Journals

Thanks to Julia Cameron and The Artist's Way, I journal in bed with my coffee most mornings. If you haven't yet read this classic creativity-boosting book, I urge you to do so this summer. You should be able to find it online or in your local used bookstore. Reading it transformed my life and I'd be surprised if it didn't do the same for you.

Anyway I dutifully write 3 pages longhand while sipping my morning coffee. Due to this practice and my basically frugal nature, I've been making my own journals for years. Originally I covered unlined composition books with pretty paper or fabric. But they would only last about a month and would not open flat the way a spiral-bound book would. So when I discovered the  Zutter Bind It All, I was hooked.  I've been cranking these wire-bound journals out for myself ever since.

Anyway, along with Artformation Cards, I've been making one-of-a-kind journals in a variety of sizes for sale/gifts lately. It obviously makes more sense for me to work in these smaller formats considering the current size of my studio, but I refuse to be completely sensible. I keep at least one larger piece in progress as well.

So I plan to have some reasonably-priced journals in various sizes available for some of the Holiday Boutiques this year. I'm thinking they'd make a great gift. I'll keep you posted as to where I'll be. If you are interested in seeing more, let me know. In the meantime, I'm having a blast playing with them.

Growing Truth & Creativity

Maybe five years ago I got an idea for something to assist people in visualizing truth in their lives and birthing (or growing) their dormant creativity. The idea came from the countless sticky notes I had on my bathroom mirror. I believe  many of us spend  more time applying negative labels to ourselves than we do positive.  After spending a lot of time working to replace my own negative labels with truth, I thought perhaps others might be able to benefit from from using these little tools. I call them Artformation Cards.

A set consists of 52 drilled cards with original art on both sides and a small suction hook. The set is designed to focus on one card per week. The weekly card can be affixed wherever would be most helpful. Mine, of course, are affixed to the bathroom mirror, but they could go anywhere. On one side of the cards has affirmations on it, one for each week of the year to be used in any order desired.

On the reverse side is a different activity to improve creativity.  Again, one card for each week. The activities are aimed at the Not-Yet-Practicing or Undiscovered Artist, but can easily be adapted for the already functioning artist.

It is my belief that no one is exempt from the ability to function creatively. And any life will be enhanced through creative growth. Thinking outside-the-box is a highly valued skill no matter what your occupation. Thinking creatively is another name for thinking outside-the-box. Artformation Cards are a tool for assisting one to experience the world creatively.

Sets will be available soon.

Backwards Remembering

Another week has come and gone. For better or worse, it's over. So I'll joining the Gypsy Mama today with a Five Minute Friday posting.



You can join her too, easily. Just go on over to her site each Friday and get the prompt. Then finish what she gives you in 5 minutes. No editing,  it is what it is.  Post it to her site. That's it.
Oh, and let the person who told you about it know you're in. The prompt today is "Backwards."

Set the timer and...GO!
I've been doing a lot of looking backwards and remembering since I got my "commission" to honor my journey. Some of that has been enjoyable, such as seeing how much I have bloomed since I became willing to fearlessly (most of the time) move forward into the fresh life I have today. Looking at the difficult obstacles I have overcome and the lies I have replaced with truth has given me a sense of the possible. 

All that is a good and soothing kind of backward looking.

However, this week my experiences of looking backward have been accompanied with something new. A sorrow for the way I have been shaped. Perhaps the wondering of who I would have been if I had lived up to those idealistic ideas I had in my youth. Would I have been different? Perhaps a more judgmental than tolerant soul?

 I suppose only God can see that one clearly.

DING!!