“I think the tribute aspect speaks to the fact that her story/our story is as important as anyone’s. Her life was worth tribute.”
Well said. Loved that section. I have a particular nook in my heart for parental remembrance. The things we learn from them and their lives can be shattering in tiny ways, maybe not even for the writer, but the reader.
It also reminds me to make my journal extra spicy for my daughter. 😌
Thanks so much! I've torn up most of my journals (https://balampman.substack.com/p/no-58-the-journal-project) so my daughter won't have to slog through them, spicy or not (most weren't). Mind you, I've filled many more since the tearing up ceased, so I'd better get to work destroying them soon 😂
Thanks for giving me some food for thought. I’m just an amateur at creating actual art, though I like to think I’ve lived a creative LIFE. I’m doing another 100 Day project which keeps me in the process but I’m pushing up against a voice that keeps yelling at me “WHAT IS THIS FOR? 🤷♀️ Guess I’ll have a look at Jill’s website!
I suspect that the voice asking/yelling what the 100 Day Project work is "for" probably isn't the voice you should be listening to. I know those voices well, and they don't have your best interests at heart. If you're drawn to participating in the 100 Day Project, that's reason enough.
If and when you were ever ready to lead a journalling class I would be there in a heartbeat.
I appreciate the reminder of creative practice as self care. It is encouraging and validating to hear. I think I've been doing something similar. More reading, occasional journal scratchings, and writing down my dreams. I've stepped away from planting seeds and am trying to focus on growing them first instead.
I loved those descriptions of your mom's journal too. And that you looked through it and found ONE PAGE that nailed the crucial stuff that felt honest and connective. We've talked about your relationship with Jill's system and how that's gone along - I admire that you have found a place for it. I would love to think that I could use such a thing, but have the same immediate I COULD NEVER DO THIS feeling that you had. But I'd love to map out the chaos of ideas and passionate-intentions-to-start-things. Hmmmm...
Above and beyond the planner, Jill offers both one-on-one consults (the Shine Sessions), and group "follow-through sessions" : https://www.thecreativegood.ca/follow-through-sessions. Take a gander at the website... 😀... you might see something that speaks to you...
Oh boy I loved the descriptions of your mom and her boring journals and your wonderful collages and everything in this issue BA. Esp. the imperative to dial it back. I’m a big fan of dial it back!
Really loved this … your writing always makes me giggle, no matter the heft of the content. And it’s refreshing, like a cold shower on a sweltering day…leaves me a bit shaken but also feeling so damn clear!
Love this! All of it, from discovering your mom’s journals and finding them boring—but for that one raw and illuminating page—to admitting that your own journals are probably boring. (Mine are too, I think.) Also love love your shoutout to the magical Jill Margo, whose contribution to my creative practice has changed my life. I write in my planner DAILY and have done so for 16 months straight. I am happy to have my beautifully-crafted coil bound book to accompany me on my creative journey.
I do not know if I told you this or if I told you in my head but not out loud. Your Life's Work show in the context of your mother- I just felt so moved, emo, still do, by the way you gave your mother's life, spirit, soul? the space to just be what it was. You presented her just as she was. To me, whether this is true or not, you attempted, and I would say succeeded in showing who she was, to the best of your ability, with a level of clarity and lack of judgement that was beyond beautiful and I thought 'what a fucking gift. What a gift to be seen in this way. For you, amidst the context of your life and all of the ways in which our parents ways of being and knowing affect us, to be able to give her the space to be seen as who she was- a multi-dimensional human being- is such a beautiful and enlightened and humble offering. I learned so much from your exhibit. To me it felt like- it's neither good or bad, it just is. Your a beauty BA! Also, please offer that damn journal workshop. I'm dying over here for it. :)
The scene of you reading your mother's notebook gave me chills. And, I always love your notebooks and your many illustrations. It seems like a lot of it comes from cutting out images. Where do you get them from? Magazines? Books? The internet? Thanks for another lovely post!
Thank you JIllian. I've been doing collage since I left art school 32 years ago, though the front covers of my planners are more quickies than they are collage, per se. My 2023 notebook got more of a collage treatment this year 😊. I like to use old books more than anything—I've amassed quite a collection over the years. I have a collage class! It's a download—a 53-minute tutorial: https://www.balampman.com/#/collageclass/—though I wouldn't say my planner covers are representative of what it covers. You can see more of my collage work here: https://www.balampman.com/#/collage/
I would differ with your statement that your planner covers are not collages, they are quickies....what does that even mean? Your creative spontaneity, skill with the medium, and your instincts yield quick results and that does not lessen their value. Much great art has been made in the blink of an eye.
Well, I get what you're saying, but some of these are literally *one element* that I either cut or tore out and glued to the front of the planner. Zero artistry. I can't very well be selling a collage class and call those collages!
Love this post! What planner is this called(the minimalist brown is a staple)?
Hi, and thank you! The planners are produced by my friend Jill Margo, who runs The Creative Good: https://www.thecreativegood.ca/start-here
We both live in Victoria, BC, Canada, but I'm pretty sure she ships.
The planners are quarterly, so you use four of them in a year 🤓
“I think the tribute aspect speaks to the fact that her story/our story is as important as anyone’s. Her life was worth tribute.”
Well said. Loved that section. I have a particular nook in my heart for parental remembrance. The things we learn from them and their lives can be shattering in tiny ways, maybe not even for the writer, but the reader.
