Ephemeral Earth: Journals to invite imperfection and spontaneity.

Your art doesn't need to be a masterpiece; it just needs to be uniquely yours.

Earlier this year I began looking into working with papermakers and bookbinders in England, Turkey and Pakistan to create a line of affordable everyday sketchbooks and journals, because I realised I could not continue to make everything myself if I wanted to run a creative business in which I am not continuously slow dancing with burnout. I also know that not everyone can afford my one-of-a-kind collections, so this new venture made sense as a way forward for the growth of both my business and my own creative practice. 

The process of designing, sampling and finally production took much longer than I had anticipated which didn't leave me much time to give you a proper 'Lotus Blu' introduction to the new journals or the story behind why I designed them before adding them to The Gift Shop, so I thought I would share a little backstory of one particular design that has been flying off my bindery bookshelves! 

THE STORY BEHIND THE EPHEMERAL EARTH JOURNAL

Over the years I've had some customers tell me how much they LOVE their journals, but they often feel afraid to use them because they fear their art won't be worthy! This makes me so sad! An empty journal is an unloved object, no matter how much it cost or how beautiful the cover is, if the guts of the journal contains no written story or visual poetry, well, it's of no value. Your art and writing on the pages is what makes a journal something beautiful and something to cherish!

I wanted these journals to look like they already have history, with a story to tell. I wanted them to compel the user to get creative without overwhelm.

The rustic charm, tea-stained pages and exposed spine of the Ephemeral Earth journals were intentionally designed so to invite imperfection and spontaneity; a place for you to connect with the essence of your raw and childlike artistic spirit.

I want to reassure you that these journals are made for your messy experimentation, don't let the fear of imperfection hold you back, just have some fun; be free and wonderfully expressive.

‘‘Your art doesn't need to be a masterpiece; it just needs to be uniquely yours.’’

USE AS : 

1. A mood journal for your next project such as remodelling your bedroom, or a manifestation journal!

2. A herbarium of pressed botanicals.

3. Scrapbook of your favourite family recipes, polaroids or stapled concert tickets.

4. Poetry!

5. Collage art created with snippets from old magazines and every whimsical thought you may have!

The possibilities are endless.

USE WITH: 

Coloured pencils, technical drawing pens, gel pens, ball points, charcoal, acrylic [posca] markers, soft pastels, stamps and block prints using ink pads, gouache or gansai tambi paint.

*Although the paper is not suitable for fountain pens or watercolour, don't be afraid to get messy and have fun, let the ink bleed through and smudge, let the paint run and create blotchy marks! You could just end up with the best art you’ve ever created. Just play!

Size: A5 | Chunky, 400 pages OR Slim, 200 pages. Tea-stained 180gsm paper.

I was thinking of using my chunky Ephemeral Earth journal to document swatches of all the vintage fabric I collect along photos of one-of-a-kind journal I’ve made with them over the years. A portfolio of my work which I can look back on in my retirement and think back to these sweet days of sharing my craft with you and other creative souls around the world. I was thinking it might be a fun project to share with you on my other publication Weekend Reveries, which I hope to begin sharing more off later this summer.

Until next time,