Alas de temple/ Serenity wings

I have been working with tempera this past month, 

the process is super slow but I think I love it, there is

a lot about patience that I have to learn!  I share with 

you a video of the process, some photos I took while

creating this sweet birdie!

"Alas de temple"
Temple sobre tela

Que las alas del alma
nos eleven hasta el amor
verdadero del ser

"Serenity wings"
Tempera on canvas

May the wings of the soul
elevate us to the true love

This week we had a few super cold days, I was really freezing over 

my studio but I got to wear my hat and gloves that I love, it`s mostly 

warm here in Mexico city and so we are never ready for this kind of weather!

The studio at a super early hour, this is when I wake up and this

is how it looks when it`s super clean!  My kitties are asleep, can

you picture them?  They are two! ;D

I am starting to create winter buddies!  I wish I had more

time to make them, they are so much fun!  So much to do

that makes me happy!  Do you ever find your self like that too?

I love this kitty!  I will have to make more of them!

This one is listed over my Etsy for one lucky shopper here!

Becoming...

You never stop growing up, I realize that now,

and we all do it at different speeds, nothing is

pushing you to do it, it`s about free will, I like 

growing up but there is no end to it, some days 

you take care of a certain area and then one day you 

remember that there are other areas that you want to 

work on but it`s awesome, life is awesome, if you 

think about it, you should never be bored!

There is so much to do in this life, so much to learn,

to become!  One thing is clear to me, the most important

work you will do, is in your self!  I just hope to be strong

enough to focus on the important things, it`s 

hard for it means to really face those things but at the end

 it feels good to overcome fears, doubts and unsolved stuff,

for then you are left with so much light and brightness

in your heart that all you will do is enjoy and be happy!

Altered book page

Sugar skulls made of fabrics!  Aren`t they cute?  I was inspired by this one

over my pinterest wall but made mine with a Mexican touch with the colors!

Altered book page using tea bags!  

 I love recycling and giving artful

use to stuff I find!

Banana and pecans mini muffins!  Oh my! they were delicious!

I followed this recipe over facebook, I just added pecans to it

and used a small muffins pan as well as a big one!

My spooky wall in my studio!  ;D

I love creatures from halloween and the day of the dead,

they never scare me, they make me smile and I love

creating them, it`s a lot of fun!

Are you getting ready for halloween? I would love to see!

Please share in the comments section!

Pencil, pastels and fabric, altered books, all in one week!

This week practice included lots of pencil drawing and as

I commented you earlier, a live model! To me it was the

first time I did this and although I didn`t know what to expect,

it was fun, hard, interesting, frustrating and I`ve learned so much

about it, I am glad I did it, I still have a lot to learn but that`s what

makes art so interesting and you never stop learning until you say so!

The live model had to change every five minutes, sometimes just

in one so one has to learn to be quick and precise, this is the hard part!

To fix or not to fix, that is the big question!

This doll was made with pastels, and I loved the hair, that

color makes it super shiny and so I was super disappointed 

when my teacher at school decided to fix it!!  The result is

so much more opaque and so I don`t like it anymore...

I guess this is how on learns, sometimes, the hard way!

What do you think?  Do you use fixative (which one) or just 

frame it  between glass?  If you sale a piece do 

you let the buyer know it`s not fixed?  So many questions! 

 Thank you for your input here!

Before fix 

After fix

My live sessions are coming a long, we really have tons of fun, 

I loved it and I hope to make more students happy!  I just wish 

I had a bigger space now but it all comes in the right time so

for now I will enjoy this new area of my life!

New kitties inspired on this kitty, one of my pins over my art dolls

wall in pinterest!  I just love them, they are so soft and cozy

and they are made out of recycled stuff I have been collecting,

so much to do, so much inspiration, it`s hard to keep up 

with my self! Even for me!  Lol!

Beyond the Page: 10 Soul-Stirring Reasons to Embrace Your Art Journal (updated)

Is Your Soul Whispering for an Art Journal? Here's Why You Must Listen.

Hey there, fellow travelers on the creative path! Lately, my art journal and I have been in a deep, ongoing conversation. And the more pages I fill, the more I ponder: what profound yearning does this humble book fulfill within us? If you've ever felt that gentle pull towards an art journal, or wondered if it's merely a whimsical detour from your "serious" art, then lean in close. After these reflections, I believe you'll not only find your answer but perhaps discover a sacred space you never knew you needed.

Your Art Journal: A Sanctuary for the Soul's Unfolding

More than just paper and paint, your art journal is where the tangible meets the intangible, where your inner world finds outer expression.

