Circle Journal: Fall 2010

Yesterday, I mentioned my circle journal. A circle journal is a journal that gets passed between friends.

Here are my first few pages.

 

Finally pulling myself out of my creative slump. And it feels good. 

Mini Journal

I am so glad that I decided to take the "Tell Your Story" art journal class. It has been amazingly inspirational. Also, I have enjoyed getting together every week with a good friend, Angela. We met via Flickr and realized that we lived near each other so we get together every week and force ourselves to work on the prompts. I've managed to stay pretty caught up. Not every page is completely finished (even though the class just ended, sad face) I can go back to the ones that aren't quite done when I am feeling inspired, or when I fee like finishing them.

The pages in this post are from a mini-journal that we learned how to make in the class. Basically, I selected pages from a favorite catalog and folded them in half and stitched down the middle for a perfectly sized, perfectly beautiful art journal to take on-the-go. These images are from a recent Urban Outfitters catalog.

I love the cover. Nellielicious. Its a book of confessions and realizations.

This page isn't really finished, but I like looking at it.

The idea is to draw, paint, write, collage on the pages when we are feeling inspired. Its a great way to up-cycle these beautiful publications after we look at them!

My centerfold....I love this picture... I can hardly wait to finish it!! I'm waiting until I have something perfect to write on the sand.

A pretty little thieves' inspired page!

My Art Journal-Week 2

Journaling. Truly poetic writing doesn't come naturally to me unless I am in the zone. To just randomly jot down something perfectly powerful isn't my style. Perhaps I am not serious or self-reflective enough to let myself reside in that not-fully-conscious-I'm-writing-something-important-please-leave-me-alone state often enough. There are simply too many distractions to be witty and graceful and powerful and deep very often.

When journal writing, I catch myself writing the same happy wishes over and over because I tend to turn my back on the really hard, intense, emotionally disturbing stuff because to write about that stuff....well, that would mean that I would have to glance back at the pile of ugly experiences and feelings that I am not entirely proud of:

• the tissues full of frustrated tears
• broken promises
• angry emails/texts that I deleted before I actually hit send
• oops--crafts
• stained sweaters
• single earrings that I won't throw away just in case I might find the missing one
• dirty looks
• slammed doors
• the fact that sometimes I want to be really passively aggressive just to prove a point
• 'dropped calls' that weren't really dropped--I did hang up on you
• bad photos with double chins
• burnt toast
• the wad of hair that clogs the drain
• that new recipe that I tried and didn't really turn out so I threw most of it away
• the smell of dog poop that sears its brand into your nostril hairs even after you clean off your shoe
• nostril hair
• the candy that may or may not have survived the ten second rule--but you ate it anyway
• letting someone try your drink even though you didn't really want to share your straw with anyone--especially not them--but you are too nice to hide your disgust at drinking after them so you share with them anyway
• bad hair days
• clothes in your closet that are too small never get thrown away--just in case
• farting, belching, blowing your nose--the gross realities of humanity
• silent treatments
• bad breath
• broken nails
• sulking about not getting your way
• the story you started to tell but no one was listening so you stopped mid-sentence and continued eating your lunch--feeling like a total loser
• the really advice you gave--that your best friend ignored
• spending way too much on something you don't even need--or spending  too much at the Target dollar section on a bunch of junk you don't need
• not tipping enough because you only get paid once a month and you could barely afford to go to dinner in the first place
• stubbed toes
• deleting that Facebook friend just because their status updates annoy you
• crying at network t.v. and pretending that you are just tired because you are embarrassed that were moved to tears
• actually crying because someone hurt your feelings
• dusting, dishes, and laundry
• confronting a coworker
• road rage
• throwing away birthday cards or photographs
• forgetting someone's birthday
• pretending to be listening when you are really daydreaming

....you know...all that crap...the crap that happens but it isn't really worth a journal page...or a tweet...or even a single written word...I want to cover that stuff with a a rug....and pretend that life is always happy and pretty and easy and fun. But life isn't like that and I know that my journal pages need to reflect some of that really ugly stuff in order to be more beautiful and real.

there is a lot of power in truth. the truth is more interesting than the shiny, happy facade.


I am sure that everyone has a story to tell...and I know that I have some very raw experiences that would make great blog posts, journal entries and short stories....but for now I am keeping the really hard stuff locked up in a vault because it isn't pretty to look at...and it doesn't make me happy to drag it out and show it off...but someday, maybe I will write about more of the ugly stuff....

thank you for reading my blog. I truly try to create a beautiful place for inspiration. The photos in this post are from my art journal. 


Check out my birds of a feather blog post today to see a review of a gorgeous journaling book by Sabrina Ward Harrison.

My Art Journal-Week 1

I am taking the class 'Tell Your Story' through the RVA site. I absolutely love these classes. A daily prompt for 6 weeks--woweee! Tons of inspiration. I shared my favorite class pages from other classmates yesterday, but I thought it would be fun to show you my pages today.

The best part about this class is that some days are techniques and some are just for inspiration but there is some sort of prompt every day....and the prompts really make you think about important things...and the techniques are definitely something that can be done right away and without a zillion supplies that I have to go buy--I have everything right here at home.

This is my cover page. I sewed a doily to patterned paper and stitched on some buttons...I added one of my business cards and painted the background. It is so pretty!

Some of the prompts encourage us to leave the page simple to create an art journal with a lot of variety.

Still filling out my dream list....left one blank for later....

This page isn't quite finished...I need to find the perfect picture to go with my vintage fabric.....A photo of something French...or about my friend Nelly that lives in France......

I hope you have found some inspiration here! I am having the best week--the weather is gorgeous!

Normally I don't....

HI everyone!!

Normally I don't make two posts in one day....but I am working hard in my studio making some lovely paper and ribbon garland for a 'jammie' party this weekend!! I am so excited! Anyway, I have a question for you...If you sew, you might be able to help me out. My bobbin gets all tangled whenever I thread it....and I am able to use it for a while, but once it gets to the tangled spot, I have to unravel the whole thing or else it just jams up my machine....any tips on making this not happen? It is messing me up and I need to finish this project tonight!

Here is a little peek at a photo shoot that I did today!!! Morgan is 6. She is amazing! I love her photos!!

We had to walk around in the woods in our pretty shoes....It was an adventure!!

While I am at it, I thought I would show you a sneak peek at my art journal for the 'Tell Your Story Class'. The class is wonderful, I am getting so many great ideas! To see a few more pages, check at my flickr site here.

Finally, my real reason for posting tonight......I NOW HAVE 100 FOLLOWERS!! YAY!!!!  Thanks for signing up to read my blog....I think that is awesome and I want to have a giveaway.....I am going to gather up some goodies and as soon as I have a good photo of it, I will let you know what the prize is....

And a huge shout out to Rinda at Gallo Organico....she always leaves me comments....Thanks for not making me feel like I blog in the dark! You are a great follower Rinda!!