Lettergirl

A to Z.

My creative habit:  I've been working on this book regularly since late summer, first on the content, and then transcribing artfully into my book.  I've reached that point in my creative process when I could easily lose interest.  It's time to remember my goal:  as I look back through the pages I've made so far, I'm not energized by the artwork itself -- and that's okay.  My goal was not to create an amazing-looking art journal, but to focus on the content, presented Gina-style.  I look forward to spending an hour or two a week on my book, which seems just enough to stay invested in it and not so much that I'm bored with it.  (It also helps that I'm committed to sharing the pages here on my blog...until it's done.)

A to Z.

My creative habit:  I am learning that it helps to have portable work.  Sometimes my office is not the most inspiring place to be (especially when I have both physical and creative work to do...it's too easy to be distracted by one or the other).  I recently picked up a copy of A Writer's Space, and even though I'm not a writer, I'm sure I'll learn a thing or two.  Most of my A to Z book has actually been written from my bed.  We have a beautiful bay window in our room and I feel a real connection to the rest of the world when I write there.  Sometimes I ship stamps from our dining room table, and I love to brainstorm at my local coffee shop.  How about your work?  Can anything be taken on the road (or down the hall) for a change of pace?

Recycled Friday.

I was in a bit of a rush when I took these photos (one week till Christmas, and I had to get the package to Chicago).  I put this book together for my niece, with photos I had taken of her through the years and song lyrics.  It was especially fun to put together because she is so photogenic!

A to Z.

My creative habit:  One of my favorite creative habits is to "build a bridge" to the next day's work.  I try to leave my work at a place where it will be easy to start the next time.  Who wants to pick up a project and spend time right away thinking about what to do next?  I like to ease into it.  When I'm handsewing, I always end by threading a needle & knotting the thread, so that I'll be ready to start stitching right away.  When I'm working on a scrapbook page, I might set out some photos but not glue them down.

For my A to Z book, I try to sketch the next letter's title block in pencil, and then lightly ink over it so that I can begin by erasing and adding colored pencil.  This habit is like a warm-up for my mind and my hands, a chance to stretch without requiring a lot of mental effort from the get-go.  The hard part is making yourself stop when you're in the middle of something good!

A to Z.

 
 
My creative habit:  list-making, note-writing, sketching.  For this particular project, I carried a little tag book around with me (which was provided in the original Me: The Abridged Version class).  You could make a pretty little something for your notes...but for me, that's not where I want to put my effort.  I'm a bigger fan of writing on the back of old grocery lists or paper napkins.  And I use Notes on my phone regularly.  (Does anyone know a good app for taking notes?)  Here's what I used for the A to Z book:

 

A to Z.

 
My creative habit:  The very first thing I do whenever I have an idea for a new creative project is let it percolate.  I know some people like to dig in right away; I like to think it over.  How can I use this idea?  What materials will I need?  Would this idea work better as a skirt or a placemat?  I love to ruminate on my ideas when I'm walking.  Occasionally ideas will work their way into my subconcious and grow while I'm dreaming.  (I'm not alone in that; does it ever happen to you?)

As you know if you're a regular reader of my blog, I am a protege in an art group right now, working with an experienced textile artist.  I get together with the other proteges every couple of months to share our current work, our goals, our project ideas.  Part of percolating for me can be sharing the idea with someone else.  Or listening to what someone else is working on can give me a nudge to take my idea in a direction I hadn't considered.

I think my best work continues to percolate even after I've begun.  My A to Z book is a perfect example of a project I wanted to try, thought about for awhile, jumped into, and then changed direction.

 

A to Z: Revisted.

Last fall I shared an A to Z project I had been working on -- based on Cathy Zielske's Me: The Abridged Version and Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life.  (And yes, I know I have mentioned that book at least five times already.)  This fall my goal is to finish that project, and to share the pages with you. 

 
If you look back at last year's entries, you'll see I've completely reworked my concept.  Although I loved the oversize photos in the last version, and the random nature of the content, I couldn't quite get past the feeling that the type was impersonal.  I'm a hand letterer after all, and it just didn't look like me.  I also found that some of my opinions had evolved or expanded since the year I'd written it, so I'd like a book that has a substantial start but leaves room for growth.

Then I started having second thoughts about even bothering with this project.  (W is for Why???)  And thinking that over (since I love thinking things over) helped me come up with a list of how I approach creative projects in general, my "creative habits."  And that's a list I want to share too.  So, I'm hoping you'll stay with me over the next month (or more) as I share my A to Z pages and the creative habits I rely on.

 

Graduation book.

Eight years ago, I made my first Graduation Book for my niece Kaitlin, when she graduated from high school.  I solicited wishes, memories, and words of wisdom from her friends, family, and teachers, and collected it all in a small album.  This year I made my fourth book, for my niece Lauren. (Four more nieces to go!)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Scrapbook themes.

When I started this blog a little over three years ago, one of the ideas I was excited to share is the way I keep scrapbooks for my kids.  I love all the parts of keeping scrapbooks -- the papers, the organizing, the creative techniques, the safekeeping of memories -- but I didn't want the recording of memories to take more time (or be more fun!) than the making of memories.  I started a system when J was 3 of only doing a set number of pages for each year, and using the same materials & techniques on those pages so that there is a theme for each year.

I must have been creatively stale when I developed the themes for this past year because I don't particularly love either of them.  (It all started when I did the doodle theme a couple of years ago and realized I could do a similar theme for both kids at the same time, overlapping supplies & not needing to reinvent the wheel.) So I've been dragging my feet a bit about finishing up winter & spring...until I did a little inspiration shopping for F's next scheme:

 
I try to assemble a theme with 3-4 solid colors, 1-2 patterns, a method for writing out page titles, and a couple of embellishments.  I started with the blue paper (it has teeny tiny reddish-black dots on it) and the kraft letter stickers.  A couple weeks later I added the number stickers, the distressed-looking lined paper and the paper with rulers.  At home, I had the leftover black & white polka dot tape and the tickets, and yesterday I found the yellow and green (both are not quite solid) to round it out.

 

I finally feel motivated to finish up his last theme so I can get started on this new one while I'm still excited about it.  Everything is kept in a large zippered pouch, along with photos (in envelopes labelled "cub scouts" or "4th grade").  I've been using the Notes on my iphone to keep track of the little things I want to include.  Next step:  sort through the "memento drawer" in the kitchen, which I haven't done since the beginning of the year!

On the road.

Before our spring break to the treehouse, I shared the scrapbook I had made ahead of time.  Add some photos and a Saturday morning and this is what I've got now:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I was so enamored with the way this project came together, that I'm planning to bring a stack of blank cards to our Airstream so I can record summer weekends before they slip away.

If you missed out on the Love Your Letters Workshop giveaway last week, you have another chance this week over at Paper Crave.  Class materials will start shipping a week from tomorrow!