Friday, January 22, 2016

Tweaking the System...

Hi friends!  At the beginning of the year, I posted how I was going to assign a separate journal for each project, challenge, and class I'm doing in 2016.  Here's what the pile of journals looked like...
I was having lots of fun with all these journals in the beginning; but I started to feel overwhelmed at the idea of keeping all of them up to date.  You are probably saying to yourself - well duh!  But hey, I had to try it!  :)  A few days ago, I got a new idea, and I'm super duper happy about it!  Here's what my pile of journals for 2016 looks like now...


I've now got almost everything combined into the top journal, which I will call my Book of Days.  The bottom two are staying separate.  I shared my Fauxbonichi setup in the last post; and I will show you the Artfully Inspired Life journal later.  But for today, I want to share my Book of Days plan with you...

This journal will combine a handmade weekly/monthly planner, along with (almost) all of my art journaling, in a chronological format.  It will hold:

The Documented Life Project
No Excuses Art Program
Journal 52
Book of Days
and/or any other random journal pages I decide to make.  Here's how it looks so far...

I handbound the journal in an 8x10" size. The cover is canvas, and the inside pages are all 140 lb watercolor paper. I painted it an ombre pink with acrylics and gesso, but still need to decorate it and give it a title...


Inside front cover...


I did the intro page using watercolors and a technique I learned from Danielle Donaldson's "Watercolor Words" DVD...


Then, there's the January quote page...


There's a collage page, which I haven't started yet;  and then comes the monthly view.  Still a work in progress...
 


The weekly pages, complete with tip-in, of which I only have one finished so far...





Then, my plan is to add in any art journaling pages for January, after the last weekly page.  Haven't gotten to that yet, but I will.  :)

Michael and I laugh about how I am constantly changing systems, but I really think this one is going to work great for this year.  What do you think?

Do you have a system set up for your 2016 creative practice? Was it the first one you came up with, or have you made any revisions?  I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

Thanks so much for visiting!  Next time, I will share what's in the Artfully Inspired Life book so far.  Have a fabulous Friday!

7 comments:

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

Ohhhhhh I am loving how you condensed these!! And your pages are gorgeous! LOVING that title page!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I keep changing mine. But i kind of think ive just about got mine done too.love your
Laurie Sherwins.

Marit said...

yep, that is so you - trying things out and then change to system until it works for you, and this may not only work, it also looks fabulous!!! I even thought about making a journal with 'your system' myself... hmmm, I might... Oh, and did I tell you I love the bright pink cover!?! Enjoy your journal, enjoy your weekend dear friend!

florenel said...

A great result! I admire the colours you used and the way of lettering with aquarel.
And yes, I regognize your changing untill the system is right.
Reading your blog I realized that I'm doing the same. Only 3 books for me.
The unplanner (DLP2016), one book for fun and ideas and one that I made at Marits Paperworld workshop.
If you'll like so see them, visit my blog Florenel.blogspot.nl

Have a nice and artful weekend.

Aimeslee Winans said...

Hi Michelle, I guess it's like sitting in a chair. You gotta keep moving around until you are comfortable. You do put so much detail and time into your spreads, so might as well tweak them. Gorgeous, thanks for sharing. xoxo, Aimeslee

anna said...

Fantastic!!!! Love that watercolor type!! :)

Lori Wostl said...

Great work Monica - I always change and rearrange mine and usually do not tell folk as they might think me flighty - LOL! I love your system so far and love your blog. I am in the process of revising mine (my blog that is) - which is how I came here! to check if your link works on my blog...The bottom line for me is that I can either have adventures or I can write about the adventures...so this year my system combines every idea I have ever loved in art journaling and doing the art of it all AFTER the adventure. Thanks for the inspiration!