It's OK

Today I'm sharing a few random pages from my mini-moleskine journal that goes with me in my purse.   It has no theme.   The only rule I'm enforcing is that I'm making myself resist the urge to use it to jot down to-do lists and shopping lists.  I do want it to be somewhat "artsy".

I've always been a huge rule follower.  And I tend to get frustrated and feel limited because I follow all these silly self imposed rules.  I'm really trying to release my feelings of "I'm not doing it right" which is stupid because these are MY art journals.  There is no journal police to arrive at my door with a warrant because I dared to use a Sharpie instead of a fancy art pen.  Or because I only use one side of the page because of the bleed through.  So I decided to give myself permission to do all those things. 

CREATE in 2013.

A few weeks ago I stumbled across Stephanie Ackerman's blog: Homegrown Hospitality.  I LOVE her work!  She's really inspired me to just jump in and create.  She chooses a "word of the year" every year to give focus to her artwork (and life).    The word that immediately popped into my head is CREATE.  I NEED to create more art.  Creating art makes me happy and I want more happy in my life.

On her blog, she has photos of an adorable little mini Moleskine journal.  Check it out.  Although I have a random art journal or two (or three) in progress, she inspired me to run immediately out to Target and pick up a mini Moleskine.  (Actually it's a Moleskine volant series).  It's soft cover w/ 80 lined thin ecru colored pages.  3.5 x 5.5".   I like it because it's very very portable.  I'm keeping it in my purse along with a fine point Sharpie and/or a .5 journalling pen.  At lunch I'm doodling at my desk.  Fun!

At least the mini moleskine is a bit more artsy than my usual office art medium: manilla folders.   Although I gotta say that I just adore the way the sharpie absorbs into the folder :)