Thursday 19 February 2015

Why I Journal: That Special Day...

Hello Gorgeous!

I hope the weather is bright and clear for you today... if it's not, then you just snuggle in and treat yourself to something yummy and just be AWESOME!

As I mentioned earlier this week, I've had a bit of a break from splishy-splashy art supplies for a couple of weeks. It does me good to remind myself that there are other aspects of creativity that bring me joy and allow them some time. I did manage a couple of scribbly pen & ink doodles in my journal, but lost interest when the textiles and yarns made a colourful appearance....and that's ok. Playing with all that lovely STUFF made me happy!

I doodle when I can't sleep - the pen strokes quiet my mind. Every journal I keep is distinctly different - individual. It's not planned, rather it just happens. This one is full of these scratchy doodles all of which feature fairy folk, fantasy creatures, stars and light. It seemed natural that I should celebrate Imbolc with some doodles that represent my happiness at welcoming the arrival of longer daylight hours and the renewal of Spring! I didn't feel like writing so this was a happy and mind-calming option, with my candles aglow and crocuses sprouting in the plant pots outside my front door.


Calendar events and special celebrations are a good reason to journal. You can write - your thoughts, a record of the day's events, feelings, comparisons with other years past, your hopes for the coming weeks and months... or you can be a little more abstract, recording the day with a quote, song lyrics or a poem. You can save special items, ephemera, keepsakes or photographs. You can paint, sketch or draw, or collage - anything, as long as it records the day. It's a good EXCUSE to journal and a great PROMPT. Don't be afraid to use sources like Google, Pinterest, Flickr or Instagram to find inspiration, or words to copy that can speak for you if your tongue (or pen-)tied.


It doesn't matter if your journaling is a bit 'out there' or abstract - it's not intended for anyone else, really, is it? It's there so that next week, next month, next year, you can look at that page and remember the moment, the day, the place and the people. Record your smiles - they'll never be lost and be there when you need them the most, stored safely just for you.

Sometimes when I want to make a pretty page, I draw a loose and loopy spiral shape and I write poetry - favourite cherished lines - around the curls and curves. It bonds you with your page as you turn it round and round, following the lines and taking time to finish what, upon completion, is a work of art in itself. You don't have to be the next Rembrandt to make something beautiful!

My black and white doodles are useful when I need a reboot - they're an excellent colouring book!



Sometimes it's fun to just play!  Is there a day that you can journal about? How about remembering what you were doing this time last month, or year? Have a think - I bet there's something there.....

Hope you liked this post - and I hope you're enjoying your own journaling, whatever style you follow. I'll see you soon with a process tutorial journaly pagey type thingummy doo-dah (do forgive the use of such technical terms! ) In the meantime, stay awesome and show the world you much you totally rock! Love and hugs all round from Shroo :) xxx

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Additional add-on bit! - 

 I'm so honoured to be invited to link to ART JOURNAL JOURNEY and MOO-MANIA AND MORE ! Thank you so much to Valerie with her beautiful blog at BASTELMANIA and Susi with her bundle of loveliness at FROEBELSTERNCHEN for your invitations!

I always look with longing at link up sites but rarely seem to have a post that fits a challenge. I am completely missing the point of a challenge of course, which is to actively CREATE something that answers it! Useless woman I am!!  I should kick myself up the backside and pay more attention! I'd recommend visiting these exceptional sites - they're jam-packed with beauty and inspiration.

I've also been THRILLED to link up to the amazing INSPIRATION AVENUE - a site I haunt regularly and am always impressed by the wonderful artists who post there. Lou Anne from MISPLACED MERMAID allowed for it by hosting a 'Show & Tell' - awesome! Thank you, fellow mermaid-obsessive!

Sending out mahoosive hugs to you all for making my day bright and wonderful! I'm off now to gaze at your blogs for a while and marvel at the lovely! See you soon - Shroo :) xxx

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24 comments:

  1. Yes, I have it enjoyed your post very much! Would love you to link to our challenges st Art Journal Journey, (Birds, beatsts and humans) and Moo Mania and More, Circles. Have a fun day, hugs, Valerie

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    1. YAAAYYY! I did a linky uppy thing to the sites and am VERY happy to be able to join in - THANK YOU so much!! Sending big hugs - Shroo:)xxxx

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  2. Oh wow.. what amazing pages are these?! Wonderful what you make out of doodles..
    Love all this pages!
    Looking forward to your progress post !
    Oh yes please link to
    ART-JOURNAL-JOURNEY-CHALLENGE

    and
    MOO-MANIA & MORE -CHALLENGE

    would be great to have you with us!
    xxx
    Susi

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    1. THANK YOU SQUILLIONS for the invite! I've linked to both sites - VERY excited! I've gone quite giddy! Hoping to have my next post up tomorrow. PROBABLY! Thank you for your support and inspiration - hugs from Shroo:)xxxx

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  3. I love your doodles, I love your colours, I love your journals, I think I will have to give it a try! Thank you for being so inspiring, love, Karin

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    1. Seriously - I've SEEN your work and you're incredible! You know I'm now going to be haunting your gorgeous blog even more waiting for doodles? Mmmmm-hmmmm? Yep.

