A Creative Journal

May 11th, 2008

My Mother’s Day Gifts

We celebrated Mother’s Day here in Australia today. If you’re a mother, I hope you had a lovely day. My kids gave me some lovely gifts, shown in the photo, but the coolest gift was the Purple Passion Flip Note at the very front of the photo. My daughter told me she knew I’d like it, but she didn’t know just how much. It’s slim and so, so practical to stash in my bag. I hope you received some great gifts and spent some time with your kids, too.

Heather
Photo is my own

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May 10th, 2008

Artsy Bloggers Round-up #11

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Here are some more links to keep you busy this week:

A quick and easy market bag to crochet for ‘WOW MOM’s! from Hankering for Yarn.

Decoupage a Byzantine Cross Pendant from The Artful Crafter.

Gadget Wish List for Quilters from Quilting & Patchwork.

Glorious Gourd Decorating from Junk Creation.

How to make leather-look felt from Layers Upon Layers.

Spring-time felt flowers from Tangled Thread.

Wooden craft boxes as wedding favors from The Creative Bride.

And Digital Photomontage Demonstration from me.

Heather
*Photo from pixelperfectdigital.com

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May 9th, 2008

Freaky Friday #110

Today is Friday and that means it’s Freaky Friday. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read the First Freaky Friday entry.

As I’ve just posted an entry about the body image contest on Breaking the Mirror, I thought a similar idea would be a good Freaky Friday challenge. Spend some time writing in your journal from the perspective of your body. What would your body say to you? Allow time to write this journal entry when you’re feeling relaxed. Perhaps do something prior to writing that always makes you feel good; go for a long walk, take a bath, whatever works for you. Let your body have the pen. Give your body a voice and listen for what it wants to share with you. Perhaps you will be in for a surprise.

I hope you enjoy this journal writing challenge. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
Image used with permission from Newscom

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May 9th, 2008

Write a Poem to Win a Book

Breaking the Mirror has a great idea for a journal writing prompt, poetry, free verse or whatever you feel like. Angelique invites readers to submit a poem of no more than 20 lines on how you feel about your body. If you do write a poem please join in the Your Body is For Keeps Contest to win a signed copy of - For Keeps: Women Tell the Truth About Their Bodies, Growing Older, and Acceptance“>For Keeps. Edited by Victoria Zackheim the book holds a collection of essays from women on how “body image has coloured, changed or enriched their lives…” For more details of the contest visit the Breaking the Mirror website.

Heather
Photo from Breaking the Mirror

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By Heather Goldsmith -- 3 comments

May 8th, 2008

How to Make an Instant Writing Workshop

Several weeks ago, maybe even more than a couple of months ago, a friend asked if I’d do a workshop. Of course, I agreed. I mean they’re going to pay me, so it’s worth the effort. I was given a vague idea of the month it might be in, but that was all. On Sunday a lady from the organisation rang to confirm I’d still be doing the workshop this Saturday. What the..? No one told me it was that soon, but I didn’t let it put me off. I agreed and will be there on Saturday arvo to get some ladies writing a marathon.

So, what’s the first thing I did? I went through the journal writing prompts category right here in this blog. I’ve selected several I feel will good for a group. Then I went through all my photos, and some online ones, and made a folder with great visual prompts. I’ll print those up tomorrow in the smaller size, so they will be perfect to hand out to the workshop participants. I have also dug out some journal writing cards I made for another workshop ages ago and will have those on hand.

It’s likely I’ll have more than I need, but I gather that’s all good. How long did it take me? About 15 minutes. Once I get the photos printed, I’m done. Please feel free to use any of my journal writing prompts, or any other exercise or idea, from this blog in a writing group, but please let people know where you got the information. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
Photo used with permission from Newscom

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May 7th, 2008

Why So Difficult to Write Sometimes?

Some days it’s difficult to get the pen moving across your blank journal page. I’ve been there. You begin, but end up sitting there staring out the window or at the passing parade of people. I do my best to find ways to get myself writing and share them here. But instead of searching for something to write about when you feel like this, make a list of all the reasons it’s difficult to write in the first place. Are you feeling distracted? Is there something on your mind? Are you in a blue mood? Is there really nothing to write about? Are you feeling bored?

