Art Journaling

Video: Studio Art Journaling Session

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How is your midweek going? Mine feels productive but if I were to be honest I am itching for some people time. I feel as if I am working up towards some real shifts in my life-good shifts-but I am getting a bit impatient.

It can be hard to move towards something new while still sitting with the old on a daily basis and it is in the times of feeling uncomfortable or anxious or worried that I do two things: pray and art journal.

Of course that may look different for everyone but when I create in my art journal it allows me to connect sometimes in a more meaningful way. It clears out the noisy thoughts and reminds me to be a bit more aware of what is. And I don’t know about you but it’s much easier for me to focus on what is when there are colorful paints and collage materials around me.

Would you like to have a little midweek creative time with me? You don’t have to work in your journal but maybe 5 minutes with your favorite creative outlet will help you through your day or to unwind from it. I created a little video for you to watch below. If you do join me please comment I would love to hear what you created during our time together!

 

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Music by You ME and the Piano – Merry-Go-Round – https://thmatc.co/?l=4B20EFD1

Music by Julia Pauletti – Yesterday – https://thmatc.co/?l=06E3D048

Video Breaking in a New Art Journal & Unfinished Pages

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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

Video: Early Morning Art Journaling: Let’s Make Time

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Good morning!

I hope that whenever you are reading this (morning or not) that you are having a beautiful day.

I wanted to share with you my art journaling session from this morning. Recently I have been trying to get up earlier (if you have been around for a bit you know mornings are not my default happy place) and to make time for a few things that really support me through my day. They are:

Journal Writing: I sit down with my writing journal and just write it all out. Julia Cameron called these “morning pages” in her book “The Artist Way” (this is an affiliate link and you make a purchase using this link I earn a small commission but it doesn’t cost you any more) and it’s one of my favorite practices. When I sit and just let all the words out-let my feelings out, my worries, fears, anxieties, excitements, hopes, wishes-when I make time to let that all out I always feel so much better. I don’t set a number of pages I have to write (Julia recommends in her book 3 pages each morning first thing) but instead I write until I feel better or feel I have come to a stop.

Prayer: I make time for prayer. This past year I have become more and more reliant on my relationship with God and as I am dreaming and seeing things I long to shift and change, I find that dedicated prayer time in the mornings helps remind me to make talking to God a part of the whole day.

Art Journaling: I also spend a little time with paints and paper and my art journal. I mainly work in the mornings in my special focus journal where I just work on capturing not only the energy I’m trying to be but also how I currently am. Yes, I am trying to bring something amazing into my life but that can feel scary at times. In my art journal I can be real with where I am and use the words and paint and glued images to help me let go of fear and embrace trust.

Would you like to join me?

Regardless of the time day can you spend 7 minutes making a little in your journal? If you don’t have an art journal what about a piece of paper and some colored pencils or crayons? Yesterday I just drew on some pages in my writing journal (I had inadvertently skipped 2 pages when writing so I decided to doodle on them instead). There are no supplies needed to just get some creative time in. You can join me by watching the video below.

I would love to hear what you create-please comment below and share your blog if you have one so we can all come see what you are making.

 

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Something just for you blog lovers…

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There is something I love about blogs. The writing, the sharing that feels a bit more intimate and cozy.
Then of course there is the discovery of a blog. While promotion in all its varied forms leads readers to a blog the ones you just somehow, someway stumble upon are probably the most rewarding.

Like finding a little cafe that you just love off the beaten path that no one else you know seems to have found yet.

I have some truly exciting news and I decided that I wanted to share it here first in a quiet sort of way with those of you dedicated blog readers. The announcement will be made elsewhere eventually but sharing it here feels a bit like getting together with best friends to celebrate an accomplishment. Before I share the news however, I need to give you some back story so if you just need to know what it is right now you can jump here to find out 🙂

I was about 8 years old when I first started writing. I co-wrote a poem with a lady named Ms. Crooker who was a bit like a surrogate grandmother to me. She was a teacher and even though retired she still taught-and I personally loved every minute.

