Journeying in My Journal

Kiala and Cindy, Dallas November 2015

Being in communities online used to feel inauthentic to me. The computer always felt like the middle man and I never felt like I could truly connect to anyone with a computer sitting between us. 

Then I started to find individuals inside of those communities who I really gelled with and my view of what was possible shifted. I started to make connections online that eventually moved offline. That's when the real magic happens. 

Cindy is one of those people that is magical in my life. She's such a wonderful artist, brainstorming buddy, and laughing partner. And it was an amazing treat to meet her in person this year. To finally get to hug someone you've been in conversation with for a year is something rather special. I got to touch her art journals and see her work up close and personal, and then spend the day talking and chatting about pens and paper and creative business ideas. It was POWERFUL!! 

So of course when I was planning for The Journey Within, it was a no brainer -- I had to invite Cindy to join me. And thank goodness she said YES!!! Her art journaling is going to knock your socks off and help you see how to go from the dark places we sometimes find ourselves in, to the other side where there is lots of light (and some pink and turquoise too :-). 

For the blog hop challenge, Cindy had me play along with one of her fast forward videos. Here's what she said...

TODAY'S CHALLENGE -- From Cindy Gilstrap

​"I believe it is so important to make time for creativity. So for this challenge watch my Fast Forward Art Play #3 from my blog post -- Just Create. Pick two techniques that I show and use in any way you want. Focus your page around the word Journey to kick off this wonderful Journey Within."

---

The two techniques I selected were:
1. Starting with gesso and napkins
2. Stenciling

​Here's what I made...

Are you playing along? Let me know. Find me on Instagram (@kialagives) and tag me. Use the hashtag #journeywithin2016 so I can see your lovely work. 

Here's the blog hop schedule. Check it out and make sure you visit each person so you can see what they have in store for you next year during The Journey Within: A Year of Handmade Art Journals. 

December 1 -- Mimi Bondi -- MimiBondi.com
DAY TWO-->December 2 -- Cindy Gilstrap -- Junque Art Studios 
December 4 -- Tiare Smith -- TiareSmith.com 
December 7 -- Julie Baker -- Creatively Onward 
December 8 -- Amanda Trought -- Reality Arts 
December 9 -- Andrea Gomoll -- Cre8tive Cre8tions
December 10 -- Nicole Piar -- GhostKitten.com
December 11 -- Lisa DeYoung -- Mountain Mermaid Studios 
December 15 -- Kelly Johnson -- Wings, Worms, and Wonder 
December 17 -- Sadelle Wiltshire -- Tangle Vermont 
December 18 -- Barb Owen -- HowToGetCreative.com
December 21 -- Hali Karla -- HaliKarla.com
December 22 -- Yuko Miki -- Honeyberry Studios 
December 28 -- Virginia Simpson-Magruder -- Kentucky Girl Designs 
December 30 -- iHanna -- iHanna.nu 

​See you in the class...