Morning Pages and Journals….

This morning I opened boxes that had been sealed in 2003 for our move to Toronto.

They've moved with me, boxes unopened, several times since then.

Journals and Morning Pages….

I discovered Julia Cameron's Book,  The Artist's Way

and began writing Morning Pages (3 long hand written pages) in 1994.

At first I wrote on pads of lined paper,

then transitioned to writing in 'book form' journals a few years later.

I prepared a shelf for my journals and these morning pages….

as part of my

 S. P. A. C. E.

(an acronym for Sort, Purge, Assign a place, Containerize, and Equalize, the last I changed to Evaluate)

project.

This is organizing specialist, Julie Morgenstern's system for organizing and purging.

I read Julie's book 'Organizing from the Inside Out' when it first came out in 1998

and I've turned to the 'SPACE' concept every time I attempt to organize. 

Part of how I'm attacking my current sweep of organizing….

is to go through everything I own, and put 'like' items together in one spot.

Moving frequently, and being under construction for most of my adult life, with several studio moves,

had me duplicate items that I want (and need) to condense. 

Also, I've just kept too much stuff.

The next step will be to go through these papers, and see what I've been up to all of these years.

As for the daily writing (Morning Pages)….

I wonder if any of you have done that, and purged the pages?

They are not really journals. I consider them Brain Drain. A way of purging my mind of useless worry.

Who needs to save worry (and fear and anger)…..?

OK there were lots of desires in there too 

(that came into fruition I must add.)

I'm also sure that half of the pages in the formal journals are empty. What do we do about that? 

I need to free up space. 

I'm considering a ceremony.

or maybe I'll just dump them.

I know how good that will feel.  Just getting them out of the boxes feels good. 

Releasing their energy and all that….

Read what Judy Martin did with her journals HERE and HERE…..

I'd love to hear what the rest of you do with yours.

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Addendum:

I just Googled 'what to do with morning pages'

and came up with

THIS 

A discussion on Julia Cameron's blog regarding the subject.

Looks like a bonfire is in my future.

Kakishibu update...

And the experiment continues,

Both with my iPad posting and the dye process.

These photos were taken with my old Cannon point and shoot (instead of my phone),

then downloaded directly from the camera card to my iPad.

I really missed using that camera.

 

Kakishibu on cotton muslin after a day of recoating with the dye and folding (and refolding) for effect.

I used mostly a spray bottle for the subsequent coats.

The Kakishibu is a rich tannin coating, not exactly a dye.

What you see here, is not the same on the other side of the fabric.
 It does not penetrate with subsequent coats.

 

Same on linen with same technique. 

I like the linen better & wished I had not wasted the expensive brew on the cotton. 

As my Montenegren housekeeper used to say,

"Education costs money, whether you go to school or not."

Ha!

I also found out I probably need to buy a new computer. 

I think this iPad might be fine for now.

Kakishibu distraction....

I'm attempting  to do two things at once here...

Fuss with this blogging app (now from my aging iPad, instead of my phone)

whilst describing a process I was compelled to undertake after finding this bag of Kakishibu during my studio clean up project.

It's probably the last thing I should be doing...the dying thing....

But combining it with the blogging experiment keeps me on track as I ready my house and suitcase for our upcoming to Scotland and Ireland next month.

1st...

What IS Kakishibu?

Kakishibu is made from persimmons that have been concentrated, filtered, fermented, and matured.

Kakishibu is a Japanese traditional natural paint or dye.

Since ancient times, Kakishibu has been used as a waterproofer, insect repellent, and antiseptic, by applying it to woods, clothes, and other items.

This can make some products have greater strength, and last longer.

I had used this in the 'far long ago' to stiffen handmade paper and fabric. 

It's more concentrated when used in this way, and painted on in layers to achieve it's protective and hardening qualities.

Used as a dye, this is how I proceeded.

Step 1: 

I soaked 2 yards of fabric in soapy (ph neutral) water

 

Step 2:

I added 50 grams of Kakishibu powder to 2 liters of water. This is the 'dye' ratio recommended by an instruction sheet I had on hand. It could have been three liters, but two were enough cover my two yards of muslin.

 

Wow. This photo looks blurry!

(Remember this is a blogging experiment too!)

 

This is what it looks like while I whisk it in.....foamy and the powder sits on top

BTW I wore a dust mask.

I added it to one liter of warm water first.

It takes awhile to mix in.....

Then I added this to a small bucket and added the rest of the warmed water...

To that I added...

 

Two yards of wet cotton muslin.

I did not rinse the soap from it.

 

This is what it looked like after an hour.

Much like my Avocado dye result...only quicker!

From my experience this is an additive process....so I will continue this experiment over the next several days

Inspired by the rich color and texture of Sakabukuro (sake bags).....

Which is not pink or whimpy peach.

Although it will become darker when exposed to light.

Sorry....no link 

You'll just have to look it up.

Checking in and a test....

This is a little test to see what blogging from my iPad looks like.....

I'm preparing for a month long journey in September and I'm thinking about blogging from the path...or not. A two year struggle with the photos on my MacBook has me grumpy with the whole process...

Along with the written experiment....here are iPhone photos of our daily doorstep visitors.

This one is sure I can't see him.

Hmmmm. I'm not sure about this format, but in a pinch it might do.