The prompt we were given in our art journaling class was to write about what might happen if we gave more time to our creativity. Since I already devote quite a lot of time, thought and energy to my art journal (my husband thinks I’m obsessed!) I ended up writing about whether or not it is Ok to do this. I have a couple of 1950’s New Zealand women’s weekly mags from which I collaged down a few housewifely ads and painted over them thinly. I recently bought this songbirds stencil which has seven birds in a tree. I had to buy it because I sing in a group called the Songbirds and there are seven of us!

I was working on this page alongside my friend Christine, and suddenly had the idea to get her to take a pic of me looking like a 1950’s housewife. I have a dustpan in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, and I’m contemplating my daily dilemma…shall I clean the house or play in my art journal? I must admit that the house cleaning hardly ever wins!

I have included a quote which is from Howard Thurman “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Art journaling makes me come alive, as I say on this page, “At this time in my life, this is my bliss and I am following it”.