Hello, hellooooo, and BEST WISHES to all the deskers that stop by today! I hope your year started off wonderful and that 2019 will bring you everything you wish for!
After a week break on my blog, I’m diving into blogging again – refreshed after the crazy busy (but fun) last week of 2018… yep, the Top 2000 blogparty was a great succes. You can look back on the music-inspired journal I made here and see all seven blogpost crammed with art from participants here.
And now it’s back to bussiness… although I had a bit of a hard time to get started…
Yup, right… I worked on this page (for a collaboration project) all day yesterday and it got worse and worse… I kept on adding pictures and paint and crayons but nothing could satisfy me or save the page so in the end I smeared gesso over it. To make matters worse, I knocked over that can of mod podge. It’s a new one and really full, so there was a large puddle of glue on my desk. I managed to save a lot and put it back in the can.
Was it a waste day then? Well, no… getting back into creating is never a waste and I enjoyed the process (except for the glue-cleaning part.) On top of that, the layers underneath the gesso add extra texture to the page. I am eager to dive in and work on it again today.
Now that 2019 has begun, I also started working in the new Chronicles art journal I bound… but first let me show you the last pages in my 2018 journal.
The Chronicles of Marit 2018 – Week 51
The Chronicles of Marit 2018 – Week 52
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And this is the new Chronicles journal that I will use in 2019. I showed you several photos of it back in November, right after I bound it. You can see those photos (with pics of the back and details of the spine) here |
The first page in my Chronicles is a single page, and I always use that to reflect on my ‘Word of the Year’. You might be familiar with that concept? The tradition of choosing “One Little Word” (or OLW) instead of making resolutions at the beginning of a year first started with Ali Edwards. She inspired a lot of people who follow the ‘One Little Word’ tradition now. The idea is to choose one word to symbolize the intention you have for the new year. Just one little word that you can focus on, mediate on and reflect upon. A word to use as a touchstone…
I had difficulties finding my word for 2019, I thought about ‘rise’ and ‘bold’ and ‘intuition’ (in Dutch) but then it came to me… “GUTS has it all – it includes the ‘bold’ and the ‘intuition’ and it comes with a bonus: the “belly-part.” I can do with a little weight loss and neet to eat healthier – so “Guts” is just the perfect word for me! There is no Dutch translation for it that includes all those meanings, so I go with the English ‘guts’ in 2019. It suits me!
Now that I had my word, I could create the first page in my journal. I never pictured my portrait on my ‘OLW-page” before (I always save the last page of my journal for a selfie/photo) but Effy had a lesson in Book of Days (where I am a bonus artist, you can still sign up for it – see badge in side menu) and her lesson inspired me – I first transferred a photo but after adding the text, the transfer seemed a bit pale/vague so I painted over it to get the balance back on the page.
The Chronicles of Marit 2019 – First “One Little Word” page
And this was the (rather long) kick off blogpost of the year, let’s rock 2019!
Hi there dear Marit, your posts are always very interesting l learn from them. I think a lot of crafting is like the gessoed over page. If you don’t like as it.. Change it, though do bin some.
Impressed by your one word first page, looks really grand.
Hugs Shaz in Oz.x
#5
{Calligraphy Cards – Shaz in Oz}
{Wonderful Words Of Life – Shaz in Oz}
Happy New Year Marit, hope 2019 is a good one! Interesting choice for your word of the year, Guts can mean so many different things. It’ll will be good to see how the word appears in your journaling through the next twelve months. I really enjoy reading your blog as your ideas are clever, inspired and frequently bonkers!! I love it!
Hugs LLJ 5 xxx
Love your chronicles journals, Marit – your pages are great! Guts is a great way to stat the new year as well! Sorry you had a glue disaster and ended up covering your whole page with gesso… we all get days like that, I suspect. One day in the future, somebody may X-ray that page and find a long-hidden work of art underneath and get really excited about it lol!
Thank you for your visit and I’m glad you enjoyed our cute kitties. Nice to know there’s someone out there who uses the same knitting technique as me, as well!
Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi #18
Hi Marit, great job with the journal page. Love the word choice, so many meanings/reasons to use it. Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #7 X
Oh what a lovely idea…to choose one word. It got me thinking….I think my word for this year may be “Hopeful”. After how last year ended I’m not sure if that is because of that but I always try to be hopeful. At the mo I’m just hopeful that my Mojo returns but I’m getting there slowly. I’ve spent the morning updating my business documents and have just worked out that so far I have now made 190 of my memory bears….now that’s something that has made me smile.
Hugs,
Annie x #12
Your chronicles of Marit journal is so inspiriing. I love the colours and the writing and the images you have used. I still havent chosen my one little word although I am thinking about Hope as a possibility, or Trust. Happy WOYWW, thanks for sharing. Love and God Bless, Caro x (#27)
Great journal. yesterday was the first day in months my eyes were not itchy and watery due to the dreaded Cedar Fever. It is the predominant tree where I live and the prime cause of allergies due to the enormous amounts of pollen it releases. So that is all I cannot see what I am writing as the text is a very pale grey.
Have a fab year and art along.
Monica
Hi Marit. I think after a rest you just have to play a while and if things don’t work straight away I just put them on one side and go back to them as there is always something that can be done with them. Loving the pages. love your selfie and Guts sounds good to me. Have a great woyww and a happy creative week, Angela x10x
Fantastic! I love your word for the year too. Dorlene #30
Your Chronicles are wonderful, as always! I often see people with their one word, some time I must try it myself; I am sure it is easier than new year resolutions. Thanks for the visit. I am sure i will use the stamp soon! Helen #2
Hi Marit, I love your new journal and your first page sets it up ready for the rest.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Happy WOYWW 501
Sue #16
A wonderful 2019 to you and your love. Your portrait looks great! I hope your gesso-spread works our, I’m pretty sure you’ll make something wonderful. It is fun to see our picture in your Chronicle 😀
Love, Melo & Dana
A great word for the year Marit, looking forward to seeing so more of your wonderful artwork and creativity in 2019. The glory of gesso is that it can enhance or hide what ever we choose.
Happy New Year and woyww 501 Hugs Tracey #8
Hi Marit – I love your word – Guts – I straight away related to your tummy interpretation but now am leaning towards having “the guts to do something” and I know just what that is so might keep your word in the back of my mind as I tackle various things in 2019.
Great start to the year with your Chronicle – love the bright colours – I ned to introduce bright colours into my life.
Hugs, Neet 6 xx
Interesting you should raise the question about all the work and not being satisfied with the end result. Love your answer about spending time in creativity and the process being of value. I am more aware of staying in the moment and enjoying the process when I create. Your chronicle and journal look amazing.
sandra de
Great word for 2018 Maria. I have been enjoying seeing the lessons for BOD 2019 and everyone’s responses to them. It’s a great course. Happy WOYWW. Sarah #3
Hi Marit, sorry I took so longto return your visit, better late than never :o) I can very much relate to your “bad” day at the workdesk, though as you say you stil enjoyed the process and you have the beginnings of a new page with all that texture. Love your word for 2019, brilliant! and the first page looks fab. I had a look at your post where you showed your new Chronicle, and it blew me away – ILOVE the texture, the mix of prints, the stitching and the gorgeous beaded stitching, you must feel inspired every time you pick it up :o) Happy week! Annie C #19