Gwen Diehn

This title inspired me to jump right into creating my own artist journals - in my case, using altered books. (I like to tell people it's "the dark side" of librarianship...) Accessible, well-illustrated information on supplies, techniques, applications, content. Fascinating sidebar stories on book-related topics such as Emblem Books; Nature Journaling; Information Design; Illuminated books. Inspired me to get started and I continue to go back to this book for ideas. See also Gwen Diehn's The show more Decorated Journal. show less

I found this title after purchasing Diehn's earlier book, The Decorated Page. It stands alone: if you are at all interested in journal making & journal keeping you will want to own both. It appeals to those of us who don't consider ourselves "artists" but want to practice more than simply crafts. I especially love the discussions of "determined vs neutral materials" and the exhortation that, when purchasing art materials, as with so many other things, "less if more." There are illustrations show more of techniques, examples, wonderful colorful illustrations, prompts, and a section on simple bookbinding with minimal investment in materials or time. An inspiring title. show less

While it is a little intimidating for a beginning crafter because of all the recommended tools and art theory (given the author's art background), the author does a fantastic job of making it all understandable. I like the way the author portrays journaling as a mindfulness experience and offers concrete methods and examples depending on the creator's goals.

Gwen Diehn is one of my favorite journal artists. She is the author if the "Decorated Page", among others, which is one of my all time favorite books about journaling.

Real Life Journals is mostly about the business of making and designing journals for your artwork. I have to confess that I am not that tempted to make my journals - but this is probably one of the most creative, well written and illustrated, book son the subject that you will find. That being said, aside from the construction show more of the journals the book includes a lot of creative, useful tid-bits about the art of journaling itself.

The inside front flap includes a mini-book-in-a-pocket-titled "Choose Your Own Bookbinding Adventure. The enclosed booklet is a very handy that leads you through the basics by asking questions and then a "if yes turn to page____, if no, turn to page___" formula that I like a lot. The back flap provides an excellent foldout chart entitled "Book Binding Essentials" - and it explains, just as it says, the basics to get you going on your journal". This is an extremely well presented, well thought out volume. I am always particularly pleased with the format and high quality of Lark Books. When they publish a book - they make everything pretty special.

The table of contents pretty well spells it out:
Design Inventory
Personal Journals
The Basics
Bookbinding Instruction (16 different methods)
Cover Instructions
Journals Past and Present

What the Tale Of Contents does not tell you about, however, is the wealth of ideas for journaling that the book includes. Watercolor, pencil, writing paired with sketches - so many great ideas on how to fill the pages of the journal that you make. I love this book - as I do all of Gwen Diehn's work. If you want to start your own journaling adventure this is the book to get. It's chock full of information and ideas that are beautifully presented. Just paging through the book can make you happy - and motivated.

For me journaling is a way to to gauge where I am by being able to see, and read about, where I've been. Journaling gives a perspective on my life that I find invaluable. I bet it would be for you to! show less