Joy Journal Project Update

We had three or four inches of snow overnight....it was just lovely when I woke up. But we hit almost 50 degrees this afternoon so the new snow melted quickly. We still have HUGE piles of snow everywhere.....but spring was in the air! 

I headed out to find some joy in the snow this morning and this was my favorite shot of the day!

The fresh snow on the branch...along with the melting and freezing ice under the branch made me giddy.

The long ribbon shadows on the pond were awe inspiring!

I've had several productive days in the studio....but these journals take time. I'm still having fun....and I appreciate your patience. There are also lots of other life things that pull me away from the studio....all good.

I do enjoy the opportunity to personalize these blue and white journals a bit. Dotty wanted pockets for poems....and pockets she got!

I also love the process of getting acquainted with papers and ephemera you send me.....and enjoy figuring out how to honor them. Margaret wanted spaces and places for her own sketching and watercolor.....but she sent quite a few printed papers. But I mixed plain papers in where I could.

This hydrangea was her own watercolor that she made into cards. It's what she wrote the note on to me...so that handwritten note is on the back. I do love when I have an opportunity to cut something out along one edge....and I think her hydrangea is pretty against the blue and white paper she provided. 

The last few days I've been working on Susan's....and it's nearly done.

Here's an official Joy Journal Project update....the first 9 have been mailed:

1. and 2. Judy, two test journals with her own papers

3. Marilyn, with her own papers

4. Linda, blue and white journal winner

5. Lily, blue and white

6. Debbie L, blue and white

7. Dotty, blue and white

8. Margaret, blue and white and her own papers

9. Anne, blue and white

10. I am finishing up Susan's with her own papers. 

11. I'm ready to start Diane's with her own papers.

Next in line:

12. Cherie sent me a few of her own papers and some other fun things I'll be sharing soon.

13. Debbie C., blue and white but she also sent me several of her own papers so I'm holding off on hers for now. Thanks for being patient Debbie.

Kristin chose a cyanotype print instead of a journal and it has been mailed.

I'm still waiting on contact information in an email from Mary Ann if she still wants a blue and white journal:  joyfulputtering@gmail.com

I know of at least two or three of you who might still send me papers. My Joy Journal Project will be ongoing for a while...so there's plenty of time. I will get to them all eventually! 

For any of you who are new to the blog or want more information about this project...here's the original Joy Journal Project offer

https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2026/01/hidden-in-my-joy.html

I have come to understand that some people might not have papers to send. I am willing to make a journal out of my papers in a color scheme of your choice. 

I am also aware that some people may not want to use their journal for art. Your journal doesn't have to have blank pages...it just can be a pretty book to tuck things into pockets. If you have questions...please email me at joyfulputtering@gmail.com

Your Knew it Was Coming

You know what's attractive? Gallivanting through life like joy is the whole point. Case Kenny

It didn't take long to pull out all the littles from my found object jar...you knew it was coming. The only requirement was that it had a face....with the exception of the soccer player in front of the Pink Panther who is missing an arm and his head.....but I didn't want to hold that against him. These littles can all hang out until I have to move my puzzle up on the table. Taking a few minutes to play today...was good for for me soul. Joy was the whole point!

When I went to grab the found objects jar.....

I found Paul's sock monkey comforting the not so little found dinosaur. Does it get any cuter than that! 

All are welcome and cared for here! 

This little shelfie shot tells such a wonderful story of some of our precious possessions. From left to right: My large jar of Adam's stars, There's an Elephant in the Bathtub....the only momento I have from my childhood, Paul's childhood sock monkey comforting the found dinosaur,

It Fell From the Sky, a gifted book from Jane about a found marble, a vintage fruit puzzle from Margie, my jar of found objects, and just a few of the beloved board books from our family children's library. 

Who knew such a lineup could bring such joy today. You probably knew!

I do love that all these sentimental childlike things are curated in one place! 

I like to gallivant through life as if joy is the whole point!

