The Wisdom Journal (& Livestream)

Hey Love

I'm SO excited.

I have a BRAND NEW Journal Making Class Now OPEN!! Whoop Whoop!

The Wisdom Journal is about making your own survival guidebook of your own personal wisdoms. 

For more info visit: 
The Wisdom Journal {clickable}

In the Wisdom Journal Class we will:

*Make a Unique Journal - including creating pockets, decorating background papers before binding, crafting a decorative spine, adding a closure etc.

*Detect Our Wisdoms – what is to go in the journal? Well, we shall see…

*Art Journal – once we have done the work around finding/making our wisdoms we shall art them out in our fancy new handmade journal.

*Apply Our Wisdoms – we will look at how we can consciously apply our wisdoms in our life. This class is not about locking knowledge away in a book never to be seen again, it is about bringing awareness to light to use …and as a result create our own fabulously customised survival book to have forevermore and use as a tool.

Registration is open now for a CRAZY Low Early Bird Price. 

See more about the class here: journalworkshops.ning.com/page/wisdom-journal-class

(or if it’s already a ‘YES’ workshop for you click ‘Join’ in the classroom here to secure your spot now: journalworkshops.ning.com/group/wisdom) 

Class Starts 1st Sept & you get LIFETIME access to the class content (so grab it now while it's a bargain!)

PS Last night I also did a facebook livestream on 'How to do Art the 'Right' Way' (yes...there is a right way, apparently) & I also showed a little more about the Wisdom Journal Class if you want to see it in 'person' as it were. Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/Jennibellie/videos/1810971888919813/

xoxo

PPS This new class like all my classes are hosted on my art community Journal Workshops, you can sign up now for free and browse all the classes I have on offer if you wish, or even take a free one!

journalworkshops.ning.com
come join the family...we don't bite =)

How To Pick Which Project to Do {VIDEO: The 2 Ways of Creating}

Hey Love

I have recently discovered something about creativity. Through observing my own patterns of creating, and those of others through my creative coaching, I have discovered there are two main ways we create.

These two ways are SUPER useful to help you through many different stages of your projects, but mainly at the very beginning when you ask 'what project should I even do?'

Click here to watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmOEs5jR6tI

Things Mentioned In Video -

*The Creative Instinct Video: https://youtu.be/f6qUP55I42k

*Lots of new things added to my shop including artist goodies & classes as well as the creative coaching mentioned: http://www.paperclayjunkie.etsy.com

If you would another new video from me then I recently did a facebook live Monthly Challenge* which you can watch here: https://www.facebook.com/Jennibellie/videos/1795888037094865/ & I also sent around my monthly newsletter containing new videos so check that out if you are on my list (or if you're not you can sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/jbgoodies & receive a free Creative Ebook, Exclusive Videos, Collage Sheets, Posters...to name a few - and you get brand new private giveaways, videos, articles & offers each and every month)

I'm off to go pick the winners for the fb live challenge, as I did a giveaway on there also, which I'm intending to do more of so if you've not already 'liked' my facebook page please do so (also hit the 'add page to favorites') to stay informed of these new fb lives and giveaways ;) 

Hop you're having a great creative weekend

Jennibellie

*The Monthly Challenge is a free group I host on my online art community Journal Workshops. It is a monthly art date for us to stretch our art/journaling comfort zone in a supportive collaborative environment. If you are not yet a part of this Group come & join in with over 5000 creative comrades and get access to YEARS worth of archived challenges, complete with art vids from me & project shares from the other members, here: http://journalworkshops.ning.com/group/monthly-challengehttp://journalworkshops.ning.com/group/monthly-challenge

journalworkshops.ning.com

[Video] Art Technique Plus Over 50 Art Resources

Hi love

I've a treat for you, if you weren't at the Birthday Bash Art Party last month here's the 'cool down' technique I shared at that event. It is one of my favourite repeatable art journaling techniques; simple, yet you always learn something new when you do it.

