Sunday, January 1, 2012

My 12 month calendar . . .

or as Kate from The Kathryn Wheel calls it, the 365 day calendar. I'm not a person who journals, but I kept a journal all year, except during March and April, when I went to California and somehow came back without it. I kept notes after I realized it was missing and I would not get it back, but didn't create a new book until May and felt it was too late to go back and turn those notes into calendar pages. This year, if I travel, I won't take the book with me.

I decided to show the finished pages that I photographed because it was easier trying to copy them from my blog, since I'm still without a computer, scanner, and unable to store photos from my camera.


January started off badly. Here's what I wrote explaining the mess:
I believe I need to explain these pages a bit. Those of you who don't know me, I'm NOT into journaling. In fact, I can't even write. I type. I can't doodle. I can't draw even simple shapes. Never have been able to. I'm also not very good with digital art. Even with this handicap, and knowing my limitations, I jumped in with both feet, but left my brain behind.

I'm an engineer. I can design a widget to put into a wadget. But for some reason, I couldn't design a calendar. See that mess at the bottom of the pages? That is where I removed one entire week's worth of squares. For some reason, I got all confused when I made the column on the right first, then the one on the left, next. Why I did this is beyond me. But when I started adding the numbers, I found I had added an extra week. So, this must be my "learning curve" month, I guess.


February was better with the tumbling hearts that signified how my basement stairs came tumbling down.



March would have been a beautiful month had I not lost my calendar.


I can't find the May journal pages I made, even though I looked high and low for them on my blog. These pages showing June, is from a new journal I made when I finally realized my original calendar would not be showing up any time soon.


Although I'm simply no good at decorating these pages, I tried to get colorful for July.


August was hot, records were broken, and most of my posts were about the weather.


September brought little reprieve, and the long hot summer relentlessly continued. I think the only thing green in my world was the paint on these two September pages.


I'm not big on Halloween, but I decorated October like it was an important event. I also tried my first Xylene transfer of a haunted house on the right. Sadly, it didn't turn out too well.


November happened to look more like Christmas since I took the photo on my dining room table. But I can assure you, it was far more about the windswept trees than Christmas trees.

I tried to scan my book so you could see it, but the scanner I used broke. I seem to have a problem with electronic equipment. At least my friend is not mad at me, since she said it had been on the fritz, anyway.


So true to form, here are both pages for December, 2011 to finish out the year in style.


And you can see I've already started 2012, so Kate can count me in for yet another year of dedicated daily journaling. Like before, I will decorate the pages based on what is meaningful to me during the month. Hopefully, by the time February arrives, I will once again have a computer and a way to get back online. Thanks for understanding if I don't visit for awhile, but you are in my thoughts and I promise to visit once I get a working computer.

30 thoughtful remarks:

Unknown said...

Wow, I loved seeing all these pages together- what a great accomplishment and a GORGEOUS collection!
I just popped over to the Kathryn Wheel, and I'm sorely tempted to join in on the fun!
Happy New Year, my dear friend!
Steph

Ana Cristina Caldatto said...

belo projeto!

feliz 2012!

Crafting Queen said...

Well done on completing the year and you January pages are fab.

Tammy Freiborg said...

A wonderful, complete calendar - filled with memories.

Mandy Makes and Mends said...

Fab fab fab what a great story....loved your pages and the effort you put in I am looking forward to seeing your pages this year with march and April included?! X

patcrafts said...

Well done on completing a year, hope you are able to do the same this year, made a good start January's page is great.

Jo Murray said...

Great project!.. Congratulations.

thekathrynwheel said...

Yayayay! I'm so pleased you are going to continue with your art calendar - I'm delighted that you are joining the challenge again. I love the honesty of your journal post ... yeah, sometimes things don't work out as we planned. My journal was missing April last year ... things just got a bit busy! Your January page is looking colourful and gorgeous. Here's to a great year!

Diane Kelsey said...

Some lovely pages. A good idea to leave your book at home, when travelling.

Gillian .... said...

Great start to 2012, loved looking at last years pages.

Halle said...

Cool that you are continuing your calendar project. I'd love to see a side photo of the finished year's journal. I have a thing about the wonky, wavy pages edges....I just love the way they look!

voodoo vixen said...

It's lovely to see it in it's entire-ness... not sure that is a word or not!! LOL Hopefully you will soon have a new pc and be able to work again!!

Happy New Year to you and Bleubeard!!

notmassproduced said...

what a lovely idea....i'll look fwd to seeing this year's :) happy 2012 to you x

Rainbow Lady said...

Well I found your page through Kate Crane and what a shock I had opening your blog... there was my cat Blue on the top of your page....wonderful... we lost her 4 years ago but she was identical.. your baby brought back so many memories. Loved your journaling too lol. Happy New Year Love Cynthia x

dandelionlady said...

That's a very cool idea! I like how you create an art calendar with it.

~*~Patty S said...

I admire you for committing to another calendar year...it surely is a wonderful record of time that has a way of passing all too quickly!
Happiest of New Year's to you dear one
oxo

Luna Art said...

Great to see all your pages from last year. January looks lovely and all raring to go! x

Darla said...

I'm in awe that you continued a whole year, lost pages and all. I look forward to your entries for this year... and to you getting a new computer.

Darla

Karen said...

WOW! its wonderful to see all your pages together! They are always so colourful & inspiring my lovely xxx

Margaret said...

Happy New Year Elizabeth!

Your perseverance with this project has inspired me! I'm going to join you this year! From one non-journaller to another Mx

flutterbycrafter said...

All your pages look wonderful. I bet you enjoyed looking at them all over again.

Julia Dunnit said...

I love how it turned out! Don't grow it's out journal,ing if you. Go away...take a different book , cut out the squares and add 'em after. I take a journal with me EVERY time we go away. And never use it. It's just not a natural thing for me to do!!

The Dolphin Inn said...

I love the honesty of your blog post and hope you have better luck with this journal - ie it doesnt get lost, looking forward to seeing more of your pages xxx

Minxy said...

Happy New Year Elizabeth
Love seeing all your 2011 pages together, and a fab start to this years too x
Hugz Minxy

pearshapedcrafting said...

Brilliant! hope you manage ok this year - great to look back on!

Catherine said...

Well I loved looking at all your pages and think that really an art journal is not supposed to be "perfect", it's what we make it and sometimes it doesn't always work out but you know what? So what. Have a great new year and I look forward to seeing your pages in the future. :-)

Anonymous said...

Lovely pages.

Brenda said...

Your calendar is so cool! Love it!

Marjie Kemper said...

Really great pages - love seeing the whole year!

Kimberly Gruber said...

I just love your honesty, so your a left brain expert who is tapping into the right brain! Your pages are awesome and I really enjoyed reading your post, it is how I feel sometimes, except I struggle with both; right and left side!