On my journey out of clinical depression many years ago an occupational therapist colleague explained how therapeutic, and good for wellbeing, creative repetition was. I often wish I could remember exactly what she said but I do know how good the feeling of cutting, folding, colouring etc is, whatever the outcome xx
I find cutting up old magazines very soothing when distressed or low. I have lots of fun words, pictures and letters to collage with. I make zines to express the āfeelsā of the day. It been a wonderful therapeutic outlet. Just wanted to encourage you to keep going!š·š·š·
you are right its important to find the colours , textures, images, materials and ideas that spark your own creativity which may be quite different to others. There is nothing that kills creativity faster than being MADE to make something. I too find that its sometimes a single image , colour or idea that sends me down a happy rabbit hole of creativity. Then I make far too much and really dont know what to do with all the books I've made. I found that problems also arise when you want / need to sell your work and then of course its so important to be finely tuned to the needs/wants and likes of other people. I found I stopped enjoying it when I HAD to make them in a certain way which rapidly became boring. For me the most exciting side of the process is not buying ready made resources but up cycling ephemera which comes into the house . Yes, I love stickers and wash tape but try to be really sparing with them. Having too many resources is also a big problem...much better make do with a few .
'There is beauty in everything..but not everybody sees it '.....
You had me at paper chains. I still have a Christmas paper chain my daughter made back in the 1970's. Every year it is packed away with balls of tissue between each loop and in it's own box. I cherish is and am always reminded how many times those colors have came back in my life. My father was a weaver of very expensive wool so textures have always played a part in my life. I have one or two color palette's that I use in my home, my coloring and accessories.
I so appreciate all your comments! I didnāt want to make an actual paper chain so I decided to draw one in my accordion journal. Drawing is a challenge for me, but I love the uneven circles and oblong shapes. Just like a real paper chain!
Thank you. After reading your post I got out the color palette in my distressed oxides and some stencils and just played. There is something around working the stencils in a circular motion that is very calming. I had a torn white shopping bag that was destined for a journal page laying on the table so I openned that up and started playing. These are the background I created this morning from your inspiration.
Please consider that your musings on art making, the very life of being a creative person, and the mindful gatherings of your newsletters would combine to build a very powerful and engaging book! I would respectfully ask you to consider these individual newsletters as vital contributions to your book!
*Scurries off to make some paper chains* We used to make paper chains for Christmas every year & hang them from Gran's lamps & ceiling fans. Not the best idea since I'm in Oz, but we always did it lol!
That's an interesting quote about annotating older entries in a journal. I haven't done that for a few years but I have liked to read my older written journals and scribble thoughts along the page edges, adding dates. And now I'm wondering about doing that in a visual journal, adding a piece of collage or shading or doodling on top of what I'd previously done. (That kind of blows my mind!)
From having completed the last two Junk Journal projects I preferred the July'24 one as I used the same colours and range of papers/ephemera/washi throughout. Looking back over the Jan'25 one I thought it looked all over the place because I used such a variety of colours. Perhaps that's a visual journal I might try altering?
It will be interesting to follow the fortnightly ideas you suggest, looking forward to that!
Oooh I love the idea of revisiting an older journal to work on top of it. Iāve been partial to tearing whole pages out of them before. Hope you enjoy exploring them!
Oooh! I already knew what I was going to be using for the Catalysts & Curiosities prompts, and it really couldnāt be suited more for these first prompts! Iām so excited to get started! Concept in brainā¦ now to translate to paper! Thanks Meg!
Iāve been making a very scrappy, multi-heighted accordion journal out of stuff Iāve acquired either through junk mail or out of magazines/leaflets etc, so as soon as you said connection, that was a no brainer that I would use that one with all the connected pages, and the snippet quote goes perfectly with the type of stuff I used for the pages - Talking about creativity using the things youāve found to turn into something new!
It must be a paper chain zeitgeist! I made a couple at Christmas out of Italian paper, inspired by images of British homes decorated with them. I think theyāre a super charming and casual antidote to the sometimes highly curated decorations in American homes.
On my journey out of clinical depression many years ago an occupational therapist colleague explained how therapeutic, and good for wellbeing, creative repetition was. I often wish I could remember exactly what she said but I do know how good the feeling of cutting, folding, colouring etc is, whatever the outcome xx
Glad you found how therapeutic journaling is - writing and art! Iām a survivor of clinical depression. 40 plus years! Keep up the good fight! š
So true! x
I find cutting up old magazines very soothing when distressed or low. I have lots of fun words, pictures and letters to collage with. I make zines to express the āfeelsā of the day. It been a wonderful therapeutic outlet. Just wanted to encourage you to keep going!š·š·š·
Sarah, thanks for sharing. I love
To sit with my scissors cutting up ephemeraāthat is so soothing to me. Glad to know why. š
Dear Meg
you are right its important to find the colours , textures, images, materials and ideas that spark your own creativity which may be quite different to others. There is nothing that kills creativity faster than being MADE to make something. I too find that its sometimes a single image , colour or idea that sends me down a happy rabbit hole of creativity. Then I make far too much and really dont know what to do with all the books I've made. I found that problems also arise when you want / need to sell your work and then of course its so important to be finely tuned to the needs/wants and likes of other people. I found I stopped enjoying it when I HAD to make them in a certain way which rapidly became boring. For me the most exciting side of the process is not buying ready made resources but up cycling ephemera which comes into the house . Yes, I love stickers and wash tape but try to be really sparing with them. Having too many resources is also a big problem...much better make do with a few .
