Michelle Ward's 61st Crusade is about restraint. It was sad for me to discover that there's going to be a Crusade hiatus, despite the fact that I haven't been very active since moving from Germany.
There was no way I was going to let this one slide, so I went into my closet and found my chipboard journal, which I call my "Ward Boards." I started thinking about a lot of things... like how restraint is also thought of as "breathing room." Leave it to Michelle to find an exercise that's fitting and clever and meaningful!
I started thinking about words I came up with at the beginning of 2012 that ironically all started with "re." Reinvention, redefine, real, results, re-organization, refresh, resourceful, regular exercise. I was so burned out from blogging and our international move, I can't believe I hadn't thought of "restraint!"
So I was happy for this chance to try and make something a little more simple, a little more muted, a little more calm. It wasn't easy! I had to paint over the whole board when my initial attempt was way too bright and zippy. I'm happy with the result though, and it's a perfect "last" page to my journal.
There's still room in the middle of my little book to go and rediscover past exercises I wasn't a part of. All of it is still out there. I sometimes wonder if there are others like myself who would go back and work through all of that together. We could revisit what we missed! I didn't become a part of the Street Team until the Crusades were already in the 40's... imagine how much there is still out there to do...
For now, a big thanks to Michelle for bringing the creative community together, month after month for years. Personally, I'm so grateful to all the cool people and sites I've discovered through the challenges I was a small part of. I'm going to go cherish plugging away through her comments and visiting all the other participants this round, knowing it will be awhile before it happens again.
Today I went back and looked at the months I could find that I played along. It was so much fun! Feel free to take a walk down my crusader lane:
The more I think of this, I want to "re"surrect the old Crusades...
Posted by: TJ | March 30, 2012 at 03:36 AM
how perfectly fitting and beautifully restrained. there's SO much stuff in the old crusades on my "to do" list. so many I haven't even had the chance to read. an amazing REsource.
Posted by: iamrushmore | March 30, 2012 at 03:41 AM
TJ - thank you for sharing your thoughts as you REflect on the crusades. Means alot to hear how they have fit into your creative journey. I love that you REvisited your Ward Boards. Almost forgot about them. Perfect to wrap it up with a page of REstraint. This is subtle, but draws attention to the love mix of colors, and all yout hand-drawn lines. This is SO TJ. Glad to have you back on the street this month. We love you wherever you are living. Isn't cool that while your local friends are now different, your online friends are still the same.
Posted by: michelle ward | March 30, 2012 at 03:49 AM
TJ, what a great post! I love the RE-straint and Re-visiting you did. Yes, I think it would be fun to go back and do all the crusades I missed. I also love what Michelle pointed out: After you move, your local friends are different while your on-line friends are the same- I love that!
Posted by: Jane | March 30, 2012 at 11:21 PM
I love the subtle colours you used - they work very well. I too will be going back and doing some old challenges - I only discovered the Crusades a couple of months ago so I have a lot to get through! I've really enjoyed looking at your work - thank you for sharing and good luck with your future challenges.
Posted by: Diana Taylor | March 31, 2012 at 09:57 AM
It is a pity that the Crusades are over, but what would you holding you back from REvisiting the older Crusades? At the moment I am involved in pattern design: http://colourbookstudio.wordpress.com/
but if I have time to take up mixed media again, I also would love to back through the old Crusades.
Posted by: Jacqueline | March 31, 2012 at 10:16 AM
REmarkable TJ. I like seeing your words in the background, in that scratchy 'just beneath the surface' look that I think adds so much depth.
I always enjoy my "end of month, and the newspaper's finished blog cruise 'n comment" time. It's been lovely to meet you and your work via the Crusades. Thanks for sharing what you do with everyone. May the rest of 2012 be filled with creative happiness for you.
Posted by: Cath S | April 01, 2012 at 06:36 AM
TJ - I was thinking about revisiting the Crusades too - with 60 to complete, even at one a week, we would be busy for another whole year and a bit. Maybe Michelle will be back by then!
Gorgeous book cover (can't think of a clever "Re" word).... what about "REminiscent"?
Posted by: Michelle Brown | April 02, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Very cool! I kind of like that you had to paint over your first attempt and start over, it's like putting your more exuberant version behind a wall. And just think, maybe art historians a hundred years from now will find your work and digitally peel back the layers to find what you had covered up!
Posted by: Carrie | April 02, 2012 at 07:05 PM
Look at this! I really like this. I want to put big letters on something! I want to use these colors because I never do! They are neato.
Here's the deal: I'm jealous. You came up with Ward Boards. Come ON!!! I'm a cardboard fan. I have little postcard or square-shaped pieces of cardboard REady for use, and I never once called them Ward Boards, even though I know how WARDian cardboard can be!
I realize this post isn't about me, but I felt honesty was the best policy.
I honestly love it that Michelle brought us closer. And we both know she likes us equally, probably. No. I insist.
I'm off now, to see your links. What a great idea. I counted up my contributions and got confused around number three. So you are my inspiration!
Posted by: Chris | April 06, 2012 at 04:55 AM
TJ, i love your sharing here.
The 'Re' hit me most.
Posted by: Lay Hoon | May 05, 2012 at 05:50 AM