Journaling Kit for Travel and Home

I have been asked by a couple people lately what I use for my journaling as I tend to stick things inside; I am an obsessive collector of things, especially when traveling.  So here is a little travel or home journaling kit for an idea of what I use at home and pack when I travel.

Keep in mind, if you are traveling on a plane and want to work on your journal on your flight, you must pack your scissors in your checked luggage so you don't end up having to leave them with the TSA agent. The found object from my last trip...a coffee stirrer!  What is not in the kit that I also carry? A small palate of watercolors - sometimes I use them, sometimes I don't, depends on my mood.

I know some people are strictly journal writers and not pasters, painters, drawers, list makers, etc.  I do a little of all of it and none of it very well but how cool is it a year later to look back at what you did in your life whether you were at home or abroad.  Try it for a week or two and see if you can bring new life into your journaling. Most of all have fun, there are no rules, no judgement and you are probably the only person that will see it, so be easy on yourself.

I made this travel journal a little while back (months before I bought my ticket to Paris). I think I have figured out the secret recipe for travel (at least for me); make the journal and the trip will come. Ha ha!

Anyway, I found this book a couple years ago and wanted to keep it for myself as I knew one day I would make it to the City of Light and sure enough I am on my way soon.  I can't wait to write my travel experiences in it, try to draw what I see, and just do some long cafe sitting while writing and watching the world go by.

Summer Reading

Since I was a kid, I have been a reader.  Even more so in the summertime. This summer I have tried to read a book a week depending on my workload but as of late, it has been a book every two weeks.  This is pretty good for me as I am a recovering slow reader and book hider (when the book got good, or near the end, I would hide it under my mattress so it wouldn't come to a close).  Now, I almost always have one I am reading, and 2 waiting in the wings. I will not let myself buy any more than 2 books at a time.  When it is time to read a new one, I turn the spines around so I cannot see the title and choose one and let the excitement of the journey begin.  When I am done with a book, I sent it to my Mom or a friend in the mail - releasing it in to the world.

A few months ago, I decided to rejoin Good Reads and keep track of what I am reading and at least give the book a star rating (1-5) and occasionally, I will write a short review. I have added a Good Reads feed on the lower left here so you can see what I have read lately and my thoughts. I love Good Reads, but I don't always read the reviews before reading the book as I find many people write a book report as a review; rerunning the storyline of the book (which the publisher already does on the back of the book in most cases). I will often scroll through and just look at the stars the book has gotten and read reviews afterwards (if they are not repeating the plot, etc.).

As summer comes to a close, I hope this active reading will follow me into fall and then through the end of the year. I have found some days, I don't even turn the TV on as I would rather be reading a book!

Reading has also helped inspire my writing. I have been writing everyday whether it be in my journal or working on my big project (book). Here is an except from a personal essay called My Tree.  I wrote it about a tree in the backyard of my childhood home but this part encompasses my summer reading as a kid.  I thought it appropriate for this post.

As long as I can remember we had a maple tree in our backyard.  Underneath is where I would read books, leaning against her while slapping bugs off my legs to the sound of cicadas filling the summer sky.  Eventually I learned that laying a blanket down (an old tablecloth my Mom let me use) was the secret to my summer reading success under that tree.  When she was young she didn’t offer much shade, but was great to sit under.  

EAT::PRAY::LOVE

Saw the movie Eat Pray Love last night with my friend Susan. We both loved the book, I will admit to being a bit apprehensive when it came to seeing the movie since I had my own version of the "movie" in my head that played when I read the book. The movie did not disappoint, of course the end was a bit Hollywood, but that always happens doesn't it? It was an amazing adventure of a movie and what a wonderful story of empowerment, journey and transformation.
Of course some parts of the book and the movie don't match up exactly as they are pressed for time (the movie is already over 2 hours long). I won't give too much away - just check your mind at the door and get ready to see a great chick flick.

I am reading the book again (while reading another book), but had written all over it the last time I read it, underlining and writing the gutter, pretty funny to go back and reread. I read it at a time when I was about to travel to India so my senses were heightened during that part of the book. Perhaps this will spark a new adventure, I have been itching to get out and go but this year I have to buckle down as last year I went to Europe twice - I only wish I could do that every year! There are so many places on my list right now I am having trouble picking one and sticking to it though....

Gratitude

I had breakfast with my friend Susan yesterday who was recently in Northern Ontario visiting a her friend who owns a vintage store (lucky girl). Susan went to some auctions with her friend and she bid $3 on a random box of vintage books for me! What a nice surprise and how sweet of her to think of me while she was on vacation. I usually pay $3 per book and sometimes close to $5, but won't go over that unless it is very special so $3 for a box of books is just incredible! I may need an East Coast book buying road trip when I run out of my currant pile of books - I think it might be worth my while...(a gal's gotta have a dream right?). The other cool thing about these books, Susan knew exactly what to look for (cover, binding, etc.). I have shown a couple of my friends what to look for so I have some "scouts" out there.

