Ideas and techniques to create Journals
Técnicas de costura y collage para tu journal.
“SEW SIMPLE, SEW LOVING”
The questions
“What can I say to you that I haven´t already said?
How can I express that which I express every single day?
How can I keep you company in my own way, in my own language, that happens to be your own language as well?
How can I keep sharing with you the importance of a true and intimate connection to yourself and of self-expression in whatever way that you enjoy?
How else can I foster in you a deep appreciation for moments of self-indulgence and playful abandon, enjoying simple things made just for you, just because and just for fun?
How can I make it easier for you to feel the vivid company of your loved ones, recall precious moments with them through photos, or some lines in a card?
How can I share those very moments with you, right where you are, and be really near yet far apart?"
These and others were the questions that kept coming to my mind when I learned my daughter was leaving for Belgium, to live with her boyfriend and study what she loves. Nothing could make me so happy or be so inspiring as this piece of news.
The answer
The answer to all those queries came straightforward. No doubts: a journal. That was going to be the best way to keep her company. A journal especially designed and made for her. Every spread, every stitch, every pocket or envelope or tag I made thinking about her, would help me in my process of saying bye bye and would also allow us to play along while she was there.
Every time she opened that journal, she would joyfully be with herself, and the two of us would, silently, be together.
The journal was filled up with photographs that my other daughter had gathered so lovingly, and drawing pages, journaling cards, and notepads, tags, pockets...
It also had some envelopes with messages from her brother and father. All our love together with her latent creativity laying there, waiting to be released once she got to her new place and opened that "Sacred Space".
The night before she left, we gave her her Journal. She was delighted!! She said it had many hiding places to conceal little secrets!!!
Journal in Action!
Some days after her leaving, she shared a photo on Instagram: I could see her journal in action. She was in Blaamersen (Gent, Belgium), a very nice park with a beautiful lake. There she was, (and the two of us were, in a silent way) sitting with some pencils and brushes around, doing some art in her journal. I had told her that it had been loaded with love, kisses, and hugs and that each time she opened it, they would all come out just as butterflies being set free from a book...
I guess she must feel them whenever she opens it. And I´m pretty sure that apart from hiding little secrets, that journal holds space for dreams, plans, and some beautifully drawn eyes with incredible eyeshadow color combinations, and blushing cheeks and striking glossy lips... (I know she can´t help it, she´s the most amazing makeup artist).
Caption for the first photo: "Flower Wings" is the name of the journal I prepared for my daughter. Thinking of a name for your journal is a good starting point. It helps you think and process the intention behind the journal and makes it special and unique at the same time.
Remember that what actually makes this present so beautiful is that it is very simple and very loving!!