Monday, March 31, 2014

Saying Goodbye with My Markers

This is my journal. It is pretty big so I don't carry it with me. I love its blank pages where I can write whatever way I want to. I can write with fat markers or thin markers. My letters can be big or small. I don't have to worry about lines or spaces. If I feel like doodling, I can do that too.
The cover of my journal makes me want to discover new places or just sit at that cafe and have a cup of great coffee while watching people and getting new ideas for future posts. Just look at the cover. Do you see the night sky while the open air cafe is fully lit? This is how I see this March writing challenge; evening has arrived, some people have already gone to sleep, but for a portion of the writers, the light is always on. Tomorrow is Tuesday when Slice of Life will return to its regular day. Will you be joining us?



So how did I write this past month? These are the markers I use when I want to write small or be more precise. I call them my "thin markers." They don't bleed through the page, but leave a clear mark. They have colors that I like--even when correcting papers at school.



These are my "fat markers." Most of the time when I am writing in my journal I like to use these. They are bold; they make me feel strong. The colors are bright, but not neon. The color flows on the page very smoothly. I have two or three choices in each color. I can draw (technically I can't but as it is just for me, I still do it), doodle or write in different fonts.
These colors and these markers have led me on a journey of discovery. A discovery about writing, about who I am and what I want to do. These colors are part of my dream that I am working on discovering this year.

I don't write on my journal every day. But sometimes it is the best way to plan a post or just sketch a post that I might use in the future based on an idea or a quote that I have heard.

If I am at home, I might jot down ideas that I get while reading articles or blogs. If I am at work or at church (or just out and about), I usually write them down on my phone. Easy access everywhere.

Perhaps one day there will be an app (or I will know about it) that will make my typing look like writing with markers!

It has definitely taken me many hours this month to write my posts, read blogs and comment. This time has been well invested and the returns have been immediate! I have found new blogs and writers that have blessed me tremendously! The comments that many of you have left have been appreciated and read many times. 
I can only imagine how much time Stacey, Anna, Tara, Betsy, Beth and Dana along with all the other helpers have spent this month working and making sure that everything has gone smoothly. 
So thank you, to all of you who contributed to the Slice of Life March Challenge. I look forward to participating again next year! Until then, see you on Tuesdays!


34 comments:

  1. This time has been well invested and the returns have been immediate!

    I love that sentence :D
    I've appreciated taking part of this challenge with you.

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  2. I love the fact that you write with markers. I tend to be so tentative... I write a lot with pencil (when I handwrite) but I do most of my writing via keyboard. Marker is just so... permanent!

    So glad you were here, and thanks for all the times you stopped by my blog!

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    1. Markers for my journal. I can cross things out or rip the whole page out if I don't like it. That's the freedom!

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  3. You have excellent taste in markers. Pentel...those are my favorites too!!! I'm obsessed with them. I'm intrigued...what's the brand of your "thin" markers?!?! It's been an honor to write with you and read your writing this month!!!

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    1. Le Pen are the thin markers. I am so glad that we have connected via blogging and twitter!

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  4. So cool to see your colorful journal page. Now I am waiting for your doodles and drawings.

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    1. Terje, I don't think those will ever be published as artist I am not:-)

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  5. What a colorful idea. I couldn't do this because my handwriting is atrocious. The nuns would cringe. Thanks for your comments throughout the month. I appreciate the encouragement. Bob

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    1. Bob, it is not about the handwriting, just joy of writing! Your comments have been appreciated as well!

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  6. Meeting you was a highlight of the month of slicing, Jaana. Love this post with your notebook and your markers. It's fun to really be able to picture you! Be well, and I will see you on Tuesdays, and perhaps fo rreal in Ann Arbor!

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    1. Melanie, meeting you and your daughter was wonderful! I hope that we will have a chance to meet again!

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  7. Markers have a way of inviting us to write, don't you thinK?! Thanks for being such an important part of this writing community, Jaana. See you on Tuesdays!

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    1. What a great way to say it. Markers do invite me to write. It feels more creative!

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  8. One of the "lessons" I learned from this experience is to use my notebook. Maybe using markers would push me a little! :) Thanks for the journey and see you Tuesday...ah...that's tomorrow!

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    1. Please try markers! Creative spirit moves when I use markers!

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  9. Love those Pentel markers, some of the best 'thicker' ones, Jaana. Thanks for a peek onto your notebook, always fun to see what others are doing. It was fun slicing with you this month, & I'll be there with you on Tuesday! Thanks for your comments all month!

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    1. Linda, it is always joy to read your blog! I eagerly wait to see what happens with your weaving....

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  10. Really loved the glimpse of your journal. Thank you for reminding me that I can use markers or anything I want and sketch too?!

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    1. Go for it! Be creative! Inspiration might just come to visit!

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  11. What a creative way you have. I love markers, too. All the possibilities of capturing the world in full technicolor! :)

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    1. Markers, markers! In all shapes and sizes!

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  12. What a fun time this month brought on! See you tomorrow, :-) .

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  13. I love the image of the lit cafe in the starlit night and how you imagined it to be like our community of writers. So cool! I also love seeing your prewriting thoughts in your fun markers! I'm such a digital writer that I hardly ever write in a notebook, but your markers make it look enticing! (If I had handwriting as pretty as yours... lol!)

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    1. Jennifer, I don't write as much on my notebooks as I do on my computer, but at times it feels really free to take my markers and just be creative with colors, designs and styles. Couldn't you just imagine a bunch of us slicers sitting in that cafe and writing?

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  14. I love just the right markers to write with depending on what I am working on. It was fun seeing the different types of markers that you use and understanding why.

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  15. I have so enjoyed visiting and reading your slices. Love your journal and those juicy colourful markers! What a gorgeous cover!

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    1. Thank you Beverly! It is a fun journal that includes both fun and serious topics inside its walls.

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  16. Lovely post, Jaana! I'm jealous of all your beautiful markers, and I can imagine myself in that cafe, also. It has been a wonderful month of writing!

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    1. Slicers get together in a cafe with light while star gazing??? So many possibilities!

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  17. Jaana, always an inspiration! Keep on writing! See you Tuesday!

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  18. Neat comparison between the cover of your journal and the slicing community. I like it....especially the part about having a few people whose light is always on. Clever!

    I, too, like to sketch out ideas on paper. I have a favorite pad of paper and several multi-colored pens. :) For some reason, my thoughts always come out better when I'm writing on paper instead of typing on a keyboard.

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