Let's get messy

I'm copying this over from my new creative business blog. It's a bit of free fun and a wonderful challenge for you all! I would so love it if you joined in!


Three summers ago I joined a group that helped change my life. I  know that sounds a bit far fetched - and you'll be even more dubious when I tell you what the book was - but it's the truth. It awoke something inside me that had been lying dormant for a very long time.

The book was Wreck This Journal: To Create is to Destroy by Keri Smith and the group was run by coach Jamie of Jamie Ridler Studios. Over the summer of 2009 around 40 of us destroyed our journals in the most creative ways imaginable and underwent a transformation. Suddenly we realised that art did not have to be about carefully positioned paint or strategically structured design. Art could be the messy stain left over after you squashed your spaghetti between the pages of the book. Art was words, dirt, stickers, fluff. Creativity was burning, cutting, smearing. Supplies were everywhere - from the long forgotten impulse buys from the craft shop to flora and fauna or even your own hair picked up off the floor of the salon!

We mixed in some guts and a whole heap of fun and just let go. Our Muses were given free rein and they loved it! We shared our wrecking each week on Jamie's blog and inspired each other to be more revolutionary, daring and downright dastardly to our books. 

Our friends and families, at first bemused, began to join in too. By the end of our adventure we each held something really special. I for one, was truly inspired. I knew that from that day forward, my house would never again be tidy and nor would I ever be far from a tube of paint. Magic had happened!

• Does that sound good to you?
• Do you fancy quite literally letting rip?
• Want your creativity to be let loose to have a mash up with your Muse?

Well, let's do it! Join me for a couple of months of messy play with another of Keri's books Mess: The Manual of Accidents and Mistakes. Every week we can return to my blog and share our creative adventures, inspiring each other onto more daring devilment with every page.

Are you in?

Just subscribe to the list below, so I can email you the details you'll need. All you need to play is your imagination, somewhere to post your week's mess and plenty of wild, crazy abandon! Let's start sharing our first forays into letting loose on Friday 6th April.


 Please spread the word Tweet: Join the Wright Brainers for a Messy Book Club

Are you in? Register here

Buy your copy

Happy splatting tea dance

Let me tell you what's been making me happy this week - for is it not Happy Friday? I've been reliving my creative splurging activities from my Wreck this Journal summer. My new art e-course has had us doodling, staining and splatting with merry abandon. My art output had slowed down for the last few weeks - a mixture of not enough time and an attitude that every piece had to be a proper work of art, something that took hours... So back to frivilous fun is a welcome change.

Picture above comes from my journal. It started as wonderful splats from a soggy teabag dropped at height, then I flicked dark and rich coffee at it. In a nostalgic return to childhood I carved up some potatoes to make the TEA stamps. I wanted to add some collage and flicked through magazines for inspiration. This lady waved at me and yelled "pick me, pick me", so on she went. I loved the summery pattern on her dress so took that as inspiration for the rest of the piece and doodled these big flowers. A bit of fun with some inktense pencils and water and it was complete!

I'd forgotten that it's just as much fun and food for the soul to play with art too. And play I have. Unfortunately I also forgot that my VAT return is due (panic to get all the paperwork for that sorted out the weekend ahead of visit to the accountant!).

On another happy note (forgetting about the looming presence of the tax man for a while), this weekend I am planning a trip to Mexico. I bought my ticket yesterday and stocked up on all the goodies I will need this morning. I'll be there this evening when I tuck into Queso Fundido with the family, then tomorrow we'll be enjoying Chicken & Chorizo in an Almond Mole - washed down with a zingy Margarita...

OK, so the 'ticket' was actually only a cookbook but hey, with the right music, the promised sunshine and the proper mood we really could be dancing in that colourful country!

Getting into the spirit

I once started a book group. It was at work. I made some posters, sent out emails and got a fair few people signed up. I can't remember who chose the first book, but I suspect it was probably me - His Dark Materials by Philip Pulman. It was a cracking read. I arranged the first meeting and the grand total of one person, other than myself turned up, and she hadn't even read the book yet. That was the end of that book group.

Efforts since then have been considerably more successful. Last year saw my gleeful and enthusiastic participation in the Wreck this Journal Group run by Jamie Ridler. What incredible fun that was and who knew that it would be the start of such a wonderful creative journey and the introduction to some lovely new friends?

The Joy Diet followed, but like most diets, I fell of the wagon near the end. It was fun while it lasted though and in particular I just loved reading what everyone else felt and then jumping up and down with glee when they felt the same as me (in other words, I was pleased I wasn't alone in my strange attitudes!).

