Inspired by | Warmth

Inspired by: a monthly creative blog series by Riikka Kovasin and Marsha Valk

Hi there! It’s the 10th today, and I’ve got a new instalment of Inspired by for you! This time we chose a word for the theme…

Warmth

The days are getting shorter and shorter now, I’ve already started wearing cardigans and sweaters, and I’ll have to bring out the knitted scarves and gloves soon too.

I don’t think it’s a secret that I’m not a huge fan of winter or gloomy autumn weather. I don’t care about the cold, but I do mind the days in which it feels like dawn all day long.

We’ve had days like that this week in fact, and I’ll just have to get used to it again, but it’s still a bit frustrating especially when you really need to photograph or film something.

The word

Warmth – when Riikka suggested it as a theme, it immediately made me think of ‘hygge’.

I don’t know if it’s still as big of a ‘thing’ as last year. I haven’t felt the need to read any of the books about it because I think I already get the concept.

It’s very similar to Dutch ‘gezelligheid’ (though not entirely the same), and I totally need lots of it to get through the winter months.

Marsha Valk Inspired by: Warmth // Mini book 2007

I even made a mini book about it once, long before I had ever heard of the term ‘hygge’.

Old-school scrapbooking

I’ve had a look in the blog archives to see if there is a post I could link to, but… it seems I’ve never shared it here. I think it must have been a design team project (for Piens Atelier) that was exclusive to the DT blog.

Marsha Valk Inspired by: Warmth // Mini book 2007

Marsha Valk Inspired by: Warmth // Mini book 2007

Marsha Valk Inspired by: Warmth // Mini book 2007

It’s oooooold. I made it in December 2007! But the funny thing is that although I maybe would not use the exact same supplies, I could still make a very similar book today. It’s actually one of the very few scrapbook projects I’ve made that doesn’t feel super dated!

Marsha Valk Inspired by: Warmth // Mini book 2007

Marsha Valk Inspired by: Warmth // Mini book 2007

Marsha Valk Inspired by: Warmth // Mini book 2007

All of the small pleasures I feature in the mini book are still valid too, though I’m sorry to admit that I’ve gone a bit off chocolate ever since I’ve had my braces installed…

Marsha Valk Inspired by: Warmth // Mini book 2007

Marsha Valk Inspired by: Warmth // Mini book 2007

Marsha Valk Inspired by: Warmth // Mini book 2007

Marsha Valk Inspired by: Warmth // Mini book 2007

Conclusion

Sometimes I’m tempted to just throw all of my old scrapbook projects away. I’ve gotten rid of some already. You know: the ones that I didn’t like in the first place.

Honestly: it would be okay if I chucked the lot because most of the pages and projects are documented in photos anyway. But for some reason I still hold on to many of them, and this mini book is one of the few that I really like.

It was created at a time when I was only a couple months into blogging. Receiving product to create with was brand new to me. I wasn’t drowning in supplies yet and I was super stoked to get a pizza box full of new scrapbook goodies in the mail. It made me feel so inspired!

I also remember being really pleased with the photos I took. I didn’t own a DSLR, no iPhone: my compact camera was my best friend, and I carried it everywhere. I took photographing (and memory keeping) seriously. Eager to learn and get better at it.

That all seems so long ago now.

Nowadays I have several good cameras to photograph with, but I mostly use my phone. I still enjoy shooting photos, but I’m not taking memory keeping seriously at all.

I seem to be more interested in random things that just catch my eye, and most photographs I take are work-related. I haven’t scrapbooked in a long time, though I do enjoy composing digital photo books.

It will be interesting to see where I’m going next. What will change and what will stay the same? Will I still enjoy the same small pleasures in 10 years? Will I still love photographing more than anything else? And what will be the primary device to shoot with?!!

We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we!

Before you go: be sure to check out Riikka’s Inspired by post for this month on her blog Paperiliitin!

Take care, make things ‘hygge’ and have a wonderful week!

Inspired by: a monthly creative blog series by Riikka Kovasin and Marsha Valk Inspired by is a blog series by my friend Riikka and I. We decide on a theme (and that theme can be anything from a film, a book, a painting, to an item, colour scheme or material), and then we create something with that theme or thing in mind.

We keep what we’re making a secret until reveal day on the 10th when we show you and each other our creations.

Inspired by | Surprise Surprise

Inspired by: a monthly creative blog series by Riikka Kovasin and Marsha ValkIt’s the 10th, and I’ve got a new instalment of Inspired by to share!

Inspired by is a blog series by my friend Riikka and I. We decide on a theme (and that theme can be anything from a film, a book, a painting, to an item, colour scheme or material), and then we create something with that theme or thing in mind.

We keep what we’re making a secret until reveal day on the 10th when we show you and each other our creations.

Christmasworld

In January, Riikka and I both attended Creativeworld at the Messe Frankfurt. Christmasworld is being held at the same time, and it’s the fair where new products and innovative trends for seasonal decorations are presented by manufacturers and wholesalers from all over the world.

I’ve never been to that part of the Messe, but Riikka found time to go this year and got bedazzled by the glim glam and madness of it all. She described it along the lines of Easter meets Christmas with rainbows, fairies, lollipops and fluffy cupcakes in pastel colours.

But don’t take my word for it: go to Riikka’s blog post to read about it first hand!

She gave me this brochure when she got back and said it would be awesome for Inspired by.

Marsha Valk | Inspired by: Surprise Surprise // art journal spread

Surprise Surprise

The inside of the brochure isn’t super special. I think the cover says it all, so I decided to use it as a mood board.

I toyed with the idea of creating something 3D but decided to go with my art journal instead for practical reasons.

Marsha Valk | Inspired by: Surprise Surprise // art journal spread

The idea for the elephant came from a photo of one of the Christmasworld displays I found on Instagram.

Marsha Valk | Inspired by: Surprise Surprise // art journal spread

And this is what I ended up with:

Marsha Valk | Inspired by: Surprise Surprise // art journal spread

Conclusion

This was interesting!

I thought the colours of the mood board were out of my comfort zone, but in the end, I think that only the peachy pink colour isn’t one I use very often.

I really enjoyed drawing and painting the girl. I’m not that comfortable drawing ‘human’ figures, but maybe I should just explore it a bit more.

I loved mixing older and newer (to me) supplies: DecoArt Media fluid acrylics, Nathalie Kalbach’s Elephant stencil, WOW! Sparkles (Pumpkin Spice), the cute washi tape with baby animals that was kindly sent to me by Tapegarden and of course my favourite uniPosca pens!

Marsha Valk | Inspired by: Surprise Surprise // art journal spread

Now head over to Riikka. I can’t wait to see what she has come up with!

Enjoy your week!