Journaling: My New Obsession

I have written here before about my journey into journaling.  I started with an online class from Mary Ann Moss called The Remains of the Day.  I am half way through my second journal and find it easy to keep updated.  I write in it almost daily and while it's nothing newsworthy, it chronicles my real life.  Work, drive, kids, grandkid, dog, husband, doctor visits, griping and complaining, exclamations of joy.  Just usual everyday stuff.  This is the first time I've ever been able to keep a journal.  I had always tried to write interesting things that other people would want to read.  So I have about 10 journals with two pages on which I actually wrote!  The ROD journal class finally allowed me to quit trying to be something I'm not.  I am not exciting.  I am not a writer.  But I do live.  I experience.  I love.  And I want to remember those things.

Now I am taking it one step further.  Something I have always wanted to do and admired what others were doing...Art Journals.  Hope is teaching an awesome online class called Nostalgic Musings.  I nervously signed up and am HOOKED.  Markers and watercolors and paper and tape.  Fun, fun, fun!  Lots of encouragement and inspiration from Hope and the other class attendees.  You should see what they are doing.  Awesome!

So this journal isn't documenting my daily life.  It's more of a coloring book for me.  Hope gives us an assignment or a prompt and then we get busy.  My first exercise was horrific but it got better.  Below is the exercise to write Ten Things About Me:

The next spread shows the exercise to write about someone or something that you love.  Hope wrote about her sweet dog.  I wrote about my Spawn Of Satan dog and my sweet Lily.  The two girls in my life.  When I have more time I will show more detail of this spread and the second attempt at the very first exercise that we were to do.  My first attempt is embarrassingly bad!  YUK!


 

So if you are looking for something to fill a creative itch, hop on over to Hope's blog and sign up for the course.  Off to finish my adult responsibilities so I can get home and color!!! 

Comments

[Lelainia Lloyd]

Your journal looks fab. I wanted to read those 10 things!! Spawn of Satan HAHAHAH!! Poor Helen. *grins*

How did you find out about this class? There sure are alot of great online classes. I've asked for MAM's stencilry ones for Mother's day.

[Siobhan]

I love your journal artwork! I used to scrapbook. I'd love to get back to it but into more of a journal-scrapbook-this is my life aspect of it instead of a 'day at the zoo' type layouts. Thanks for the link--I'm off to check it out!

[Tracy]

Lelainia,
I found Hope from the ROD class. Saw her pages, started stalking her (ha ha) and when she offered the class I jumped on it. It's SO fun!!!
Siobhan, I think you will love the class. So much more personal than scrapbooking IMHO. My kids have enjoyed watching my journals progress and they will become family treasures somed day!

[m i c h e l l e]

Tracy...your work is fabulous! Very inspiring!

[iHanna]

Yes, journaling can be lots of freedom and fun if you allow it to be. I think your pages looks great! I hope you will continue to add to the book and enjoy the process!