She is the one who taught me how to read out-loud. How long to pause after a comma, (“count, 1, 2”) and after a period, (“count 1, 2, 3”). She would sit in the rocking chair in our living room when we had her over for dinner and I would sit in her lap and she would read with me. I’m not positive if that’s where my love of reading came from (my dad loved to read and I believe it’s just in some people’s DNA) but I do know that she is the first person to teach me how to construct a poem.

The first poem I ever wrote was about my Cabbage Patch Dolls. I still have it in a box of poems in my attic. I will have to share it with you sometime soon. We are going through our attic and doing a MAJOR de-clutter and organize. 22 Years of memories and toys and etc are lost up there and we are making changes. That story however, is for another time.

So Ms. Crooker and I wrote the poem together. If I am honest, she did most of the writing as she was a bit of a perfectionist-even when writing poems about Cabbage Patch Dolls with an 8 year-old. Still, I was very proud and the love for writing was planted.

Ms. Crooker & I on the left & Me and my first CPK doll-Tina-who still sits on my bed

I never not thought of myself as a writer. (Even if I am obviously not a master of grammar).  I never really cared to be an overly polished writer or one of the “greats” because truth be told-that wasn’t what I enjoyed reading. Still isn’t.

I just always wanted to tell an interesting story or write a poem that made someone feel something. How any of it was received was for the reader and I never wanted to tell anyone what my poems meant because I just felt like that was ruining the poetry. Isn’t art supposed to mean something different to everyone?

As for me? I just like writing words on paper and making stories appear as if from nowhere.

So I wrote and wrote and wrote some more. I love the act of writing and have always dreamed of when I was an adult and would be a published writer. At the time I saw myself as a fiction writer and of course, ridiculously successful.

I have tried the publishing game for books and racked up a few rejection letters, which thanks to Stephen King’s book On Writing I was quite proud of. I tried to do the freelance writing thing but quickly realized that while I might make a living at it-writing about topics I wasn’t interested in was still just a job. I even forayed into self-publishing and published a chapbook of poems coupled with a book launch at one of my friend’s businesses. A pretty amazing night I might add and an accomplishment I still feel proud of.

I do have several rough drafts of fiction books that I am working on-proof that I haven’t given up on the published fiction author dream. And if I am being honest-I hope I never do.

And now, for the news. (Fun fact-at one brief time in my life I majored in journalism)

Last week I was visiting a webpage and felt myself being called to check out their submission guidelines. Turns out that they were requesting submissions about a topic very near and dear to my heart and before I knew it I was asking for some help from upon to come up with a submission to send in.

And I did.

And guess what? I'm going to be published!!!!!

It’s been such a surreal experience. I have never doubted that writing was my purpose or that it would be part of the work I put out into the world so when it happened it was almost not surprising and yet-completely surprising if that makes sense? The best part is I am going to writing about Art Journaling so it is combination of both my artist and writer sides. I will also be taking photos to go along with article so my inner amateur photographer self won’t be left out either.

All the details will be coming soon-for now I have my very first actual deadline!!! I started the article today and I am hoping to have a first draft done by the end of the week and maybe even get some art done to go along with the article. I’ll be sure to share with you all here when my first draft is done.

So that is my exciting blog news just for my blog readers and since that’s you-thank you! Thank you for loving blogs like I do and taking time to come here and read and be a part of this really exciting news. I truly appreciate each and every one of you!

Much love!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

 

Video: Making a Word of the Year Art Journal

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I am sitting cozy under a blanket watching one of my favorite movies of late, “Jungle Cruise.”  I absolutely love Emily Blunt and how she portrays such a confident woman in Lilly. This is the second time I am watching this when struggling with feelings of anxiety and there is something about this movie that just makes me feel cozy and calm.

That and writing to you.