New Year means new books and, even better, new groups. I have to admit though that I have a whole cupboard full of books I haven't read yet. It's not that I don't read, in fact I've usually got several on the go at once, it's more that I just can't resist... Yesterday for instance I was walking past a charity shop and saw a sign in the window - ALL BOOKS 50P - well, how could I say no? It would have been rude and uncharitable not to (picked up a Barbara Erskine, Valerio Massimo Manfredi and a touring guide to Britain full of lovely maps which I suspect will be finding their way into my artwork sometime soon).

So, back to the Groups. I am now reading The Art Spirit by Robert Henri and hope to have submitted my application in time for another Jamie Ridler extravaganza - The Happy Book. The latter is a mailaround project with each participant having the book for just one week before passing it onto the next.

The Art Spirit is a bit like having a bona fide famous painter giving you lessons in the privacy of your own home. There's no pictures, no colour guides or step by step painting building. It is simply written advice and shared wisdom. Interestingly, there aren't any chapters or any form of index - it just sort of rambles and is really a collection of letters, essays and articles written by the great man. I find this slightly odd, but by the same token it does mean that this is a book that you can just dip in and out of at your leisure. I've only read the first few pages so no proper post on my thoughts or progress yet but watch this space...

I'll leave you with a quote from the book to have a ponder over.

"For an artist to be interesting to us, he must have been interesting to himself. He must have been capable of intense feeling, cand capable of profound contemplation.... Nature reveals to him, and , seeing and feeling intensely, he paints, and whether he wills it or not, each brush stroke is an exact record of such as he was at the exact moment the stroke was made."

Robert Henri

The Wrecking Ball

Well, did we have a ball or what? I certainly did. It's been so much fun!

If you can bear to sit though it, the vlog does a whistle stop of the journal. You'll spot a couple of pages still waiting for a bit of the Lisa treatment but on the whole it is a complete wrecking experience. Even if some were a bit of a last minute rush!Making the vlog was funny. I gave up in the end. I either didn't turn the pages fast enough and the music ran out or was way too fast. So you get the music just ending suddenly - all part of the wrecking!! It all adds to the experience. I think some time soon I might invest in some video software so I can make a proper film.

Well, that's it then. Wrecked. Each week I've posted and talked a little about my journey so I don't want to repeat myself. Perhaps just a little recap on lessons learnt and the joy of the experience.

1. It's been great wrecking with my son, boyfriend and total strangers! I certainly didn't expect them to throw themselves in so whole-heartedly. My son, being a five year old boy, naturally loved anything involving getting messy!
2. I've made some great new friends and found some inspirational new blogs to read, groups to join, courses to attempt and a whole new creative outlet. I've loved seeing what you've all been doing and being able to travel this whole journey with you. Thank you for sharing and for taking the trouble to comment on my posts.
3. I've learned not to be too precious about my work - to be free and not worry about the end result too much. I've learned to let go and fly with the faeries (well, maybe I already did a bit of that flying stuff...)
4. I've mastered a few new interesting artistic techniques and been inspired to learn more.
5. I've finally had the guts to actually use all those art supplies and bits of ephemera I was keeping for that 'special project'. THIS IS THE SPECIAL PROJECT!
6. I learnt the word 'chica' and discovered that I am probably one! Am I? Do I qualify?
7. I have spent way too much money on more art supplies!
8. I have created a very messy house which has stayed that way for the past two months - and now I am hooked on creation is likely to stay that way forever (except when I'm expecting a visit from my Mother)! What fun!
9. It has proved rather a distraction. Both as itself and sometimes far away from wrecking and into the newly discovered land of art journaling, layering and developing on my long-neglected collage.
10. It keeps me sane and saves me from my boring 9-5 world of terrestial broadcasting.

And what will happen to my journal now? I wrote last week that it was sharing with the Group that kept me at it. Will I finish off those last remaining pages? Will I add a little, dabble some more with those already done? Will I throw it out? Well, no chance of me losing this little baby to the dustcart. I want to keep her to remind me of the journey and yes, I'll probably pick her up every now and again - especially when looking for inspiration. I may find some interesting object on the street that's just crying out to join the random things page. I may eventually smear proper dinner in it and not just the half hearted attempt. I may even take it in the shower without the shower cap!

A huge thank you to Jamie and the rest of the crew - I couldn't have done it without you! And, I guess it's not really goodbye - merely adieu until the next time.

Finally, before I go post this and check out all your blogs, my list of more ways to Wreck This Journal:

1. Leave it on the shelf untouched - what a wrecked opportunity!
2. Send it into space.
3. Wet it, then freeze it.
4. Smear with catnip and let the moggies do the rest.
5. Put it under a sofa cushion for a few days.
6. Cover with jam and see how many wasps you catch.
7. Dance salsa on it.
8. Pour bleach on it.
9. Leave it at a lost property office for 24 hours.
10. Drive over it.
11. Fix wheels to it and use it as a skateboard.
12. Eat your dinner off it.

