Jun 24, 2013

on journaling // molly.

// nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it. //
lucy maud montgomery
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little miss molly hooper - petite, charming, adorable, british, and a dear - just like the darling character she's named after. molly is a bit different from her antecedents in that she is thinner and composed of mainly art and other bits n' pieces of summertime life, but already her pages are becoming bulky with envelopes being stuffed with paint chips, poetry, and other notes. if I were forced to choose between this pretty and a notebook, molly would win without question.
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obviously, I am not a professional at journaling {I mean, who is really?}, and am still trying to find my own unique style in this art, but I thought I would compose a list with a few things that have helped me in my journaling journey in hopes that they will help you spice up a normally dull book that eventually ends up blank collecting dust up on the shelf.

+ naming the journal.
for some unexplainable reason, naming my journals have helped immensely. my first completed journal was named livvy, and since she was a decent success, the two following notebooks have been named as well. perhaps, I view notebooks more like writing a letter to an inanimate friend - the best friend for not judging silly thoughts or critically pointing out all my mistakes. ;) 

+ you are an artist. 
SMASH journaling has really helped inspire me to think unconventionally in adding anything and everything that will fit into a book. I type lists, quotes, and poems on paper bags, envelopes, and paint chips while feathers always add a touch of adventure to any page. quotes are an incredible inspiration, and thanks to good reads and pinterest - these are sources that will never run out.

+ typography practice.
this woman is my top inspiration on journaling. her work is absolutely superb, combining anything and everything into a journal - and her style of art is definitely distinct, her own trademark. in all my researching, I have not stumbled upon anything that looks like her projects. she occasionally gives tips on her site. one of her tips that she suggested was to create a separate book to practice different handwriting every day. well, unlike most people {apparently}, I have little time to sit down and write in my journal let alone time to practice my handwriting! so whenever I'm not in a hurry with my entry, I try to combine different styles of writing. elongated printing, tall cursive, swirls, arrows, dots, lines, curls, - for the most part my handwriting stays the same, but adding those small details to the heading or a quote really makes a difference [another style I'm loving, right now, is faux calligraphy in the middle of the page and writing around it].  

+ copy and pinterest. 
part of being an adventurer/documenter is observing patterns, gathering inspiration, and adapting other people's works into your own. if there is an artist I specifically love, I try to copy their techniques and style. now, before you label me as a, "copycat," let me just say that try is the key word. usually when I try it turns out to be something so completely different that I end up going with my own ideas. pinterest is an incredible source of inspiration in general, but I know I would not be journaling like I am now without inspiration from this board.  

+ having the peace of mind...
that this journal is yours and yours alone. as a perfectionist, it is difficult to say, "who cares?" when I make a mistake as a lot of effort is put into each page. but truly, it's one of the things that you learn with journaling: you are going to make mistakes. I personally don't mind if somebody would look at my journal, but I do take comfort in the fact that nobody probably will ever be interested in viewing my silly thoughts. most of the entries comprise silly notions, trailing thoughts, and every day happenstances; but somehow I just know that it will be worth all the pains of taking careful note of present things in the future. 

+ writer's block. 
don't worry. I'm there at the moment, and in all honesty, sometimes I'm not at all enthusiastic at the idea of journaling. I suppose, it's just like any other art form - sometimes you're incredibly inspired, while other times, you're at a standstill. lists are great "filler entries," if I'm absolutely determined to scribble in my journal that day.

+ being comfortable...
finding a place where you are comfortable with journaling is key. forced entries, when read over again, can be determined just that: forced. if journaling is not your thing, don't stress. there are plenty of other creative writing outlets {like blogging for one} out there in the great wide somewhere. but to those who are interested yet don't think they can keep it up, I highly encourage them to give it a try. because eventually memories fade as swiftly as they came, and sometimes your stories are just too good to loose. 
  
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other than blogging, what's your daily creative outlet? 
xx 

17 comments:

  1. ok, these pictures are beyond amazing, this post is beautiful, and i'm completely in love with your blog. and thank you so much for your lovely comment on my new blog! i'm so glad you liked it :)
    umm, and answering the question... i'd say besides blogging, a creative outlet of mine would be photography. and i like to pretend i can draw and paint sometimes too. :)
    hope you have a lovely week xoxo
    - Gabi

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  2. I love seeing pictures of your Journal, Grace! She's so beautiful and inspiring!

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  3. Thanks for this post, Grace! Seeing your lovely journaling pictures and talent for putting thoughts on paper has really inspired me to start a similar journal. I really enjoyed your tips! Thanks so much for sharing, dear!
    Bethany

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  4. Ahhh!! Grace! Your journal is so amazing... & not only because it's named after one of my favourite characters ever. ;) Seriously, I NEED JOURNALING LESSONS FROM YOU!!! My journal is SO boring & plain. I started it when I was nine & still have about one third of it to fill up (not to mention that I haven't so much as touched it in six months). Ha!! Like really, we should meet up. How about a senior session in exchange for journaling lessons? ;)

    hugs & bowties,
    -MP <3 <3

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    1. yes, yes, and YES! actually, I really wonder if we COULD make it work out...perhaps next summer? as a graduation present? simply put on a bow tie, and that can be my gift. *smiles* but really, I would be more than happy to give you "journaling" lessons. *wink*

      much love + fish fingers & custard,
      -MH

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  5. this is a beautiful post, and you have a beautiful blog! i love the idea of naming a journal; i've been journaling since i could speak but i haven't though to name them. i think maybe i would be more diligent if i did ;) makes it feel more like a friend. thanks for sharing!

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  6. This is so lovely, Grace! You're amazing:) <3

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  7. Love the tips, sweet Grace! I think your journal - ahem, Miss M. Hooper is quite the amazing piece of art!
    Love ya, sis! I find my creative outlets {other than writing/blogging} in crafting various things often for the home or to wear mostly.
    -Bess-

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  8. oh my heart. be still. GRACE. your journal is so, so, so beautiful. i could only imagine what your journal would look like--know how whimsical, nostalgic and graceful the writer of this little blog is, but this is just so exquisitely beautiful. ahh, me. i second Eve's request. ;) journaling lessons, please? ;) i journal regularly, but my journal is not even close to being as lovely as yours. something to work on, eh?

    this is lovely, darling, and you just inspired me. ;)

    (hugs & bowties needs to be our fandom au revoir. ;) Eve, you're genius.)

    love you bunches,
    M

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  9. Okay, so I just discovered your blog. I'm one post in and already in love. ;) But I mean really, every aspect of your blog is adorable!! I especially love this post- I am a huge fan of journaling and I loved these tips!

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  10. oh my. just stumbled on your blog and I love every single photos. your blog is so full of visual inspiration! ♥

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  11. Oh Grace! You have inspired me! I never could keep a journal, but a journal like THAT - that is something that I would enjoy opening each day and scribbling in! So pretty, and it can be customized to fit your personal style. Love it!

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  12. Thank you so much for this. I've always wanted to have a journal like this...

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  13. I love this! The pictures at the beginning of this post are just SUPERB. =) I enjoyed reading your tips as well... I have a journal-of-sorts that I write sort of mix between daily happenings/devotion time "learnings" =)/letters to God. (That's why I said "journal-of-SORTS") I really really want to get in a habit of writing in it more, as I often look back and wonder why I didn't write so many good thoughts/quotes/prayers/happenings down. =( I often just resort to my digital journal... a Word document on my computer - but it can't be near as personal!

    Anyways... Thanks for sharing! God bless you. =)

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  14. Your journal pages look amazing. Glad I could be a source of inspiration for your journaling :)

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