I have finished my year-long #52cards2024 project and my JIYA journal and decided, after 3 years, to not continue with Fodder School 4. So what does 2025 look like for me? One thing I really wanted was another year-long project. I like documenting my days and in recent times used cards in 2020, tags in 2021, a small monthly journal in 2022, really missed doing something weekly in 2023, and have just finished my #52cards2024 project.
Before that I did daily journal projects in several different forms.
I loved Megan's JIYA journal (shared finished here) but by the end I'd pretty much moved away from her concept which is to create journal spreads ready for writing. I've decided I should try this again but more junk style - I haven't done Megan's other class, but she has shared plenty of inspiration (and check out her Instagram) and I have so many gorgeous documenting stencils that would be fun to use.Thinking I could post as the pages are prepped ready for me to write on, then I will have freedom to write as I wish - these are pages pre-writing from my previous JIYA journal. 
Will share my new journal in my end-of-month review.
I LOVE the sense of community that being in an online class and sharing work brings.
I'm starting January the right way - I joined the Artsy Meetup Marathon and Junk Journal January. I wanted to start the year as I mean to go on - trying to get into the studio and make some art every day. The Artsy Meetup was an online New Year's Eve 20 hour event that because of time differences fell on New Year's day here in NZ. It was awesome ♥ This is what I completed on the day
and we have time to work on all the lessons until the end of March. If nothing else, it reminded me that you don't need to have a lot of time to just start creating... My favourite projects are the 3 neutral tags inspired by DeeDee Catron and the little matchbox with words inspired by Kristin Peterson. Here a couple of close ups - so cute
Junk Journal January has begun - this is the collaboration playlist on YouTube of the artists responding to these prompts
I've been using a lot of pink lately so wanted to go in a different direction. Don’t forget to use your own art for inspiration. I looked back through my Instagram and found some more neutral colours that spoke to me and are going to guide this journal. 
Neutrals with blues and purples feels perfect for Summer. I will try and experiment with blues other than turquoise but if you know me at all you won't be surprised that I'm anticipating it will pop up somewhere! These were my gatherings of papers to make the journal, with the covers of an old diary to use as my end boards. They measure 16.5 cm high x 12.5 cm wide
I wanted to make an accordian book because it is such a fun structure and lends itself well to junk journaling. You get a nice flow and I enjoy how you can move across the edges onto the next page. I already added a tie to keep this one closed because they bloom with using both sides. My papers are a mix of vintage with blue touches. I am saving the purple I mentioned earlier for prompts on individual pages.
Prompt 1 is Cover
I did post more regularly on Insta and FB in 2024 but I sometimes didn't know whether to bother. I'm not trying to support a business, I just do art for fun and I share to encourage others. The blog is written as much for my own memories of my projects as it is for encouraging others to create and I've learned in the past that while I can have a break, I miss blogging if I try to stop completely. Monthly reviews of my projects seems to be working well for me, and Instagram is a great visual to see my art style coming through. I was surprised when I accessed my Top 9 on Instagram that the analysis that came with it shows that my likes/followers ratio is super high compared to accounts with similar follower numbers so I guess I'll keep doing that!
You can do ANYTHING, but you can't do EVERYTHING!
I love that I have this blog to write my thoughts and as I type I have epiphanies about what direction I should go. I guess that's why this is "All of Me" - it's about my inner workings sometimes as much as my art. I have to also remind myself that at this time of year (on holiday, long sunny days) it's easy to think I'll be able to sustain a number of projects once I am back at work, and especially when the seasons change. I need to make sure I keep things manageable - a weekly documenting project, themed handmade journals, night-time small stitched projects, some knitting perhaps (grandson due in April) and keeping space open for projects and online classes as they take my fancy. Looking forward to having you visit to see what happens next. Wishing you a happy and creative year ahead.
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