A few years ago, I started going on a Photo Walk in the Spring. It was my way of supporting the “Walk to Cure” Diabetes Walk that my family participates in, since I can’t be there in person. I usually walk on the day that they walk, but this year I just couldn’t help but go early. On May 26th, it was such a beautiful day that I grabbed my camera and my little helper (who joined me for the first time this year, since she was too young last year!) and we hit the streets of Sollentuna. Here are a couple of shots that were taken during the walk. If you would like to see more, just click on one of the photos!

My new tabletop easel arrived! I bought the same style that my “Layer Love” instructor, Julie Prichard, uses to paint. A lot of the techniques used in her class require gravity, and working on the plain counter just wouldn’t do. It also lets me work on canvases, art journals, AND loose pages, since it’s not an open easel. Sweet! Isn’t it pretty? *Now* I’m ready to get started!

There aren’t many certainties in life, but I do know one thing: I am a lifelong learner who will always be looking for new and interesting things to discover. I love being a student, especially when the content is fascinating and the teachers are so much fun! Finally, some of the courses that I’ve been waiting for are about to start.

Everyone Can Write a Little with Cathy Zielske: Cathy is all about design and being able to share “your story” in a simple and visually-pleasing way. She is freaking hilarious and I loved taking her ‘Design Your Life’ class last fall. This class fits in with my lack of time to write long journaling about everything in my life. We will be taking little snippets of information (that have already been written in places like facebook and twitter) and using them in our pages. I really like the idea that all the information that I post about will not in vain. It can actually be used in an album about Adrienne’s milestones, or my first year as a mother, etc. things that I haven’t had a chance to officially document on paper.

Layer Love with Julie Prichard: I haven’t taken a course with Julie before but I love her work. I suspect that this class will be the polar opposite to the above class, as it is about making grungy layered backgrounds and getting your hands messy. The combination of all the upcoming courses are a perfect match for my split personality of creativity. I’m also excited that Julie will be making use of video as a main part of the course. I love watching an instructor at work instead of just reading about the steps that they’re taking. I actually learn best when I watch the video, try it myself, then watch it again to see if I can pick up anything that I might have missed or can do better. I’ve ordered everything I need for the course, and am raring to go!

Art Journaling 201 with Dina Wakley: I have been waiting SO long for Dina to start this one. I took her Art Journaling 101 and 102 classes and she blew me away with every PDF and video. Seriously! She makes everything look so easy and effortless. She can make a journal page or a scrapbook layout in front of your eyes, and you won’t know what hit you. She’s very detailed in her videos and can answer any and all questions posed to her on the forums. It will be a sad day for me when she decides to take the previous class videos down from the website. I’m that addicted to them! This course doesn’t start until the end of June, but I’ll be ready! I’ll be in Canada for most of it, which means I might not be able to do all the assignments until I can get back to all of my tools and paints. Luckily, I will be able to easily pick up an missing products before I head back to Sweden.

A lot of people might think I’m insane to take on so many classes while trying to juggle an almost one-year-old. They must wonder if I don’t have time to do long strings of journaling, how can I find time to tweet or write facebook updates. But believe me, there is a BIG difference. I can check my online accounts very quickly with the help of my iPhone on busses, in the dark during naptime, and odd moments here and there throughout the day. I really can’t say that about keeping my mind on the same thought for longer three minutes. Even writing this post, I’ve had to put Adrienne back to sleep two times!

Plus, I live in Sweden where we have, at least, a full year off for maternity leave. If I wasn’t able to focus on something other than my beautiful and wonderful daughter, I think I would have gone insane by now! I’m trying to fit everything in before going back to work in the fall. When that happens, I know I won’t have time for more online courses. That thought makes me very sad.

“Learn something new. Try something different. Convince yourself that you have no limits.” -Brian Tracey

I took the opportunity today to do something that I would never have accomplished if Adrienne and Erik were around. I taped and edited a video about my craft room. I have dreams of someday owning my own craft/art supply store where I would get to create all day long. I always envision a large front area and a group classroom type area, but I have never thought about having my very own art studio in the backroom. One of the entries in the Cloth, Paper, Scissors special issue on Art Studios talks about her special art space in her shop, and it completely blew my mind! What an amazing idea.

She says that she also uses the space to relax and entertain close friends who drop by the store. Wow! Never before have I wanted my own store so badly! That sounds like the perfect work environment and future project for me. Of course, whenever I daydream about it, I always see it in Canada instead of Sweden. Not really sure when that would happen, so it scares me to think that it may never. For now, it is something that I will think about and plan, hoping it will become my reality someday.

Currently, my craft room is nothing compared to what I see for myself in the future, but it is a peaceful place and it is mine. It is where I go to relax and recharge myself, even if only for five minutes.

My original idea was to be in front of the camera, but after not having a decent night’s sleep in over six months, I decided against it. I also have decided that I’m purchasing iLife 09. The iMovie program that I have is good, but when I see all the tutorials about what 09 can do, it just doesn’t compare. I would like to do more movies in the future and I know iLife 09 will help me make them look more professional with a lot less effort.

Without further ado, I present to you - my sanctuary:

p.s. I can’t believe how much I sound like my sister in some parts of the video. Crazy!