journaling

I am so glad that the journaling group is now started.   Not only are we doing graeat things in wonderful books,   We are having fun, and my personal sketching habit has returned.  I started a new book and it feels great.

Promise!!

I am getting really excited for the Journal Project that will be starting this coming Friday at the Shoppe.     I know that I am the facilitator,  but in prepping for it I have revitalized my own journaling practice and have found some super cool new techniques for mixed media that will work well with journaling.    I even filled my current journal and got to start a new book.  This one has a stunning brocade cover that catches the light in a wonderful way.  The paper is nice, a little tooth, medium/light weight,  can't soak the pages but I should be able to use reasonable wet media,  and they are just a tiny bit cream.   I kind of like that in a book.   It is about 5 x 7, and about an inch thick,  so I can carry it everywhere.   There is nothing like the promise embodied in a new blank book,  now, if I only had a brand new box of crayons to go with it.    Maybe I'll treat myself to a visit to the art supply store over the holiday weekend.

Tiny books

I have recently recovered from a stiff neck that kept me from doing anything for a few days.  I could not turn my head at all.   Super frustrating,  but while I had trouble doing everything, I did realize just how much time is in a day, and more in a night.  I vowed to make better use of my time.   I have been drawing every day, which is helping too.    Getting the drawing muscles back in shape feels good - like the start of a new adventure in a favorite old location. 


I had been thinking about the little books I had those students do ( see the previous post)  and all the benefits.  So I took a small strip of white muslin and folded it up like a fan,  stitched down the center and made a little book that has 8 fabric pages, each about the size of a baseball card.   I left the frayed edges and I have been using a scrap of cardstock to support it while I do little drawings with markers or colored pencils.    There is something really nice about this tiny thing.  It is an interesting object on its own, and with each little drawing I add it gets better.   I may have stumbled onto a good thing.    For me, working on fabric as if it was paper has helped re awaken a part of me that had been asleep fro a long time.