Is this a Sketchery or a Diartry?

I have begun a fun new sketch journal which is a sort of sketching diary.  I read about the idea first from Gwen Diehn who blogs at 'Real Life Journals' here; http://real-life-journals.blogspot.com/2012/01/heres-recent-page-from-little-journal.html  (be sure to browse her blog for lots of other great journal ideas, including tutorials to make your own journals!)

I fell in love with the idea in her post on 'Square-a-Day Journals', and had the perfect sketchbook to dedicate to this.  Last year, I picked up this lovely handmade journal from Hobby Lobby, with a rich textured brown cover, and hand made paper... which it turned out was very soft and absorbent.  Too soft and absorbent... a wet wash will quickly bleed through the thick but soft paper, but it takes pen, pencil and very light washes okay.  Not sure how to work on the pages I'd set the pretty journal aside for others with stronger cold-press paper.  Gwen's sketch diary is composed of 1 inch squares, which felt a bit too tiny for me, so I've opted for rectangles of varying sizes shown here... (I may play with the layout but for now I like the mix and match sizes which roughly run appx. 2.75" x 3.5")  I have a weeks worth of rectangles on each page.  The book has 96 pages, so more than enough to cover a year.  Maybe I'll throw in a full page sketch on special occasions or on a whim!

(click on the photo to view it larger, if you'd like)

I've already gridded off and painted the backgrounds for the next 2 weeks, like so...

(the left side's mottled look was actually from 'bleed through' spots from the other side, painted months ago while testing the journal.  I added some dry brush strokes for texture/mood)  

I like the gentle pressure of a small sketch to accomplish daily, and as Gwen put it... 'make a quick sketch and write a few words to highlight or summarize the day.'  I think this will be a fun way to document the coming year.  I have already decided I was too wordy and not sketchy enough on the first spread.  I will definitely work on that this coming week.  More art with a short key phrase or word.  ;)

I'd love to see how others' might adapt this idea to create a daily, weekly, or whatever strikes you type of journal.  Please comment and share if you give it a try.

Still feeling the pain of the empty nest.

But I think it's getting a little better... less teary, and more resigned.  However a lovely article reached into my soul and hit me hard today, but it was great to know others feel this too, and that a talented writer put it into words...

"To become a mother, I had to learn how to care about someone more than I did about myself, and that was terrible.  But who I am now is something more terrible:  the protector who can’t always protect; the one with arms that are designed to hold, always having to let go.

Dear mother of only one child, don’t blame yourself for thinking that your life is hard.  You’re suffering now because you’re turning into a new woman, a woman who is never allowed to be alone.  For what?  Only so that you can become strong enough to be a woman who will be left.

When I had only one child, she was so heavy.  Now I can see that children are as light as air.  They float past you, nudging against you like balloons as they ascend.

Dear mother, don’t worry about enjoying your life.  Your life is hard; your life will be hard.  That doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong—it means you’re doing it right.

Read the whole article here: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/to-the-mother-with-only-one-child#ixzz1jwub6UaV