Thursday, January 13, 2011

New journal page

Update: The journal page in this post is no longer available for download. For a selection of free, printable journal pages, please visit my Printable Journal Pages collection.

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So I've been gone for a bit.  Got a little lost there for awhile, I have to admit.  Ran out of ideas.  Happens, I guess.  For a long stretch, just looking at the computer made me anxious, so I started to avoid it and even when ideas started to return, I wasn't sure about coming back.

There are 37 individual journal pages posted here at Grace is Overrated (or at least there will be after this post.)  For a long time this felt like an evolving project, and I think we've come a long way together, but I've been feeling for some time now the need to steer these pages toward a larger goal.  What that should be, exactly, is still a hazy mystery to me and that drives me a little nuts sometimes.  Mostly because there are a lot of things I love about the casual routine we've got going here:  I love posting the pages individually as they are created; I love the thrill of giving them to you with no strings attached; and I love your reactions to them.  I've made a lot friends here, friends who've dropped by to say hi even though I haven't been around (thank you for that), and I don't want that to change.

At some point, though -- right about now, for example -- I'll have to move beyond casual.  Somehow, casual made sense at page 10, when I wasn't sure what I was doing or whether anyone would be interested, but now at page 37 when there are all these pages and no structure within which to make sense of them, casual just isn't enough anymore.  Also, casual is sadly unsustainable in a financial sort of way and I have to think about that too, even though I'd really rather not.

It's time to move forward, to experiment a little and see if we can't come up with something a little more cohesive and perhaps a little less formulaic.  There will be lots of experimentation involved and I hope that you will stick with me through the odd creative glitch here and there.  It's also time to open a shop.  So I'll be working on that too and letting you know how that goes.

What I've been rambling towards is this:  today begins an informal sort of countdown.  Page 40 is about as far as I'd like to go with the pages as they are.  Beyond that?  Well, there will be a lot of tweaking between now and then.  I'm not saying that the new normal beyond page 40 will be unrecognizable in comparison to all that came before it, I'm just saying that hopefully our journal pages and this blog will work better as a whole.

Today's new page is definitely forward leaning.  Bordering on plans, resolutions and other such things, but not quite.  Because I like to leave room for whim.



The full page looks startlingly like this shot here, taken in front of my back window because that was the only light to be found in the entire house . . .


As always, you'll find today's page here (no border) and here (border, colour-it-yourself) and here (border and a splash of colour).

Hoping you'll stay tuned, friends!

25 comments:

  1. I reckon your journal pages are awesome! I really hope that you do continue to keep making them! I plan on doing a year of me album with them, starting from my birthday, where I'll basically choose one at random each week, date it and fill it in, maybe include a photo of me, or something I may mention as one of the answers... I think it'll be an interesting way to look at a year in my life!

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  2. Whatever works best for you works good for me! I just so appreciate you putting these out there!

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  3. I'm not going anywhere. :) Anxious to see what this new "chapter" brings.

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  4. Your journal pages are great! For myself, it is a little bit of delving inside and discovering who I am now. I also love your Friday prompts. They are fun.

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  5. I love your journal pages! Thank you for sharing your creativity, and I also plan to stick around to see where you take us!

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  6. I really enjoy your posts as well as the pages- obviously it takes a lot of time and effort on your part- your generosity in sharing is astounding and appreciated- thank you! Like all artists, you need to change and grow, I think most of us get that, and would love to see you compensated, as well. So do what you have to do, baby! I'm here to support you!

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  7. I think it is time you take these pages to a new different level. Good for you! I just wanted to tell you that #1- my mother loved the quote! thanks so much. it really has been a strength to her.
    #2- Your pages have been a wonderful place to record my crazy and complicated life. I really feel like they have allowed me a way to express feelings in a way that blogging doesn't. It is so cathartic to be able to WRITE (not type) how one feels and what one is going through. And because you made it FUN... I didn't dread doing it and I did not stop doing it. Something... this is just a thought... but if you continue making journal pages.. and sell them... or make a book... I think that so many of us are always working towards at least one goal.. and it would help to have a little place to record our progress. Like if in the same corner of every journal page was a little area to write updates to our progress... and discouragement... it would help us to evaluate and improve. That was just an idea. Anyway... thanks again for helping to make my life a little brighter and better!
    Maggie
    the Baroness
    www.royalscastle2010.blogspot.com

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  8. Can't wait to see what you've decided to do! I'll always be a fan, but please don't loose the wimsy borders I love those so much!!!

