But, we think it’s better to save the love letters for our private moments and share the ones with you that might bring some joy to your hearts too. Often, hearing about someone else’s creative awakening or discovery, or wonderful encounter with something beautiful awakens that same joy in our hearts and brightens our day. So, that’s the kind of mail we want to share with you.

Dear Bev,
Thank you so much for your great email. When I travel, I have everything with me - of course, I drive a van so that makes it easy.

But, my travel art of choice when I get a minute these days is the “Artist Journal” - by which I mean a blank sketchbook that travels easily and can include anything. I pack it in an “overnight” tote that has all those clear plastic compartments that I’m sure were not intended for the gluesticks, paint brushes, pan watercolors, colored pencils, markers, scissors, and pens that I put in them. Even a water jar and paper towels.

Packing it is *so* much fun as you try to imagine what will inspire you and try to include everything you might need. Have fun on your artistic vacation!

And we got the following letter back from Bev - after her vacation - which just brightened our day:

Hi Jessica!

Remember me (Bev).....I said I was going to Mexico on vacation and was trying to decide just what art supplies to take (the point being I can’t go anywhere without my art)? You knew exactly what I meant and suggested an art journal. Well, I had recently read an article in Somerset Studio about Sisters on Sojourn. You may have seen it too. Linda Woods is a fabulous artist who journals on anything and everything (if you saw it, you'll remember the tennis shoes). She has a real contemporary style that appeals to me. I'm an artist, but not a “sketch” artist.....I could never make an English cottage LOOK like an English cottage. This article spoke to me so much that I took it out of the magazine, something I never do, so that I could put it in an album of favorites. I had her style in the back of my mind at the time that I “spoke” to you. Your response encouraged me even more. I knew I wanted to make a journal, but not one that you sketch in.

Sooooo.....I cut about 20 small tags out of watercolor paper. I took the tags, simple watercolors (a kid’s set), black pens for writing, a few colored pens (not enough), glue, scissors and magazines (to read and cut up). I sat out on the balcony every morning and worked on it. Each page represented a different experience or observation. It came out GREAT!

I know nothing about watercolor. I just tried to make the pages bright and vary the background design. On some pages I cut letters out of magazines and spelled words in the “ransom note” style.

I had so much fun! I didn't take any ink or rubber stamps in an effort to conserve space. The one thing I would have done differently would be to take my tiny alphabet letters and black and colored dye ink pads. Where I needed the letters I judged the amount of space I needed and filled in the words when I got home.

Though I would rather have done it all on the spot, it all worked out in the end. Of course, I added matching fibers to the top. It’s colorful and fun to look at. It’s a wonderful memento. But, perhaps best of all, it kept me entertained and happy (and observant). It’s just the first of many tag journals. I teach women how to journal and though most of them are not artists, I will proudly show it off. If I knew how to e-mail from my scanner I’d send you a sample. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for responding to my e-mail. It was a pleasant and unexpected surprise. It was very encouraging! You’re a woman after my own heart!

Bev Peterson
Boise, ID