Hi there deskers (and all other ‘followers’ or random drop-ins, welcome!) A stormy day at the coast and since I’m high in my tower-atelier I can hear the wind howl around the building… there’s no danger (we don’t have hurricanes in the Netherlands) so I feel comfortable sitting here watching the trees swish. Grocery shopping has been done yesterday and we also stopped at the library; my beloved sits in the living room engrossed in his book and I planned some art journaling today – the spread I am working on is on the desk. Speaking about desks, here’s the photo I took…
See that little envelope on top of the art journal spread I am working on? I folded it yesterday (the image on it is a stamp) to glue on the page – there’s a note-paper in it on which I wrote a ‘story’ that I rather keep private.
It’s a thing.
I keep a journal in which I write ‘my life’.
It’s like a diary, well – sort of.
I’m always aware of the fact that other people can read what I write.
Most things I write about are general events and experiences.
I write about the weather, walks I went on with my beloved , the art I create, the people I see and all other things one does during a week.
But sometimes I want to vent about things that happened,
or jot down my thoughts about things other people did or said,
or take notes of happenings & ideas that may not be revealed yet.
It is an ever recurring search for the balance which text I leave ‘out in the open’ and what to blur (or hide with some other form of ‘hidden journaling.’)
Why do I bring up this matter?
Well, I noticed there was quite some text blurred in my latest Chronicles pages.
The Chronicles of Marit 2017 – Week 33
The Chronicles of Marit 2017 – Week 34
The Chronicles of Marit 2017 – Week 35
I wonder, how do you cope with private vs. public?
Sarah Brennan says
Hi Marit, I always love seeing the amazing ways that you add journaling to your pages. That envelope is a really great idea for private journaling; we all need to keep some things private, but get them out of our system by writing them down. Happy WOYWW Sarah #26
Monica Smith says
Love those journal pages. it always blows me away that people try to read ones Journal. I once was had a class with a woman who was obsessed with how to hide one’s writing she even wrote a book where most of the chapters were about how to hide your writing. I never finished the class as it felt like I was in the presence of a paranoid mind. Though I thought writing in white on black paper then turning the page and writing over it is a great technique!
Weather here in the Texas Hill country is superb, nights 94F and mornings drop to low 60″s F
glitterandglue says
Hi Marit. Keeping things private is SO important. Well done on finding a great way to do this.
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #2
Helen says
Your pages are fabulous and I always love your desk shot! Am playing catch up here as have been out for the day in London Helen #1
Julia says
Love that your beloved reads in the lounge whilst you potter in your atelier, there’s a very similar situation here, too! You know I dont journal, and admire yours hugely. HUGELY. But I believe that if you’re going to use your journal for private thoughts, notes, rants (!), then go ahead and blur…it doesnt affect the artwork at all, and that really is the part that you’re sharing, after all.
Lindart says
Hi Marit – I went through that very question a few years back. I ended up writing my day-day in a journal on the computer, and kept it mostly out of my art journaling. I do put bits and pieces of personal journaling in my art journals in, but nothing I need to blur.I also like to write on the page (especially if I’m upset, the writing by hand seems to somehow help), then paint or collage over it. When I look at the page, I can remember what happened.When i was working with the Dina Wakely book, she introduced scribbly writing that no one can read, but you know what you wrote. Hope you can come to your own conclusion! All that being said, I do miss the personal written journal and am always looking at other people’s thinking I should start doing it again! Have a great week, and thanks for sharing! Lindart #31
Shaz says
Hi Marit, I think it is a lovely idea to have some private stuff that remains hidden. It’s a great way to get it out of your head, I think, by writing it down, but in a safe way, if you follow me? It’s your journal, so you choose what people see, which is how it should be. It was extremely windy here on Tuesday night, I could hear the wind howling when I was in bed. Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #6 XxX
may says
Our private thoughts and feelings are precious to us… what a great way to keep them from prying eyes… I have lots of rants but then I shred them after written as I feel it is so much better to get it out of my system… Thanks for sharing… May #15
Angela says
Hi Marit. I’ve been distracted with my parents as they’ve needed us a bit more recently but wanted to try and get round if I could. I so love visiting your desk as it’s so inspiring. Happy belated woyww, Angela x16x
iHanna says
I keep a separate diary and always have, long before I started art journaling. I consider most of the things I write to be private and or personal, so I could never share pictures of those written pages online. I agree with you, some things has to stay private!