Organizing

My New Happy Mail Journal

~ Patty Radish ~ 4 Comments

Sometimes I feel as if I need an art journal for everything I do! Well, at least everything I want to remember or keepsake.

Over the last year or so, as I received more and more happy mail, in the form of envelopes stuffed with ephemera goodness, it became increasingly apparent I needed some organization. So, as I shuffled my treasures from basket to box to larger box, I began feeling a bit like a hoarder! Also, I realized that these were gifted  to me to use and have fun with, and that they have a very special meaning to me. The only idea I could come up with was to use them in my mail art, but that would mean sending them off. So, when I had my Aha! moment the other day to use them in a mail art journal, I couldn’t wait to get started. As you will see…

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…you may remember this photo from the other day. I chose the one with the owl on it to start.

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This is the first page I did. I worked on it later that day. Being Valentine’s Day, I ran with it. It’s a bit on the busy side, but I was a little excited!

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There were a few pages done in this journal, so I just restructured them a bit, added my gifted ephemera, and ink stamped here and there.

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This journal is filled with lots of wonderful illustrations and images that I would prefer not to cover, so there’s the occasional scrapbook paper work around.

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Another page re-do. I’m getting a “retro vacay” feeling from this one. Although, I rarely dress to the nines anymore, let alone on vacation!

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I had put together some pages with places to journal on. This page has enough to say, so I just decorated over it.

Again, I rarely dress to the nines when cleaning my bathroom anymore!

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One of my favorite pages right now! This is an envelope I received from my dear friend Iryna quite a while ago. It is perfect for storing handwritten letters in, it has kind of a vacation travel feel to it that I love! (Hmmm…that vacation word again!)

Last year, I had put together some small binders to keep my artist post cards and some of my gifted ephemera in, I can’t tell you how much I love having a permanent place for my letters too!

I hope to write about my happy mail ephemera organization sometime soon. I’m afraid it’s not too terribly exciting, but you may find it useful.

Till then,

Thanks for the visit,

Have a great week,

~Patty

Thrifty Finds

~ Patty Radish ~ 4 Comments

It seems as that when I just pop into a thrift store to see what’s what, as opposed to hunting for something in particular, I find the most wonderful treasures!

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Vintage phonics cards for 25 cents, HA!

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Some of my favorite books to make journals out of, Yay!

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But, surprise of all surprises, a blue Wilhold! Can you believe my luck finding 2 Wilhold sewing boxes twice in a row! I’m in awe! Isn’t she a beauty!

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It’s missing it’s thread and notion holders, but that doesn’t matter to me, I always find a use for them. Like holding some of my trim collection! I was able to get rid of about 6 small boxes by throwing all this in here, sweet!

This is my new mission, to find nicer containers to hold my massive stockpile of vintage trim! I’d say my Wilhold obsession is going to payoff…not sure what my husband would say, but that’s another story.

Until next time,

Thanks for stopping in,

~Patty

On Starting New Projects

~ Patty Radish ~ 8 Comments

Just because I have a laundry list of unfinished projects, does not necessarily mean I don’t have room for one more! It could be because I have finished so many projects lately, that I feel I have room for more.

Yeah, I’m going with that!

Quite a few people I follow on Instagram include beautiful sketches and drawings on their pages, and it has inspired me to get off my duff and try my hand!

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So, I went out and bought a book! This one was highly recommended by an artist friend. I haven’t tried it out yet, I haven’t even opened it up!

I’ve been too busy having fun with…

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…my “new to me vintage” writing box!

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Luckily for me, I won’t have to spend any money on pencils having inherited all I’ll need from my children. Pretty nifty!

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The box has two openings for storage.

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I cut some drawing paper to size then bound it into a pad. The cover is decorated with some art by one of my favorite artists Lisa Congden. Most of the artists I love, keep it pretty simple, thank goodness!

Now that I’m organized, I hope I’ll find the time to get started. I’m reading a book titled “One Small Step Can Change Your Life, The Kaizen Way“, by Robert Maurer. This approach advocates that once you start, keep taking small steps, and your goal will have more long term staying power. This philosophy feels less intimidating to me, and I feel much better about the fact of starting in the first place. I’m also feeling much better about letting go of projects that stall out. Being realistic about what I spend my time on has freed up some much needed energy…to finish more projects!

Hopefully I will be share some drawings some time soon!

Until then,

Have a great weekend,

Thanks for stopping in,

~Patty

Re-decoratings, Re-aquaintings, and Resolutions…

~ Patty Radish ~ 8 Comments

Now that the hustle bustle of the Holidays is over, it’s time to get back to work, but it shouldn’t be this much fun…or should it? Taking the time to fiddle around with my supplies and decor is a luxury I didn’t afford myself much last year. “Nose to the grindstone”, that was me!IMG_1124

A bit of de-cluttering I did before Christmas, and a perfect example of what I would like the rest of the room to look like. (Pardon if you have already seen this on other social mediums)

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Some washi tape that was stuffed in baskets and drawers. “Out of sight out of mind”, therefore “out of use”! It’s not a New Years resolution to cut back on spending, but it should be!

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Last night, I was going through some back issues of Flow magazine while working in my Vision Journal, and came across these gorgeous art pages. So, down came the clutter, and up went the pretties!

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This rolling rack was a sight! Now, it displays part of my collection of vintage linens. Some of these have plans, but for the most part, I just like looking at them.

I’m not much for New Years resolutions, but I do like to shoot for a new mindset. Last year, it was getting my shoppe in high gear. I think I stripped a few, because I was worn out before Christmas!

This year, it’s reacquainting myself with the things and people that inspire me and have guided me to where I am today.

With a grateful heart,

Thank you once again for visiting,

Have a great week,

~Patty