In December, I subscribed to an online workshop where I learned two different
ways of bookbinding. I love one of the techniques I learned – with ribbons
over the spine – but I don’t like the other one that much. I made one small
journal with the “less cute binding” back then, just to practice the technique.
I used nice, heavy water colour paper for the inside pages, and a while ago,
I made a few drawings on the first pages. I’m not good at drawing, and I don’t
see myself drawing very often, so I decided to gesso the pages and make a
small ‘bonus journal’ out of it. (This journal measures 8.3 x 5.3″)
..
Being enthusiastic, I made a background on the first page immediately…
but then I got stuck.
I don’t know what it is with this journal – but I just didn’t know what to put
on this page. I flipped through magazines, looking for an image that would
catch my eye. Nothing happened. I thought about quotes, songlyrics, text…
nothing came to mind. No spark, no beginning of even the smallest fire…
I had better call this ‘my problematic journal’.
Anyway, I showed you the basic of the page.
Any ideas??
The ‘black-out’ worked on all levels.
Being over-active last week, I got stuck in all my journals last days.
I concluded I’d done a lot of ‘heavy’ pages and soul searching lately,
and that’s why I felt kinda ’empty’ starting a new page – not knowing
which topic or theme I should choose, while at the same time I longed
to create. I was saved from sinking into apathy by Michelle’s blog!
She found a site called 30 days of lists and that was just what I needed!
You get a prompt every day to make a list about something.
Nothing ‘heavy’ – just simple. You can jot it down on paper or make an
art journal page or whatever. Aaaaahhhh… hooray for ‘simplicity’!!!
Yep, my mojo started flowing, and I made this cute little journal
(5.1 x 8.3″) to begin with! In my favourite binding!!!
Why only 28 lists, you might think?
Well, this way of binding is done with signatures (double folded pages)
Each signature leaves you with 4 page-sides… so it was either 32 or 28
sides to work on. I rather skip two prompts then make up two extra lists,
so I made this journal with 28 page sides (which is 14 pages, which is 7
signatures – thought I’d say this for the extra curious ones – or lousy
mathematics 😉 )
And here’s the first page “A few things about myself”
- I’m a child of the sixties.
- I’m a true Libra – always in doubt over every decision.
- It is only recently that I dare to call myself an artist.
- I’m a writer.
- My dark brown hair is turning grey fast!
- I’m an art-teacher.
- I’m a mother, daughter & lover.
(And yes, the silhouette is me!)
I find this ‘list making’ very refreshing! It’s the opposite of the ‘Honest’
art journal, which takes energy to find the words to write, and make the
pages. I might take a break from it for a while and stick to the ‘list making’.
I started this a week later, but I’m not really planning on ‘catching up’.
It’s just relaxing and plain fun to play and make lists of all kinds of things.
So thank you Michelle, for the link that ‘saved my mojo’!!
Before I go (and make another list 😀 ) I want to thanks you for the nice
comments you left for my son about his drawings.
PennyLane posted two other drawings on songs in my heART yesterday
and he’s really proud! And-uhmmm… I am too!
I also want to thank the ladies that submitted their music-related work
to PennyLane. She is very happy with it! The music blog is getting more
and more versatile and fun to visit, so take a look at songs in my heART
(and/or submit your work)
I wish you all a great week (we’re halfway already!) and see you Friday!
I love love love love these Marit… I think you should either this quote (or another about color) on your purple page, because of all the colors on it…. “The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”
Marcus Aurelius
:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
I love your journal pages. I like how you used the silhouette of yourself.
Wow! Love the book! I am definitely checking out that website. And I’m jealous! I wish my silhouette looked as good as yours! TFS!
Oh I wish I knew how to bind books – I bought a book to teach me how, guess I need to read it. These are beautiful books. I love your 28 idea. And it’s so fun to read someone’s journaling about themselves in list form.
I always make lists!! I make at least 3 lists a week. One for food to remember at the store, one of things art related I have to do, and one house/bills stuff I have to do!! I can go on about my literal list problem! But, why, right!!
Love your list book, and the book binding! You taught us in the first workshop I took with you, the Japanese book binding, I love that one. I have no idea about others, but your book looks fantastic!!!
Congrats to Nout again!
xxD
Ge.wel.dig die “binding” !!
Heb zojuist kijkje genomen op “30 days”.
Wat een superleuke site zeg!
En inderdaad, de gewone simpele dingen komen aan bod en wat toch eigenlijk leuk om te doen.
Zet ´m gelijk bij mijn favorieten.
LEUK, het boekje “28 lists”!! Ik zag idd dat Michelle er ook mee bezig was. De kaft vind ik helemaal geweldig! Zowel van kleur als ontwerp!
Mooi ook de eerste bladzijde met je silhouet! (ik denk zelfs de echte foto te kennen!!)
En ik zou het boekje wat “niet wil lukken” gewoon even laten voor wat het is. Komt vanzelf wel een keer een goed idee bij je op!!
I am feeling a little lost in my journal too. Making pages I don’t like, I don’t really feel anything about. In the meantime, I just play with techniques and kind of fill pages. Perhaps list may be a way to go for me…
Yes, you guessed it ! It am a true Libra also. 😉 Wish my siloutette was as curvy as yours rather than as round my mine !
Taking the time and making the most of the process is what it is all about, right ?
Have a great rest of the week, Beautiful Marit !
Wat een leuk boekje!!! En super dat een “simpel” idee omgetoverd wordt tot zo’n journal! Echt een leuk idee, mijn to-do-list wordt steeds groter zo… Dat weegschaal-gedoe, wordt er zelf ook gek van (ben uiteraard ook een “echte”): wikken en wegen, altijd maar twijfelen of het goed is zo, moet ik er nog iets bij doen, zal ik het zo of zo doen, aargh!!! En de pagina waar je nu niet uitkomt zou ik gewoon even zo laten, volgens mij komt de inspiratie vanzelf naar boven als je niet te veel je best doet… Een hele fijne week nog, Liefs, Natalie
Oh, just lovely, Marit! Finally stopping in to say Hi as I’ve seen some of your beautiful work on Studio Calico. I just love that page about yourself!
Wat een lijstje al niet kan doen, prachtige pagina!!! En wat een leuk idee dat boekje!!
I thought about making new books too, but you have seen what I am doing at the moment, so I really should finish that first!
I think lists are brilliant and they suit you very well. I really like your writing too…
I have to read your next post and then I can say “Happy weekend” to you too! xo