Saturday, November 1, 2008

Weekly Review and Challenge

Whew! What a week. I haven't blogged in a while, opps. Bad Mindy! Life seemed to get away with me this week. Quick recap to make up for the lost time:

Monday: work, class
Tuesday: work, dinner date with the Baudoins
Wednesday: work, class, work
Thursday: work, intense critique session with critique group - WOW!, Birthday celebration for Ryan - fell through for me because I had to go to work

Blah Blah. nothing interesting there. But I have joined a few altered journal groups and scrapbooking groups so we shall see how that goes. "Go Me!" for trying not to be antisocial. Possibility for giving a workshop (or 2) on altered journals may be in the works for next year.

Here's a pic from my newest art journal (Image and any posted like it were inspired by the work of Kelly Rae Roberts (Find out more at http://kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com/.)):


All Hallows Eve: work, shopping, went to a costume party hosted by one of my friends from high school. As I get older, I'm reminiscing about the 'good ole days.' I find myself thinking more and more about the friends I lost touch with along the way. I decided to go see some old friends at a Halloween party. Though scared to pieces, I ended up having a great time. There are some people that you meet up with and its almost like no time has passed. You get together and talk and laugh and it seems like not a day has gone by since. That was how it felt last night as I became reacquainted with my old friends, who are two fellow artists and extraordinary women. Here's me and the hostess, Tanya:





Saturday: Ugh!!! I'm too old for staying up til 130am. Way past my bedtime. Woke up tired and late. Rushed to get ready and to Lake Charles for BWG.

At BWG meeting, we elected new officers and had a guest speaker. I'm now officially Newsletter Editor for Bayou Writer's Group. Great lunch with friends and then Nona and I had a NaNoWriMo writing session at Starbucks. Its that time of year again! National Novel Writing Month is upon us and the goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. I didn't reach the goal for today, but I just barely missed it. All in all it was a great start though.

I went to the Hobby Lobby in Lake Charles, OMG it's huge. Boy, did I spend some money! Drive home was horrible, I was so tired. Took a nap and now I have to start my English paper that is due Monday. (*sigh*) I need a vacation!


Words Written: NANOWRIMO Day 1 = 1608
Mood: Reminiscent
Work: OFF YAY!!!!
Drinking: Dr. Pepper from Taco (Sm)ell
Dreaming About: Chunky choco chip cookies
Class: Paper due in two days. Haven't even started yet!
Music: Hilary Duff - Reach Out

Challenge: Take the plunge! Make the time. Choose to use the NANOWRIMO fire to get some productivity in your own creative life. Whether its a self-inflicted goal of writing a poem, short story, song etc or creating one page layout in a scrapbook, altered book, etc. Even just trying to write or create for 15 uninterrupted minutes a day. Get those ideas and craft/writing projects out and start CREATING. You can do this!



Side note: There must be some kind of secret challenge going on to get me 'hooked up' because I can't even count the propositions from today. Whats up with THAT?

6 comments:

Nelly said...

Boy, you're a determined, busy lady. School, work and a mom. I couldn't do it. I love your new art journal. Love especially the soft colors of the second picture; that so my style.
Admiringly,
Nelly

Mindy Blanchard said...

Hey Nelly!

Thanks for stopping by. I like to stay busy (I guess it makes up for not having kids yet).

This is the first time I did anything like the second pic. It came out differently than what I imagined - they always do but it was fun trying new techniques.

Always something new to learn about art journaling - thats why I love it so much!

Mindy

Winona Cross said...

Well, Mindy, all of the propositions coming from those of us with single sons or friends is because we love you and know how truly special you are.

Well, Nanowrimo is eating my lunch. I haven't made the full word count a single day, though I came close the first day.

You are too busy, my friend. Take time to just be you.

Nona

Anonymous said...

What fun! beautiful art journals. I have a feeling this IS you. You thrive on anything artistic and you have to stay busy are you're bored and sleepy. You go, girl!

Now, tell me how those art journals tie in with writing. I've actually bought small art books to write in. I like the coarsesness of the paper, etc.

I need to go back and read your post on your art journals. These you're showing are beautiful! What are the covers? decorated with paper? cloth? I can't tell.

Soooooooooo many questions!!!

Mindy Blanchard said...

Nona,

don't stress about the word count. You will have days where you are so in the groove you write double the words. And then you'll have some days where you don't write any (like me yesterday) or when you barely make it to the word count. Just do what you can. It'll get done in the end.

The point is YOU ARE WRITING consistently. Goals are good! (And being busy keeps me out of trouble)

Mindy

Mindy Blanchard said...

Jess,

The newest pieces I posted are two layouts in one book. They are made from flash cards (I love finding cheap ways to make things). The cover isn't shone but its just paint with magazine/card cutouts. The first layout you see is cardstock - no fabric.

But you can use anything: paper/fabric/paint/tissue/sewing/etc.

The art journals apply to writing like a regular journal, or for memoirs combining pics and stories for yourself/family, When imagining your characters/character building, etc.

I've created stories from pictures. I've found pics and made layouts for my characters. I've chronicled my life and while reviewing the book later, it will spark another memory, image, story, poem and gets me writing. I find that I always find what I'm looking for when I'm looking for something else. If I get stuck on a piece of story, I step away from the laptop and while I'm working on something else, I figure out something key to fit into my story that I would not have thought about before.

So even once the pages are finished, there is more! You can review them time and time again and see something new each time. A spark is formed and your imagination runs with it.

Possibilities are endless!

You know you wanna get started. Just do it!

Mindy