'There is beauty in everything..but not everybody sees it '.....
Totally agree! Being creative with ephemera is one of the joys of journaling for me too.
You had me at paper chains. I still have a Christmas paper chain my daughter made back in the 1970's. Every year it is packed away with balls of tissue between each loop and in it's own box. I cherish is and am always reminded how many times those colors have came back in my life. My father was a weaver of very expensive wool so textures have always played a part in my life. I have one or two color palette's that I use in my home, my coloring and accessories.
What a precious heirloom! I love that.
I so appreciate all your comments! I didnāt want to make an actual paper chain so I decided to draw one in my accordion journal. Drawing is a challenge for me, but I love the uneven circles and oblong shapes. Just like a real paper chain!
Love that so much!! The paper chain was a metaphor but then I got so excited by it that I also made one haha
Thank you. After reading your post I got out the color palette in my distressed oxides and some stencils and just played. There is something around working the stencils in a circular motion that is very calming. I had a torn white shopping bag that was destined for a journal page laying on the table so I openned that up and started playing. These are the background I created this morning from your inspiration.
That sounds so fun! I keep meaning to venture more into distress oxides, do you have any favourite colours?
Lovely idea. Worth giving it a go. Might try mini chains as everything tiny is wonderful.
That's so true! Happy journaling :)
Please consider that your musings on art making, the very life of being a creative person, and the mindful gatherings of your newsletters would combine to build a very powerful and engaging book! I would respectfully ask you to consider these individual newsletters as vital contributions to your book!
With love and gratitude-
ShawnMory McMillion
That is so kind, thank you! Maybe one day!!
*Scurries off to make some paper chains* We used to make paper chains for Christmas every year & hang them from Gran's lamps & ceiling fans. Not the best idea since I'm in Oz, but we always did it lol!
What a lovely memory!
The inspiration from the groves of texture paste to acrylic hues and sprays. Removing Adding subtracting then put contrast.
Itās a dance when the unexpected hay. The Gelli Plate creates a freedom unusual items to scratch away paint is relaxing.
Tear up pieces to make new art.
Love this art practice
Thank you again for inspiration
Dawn B.
Love that approach to creativity, itās so freeing!
That's an interesting quote about annotating older entries in a journal. I haven't done that for a few years but I have liked to read my older written journals and scribble thoughts along the page edges, adding dates. And now I'm wondering about doing that in a visual journal, adding a piece of collage or shading or doodling on top of what I'd previously done. (That kind of blows my mind!)
From having completed the last two Junk Journal projects I preferred the July'24 one as I used the same colours and range of papers/ephemera/washi throughout. Looking back over the Jan'25 one I thought it looked all over the place because I used such a variety of colours. Perhaps that's a visual journal I might try altering?
It will be interesting to follow the fortnightly ideas you suggest, looking forward to that!
Oooh I love the idea of revisiting an older journal to work on top of it. Iāve been partial to tearing whole pages out of them before. Hope you enjoy exploring them!
Oooh! I already knew what I was going to be using for the Catalysts & Curiosities prompts, and it really couldnāt be suited more for these first prompts! Iām so excited to get started! Concept in brainā¦ now to translate to paper! Thanks Meg!
Yay! What do you have in mind?
Iāve been making a very scrappy, multi-heighted accordion journal out of stuff Iāve acquired either through junk mail or out of magazines/leaflets etc, so as soon as you said connection, that was a no brainer that I would use that one with all the connected pages, and the snippet quote goes perfectly with the type of stuff I used for the pages - Talking about creativity using the things youāve found to turn into something new!
Ah perfect!
It must be a paper chain zeitgeist! I made a couple at Christmas out of Italian paper, inspired by images of British homes decorated with them. I think theyāre a super charming and casual antidote to the sometimes highly curated decorations in American homes.
How sweet!
Just read your May 2 message, prompts, snippets, theme, elements and colors. On to next week. Wheeeeee!!!!
I really the Jan & July projects I guess cause it was structured
This is so wonderful! Thank you, Meg.
I had forgotten about vellum...haven't used it in ages!! Great motivation, prompts and inspiration.
Thank you!