The Birthday Bash Group is still open if you want to see what else we got up to that day, while the event itself is over new people are joining everyday as all the projects are still visible. Join here: http://journalworkshops.ning.com/group/the-2017-birthday-bash

Note: you will need to be a member of my art community, Journal Workshops, to join any groups or classes. If you are not a member yet it's free and easy, you can join my art community here: http://journalworkshops.ning.com/main/authorization/signUp?

The CRAZY AWESOME Deal of the Week:

This week saw the release of the Art Bundle for Good. This is an amazing package of tons of art courses and resources (over $2500 worth for only $97!)

http://tinyurl.com/artbundle

There are LOADS of goodies from artists you may know and love, such as Flora Bowley, Micki Wilde, Andrea Gomoll, Willowing, Tracy Verdugo, Angela Kennedy plus many others. I’m including $165 worth of my own courses, zines and kits ...so even if you only want one or two things out of this bundle it is well worth it.

I’m truly excited about this as it is a great way to get a whole bunch of treats for you while supporting your favourite artists and charity, as 25% of all proceeds go to art charity Free Arts:

You seriously do want to check this out, it is too good to miss - but it's only available for this week so don’t delay:

http://tinyurl.com/artbundle

There’s also a free ebook to grab at that link even if you decide the bundles not for you (though at all that’s in here I don’t see how that could be possible lol), to which several artists including moi have contributed to called ‘The Business of Art’! 

Happy Arting

Much love

Jennibellie

xoxo

A Retiring Year of Uncertainty (& How I've Stayed Certain) - Daily Behind the Scenes Blog 2

Hi love

This is my second daily blog behind the scenes post, you can view yesterdays here. I'm summing up what I've been up to lately all in one week! (Yep, it's a mission! lol)

In this post I'm going to pretty much sum up my entire year. 

A couple of days ago I received a message from Connie the creator of 21 Secrets, letting me know that the class I contributed to last year is retiring. This got me to thinking, I thought about all the projects I did last year, including this one. Then I thought of all I've done this year, while still a lot it has definitely been a retiring year for me, and my creativity. 

A few months ago, perhaps even a few weeks ago, I would have said I would be ready for 2016 to be over. 

Not much had gone my way, my creativity while I wouldn't use the used 'blocked' was certainly lacking. Inner critics dug their claws in early on, replacing my usual creative angels and muses. To someone who has been used to creativity being a faithful companion for years now (with a few little hiccups occasionally along the way) it is quite a heavy loss to feel! I also lost some family members, one of whom I loved beyond description, and I cannot even type this now without tears taking over (while I am through deliberate intention a happy person and I celebrate his life more than his death I still get caught unawares but my emotions welling up like this and sticking in somewhere around my throat). I have felt stuck and uncertain as to where my future lay, a feeling that soon becomes overwhelming and chocking all in it's own right.

journal page from one of the....well you can guess what kind of day!

So yes, not long ago I'd have told you to 'take it away' if you'd have brought 2016 up to me (in an 'off with it's head' Queen of Hearts tone)

Now though, as I shared in yesterdays post, things are changing. Creativity has returned. Clarity is everywhere. Passion is back. The murkiness has lifted as I stopped focusing on the obscurity of 'the future' and decided to concentrate on now. Want do I want now? A new studio*? Sure! To create a new class? Righto, let's go! Some of that gorgeous chocolate cake? Oh just one piece then! Find the right biz coach? Oh err, okay! To plan an adventure? Lemme get my planner! To create some new DIY embellishments? Whoop whoop! A cuddle with my bum bum**? Come 'ere boy *smooshies*!

I now don't want this year to end! 

I feel there's so much I still want to do! I stopped being wrapped up in what had gone wrong (which just continues the spiral) and took notice of what great things are happening now.

I'm sharing this because at some points this year I really was at a loss, really was at my lowest, but I feel better now and wanted to share how I did it. 

