Learn Something New Every Day - New fonts and ways of printing

My creativity has been given an uplift since making a journal for the month of September, and each day brings something new. I am not planning, just seeing what the day brings, and yesterday I downloaded some new fonts for my computer as I was looking for something specific. Sometimes these small details can make a big difference.

This morning I was faced with a background page with typewriters. I knew some pages would be a challenge as I  prepared pages in advance so that I could add to them daily in a quick and easy way. But this background was serendipity because it reminded me of the new fonts I had downloaded and how I had changed the way I print small details!

Often I want to print a small amount of text or image and using the tray feed means I waste a lot of paper. So I have started to set my printer to rear feed when I want to print part of a page; I can cut off what I need and put the sheet back into the printer rather than seeing it as 'scrap'. It means I have to reset my printer to revert back to the tray feed but this simple task will save paper. That is always a good thing. 

I am also practicing imperfection, which is as well because day 5 page includes some smudges! I remind myself, this is not about being perfect, it's about recording memories and recalling lessons learnt. 

I wanted to add lots of journaling to the next page so the top opens and reveals extra space. Last month I focused on clearing paperwork and magazines and today I am celebrating success.  The clearing and organising is on going but I feel like I have climbed the mountain and it's lovely to make time for some creativity again.

A final page is to remind me of the lovely surprise video call I received from a friend. She just wanted to say hello and I truly 

value moments like that. Often it is the small things in a day that count and it made me think of the times I think about calling some one and don't. Another lesson learnt. 

UNRAVELLING

Today see's me starting yet another e-course. This has become quite an obsession, but a healthy one since I am learning so much and meeting so many new and amazing women. It really started with Kelly Rae Robert's 'Taking Flight' and I do feel like I have been flying creatively ever since. Each course has been very different, and I am sad that Shimelle's 'Learn Something New Everyday' finishes this week. I am way behind with making my daily recording, and it has been a good learning experience and reminder that I need to keep things simple. I find it hard to just do minimum and because of this things often get unfinished or not even started as they are too big to comtemplate.

So, with this new course I plan to try and approach it differently. I will give it my best but be realistic. I love the fact that this week is about feet.

This morning I took lots of photos and I have posted this one to remind me that I am in the driving seat as I complete this e-course and that I can control the speed and the direction I take. Something I learned from LSNED, so perhaps I shouldn't feel too bad about the amount of time and energy I am putting into e-courses right now. They say 'Practice makes perfect'!

TAKE TIME....

Life is good at the moment. I am on a creative free fall and spending most of my spare time collecting ideas and materials, meeting friends, doing Shimelle Laine's LSNED ecourse and generally having fun. While wonderful, it does mean my time is fully occupied, hence lack of blogs.

While my friend Jill was here the other day she stopped my bustling to look out the window. The gutter was full of rainwater and sparrows were queueing for their bath. Jill suggested it would make a good 365 photo. She is such a thoughtful friend as photography is not in the fore front of Jill's mind - unlike my own! So I did take breath and watch the birds. I took a lot of photos, it was difficult to catch the splashes as they were so fast, but I loved this interruption to my day and this photo taught me a lot. A good thing to add for my 'Learn Something New Each Day' page. This is just one of my projects in progress and this one is mostly in my mind at present, but it will develop and I'll share it soon.

Meanwhile I had 3 full-on creative days with friends this week. No wonder my head is buzzing with excitement and ideas. I'll share some of this as soon as I have time to stand still. I've nearly finished my 'Alice in Wonderland' mini album (see previous posting) and have started a new one with the impending Gypsy Camp in mind.
LIFE IS GOOD!
I just need to slow down and take time to see the little things too.

Learn Some New Every Day

Today I succumbed....
Shimelle Laine's new e-course starts tomorrow and I have been trying hard to resist. I am already subscribed to Susanne Conway's 'Unravelling' starting in September, and this sounds very exciting but demanding. I already juggle with too many balls, but LSNED was so hard to resist. The deciding factor?
This morning I heard a lovely story about someone who really wanted to join up but was unsure because of the money and other commitments. She even went as far as registering, but stopped before she pressed the send button. Then she had an email from Shimelle welcoming her on the course. The woman let Shimelle know there must be a mistake - and learned that someone had bought the course for her knowing how much she wanted to take part. The person wanted to remain annonymous and I felt so touched that someone would do this for another. The woman concerned was extremely grateful and plans to pay it foreward one day when an opportunity arises.
I have met some wonderful people on my previous e-courses and my world has become bigger and better for the experience. And so, I decided I will not miss out.
It all kicks off tomorrow and I am wondering how I will approach this project. Some people are making albums, others blogging, or scrapbooking. I need to keep it small and as much as I'd love to experiment with journal pages or wonderful new techniques in a handmade album I know this would mean it will be overwelming and unfinished. So for now I am thoughtful, and I'll let you know once I decide.
Meanwhile, anyone interested in Shimelle's course which runs through September should check out her blog for details. Her other courses are well worth considering too, and once you subscribe you can join in on future occasions as part of the deal!
http://www.shimelle.com/paper/818/an-online-scrapbooking-class-for-september-learn-something-new/