Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Inspire Me Thursday - Dear Diary

I'm coming to the table a bit late with my Inspire Me Thursday submission, but I didn't really expect to post anything this week. That's because the prompt is "Dear Diary" and I don't keep a diary. Never have. Sure, I've had diaries before, the kind with the leatherette cover and the tiny lock and key, but I never actually wrote in any of them. Maybe I was always afraid someone would read what I had written, and I would be exposed, and vulnerable. I was also expecting to skip this week because I've not been feeling myself the past few days. On Saturday I cleaned up my desk and my studio space so I could actually find things, but I still haven't been able to get motivated. There are just too many other things going on, and they're wearing me out. But when I finally arrived home last night from one of my usual evening activities (I really need to stay home more), I sat at my desk looking at my stack of lists, and was struck by the idea that, in a way, my list-making is a form of diary-keeping. You see, I make lists for everything -- creative ideas, things I need to do, websites to visit -- you name it, I probably have a list for it. All my lists are on scraps of paper, and they tend to get mixed up, or used for jotting down something else, and I end up rewriting that list. So, I remembered these tiny composition books (3.5 x 4.5 inches) I found at WalMart. And why not turn some of my collage and image transfer failures, which of course I had saved, into covers for my little books? You already know that I like to work small, and I enjoy making things to fix up my work area. Well, in less than 30 minutes I had completed two little "list diaries" and I think I've recovered my creative mojo. Sometimes, a little glue and some metal leaf will work wonders, and will help you get organized as well!

15 comments:

titration said...

Oooo that's fantastic. I totally dig them. :)

Anonymous said...

I can completely understand your methods of listing. I am a notorious list maker. I have them all over the place. :D

Anonymous said...

Brilliant, I am a list maker too. My 9 year old daughter also makes lists, even on her days off school, her average list reads like this: Wake up, watch saturday disney, do art with Mum, visit Sam, ask to go to dvd store...so cute.

I think you are going to cherish those little books.

Patricia J. Mosca said...

I too am a list maker..problem being I usually can't find the list!! LOL...I love these little books, have to look for them next time I am at wally world!!

Risa said...

I love these lil books. very cute!

Royce Addington said...

Better Living Through Lists!
Especially when they are contained within such creative, charming,
magical and inspired Lilliputian proportions! They must make the tasks at hand so much more FUN!

PS...I tried to find your e-mail address to send you a note THANKING YOU for the beautiful comment!

Everydaythings said...

lists ...where???? lol..I love lists too. Have too many of them at home and on my desk.
I love the covers on those journals and yes...mojo's are hard to recover once misplaced. Glad that youve recovered yours. I think creating somethng, anything helps with that.

Cheryl Finley said...

Glad you got your "Mojo workin'"...although as far as I could see it was always there. Hearing you talk about the lists and list journal...oh my gosh it's like hearing myself (see comment in post below)- This time last summer I was doing 30-minute collages in the morning...like you talk about here! ...funny huh. I love the idea of making my to-do lists colorful & creative. These are gorgeous...I love the colors & size! Thanks so much for sharing!

Deb G said...

Beautiful! I'm also a member of the list making gang. I wonder if most people who blog are?

steve said...

This is a very good idea and by the looks of it, you fared real well here. I've kept a ton of diaries/journals, many of which I'd rather burn in a big fire now (haha). My problem is marking the cover--sort of the opposite of yours I guess, so i leave 'em all blank. Anyhow, great entry!

Julia said...

For sure your inspiration is back !! I love the little books !

carla said...

What an awesome idea! I love what you did with the notebooks! You may well find your llist-diary turning into something else after a while... you'll doodle and draw and paint and soon... it will be an entirely different animal. Well done!

Unknown said...

these are cool!

I am a list-a-holic.

Crafty Green Poet said...

they look lovely and what a great idea! I make laods of lists on scrap paper too, even though I do keep a diary!

Leah said...

love how you wrapped up that journal with rope! it looks so cool!!