Blog | Linda Matthews

Journal Inspiration from Ancient Earth

Inspiration comes in all sorts of different ways, and after dyeing some hand-dyed fabrics the other week, I was inspired to use the fabrics to make some small journals. In keeping with the theme of the fabric collection - Ancient Earth - I used the fabrics together...

Words to Remember: A Stitched Mixed Media Art Journal

It's taken a while but I've finally found the time to finish assembling my quotation journal which I began several months ago. This stitched mixed-media journal features my favorite quotations all bound up together in a beautiful overstuffed journal which I had to tie...

DIY Alcohol Inks

If you work with mixed media or love to make pages in your art journal, then you'll know that alcohol inks are perfect for staining and adding transparent color. I generally use them with stencils and also for adding aged effects and subtle shading effects to both...

The Nature of Things: a Stitched Mixed Media Journal Workshop

I'm always so excited to release a new online workshop sharing fresh and creative techniques for working with fabric and thread, and this stitched mixed media journal workshop is probably one of my favorites. Since I began making stitched mixed media journals earlier...

Fabric dyeing using Jacquard Color Magnet

I currently teach several hand-dyeing workshops using techniques that I've developed over many years, but I'm always looking for new and fun ways to work with fabric and dyes. Jacquard's Color Magnet is definitely one of those fun products. Color Magnet is a paste...

New in the Printables Store: Spring Blush Printable Journal Kit 5″ x 7″

This kit in designed using florals in shades of soft pink which brings to mind springtime flowers. The white backgrounds that are deeply distressed to create a vivid contrast. This kit would make beautiful journal pages reminiscent of times gone by - something that...

Beautiful Hand-Dyed Fabrics in the Colors of Nature

The next best thing to teaching others how to hand-dye fabrics and fibers, is seeing the results of their efforts, and the fabric collections which are being produced during the current session of my Fragments of Nature Workshop are simply beyond beautiful. It's easy...

New in the Printables Store: Traveler’s Notebook Inserts – Wabi Sabi Style

Add a little wabi sabi style to your traveler's notebook with my new range of printables. Designer Insert Covers Designer Insert Pages Designer Pocket Folder Journal Cards Set #1 Journal Cards Set #1

Take a peek at my new Creative Artistry Notebook Cover

I've become a regular user of journals over the years and I love using the traveler's notebook size for carrying around every day and jotting down creative ideas, or sketching when I'm out and about. I also like that I can combine different types of papers and...

The Nature of Things #2 – another Stitched Mixed Media Journal

For the last several months I've been enjoying making journal pages every day as part of my daily artistic practice, and I've finally managed to finish assembling my second nature journal which I began during February. I completed assembly of the first journal last...

Hand-Dyeing the Colors of Nature

It's been quite a busy month so far with a focus on teaching my new workshop - Fragments of Nature - both online and in a live workshop. We are about half-way through the online class, and have so far learned how to mix dyes to recreate nature colors. It all begins...

How to Make a Quick and Easy Traveler’s Notebook Cover

Several years ago I began using a traveler's notebook. When I first bought it, I wasn't sure if I'd like it or not, but over time I've grown to love it! I particularly love the idea of being able to use several different styles of notebooks such as a writing notebook,...

Words to Live By

This week I'm continuing my year-long journey of making daily art and today marks day 87. With the month of March ending in several days, I'm almost finished with the pages for my quotation journal. I've really enjoyed making these particular journal pages and can't...

The Energy of Words

This week I'm continuing my year-long journey of making daily art and today marks day 80. This month I'm making a quote journal and after three weeks of focusing on positive and uplifting words each and every day, I can tell you that even on days when life feels...

The Nature of Things – a stitched mixed media art journal

During February as part of my year-long commitment to making daily art, I made daily nature-inspired art journal pages using The Nature of Things printable journal kit and I've managed, finally, to assemble some of the pages into a completed art journal. As a...

Secrets Revealed

This week I'm continuing my year-long journey of making daily art and today marks day 73. During March I'm using the "Free Spirit" printable journal kit to make a quote journal. At first, my intention was to simply make a lovely journal as a place to store my favorite...

Inspiration for the Soul

This week I'm continuing my year-long journey of making daily art. For March I've designed a fun and free-spirited printable journal using beautiful watercolor imagery, with the theme "Free Spirit". You can find the "Free Spirit" printable journal kit here in my...

Stick Totem: A Stitched Mixed Media Collage Tutorial + Free Printable

This year my goal is to make a small stitched mixed media collage each day with the intention of making monthly mixed media journals. To make these page quick and easy to create, I'm using pages from my new series of printable journals as backing pages. These pages...

Finding Joy in Each Day

This week I'm continuing my year-long journey of making daily art. As February comes to a close and we begin a new month, it's a startling reminder of just how quickly the days pass, often without us really noticing. Having made a small piece of art every day for the...

“Free Spirit” Printable Journal Kit

This month's printable journal kit is themed "Free Spirit" and I'll be using the printed pages from this kit to make daily stitched mixed media journal pages during the coming month. At the end of the month I'll be assembling the pages into a completed journal similar...

Hand-Dyed Fabrics with Amazing Color and Visual Texture

It's always a thrill for me to see the work that my students produce during my online classes and workshops, and I particularly love to see the beautiful fabrics and fibers that they create during my hand-dyeing workshops. After 30 years of hand-dyeing I never get...