my journal
Here it is:
These leather journal covers are fairly ubiquitous in the many funky bookstores and, as a dear friend calls them, crystal-swingin' shops that dot the landscape in the area where I live. It's almost a cliche to have one or to want one. However. I LOVE my journal cover. I am a huge fan of the Art Nouveau style and also of old murder ballads, which this image really conjures up for me. She's mysterious and sad, wandering the dark, stylized forest (or is it a swamp?) in her cloak. Alone with her haunted memories. I guess it's related to my "wings of the morning" theme: I really resonate with the idea of illuminated darkness, of light coming from within seemingly impenetrable murk and deep, dark depths. Plus, can you see the moon and star button that the cord closure wraps around? Yeah. Also, I am amused by the way her hair looks like a giant rat perched on her head.
It's 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, half-size, so I fill six pages every morning. I use pencil because it flows most easily. I buy sketch books to refill it. In the long barren stretches when I have not journaled, I have kept this lovely book out where I can see it anyway, thinking I want to, thinking I should. I'm so happy to have my morning pages ritual now, and to be using this beloved object.
These leather journal covers are fairly ubiquitous in the many funky bookstores and, as a dear friend calls them, crystal-swingin' shops that dot the landscape in the area where I live. It's almost a cliche to have one or to want one. However. I LOVE my journal cover. I am a huge fan of the Art Nouveau style and also of old murder ballads, which this image really conjures up for me. She's mysterious and sad, wandering the dark, stylized forest (or is it a swamp?) in her cloak. Alone with her haunted memories. I guess it's related to my "wings of the morning" theme: I really resonate with the idea of illuminated darkness, of light coming from within seemingly impenetrable murk and deep, dark depths. Plus, can you see the moon and star button that the cord closure wraps around? Yeah. Also, I am amused by the way her hair looks like a giant rat perched on her head.
It's 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, half-size, so I fill six pages every morning. I use pencil because it flows most easily. I buy sketch books to refill it. In the long barren stretches when I have not journaled, I have kept this lovely book out where I can see it anyway, thinking I want to, thinking I should. I'm so happy to have my morning pages ritual now, and to be using this beloved object.
posted by eliza | 8:00 AM
2 Comments:
what a beautiful journal cover!! and how lovely that you get to re-use it even after a journal is filled up. very cool. i'm glad the mp's are doing you so much good. :-)
Eliza,
I love it! And I love the description you wrote--"illuminated darkness, of light coming from within seeminly impenetravle murk and deep, dark depths." That is beautiful writing and fits the image of your journal well. I have a small journal that is similar. I had kinda forgotten about it until I saw your photo. I took it out to look at it and it has an embossed tree with hearts and flowers instead of leaves. On the inside I wrote about my travels in England and about building my house. Thanks for bringing me back to it. I'm inspired to finish filling that journal because there's still some blank pages in it. Also, I found some cool post cards that I had forgotten about. These leather journals are veritable treasure chests!
Thanks for sharing your journal Eliza. It is truly beautiful and because it is so personal to you, it is anything but cliche. :)
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