Until next time mes amies... Keep in touch!

Last minute rush

Well nearly. I have to confess that time did its passing thing (as previously documented) and suddenly with less than two weeks to go my journal was still requiring serious wrecking. However, a bit of pressure is what always makes a Lisa perform and so I've been letting rip this week with one page even getting a spot of double wrecking - there's enthusiasm for you!

The question that's been most of my mind this week is "would I even have got this far had I been wrecking alone?" Probably not. I have a real need to share my life experiences - I'm a gregarious soul - and finding this great gang of fellow wreckers has really been really rather lovely. How will I spend my Friday afternoons at work now? Might I have to work? (In case anyone from work reads this - that is a joke - lunchtime web browsing only, honest!). Working with you guys has taught me how to wreck, how to let go and not be so precious. I suspect that had I done this alone I would only have managed a few pages and they would have been very carefully thought out and pretty. Although, journal would definitely have gone for a walk - that's just the kind of wacky activity that appeals to me!

Adding to what Jamie mentions in her vlog. Well, I am certainly the enthusaistic starter with all guns blazing. The first few weeks I could have blogged every day about WTJ; I was doing so much and thinking about wrecking when I wasn't! The middle weeks sloooowwweeed right down and then it's all systems go again at the end, because this is one project I am determined to finish. It's a bit like that at work - initial excitement and getting stuck in, boredom with the whole thing as inevitably things never go to plan, then last minute panics which fire me up all over again and gets the creativity sparking again! However, the bit that always gets me, that I cringe over - the final finishing off, the filing, the tidying away... I want to be onto the next project! I know that there will be the odd page that doesn't get done... but here at least I can easily get away with just ripping them out and hiding them under the carpet!

So, what did I enjoy the most this week? Weeeellll, I'd been saving a couple of pages. Not quite sure why and I did them both.

'This page is a sign'. Well, this one perplexed me and I dabbled with thoughts of spiritual signs, road signs, sign language. In the end, I multi-tasked. I'm taking part in an another online course (Q: Do I ever stop? A: No!), doing some creative journaling. I needed to practice my motifs, so voila! Heart motifs - telling me to 'follow my heart'. Something I made a promise to myself to do a while ago. Heads are all very well for working out how to pay for it; but hearts are the journey's vehicle and they want you to have so much fun!

Both this and 'white stuff' are good wrecking for me - I just kind of slung the paint on my sign to see what it would turn out like and my carefully selected white collage got the gesso treatment then scribbled all over so you don't even get to see half the white things... but I know they're there - especially the unicorn who is normally very shy and came out to play just for me!

I've really grown to like wrecking. It's relaxing not worrying about what something might turn out like.

"It's supposed to be messy" - what a glorious phrase!

Before you ask, no I didn't rub my boyfriend on the page - for that is he you see atop a Majorcan mountain. It is instead a slightly twee story. Long before I met him, I always loved the perfume Ralph. And, that is his name. So, the journal smells of 'Ralph'. He smells nice too actually :)

Not content with squashing a cake on this page during a previous wrecking spree, I decided it looked a bit dull. 'Greasy stain' never was going to win an art award now was it? I doubt even Damian Hirst could pull that one off!

So many pages, so little time. But perhaps just enough for one more... Somehow, many years ago I used to be quite good at embroidery. I guess that some talents just curl up and die.

Don't stop me now...

I'm having such a good time... I'm having a ball.

Yes, after I promised myself an early night I could not resist walking past 'sticky corner' and just squeezing a little acrylic out and sploshing a bit on this obliging model doing an arty black & white swimsuit shot in Vogue. "Look at me, I'm a mermaid" she seemed to be shouting. Well, my dear now you are!

She's still work in progress - waiting for the paint to dry a bit before she gets mauled with some oil pastels and has her face made up, so thought I would blog for a while and share her unfinished state.

I have also signed up on a whim for another online group/class. A fantasy folded book no less! It keeps to the wrecking theme only this time we get to (artistically) destroy a real book! Woo! Can't wait. For me though it has to be the right book. There's a couple of old bookshops near work, no doubt run by old men in tweed and knitted tank tops, which I may have to go and have a rummage around.

We shall be 'altering' the book - which means, I think, folding; cutting; inserting; collaging and finding a home for all those interesting pictures and ephemera I have been collecting - most notably a growing pile of magazines.