• The Alchemy of Practice: Fearless Exploration: Forget the intimidating canvas, the pressure of a "masterpiece." Your art journal is a crucible for fearless experimentation. Here, every brushstroke, every whispered color, every playful mark is an act of courage, an unfolding of possibility. It's where you embrace the truth that every creative gesture, no matter how small, adds to the vast tapestry of your artistic wisdom. This isn't just practice; it's the very alembic of your growth, transforming raw impulse into refined intuition.

• The Silent Confidant: A Mirror to Your Depths: Imagine a friend who listens without judgment, who holds your deepest secrets and wildest dreams in tender silence. That's your art journal. It's a sacred space where you can pour out the cacophony of your mind and the quiet stirrings of your heart. It allows you to witness your own unfolding, seeing your fears, joys, and epiphanies reflected back in color and form. In its pages, you discover the profound truth that to truly express is to truly heal.

• The Illuminated Chronicle: Tracing Your Soul's Seasons: Life flows in seasons, each with its own palette of emotions and insights. Your art journal becomes an illuminated manuscript of your personal odyssey. It captures the fleeting beauty of a thought, the vibrant hue of a feeling, the raw texture of a moment. Flipping through its pages is like walking through a gallery of your own soul's journey, witnessing the evolution of your inner landscape. It's a testament to the ever-changing, yet ever-present, essence of who you are.

• The Wellspring of Revelation: Where Ideas Take Flight: Sometimes, the seeds of our grandest ideas are sown in the most unassuming soil. Your art journal is that fertile ground. It's where disparate thoughts collide, where nascent feelings coalesce into form, where a small sketch might spark a monumental vision. It's your personal oracle of inspiration, a place where you allow the subconscious to speak, revealing pathways to larger projects and unforeseen creative destinies.

• The Catharsis of Creation: Transmuting Experience into Art: Life, in its beautiful complexity, hands us both sunshine and shadow. Your art journal offers a powerful form of catharsis. It's a space to acknowledge the "hard life stuff" – the pain, the uncertainty – and to celebrate the "great life stuff" – the joy, the wonder. By giving form to these experiences, by adding vibrant colors and rich textures, you engage in an act of transmutation, transforming raw emotion into aesthetic expression, finding release and a deeper understanding of your own resilience.

• The Unraveling of Thought: Finding Clarity in Form: How often do we truly understand what resides within us until we give it voice or form? Your art journal is a profound tool for organizing the intricate threads of thought. The very act of sketching, writing, or collaging helps to externalize and process internal landscapes. It's a visual dialogue with yourself, leading to those "aha!" moments of clarity where scattered notions align into profound insights.

• The Investment in Being: Cultivating Inner Joy: To create is to affirm life. Dedicating time to your art journal is a conscious act of self-nourishment. It’s a space where time bends, where the noise of the world recedes, and where you connect with the pure, unadulterated joy of creation. This isn't wasted time; it's an investment in your well-being, strengthening your spirit and enriching the very fabric of your existence.

• The Playground of Discovery: Embracing the Unknown: Your art journal is the ultimate playground for the curious soul. It invites you to experiment without expectation, to try new ideas, new materials, new techniques, simply for the sake of discovery. There are no "mistakes," only unexpected paths and unforeseen revelations. It’s a celebration of the unknown, an embrace of the delightful journey of artistic exploration.

  
  

  

  
  

• The Profound Truth: No Art Time is Ever Wasted Time.

I once wrestled with a limiting belief: "Shouldn't I save my best ideas for a grand canvas, lest I 'waste' them on a simple journal page?" What a profound misunderstanding of the creative spirit! I shed this idea for two liberating truths:

Firstly, such a thought shackled my desire for exploration. True art flows from freedom, not restriction. To withhold an impulse, however small, is to deny a part of your own unfolding.

Secondly, and most profoundly: art is never truly about the surface. It matters not whether your expression graces a grand canvas or a humble page. Art, at its core, is the unfettered expression of the soul. It is about allowing your innermost self to materialize, to breathe, to share its unique understanding of life and its singular journey. It is about letting your soul become art.

So, the next time that gentle whisper calls you to your art journal, heed it. For within its pages, you're not just making art; you're cultivating a deeper connection to yourself, creating a visual testament to the beautiful, ever-evolving landscape of your own soul.

More Than Just Journals: The Soulful Expansion of My Creative Universe

As my art journal practice deepens, it's incredible to witness how one creative spark ignites another, creating a beautiful ripple effect through my entire artistic life. Lately, my sewing practice has also been flourishing, evolving in wonderful, unexpected ways.

