Tuesday 23 April 2013

WOYWW - Where Does Inspiration Scamper Off To ?

So why is it, when you finally have a couple of free hours to get creative & even a pile of stash to hand, that somehow all inspiration goes AWOL !

On Sunday it poured down here in West Wales - and after swimming & before the delights of my weekly date with the ironing board I had a whole 2 hours to play - but could I create ?

Nothing.

I have read art journalling books that say - just play - things will come together .. so I inked, I got out my new Roman Lettering stencil - I sprayed - and still nothing came together !  

I think I have discovered that the trouble is I have to have something to say ... the imagery bit isn't enough in itself  - I have to express a thought, a mood or a feeling ...

I suppose I have lived in my "wordy" world for so many years & the whole "arty" thing I am exploring is relatively new - that I can't get away from needing the words too !!

So this week my desk is a mess !
 
The pink tag book is my failure from Sunday - maybe it might become something else if my inspiration finally makes a reappearance !!

The list on the left is my crafty stash list - now updated with my Ally Pally purchases !
Ready to be kept in my purse to try to prevent duplicate purchases !!

And you can also see a couple of scrapbook page I have been working on - these are about my youngest nephew, Tom - firstly in the adventure ground in  Llyn Llech Owain our local country park ...


 And Tom lost in thought walking through the waterfalls cascading down in the caves we visited on Good Friday ..


And I have a new toy ... DH finally admitted I would never get a look in using the Samsung Galaxy tablet "we" had bought for "us" back in September - and decided it would be easier to get me my own handbag sized one - so I don't keep niggling on about never getting to use "his" one !!

I took these photos on it - Dropboxed them to my laptop to resize them & now here they are ...
I expect there is a way to do it all on the tablet - but I think lots of playing lies ahead to work out how it all works & what it can do !!


Hope you all have a great crafty week !
Ali xx

21 comments:

  1. Oh look, I am #19 just after you! if it were next week and you were participating, I would be getting an ATC from YOU! The only person I have met in real life who participates in this mad desk hop and snoop! Lucky you to get a tablet. Yes I think you are right, it will take time to get to know, but it will make life easier in the end. Love your pages and I know what you mean about needing the artwork to have a "reason" to be...not just creating for the sake of it, it kind of feels like talking to fill a void...never sounds good... Have a great week.

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  2. I do admire people who can just create and play without an end goal in sight. The Galaxy tab looks very interesting.
    Sandra @13

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  3. i don't think inspiration scampered away anywhere, it just took a different direction - your scrapbook pages are clearly inspired :)
    enjoy your new toy!
    happy WOYWW and have a great week :)
    no. 1 - can't believe it!!

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  4. I love the Lost in Thought LO. The patterns and colours are fab!
    Hugs, LLJ 22 xx

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  5. Great layouts - hope your inspiration comes back to you!! I think I must have missed your desk last week with your AP stash - it looks good!! Helen, 2

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  6. Hi there. Thanks for the peek into your creative world. Great layouts. When I have time but no inspiration I quite often make flowers, even if I just make white ones that I can colour later with inks.

    Neil#27

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  7. If I find your Mr Mojo on my travels I will send him straight home to you, naughty for leaving you like this. It is really hard when ideas just don't come to us. Your page layouts are lovely and the lost in thought one is amazing.
    Happy WOYWW and thank you for sharing your desk
    Ria #60

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  8. My mojo went off and I thought it was gone for good...I cant create to fit in with chores ...I need to do it when I get the urge or nothing happens.I love the LO's...the photo on Lost in Thought is stunning.xx58

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  9. Beautiful LO's. Happy Wednesday! SueC#93

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  10. When this happens to me I write the words all across the page, whatever comes into your head. If you are mad or fed up then rant. Then I paint over the top with gesso and then start my journal page. Works for me!
    Karen #64

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  11. We have that problem with journalling sometimes, we usually have a quote or feeling in mind when we start. Lately we've just started a background then printed the words out, and added extra layers as needed.

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  12. Ah, your mojo must be here because I have more ideas than time permits ... I'll send it straight back to you now :) Seriously, you scrap pages look great and suggest that your mojo is alive and well - I love the moody looking photo of Tom lost in thought. Thanks for sharing. Have a great WOYWW and an enjoyable week. Elizabeth x #53

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  13. Ah don't you love that dropbox! I sometimes wonder where I would be without my iPad, I love it so.

    Really great layouts.

    Happy WOYWW
    Eliza & Yoda 102

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  14. I LOVE your Lost in Thought LO!! MOJO and creativity sometimes do not meet up. Journaling has it's moods, I can not get away form using words either, but that is what makes the journal mine. So use your words!!
    Krisha #108

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  15. Great pics of Tom. and im the same with journals...cant do it. Maybe its because for you its the arty bit that has to be contrived..for me i feel such a chump doing the writing!

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  16. I understand and write of a very similar problem this week is I had as well my layout would not come right in my head or on paper so I had to give up
    Jackie 15

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  17. Lovely scrapbook pages - and a busy desk! I've tried doing a blog post on my tablet but find it much easier on laptop as I couldn't work out how to add links to my post.

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  18. Oh lucky you! Once get the new tablet figured out you'll love it! I love my iPad and am now posting to my blog with including the pics! Nice LOs. Love the glimpses of stamps I see. Happy WOYWW! Nan G #98

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  19. I know exactly what you mean! I think it comes from 'knowing' you will have crafting time just for you! Mojo goes 'oh great! I'm in her sights' and b***ers off to hide in dark corners!! I love your desk and 'Lost in Thought' page particularly - my Nephew is also called Tom and I'm immensely proud of him! He didn't get the grades for Uni this year but instead of taking a year out travelling he opted for a job with The Autistic Trust as a carer while he waits for another Uni place! To be quite honest, he loves his role so much I'm hoping he stays with it! Thanks for sharing! Sand #134

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  20. awesome pages. You aren't the only one that has Mojo problems. Hope you have a great week and thanks for sharing. I forgot it was even Wednesday until 11:50pm CDT! so I am a little late getting around. OMG! Memory issues again. Oh well better late then never. Vickie #145

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  21. Aahhh, I might have the solution for these kind of moods Ali, as I am the kind of artist that needs 'meaning and words' too... I discovered 'Glue it Tuesday' at http://artsyville.blogspot.nl/ and now - when I 'have time to create but no project in mind' I cut out random pieces of paper or photos (design paper, pieces from old-failed-artjournal pages, photos from magazines et cetera - just what 'speaks to me' at the moment) and collage it together. Then I look for phrases/words in magazines (or dive in my folder/archive with cut out words) and select a sentence/phrase/word/found poem that completes the mood of the collage. This might be something that could work for you too?! You can find some of my examples here: http://www.maritspaperworld.com/blog/?page_id=12762&album=28&gallery=44

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