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Hi Friend,

I recently spent two weeks pet/house sitting for a friend. Leading up to it, I imagined all the ways I could use that time, creating what I thought was a pared down list:

Make art every day (plus take pictures and post on social media)
Learn how to make a loom rag rug
Do yoga every day
Spend time with friends and family
Read four books
Get in the pool and hot tub every day
Eat well, cut out refined sugar
Do a puzzle

“Stars in Her Eyes,” purple themed junk journal pages

What actually happened:

Make art ~~every~~ on several days (plus take pictures ~~and post on social media~~)
Learn how to make (two!) loom rag rugs
Do yoga ~~every day~~ one time
Spend time with friends and family
Read ~~four~~ a book
Get in the pool and hot tub ~~every~~ most days
Eat ~~well, cut out refined sugar~~
Do a puzzle

“Hot Satisfying Summer,” yellow and orange themed junk journal pages

Some of the things I learned:

I might not truly understand how much time two weeks includes. (Time is an illusion though, right?)
Adding the phrase “every day” to a goal doesn’t work for me (also much less entertaining than adding “in bed” to the end of a sentence), and therefore has been banished.
Loom weaving is wayyyyy more complicated that I thought! My friend’s mom is a prolific weaver, and she generously agreed to teach me how to make a rag rug with repurposed old clothing. The numerous steps and amount of time required was a crash course in patience (oxymoron?) and gave me equal parts anxiety about, and appreciation for, this art form. The phrase “the journey is the destination,” crossed my mind many times (often sarcastically), but in the end turned out to be true and I’m grateful for the experience.

Making a rag rug on a table top heddle loom, resulting in two very cute rugs!
My interest in junk journaling has blossomed into obsession and I now view all product packaging for how it can be repurposed (sometimes before having been emptied). If you are similarly inclined, check out my new mystery ephemera kits, a lovingly curated mix of authentic vintage and contemporary ephemera to inspire and enhance your next collage, junk journal or paper craft project.

“Ice Cream Sunrise,” pink themed junk journal pages

**Mystery Pack Ephemera Kits** (in red, pink, purple, blue, orange/yellow, green, and black/white) to inspire creative projects and bring your monochromatic junk journal visions to life, now available for purchase.

What have you been up to lately? I hope you’re having a lovely day.

Tanya

Monochromatic Junk Journaling and Realistic Expectations

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