Expansion

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

- Anais Nin

I've been a fan of Anais Nin ever since I learned about her journals and sat down to read vol. I (II & III, purchased from a used bookstore, await me on my bookcase), and thus, have looked to her for quotes to help express my mood. The one above isn't very difficult to understand, in fact, the concept is quite simple, but I never felt it before. A blossoming. At least not in the last few years. College, yes, should have "expanded my horizons," but that was different; I never truely left my comfort zone. I'd taken screenwriting classes before and have been writing fanfiction for television shows since I learned to type, but now...

Many types of expansion have been happening over the last week. Turns made instead of staying the steady, worn, predictable path. One of my favorite things about mixed-media is how much fun can be had experimenting with new materials, or using materials in a new way. I swear, last weekend, when I had no paint (was out of town), I almost grabbed the jelly from the refridgerator to paint with.

This is my most ambitious project yet. It's an assemblage, not just a shadow box with pretty collage on the back, but wire and beads and found objects. I suspect some woodworking, too. It's a little intimidating, as I've never really done anything like this before....*bites nails* But it's such a personal project, more symbolic than anything else, and I'm letting emotion dictate construction and nothing else.

Thanks for all your wonderful comments on my last post. They all helped!

I've uploaded new journal pages at flickr!

I have a dilema, though! I love my journal, but there's that book I bought at the flea market, the pretty one? And the size is great, the book feels good in my hands...I kind of want to alter it and use it as a journal. Yeah, gessoing every page is a little annoying after awhile, and it IS from 1892....Then there's what Keri Smith did, which was cut the spine off and have the cover and pages spiral bound. Ack! I'll probably start working in it this afternoon, because while I adore my journal now, in the summer, no one likes having to carry a large purse!

Any words of wisdom?