....journal and journey....

In its essence, journaling opens doors to the creative soul within.  It is a journey. 

journey:  the act of traveling

journal:  the recording of travels:  an exploration of one's adventures, thoughts, inspiration, interests, observations, creativity 

Much can be said about journaling, but that is not my purpose here.  I am presenting some snippets only.

When my son was in 4th grade, the teacher had the students write in a journal everyday.  They could write about any topic and draw pictures, too. 

 a bit of a page from one of his journals

When my daughter was young, she and I shared a small book in which we would write back and forth to each other.

drawing by my daughter from this book 

Last year, I made a journal for a friend who is outreach and education director for an organic farm.

front cover

 a few pages

Earlier this year, the etsybloggers had a journal swap.  We were to journal every day for a month.  This LINK states each day's topic.  Judy, a team member, describes her experience and her feelings about her completed book.  "Definitely not perfect, but a good lesson for me to learn acceptance of imperfection; life is too short to agonize over small things!"  Read more about Judy's experience and see some pages from her book HERE.

Here's a photo of a journal in progress.  I've been working on this for quite a while.  (It's almost finished!  winks to A!)  

This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "J."  Come and join HERE. You will be amazed at all the bloggy goodness to be found! 

photos by me 2010 

Coffee Pot People

Meet Anitra, the artistic talent behind Coffee Pot People.  No, that's not she on the left, that's Harold Angel ("you know," she says, "the one who sings!")  Anitra grew up in a most creative family--photographers and writers.  She has always "believed in personal creativity as a condition of being human, rather like the ability to think."

"Coffee Pot People came to life as the result of an estate sale find.  An upside-down coffee pot revealed an obvious nose.  Nothing would do after that but to take it home and find the rest of its face.  Several dozen individuals later, Anitra still delights in finding the upside-down personalities within coffee pots, and letting them tell her who and what they are..."

Kooshi (right)

Not only does Ani create these wonderful people, she photographs them  as they go about their adventures.  (CARDS)  What fun! 
And then there's her delightful BLOG where you can feast your eyes on the coffee pot and tea kettle people who reside on the sidelines.  
FUN BLOG POSTS:
1.  Go have a visit with Rachel, Gardening Fiend.  
2.  There is a 3 part series of wonderful artworks from a recent art show where she exhibited.  It is SO worth taking a peek!
ONE  TWO   THREE  
3.  Magnetic Personalities 
4.  I will leave you to make more bloggy discoveries on your own.

Ani is a member of the etsy bloggers' street team as am I.  Some of us are working on journals during March to swap at the end of the month.  My journal will be making its way to Oregon and into Ani's hands.

Find Anitra:
Coffee Pot People SHOP
She has one more SHOP--a destash shop, Ani's Watersprite.

BLOG

PS:  I love her  newest product line! 

Oh, and she writes tutorials for Think Crafts.  See some HERE.

photos © 2007-1010 by Anitra Cameron