July 25th

Happy Birthday to me - and my journal!!

Thank you all, for the birthday greetings :)

What a journey it's been, these 365 days.

Starting as a simple book from a used book sale at the library,

to a rather ungainly year's worth of work!!

One that represents so much more than words I write here can hold.

Where I do I go from here? There are at least a couple dozen blank pages still to go in this book, which I'm pretty sure I'll fill, because to leave them undone would leave me feeling incomplete. I thought I would have it filled by the one year anniversary, and I really want to be done!

I'm itching to start something new, and after a year of blogging and journaling in the same book it feels like a good time to reevaluate how I would like to move forward, both with my journal and my blog.

Daily pages? Posting more variety? Tutorials?

Do I even need to have a concrete idea? I didn't when I first started here. Like so many, I thought I was just going to be sharing pictures with a few friends and family. I wasn't even much of a blog visitor - who knew I'd be opening myself and my artwork to a world community of amazing kindred spirits? I honestly didn't, but I am so grateful that I have.

So that's my journal's birthday - now about my birthday!!

Ever since I read about Barron Storey on Seth's blog, here on The Altered Page, I've been thinking about how a jaunt into the city to see the exhibition of his journals would be the perfect activity for my birthday! I am so happy to say I was able to do just that today. I must have spent nearly three hours pouring over the pages.

I could say so much about it all, but I am so throughly exhausted, I can hardly focus my brain well enough to write my name! All I can say is I was blown away, so inspired, and know that I will be thinking about the images and colors and lines and designs and lettering and all of it for a very very long time.

Only one other thing I thought you might get a kick out of. I won't look for any hidden messages in both of my parents rather morbid gifts. Instead I'll tell you, these gifts show that they know me well :)

My dad sent these beautifully crafted porcelain skullies by Cleveland, OH artist Mark Yasenchack,

and part of the package my mother sent included this fabulous box of bones - the remains of a possum found under the deck of her home in the panhandle of Florida.

click on any image for a closer view

Okay, I think I've covered all I have the energy to cover! It was a good, full day for which I am extremely grateful!!

I'll see you tomorrow for the drawing of the winner of my anniversary book give away - it won't be early though, I'm sleeping in! xox