Things are still as uncertain for me as they were before...

but what has shifted is my attitude towards that. In truth aren't things always uncertain. Isn't certainty just an illusion we make up? Something we pretend is there to feel safe, but something that doesn't really exist. I think many people have felt their illusions shift with the political shocks this year. I felt it with Brexit. The world as a whole appears to be feeling it with the US Presidental Election results. What I noticed though is that after this year, a year of personal uncertainty, the mass uncertainty could not keep me in fear for very long - not even for a few minutes. 

Things are uncertain right now. Things will always be uncertain. My job is to be okay in spite of this, in spite of whatever is going on in my life, or in the world at large. 

Tears may well in my eyes at times but I stay in my knowing that all is well. I stay certain, because it is not the job of the world to do that for me. Our emotions, our lives, our achievements and our desires are our own responsibility. 

And as this year retires I thank all the uncertainty that presented itself in my life for teaching me how to stay certain; 

how to create, and live in, my own stability. 

Till Tomorrow

* more on my new studio in tomorrow's post!

** my Sweepie-pie-bum-delicious -

PS

As the 21 Secrets 2015 Classes are retiring this is the last chance to get some amazing classes from some of the best mixed media artists around (yep, including my humble self lol)

For 21 Secrets Spring click here

For 21 Secrets Fall click here

If you use the code 'RETIRE' you will get $30 off!

Happy Creating!

Moving on Up...into a New Studio

'we're moving on up, we're moving on out'...for those of you that don't know the song I'm sorry, for those that do I'm sorry even more for sticking the 90s back in your head lol I've got it stuck in mine as things are all about moving in my life right now. One of the main things being a new studio in a gorgeous 1850s building =)

It is not official yet, but probably will be this week and to celebrate this I'm having the biggest blowout sale I've ever had online. 

You can read all about it here:

http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/studio-sale

There is 50% off All Classes, 40% off all items in my Etsy Shop and 30% off of the already reduced Bundle of all 5 my classes. 

This sale is to raise funds for a couple of things but if you’re tempted don’t delay as it is uncertain how long this sale will continue (all is explained on the page)

http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/studio-sale

Any questions let me know

Enjoy

Tough Times, Choose Art

I’m going through a tough time (peeps that have seen the Monthly Challenge video will already know this) so I’m consciously making an effort to keep up creating art consistently, especially in those times when I feel upset/bad/confused and so find it difficult to reach for art despite knowing I will feel better for it. 

It can be easy to slip during such times, to make up (extremely plausible sounding) excuses and let your art go. 

I’m having to fight all that daily and choose art anyway because if you are a creative person it is SO IMPORTANT to give yourself this comfort/release/support/exploration/self care so that you can face the world and be the wholest version of yourself that you can possibly be in that moment in time, for yourself and others (not just for others!)…even if that means having to force yourself into it.

Art Journal Summer School started a few days ago, I’m so grateful for this because classes and groups are great guideline, a great place for this conscious effort to go. I’m going to be joining the other 500+ peeps in this class and go through the first weeks lessons tomorrow evening, if you want to join us the link is below or if you want a free ‘guideline’ then the link to my art communitys Monthly Challenge is also below. 

I’m hoping you’re living better times than I am right now but if not I know through this experience to urge you to pleeeease ensure you keep up your art…when no amount of love nor money might be able to help what is happening to you A*R*T STILL CAN. 

Choose Art

Art Journal Summer School -

http://tinyurl.com/ArtJournalSummerSchool2016

July Monthly Challenge -

http://tinyurl.com/JulyArt2016

Love, always

Jennibellie

xoxo

Finishing Your Art Journal Pages New Video Series!!

Hello my creative darling

This week I'm sharing the first in a new little video series, about taking your pages from backgrounds to complete pages. 

Each video will focus on a different theme to do with finishing your art journal pages, the first is on the art of listening to your gut, so I talk a lot about my class 'Raw Intuitive Journaling' as that is where a lot of this is from/where I mainly teach the process. You can take my Raw Intuitive Journaling Class either by going to my online art community

http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/raw-intuitive-class

or you can buy it through my Etsy Shop: 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/221489763/raw-intuitive-journaling-class.

