I have way too many notebooks that sit on my shelf, completely blank, because I'm afraid of ruining them. And when I DO give myself permission to start a new one, I end up hating my handwriting, sketching, or method of journaling which results in torn out pages. THEN I feel like a failure which feeds the fear. The cycle is bullshit.
I totally get it. I actually tried something else on the page before this one and hated it. I think the key is to keep doing stuff until you complete something you hate less. And then cover the other stuff with stickers or paint it all black. Or sometimes I leave it and come back and look with less critical eyes and find that I like it.
Hate less…I fucking love that! You’re saying that you don’t have to like it or love it, just hate it less. I can do that. Thank you for giving me permission to do just that.
My husband died in early March. When I finally worked up the nerve to go through his desk, I found a stack of pristine notebooks in one of the lower drawers. I lost it.
Yes, write in the pretty notebooks. Or doodle. Compose music. Make paper airplanes out of the pages. Practice your hook shot with crumpled-up paper balls. Origami cranes. Whatever works for you.
This afternoon I got the email notification on my phone for this post. All I saw was your name and "YOU'LL GET THROUGH THIS". Jenny, yesterday we had to let our dog, Maggie, go. We found out she had cancer this year when she all but collapsed on her 11th birthday in January. We thought she had weeks, but she turned that into months of good days and happy memories. A week ago we found out the cancer had fully spread to her lungs and in the last two-three days it was clear she wasn't going to rebound this time. We gave her the happiest day we could, then let her go. We are absolutely devastated. She was our baby girl, our only kid, and the house is so painfully silent we're losing our minds. She was a bigger dog, lean body and long legs, and she just filled every part of our days. I keep saying, "I don't know what to do / I don't know how to do this," because I don't know how to say it any other way. I feel so broken and lost and empty. And then I got the email with the title of this post, and it was weirdly like a surprise note from you trying to give me encouragement. A coincidence, but so appreciated. The universe knew I needed it right now. So, in a weird way, thank you. Even though you had no idea, your words came through like a personal message when I needed it most.
I sometimes wonder if the pretty notebooks are the artists version of the beautiful linens my grandmother kept in a bureau drawer surrounded by lavender sachets waiting for a "special occasion."
I use her linens now and sometimes I spill and that's ok. I keep reminding myself it's true of pretty notebooks too. Sometimes I believe it.
I hope you feel better soon (and I love that tiny sketchbook and pencil set of yours. Just adorable)
I'm a textile artist and I buy old linens to work with. One of my favorite things to buy are linens with spills because it means they've been used. (And I know I'm keeping them from the landfill.)
I have a laundry basket full of vintage linens that were my mom's that my dad wanted to get rid of when he moved 5 years ago. I pet the and refold them and some of them get used and remade. :-)
Friend, I am defending my master’s thesis in less than a month, and you do not know how badly I needed to see YOU’LL GET THROUGH THIS at the top of my inbox. The injunction to ruin pretty notebooks was needed too. Please get well soon. You’re awesome. ❤️
This topic is so relevant to me as well!! I have that self-deprecating anxiety also! I have to work on myself continually to be able to remind myself of this self limiting quality!! Although I AM EASILY REALLY GOOD AT loving animals and being caring to others, thankfully!
Thank you. I’m sick as well and having cabin fever after two days. If I only had a bear head. I need to tamp out the small fires that keep popping up with “Fridge bursting with food that needs to be cooked” and “this week is the week I am doing that big thing!” because both of these thoughts drain my battery when my sinus infection finally passes. I could not possibly love your drawings more. The “don’t be afraid to ruin a notebook” can be applied to literally EVERYTHING. Thank you.
“Ruining a pretty notebook” sounds a good bit like “using it for its intended purpose”, to me. That beautiful drawing is the proof. I sincerely hope that you’re feeling a lot better, very soon. 😘
Yes on using pretty notebooks. You already paid the money and that money was to use it and while I am a huge collector of journals and sketchbooks (if there’s one you want to know about I probably have one) I now go in expecting to just make a mess. One page is just cut out pieces from Japanese packaging goodies I’ve gotten just stapled to the page. Another has random stitches! Ruin the damn thing! Covid sucks…had it twice and now am suffering the long effects of it. I’ll ask the universe to be nice to you.
Sometimes an illness or injury could be a gentle hand on your shoulder asking you to pause a bit. When you go back to full energy, you will be stronger because of that break.
Hugs and many wishes for a speedy recovery. I finally started drawing in a very fancy (hardcover!) notebook I bought myself years ago. I realized that it looks exactly the same sitting on the shelf, whether the pages are blank or full of scribbles, so I'm filling it with birds and trees and mountains and flowers.
I needed this so much today. I'm fighting a darkness of an unknown. I'm having knee replacement surgery on Wednesday and I needed to hear that it will be ok and have permission to write in my special journals. ❤️❤️
My mom (who was bedridden for 20 years from MS before she passed from cancer) taught me to always use your favorite things. They are no good to anyone and might as well be garbage unless you use them and enjoy them. She was right. She was always right. Never be afraid to ruin a pretty notebook. It will always tell a story. ♥️
oh how much do i love "Write in your pretty notebooks, y’all." and your very gorgeous doodle... I've restacked your quote and would love to share the image but for now I'll just pin it so it can inspire me <3 .... do you ever sign your pics so that you get credit if they get shared more widely?
"Don't be afraid of ruining pretty notebooks."
I have way too many notebooks that sit on my shelf, completely blank, because I'm afraid of ruining them. And when I DO give myself permission to start a new one, I end up hating my handwriting, sketching, or method of journaling which results in torn out pages. THEN I feel like a failure which feeds the fear. The cycle is bullshit.