It also reminds me to make my journal extra spicy for my daughter. 😌
Thanks so much! I've torn up most of my journals (https://balampman.substack.com/p/no-58-the-journal-project) so my daughter won't have to slog through them, spicy or not (most weren't). Mind you, I've filled many more since the tearing up ceased, so I'd better get to work destroying them soon 😂
Nooo!! At least you have some of the highlights. Maybe add a treasure hunt or cryptogram to keep things interesting.
Ha! I'll take it under advisement 😅
Thanks for giving me some food for thought. I’m just an amateur at creating actual art, though I like to think I’ve lived a creative LIFE. I’m doing another 100 Day project which keeps me in the process but I’m pushing up against a voice that keeps yelling at me “WHAT IS THIS FOR? 🤷♀️ Guess I’ll have a look at Jill’s website!
Yes, you should!
I suspect that the voice asking/yelling what the 100 Day Project work is "for" probably isn't the voice you should be listening to. I know those voices well, and they don't have your best interests at heart. If you're drawn to participating in the 100 Day Project, that's reason enough.
Thanks! Yeah I keep tell it Shhhh! Asshole!
Yes... all those voices are big ole' assholes
I love what you do with the covers of your Planners. Such a good idea. As a fellow Planner devotee, I just stick a few stickers on and call it done.
Well, some of mine are pretty slapdash, too... the only difference being that I got the glue out!
If and when you were ever ready to lead a journalling class I would be there in a heartbeat.
I appreciate the reminder of creative practice as self care. It is encouraging and validating to hear. I think I've been doing something similar. More reading, occasional journal scratchings, and writing down my dreams. I've stepped away from planting seeds and am trying to focus on growing them first instead.
Okey dokey... there's a fire being lit under my ass to get a workshop together!
I loved those descriptions of your mom's journal too. And that you looked through it and found ONE PAGE that nailed the crucial stuff that felt honest and connective. We've talked about your relationship with Jill's system and how that's gone along - I admire that you have found a place for it. I would love to think that I could use such a thing, but have the same immediate I COULD NEVER DO THIS feeling that you had. But I'd love to map out the chaos of ideas and passionate-intentions-to-start-things. Hmmmm...
Above and beyond the planner, Jill offers both one-on-one consults (the Shine Sessions), and group "follow-through sessions" : https://www.thecreativegood.ca/follow-through-sessions. Take a gander at the website... 😀... you might see something that speaks to you...
Oh boy I loved the descriptions of your mom and her boring journals and your wonderful collages and everything in this issue BA. Esp. the imperative to dial it back. I’m a big fan of dial it back!
Thanks Anne. Dialing it back is the shit!
Really loved this … your writing always makes me giggle, no matter the heft of the content. And it’s refreshing, like a cold shower on a sweltering day…leaves me a bit shaken but also feeling so damn clear!
Wow... thank you Kristine. You couldn't have told me anything better today 🥲
Love this! All of it, from discovering your mom’s journals and finding them boring—but for that one raw and illuminating page—to admitting that your own journals are probably boring. (Mine are too, I think.) Also love love your shoutout to the magical Jill Margo, whose contribution to my creative practice has changed my life. I write in my planner DAILY and have done so for 16 months straight. I am happy to have my beautifully-crafted coil bound book to accompany me on my creative journey.
Thank you Nicole. I imagine JIll must be changing lives all over the place!
I do not know if I told you this or if I told you in my head but not out loud. Your Life's Work show in the context of your mother- I just felt so moved, emo, still do, by the way you gave your mother's life, spirit, soul? the space to just be what it was. You presented her just as she was. To me, whether this is true or not, you attempted, and I would say succeeded in showing who she was, to the best of your ability, with a level of clarity and lack of judgement that was beyond beautiful and I thought 'what a fucking gift. What a gift to be seen in this way. For you, amidst the context of your life and all of the ways in which our parents ways of being and knowing affect us, to be able to give her the space to be seen as who she was- a multi-dimensional human being- is such a beautiful and enlightened and humble offering. I learned so much from your exhibit. To me it felt like- it's neither good or bad, it just is. Your a beauty BA! Also, please offer that damn journal workshop. I'm dying over here for it. :)
Thank you Sarah! You'll be the first to know when I get that damn journal workshop together! ❤️
The scene of you reading your mother's notebook gave me chills. And, I always love your notebooks and your many illustrations. It seems like a lot of it comes from cutting out images. Where do you get them from? Magazines? Books? The internet? Thanks for another lovely post!
Jillian BAs notebooks made me think of you!
Thank you JIllian. I've been doing collage since I left art school 32 years ago, though the front covers of my planners are more quickies than they are collage, per se. My 2023 notebook got more of a collage treatment this year 😊. I like to use old books more than anything—I've amassed quite a collection over the years. I have a collage class! It's a download—a 53-minute tutorial: https://www.balampman.com/#/collageclass/—though I wouldn't say my planner covers are representative of what it covers. You can see more of my collage work here: https://www.balampman.com/#/collage/
I would differ with your statement that your planner covers are not collages, they are quickies....what does that even mean? Your creative spontaneity, skill with the medium, and your instincts yield quick results and that does not lessen their value. Much great art has been made in the blink of an eye.
Well, I get what you're saying, but some of these are literally *one element* that I either cut or tore out and glued to the front of the planner. Zero artistry. I can't very well be selling a collage class and call those collages!
You’re a genius!
Love you, Creep. Always happy to help. xo
Yay, I have a new nickname! 😅 Think I prefer Micetro, though ❤️
I promise I'll only use it this once and only because your line about mentioning me so many times that it was bordering on creepy cracked me up.
I don't mind "Creep". It's badass 😂 Just prefer Micetro is all, LOL (PS, just started using "lol". I'm on the fence about it, lol)