I don’t like posts with a lot of text myself, but this is one.
There is something I want to explain about my new journal, and I can’t
do that in a few sentences – so if you don’t have the time, you might
consider to come back later. After all, it’s (almost) weekend and most
of you have some extra time – and the subject is important to all of us.
I’ve been thinking about it for a while now… what do I want to show on my blog
(make ‘public’) and what do I want to keep to myself. I know some people share
their deepest thoughts on their blogs, but not me. Since I work with computers
ánd have a computer expert on my side, I know the dangers of the Internet.
You say you know that too, and I believe you. I believe everyone knows it,
but we easily forget. We type in our emotions, we type in our e-mail address,
we have all sorts of accounts (yahoo, flickr, google, facebook) and share our
information in groups that aren’t ‘safe’. Even a ‘private’ group isn’t really
private if it is hosted by a big company like Ning. (That’s why I teach my online
workshops on my own site, with my own server.) You never know what those
big companies do exactly with their databases full of personal information;
YOUR information! We mingle in social networks and in the heat of the
moment share things that we might regret later…
What you put on the Net, will be there forever. For everyone to see.
Friends and enemies, bosses and colleagues, your children, grandchildren
and great-grandchildren and who knowes else…
so I’m careful with what I share.
Very careful.
..
But here’s a dilemma.
A dilemma most scrapbookers, art journalers and artists will recognize,
’cause most of the time, we create from our emotions. If we don’t do that,
the artwork we make would be ‘just a trick’. We want to let those emotions
out, pour it on paper. Get rid of it in our heads and throw it out in the open.
Creating helps us deal with emotions, the good and the bad ones.
Creating can be very therapeutic, most of us have experienced that
some way or another.
Since I started my ‘Chronicles’ last year, I’ve been trying to find a way to share
the personal stuff without being too personal. I became addicted to my weekly
pages, but some weeks weren’t all that nice. I don’t care that you know that I
was sad, or angry – but I don’t want you to know all the details or name names
of people that had to do with it, you know. I did find ways to still put it on the
page, and make it invisible for others. I hid journaling under layers.
I used symbolic pics that have a special meaning to me that no-one else knows
etcetera. But still… some pages remained unmade because it was too private.
In the past Months, I discovered that my journaling became less and less
personal. I became a bit lazy. Instead of seeking for ‘solutions’ to pour my
emotions on a page without anyone seeing it, I just stopped doing that.
And it didn’t feel right.
I am a soul searcher: I think about things a lot, I analyse my inner self,
my dreams, my thoughts my emotions – and since I am creative, I want to do
something creative with that soul searching journey!
And that’s why I altered the book with ‘recipy cards’ (see former post.)
(Yeay, here’s a photo! Finally!)
This will be my ‘honest journal’.
Since I am a ‘writer’ and find the words best in my mother language, this will
be a Dutch journal. The title says: “To be honest…” (The phrase you use when
you don’t want to deny something anymore and are going to tell the truth)
I embossed the paint strokes with clear embossing powder,
the shiny surface makes a nice contrast with the matte cardboard.
Yesterday, I visited Michelle’s blog and * oh coincidence * she talked
about a site she discovered which is called “Soul Journaling.” It sounded
like something that could complement my ideas about my ‘honest’ journal,
so I hopped over to check it out. It’s creator is Sarah Whitmire, and there are
22 prompts for free (followed by advanced technique workshops you can
purchase if you want to.)
Now my new journal is not to be used for ‘prompts’ – it has to be completely
MINE in exact the way I want it to be, but I found some of the prompts
(or ‘pieces’ from it) very inspiring. I was especially inspired by this prompt,
where you ‘armour your soul’ to shield it against outside criticism and your
inner critic. I didn’t follow the exact prompt, but used the ‘armour’ idea.
The background is dictionary paper, with the words I wanted to write about
printed on it (highlighted with a square). I composed my journaling around
those words to emphasize the things I have to shield my inner self against.
(For non-Dutchies, the journaling say things like “I shield myself against
shame” and “I am way to critical of myself”)
And now what is the purpose of this ‘honest art journal’.
Simple. This is my inner search journal. I won’t censor myself in this journal.
I either show the pages in public – if I feel it won’t do anybody harm and when
I have no trouble sharing the emotions – or I keep the page to myself.
So you will see some art pages from this journal, and some you won’t.
This is the main deal I made with myself: no censoring!
This journal has to be about soul searching in the most honest way;
the good, the bad and the ugly.
How do you deal with this topic?
