Travel Journal

Do you remember right back at the beginning of lockdown I shared my holiday in Australia?  Today I thought I'd share how I recorded that in my Word of the Year Journal, rather than have a particular travel journal.

I wrote in the journal every few days.  I also had a notebook that I wrote in each day so that I noted what we had done that day.  I also had some post it notes with me to leave gaps for the photos.  When I got home I printed out the photos and stuck them in.

I went back to my March calendar and filled in what we had done!

I'll share some of my other journal pages next time.  I'm recording the things I've done each day through lockdown, just so I can feel I've achieved something each day.

Thanks for joining me today.
Bernice

Challenge!

Can you believe we're over half way through the month of May!  I feel May has gone by quicker than April although I don't know why.

During May I have been doing a challenge of colouring or collaging a one inch square every day.  I've been doing it in my Word of the Year journal.

Although I love working small, an inchie is even too small for me.  So I'm going to set myself a challenge for June.

A 30 day challenge to make a collage every day.   My friend Mary is doing the 100 day project and is producing amazing collages.  You can find her on Instagram @foundonbrighton

I'm going to limit the size of the sketchbook so that I know I can complete a collage each day.   I am going to use a Dina Wakley 6" square sketchbook.   I'm going to continue with the colour scheme I was using for the Virtual Studio ideas plus add some papers, inks and possibly fabric.

I'd love it if you decided to join in.  You don't have to do a collage.  You can choose any creative pastime you enjoy.  I suggest you do something you already know how to do.  Stay in your comfort zone for a month.  Innovation might come from it, but comfort zones lessen anxiety.  However I would definitely limit the size of what you do.

Let me know in the comments if you think you might join in.

I'll post a reminder of the challenge at the end of May.   I'll show my collage pages here on June 9th, June 20th and June 30th. 

Thanks for joining me today.
Bernice

Just Do It

Did you know that my name, Bernice, comes from Berenike which means Bringer of Victory.  It's also where Nike, the footwear company, gets its name from.  Valerie Sjodin made this piece of artwork for me.

If you are a regular reader you will know that I used to be addicted to online courses and that I tried to give them up.  In their place I became addicted to in-person workshops.  I was trying to give them up when I had to go cold turkey in March due to them all being cancelled.

I'm sure you'll guess what came next.  Yes, I succumbed to the delights of online courses.  However rather than them being particularly art or textile based, I signed up for one on developing creativity and one called 30 days to Purposeful Habits.  I'm half way through both.  And have signed up for a creativity based one starting next week.

Through all these courses I am trying to find out why I work, or don't work, the way I do.  I haven't struggled with not being creative through lockdown, because I wasn't being particularly creative before.  There has been some creativity simmering away below the surface - the last few blogposts on zine making for example.  And I have kept up my Word of the Year Journal.  The most creative thing in that is using different coloured pens and some washi tape!

So what have I found out so far?

That I actually need a schedule and deadlines.   When I retired I had a mini rebellion about schedules.  From childhood my life was scheduled around school timetables.  More timetables as a teacher and then again as a parent.  So when I stopped working I decided I should do without and be as free as a bird!

And how has that worked out for you you might be asking.

Not at all well really.  I don't get much done and I don't feel any sense of satisfaction with some of my days.

The course that officially starts next week had an opening exercise of a piece of work that captured the essence of my life's journey so far.  In doing the two recent courses I became very aware that I keep asking the same questions maybe at a different level on a metaphorical spiral staircase.  I learn a little each time but never make big breakthroughs.

I think it's time to make the breakthrough.

One of the things I have also realised is I should stop hesitating and 'just do it!'

Thanks for joining me today

Bernice