Hello and Happy New Year to you all! I am overflowing with hope and excitement today, thrilled to have sluffed off 2009 and eager to discover what this new year holds for me and for you. I have absolutely no clue where the road will take me in 2010, but I do know that I expect to share every curve, bump, detour, and straight-away with you. First, however, I want to share a little art project, fondly known as a Vision Board.
What is a Vision Board?
It is a visual representation of one’s intentions, hopes and dreams. You can paint, draw, write, collage, sculpt – whatever your heart desires – to express yourself. You can capture images consciously or unconsciously. It is an ENTIRELY PERSONAL exercise.
I prefer to create my vision boards using old magazines I have lying around. I’ve learned that the most honest vision boards are those which I don’t try to manipulate – meaning, I don’t go out and purchase a wedding magazine because I want to be in a committed relationship and I don’t have a list of images or phrases in mind when I begin. Manipulation doesn’t work! Trust me. I tried it last year for the first and only time. Never again. So, instead, this is what you do:
- Find comfortable place to sit, with pile of magazines within easy reach and cat, dog or children distracted elsewhere.
- Clear head of everything but excitement, awareness and openness for this year we have just begun.
- Pick up first magazine, open it, and QUICKLY flip through it page by page.
- Rip out ANYTHING that catches your eye as inspiring. Rip out the whole page. Don’t question yourself. Don’t hesitate. Just do it. And set it aside.
- Repeat steps #3 and #4 until you’ve worked your way through all the magazines.
- Get a piece of cardboard, wood or particle board, of whatever size you have room for in your house – because this project is NOT GOING IN A DRAWER when you are done. The size I use is 16×20, so I can slip it easily into a frame and hang it above my stereo.
- Return to your pile of ripped out magazine pages. This time, be sure you are armed with scissors. Cut off the excess from whatever image or word caught your eye.
- Now, grab some glue, tape or rubber cement. The rubber cement works best, in my opinion, but this year I used Elmer’s Glue because it was handy.
- Start with the biggest images and start gluing. Again, I recommend that you not do much planning ahead of time regarding what looks best where. Simply place glue on a given item and then approach the vision board and let YOUR INTUITION guide where you place the item.
- I encourage you to use EVERY SINGLE ITEM on your vision board that you originally pulled from the magazines. If, however, something truly doesn’t strike you as inspiring once you’re ready to assemble the board, toss it. Also, don’t be afraid to obscure one image with another. You may have layers upon layers of items.
- Once your collage is complete, step back and congratulate yourself. You’ve just made physical what is in your heart’s eye.
For added inspiration, here is my vision board from 2009:
2009 Vision Board
And here is my vision board for 2010:
2010 Vision Board
Notice how much more vibrant the one for this year turned out to be? I am in an entirely different place in my life, and this is proof.
Now we’ll just see how 2010 unfolds, shall we? And if you decide to create a vision board of your own, let me know!
Amie aka MammaLoves
/ January 1, 2010One of my goals for this weekend is to clear out a space for me to use to create. A vision board would be the perfect thing to liven up the space, don’t you think?
thanks for sharing yours
.-= Amie aka MammaLoves´s last blog ..In a Better Mood =-.
emmajames
/ January 2, 2010Amie: I think that’s a brilliant idea. I wish you best of luck in accomplishing that goal. I guarantee the reward will be worth the effort.
whollyjeanne
/ January 1, 20102010 is not only more vibrantly colored, i note that there is more space there. more focus. fewer things. it’s calmer, more confident. am trying to do my vision board (i do it in a file folder), but alas i only have pottery magazines, furniture catalogues, and fiber arts magazines. wishing i had at least one oprah mag, but oh well. i’m working with what i have. love your board – especially the words in the center left that say “the future is bright.” you go, girl.
.-= whollyjeanne´s last blog ..resolutions, schmezolutions =-.
emmajames
/ January 2, 2010Jeanne: I’m so glad you picked up on the differences too. It truly kind of blew me away, and makes me very excited for the months to come. Things just feel good, and this board reflects that feeling.
Btw, I think those magazines you have to choose from are awesome, and I’m confident you’ll find the imagery that speaks to you from them. I’ll admit, though, that I did actually have one O Magazine in my stack – a truly random one-off in a pile dominated by Time and National Geographic. There were a few AAA and a hotel magazine too.
Alana
/ January 2, 2010I love that I get to see what we talked about the other day. Thank you for sharing the pics. You’re going to have an amazing year.
.-= Alana´s last blog ..6 changes – the kick-off =-.
emmajames
/ January 3, 2010Alana: So are you, my friend. Wings are getting spread all over the place!
Dian Reid
/ January 3, 20102010 looks like such a beautiful piece of art, I love it! Thanks for your step by step, too. I’m doing a workshop on creating a vision board later this month, and love to see others’ processes…while there’s certainly more than one way to put one together, the important piece of it is what you touch on in #6…getting it UP and not sticking what you’ve cut out back into a drawer or storage bin for next time! Inspirational…thank you =)
.-= Dian Reid´s last blog ..How Best of 09 Brings Out Your Authentic You =-.
emmajames
/ January 3, 2010Dian: One of these days, I intend to create a workshop as well. Thanks for the inspiration. And I’m intrigued to know how your process of creating a vision board differs from mine as I also love to see others’ ways. It’s simply so much friggin fun, too!
Julie
/ January 6, 2010“…just made physical what is in your heart’s eye.” I love this term, your heart’s eye. I can so see the depth and stillness of this year’s board. Love the process. I think I know what I’m gonna do tomorrow. Gotta’ find me an Oprahzine…
.-= Julie´s last blog ..The New =-.
emmajames
/ January 6, 2010Julie: Yeah, the depth and stillness in contrast to last year is kinda remarkable. And please reveal if you create a board yourself. I’m cheering you on. It’s awesome self-care.
Kat
/ January 7, 2010I love this! I did a couple, smaller vision pages in a large sketch book last year. I have the poster board to do a big one, but for some reason, keeping things themed and smaller was more fun for me. Though I can’t say that I’ve flipped through the book more than a handful or two times.
.-= Kat´s last blog ..A Shivanat I am Not =-.
emmajames
/ January 8, 2010Kat: That’s exactly why I have my vision board hanging on the wall – so I don’t ignore it and, instead, I am reminded each time my eye catches it of all the potential I’m creating.