Whilst browsing a market with the boyfriend the other day I discovered a purveyor of glossies 'past their sell by date' at a fraction of the cost - 3 for £2! Week 1 I bought 3. Week 2, when I dragged the poor fella all the way back again, I bought 6. Surprisingly heavy to carry around the shops in a cheap plastic bag that tries to slice through your fingers. (Thanks for being a packhorse sweetheart! xx)

Actually I think Missy Mermaid will have to wait for her make up until tomorrow. I have to be up early for a car boot sale and my eyelids are a touch heavy.... Night all

A summer shower

Well, would you believe it? As if I haven't suffered enough indignities being thrown out of windows and dragged along streets; suddenly she decides I need a wash. Well, sweetheart I've got news for you - of course I need a wash. I've got cake crumbs stuck in my spine, bits of picnic smeared all over pages and a whole host of unmentionable stains. I don't smell too fresh either (Jack Daniel's BBQ sauce may taste good but it gets a touch whiffy after a week or so!). I have to admit dear readers that at first I panicked - did you see what happened to the page she put in the washing machine? Well, let's just say there was actually nothing left to see.... You sense my nerves?

Thankfully, I needn't have worried. As soon as I saw the Moulton Brown I knew things would be OK. And such a fluffy towel! But what about my frills? Would they go limp in the water and steam? Once again, my ever care was tended to - apparently she always knew that free shower cap from the hotel would come in useful one day...

Cheating? Who dear? Me dear? No dear?

Take off

So, Jamie asks us if we slowed down a bit. Well yes... and no! Less wrecking has been done in the last few weeks but it's inspired me to be more creative and outside of my journal I have been making all sorts of little goodies and, most importantly, not being afraid to be creative and, dare I say it, DESTRUCTIVE!

I should perhaps explain the boring event page in the vlog - it was a meeting at work that was so dull I found myself in that awful situation where your eyelids appear to be having a science experiment with gravity and no matter how much you fidget and pinch yourself, nothing is going to stop them closing. Sleep wants you and it wants you NOW! Eventually you give in and nod off - probably just for a second - but always to wake up with a slight start and the question: "Did anybody notice?" written across your distraught forehead! Well, dear readers. Let's just say that this particular meeting was so boring that I probably wasn't the only one. I observed quite a number of colleagues exhibiting the symptoms listed above. When I looked back at my copious notes later (all five lines of them), and saw documented by strange scribble the actual point at which sleep took me, then I knew I had my boring event just waiting to be documented.

The page I was vainly searching for was actually hiding just behind my copious four letter words - stick the magazine page in and circle letters. I've been spending most of my creative time this week gesso-ing up magazines and pulling creations from the pages so I couldn't resist a little play with this page, though to be quite frank, painting cobblestones is not half as entertaining as catching a mermaid!

The article is from Conde Nast; the place L'Ile de Re - a beautiful island just off the west coast of France near La Rochelle. I visited for the day many years ago when I was staying with my friend Janet who lived in La Rochelle at the time. She now lives in Australia - she's very well travelled is our Janet.

Circled words include: France, sea, beaches, elegantly weathered, creamy, loveliest, rustle, glass, wine and rose-tinted! The strange marks on the text are from my wreckers' method of folding the page so it fits inside the journal and believe me, it's harder than folding a map to get it back in exactly again!

Paper airplanes are great fun - and naturally more fun when you embellish them a bit. I thought actually that this might make a great swap page as Carolyn (Beautiful Ripple Effect), my swap partner, is the 'other side of the pond' and my page will require airborne assistance to reach her. My son has been making them all week too, though I had to explain that a sheet of A4 folded in half was not quite aerodynamic enough to glide through the air in the manner in which he hoped. A short lesson in avionics later and paper plane mark II went all of 2 yards!

Right I'm off to see what all you other wreckers have been up to...

Colour me beautiful

Jamie's question this week was really interesting. "Has the wrecking moved to other parts of our lives?" Well, I've already mentioned that my house has never been so messy and frankly it is getting worse by the week, but it's also interesting to see the enthusiasm with which I'm using up all my art products - especially the ones I've been sitting on for years. I'm no longer so precious about them. I've been having a creative old time this week collaging on little boxes - ripping, sticking, painting... if the paper dries a bit creased it doesn't matter, if the rip goes wrong then that's cool too - it's just opening up another creative possibility.

It's funny, but as I wreck I often find myself planning out my blog in my mind; but the other day I did it the other way around. I lay in bed unable to sleep and thought about a page I had to tackle (colour the entire page). In my mind I wrecked and journeyed through the wrecking. You see, my original plan had been to paint a pretty picture but as I lay there thinking about it (and then jumping up to capture these thoughts on paper), I realised that I should just save that for my sketch book or an art journal. This is for new and unleashed creativity! So, I planned to just get out some colour and slosh it about in a Jackson Pollock fashion. Splashing, smearing, dragging and generally getting mucky. I imagined that at some stages the result would look quite cool but that I'd resist the temptation to just stop there and preserve my 'art' and carry on until it felt well and truly wrecked!