So here is the first video 'Finishing Your Art Journal Pages #1 - The Art of Listening', click on the image to watch enjoy =) 

Come back next week for the next video where we may deal with other themes to finishing your art journal pages such as the different overwhelming factors that can stop you finishing an art journal page or focusing on ways to mix written journaling and words into your art. See you there!

Weekly Ramble's are blogposts I put out on Friday just to share whatever is happening in my art world, regardless of where I'm at in a process, or in my creative flow, or my studio etc the posts are more about capturing a glimpse of the middle than they are showing the shiny finish...though sometimes the shiny finish might be just what you get!

Start Something New to Finish Something Old...

My New Shift Project, The U-Bend of Creativity, The Difference Between Motivation & Inspiration and Other Stories all feature in this new 'Start Something New to Finish Something Old' video:

click image to view video

Challenges, Resources, Classes etc mentioned in the video that may help you get your projects finished are below: 

March Art Challenge - Finish Yo Projects: 

http://journalworkshops.ning.com/group/monthly-challenge/forum/topics/march-2016

Creative Goal Journaling Class: 

http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/creative-goal-journaling

Leonie Dawson's Goal Workbooks: 

http://tinyurl.com/ShiningWorkbooks

Arty Page Tabs Digital Collage Sheets: 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/122526214/artful-page-tabs-digital-collage-sheet

Hope you have a wonderful (-ly creative) weekend

Much love

Portfolio Loose Leaf Art Journal Flip & Christmas Class Craziness!!

Hi! Hope you've had a fabulous Christmas period and are still rolling around from how stuffed you are (she says as she's eating her Christmas choccies =) )

I have a new journal flip today, as I said I would after the last Loose Leaf Art Journal Flip, those of you in the Monthly Challenge Group may recognise some of these pages. 

Hope you enjoy:

I'm a bit late doing this weekly ramble as obviously Friday was Christmas day, though I suppose that doesn't matter much as Christmas Eve (I've no idea what possessed me) I opened the doors to my Brand New Class, 

Creative Goal Journaling:

Though to be honest despite the unfortunate timing it wasn't that much of a crazy decision. It hasn't taken that much to get it prepared and launched, though I'm pretty sure that's because I'm so passionate about it that the work it takes doesn't feel like work - and that's exactly what I can't wait to teach in this class; how to bring your goals into being in the most joyous, easy way possible. 

It is a different kind of 'creation' class. It is my most premium and comprehensive class but right now I am offering it at a Christmas Gift Price of Over 50% off: 

Click here to see all that's included in the class: 

http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/creative-goal-journaling

Much love and if I don't see you before

************ Happy New Year ************

All About Passion Projects

So this year I’ve really needed a lot of what I call ‘Passion Projects’. These are essentially the private projects I keep all to myself and they are essential for making my other projects, especially those where I’m delivering something to others so it has to be amazing, happen.

Passion Projects are the nearest thing I have found that draw me back to that feeling when I first started art journaling (and actually knowing what it was I was doing) on the floor of my flat in London in an attempt to escape the day to day pain and heartache I was going through. Those pages were the nearest thing I have found to that total sense of escapism through creative pursuit, which I now often miss in my every day journaling practice.

my old creative space (and the floor in front of it was where the main events happened) in my old bedroom in my London days

So once upon a time every project I had was a Passion Project, and you may be reading this thinking ‘yeah every one of my projects is a Passion Project’ and even ‘why would you create any project anyway Jennibellie if it’s not a Passion Project?’ Well it’s not that I don’t have passion for all my projects because I do (or obviously I wouldn’t be creating them) but there are a couple of reasons there is a level of passion difference to these I am calling ‘Passion Projects’. 