Do you pour your inner self onto the pages?
And when you do, do you hide it under layers?
Do you keep it to yourself?
Do you publish it on your blog for everyone to see?
How do your friends/partner/kids feel about it when you tell about them
and put it on the Internet?
I suppose I gave you something to keep your mind busy this weekend.
Don’t forget – not everything has to be ‘deep’ and ‘meaningful’.
I might just go and throw paint on a page without thinking!
Be a little child again, go with the flow and enjoy the creative process,
the paint, the smell and the colours!
Before I go, here are pics of the goodies I received in the mail last week.
I won them at the “One World One Heart” – event.
From Halle:
A package of beautiful, handmade photo postcards with envelopes.
From Terri:
An “original Terri” postcard and bookmark (and really, her work is even more
breathtaking when you hold it in your hands), printed postcards with prints of
her artwork, sheets of deli paper tied with recycled Sari silk ribbon and a white
poster paint sharpie (extra fine tip).
Thank you, thank you, thank you for staying with me through this long post!
Enjoy your weekend!!!
interesting ..we do have to be careful about what we put on the net..that is why I always put the back of my childrens heads in photos I may share. I dont like to reveal inner thoughts on my pages as they are personal. I have just done journal page about eyes and what we see and who is looking at us today. Big thanks for the lovely journal that arrived today..just doing a blog post about it.
Very AMAZING post Marit… and since you visit me… you know I have what everything believes to be ‘EVERYTHING’ out there… but since our home was robbed almost 2 years ago… I actually now HOLD A LOT back… whether my robbery was related to my info on my blog or not, I will never know… but since the neighborhood I currently live in is declining and several homes have been robbed… I doubt it… but I am more careful on what I reveal on my blog… I was careful before… but now even more so… like I never say I am going to an event until its over and I am posting the pics from it…. anywho…that’s my thoughts!! Loveeeeeeeee the green on your new book and loving your happy mail too! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
sorry…. this “you know I have what everything believes to be ‘EVERYTHING’ out there” was meant to say….”you know I have what EVERYONE believes to be ‘EVERYTHING’ out there”
I’m in total agreement with you. My husband is VERY into security and knows a lot about ways our information can be used against us. Innocent comments… can have devastating results in the wrong hands. Things posted on FB can prevent you from getting that dream job…etc. I never post pictures of our faces on my blog…or the names of my children. I have been sloppy in the past at times and my hubby reminds me that it’s not just my “friends” that are seeing what I’m posting.
So glad you like the cards!!
I completely understand and agree with your opinions regarding privacy and personal information and thoughts. I never show my personal journals online and am a bit vague in how I describe where I live and what I actually do. I appreciate what you share with us in blogland. Oh, what beautiful photos and postcards! Have a wonderful weekend – I have to tell you that I painted a canvas today that is a bit different than what I usually do – I will blog about it in the next week or so – you are such an inspiring presence for me!
Snap wat je bedoelt! Vind het soms erg lastig te bedenken wat wel en niet kan. Zal idd net als Julie nooit vermelden (zowel op Blog als Hyves) wanneer we weg gaan of hoe lang. En ook welke foto’s ik gebruik (niet te bloot of onthullend) of wat ik voel/vind van iets of iemand. Al met al best lastig! Maar wat een leuke happy mail! Echt enorm leuk om zoiets te krijgen lijkt me! En je nieuwe journal: wow! Vind de page echt super: one tough cookie dacht ik toen ik em zag!
Liefs, Natalie
Nou dacht ik toch echt dat ik gisteren hier een commentaartje had achtergelaten… tja, NIET dus!!
Ik vind je harnas bladzijde écht super!! Dat hoofd van jou lijkt ook echt te zeggen “nou, kom maar op (als je durft)!!!” Prachtig!! De voorkant vind ik ook helemaal goed! Ik ben momenteel helemaal “into” de felle kleuren dus dat gifgroen vind ík te gek!!
En ja, ik ben me er zeer van bewust dat het Internet een “gevaarlijke” omgeving kan zijn. Ik zet weinig persoonlijke dingen op mijn blog. Het gaat vooral over mijn werk…
En YEAYYYY voor happy mail!!
Wat heb je dat receptenboekje gaaf gepimpt, Marit!
De eerste bladzijde ziet er al super uit, en ik ben het met je eens dat je niet alles hoeft te delen.
Ben er zelf ook bewust van dat we niet alles op het internet kunnen zetten, ik denk altijd goed na voordat ik iets post.