Check out these beauties...

I also have a fun idea for those vintage photos I got last week - they will be incorporated into my books, I will take photos when I am done with my next book so you can see.

Between the photos and these new books, I think I am ready to drive out of the creative cul-de-sac I have been in for the last couple months.

Thank you Susan!

A Bed of Books

I know I mentioned in this post last fall that I have some quirks, this is one of them:

"If I really like a book and don't want it to end, I will slip it under the mattress until I am ready to finish it."

I found the following last night between the box spring and the mattress - deep in there too as not to be discovered while changing the sheets (click the title to read more about the book):

1. Mrs. Mike

2. The Zookeepers Wife

3. The Caliph's House (a recent addition to the mattress library, I still forgot it was under there even though it went in there a couple weeks ago)

All of them have a mere 20-50 unread pages at the end of the book. I don't really understand why I do this. I have a pile of books next to my bed that I want to read and here I am storing these others away because I don't want them to end? I should be excited for them to end and for me to get ready for a new literary adventure.

Books....

This morning on the phone Angela asked me how my Birds Nest is (aka my Studio). I was telling her that I just got some business cards made advertising my handcrafted journals and also just got a box full of vintage books from Ebay to work on. I am so pumped and need to start a full scale production line in my studio. I have made a few little books since I moved in (one for me and a couple for gifts), but not enough to open an online shop or anything, which is my ultimate plan.

Here is a sneak peak at my journal that I made for this year. I am sort of taking what I have learned from a number of book making/binding classes and mixing it all together into one book.

I am lucky that I work somewhere that always has random paper and one offs laying around from old signage, etc. that I can use for my own books. This book also has some pages from a Maltese dictionary (which I made into a travel journal back in October) added to it. When I make books to sell or for other people, I will use more lined, ledger, original book pages and blank paper. I love the elastic band around the book as well, I am a "stuffer" so when I don't have to time to write, I will stuff little things in my book and then go back and write about them when I have more time.

Just have to add one thing, I love making these books so much. For me, from the time I purchase the book to sewing it all together is just so much fun. I guess it is because I love hunting in antique and used book stores for great old (and CHEAP) books. I also love journaling too; writing in a journal to me is like talking to a best friend who doesn't talk back or give an opinion, which is nice sometimes and so therapeutic. Everyone should take time to write.

Here is what my card looks like...

One Day Closer

Getting closer to take off.
Just putting the final touches on the journal I made for this trip.

I found an old 1965 small size Maltese Dictionary at the rummage sale a couple weekends ago, took the pages out and sewed some of the original pages back in mixed with blank pages for me to write on. I added an elastic band to keep it all together for those days when I just have time to shove things in it and also affixed a pocket to the inside of the back cover to collect things in.

This is a lot like the Greek travel journal I made - I am super excited to fill it with our travel adventures.

At this point, I have been in contact with the extended family over in Malta and everyone is ready for us. We will probably see them a few days after we arrive so we have time to rest and get acclimated to the time change. I am getting really excited and trying not to think about the flight (I have control issues and don't like the anxious feeling I get while flying, but can psych myself out pretty good unless it gets bumpy). Once I get to Chicago I will be with my Mom who is pretty mellow on the plane so that will be good.

4 days until Malta!

Good Vacation Books

Hey...got any good vacation reading you want to tell me about?

I am going on vacation next week and have a couple books I am thinking about, but wanted to see if anyone has read anything super great lately. You know, the kind of book you can't put down, you think about it all day, have everyone pictured in your head and when the book is over, you tell anyone who will listen about it?

Here is what I am bringing with me...I think...

Zorba the Greek - I never read it, and I am going to Greece, sooo...no time like the present.

The God of Small Things - bought it a while back and heard it is fabulous. Don't know if it will be too heavy for a vacation read though.

Here are my latest from Amazon...

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Miss Debbie told me about this one, it sounds right up my alley.

Mrs Mike - this book sounds so good, and I love a good series, there are a couple that follow.

I am open to suggestions if you have any - please send them my way!

The countdown begins now.

One week until Greece!

Upcycling Class

I took a class at SF Center for the Book yesterday called: Upcycling: The Transformation of Trash . We took vintage books, tore the guts out, in a very calculated way of course and then inserted our own pages! It was so cool. I am excited to try and make one on my own at home. Last time I took a binding class (in January) I went book crazy and couldn't stop making them, I have been on creative hiatus ever since that bout and needed something new to inspire me.
I was half asleep the first part of class and ended up gluing my end pages in upside down, which was pretty funny. By the time I realized (after lunch) it was too late, so I just let the rest come together as it wanted. My book is pretty cool, it is an old Russian Language book, which I think is funny because I am known to speak with a Russian accent at times. The pages are a mix of ledger sheets, white paper, original pages from the Russian book, childrens dictionary pages from the non-PC 1950's and other odds and ends.
I see an new obsession my future!

