Happy New Year! Beginning this year with a back to the future activity of gathering, arranging, photographing, and writing…

Art in real life, Planner journal, Word of the Year, BlogsValerie SjodinDecember 31, 2024Art in real life, Artful living, gratitude, comfort, Archer & Olive, 2025 journal, gratitude journal, Commonplace journal, Commonplace, Washi Tape, planner, journal set-up Comments

2025 Word of the Year journal

Exploring my word for the new year by looking up synonyms, Scripture, and quotes about my word…

Art in real life, Planner journal, Word of the Year, BlogsValerie SjodinDecember 10, 2024Art in real life, Artful living, gratitude, comfort, Archer & Olive, 2025 journal, gratitude journal, Commonplace journal, Commonplace, Washi Tape, planner, journal set-up Comments

Granddaughter Fairies - Art in Real Life #20

Children inspire art! Drawing and painting granddaughter fairies and revisiting the inspiration children have given me.

Art in real life, BlogsValerie SjodinNovember 5, 2024Art in real life, Artful living, gratitude, comfort, #mygardenjournal, garden journal, garden, Vego, garden art, Archer & Olive, Granddaughter fairiess, granddaughter fairies, fairies, pencil and watercolor Comments

Set up for my 2025 journals

I’m using 3 main journals for the year: planner, diary, and commonplace journals. Here’s how I set them up, along with some tips, and Washi tape inspiration.

Art in real life, Planner journal, Word of the Year, BlogsValerie SjodinOctober 25, 2024Art in real life, Artful living, gratitude, comfort, Archer & Olive, 2025 journal, gratitude journal, Commonplace journal, Commonplace, Washi Tape, planner, journal set-up Comments

A NEW Journaling Idea for 2025

Here’s my journaling plan and new idea for the upcoming year, where the past meets the present in a visually pleasing way that prompts gratitude and hope.

Art in real life, Planner journal, Word of the Year, BlogsValerie SjodinOctober 18, 2024Art in real life, Artful living, gratitude, comfort, #mygardenjournal, garden journal, Archer & Olive, 2025 journal, gratitude journal Comments

Changing the way I journal + Exciting News!

Exciting news! I'm an Archer & Olive ambassador! Also settling down after transitions and difficult few years. As part of my transition, I’m changing the way I’m planning my journaling.

Art in real life, Planner journal, Word of the Year, BlogsValerie SjodinOctober 11, 2024Art in real life, Artful living, gratitude, comfort, #mygardenjournal, garden journal, Archer & Olive Comments

Tending the garden of my heart - Art in Real Life #19

The fifth post of my garden journal reflecting the metaphor of soil as a seedbed for healing of the heart. Also included is the soil recipe we used for raised garden boxes and new garden beds.

Art in real life, garden journalValerie SjodinSeptember 25, 2024Art in real life, Artful living, gratitude, comfort, #mygardenjournal, garden journal, garden, Vego, garden art, Archer & Olive Comments

Life is Like a Garden - Art in Real Life #18

It was the summer of the garden, creating a slice of Eden in the back yard. Photos, garden tour video and a bit of the process included in this post.

Art in real life, garden journalValerie SjodinSeptember 11, 2024Art in real life, Artful living, gratitude, comfort, #mygardenjournal, garden journal, garden, Vego, garden art, Archer & Olive, In the Garden, garden tour, Eden Comments

My Garden Journal - Art in Real Life #17

The fourth installment of my garden journal featuring the dwarf apple tree raised bed and small berry bushes in containers.

Art in real life, garden journalValerie SjodinJuly 22, 2024Art in real life, Artful living, gratitude, comfort, #mygardenjournal, garden journal, garden, Vego, garden art, Archer & Olive Comments

My Garden Journal - Art in Real Life #16

The third installment of my garden journal featuring the centerpiece of the raised beds.

Art in real life, garden journalValerie SjodinJuly 7, 2024Art in real life, Artful living, gratitude, comfort, #mygardenjournal, garden journal, garden, Vego, garden art Comments

My Garden Journal - Art in Real Life #15

The second installment of my NEW garden journal, focus, and learning. I’m a beginner again, and learning to grow edibles in my backyard. Just keep growing…

Art in real life, garden journalValerie SjodinJune 22, 2024Art in real life, Artful living, gratitude, comfort, #mygardenjournal, garden journal, garden, Vego, garden art Comments

My Garden Journal - Art in Real Life #14

A NEW art journal, focus, and learning. I’m a beginner again, and learning to grow edibles in my backyard. I’m so excited…

Art in real life, garden journalValerie SjodinJune 15, 2024Art in real life, Artful living, gratitude, comfort, #mygardenjournal, garden journal, garden, Vego Comments

The 100 Day Project - Days 95 - 100 Finale!

Here is the finale of my 100 day project - Days 95-100 and a flip through video of all 100 pages.

Art in real life, the100dayprojectValerie SjodinMay 28, 2024the100dayproject, art therapy, small art journaling, daily art journaling, pen patterns, Days 95-100, finished 100 day project Comments

The 100 Day Project - Days 87-94

Here is the my 100 day project - Days 87-94. Experimenting with pencil and watercolor, using a stencil as a beginning point. It’s so fun!

Art in real life, the100dayprojectValerie SjodinMay 27, 2024the100dayproject, art therapy, small art journaling, daily art journaling, pen patterns, days 87-94 Comments

The 100 Day Project - Days 79-86

Here is the my 100 day project - Days 79-86. There is no end to our creative possibilities! In these entries, each spread begins focusing on a geometric shape, squares for 79-82 and triangles for 83-86.

Art in real life, the100dayprojectValerie SjodinMay 17, 2024the100dayproject, art therapy, small art journaling, daily art journaling, pen patterns, Days 79-86Comment

The 100 Day Project - Days 71-78

Here is the my 100 day project - Days 71-78. I’m experimenting more and adding more pencil to the watercolor and pen. I’m finding the more I create, the more possibilities there are to create.

Art in real life, the100dayprojectValerie SjodinMay 7, 2024the100dayproject, art therapy, small art journaling, daily art journaling, pen patterns, days 71-78Comment

The 100 Day Project - Days 59-70

Here is the my 100 day project - Days 59-70. I’ve included 12 in this post for a couple of reasons. One reason is the first 4 entries look transitional in style to me and it feels like I’m leveling up in skill. Interesting…

Art in real life, StencilGirl, Art & Faith, the100dayprojectValerie SjodinApril 26, 2024Art in real life, the100dayproject, art therapy, watercolor, small art journaling, daily art journaling, days 59-70, flowers Comments

The 100 Day Project - Days 51-58

Here is the my 100 day project - Days 51-58. I started the second half of the project with the simplest of supplies: journal, pencil, pen, eraser and circle template. It feels like a new beginning…