First as I said at the beginning when you begin creating things for other people the projects begin to feel different, basically because your objectives are different. I learnt this several years ago when I first started selling my handmade journals. Those journals that went up for sale could not be like those haphazard journals I was happy to create and journal in myself. They needed to be neatly made, with clean lines, made with the correct materials and techniques and they needed to last…that is not to say I people wouldn’t have brought or wanted my own haphazard journals, because I’ve seen many a person sell all kinds of things that have a, let’s say ‘creative looseness’ to them and good on them. There is just something in me that means before anything I’ve made can go out into the world it needs to have met my own personal standards, which I’m sure you can relate to if you’ve ever made a present for someone that you really wanted them to treasure. So this level of attention to a finished product can often remove the freedom I feel in a Passion Project, which again is not to say that I don’t enjoy doing it, it just means I can’t have the total abandon that a Passion Project requires. 

The second reason is to do with the escapism in the art, which I’m going to be going to be talking more about next week, as it is a whole blogpost in itself. 

So how does a Passion Project help you finish your other projects? Well if you are someone who is creating a lot of things that have a lot of elements to them, or are of a large nature, or are creations to share with other people, or are items for sale…basically if you are anyone besides those creatives who are creating 100% of the time entirely for themselves (and if you are lucky you), but even if you are just someone who is making that many christmas cards stamping one more santa will drive you crackers then a Passion Project will help you in two main ways: 1) by giving you a break from your current project and 2) at the same time instilling you with creative energy to take back to that project.

A Passion Project is a project that comes COMPLETELY from the heart and one that you are so inspired by you just HAVE to do it, you simply don’t even have the choice your inspiration is just that high. Passion Projects are actually the love child of the Creative Instinct I talked about a couple of weeks ago, and while yes every project we do must have some passion in it for us to want to do it ‘Passion Projects’ are actually rarer than you may think. I estimate you to be VERY lucky if you manage to have 30% of your entire creative pursuits at Passion Project level, even if you 100% of the time creating private things for no one but yourself (the only exception I believe is when you first ‘rediscover’ your creative side and it feels like you’ll never want to do anything else but create again  - and creative blocks, critics and burnout are things that happen to other people.) 

So my Passion Project this week? Making Orgonites:

I’m not going to go into what Orgonites are here, as they are not just a pretty thing to be made but put in the simplest way an energy balancing tool made of organic and inorganic substances, there’s a lot of science and intricacies behind it, which is very complicated to explain to anyone totally new to it so if you want to know more please feel free to look it up on your own – Dr. Wilhelm Reich is probably the best place to start. 

These are my first batch of Orgonites, which I have been researching for years before I attempted making them (as they really are that intricate and something you want to get right or you will have just wasted a lot of expensive materials). They are something that I have been excited about creating for a long time, dreaming up designs and staying awake all night with anticipation. Now I get excited about every project that comes across my path but to still be excited about creating something years after you first thought of doing it – that is a Passion Project. And every moment creating them was so absorbing hour by hour disappeared without me realising – another sign of a Passion Project.

And the project the Orgonites were helping me to create? My new Art Journal Playdate which incidentally goes live TODAY Woohoo!!

The Journal Playdate is a workshop consisting of ten video steps that are each five minutes in length or under so you can follow along then go execute, follow along then go execute. It is how I would teach you to create an art journal page WITH MEANING if I was with you.

You can check out the details of the Playdate here: http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/journal-playdates

And if you join in the next couple of days you will get 25% off!! (I like to reward my Early Birders!)

The Playdate isn’t just about making art, it is quite a profound process where every element created has a reason and meaning behind it so it is only for you if:

You want to learn how to use symbolism more in your art to convey your thoughts and emotions.

You wish to use your art journal pages as a practical tool to remove blocks that hold you back.

You would like to spend time with me to absorb the art of creating an art journal page that has personal meaning to you.

If that’s you, click the image below to come on over:

Much love, I hope to see you in the Playdate if not have a great week xoxo

Exclusive Class Video Share

Hello my loves!

