Why Not You?

 

I finished my art journal book for the year. It’s not the journal, per se, that I’m most pleased with, although I am. It’s the fact that despite my feelings of inadequacy, I just did it anyway. Sometimes it’s like that. You look at the things you’re curious about, or like, or want to learn, and you think, “Nah. Couldn’t do it. Can’t happen. Can’t afford it. Not good enough. Dumb idea. It’s gonna fail….” And if you weren’t loud enough in self-shaming or self-loathing, there are plenty of people in the world lined up to bring you or your silly dreams down. Because that’s their pleasure.

So here I am. I’m actually doing it. The thing called art journaling. With markers. Paint. Drawings. Paper and stickers and doodles and words. Washi tape and even bits of fiber and fabric tucked in here and there. I’m loving it. And I’m loving writing and podcasting to you. And walking. And so many other things. Thankfully, I’ve learned to shrug off naysayers.

You know those people who don’t get it?  They can’t understand why in the world you would want to (paint…homeschool…have eight children…ride a motorcycle….skeet shoot…plaster the walls…you fill in the blank). And then when you sit down to (write…weave…start a business…sign up for a pottery class…buy a kayak…) their discouraging faces swell large in your mind.

*Shrug* them away, because you know what? Those authors you love to read? They wrote *anyway*. Those bloggers you love to get inspiration from? They blogged *anyway*. Those art pieces or interior designs that make you swoon? Those artists art-ed *anyway*. Because everyone–and I mean everyone–deals with discouragement from within and without.

As you are setting goals this year, whether it is to keep an art journal or to learn 14 varieties of pickles to make, acknowledge your feelings but daily show up and do the practice *anyway*. You may have to learn to do some shrugging, too, or more careful sharing. And you know that fifteen minutes a day to practice your craft is not unreasonable or impossible (preaching to myself, too!).

That aside, here are some pics from this year’s journal. If you’d like to see year one, click here.

 

 

This is the last page. The first page of my journal is where I put my goals for the year, so I could see them and remind myself of them all year. Some are let go during the year, but I can *see* the ones I DO want to accomplish every time I open my journal.

 

 

This is a collage of stamps from the Samaritan Ministries letters and checks we received to pay for Poppy’s birth and hospital care. If I had kept every stamp, it would have taken up four journal pages. I love the body of Christ!

 

 

This is a collage of scraps from my old journals. It’s so neat to see little pieces of my handwriting at 12 or 17, or paper I remember. Old journals can be recycled in many ways.

 

 

Sometimes it’s good to talk to the 9 year old in you.

 

 

An art journal is where I can try different art materials, and bring something visual to a Bible verse I’m thinking about.

 

 

Sometimes my pages are set up for a little bit of art every day, like a calendar. Sometimes I get too busy for that, or I just want to remember one thing for the week.

 

 

Drawing helps me to think about what I want to write about next.

 

 

I loved this page. This gal has enough sense to wear an apron, but she still has spunk 🙂

 

 

Sometimes I like to draw from my childhood memories.

 

 

You know those great quotes you sometimes come across? They fit kind of nice in an art journal.

 

 

Loved doing this page! From meditating on what God’s voice could possibly *sound* like.

 

 

Here, I was thinking of friendships, and how blessed I’ve been with them over my lifetime.

 

 

An art journal is where you can learn more about what you love! Or remember sweet experiences. Or take notes or save quotes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can even just highlight a single new word or phrase.

 

 

Or just glue in scraps of paper you like.

 

 

You could write of course, but it doesn’t have to be in straight lines!

 

 

If you really feel stuck, you could read a book or take a class and do, you know, “homework.” Check out your local library, too!

 

 

You could put in pictures.

 

 

Or envelopes. With hopes and dreams tucked in them.

 

 

 

You could make your to-do list into single-word containers on a pretty shelf.

 

 

Or stamp in a baby foot, a child’s hand, or a puppy’s paw.

 

 

It’s ok if you “don’t know how to draw”. I don’t either. Remember? Do it *anyway*. Shrug the naysayers. And trace a coloring book for an outline and then just fill it in 🙂

 

 

I love this page. I want a slow, deliberate, turtle-ish life. But life and culture swirl around me like it’s mad. And, I guess, sometimes it is.

 

 

 

 

What’s next for my creative side? More art journaling to be sure; it’s a habit now. But check out what just arrived in my home! It’s an 8 harness Macomber loom with (shrieks of joy!) PURPLE harnesses! I sold a piece of furniture, and my sweet husband worked overtime to meet the bill for a very lovely woman who decided to sell this loom to me, practically for peanuts. Peanuts was all I could afford!

 

 

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am! Weaving was just one more thing I had to give up to downsize. I had to shove the furniture around (AGAIN) to make some room, but it was a very happy sort of shoving around!

 

 

I expect my Instagram will be filled with photos of my progress. I’m liking the quick upload there. This post–and I am not kidding–has taken me almost three hours!

 

 

Blessings to you on your new and continuing endeavors! Shrug off those doubts and get going. Why not you?