead of with the grid design that would make everything even... I don't mind the wonkiness of it... I'll play with the grid eventually...

size: 5.5"sq
The outer text border is to hide the real wonkiness of the original design...
On Canson Mixed Media paper, w/c and Uniball white gel pen. Text is an unknown font I saw on Pinterest
words: Buckle up it's time for some serious geometric design.

Floral Vine - Won't Sparkle

size: 4.25"w x 6"h
Another interesting pattern...
On Canson Pen & Ink paper, Prisma colored pencils, Splender Blender, gold gell pen, Zig Writer. Pointed pen with Sumi ink.
words: Life won't sparkle unless you do.

Scribbled Lives - wk24 - Bubble - Bubble-Gum

Scribbled Lives wk 24 - Bubble - Bubble-Gum
Size: 5.5"w x 6"h
On Staples 110# cardstock drew the mouth blowing a bubble... Colored with Prisma colored pencils and accented with Gelly Roll white gel pen. Lettering with a Zig Writer.

words: Television is bubble gum for the mind. Frank Lloyd Wright

BVCG Env Exc 2025 - JoAnn B Brand

ID: JoAnn B Brand (June 2025)
Env created on Canson Ingres paper in a funky lettering style.  Drew out the letters and lace work with a Gelly Roll and Juice Up white gel pens adding gems using Prisma colored pencils.
The card was created a while back...

Doodle Blobs - Black & White

This time I decided to do those weird shapes with a graphite pencil and a Zig Writer. Was in a mood for a bit of black & white again...
size: 4.25"w x 6"h
On Canson Pen and Ink paper, Zig Writer, Caran d'AcheB pencil and paper stump. Funky lettering
words: Back To Basics

Blue Doodle Blobs - Splish Splash

Started drawing those weird shapes that remind me of blobs...
size: 4.25"w x 6"h
On Canson Pen and Ink paper, Zig Writer, Gelly Roll metallic pens and Kuretake gold paint. Funky monoline lettering
words: Splish Splash you make my heart sing.

Abstract On Black

size: 6.5"w x 6"h
Again started drawing wiggly lines...
On Strathmore Black Field Drawing paper, White gel pen, Metallic Gell pens, Prisma Colored pencils and Lyra Splender Blender.
words: Color is the place where our brain and the universe meet. Paul Klee

Celtic with Valerie Akkerman (June 7/25)

Took a Celtic onLine class through the Westcoast Calligraphy Society with Valerie Akkerman

Title: Celtic - Be There For You
size: 6.5"sq
On misc black scrapbook paper using Prisma colored pencils, Gelly Roll metallic pens and white gel pen.
words: Wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there for you.

Celtic Border: (unfinished...)
size 3.75"sq
On misc black scrapbook paper using Prisma colored pencils and various metallic gel pens, and Ritz glitter (Java Bean)

Celtic with Gem:
size: 4" sq
On Genoa Bond calligraphy paper using a Zig Writer, Prisma colored pencils and Uniball gold gel pen.

Doodle - Made A Mistake

Just did my squiggly lines and the rest evolved...
size: 4.25"w x 6"h
On Canson Pen and Ink paper colored with Prisma colored pencils and a Lyra Splender Blender, Juice Up pens and Zig Writer.
words: A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. Albert Einstein

Scribbled Lives wk 23 - Do Over Wk 8 - Nothing Is Easy

Size: 8"w x 7"h

On Edge Mixed Media paper drew out my letters with a Zig Writer and colored with Prisma Colored pencils (dk gray, med gray and red). Juice Up pen for the linear design.

words: Nothing Is Easy to the unwilling. Nikki Giovanni

Below is my 1st rendition for wk8

 

Quadrangle Intelligence

This piece was a weird evolvement... I had done the square with all diagonal lines going though it... then decided to remove a bunch of the line sections, then had to figure a word to fit into the open sections that made sense.
size: 4.25"w x 6"h
On Canson Pen and Ink paper created thick lines for my quad, colored with Prisma colored pencils and a Lyra Splender Blender. Caran d'Ache B pencil and paper stump. A blue Zig Writer for the text.
words: The intelligence of the creature known as a crowd is the square root of the number of people in it. Terry Pratchet

Doodled Gem Flowers - Little Gems

size: 4.25sq
I love the way this piece turned out...
On Canson Pen and Ink paper just drew the abstract floral images and then decided to have the central petal as a gem and doodled the others. Prisma colored pencils, White gelly Roll pen, Zig Writer for all the black.
words: There are little gems all around us that can hold glimmers of inspiration. Richelle Mead

