Art Journaling/Sketching: Reasons why I don't do it.

I have to say that I harbour a bit of a secret dream.

I really, really, really wish that I could journal. By journal I mean creating an Art journal, or a sketch journal.

I have a Pinterest board called "Art Journal Envy". Oh how I love finding new and wonderful Art journal pages to pop in there.

Pages like this one:

Source: etsy.com via Marie on Pinterest

and this one:

Source: joannezsharpe.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

and this one:

Source: ffffound.com via Marie on Pinterest

and this one:

Source: balzerdesigns.typepad.com via Marie on Pinterest

and my I could go on all day. They do make my *SIGH* with joy and also a little sadness, that I just can't seem to do this.

So, being that it's a new year, time for new things, time for some introspection I thought I would try to think about the WHY. WHY can't I get to grips with Journalling?

Alas, I suspect the conclusion to this self reflection can be summed up as simply as this:

Before we get to that though, lets go back to the beginning of this thought train.

Here's the big question then: Why don't I journal when it's something I long to do?

Reason/Excuse #1

What if (heaven forbid) someone where to actually SEE it? I mean, I can journal just for me and that's fine but short of welding a journal shut with magical Harry Potteresque powers there no real way to guarantee that at some point in time someone won't take a peek inside. If you want to put anything in a journal then you need to take it places, which means you've got to have it hanging around with you. There's always a chance someone might look. Eek!

Reason/Excuse #2

I don't think I can draw for toffee. Yes, I'm creative and crafty and good at making okay looking stuff with pretty paper and card and buttons and string, but actual, REAL drawing? I can just about draw things that my kids can identify as what they're intended to be - my doodled response to "Mummy, draw a cat" usually looks like a cat. Anything other than that though, yikes no. Things that require perspective and good artistic penmanship..... no good at that at all.

Reason/Excuse #3

It's embarrassing. What if I've chosen to journal something completely stupid and inane (which lets face it, with me is highly likely) and someone looks at it and thinks "why the hell did she write about that, its completely stupid/inane?" Do I really need people to think I'm any more of a freak than they already do? (seriously, people already think I'm uberweird, scrapbooking and crafting and karate..... it's rare I don't get an odd look when I talk about my hobbies).

Reason/Excuse #4

I don't have time. I barely have time to do what I do now. My house is a perpetual crap hole. I dash around like a mad lunatic 4 days a week to incorpate extracurricular activities (for myself and the kids) and the other 3 days I'm supposed to fit in some other sort of exercise in an attempt to reign in my ever expanding midsection.

Reason/Excuse #5

I don't know where to start. What to journal about. What makes me think that anything that happens in my daily life these days warrants a permenant record? I don't really "do" anything. I don't really "go" anywhere. I just plod through an endless round of work/karate/gym/housework/rinse and repeat. What have I possibly got to journal about?


Back to the last photo anyway. Basically, on reflecting on this question the answer boils down to this. I am just too chicken to journal. I worry WAY too much about what other people might potentially think. I'm too scared I'll have nothing noteworthy to include. I'm too shy that someone might see what I've done.

I. Am. Just. Plain. Chicken.

So what is to be done I ask you?

In the past I've read this book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Make-Journal-Your-Life/dp/1580080936/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327593428&sr=1-1#_

and this book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-License-Giving-Yourself-Permission/dp/1401307922/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c

In an attempt to get past my scaredycatness (or scaredychickness) but to no evail (that is to say, I've never gotten past a page or two before I give up for the reasons mentioned about).

What will it take then to get past this block? I really think I would enjoy doing this, if I could just be a little less wary of the process. In terms of time, I haven't had any time for crafting at all in a long time and this is potentially something involving very little time which I could do anywhere so in a way it's the ideal creative outlet.

Maybe I just need to bite the bullet, be a big girl and get over myself?

Once upon a time I was too scared to venture into a Martial Arts Dojo and now I spend 11 hours per week of my life there. What is the saying? "A life lived in fear, is a life half lived"?

Something to think on anyway.

TTFN

JYC 2011 - December 17th: Christmas Do

I'm not sure quite how it happened, but some how Kendo managed to convince me that it was a good idea to go on a work's night out with two of the people he works with (who I've never met) and their wives. Hmmmm. Still not sure how he talked me into that one, especially as I make a particular point of avoiding all my works do.

Anyhoo, he'd agreed I'd go so off I went. We caught the train into Liverpool (which is really not far from us. 25 minutes on the train. I don't know why we don't go more often) and began the night (well, afternoon really) at a place called "Viva Brazil":

We sat there, at the round table at the front (only it was bigger, with more chairs). This is the strangest restaurant. It's a kind of all you can eat. You start with a plate and then hit the salad bar (although that's something of a misnomer because there was a darn site more than salad on it). You have a little coloured card on your table (like a beer mat). One side red, one side green. When the green side it showing waiters come to your table with huge skewers with meat on (all different stuff, chicken and beef and lamb and pork and sausage) which they carve at the table for you. When you've got enough you turn your card to red and they stop coming, when you want more you flick it back to green. Easy. Kendo literally thought he'd died and gone to carnivore heaven. That he just sat there and people brought him meat. Lots of meat. He was one happy diner I can tell you.