So, that's what I planned to write about then go and wreck. However, this felt a bit like cheating. It was too staged and planned. So, a few days later I just sat at the table surrounded by artistic paraphenalia and stuck colour on the page - paint, paper, fibre... you name it I stuck it. I even sprinkled some salt onto the watercolour (a large quantity of which seems to still be falling out of the journal). So, what did this exercise tell me - err not sure? Don't cheat? Was I cheating? Ah, what does it matter? I had fun and the page got coloured! I like it, it's messy and fun.

The gold page reminds me of being a child again and being oh so careful not to colour over the lines (I think I did better when I was 6!). The addition of shoe and handbag was another example of me being a bit bored by the task and adding a little extra interest and challenge - plus finding a use for these free stencils I got with a magazine a couple of weeks ago!

You can just see some writing on the facing page. Guess what... it was me blogging as I created again! I love the fact that I just grabbed the first piece of paper to hand - my journal - and wrote. I got wet gold all over my knuckles too!

Last thing to show you this week... a bit of fun with my 'sunset strip'.

Romantic notions

The grass was almost knee length, the sun relentless and the atmosphere humid. I just had to do it - I hitched up my skirt and ran with wild abandon through the meadow (I would like to say I was holding boyfriend's hand and we skipped along together - well he rang alongside which is near enough). For a second or two there I was transported high on a hill with a lonely goatherd but then reality, in the form of one of the worst attacks of hayfever I've ever had leapt out the pollen-soaked grass and smacked me round the nose and poked me firmly in both eyes.

Undaunted, the hopeless romantic in me allowed another impetuous moment to be seized this evening. As the rain fell out of the stormy sky with big plopping drops that jumped up from the patio, I ran around the garden celebrating in the joy of ... getting wet.

And then I ran in here and blogged about it. Yes, a strange girl. Perhaps I will stick my journal out in the rain for a few minutes to wash off the scent of stale picnic food and diminish the risk of it harbouring e-coli and other nasties (even the wasps kept away!)

Oh to be in England in the summertime...

PS: Photo - raindrops on my washing line (and whiskers on kittens)

Gleeful wrecking

I just adore the sound my journal makes when I open it...a lovely sort of unsticking noise reminding me of all the fun we've had in the last week or so. Bits often fall out of or off it too and, what's even more amazing, is that it has started getting creative all of its own...

Just look at this. First pic shows my pressed page including an amazing 'precious' jewel that glinted up at me from the pavement - what a find! See the faded red leaf on the right? Well, originally it was on the left, but it fell out leaving behind a mirror image of itself embossed in the glue. That was my journal saying "hey, look what I can do". So, I helped it out a bit and sloshed a bit of paint on top and look at the lovely result - almost a perfect copy of the original. Who would have thought it? Just goes to show that great creative ideas will pop out and show themselves to you with this project when you least expect it. I have also discovered that cherry juice makes great multi-tonal paint; but more on that when we get to my stain log page another week.

So, we went walkies this week and the journal became a handbag of sorts - complete with pocket lint. Best wrecking was undoubtedly the washing experience which I blogged about earlier in the week. I would have posted a picture if there was anything left to take! We snuggled up for the night (well actually that was last week but I forgot to mention it!).

One thing I keep forgetting to do is document my dinner. I'm wondering though that maybe this is my subconscience being a little bit disturbed about rubbing smelly food into a book. Or, maybe I am just waiting for the right occasion to document my meal. I mean ... beans on toast would be dull, right? Now... on Sunday we are having a picnic (weather permitting - this is England remember and it's Wimbledon fortnight and Glastonbury weekend so pretty much GUARANTEED rain). Well, wait and see if the sandwiches and cold sausages, cheese, bread, strawberries, crisps, chicken and even the odd ant or wasp make an entry!

Finally, aside from all the fun and games and house wrecking (I had to tidy it up briefly because my mother was visiting - but rest assured fellow messy wreckers, it is now back to the same, if not worse state as it was last week), I actually learnt something this week. It was naturally one of the things I guess we are supposed to be learning. It was about breaking free creatively; not being afraid to create something that might not be perfect and, by doing so, discovering a side to your creativity you didn't know existed. I wrote a blog post on it a few days ago if you fancy reading more.

Braveheart

I must say I'm really thrilled to be getting all these great comments on my blog. Hello readers!!

This particular one from Jamie Ridler (leader of the Journal Wrecking gang) really struck a chord with me - thanks Jamie :)

“And I loved seeing how your boredom with something inspired your creativity and wondered if that inspires you elsewhere and always.”

Do you know, she's right and, what is more, this was the proverbial kick up the bottom that was required to set me back on the right track at work. Boredom can and does inspire my creativity – “How can I make this more interesting?” is a phrase that has frequently stood me in good stead. So, I went to work today and dreamt up a fun communication involving a parody of Hello! magazine; I looked at how we could utilise YouTube at work more; I tried to find transmission towers interesting. Oh no, now it’s not working again…. Yes, I can and will find transmission towers interesting... I shan't let this renewed sense of purpose drift away. Just let them left-brainers wait... they don't know what's about to hit them...