      Thank you so much for being completely fabulous - hugs and sparkles from Shroo:)xxx

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  4. Love the idea of using the doodles as a coloring book! Your last two images blew my mind - the peacock array of colors, especially, on the unicorn! :)

    Hoping you are having a lovely day! Here in Northern Virginia, USA, it is bright and shiny - wind a wind chill of -11 Farenheit...brrrr!!

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    1. Thank you! I often wonder whether I use my own doodles for colouring because I'm so cheap and won't go buy a colouring book! *grins* I used my Inktense pencils *drool* on these so that the colour would show up over all the scratchy pen lines. Had SUCH fun! Like being six years old again!

      Here the weather's a bit bleak we had 'chubby rain' for most of the morning which meant that The Colonel looked like a drowned rat after returning from his morning constitutional.... bless. He's snuggled up on his blanky so will have 'bed-fur' when he gets up -so funny!

      Love and squooshy hugs from both of us! - Shroo:)xxx

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  5. ♥♥♥

    Thank you for linking dear Shroo!!!!!

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    1. You're SOOOOOOO SO welcome!!! Honestly - i'm so excited! **does a happy dance** Huggage from Shroo:)xxxx

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    1. THANK YOU !!! I remembered to leave a comment on your latest post. I reiforce my loving of those dandelions! Need a cushion cover! Love and hugs - Shroo:)xxx

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    2. 'reinforce'....STILL can't type! AAAARGHHH!!

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  7. Thanks for linking to us Sweetie, you have made my day! Thanks from AJJ and Moo Mania and More, and hugs from me! Valerie

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    1. Ach - you've no idea how giddy with excitement I am! Honestly!! Such awesome fun! I am officially a very happy camper! Sending hugs from Shroo:)xxx

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  8. so glad you are linking up too-your work needs to be seen by others-cause it is soooo awesome-hugs Kathy (in the freezing ozarks-but no matter as I am spinning and spinning and--)

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    1. Hello you wonderful popsicle you! How's the icy tundra? (sounds like a dreadful affliction! :-D) Thank you for being awesomely wonderful - encouragement like this gives me the kick up the bum I need to do something pro-active (rather than just jamming the next '24' dvd into the machine.....yep.....still ploughing through the exploits of Jack Bauer.......mmmmm......Jack Bauer.......mmmmmmmmm

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  9. Rachael, I am beyond thrilled that you shared your beautiful art journal pages with us at IA this week. I am always in awe of your talent and love to read about your process. I happen to have missed my own Show and Tell posting due to cat rescue but I'm easing my way into creating images and I must say you inspire me! The great thing is, we do the Show and Tell every 5 weeks or so. That means you can jump in and share whatever your heart desires. I think it's a great concept and I hope to see you more often. Hugs to you and the Colonel! XXOO

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  10. I really love your work. Doodle away!!

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  11. Wow! I really love your doodle world!

    Sally

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  12. Holy moly! This is "doodling"?! I think not. To me this is awesome art, more than doodling by my definition. Each page is a masterpiece of detail. I agree with Kathy, your work needs to be seen. Indeed, it more than deserves to be seen! Also, like Kathy, I'm freezing (in New Jersey). Isnt everyone? No crocuses here, but soon!

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  13. I'm in love with your gorgeous pages.

    Thank you for joining us at MOO-MANIA & MORE.

    Have a nice weekend

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  14. wow thats some doodeling you do. My doodles used to be ( past tense cos don't do them any more) black pen on white paper organic rounded shapes sometimes growing into weird and wonderful animal type thingies :-) In fact after looking at this, maybe I should doodle again You are quite an inspiration :-)

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  15. FINALLY! I can comment! I've had your page open for days - type out a long fangled comment and what happens? No internet! Fingers crossed I have been online for half an hour so, here goes!

    You really are an inspiration. I was looking back at a the very few art journal pages I have done the other day and your words were ringing in my head, you are right - they aren't for anyone else - they are for me and those ones I did do, one about depression(http://whoopidooings.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/sisterhood-of-travelling-sketchbook.html), some about my pregnancy (http://whoopidooings.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Pregnancy%20Journal) - came so easily because I just did them with no pressure. You, m'lady, are a star! Something has clicked with this one. Indeedy.

    And seriously - you need to be published! You really do! Your art is gorgeous.

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