Slight Addiction

OK, so I have a slight addiction to making books. I made one for Angela (surprise Ang!) over the weekend that I will be mailing out soon. I worked on another one this evening and will be sewing it together tomorrow. This is the last time I will show photos of books, I swear!

I just love the colors on this one! I am using up some old scrapbook paper I had purchased a while back and actually bought this sheet with Angela in mind (at that time I did not know what I was going to make out of it). I am using up a lot of materials I have been wanting to do things with, so that is good. You know what happens when you use up what you have? You get to buy more! I think I need to start selling these books to fund my addiction! For, now all the materials I have had on hand at home (yes, I have a lot of paper, I know!).

Catching Up

Trying to play a little catch up over here. I have not posted in a while due to the craziness I have been experiencing at work. January is my busiest month of the entire year. Each year, I plan this large awards event/dinner that is happening on the 29th this year so I have been a bit swamped.

For those of you in the Bay Area, can you believe this weather? It is delicious, and a reminder of why I live here. Check it out!

SF Gate: Weather San Francisco, California (94101) Conditions & Forecast

This past weekend I was in Napa and it was nice outside, but I wasn't ware of the warmth coming our way. Sunday Tim and I went to brunch and had to wait for a table and we waited outside in the sun and had to take our jackets off!

Crafting as of late has consisted of making myself (yes, myself) and hankie with Ganesha on it (remover of obstacles, I thought it was funny since you blow your nose to remove obstacles). I made a book for my boss for his Birthday as well. I gave it to him yesterday and he really liked it. Check it out below (it had a Whole Foods Market theme of course and was made with old letterhead, grocery bag and a cut up calendar). I am hoping that I get some interest here at work and will be able to sell some books - already a few people have asked about me making one for them, so we will see.

That is about it for me. Weekend was nice, Tim and I got a rug for our living room, very simple and $40 at Ikea (even better). The one I really wanted was $299 and that was too much right now. The one we got is white, rag and very plain but will tide us over until we can get the other one. It really warms our place up and lessens the echo we have been experiencing since we gutted the living room. BayLee (of course) thinks it is for him, he comes into the living room now and keels over and rolls around on it (very cute).
Have a great Tuesday!

Happy New Year

I started by taking the first few days of the New Year by not posting and taking some time to myself. New Years Eve, Tim and I stayed in. It was nice. We just hung out and took it easy. I am not that much into crowds and craziness anymore so it was nice and cozy to stay home.

Thursday - cleaned house, put little Christmas tree away. Finished cleaning out my many magazines.

Friday - woke up pretty early for a day off and ran errands, bank, post office and grocery store. I took a class at San Francisco Center for the Book - I took it back at the beginning of 2007 as well. The class was called "Personalized Daybook". We created two personalized journals for the New Year. I loved the last one I made, but used it for the first couple months and then it got too heavy for me to carry around. So, now I have one for 6 months and then will start the next. Here are some photos of my books:

Even though I took this class before, it was so nice to take it again and meet new people and hear about the plans they have for their books. I almost always meet interesting people at the classes I take. I especially like the super talented instructor, Carolee. We know some of the same people and I had taken the class before so it was nice to see a friendly face. After class, I helped with the clean up and Carolee showed me the i-Ching and did a little reading for the new year, which was pretty interesting. It would be fun to do it again in 6 months or so and see what it says now that I know how it works. I drove Carolee home and she invited me in for tea and talk, which was so nice. It is nice to know a cool, creative gal here in the city. You can find more about Carolee at her site Pod Post listed under my Paper, Stationary, Etc. section on the left. I have been a fan since my class a couple years ago.

Saturday - Tim and I got up, made coffee and cleaned the house real good and were done by Noon. Our social worker was coming over to update our home study for our adoption so we wanted everything to be shiny and nice in case she needed to poke around. We went and had lunch at Whole Foods Market and then got some snacks to put out when the social worker arrived. Everything went well, the visit was about 2 hours, from 7-9 and very mellow. We lucked out with Pam, our social worker, she is super cool. Tomorrow, I am mailing in some additional paperwork that is needed for USCIS to process our 18 month extension.

Sunday - We slept until 10. I called my folks to check in and then we went to brunch and grocery shopped. The rest of the day has been nice, writing in my journal, catching up on blogging and did a load of laundry.

I am clearing out one of my old blogs - I was writing a blog for a while with a friend, but the posts stopped. Some of them are pretty fun so I will add them to this blog when I have writers block or feel the need to add them - like the one below.

Hope you all have a great New Year and have many plans to make it even better than last year, blah, blah, blah, why does it feel like you have to say that...I don't know. My new year usually starts with my Birthday, so I didn't really set any goals yet, etc. Really, I kind of already know what I need to do.