My journal wrecking has already taught me a thing or two (other than learning that I'm a freak for taking my journal for a walk!). It's something that many of us wreckers have been blogging about - and I guess is the whole purpose of the exercise. The letting go thing; the realisation for me that what I create doesn't always have to be perfect enough to be published or take pride of place in a picture frame on the lounge wall. Creating can just be for the joy of sploshing paint on paper or words on the screen.

So, last night I put my money where my mouth is and sat down at my very messy dining room table (if you don't believe me, take a look at last Friday's vlog!). I wanted to paint but I was tired and didn't have much time to plan and detail, so I just 'painted'. I let the paintbrush do the talking and, without too much consideration, let the wild side of my muse rip. I took myself off to the Highlands and let the sounds of the pipes carry the smell of sweet heather and the cries of the clans onto the page and the result is as you see. It's by no means perfect - but I enjoyed every second. In fact, so carried away was I that I had another go! This time, in an English country garden I really just sploshed and sloshed in an impressionistic sort of way with the eventual plan to tidy it up a bit (aka have more fun) in Photoshop, so one palette knife filter later and we have our riotous flower bed.

So, what have we learnt here. Well, a reminder that boredom can be the gateway to creativity and that perfection is not necessarily the end we are looking for. At work for example, perhaps they are not yet ready for my idea of perfection. I've mentioned before that they wanted to make 'small improvements' so perhaps a little experimentation may go down well after all...

Watch this space!

Sunday evening syndrome

Nearly 8pm and the gloom sets in. Perhaps I should have opted for a career that involved shift work, one of those four days on four days off type things then Sunday evening syndrome would be a few and far between experience. Or of course, if I ever managed to put pen to paper in a more lucrative fashion, maybe I could be that professional writer/creator of my dreams and work whenever I damn well felt like it! Tonight, not even the pleasure of writing (or seeing that I had 18 comments on my last blog post - thank you everyone!), can quite lift the cloud of despondency settled firmly upon my bonce. That's the trouble with weekends, they are just so much more fun than going to work. I can also look forward to at least an hour of tossing and turning in the bed, unable to nod off and obsessing about how tired I'll be when the alarm trills into life at 6.30am (ouch!). Is it just me or does everyone have trouble sleeping on a Sunday night? Still, look on the bright side - at least I've done the ironing* and who knows, there may just be something worth watching on TV ... and the England ladies won the World Twenty20 in the cricket!

* Speaking of ironing - that Keri Smith has a lot to answer for... Thanks to her great idea, my ironing (YES KERI, THAT'S MY IRONING - NOT MY PAINTING OR WRITING OR DOING NICE CREATIVE THINGS) took me much, much longer than usual. Why? Well, could be something to do with picking off tiny pieces of pulverised paper pulp from my darks' wash? Tear this page out and put it through the wash she so thoughtfully suggests. What a wheeze. I even smeared it with some suitable stains to see if Persil really does wash whiter. When I unloaded I couldn't find it anywhere. It certainly wasn't in the trouser pocket any more or tucked in a sleeve or sock. I stuck my head in the washer drum, spun it around a few times in a most perplexed manner (the drum that is, not my head). Then I noticed the tiny specks of white adorning my black t-shirt; my son's school sweatshirts; my best new skirt from Monsoon; my new lime green top....

Going round in circles

A little vlog to show you a few pages to get things started, but I like writing about it more so writing is what you'll get! Apologies on the film for describing every page as my 'favourite' when clearly that can't possibly be true - blame it on camera nerves! Also, I thought about saying sorry for the words 'pick your nose' on a page, but this journal is about being naughty isn't it?

The tag I wrapped comes from this lovely Cornish artist.

It's been a liberating week in more than one sense. Firstly, was my failed attempt on Monday to lose a page on the London underground. Well, it finally happened today and I have the photographic evidence to prove it, though the adventure wasn't without its mishaps. This morning the tube was running a bit delayed so consequently was packed tighter than the ubiquitous can of sardines. I barely had room to breathe let alone rummage in my bag and then think about photography composition. The return journey was a little quieter but still enough bored travellers to watch with interest as the girl in the brightly coloured top stuck a torn piece of paper on the advertising and took photos of it (while avoiding eye contact with any passengers!). I timed the exercise to coincide cleverly with arrival at my stop so I could do a quick runner. Unfortunately though the guilt kicked in when a recorded voice announced "please ensure that you take all litter with you".

"It's not litter" I say. "It's Art!" I held my head high, the strong-willed journal wrecker that I am and left my page to enjoy its liberation on the Victoria line.

