More Upcycled Journals

I finished four more "upcycled" journals this weekend. I also made a journal as a gift for a friend, and started a new project that I'm pretty excited about. I can't wait to finish so I can share it with you. Overall, I had a pretty productive weekend. I had been falling behind on my bookbinding goal, but I'm starting to get back on track and that's a good feeling.

4 Simple Goals (before 2013)

Elsie at A Beautiful Mess has challenged her readers to come up with 4 Simple Goals to accomplish before 2013. These are activity oriented, rather than result oriented, goals. We also get to reward ourselves for accomplishing our goals!

I am a bit of a soda junky. I know it's unhealthy, but I like to tell myself that, as vices go, it's no so bad. However, I am generally a healthy eater with the exception of my soda habit. So, although I know I won't give up my Classic Coke altogether, I want to make it less of a ritual and more of a treat. Reward: A new dress (hopefully it will be in a smaller size too!)

I love my Polaroid camera, but the film is a bit pricey, and it's big, old, and old-fashioned looking. Since I hate the attention that I get when I use this camera, and I hoard film for that "perfect photo" that never happens, I don't use it as much as I should. I have four packs of film that I want to use before 2013 (that's 40 photos) because... well because the pictures come out awesome and it's a waste not to use it. Reward: I get to buy more film.

For a few months now I have gone "no-poo." That's where you clean your hair with baking soda instead of shampoo (I also use home-made shampoo bars on occasion). I clean it every-other-day at the moment, but the goal is to extend the time between washings as far as I can. It's not only healthier for your hair (and your body), but most people report that their hair looks nicer than it ever did with shampoo. I can tell you that I had immediate positive results. So, I have been a bit of a wuss about going longer than two days between washings, but now is the time. Reward: A professional haircut (I usually cut my own hair :P)

This is going to be the toughest goal to accomplish. If I'm a bit tired, or have a cold, or just don't feel like doing anything, I usually spend my downtime thinking about what I should be doing. I should be making more books; I should be organizing my closet; I should be cooking a nice dinner instead of opening a can of soup. I think that if I consciously choose to enjoy this time, I will actually get more done when I do decide to be active. In essence, sometimes I just need to relax! Reward: Once I feel like I can relax I will give myself an entire day off to enjoy it.

♥ Jessica

Bookbinding Goals Update

So far I have completed nine books.

But wait... "That is a Madonna cassette sitting on top" (I hear you say, skeptically). 

"Is it?"(I reply, in a smug tone)

These little books are a perfect way to keep your plans for world domination hidden. Your friends will think you carry a Madonna tape in your purse (for some reason) and never suspect that it contains all your secrets.

These "Moleskine" style journals are my personal favorite. And when I say favorite, I mean favorite to use. They are a pain in the butt to make. 

I got a bunch of nice heavy watercolor paper for the art journals. I hand sewed a headband on this one. 

♥ Jessica

Goals

"You never get anything done by planning."

-Karl Pilkington

Those words come into my head every time I try to make a plan. I can be a bit of a procrastinator, and solidifying goals usually gives me an excuse to avoid reaching them. "You never get anything done by planning" sounds like a silly statement, but I get it. 

The thing is, I NEED to plan if I am going to have enough books made for Renegade. It takes me a few days to complete a book, and I want a bountiful selection by the time Renegade rolls around next summer. I decided that I want to bring at least 150 books to the fair. That means if I average about three a week, I should meet my goal in plenty of time. There are going to be weeks that I make less than three, and weeks that I make more. I know that about myself. 

So without further ado, here are my first three books.

The first two are hardbound and full of fun recycled papers. The third book has a quarter leather binding, with hand-sewn headbands and is full of Canson art paper. 

I'm pleased that my first three books are done, and I'm happy with how they came out.  So, three down 147 to go.

♥ Jessica