Where has the time gone?

That was the question I asked myself this weekend. The month is almost over and I am about half way done with my first page. I am enjoying the time I have spent working on this so far, and wishing I had more time available to devote to it right now. I finally decided on a size, mainly because it is what the work I have done so far suggested, ending up with a 4 1/2 inch square. I have also been sticking with just seeing where the page leads me, instead of planning it out. I believe that has been the most challenging part of the project so far.

I started the project with a thought of what this journal page was going to be about and I am finding that although it has helped me to look at one particular issue in my life, it has grown to be so much more. I have found myself inspired to start writing again and have decided that I will be putting a poem or journal entry on the back of each page that is inspired by the completed piece. I am making myself wait until the piece is complete to write, but the words are already echoing in my head and heart and it feels so good to be creating in this way. It has also been freeing in terms of my self-confidence and love for myself. I found this really came out last week when the group I belly dance with had a hafla and I had the most fun I have ever had just improvising a dance and letting it flow from my heart with no worries about how I looked, or was the technique perfect, all the usual tapes running through my head. It was simply being in the moment, feeling the music and letting it out.....in exactly the same way the beads have been inspiring me to just let them be free without constraint or plan.

I also took some time out on Saturday and took a class from a fellow journal project member and I loved it. It was the first time I had taken a beading class and I really loved it. I made a pretty little necklace that I actually went home and finished over the weekend and am happily wearing today :) It was also so much fun to sit and work and talk with other bead enthusiasts and share ideas and thoughts and just be in a supportive, creative atmosphere.

Well back to work for now, counting the hours until I get home tonite and can play some more. The beads are calling :)