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  9. OMG, if I could shout loud enough for you to hear me....you would hear me yelling, "I'VE MISSED YOU!!!!!" ...all the way from Charleston SC!

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  10. Glad you're back, I was getting concerned! {{huggs}} Wherever you go, I'm sure lots of us will follow. Ju[st make yourself HAPPY!

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  11. I am totally looking forward to seeing where you go as you explore and I'm glad you are doing what feels right in thinking about ways to have this be financially good for you too - you spend a LOT of time on these!
    p.s.
    I LOVE the blobby, segmented section on this page!!! Really love it :)

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  12. Welcome back! I really love your journal pages and I am a casual kind of gal so I love them the way they are. But you are the creator so go for what you want, I will still love what you do.

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  13. Thanks for your continued hard work, and sharing it with people. I love the quote. I've come upon a rocky patch in my life, and it actually made me feel better both about the future and the choices I've made in the past. I hope as you think about this inspiration that will make you fell happy and satisfied strikes.

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  14. Every day I checked and every day there was nothing from you, oh, I was getting worried! So glad to hear from you and to know your plans for the future. You have given so many a wonderful gift and I appreciate it. I look forward to your future endeavors! I think you are creative and talented and know you will continue to create. But please, don't stay away so long and make your friends worry about you, let us know you need a break or taking time for yourself and/or family, something we are all entitled to. Missed you and glad to hear from you!

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  15. I hope you are having a wonderful beginning of a New Year and thank you so much for sharing these pages. I just love them.

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  16. So glad you're back! You've been missed! Thank you for the new journal page... can't wait to see what the future holds.

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  17. Excited to see how steer through the continuing journey and as many before have said, missed you!

    Don't forget Colette--foolish enthusiasm!

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  18. I'm glad you're back too! I never comment on blogs, but I wanted to let you know that filling out one of your sheets every week is my New Year's resolution! Thank you so much for sharing your creativity with us.

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  19. I haven't been here since the beginning, but have downloaded every page. I absolutely adore the journals. I think that the 40 page idea is a great idea. It's a nice round number and almost a full year's worth. Whatever the future holds for you, I am sure it will be wonderful and please know that I will still be here.

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  20. YAY! I'm so glad you're back!!!I checked often and hoped that you wouldn't just drop off. As for the project, it needs to be something you love and something you want to share. When it becomes some other than that, then it's time to reevaluate, which it looks like you're doing. One thought I had is maybe ask people for idea -- maybe some of their own lists, or fave quotes, or questions ... and then you put them together in those lovely pages. Might make things a little easier on you not to have to be so creative all the time (as a creative person, I know all about this!). ^_^

    Either way, we enjoy and support you!!! *hugs*

    -- Gabby
    nonchalantgirl.blogspot.com

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  21. Another beautiful and inspiring page. I am so looking forward to what you have coming up. Thanks so much!

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  22. These are FABULOUS! Thank you so much!!

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  23. Christie, I just found your blog and your wonderful journal pages posted on One Pretty Thing. These are amazing! What a wonderful thing you are doing for all of us in blogland. Thank you so much for sharing your time and talents.

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  24. I just found your blog via One Pretty Thing and have been busy downloading all of your journal pages. I can't WAIT to start journaling with them. They are the PERFECT addition to the creative journal I have started keeping this year. Thank you so much for all the hard work and talent you've put into these. Thank you thank you thank you!

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  25. I love your pages, and sooooo appreciate you sharing them with us! I am about to print them all out and make a binder to keep with me. Your journal pages have inspired me to start journaling daily. Thank you and I look forward to what comes next!

    Jen

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