Starting over in hope ...

Wishing you a very Happy New Year, full of good things and plenty of happy moments! And thank-you for popping in, when I have been absent for such a long time. All is well - it is just that creativity took itself off into a parched and barren land, and inventive energy slunk along behind. Somehow, after camping out in the wilderness for a while, they seem to have trickled back in their own good time, and I am glad of it ... Calling into your lovely blogs and enjoying your inspiration and stories in the meatime kept me feeling hopeful and inspired, and I am very grateful to you all ...

The memory-keeping stuckness was in part about how to reconcile my enjoyment of the physically creating things, with my love of clean and simple digital design. Much as I enjoyed Heidi Swapp's Stop The Blur concept (and her class was immensely enjoyable and I recommend it!) a weekly two-page spread seemed to take me a long time, and the photos felt too small. A photobook would take care of the pictures of our time and experiences with the family (and give them something to enjoy when we are no longer here) - but it wouldn't capture the nitty gritty of everyday, or help me organise my time and thoughts, or give me a chance to create by hand ...

I needed the practicality of a diary but wanted the freedom to design and draw/doodle a bit too - so a planner with pre-determined pages was not going to have enough flexibility. Having flirted with a Bullet Journal before (I think it was the lovely Honoré who introduced me to the concept), I made myself a temporary one in a hand-stitched pamphlet for December to see if I would be able to make it work for me. There was lots of browsing on Instagram and watching YouTube (thank-you, Shayda Campbell and LeelaJournals) before investing in one (Notebook Therapy); Colouring pencils, a couple of pens, and a bit of washi tape all seem nicely portable ...

Of course, my inner perfectionist wouldn't allow me to start working in it for a whole fortnight! But once I decided to use the printer and sticky-backed vellum paper for the headings until, as a left-hander, I can learn how to do lovely lettering, the pages took shape ...

So far, so good! I'll keep you posted :). All that remains is to start a new photobook for 2022 ...

Comments

[Leslie Susan Clingan]

Welcome back, you have been missed. Lovely journal you have created. I have read posts from so many bloggers who want to use 2022 as an opportunity to get back to writing. Me, included. Looking forward to connecting with you more often this year.

[Deb]

I have absolutely no doubt that this is going to be a lovely journal, it is already off to a good start!
It's always lovely to see a new blog post from you and I wish you a healthy and happy new year x

[barbara]

So glad you are back! I always look forward to your posts. I know what you mean about the mojo. It ebbs and flows for me all the time! I'm pretty much to the point that the only scrapbooking I do is for my monthly AYM (A Year of Memories) group or our three times a year scrapbook retreats. Just not enough time for everything!

[Ruth]

I know, given how talented you are, that is going to be a beautiful record of your time.

[Juliann]

I bounce back and forth with memory keeping and planner ideas. I do love the lure of a beautifully set up planner. And nothing better at getting my creative energy going than pretty washi tape and colored pencils. Enjoy.

[Mary-Lou]

The start of your journal looks really so you, very artistic. It is a balancing act of wanting to keep life details but finding something that works with life the way it is now in all its stop & go patterns of a pandemic life.

[Karen B Walker]

So delighted to see you back in action. As always, your thoughtful and creative solutions are a delight to the eye! I'm still struggling with memory keeping ever since I gave up Project Life. If I don't get back in the saddle soon, catching up (if possible) will seem overwhelming! Thank you for all your lovely comments on my blog. They are all so appreciated!

[Susanne]

How lovely to see you back. I had spotted your post a day or two ago, but consciously decided to wait until I had a little more time, as your posts, more than most, make me want to linger and reread and fully take in the photos and words, and in this case your lovely start on your journal. That bit of washi tape made me smile, as I usually want to make sure I have all my new supplies put away right away, but I have left 4 small rolls of floral washi sitting out on my desk just for inspiration. (And a way of "planting flowers" as one of the other gals mentioned.) Here's to a happy 2022 for all of us "making" it into what we want.

[Mary]

how wonderful to see you back here! and whoa, Alexa, your journal is gorgeous!!