A Cami-Slip Test Drive, More Steriods, and Art Journaling

Can you tell that I've had another shot???  The bad news is that my arm hurts, and the good news is that I've been breathing easier today than I have in weeks!  I don't have quite the manic crafting buzz, which is a little disappointing, though.  I DO have stuff to share, however.
I wore the white and black cami-slip last Sunday, under my brown and white v-necked dress to church.  I am happy to report that it was super comfortable: cool and non-binding, as a cami can feel sometimes.  So, I'm calling that a grand success.
Next, while dusting the hangers in my closet (we don't have closet doors, so things get dusty), I came across a jean jacket that I haven't worn in years.  I made it in the 80s, when hugeness was in style.  I think I could wear two Bill Cosby-type sweaters under it and have room to hide a small poodle, too.  For our church's upcoming women's retreat, we have a western theme, and I decided to attack the jacket, with the goal of wearing it to the retreat.  I didn't want to just give it away, as I am really proud of the work I did.  Snaps and everything, but it wasn't being worn, so I didn't have much to lose. 
I began by taking off about 2 inches from each side seam, from cuff to waist.  I stitched about 3 seams, taking in more each time:

 

Then, I stitched down the vents in the back.  In this photo, the one on the right has been stitched, and the one on the left is still open.  That helped, too, to make the jacket look a little less ginormous.  

You can see from the photos, that it almost looks normal now.  I'm not sure I'm going to wear it often, but I'm happy with the alterations.  I can't do anything about the dropped shoulders without taking the jacket apart, and I'm just not going to do that.  So, another success.

This morning, I went to an estate sale down the street, and I got these books.  A half-used ledger and two Catholic devotionals.  Now, what was I doing buying Catholic devotionals, I can hear you asking.  Well, I'll tell you!
In an effort to expand my creativity, I've been exploring art journaling.  It all started with the Junque Journal and has escalated from there.  I took another composition book and began to doodle.  I was thinking, hey, it's only 99 cents. So, if this is a big bust, I'm not out the money for a proper sketch book. 
And, it was fun!  I love doodling now.  I see patterns everywhere.  My favorite page so far was inspired by a Target coupon booklet. And, then I decided to try a little painting and collage.  It's harder, but rewarding, too.
When I saw this ledger book, I knew that it would be wonderful for journaling.  So, I removed the cover and will use it later, perhaps.

 Then, I collaged a ledger page and a prayer out of the Misal, for Thursday in the third day of Lent.  I added a little Johnny Jump-up in an glassine envelope and called it done. 

The whole theory behind all this doodling and art jorunaling is not that I'm making a work of art, but that I am practicing creativity.  Creativity breeds more creativity.  I've found that just by beginning, somewhere with something, my brain goes into hyper-buzz mode, and it's even better than coffee.  Really.  I have to be careful and not start something too late in the evening or I'm not sleeping. 
But, enough of this.  I need to go mop my floors, putting the buzz I have to good use.