I totally get it. I actually tried something else on the page before this one and hated it. I think the key is to keep doing stuff until you complete something you hate less. And then cover the other stuff with stickers or paint it all black. Or sometimes I leave it and come back and look with less critical eyes and find that I like it.
Hate less…I fucking love that! You’re saying that you don’t have to like it or love it, just hate it less. I can do that. Thank you for giving me permission to do just that.
I fall back to stick men, hard to fuck up stick men.
My husband died in early March. When I finally worked up the nerve to go through his desk, I found a stack of pristine notebooks in one of the lower drawers. I lost it.
Yes, write in the pretty notebooks. Or doodle. Compose music. Make paper airplanes out of the pages. Practice your hook shot with crumpled-up paper balls. Origami cranes. Whatever works for you.
I am wrapping you up in love and light. May his memory be a blessing.
This afternoon I got the email notification on my phone for this post. All I saw was your name and "YOU'LL GET THROUGH THIS". Jenny, yesterday we had to let our dog, Maggie, go. We found out she had cancer this year when she all but collapsed on her 11th birthday in January. We thought she had weeks, but she turned that into months of good days and happy memories. A week ago we found out the cancer had fully spread to her lungs and in the last two-three days it was clear she wasn't going to rebound this time. We gave her the happiest day we could, then let her go. We are absolutely devastated. She was our baby girl, our only kid, and the house is so painfully silent we're losing our minds. She was a bigger dog, lean body and long legs, and she just filled every part of our days. I keep saying, "I don't know what to do / I don't know how to do this," because I don't know how to say it any other way. I feel so broken and lost and empty. And then I got the email with the title of this post, and it was weirdly like a surprise note from you trying to give me encouragement. A coincidence, but so appreciated. The universe knew I needed it right now. So, in a weird way, thank you. Even though you had no idea, your words came through like a personal message when I needed it most.
Oh, friend. That's so hard. I'm so sorry. You will get through this.
Oh, very lovely!
I sometimes wonder if the pretty notebooks are the artists version of the beautiful linens my grandmother kept in a bureau drawer surrounded by lavender sachets waiting for a "special occasion."
I use her linens now and sometimes I spill and that's ok. I keep reminding myself it's true of pretty notebooks too. Sometimes I believe it.
I hope you feel better soon (and I love that tiny sketchbook and pencil set of yours. Just adorable)
I'm a textile artist and I buy old linens to work with. One of my favorite things to buy are linens with spills because it means they've been used. (And I know I'm keeping them from the landfill.)
I have a laundry basket full of vintage linens that were my mom's that my dad wanted to get rid of when he moved 5 years ago. I pet the and refold them and some of them get used and remade. :-)
Friend, I am defending my master’s thesis in less than a month, and you do not know how badly I needed to see YOU’LL GET THROUGH THIS at the top of my inbox. The injunction to ruin pretty notebooks was needed too. Please get well soon. You’re awesome. ❤️
This topic is so relevant to me as well!! I have that self-deprecating anxiety also! I have to work on myself continually to be able to remind myself of this self limiting quality!! Although I AM EASILY REALLY GOOD AT loving animals and being caring to others, thankfully!
Thank you. I’m sick as well and having cabin fever after two days. If I only had a bear head. I need to tamp out the small fires that keep popping up with “Fridge bursting with food that needs to be cooked” and “this week is the week I am doing that big thing!” because both of these thoughts drain my battery when my sinus infection finally passes. I could not possibly love your drawings more. The “don’t be afraid to ruin a notebook” can be applied to literally EVERYTHING. Thank you.
“Ruining a pretty notebook” sounds a good bit like “using it for its intended purpose”, to me. That beautiful drawing is the proof. I sincerely hope that you’re feeling a lot better, very soon. 😘
agree. pretty notebook should be filled with scribble, notes, sketches etc. ❤️
Yes on using pretty notebooks. You already paid the money and that money was to use it and while I am a huge collector of journals and sketchbooks (if there’s one you want to know about I probably have one) I now go in expecting to just make a mess. One page is just cut out pieces from Japanese packaging goodies I’ve gotten just stapled to the page. Another has random stitches! Ruin the damn thing! Covid sucks…had it twice and now am suffering the long effects of it. I’ll ask the universe to be nice to you.
Jenny you are awesome! Has anyone told you that this hour?
Also, maybe consider selling your art?
Sometimes an illness or injury could be a gentle hand on your shoulder asking you to pause a bit. When you go back to full energy, you will be stronger because of that break.
Hugs and many wishes for a speedy recovery. I finally started drawing in a very fancy (hardcover!) notebook I bought myself years ago. I realized that it looks exactly the same sitting on the shelf, whether the pages are blank or full of scribbles, so I'm filling it with birds and trees and mountains and flowers.
I wish you a speedy and peaceful recovery. Thank you for this. I was feeling a bit blah and your beautiful work always helps.
I needed this so much today. I'm fighting a darkness of an unknown. I'm having knee replacement surgery on Wednesday and I needed to hear that it will be ok and have permission to write in my special journals. ❤️❤️
It will be okay. Sending you gentle hugs, friend.
My mom (who was bedridden for 20 years from MS before she passed from cancer) taught me to always use your favorite things. They are no good to anyone and might as well be garbage unless you use them and enjoy them. She was right. She was always right. Never be afraid to ruin a pretty notebook. It will always tell a story. ♥️
… same thing as saving the pretty cotton nightgowns “for a time worth wearing it!”
oh how much do i love "Write in your pretty notebooks, y’all." and your very gorgeous doodle... I've restacked your quote and would love to share the image but for now I'll just pin it so it can inspire me <3 .... do you ever sign your pics so that you get credit if they get shared more widely?