Fijn weekend, groetjes Viv
What a great post, Marit. I’m so happy that I took the time to read every morsel of it. I must agree . . . I’m very aware of the lack of privacy on the internet, and am very careful and cautious about my personal life. When I do journal about my personal feelings, they’re buried underneath layers in my artwork. They’re out — but not in the open.
Thank you, too, for your compliments about my artwork. You’ve made me blush!!! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend. Hugs, Terri xoxo
WOW Marit! You have been busy! Very deep thoughts!
I found a different art journaling site recently. It is called “Art JOURNAL Daily”. I really like the artist, and her prompts are really awesome.
While I am not yet an “art journal” (as I see on your sideber) YET, I am woking on 3 different journals this year, and I am making sure my pages are posted!! And, I always write exactly what I am thinking. I take the picture,and post it. I think the feelings are mine, and if people don’t agree, or don’t like what I am feeling, they don’t have to visit!!
You are very interesting my friend!!!
I’ve missed you and Lena visiting me! I hope to see you both very soon!!
Love your jounaling, and I want a suit of armor too!!
xxD
je hebt wel gelijk wat betreft wat je allemaal vermeld op je blog…ik zelf vertel wel veel persoonlijke dingen op mijn blog, maar kijk wel goed uit wat ik erop zet. de dingen die ik er op zet mag wat mij betreft ook iedereen zien en lezen, maar ik kijk wel uit met adressen en andere gegevens.
je boekje en pagina zien er zoals altijd weer prachtig uit!
Hoi Marit! Via Lena’s blog kwam ik op het jouwe..en weer eentje die onder mijn favorieten gaat! Ik ga zo eens even verder lezen hier, op mijn gemak. Ben het overigens helemaal eens met het feit dat je niet alles op internet moet zetten en er voorzichtig mee om moet gaan. Persoonlijk vind ik het al lastig genoeg om mijn emoties op papier te zetten, laat staan op internet. Dat idee van ‘hidden journaling’ spreekt me dan ook erg aan! Groetjes, Sandra
Hmmm…interesting topic..I am a very private person so blogging was really a big leap for me. I generally don’t share family photos except for those that are on a layout. I keep my posts short so that I don’t have to say too much. We really don’t know who is reading right? I do exchange emails with blogland friends when they send me direct emails though. I often hide my journaling in my projects.
Wow…erg diep Marit 😉 Maar wel goed om over na te denken en ik ‘gooi’ ook niet ales op het internet, je weet maar nooit! En sommige dingen wil ik niet eens weten van mezelf, laat staan dat ik dat opschrijf!! 😉 Dus,gewoon verf en alles over mijn journaling heen. Maar het is goed om naar jezelf te blijven zoeken/ kijken ook al word het er niet altijd mooier of beter van.
En je hebt gelijk dat je sommige pages voor jezelf houdt.
Je art journal ziet er prachtig uit en je titel is zo gaaf! En dat harnas is erg symbolisch, mooi met die tekst uit het woordenboek omlijnd!
( ik zie wat bekende papiertjes 😉
Prachtige happy mail!Fijne week!!
Cool armour!
There’s a lot that I don’t mind sharing online, but I do have my limits. I make my pages for me. To show them to others can be fun but it’s not why I make them. When my art journalling gets too private, I just don’t show it. The same goes for the things I’m doing or my inner thoughts. I share a lot but not everything.
When it comes to blogging about others, I think it’s easier for me because we don’t have kids. I would be much more private if we had young kids, for their safety. I only post photo’s of people I know with their consent (some people have told me they don’t mind, some people don’t want me to post their pictures, and some have asked me to run every photo by them before posting) or in some cases, when I want to post a scrapbookpage with people on it from whom I don’t have consent, I blur faces. I have quite a good idea of what Maarten allows me to post about him, and I usually only mention him when I’m blogging about outings or trips we undertook together, or in a superficial way. There’s very little drama in my life so there’s not much to censor anyway. If I do tell about plans for outings and vacations, I won’t mention dates, and even if someone figures out that I’m not home at a certain time and date (like when I go to class), that doesn’t have to mean there’s no one home… Usually I only tell afterwards.
Je hebt hier wel een punt om over na te denken. Zelf zet ik niet veel bijzonderheden op m’n blog (denk ik). Het meeste is vrij neutraal. Ik krijg wat ik denk of voel amper op papier…… Dat vind ik zo knap van jou, je journaling! Ook weer op deze pagina. Ik zou het zelf geschreven kunnen hebben. Tenminste ik het kon………