Once you’ve written your list of reasons, investigate if these are reasons or excuses not to write. Weigh up how valid each reason is. If it really is an excuse, look for the reply you would give someone else with the same excuse. Can you excuse yourself from writing today? Perhaps it might be a good idea? I don’t think it’s essential to journal every single day. But try not to fall into believing the same excuse every day. Spend time writing about excuses and how they have power over you, to persuade you not to do something that is in your heart.

I hope you enjoy this journal writing prompt. Please share any comments in the section below.

Heather
Photo used with permission from Newscom

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May 6th, 2008

What’s Baking Three Doors Down?

As part of some fun we’re having here on b5media Lifestyle Channel, I’m going to introduce you to some of my neighbours.

This week I’d like you to meet Marye Audet who writes the delicious blog Baking Delights. If you’re into baking or just love looking at tasty recipes & ways to make your baking life easier, you can’t miss this gorgeous blog.

Be warned, though, every entry shows close up shots of biscuits, or cookies as those in the US call them, cakes, and nearly anything you can imagine to bake yourself. There are great tips, too; like the recent What to do with Leftover Eggs & How to Make Homemade, Gluten Free Baking Powder.

It looks to me Marye has everything baking covered, except I couldn’t find anything about keeping a recipe journal, or the like. It could be just that I didn’t find the entry. There are so many there. Maybe Marye will be happy to let me know if there are any such entries or create one just for this profile. Please stop by and take a look at the blog just three doors down.

Heather
Photo used with permission from Newscom

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May 5th, 2008

Digital Photomontage Demonstration

Photomontage is defined by Wikepedia as “the process and result of making a composite photograph by cutting and joining a number of other photographs.” The effect of layering photos and images could also be known as collage or montage. This can also be done on your computer using general software for manipulating photographs.

While browsing I came across a tutorial by Lori from The Atelier Digital blog. The demo shows Lori’s technique for photomontage tutorial. This is really generous of her, so please take the time to read and perhaps leave a comment to let her know you enjoyed learning something from her.

I hope you find this useful for your visual journals. Please share any comments in the section below.

Heather
Photo used with permission from Newscom

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May 3rd, 2008

Artsy Bloggers Round-up #10

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Here are some more links to keep you busy this week:

A Call for Alzheimer’s Related Art from Stamping Mad.

Cat Toy (and more) from Ketchup Bottle from Junk Creation.

How to make silk paper from Tangled Thread.

Artist Profile: Andie MacCowan from Layers Upon Layers.

Make Yourself a Giant Check from The Artful Crafter.

Mixed Media Earth Friendly Woven Dolls from Hankering for Yarn.

The Delights of Blogging About Quilting from Quilting & Patchwork.

win a pair of beaded dangle earrings from The Creative Bride.

And Red Castle Templates from me.

Heather
*Photo from pixelperfectdigital.com

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May 2nd, 2008

Freaky Friday #109

Today is Friday and that means it’s Freaky Friday. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read the First Freaky Friday entry.

I’ve included several letters to your future or past self in these Freaky Friday prompts, but as a request from a reader I’m going to get more specific, just in case you needed some help with this idea.

Just like you are writing to a real person in real time, you would address the letter to them by their name. So, write your name at the top of this entry. I suggest you start by writing to a part of your body first. For some reason this seems easier to do if you haven’t done anything like this before. Select a part of your body you feel particularly distant from and begin writing as if it was a person. It might feel a bit silly and hey, it probably is, but just write, expressing all that you wish to say to that part of your body. This technique can also include the part of your body answering and is often called journal dialogues.

Once you’ve written your letter, write another, but this time write to the person you will be tomorrow. What would you like to say to that person? Although, that person is you, this journal writing exercise gives you permission to feel less attached to yourself. It gives you room to be frank about things and speak of issues you might never actually feel able to in real life. There’s a sense of release in assessing what needs to be said.

If you’re still finding it difficult write to the person you were yesterday. Let them know that you made it to today. Speak words of reassurance, encouragement, or whatever is on your mind. The trick with this journal writing technique is to simply write in an uncensored way to yourself. By addressing yourself at different points in time you are really shaking off hindrances to communication or other thoughts that might otherwise block your thoughts.

I hope this helps you in writing your own letters to self. Please let me know if you need any help with this by leaving comments in the section below.

Heather
Photo from stock.xchang

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