Friday, May 4, 2018

What is a Dreambook?

Hello lovelies,

Thanks for popping in. I have been really busy over at Ivytree Studio again, so just a quick share here. Will hopefully be catching up on a couple of projects I have been working on thus far in 2018 and posting here about them. I will try to keep the posts short and sweet. 

Hope you enjoy your stay while here in my little corner of the internet. ;) Leave me a comment or two and let's connect. 

Dreambooking


So, are you interested in what exactly "Dreambooking" is?  Well, I have been doing it for nearly two decades and it has helped me so much in my faith journey and relationship with God but also as a Highly Sensitive and Creative person, it has kept me sane and emotionally healthy. I can really recommend it. 

One of my many creative projects is the GraceLilly Faith Art , the Bible and Prayer Journaling branch of Ivytree Studio.  I love God's Word and I love expressing it in creative ways. My Dreambooks are one such way. I am not so big on creating art IN my Bible but I do love to decorate parts of it at times. I am not big also on products and technique but more on journaling in a Travel Notebook or Journal about my journey with God or shall I rather say His journey with me.  

Something that is near to my heart is how God's Word is treated. It is not an art surface. It is meant to be studied and read and it is a "Place", a garden to sit still in and hear Him speak to your spirit. Being creative with it should always be the last step. 

READ - STUDY - LISTEN - PRAY - THEN ART


I want to make a difference in this world for my King and so I will be the voice in the desert that calls:  Don't use God's Word as just another of your hobby experiments just because you are bored with cardmaking, scrapbooking, planner layouts, general journaling and whatever else tickles your creative fancy AND because the creative industries are now promoting their products and want you to get caught up in tons of art products and stuff that you actually don't really need.  Remember that God's Word is still God's Word and His purpose for it is to reach your heart and for it to live their. If you need to express it creatively to help you memorize and make it part of your life, go ahead. Just treat it with the respect it deserves. 

I also create devotional kits, because I am a teacher and creating content is what I do best and if I can create content that spreads the Word and encourage fellow believers, I will do it. But I want to be clear that this is my ministry heart that makes me want to step forward and put something out into the world that honours God. I believe you can use what you have and still be creative. I believe that a little pretty paper, some glue and scissors and maybe some paint or pencils/pens and a journal is actually what you need. 

I use magazine cutouts form Christian magazines and I use the stash that I have.

My devotionals (and I have only created a couple of printables and two devotional kits) are my way of encouraging other women like me, to keep moving forward in their faith. 

You can go to my GraceLilly Faith Art blog to read more about my process. I just thought I would share on my personal blog a little bit about it. This blog here is where everything I do, all my projects, comes together for me. 

I use to work in an A4 journal. Just a normal school exercise book is fine to use. As a teacher that was what I had available two decades ago, when I started on this Dreambook journey.  Keeping things simple and affordable is what will give you the most joy and freedom. Don't think that you need a ton of expensive journals or products to enjoy journaling about God's Word or to create your prayer journals.

This past year I have started using Travel Notebooks. I made my own cover (Midori) and I love making my own little insert Notebooks. I love that I can have several going all at the same time and do different things in them. My process is evolving and growing as I grow and I love that. The smaller version means I am more mobile and can take it with me wherever I go. That is a real plus for your Faith journey and especially for your prayer journey. 

As creatives, we tend to hop from one project to the next and work on many creative projects at once. Between work, play, rest and our time with God, things can get blurry. So, for me streamlining my personal process to the TN's has helped me be more organized and I have been able to be a lot more creative and purposeful in my journaling. 

When it comes to journaling, it is such a healthy habbit, no matter what you journal about. Especially for Highly Sensitive Artistic types like myself. It keeps us grounded and focussed on possitive and healthy thoughts. It keeps us moving forward also in a productive way.

I can really suggest "Dreambooking" to you. 

Leave me a comment on this post if you are interested in knowing more or drop me a line by completing my contact form to the left in the sidebar. 






The kit









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