Late this afternoon I saw an ad for an app called Colorify. I checked it out and I could have signed up for a free week...then then there would be $40 a year. I didn't sign up...but I did get one free coloring sheet...and this was what I chose. It's actually pretty cool! I bet you didn't see this coming. I didn't!

Littles

Today just flew by! After taking two journals to the post office I spent most of the morning in the kitchen doing food prep and a good chunk of the afternoon on the phone with my lifelong friend Becky....with just a bit of this and that in between. ALL of it helped make the world feels more hopeful....despite the news. Tomorrow I'll be back in the studio working on journals!

Thank you to all the thoughtful comments yesterday. I loved hearing what made you feel more hopeful! 

I got an email today from Alice in Maryland who stumbled on the blog just a few weeks ago. She was surprised that I was giving my art away....and quite taken with my puzzle gange...which she referred to as littles (she has some too)...and she loved the new Gee's Bend quilt puzzle and wanted more information. If you are reading this Alice....welcome to the Joyful Puttering blog family. You're going to fit right in! 

But what Alice might not know is that I've been collecting found objects and littles for years. With the exception of the Pink Panther and the orange cone....everything on my puzzle table is a found object.

So on this "where did the day go" day....I'm going to celebrate my found objects...especially the littles.

I found this photo of a few that aren't on the puzzle table. And I have a feeling I am going to be compelled to go through ALL my objects to find all the littles. That could be fun!

A few arrangements I've done over the years of my found objects...

and there are soooo many more. Including littles.

More Hopeful

Listen to the birds instead of breaking news and the world feels more hopeful. 

This is a version of something I saw on line....and I tried it out all day long. In addition to listening to the birds....

I finished up two more joy journals...and the world felt more hopeful.

I walked in the sunshine...and the world felt more hopeful. 

I tended to a few household and Condo Association chores...and the world felt more hopeful.

And I celebrated the patchwork quilts by the women of Gee's Bend....and the world felt more hopeful.

A Day Like This

It seemed especially important to be downtown at the protest on a day like this when our out of control President has gotten us into a war without the consent of Congress or support from the American people.

Everyday...America seems to get deeper and deeper in crisis....and these upside down flags were a clear reminder of that. She almost blew away.

So on a day like this it's nice when I can celebrate some unexpected joy. Linda D. sent me an envelope full of stamps from her childhood collection because she thought they might be useful in my joy journal project....and I think they will be. 

I don't know what was more fun...the pile of stamps on the table....or the lineup of stamps on Linda's envelope.

A few stood out right away....on a day like this.

The butterfly effect

Peace dove

CARE: An organization that has been around for 80 years helping families in times of crisis.  

And just look at this lovely handmade card from Roseanne!

We all need a little joy on a day like this! 

Thank you Linda and Roseanne!

Say It Out Loud!

Remember the line from the movie Field of Dreams: If you build it they will come?

My version is: if you say it out loud...it just might happen!

Linda...from Maryland...finally received her blue and white joy journal late yesterday and the delayed note with the postage and donation arrived here in Maine today. 

Hope and patience....we did that! 

SPRING! I said it out loud...it might just happen! 

I can think of a lot more things I'd like to say out loud and just make happen.....

Patient and Hopeful

A bit of admin/housekeeping....please bear with me.

For better or worse....I am an over communicator. So if you haven't heard from me about papers you have sent or a note with postage for a journal that you have mailed...it means I haven't gotten it yet. If I've not responded to a comment...or an email it's because it has gotten lost in the shuffle so please reach out again. 

I will always reach out and respond. I am an over communicator.

I did receive two more packages of papers today from Debbie C, and Cherie and got two more journals in the mail today to Lily and Debbie L. 

I also learned today that a note and postage money from Massachusetts just a few hours away was mailed 9 or 10 days ago and I have not received it. And the winning journal I sent to Maryland...also not that far away...has still not arrived after about 10 days. 

Turns out the mailing part of this project is the most difficult part. I guess we all have to be patient and hopeful that things will eventually get where they are going. And sometimes...they might take the long route. And of course I have a story to illustrate that point! 