Exploding Hearts - Beauty Of The Heart

I made this for what I hope will be our June challenge which hasn't been decided yet...
size: 2.5"dia x 1/2" thk.
I created a template from 1/2 a heart, to get both sides the same shape and size to create my 4 heart master template (important) then cut out a bunch of them from a red toned geli print paper done on Columbia Mills End Paper.
Folded all my flower cut outs. I then added a little scrap piece to the point edges of 2 flower shapes to hold them together.
Added the text - one word on each flower.
Created circular covers from the same geli print glued to 110lb white cardstock and then to a piece of pink cardstock for added strength. Adhered a piece of ribbon to the back outside cover and added 2 punched out hearts

words: The only lasting beauty is the beauty of the heart. Rumi 

 

Doodle - Downward Spiral

size: 4.25w" x 5"h
On Canson Pen and Ink paper just drew wavy lines and then doodle inside them. Added the text with a Zebra nib and Sumi ink.
words: Stress is a downward Spiral, and you can only overcome it with a positive perspective. Jen Lilley

Feather Doodle - A Heart Without

I was in a mood to play with a feather,,,
size: 6"w x 4.25"h
On Canson Pen & Ink paper using a Zig Writer and a Juice Up pen (purple) as well as a Zig Calligraphy marker, Prisma colored pencils

words:
a heat without dreams is like a bird without feathers. Suzy Kassem

Doodle - Indulge

size: 4.25w" x 6"h
On Canson Pen and Ink paper just drew wavy lines and then doodle inside it. Added the letters to spell "Indulge" and the wrote out the quote to go with it. Colored with Prisma colored pencils and Uniball gold gel pen
words: Be charitable and indulge to everyone but thyself. Joseph Joubert

Scribbled Lives - Wk 22 - Edward Johnson Quote

Scribbled Lives - wk 22 - Edward Johnson Quote
Size: 7"w x 6"h
On Canson Mixed Media paper using a 4.5 Parallel pen dipped into Holbein Gouache (Peacock Blue, Permanent Yellow, Flame Red) either in a single color or double dipping in Uncial style. When dry shadowed with a Zig Writer.
words: To make good letters and arrange them well. Edward Johnson

Precious Gems - Good Listener

I came across a gem design on Instagram and just felt like playing with them...
size: 5.5"w x 4.25"h
On Strathmore Black Field Drawing paper using Prisma colored pencils blending with a Lyra Splender blender accents with a Gelly Roll .08 white gel pen and a white Juice up pen and outlines with a Unibal gold gel pen.

words: Good listeners like precious gems are to be treasured.

Blackletter Y & Textural Design

I was just playing around...
size: Y: 2" w x 3"h
size: Textural Design: 3.25"w x 2.25"h
On Strathmore Toned Gray paper
"Y": used a black & white and a bit of grays Prisma colored pencils blending with a Lyra Splender blender.

Textural Motif: A Caran d'Ache B pencil and Prisma Colored white pencil and a Lyra Splender blender

Sunflowers - Bold & True

I started putting these wavy lines on my page (always a good place to start...) ad then I was in a mood for some sunflowers ad since the rest looked a little to empty started doodling.
size: 6"h x 4.25"w
Done on Canson Pen & Ink paper using a Juice Up pen and a Zig Writer and Prisma colored pencils.
words:
She is a sunflower - strong and bold and true to herself.

Buttons - Sartorial World

I had buttons on my mind so started doodling them and this evolved. I don't not what possessed me to play with this style of writing.
size: 5.5"h x 4.25"w
Done on Canson Pen & Ink paper using a Juice Up pen and a Zig Writer and Prisma colored pencils.
words:
Buttons are the fossils of the sartorial world, enduring long past the garments they were designed for. Martha Stewart

Abstract - What Really Matters

I was in a mood for some graphite work.
size: 6"h x 4.25"w
Done on Canson Pen & Ink paper using Caran d'Ache B pencil and paper stump, Juice Up pen and a Zig Writer, highlights with a Gelly Roll white gel pen.
words:
What really matters in a pencil is not it's wooden exterior but the graphite inside so always pay attention to what is happening inside. Paulo Corlho

Bricks & Flowers Stones Are A Reminder

I was playing with this flower and then decided to put a brick support for it...
size: 6"h x 4.25"w
Done on Canson Pen & Ink paper using watercolors & Prisma colored pencils and a Zig Writer for the text.
words:
Stones are reminders that even the hardiest surfaces can be softened by the touch of time.

Scribbled Lives - wk 21 - Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme

Boy does this take me down memory lane. I was in my mid teens and loved this song... still do.
Size: 5.5"w x 6.5"h
On Canson Mixed Media paper drew the images and colored with Derwent Inktense w/c pencils. Text written with a Zebra nib and Sumi ink in a script style.