Thinking about what to sign up for in 2018?

You can do ANYTHING, 

but you can't do EVERYTHING!

I ♥ being creative and I try and do something every day - as I've said over and over here on my blog, it's an essential part of my self care that helps me to SHINE and I also want to encourage others to add this joy to their days. 
I've had people ask me what I'm signing up for in 2018, and what I recommend. Often you need to sign up before the end of December to get good discounts. So I've been thinking a lot this week about what I'm doing currently, and what I want to continue with next year. In January I shared my creative dreams for this year - let's get an overview of how I've done : 
+ Effy Wild's Book of Days 

I find her style of teaching inspiring, and I adored her Facing Forward II class (which you'll get FREE If you join Life Book 2018!)  While I haven't arted along with every lesson, I've watched Effy's weekly class vlog (bedhead diary), watched her full-length video lessons and added my own notes on her PDFs - they are lifelong access so I can go back at any time - used her monthly prompts, increased my written journaling practice, improved my self-care practice, and been part of a wonderful online community. 
+ Documenting Life - I've been following the prompts of the original Documented Life 2014 AND the blog prompts for Life Documented 2017 HERE. You can see all my posts about this project HERE. My journal now looks like this : 

it makes me incredibly happy to see that, but I WILL NOT be continuing with this project next year since I've found it increasingly something I "must" do so I can complete the journal this year. Luckily I have been 'making it work' by including other class prompts in here. It's my own pressure, but it's a lot to respond to weekly prompts for a whole 52 weeks!
 + My Word of the year is SHINE and I've been doing Ali Edwards' One Little Word monthly prompts to keep me on track. I've found it really worthwhile this year. She'll have sign ups for 2018 in December.

I HAVE finished a quilt this year, and I HAVE done number of lovely mixed media fabric projects (which I'll share in my traditional end-of-year Ta Da list - this was 2016) I've also LOVED (and am continuing with) Mary Ann Moss's Stitch*Bookery class - and that wasn't even available when I did my original list in January 2017!

BUT I HAVE NOT done any work on Spirit Wings by Kelly Rae Roberts NOR Grateful HeART journal by Alisa Burke NOR Sue Spargo's embroidery class on Craftsy....Not because I didn't want to -  I still have them on my "want to do" list....but because You can do ANYTHING, but you can't do EVERYTHING! 
S0 - 2018. If you're new to art journaling, I'd recommend investigating Life Book 2018. 

I did Life book in 2015 and 2016 and really enjoyed the teachers and lessons in there. Really great value for money when you calculate what you get weekly, and a wonderful opportunity to sample a range of teaching and art styles. I am so grateful for online learning!
I keep a list of cheap and FREE online art classes in the top right column of my blog. Let me know if I need to make additions or changes there.
Please check my left column of labels and you'll see just how many courses I've done over the years. Please message me if you have specific questions about any of them and I'll answer you honestly. 
There are lots of classes I've never finished (some don't even appear on the list on the left cos I've done so little!) so I am only enrolling for Effy Wild's discounted bundle of her year-long offerings for 2018 : Book of Days and Moonshine.

I have a great affinity with Effy's art and teaching style and her building of community suits me very well. As you saw with my comments about my experience with BOD 2017, it's more than just creating pretty pages! In addition, next year I want to make even more mixed media projects WITH STITCH and I have a "jar of projects" idea which I'll share more about when I've sorted the details.
What are you thinking about doing in 2018? 
I'd love to know (and I may be tempted to join you!)

Daily Journaling Week 45

I've been following the prompts of the original Documented Life 2014. Week 45 : add a tab And from the blog for Life Documented 2017 HERE : 

Prompt:       Start with a black background

Technique:  Using Black Gesso on white card stock

Quote:         “Friends are Flowers In the Garden of Life” Mary Engelbreit

My spread this week came together from a number of inspirations....first what I'm NOT doing : not adding a tab from 2014 prompt - my journal now looks like this and I'm not wanting to add too much more bulk in case I can't close it by the end of the year! 

I'm not using black gesso either - don't own any and have plenty of black paint.
Inspirations : my roses are all blooming - they are just gorgeous. I did a good job of pruning this year

and I am also enjoying a lovely variety on my table inside

As I was considering the prompt, Effy Wild posted a link to her Patreon account of a black and white page which inspired me to use a photo of myself.

Go view her time-lapsed video on YouTube HERE. So here's how I started with my black background : Dina's paint colour is called "Night" and it's got a deep purple feel which I LOVE

I was inspired by my yellow roses for my doodles 

and used a favourite gold Sakura gelly roll pen for added SHINE ♥  

Repeating shapes

Just having fun with doodles until I was completely surrounded by a gorgeous spread of Flowers

Wishing you a wonderful week. You can see all my posts about this project HERE and my Flickr album HERE.

Teaching

Been a busy weekend preparing for classes. I'm looking forward to teaching adults on Tuesday night : 

I shared details of my project here : take one piece of watercolour paper and a 2 hour workshop to transform it into a creative book.

And at work I'm doing craft club again this term - we made book marks for the first fortnight, and this week we start Christmas felt decorations as we did last year 

with the added option of cardboard, blunt needles and wool for our younger students similar to these : (instructions at hello, Wonderful) 

Next Saturday is our school's Gala - I've been asked to help with face painting...

So a busy but fun creative week ahead - I'll let you know how it all goes.