Diane...a friend of mine from college...sent papers on February 2nd from Missouri. She took her small package to the post office....had it weighed...and mailed it regular first class mail without tracking. On February 18th it was returned to her requiring more postage. She mailed it again...this time with tracking. 

It arrived here in Maine earlier this week during our snow storm...and we had to laugh at the crazy journey her papers went on. We remained patient and hopeful.

Diane's papers are an explosion of color and I look forward to turning them into a joy journal....eventually. I've got a few more ahead in line.

This image in the center is the admin building at Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa where Diane and I went to college. 

And Graceland is also where I met Paul. There's a great story to go along with that...for another time.

Starting today, I'm going to mail all of the journals Ground Advantage so there is always tracking. It will cost a bit more...but also give me a little piece of mind.

We all need to be patient and hopeful about so many things in our world today!  We can do that!

Surprised by Joy!

 Look what I finished today! 

Like I've already mentioned....I put this puzzle off for years...but it surprised me how engaging it was even with with all the neutrals and browns. It felt like like I could walk right out that door into the garden....or right into the shed to have a cup of tea with Philippa! 

It surprised me with joy!

But it also surprised me how even though I knew there was a sunburst reflection/shadow on the rug from the image on the box....it wasn't visible to my eye while I was assembling the puzzle. Only after I finished and took photographs did I notice it again. And that also surprised me with joy.

And just for fun....I brought in the gang for a closer look. It made me smile every time I walked by. I hope you were surprised by joy today! 

Power in Numbers

Live the way you want to be remembered. (quote attributed to several different people)

Maine Needs posted this morning that they had 367 requests this month that included towels....so I was even more excited to take in my stack today.

It was fun to do a shift with Anne. We tackled a huge request from a caseworker that included clothes and personal things for nine different people.  It would have been difficult to handle this long list on our own....there's power in numbers!

Thank you again to those of you who helped me purchase this big bag of towels. 

After our shift Anne treated me to lunch....and I was able to hand off this blue and white joy journal. It was fun to get to do that in person! 

I took the rest of the day off today from the studio for other puttering. I look forward to getting back to the other journals tomorrow. 

I'm still finding purpose hidden in my joy! 

Tools and Tricks

We didn't get as much snow here in Maine as expected...but we did get big wind all day long. The bluebirds didn't seem to mind. They always get dried mealworms for breakfast...but this afternoon there were several around the feeder...so they got an afternoon snack. 

At one point I counted eight either on the feeder or in the tree right above.

I had blue and white outdoors....and lots of blue and white in the studio too. I'm assembling several joy journals at one time...and hope to have a few to put in the mail this week sometime. I see Anne tomorrow...and I can hand deliver hers. 

I thought I would share a few tools I love...and one little trick.

I like the look of a stitched pocket on the inside covers. 

But with all the continuous top stitching I do on the outside...it makes it tough to stitch it in without stitching the pocket closed. So my little trick is to stitch around three sides of the pocket and just glue it in. No one would ever know it's not stitched in! Oops...I guess now you know. 

I've had this corner punch for years and years...and once I start rounding corners...I can't stop. I missed a few in this lineup....but I did go back. Maybe I'll learn that I don't have to round ALL the corners....and find that right balance. I'm quite fond of the gelli ghost print...and I got to make a few more today! This little page has a pocket on the inside.

I don't think I could love this vintage clothespin more. I've had it in my printers drawer for years...but realized it would be a useful tool in the studio. 

My clips and clothespins don't have a very long reach...but this does. It's so useful for holding layers of pages together until I stitch and add the closure. 

I also use it to hold my watercolor journal open when I'm painting. Like I said...I couldn't love it more. 

Here it's holding my pages together as I start to stitch the binding. I do a very simple five hole pamphlet stitch. I used to punch all the holes ahead of time...but I've had trouble with pages shifting and then not lining up for stitching. So now I make the holes as I go. 

Using a marked guide....I make the middle hole with my awl...then pull my waxed thread through. The thread and the clothespin hold the pages in place while I make the next hole....etc. 