I won't deny to you that I'd forgotten it was friday and therefore time for my usual Weekly Ramble post sooooooo I'm going to share an exclusive class video I shared earlier today via email as I have nothing else prepared lol (there I was earlier today sending out emails high-fiving myself and thinking 'yeah! I got something 'Jennibellie' done' & completely forgetting all about this). Because this shows my scattiness I also won't deny I've been feeling a little swamped lately, you may have noticed that I've been posting less online, it's not through any particular and I'm not looking for sympathy I'm just in a 'need replenishment' phase I think - and that's okay. We all need it those times. And that is what I shall be doing for myself this weekend! How about you?

So the video share is from my RAW Intuitive Journaling Class & I'm sharing it because it's all about how to deal with any 'icks' that come up through your art journaling - whether that be something deeply emotional or simply that you don't like how your page is turning out. This is something I get a lot of emails about/see get mentioned a lot so if this is something you're dealing with I hope this is of use to you. Click the image below or [here] to watch or download the video:

Please note: as this is obviously part of a class I mention other sections and tools that are available only in the classroom so just be aware of this if I talk about something you haven't heard of/know about. If you want to join class then it's still open and available for lifetime access, all the details of the how's & what's are here: http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/raw-intuitive-class

Much love

Happy Weekend

Jennibellie

PS want to know what specifically what I'll be doing this weekend to replenish? I'll finally be carving out some me time to dive into my 21 Secrets Workshops, which is timely if you want to too as there is a fabulous sale of 40% off of 21 Secrets Spring 2014 & 21 Secrets Fall 2014 over this weekend

You can purchase both of these workshops for $58 each (regular price: $98) or buy the combo pack at $111 (regular price $170). Sale is only over the weekend, ending Monday I think so click the images or [here] to get them at this great price & spend the weekend with me creating secrets in our studios!!

[Private Video] You Are All Right

Hi guys

Hard pushed for time today, so I took the intuition and did a video, which is right .......... 

.................

.................................

.................................

..........................

here......................

Much love

Jennibellie

Wanna RAW Journal?
Click the image below for further details
(or this link: http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/raw-intuitive-class)

RAW Intuitive Journaling is a class about accessing and expressing your own inner truth in your journaling & unlike anything I have shared before. Class is open with instant access to the classroom, downloadable content, work-at-your-own-pace lifetime access and a very affordable price, click here for full details and preview etc:

 http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/raw-intuitive-class

Cosmic Download Chronicles Part 2 (aka I'm flyinnng!)

Hello my gorgeous creative constellation (...I dunno, I'm flying high so I can only see you if you're amongst the stars!)

 I decided to do another vlog today, regarding an update on the 'Cosmic Download' blogpost I did a couple of weeks back. 

Lots of you were super intrigued about it so here's how I've flown on the current of my Cosmic Download (....and also what this doll's all about!):

Here's the RAAAW Intuitive Journaling Class preview
(and a special offer for you underneath) 

For full information of what this class is about (and to take advantage of this awesome 1/3rd off if it's a resounding YES to you) click the image above or this link here:

RAW Intuitive Journaling Class

(here's a clue, it's a yes if you're heart, gut or soul is saying so. If you don't listen then that's just strike one for not listening to your intuition in a long line that you and your art will now be missing out on by not being part of this class!)

'Honour Your True Feelings!'
(whatever they may be!)

have a great weekend

much love & arty hugs

How I Create 'Big' Projects - Behind the Scenes Video

Hello my creative friends

Less of a ramble this week and more of a 'Behind the Scenes' kinda video for you this friday. It's the video I mentioned in my vlog last week, regarding how I create 'big' projects as I'm being asked more and more for help by artists with dreams of creating a project that they are feeling overwhelmed by. 

What I share here is not the right or only way to go about creating big projects, but these 3 techniques combined together help me deal with all points of bringing a project to life. The best I advice I can give regarding this is to create the right structures for yourself to help you stay on track when all the twists and turns show up (and they will). 

Birthing a big project isn’t always easy so if you are busy creating something big, beautiful and scary I wish you luck in finding your own way to make the journey understandable, easier and fun too. Here's the video:

Have a great weekend

I'm now off to pick a suggestion for our new

Monthly Art Challenge woohoo