It's a social thing this wrecking. I have both my son and boyfriend involved as well as some total strangers who doodled on a page for me. 'Paint with glue' was crying out for the attentions of a five-year-old.

Boyfriend kindly chewed and ripped a bit but he needs more practice...

Even tried to get the cats involved. Had a discussion with Leah about cat attitude. You know what they're like. Leave a magazine or paperwork around and they'll instantly sit on it - UNTIL YOU WANT THEM TO!

My cats are Olympic Gold Medal winners at rubbing in dirt. They do enjoying leaving their mark around the place, so I thought that smearing a few footprints on a page would be a piece of cake for them... I strategically placed said journal under catflap, yelled out their names and waited. Photo says it all...

Some of my wrecking has a sort of plan to it, I am collecting ephemera and ideas as the week progresses. 'Fill the page with circles' was a perfect outlet for me. I didn't want to just draw round things, I wanted some real brightness and colour. As luck would have it, in my blanket box rummaging I found an old birthday card I'd kept simply because I loved the bright circular pattern. So, this was my basis, then I pulled out all manner of interesting papers and cards I had been keeping for 'creative moments'. At last I was using them - wonders will never cease! At first I was actually afraid "what if I need it for something?" Nah Lisa. I think you'll find you need it for this and if you haven't found a use for it in the last five years...

The more observant among you will notice that a square has sneaked in (you can even lift up surrounding circles to view its sharp corners!). Ah, but I thought it was a bit of fun - a square tomato on a page of circles - why not? At the back of my mind though was always the notion of wrecking and destruction. Sticking pretty circles on the page is a bit tame I suppose. Maybe if I cover up the instruction a bit rather than leaving it on show... How about a bit of overlapping of the edges..? Hmm, could get clever with the page number... Now, I have a pretty page. Do I have the guts to actually destroy it? Eek. And, as you know, I'd been saving some of these scraps for years... Well here we go. I'm thinking bold paint circles, reckless, free...

What was it again?

I've talked before about my brain being too full of ideas, and this trait continues apace with an alarming side effect. Now, if I could just remember what that side effect was... ah of course, I keep forgetting stuff. How can it be that I can lie in bed at night dreaming up the most intelligent of blog postings, creative artistry and original journal wreckings and then forget them all by morning? It's like all these thoughts run out of my head, tumble over the pillow, then roll across the carpet and squirrel themselves away in little hiding places waiting for some tiny jogging of the memory to have them reassembling themselves in coherent form possibly days later. As I snuggle down under the duvet in a cocoon of creative thought, I even find myself thinking "there's no way I could possibly forget that, it's a fantastic idea", or ... at least it was... as by morning it has retreated into hiding.

After much frustration, I took the natural course of action and installed a notebook and pen within easy reach. FOUR TIMES I had to turn the light on last night... Was there to be no respite from this cavalcade of recordable thought? Could I not just have pressed fast forward and got it all out in one go?

Eventually sleep claimed me and this evening I picked up my notebook (the contents of which I had naturally forgotten) ready to be inspired into creativity this evening. I switched on the pc, flexed my fingers and readied myself to pour forth...

And the moral of this story: ideas that come to you in the small hours aren't necessarily good ones. There is a reason that you normally forget them by morning!

Maybe it's because (I was) a Londoner...

One of the things I love about London is the ability for its inhabitants to dress as eccentrically as they wish without anyone paying undue attention (unlike Northampton where such behaviour would have you cast as a lunatic). Is it a trait of acceptance from Londoners? Or perhaps an inbuilt tolerance of creativity when surrounded by such magnificent art, buildings and culture? I would hate to think it's simply because there are so many other insane souls wandering around that nobody notices another.

You may have surmised from this musing that I was in London today and you would be correct, though it was but a flying visit to talk comms with a fellow creative soul (although worryingly we are both aware of the existence of this website - don't worry Bill, your secret is safe with me!).

I have to keep making the pilgrimage to our capital as it feeds my soul. I'm lucky enough to be making the trip twice this week which is just as well as I had a disappointing journal wrecking experience. I had carefully torn out the 'lose this page' in readiness for disposing of it on the tube and sending it on a journey of infinite possibility. Regrettably, once I was seated comfortably on the Northern line (Bank branch) I discovered that though I had remembered my journal, the page had somehow been either lost (which would have been OK after all) or simply left at home. It was the latter so we shall attempt to say our farewells again on Thursday. Perhaps is just didn't want to be left on the Northern (misery) line as it used to be called in my day and hopes for a a more regal class of travel on the Victoria later in the week.

I chose an unusual photo with which to illustrate this post tonight but it was deliberate. Stand in the general vicinity of where I took this and you see age and neglect one direction but modern shining Gherkins in the other. It's a part of the essential character of London. Yes, I know you get this with other cities, but allow me to indulge myself... it just inbues more meaning for me somehow because I am so in love with the place. When I'm rich I'll have a place in Hampstead (close the Heath, Vale of Health perhaps) with a blue plaque on the wall (I'll want to soak up their creativity!) and a country manor with acres of meadows and woodland to frolic around in; preferably not too far from the sea...