When I come up the last hole I go under the bottom thread and tie it off. 

Five hole pamphlet stitch guide found online....forgot where. Oops.

In The Wings

It's not just about creativity, it's about the person you're becoming while you're creating. Charlie Peacock

We're expecting 6 to 8 more inches of snow with high winds tomorrow. I actually don't mind because I have so many inside things to keep me joyfully puttering...even if the power goes out.

Aren't these papers going to make a beautiful book! It's such a pretty color scheme and I'm so glad Susan included one of her own cyanotypes. 

They traveled all the way from Scotland....and I'm excited to turn them into a joy journal for Susan. And it will be fun to figure out how to use the stitchy bits.

But these pretty papers will have to wait patiently in line....I have some other journals to finish first! 

But it's fun having them in the wings! 

It Can Get Better!

There's nothing quite as pretty as fresh snow on the bare trees against the blue sky. We got about 5 inches overnight and are expecting 6 or 8 more inches on Monday! Winter is not over! 

I'm plugging away at the blue and white journals in between life things. I do have all the covers done....so now it's time to start assembling the insides.

I have a fun follow up on yesterday's post. On Dotty's cue...I agreed that it couldn't get any better than making these little journals. 

But actually...it can. 

Because of some of generous donations from some journal recipients I was able to buy 14 bath towels...several hand towels and pile of washcloths for Maine Needs. I washed and dried them all today so they would be ready to use. I'm doing a shift with Anne on Tuesday...and I'm looking forward to taking them in. 

Now really....it doesn't get better than this! 

Just as a reminder, I am not asking for donations for this journal project...just help with postage. But I am very grateful for the chance to buy more needed items. 

Couldn't Be Any Better!

I finally finished the top two thirds of Philippa's Cheeks and the Shed puzzle and moved it up on the table under my light and puzzle gang. It barely fits...with the top and bottom borders teetering on the edge. But somehow that seems fitting given the state of our world. 

The colors are muted and earthy...but Cheeks and the contents of the shed seem to jump off the table. 

What I thought was going to be a tedious and difficult puzzle actually couldn't be any better! 

I laughed out loud at Dotty's comment on yesterday's post:

MaryAnn, hard imagine how this joy journal project could be any better! And-as I may well have stated on some previous occasion or another, quoting my nephew from a letter he wrote home from camp as a youngster-"that is all I have to say" :)

I laughed out loud because I absolutely love the quote from her nephew's letter....but also because this joy journal project couldn't be any better for me....and I have a story to illustrate that.

Thank you in advance for putting up with my stories....this one makes me smile.

You may remember that I had lunch a few days ago with Marita and Lisa....both were assistants in my special education classrooms over the years...both of them went on to be and are still full time teachers. 

My last teaching position was my dream job where I was hired to create and run an educational program at the Falmouth High School for girls living in a transition home in the same town. There were six girls at a time living at the home, some of them transitioning out of corrections, some waiting for foster placement...most of them in crisis. The placement was temporary...so girls came and went....and I loved every single one of them.

It was my dream job because it fully utilized the best of my skills and who I was at my core. I struggled as a student in school and I think that made a better special education teacher....and that served me well in this program. I was a creative type...and we quickly learned that these girls needed to make things...and bake things. They needed to laugh and play and be mothered and nurtured.....all of that was second nature to me. We worked on academics in the morning and in the afternoon we unleashed our creativity. Everyone made something on the sewing machine...everyone worked on puzzles and played games and everyone decorated their notebooks with stickers and tapped into something new. Even the staff.

It was my dream job because it brought out the best in me as a teacher and utilized all of my creative skills.

When Paul and I moved to Wisconsin I had to resign....and that was difficult. But I was able to pass the baton on to Lisa who embraced the program and made it her own. I have not talked about it much with her until just a few days ago...and it was a delight to think back about the special young women I worked with. And I so enjoyed hearing about Lisa's experience in those next years.

