Ok on to my goal

I had a bit of a disappointing evening on Thursday. It was in the virtual labs on etsy.com. It seems possible that people may not want to buy my journals as they may be perceived as something they could make themselves. Now this was a critique on one of my older journals. This one. I know I have made some more recently that do not look so "doable."

There was also some questions about the fact that I don't make the book part of my journals, that I just alter them. I realize that this is more of a concern for those in the etsy community as full handmade is more valued. As you can see in an earlier post I do want to go towards the direction of having my journals fully handmade.

Although that critique was less than fun to hear I am thankful that it is pushing me to go towards my goal more aggressively.

To that end I bought two books yesterday.

The first: Re-Bound by Jeannine Stein

The second: Bookcraft by Heather Weston


I am trying to find the best way to combine my art and fully handmade. I am concerned that people may forever view my journals as mere collages. But I will stand by my work. I love it. I believe in it.


- Sarah



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Something a little lighter

A beautiful Treasury by Nightowlcraftworks! Click the treasury and items and comment away!!!
Go Navy!!!

- Sarah

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One step at a time

I cannot say how I got here. Unable to go to work, sad and angry. I can only say that this time I'm doing it better. I am being active, creative and productive. I started making journals to simply give me something to do, something to keep hands and my mind busy. I hate the disease that got me here, but I do not hate that I am here. I feel fulfilled when I create. I feel productive. I know that I am creating art and that gives me the knowledge that I am doing something good with my situation.

I am bipolar. Maybe it seems this isn't the place to talk about this, but it is. It is why I am here, why I create the art I do. It's what keeps me from working a normal day job at this time. And so it is also what allows me to make journals and be so active on etsy.

Mostly I will speak of other artist that inspire me, my art, my shop, but occasionally I will speak of this. Because there is a face behind my journals. And I am in awe of the fact that all of my work comes out with some idea of love, peace, and hope. I cannot claim that I feel any of those most of the time, but it is comforting to know that what drives me to create is good and beautiful. And that gives me hope and even a little love for myself.

No picture today, no links, just my thoughts on why I do what I do.


- Sarah

I made a treasury!!!

It's called "Hot Drink, Good Book" It was so much fun to put together. Waiting for one to open up was a little trickier. :D


Check it out!!!
I made five more journals over the last two days!!! I am going to post one a day to spread out my listings.

The best news of all is that I have gotten my pictures closer to front page worthy!! I am so proud of this!


Have a great day!

- Sarah

New laptop!

Rob (my husband) got me a new (used) laptop!!! it is soooo much nicer than my old one. It even has a webcam so when I get featured in an etsy lab... haha I can chat.

I haven't created much new product recently. Tomorrow is going to be dedicated to getting at least 3 journals done. I am going to try and streamline my creating process. Then I can post one for mon, tues, and wed.

I go back to my "day job" probably the week after next. Not so sure what I think about that. I'll do my best and should be free again in Feb.

A night out.... simple design, small journal, perfect. :D



-Sarah

Putting aside one thing - Going to start looking at another.

I am going to stop looking at the quality of my photos for now. I can't take it anymore, so I am going to focus on something else.

I am going to start learning how to make journals. I want to know I have made the entire thing. I create each and every covering on my journals I would just like to make the "book" part myself.

Now what is the best method?
Is there any other method besides bookbinding?

So now the fun starts! Research. Youtube videos. Maybe the library. A class?

- Sarah T.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Featuring two of my journals.

This is my most popular journal. I have no idea why. :) But it has the most views and hearts on etsy.

This is probably my favorite :)

Lets try to start a blog for my shop!

This isn't what I sell but this is something I'm playing around with. Christmas tree ornaments!

Check out my shop :)

I hope to update a few times a week.
I hope to get a bit of a following.
I want to feature other shops and blogs.