Freaky Friday

I've used this word a few times in the last week or so, once indeed to refer to this journal wrecking malarky. This evening it was lurking in the antique wooden chest in my lounge, just waiting to give me a big warm hug. I was rummaging around in this lovely piece of old furniture looking for my watercolour pencils which I probably haven't used in about 20 years...

First aside... Wonderful people (that's you!), the reason I was digging them out was YOU! Yes, you and your journals. When I stumbled upon this project less than a week ago I was desperately searching for an outlet for my creativity. I have so many ideas, materials, emotions, words, characters and just STUFF I want to express, I didn't know where to start. This little book seemed just the ticket. Follow the instructions and let go and see what happens, how perfect.

After a frustrating week harrassing the poor postman it finally deigned to appear on my doormat today. And this is where we return to the main story - why I was looking for my coloured pencils.

I thought they would be just the perfect medium for giving a spot of colour to my meerkat on page (oh, hang on, it hasn't got a page number yet... one second.... page...) 1027. As I was rummaging, my first thoughts were "It's working already!" Yes, I'm only on page 1027 and already I'm taking creative inspiration from different sources. It doesn't have to just be about neat floral watercolours; let's dig out the tools of my youth!

Now there's a lot of stuff in this chest:

• Top layer = lots of interesting bits of wrapping paper that I plan to do some sort of collage or decoupage with
• Bit further down = old curtains and a blanket (well, I think it is actually supposed to be a blanket box!)
• Bending over = wedding photos (I got married 10 years ago today and divorced around 1 year ago today... moving on...)
• Starting to get back ache = what's in this envelope?

Oh wow! All sorts of treasures from my past. Some photos, a genuine fake bank note from when I worked on the set of the first Batman film, my gymnastics and swimming certificates (pretty basic, don't think I was some kind of wunderkid athlete) AND..... Finally we get to the point.... an old journal from when I was age 6, 7 and 8 (according to the flysleeve). Aside from the joy of rediscovering an old friend on such an auspicious occasion, I was also overwhelmed by the contents. You see, dear readers and fellow journal wreckers, it bears a startling resemblance to journal age 39.

We have pages of writing written sdrawkcab; a page of random scribbles; pages stuck together; pages entirely coloured in; secret code; as well as some just plain old weird stuff. And do you know what is so great about it? It reminds me that it doesn't matter what you create... it's all in the fun of creating, so just get stuck in and let the creative juice flow.

Before I shoot off, allow me to share some time-travelling journal with you as I must return to 'colour in' my meerkat (and possibly share him with you) before bedtime. You might actually get to see more of Wreck this Journal 2009 than just me throwing it out of the window eventually!

Oh go on then, here's a sneak preview of the page... not finished yet but I need to go to bed...

Learning how to film needs more work...

Just view it with your head on one side! More later, I have much journal wrecking to do...

Journal wrecking - a fortunate discovery

Another serendipidus moment! I've been thinking today about how I really need to prioritise my creative projects a little. Things are getting somewhat out of hand. I've got my novel's characters threatening to go on strike (I caught them making little placards the other day and packing sandwiches); a shop's worth of soap and bath bombes scenting the house out; numerous collections of ephemera getting me ready for my mixed media collaging and a fresh watercolour sketchbook screaming at me from the drawer I hid it in while tidying up in readiness for a parental visitation.

Today was the day when some sort of list making (and formal organisation of limited free time) would be in order. In fact, son and I tackled the day's main activities and chores rather successfully in this manner with reading practice included in ticking things off the list (talk about clever multi-tasking).

So, while the little fella watches Lightning McQueen learn a few moral lessons for the 50th time, I thought I'd just pop on t'internet as a valid excuse for not making my creative priorities lists. In fact, what better way to distract yourself than by delving for yet more inspiration from one of my favourite blogs. My muse is herself off to be inspired by joining a book blogging group. The concept behind it being that a community of bloggers work their way through a book together, sharing their experiences by posting on their own blog and by reading what other participants are sharing. And the book in question?

This little beauty. A hands-on, get stuck in and make yourself dirty, have a go, creative journal. The theory behind the destruction is that the reader/creator is guided through the creative process via a set of instructions that encourage brave experimentation, letting go and allowing the inner muse free rein. Materials required are everything from 'grass' to 'happenstance' and 'grease' to 'gumption'.

So, how will this reckless abandon possibly help me in organising my artistic 'to do' list? Well, it's about getting stuck in, receiving a spot of direction and igniting that creative fire. Burn baby burn and watch this space!