I've come to realize that making these joy journals is my dream project because they utilize all of my skills and combine so many things I love. I get to recreate my art experiments.....use the recycled and found paper I've been hoarding and make new gelli prints when I need just the right color. I get to curate....assemble and sew these little journals then add personal touches and tuck in snippets and surprises. Best of all I get to give them away.

My table will always be messy....and my heart will always be full.

It couldn't be any better. 
And that is all I have to say. 

Late Last Night

Jane and I had a micro adventure today. There's a store in nearby Westbrook called Past and Future Craft Exchange and I've been curious about it for quite some time. They take donations of usable craft and sewing supplies and resell things at low prices.

I took in a pile of sewing books and a bag of fabric to donate....and came home with some fabulous blue nubbly string. I certainly didn't need it....but it has all the colors in the cyanotypes! I do love blue! 

I sat at my work table late last night intending to tidy it up. 

The blue and white papers and ephemera were piling up and I needed to clear some space to work. But what I did instead was punch small blue squares from geili prints and other painted papers. 

Then I found a pile of butterflies that needed to be cut out.

Long story short....I still have a messy table...but now I have a sweet little page for one of the journals.

I mostly want these journals to be a blank slate for the recipient to do their own thing...but it's hard not to add a little project of my own. 

And....I got some papers in the mail!!! Margaret was one of the ones who through her name in the hat for the blue and white journal. 

Everyone was a winner......and she sent me some of her blue and white papers to include in hers. There's some fabulous stuff here....enough to share with others! 

My head is already spinning with ideas.

Too Smart!

I had the most delight long lunch with Marita and Lisa. I see Marita every few months often...but I haven't seen Lisa for at least 20 years. I worked with both of them in my special education classrooms in different schools...and I introduced them to each other years ago. We have so much common ground...and our visit was pure joy! 

My phone is too smart for me! 

I get excited now when the circulars come in the mail....not for the slick store adds...but the plain black and white single sheet add that holds them all together. I've been saving them for months....and they've come in handy.

The texture is grainy and flat....the paper is thickish and it folds like a dream. Fabric fuses to it perfectly...and paper collage latches right on with a little glue. It works perfectly for the the bones of my journals.

But I had to chuckle when I took this photo because my phone instantly read the QR code and linked me right to a dental insurance company that will help me pay my bills. Oy!

My phone is too smart for me....I'm kind of old school. 

 

I didn't plan on the the words free toilet to land here...but there they are...for better or worse. 

I thought I would walk through how I'm making the covers.

I cut a piece of fabric a little larger than the cover substrate and fuse it to one side. I fold it over the edge of the paper and fuse it to the other side. It's fast and easy.

Then I fuse another piece of fabric to the inside...and I iron a nice crease.

This cover is a lovely piece of hand dyed fabric. I'm only using what I have on hand...and this shade of indigo blue was perfect for this cyanotype project. 

The paper gives the cover structure...and the layers of fabric on both sides help it hold up to the stitching to come. I think this smarter than my phone! 

Now I get to come up with a design for this beautiful blue cover! 

Full and Rich

Another quick reminder to Mary Ann and Kristin that everyone was a winner in the blue and white joy journal giveaway!  See this post and email me for more information and to establish contact. Thank you!

Days are full and rich...and this particular week is filled with social engagements with people I care about. I spent a good chunk of today with Kelly. She has a school vacation week...so joined me for lunch and a good catch up. We even did a little art this afternoon. For those of you who may not know...Kelly is my son Sam's girlfriend.

I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying playing with my cyanotypes again. I've rounded up all my prints and scraps (I still have a lot!)  and am I'm working on various ways to use them to create covers. 

I have eight journals to make...and all the covers will be a little different. They won't all be squares....but I did especially like this one where I cut up one print and separated it into a grid.

The back of the cover is a mixture of prints. 

I've done things like this before...but I was reminded of the technique from a photograph Debbie L. sent me of a very large cyanotype piece at the North Carolina Museum of Art. She said it covered one whole wall and it looks like it's one print cut up into a grid. Thanks for sending it along Debbie!