I am in my cozy chair at the studio as I write to you.
Cozy chair has a twin that lives at home where I also like to sit and write. And eat popcorn and watch Netflix. I like to think that they are united in some way, where the creative and cozy energy just flows back and forth between them. I need more cozy vibes in my life, how about you?
I haven’t been in my studio since Friday and it’s always a surprise to come back in and see the bits and pieces I have left laying around. An in process art journal page on the one table, another in process journal page on the other. Little reminders of how I left things.
I usually come in and put my bags down in the comfy chair. Then I set up the coffee and while that’s brewing I unpack my studio bag. Which has turned into 2 bags on most days. With all the journals I have been making I have been repurposing a lot of cardboard boxes so I am bringing them from home in my large purple bag. Inside that bag is usually a mish mosh of items that I felt would be better used at the studio than at my creative corner at home.
Once I am unpacked I have been trying to sit in my cozy chair, sip some coffee and see what the plan for the day is. I have my schedule written off, but I usually take some time to get quiet and just listen and see if there is another area that I should be focusing on.
After that I usually try and get to work. It may require a warm up session in a journal first but then I try and get down to the business of creativity-and of course writing you.
Today I had planned on editing the video I made Friday only I left the memory card at home so that bit will be done later. If I am honest, writing the blog post is still my favorite part along with filming. I love sharing the creative process with you and hope that, like me, you enjoy some company from time to time in your creative areas.
There are times when I like my creative time to be just me, a cup of coffee or tea, some music and my creativity. Other times I opt for no music but having a creative video playing in the background. Do you like to have virtual company when you are creating? I haven’t had real-life creative company in a very long time but I have a feeling that might be changing soon.
Today I have a little journal with me video. I am breaking in a journal I made a few years back but never started working in. The journal was made as a part of a class I took with Jennibellie where she shows how to do these unique expanding pages. It was a lot of fun and if you are interested in how to make your own you can see the class here. I painted an owl on the cover inspired by a class I took with Juliette Crane. I think it was her Whimsical Animals class but I’m not positive. I’m pretty sure she demonstrates an owl there too.
I have decided to make art journals for specific areas I am focusing on in my life (like my word of the year journal). This journal is going to focus on my creative business and I thought it would be fun to start with the first page. A lot of time you may hear that it’s good to skip the first few pages because we often times need to get a feel for a journal and sometimes we can put pressure on ourselves for that first page.
Today, I decided I wanted to start at the front and treat as a title page of sorts. I wanted it to have the feel I am hoping to call in for my business and also some reminders to keep me on task as I go through the year.
As you see in the video I got a little stuck looking for words. I was going to try and hand write them but it just didn’t feel right. I found some definitions in an old dictionary that I was really happy with but I still wanted to put a few main words on the page. I searched through magazines without luck and ultimately decided to leave the page for now and come back to it.
It may feel like we need to finish an art journal page at the same time we start it but giving ourselves permission to walk away and come back can not only allow time for the page to reveal itself to us but also provide insights we may not have had otherwise.
It’s important to allow things to unfold in their own time an space (a reminder I needed more than anything else). I love how art journaling helps us in every area of our lives, revealing the parts that need healing, the parts that excited and of course, the parts are still developing.
I hope you will join me for a few minutes with some of your favorite art supplies and your journal. Whether you are breaking in a new one or cracking open a chunky favorite maybe we can keep each other company and make a little art together. You can watch the video below.
Until next time…
-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante
Music by Saint Stephen – 50’s Milkshake – https://thmatc.co/?l=352EAE2D
I rarely have any music, sound or anything playing in the background while I create… and gosh I really need to set aside time today to work in my craft room! I got some new supplies in and as much as I want to break into them all and start creating, I find that I have been letting my new thing sit for a good week while I just look at them and think and plot and plan before diving in.
I can relate to that Joanne! Sometimes I need the time to just look at the supplies and almost prep myself for diving in with them. Often times that happens when I really want a supply for something in particular and then when I get it I feel almost like I forgot what I was going to do with it and I need to find that energy again. Hope to see what you create soon!