At the end of January I launched my Joy Journal Project....and I mailed my 15th journal a few days ago. It was just the right project for me this past winter. When I was absorbed in cutting, folding and stitching, I was in a place of peace.When I was doing it for someone else, I was in a place of joy.
I am aware of a few sets of papers that still might come....but for the first time in awhile there are none waiting in the wings. I welcome the break to focus on other things...but will also welcome more papers if and when they come.
I tweaked the original post just a bit...but the general guidelines are still there if you are interested.
https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2026/01/hidden-in-my-joy.html
You can always contact me by email with questions at joyfulputtering@gmail.com
This seems to be a good time for a sneak peak of the covers (there are 3 layers to the cover) of journal #15....the one chocked full of
Julie's joy!
Do you see the dotted rainbow card on the left....that's where I started. Her grandson loves rainbows...and there's lots of things that honor him in the journal. The first thing I did was cut off the white around the rainbow.
I backed the dotted rainbow with fabric.
It seemed a little risky to stitch between the rainbow colors in black thread...but I just went for it. It gave the rainbow definition...kind of like black pen and ink would.
Phew! I liked it...so continued with black thread through the whole journal.
The second layer is a thread spool postcard. I like how the circles of the spool image gives a nod to the circles in the fused fabric on the left.
One of Julie's cards became a sweet little pocket in the corner.
The third cover is a collaged with Julie's cards...and a few of mine.
I lined the inside of this third cover with rainbow striped fabric and wrapped it around to the front...then covered the edges with solid aqua fabric. I outlined the collaged pieces in black stitching.
It seemed inevitable that the part of the fabric snippet strip Julie provided would be the belly band closure.
The bright pink daisy will make more sense when you get a glimpse of the inside. The colors of these layered covers are much more vibrant in person....I'm guessing my lighting wasn't right.
I'll share some of the inside once it's in Julie's hands.
Cherie, Dale and the flowers got quite a few miles under their belt yesterday! They made it to the Route 66 midway point between Los Angeles and Chicago.
Their last stop last night was in Chickasha, OK to see the 40 foot high leg lamp sitting on a 10 foot box. It's a classic image from A Christmas Story. I think Cherie and Dale like quirky roadside attractions. How fun is that!
MaryAnn, that orange crocus was the perfect intro to what you shared of Julie's Jay in the multilayered cover for her JJ. Your ability to bring cohesion to the potpourri of possibility is nothing short of REMARKABLE. Can't wait to see the insides after this wowser of outsides! Also, can't wait to see where the traveling flowers go next!
ReplyDeleteHow are you thumbs holding up?
Thanks Dotty! Combining people's things into a journal has been the most interesting part of this project. Such a creative challenge. I'm convinced I can make a journal from almost anything!
DeleteMy thumbs are OK....but a little tender. I've started wearing my braces at night again and I'm back to doing my exercises. No big injury thankfully.
just now seeing two typos of mine: Joy not Jay, and your not you. Glad to hear you're being responsive to the "little tender" of your thumbs, wearing your braces at night and doing your exercises. Your thumbs thank you : )
DeleteI have typos ALL the time....so easily look past them. I'm actually relieved when other people do them too!
DeleteSuch an explosion of color and joy in Julie’s journal. I love the stitching on the rainbow 😃…....can’t wait to see more! The mid-point is in Adrian, TX so you could add a flower in Texas if you so choose :-)
ReplyDeleteAn explosion of color it is! Thanks for the heads up on the Texas flower...I've added it to the calendar so it will be on the next one. I don't know how I missed that!
DeleteThis journal is already a colorful delight and we've only seen the layered cover!! I love what you said about how creating these journals puts you in a place of peace and joy. It is so wonderful of you to make them for others. And those traveling flowers with their escorts Cherie and Dale are so fun to follow!
ReplyDeleteThanks Judy! It's all good and I'm so glad your enjoying it all!
DeleteI was already excited about you making a journal with all my random bits and pieces but now I am even more excited for USPS to deliver my Joy Journal! Absolutely love how you created the layered cover. Said grandson will be here next weekend for a sleepover and it will be such fun to share the journal with him since so many bits are his or relate to him. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're excited! Tracking shows that it's still in transit...so I'm not confident that it will come today. It doesn't have that "out for delivery" update yet.
DeleteI have been enjoying your creative works on these Joy Journals. Keep up the great work. Yes - I would still like to send you a packet. I have been so busy that my packet needs to be culled because I kept just shoving stuff into the envelope. I think it's too much. But maybe i will send it all anyway and you can add to your ephemera stash. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ellen! I've loved this Joy Journal Project...and will welcome your papers anytime. Just send what you have....and I'll figure it out. I have a trip in couple weeks...but I'm guessing you're not in any hurry.
DeleteI am in no hurry. :-)
DeleteI'lll look forward to seeing what you send!
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