The most enchanting part of this expansion? My growing collection of handmade dolls. It’s a journey I’m absolutely loving, watching each one take on a unique personality. It’s truly funny how quickly I get attached to some of them – they feel like little characters emerging from the depths of imagination! My brother, with his meticulous skill, has helped bring their forms to life by finishing the doll bodies, and now it’s my absolute joy to delve into the painting and embellishing. Each stroke, each tiny bead, each carefully chosen fabric scrap is a meditation, a conversation with the doll itself. I'm brimming with ideas, eager to try new techniques and see what magic unfolds with each creation.

This creative flow, from the introspective depths of my art journal to the tactile joy of doll making, highlights a beautiful truth: when we truly listen to our creative impulses, our artistic world expands in delightful and meaningful ways. It’s all part of the same soulful journey.

Want to see these little beings come to life? I've just added a brand-new page on the blog dedicated to my doll-making adventures and textile experiments, I went to school to study fashion a textile designer so I am putting all that knowledge in to a good-creative use! Come take a peek and witness the evolution of these delightful creatures and other textile creations. You can find all the latest updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses HERE! 

I should create a journal about my dolls and fabric alone... that's an idea! 💡😊

Hope you are happy and enjoying your self!  🥰

Namaste 🙏🏻 Thank you for being part of this journey and sharing with me. Moni.

Doll making!

Hi sweets!

I want to share what`s going on over Hands and Heart

studio this days, someone requested a couple of dolls and

so I decided to make a few more intended for selling and here

is the process of the first coming together!

The first part is not my favorite, the cutting is OK but 

it`s the reversing of the fabrics and stuffing them that 

me no like!  But it has to be done in order to get to the

fun part which is painting them and putting them all pretty!

It takes a lot of work of paint and I love fabric paint, mine are bought 

here in Mexico city!

My sweet brother is helping a lot with the tough part!

Sometimes he seams to be in a race!!

And here is the first one ready! I love the colors, someone gave me the

idea over My facebook page so I did it and loved it!  The skirt is also hand

painted by me

What do you think? Is she lovely?

I`ll share more finished pieces next week or check my facebook page

if you like daily updates!

Smile and be happy,

do what you like and

keep it up! ;D

Ejoying life

Life is Good!

I know sometimes we all have hard moments and that

you just have to take a breath and stop to see things in 

a better distant perspective but essentially, life is

 Goodness and I am sure you agree!

My move was a bit hard this time, I never had so many things

 as I do now, my art studio and my music studio are

 in my home and they hold a lot of stuff but slowly

I am getting there and mostly, I am enjoying the process, 

seriously, one can have it as one decides and I decided to have 

a good time and enjoy every piece of it, being meticulously about 

were to put things but when I started painting

I couldn`t find anything! I still have to remember were things are!

Still needs work but I had to take a brake and have some rest and paint 

a little yesterday, it`s amazing how much I missed it!  Here is a little peek

 into how it`s coming along, still some boxes here and there...

The good part of this process was:

1. Removing all the unused and old stuff
2. renovate furniture and clean deeply
3. finding things I forgot I had and are super cool!
4. being able to recycle old canvases, journals, papers, etc...
5. Finding old unfinished projects and ideas!
6. Regrouping things that go together, like pencils, charcoals, acrylics, etc.
7. Finding new ways to use my furniture
8. removing all the cluster!!

Haaaa!, feels good now that it`s almost done! :D

My kitty is also adapting to her new home, the new noises and places to hide

and sleep, it`s a lot of fun for her too but sometimes scary so I had 

(and loved) to pet her a lot but she`s a brave girl as well, she`s now in an 

adventure checking out my neighbour`s roofs, I just hope they like cats,

I know they like humans so far!

This are one of the forgotten projects, I did a watercolor  painting of this doll

 and made some fabric dolls, they were meant to be sold but I forgot about it!

I should put them in my Etsy! 

All this inspired me to paint and draw about how I feel 

about my home and what it means to me 

and did some sketches, I love this one...

And did a painting about it too, I am naming it 

"A Home For The Soul" 

I love how she`s coming to life, it is resting now for a little and did

 some loosening up exercises yesterday from my class with this faces,

I had a lot of fun but they were finished in the dark so this morning

I find them too yellowish, I might go back to them later...

I believe one can be happy anytime, it`s a decision one makes, at the end,

it`s only your self who decides how to feel no matter the circumstances,

and to be responsible for your happiness, be happy just now!