From there we ventured to a Liverpool land mark. On request from two of the people we were with we went here:

You probably recognise the name, if not the place. Some small Liverpool band is famous for starting out here. See, here they are at the Cavern:

Don't recognise them there? How about here?:

I have to confess despite living so close to Liverpool this is the first time I've ever been in the Cavern (how bad is that?). It's actually quite a nice club (if a little claustrphobic). There are tonnes of names graffitied on the bricks inside. If I'd known before hand apparently I could have looked for my Mother's, it's in there somewhere (what a rebel she was!).

From one Liverpool band we ventured to another. Echo and the Bunnymen at the O2 Academy:

Not really my cup of tea but I did spend 10 minutes in the mosh pit looking for Kendo while they were playing this song (which is thankfully one I know):


 

Phew. That was hard work. Couple it with a broken down train on the way home and having to get up the day after and do a fitness challenge at the annual karate club party (100 push ups, 100 crunches, 100 squat kicks) it's hardly surprising I don't feel like I've had a weekend off! I think I'll give strict instructions not to volunteer me for any Christmas Do's next year!

 

TTFN

JYC 2011 - December 16th: Gratitude

Two years ago around this time we received the news that my Dad had cancer.

One year ago around this time we heard that despite chemo and radiation treatment it had recurred.

Today we heard that following a big surgery and chemo in the last 6 months he has the all clear.

For that, today, I am truly, truly grateful.

The best Christmas gift of all.

TTFN

JYC 2011 - December 15th: Visitors.

Christmas visiting. Ahhhh. Neither my husband nor I are good with the whole visiting thing but it's Christmas and there are people to see and who want to see us (well, want to see the kids anyway ;)). We have our Christmas visiting schedule and it hasn't changed much in 7 years. Off to my parents after presents and breakfast at home (not like its much of a trek though as it's next door!). Back home for Christmas lunch then off to the In-laws for a bit (Santa's really good to my kids, he delivers to grandparents houses too (both sets!!)). Back home to "next door Nanny's" for Christmas tea then home. Boxing day it's back to the in laws for MILs roast dinner (roast lamb - nom nom nom).

This year my Mum is particulary excited about Christmas visiting. My sister and her partner and my two nephews are coming up on Christmas Eve and staying until the day after boxing day. Whilst that means (coupled with the other waifs and strays she collected who would otherwise be alone on the big day) that she'll have 14 people for Christmas dinner she couldn't be happier. All her kids and grandkids under one roof.

Thankfully we're past the age where we feel the need to pick on one another and cause fights all the time.........I think ;)

TTFN

JYC 2011 - December 14th: Christmas Presents.

Ordinarily at this point I have already written my own Christmas list, shopped for my own presents, wrapped them and haranged my husband into writing the tags (I have to draw the line somewhere!). To be honest, it never bothers me. At least I know I'm getting things I want and will use and its much less stress for him having to think about what to buy (not to mention trying to fit shopping in amongst the ridiculous hours he works!).

In his defense I am in charge of the budgeting around here so usually he doesn't know when the Christmas budget is available for spending or indeed how much it is. This year some extra hours and bonuses at work meant he had pennies to spend and I was more than happy to provide a "Dear Santa" list of things I might like to see in my stocking. I know what I sent on the list but I don't know exactly what he's bought. I'm looking forward to having a nice surprise when I open my presents Christmas morning for a change. I think I could get used to this arrangement.

TTFN

JYC 2011 - December 13th: Christmas Tunes.

The best thing about JYC blogging. I don't just get to write about my favourite Christmas tunes this year. I can share them :) 

So, if you fancy getting into the festive spirit with my, crank up the PC speakers and have at it....

My all time FAVE Christmas tune:

LOVE this song :)

Completely useless factoid to accompany the song... the New York Police Department doesn't have a choir... it has a Pipe and Drum band, who were featured in the video. They are not in fact playing "Galway Bay" however because they didn't know it. They're playing something else and the speed was adjusted to fit the beat :)

On the other side of the festive tunage coin we have my all time favourite Christmas Carol (i.e. a traditional Christmas song, not a pop song). Always loving this version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by the awesome Annie Lennox. The music on this track is amazing:





The CD that this song comes from is completely fabulous (even Grace loves it). It's called "A Christmas Cornucopia" (how cool is that title?) and I highly recommend it for injecting some Christmas spirit.

That was easy :)

TTFN

JYC 2011 - December 12th: Christmas Past

2006

2007

2008

2009

Oh my, how quickly time passes and how fast they grow. Proof we should embrace every moment that they're children I think.

TTFN