Thursday, February 10, 2011

My January art calendar

Even though these pages are not finished, I decided it was time to show them. I would have done so earlier, but I had hoped to redo the pages. Sadly, my time is too crowded at the moment to change them.

I started this art calendar on a whim. I decided to join after I saw several of my art friends doing this, and since I admire Kate and her art so much, I wanted to join.


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. 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.


The left side shows I started out trying to be creative, then the whole thing began to fall apart when I lost electrical power, then my pipes froze, then my basement flooded, then my basement stairs collapsed. I have not caught up since then.


I plan to replace the "drips" on the right side with an image of a water faucet dripping water. I know I have one somewhere, but looking for it will take time and the return of my images from storage. Until then, I have just drawn some drips, which is what this month was all about.


Now it's on to my February pages.

Things I learned in January:
1. Use a real calendar page to get correct placement.
2. Don't decorate the pages until the end of the month, then base the page design on what is going on in my life that month.
3. Write each day's prompt when my hands are at their best, so my writing or printing is legible.
4. Learn to write small.
5. Be flexible

Thanks go to Kate at The Kathryn Wheel for allowing me to join this project. I hope to do better next month. I welcome ANY and all comments, tips, and ideas for making this calendar better and easier.

24 thoughtful remarks:

Julia Dunnit said...

I like it. Especially I like the base you chose to use 'Statement of Goals' teee heee! Also, it perfectly shows your mindset and the way the month panned out, the colours are fab. You could 'journal' on the computer and print onto squares to be added at months' end? Or is that avoiding the point?!

Karen said...

Oh Elizabeth...don't you go changing a thing my lovely! I LOVE your pages because they are so you! That background is amazing and for someone who can't write the journaling is looking fabulous!!! So don't listen to that inner critic...you have done a brilliant job honey , HUGS XXX

Ana Cristina Caldatto said...

formidavel ideia!

Cath said...

I love it, still haven't taken a photo of my Jan pages yet.

Cathx

Dandelion and Daisy said...

Love the colors! What a fun page page to commerate a less than fun month. I wouldn't change a thing, each month can be a new experiment.

elle said...

This is a very intriguing concept!

Kat W said...

I like all the colourful backgrounds. I've never come across this idea so thanks for the inspiration.

Kat :-)

PS Hope the snow is slowing & you are nice and warm and happy today. X

Sue said...

Hi ya hun
what a fabulous idea, luv the colour, nice to read ya ickle notes, awesome creation hun, sue,x

Kathryn Zbrzezny said...

Hi! I like your January calendar! I had a lot of fun making my January and Feb. ones. At first, I had trouble trying to organize and fit everything on (mostly because it's an 8" X 8" notebook sketchbook), but once I got my brain plugged in and fiddled over a couple of days, I managed to work out a do-able plan. I used both pages of the open spread and tried to think differently! Wow! I do need to work on it over a few days, though! Maybe it'll get easier, but then again, I like the challenge. It'll keep me from getting senile! haha

Terri Kahrs said...

Ohhhh, Elizabeth!!! Congratulations on spreading your creative wings!!! Holy Cow! January was the Month From Hell for you!!! I know why you added an extra week . . . . you can always use more time!!! LOL! By the way, I chuckled when I read your comment about the lady's "legs"!!! No matter what we did, we just couldn't get her to keep those darn things down!!! Good luck with February!!! Hugs, Terri xoxoxo

Carola Bartz said...

Elizabeth, I like this calendar just the way it is. The "mistakes" belong to it and it just shows how your month was. The entire chaos in your life is reflected in this - the flooding, the collapsing stairs. And believe me or not, I like your handwriting - it's way better than mine!

Halle said...

I've seen these before and think they are so neat. Having a daily record is awesome. Mine would be sadly boring I think. Laundry...vacuuming...a little art...mending...yeah. Boring.

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Hi Elizabeth, like you I don't journal which is why I like this project, only a small space to write something so it can be just one or two words. My writing is disgraceful and at times I'm unable to read it myself! I only put 25 days in February's initially :-/ well I had only placed them, luckily I hadn't glued them in.
Anne xx

Darla said...

I think you are off to a good start, in fact given your circumstances ANY start at all is admirable. It looks like a lot of fun.

Darla

Juls said...

fab!!! Loving your calender pages!! Hugs Juls

Unknown said...

Well for some one who hasn't journal can't write or draw you have done just super and how on earth you manages with the minor disaster stare case collapse and flooding I don't know.

I hope things have manages to come together a bit in feb and your not feeling as harrased

Love Dawn xx

Theresa MacNaughton said...

You did a great job! I love the vibrant colors you used. :) Theresa

peggy aplSEEDS said...

i loved this post. it brought a smile to my face. and i think it turned out great (if you didn't tell us we would never have known there was an extra week! i would like to try this out. maybe next year.

thekathrynwheel said...

Wow, I'm surprised you found the time to make this journal at all! You have had such a difficult month.... I don't see the 'mess' at the bottom of the page that you talk about. I see lots and lots of vibrant colour :-) Well done for jumping in and joining the challenge, especially as you are out of your comfort zone. So happy you decided to join us :-)

Tracy Evans said...

Hi Elizabeth, hope you are keeping well. Love your pages, do not change a thing, all the details are great. Tracy Evans x

sandra de said...

After the month you had I am amazed you still had time to make your calendar. Gorgeous colours, I also went for a linear block of squares and got into a pickle!!
Sandra
xox

Dianne said...

Well good for you! maybe the writing isn't what you'd like, but I can read it, and I bet this is a month you'll never forget!! Great background too...it's always so cool when you look at the lessons learned and share it with us. not everyone has the ability to do that.

Steph said...

ooh I love this idea!!! Thanks for sharing...

Anonymous said...

Well I think your pages are great! I hate my writing, can't draw, but love Journaling! They are 'you' don't change a thing! Remember there is no right or wrong way to do it! S x