I hope your year is off to a wonderful start and that you are moving at exactly the right pace for you.

I had planned to get more work done last week but it looks like this week will be the start for my new creative schedule.  I am excited to share more creative inspiration with you and on a bit more of a regular schedule.

I am kicking off with the Making an Art Journal for our Word of the Year video I promised in last week’s video. If you would like to watch me make a colorful, textured art journal then you may enjoy the video below.


I am committing this year to a regular check-in with my word of the year. I created enough pages in the journal to do a double page spread each week but I have also created the grace inside the journal that if I don’t check in as often as I would like-that’s alright too.

Our journals are meant to be places where we can show up as we are when we need. I am not looking at this as a”have-to” item but rather a “get-to.” Something that deeply nourishes me and the dreams I have for 2023.

And they are some big ones!

I would love for you to join me. Whatever you are feeling for this year. Whatever you are hoping to experience or achieve this year I would love for you to join me. You can subscribe to my weekly newsletter-where I will share all the latest videos and content by clicking the link here. I cannot wait to hear what some of your big dreams are for this year. Please share them in the comments below.

If you would like to purchase my Word of the Year Workbook you click here to go to my shop.

 

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Video: Making Our Popcorn Journals: No Sew/No Special Tools

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Happy Monday!

As you read that we are officially back to home school. Right now I am probably picking up pencils off the floor and trying to keep my now 4 year-old occupied without going through all the special homeschool items I purchased for this purpose. With any luck I was able to get some nice photos of the first day and the kids are excited about some new surprise goodies that the moaning and groaning is at a minimum.

The Michele who writes this is full of hope 🙂

If you remember a few weeks back I shared the idea of a “popcorn journal.” (If not you can read and watch the video here).

The idea was that on those nights when we want to crash on the couch and binge watch our favorite show that we could make a tiny bit of art in the 2 minutes it takes to pop our popcorn.

At the time I had planned to use an actual popcorn box for this purpose but I seemed to misplace it when it came to make the video.

I also realized that I had brought all my book binding tools back home to the Creative Corner and had very limited items here at the studio.

My first instinct was to just do it another time but I had no idea what to film for today. So I took a moment and was guided to just make what I could make with what I had on hand.

Years ago I used to make some “Use What You’ve Got” videos on my YT channel. As much as I love an art supply and I love it even more when creators share links to what they are using I really want to be mindful of what I share. I never want anyone to think you need a specific tool or a specific paint color to create. I think it’s so important to encourage everyone to create where they are at with what they have.

And that’s just what I did in this video.

The journal is no sew, uses a box from the recycling bin and printer paper to construct the cover. You just need some PVA glue or Mod Podge, printer paper and then whatever you want to create with to decorate the cover.

It’s that easy.

You can add a little reinforcement with some painters tape or masking tape but it’s definitely not necessary. You could do the same with some paper bag, magazine pages or more printer paper. You could even leave it as is.

As I was making (and figuring out) this journal what really stood out what how much fun I was having making it. I wasn’t worried about it looking perfect but rather I was just enjoying making a journal.

This isn’t the best way to make an art journal. It’s not going to give you a polished look but it will be an expression of your creativity. It will give you some time with your materials to have fun. I also think that when the journal isn’t picture perfect and pristine, it’s easier to just dig in and start putting some color on the pages. It doesn’t feel so precious this way.

I really hope you have fun and even make yourself a “popcorn journal.” If you do please comment below or on the video I would love to hear!

I am thinking that my journal is going to hold pages for the zines that are bouncing around in my head. I have really wanted to make a zine for a long time now and I just seem to get blocked each time. I am hoping this journal will spark the creative spirit and get me going.

Are you ready to make your journal? You can watch the video below.

I also plan to share some quick videos of my 2 minute art making both here on the blog and my YT channel so you can do the whole subscribe to the newsletter channel thing if you want. Or just stop in and look around from time to time.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante