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Fifteen accounts of life, death, and everything that interferes.

I've been wanting to do this shot for a really long time. Writing is something that is extremely important to me. I do it every single day and I believe that it's one of the only timeless, classic arts left.

So, from left to right, I will describe the 15 journals that I am currently filling up.

1. Bought this one week ago downtown Chicago at the Art Institute. My father pointed it out and it truly has a very "sketch book" feel to it. Once you open it up, it's lined with gold paper and then pristine cream pages that are just dying to be scribbled all over. I plan on using this as a photo/journal book. Meaning that I will put a photograph on each page and write a story on each page that relates to the photograph in some strange, abstract way.

2. I carry this pup everywhere I go! This was bought for me as a gift from my parents. They got it in Australia... It comes with an interesting story. The leather that makes up the cover of the journal was skinned from the buffalo that the people who made this raised. They burned the design of the sun into the journal and filled it with their own handmade ink. They bound it with bamboo and the pages are made of recycled rain forest paper. I've been filling it up for about a year now and I absolutely love it.

3. This is my private diary that was purchased as a gift from India. I love the color and if you look closely, there is a design of a hand on the cover. I started this last summer and plan on finishing it whenever that time rolls around. I write in my diary about 4 times a month but do not keep it in my bag. It's very sacred and meaningful to me.

4. This is my public journal where I basically document lists of things going on in my brain. I have things I want to do in America, things I want to do while I'm alive, places I want to move, people I want to meet, letters to several people, photographs, everything. I can't wait until this is done.. This is the first time I have ever done a public journal.

5. My aunt and uncle got this for me. It was imported from Indonesia and is completely eco-friendly. Believe it or not, the cover was made from the skin of... road kill! The pages are made out of recycled paper. I use this for drawing and just little sketches. I absolutely love it. It's like the hidden treasure you forget about and go back and read...and completely feel the same feelings again.

6. I bought this in Hiroshima, Japan. I actually do not use this journal. However, it's important to me. The pages are made out of recycled cranes.. I love this because every time I look at it, it sort of writes itself in a way I never could. I can stare at the pages and remember my trip to Japan and remember those poor people that died in the Hiroshima bombing. This is definitely one of my favorite journals.

7. This is a daily planner/food journal. Although I have a MacBook, which, no lie, is great. I need to write things down to actually remember to do them. It helps me keep my day organized and is so bright and cheery! I absolutely love it and hardly ever leave home without it.

8. This was a gift from my cousin, Jill. She gave it to me this past Christmas and I use it as sort of a second diary. But in a way, this diary is more like documenting stories that I never, ever want to forget. My diary is about the present and this diary is about the past.. I believe that writing is the only way to hold onto the past as well as let go of it.

9. This is, yet again, another bright journal! I had a little black book where I kept my ideas for a long time, but I couldn't find it for the shoot. I use this because it is tiny enough to keep in my purse. I take it everywhere and jot down whatever it is that makes me feel inspired or happy or just an image I see and fall in love with. A lot of photoshoot ideas are in here! No peeking! :-)

10. Quite possibly one of the most haunting, beautiful journals in my possession. It was purchased last year in October. The journal was shared between my mother, my brothers, and me. My mom was diagnosed with stage four cancer and we wrote to each other or to ourselves just so we were all on the same page and in tune with one another's thoughts. I still read it now and I admit, I tear up almost every time.

11. This journal was given to me when I was just becoming a teenager. Today, while I was gearing up for the shoot, I decided to thump through it... HA! I wrote some pretty silly stuff while I was growing up. I pinned a golden angel on the side of it and wrote "Poet" when I was 12 on the cover. It makes me laugh tremendously.

12. This journal was given to me when I had just started the sixth grade. Sixth grade was a really, really hard year for me. I had a lot of issues with being myself, being consistent, and being social. Some of the things I read in here were so dark and just depressing. They are mainly all songs and looking back, I was not a bad writer when I was young at all. I had a pretty strong sense of identity, actually.

13. & 14. So, the top one was given to me as a gift from an old guitar teacher. He thought it would be a great way to start figuring out how to learn tablature and notes simultaneously. I also was taught piano from this little book. It's fully equipped with quotes from prodigious musicians which makes me happy.
&
The bottom one was given to me as a Christmas present. It was refreshing to get a new one- the old one was becoming cluttered. I just wrote in it tonight! I love it!

15. So, this is the journal that I made this winter. My great grandmother left my mother a set of 4 books of poetry. They were antiques and could probably be sold for like, 150$ or something. However, I had other plans.... :-) I butchered them to make myself as well as one of my best friends a journal. I actually do not use this as much as i should. It's about the coolest thing you will ever see in your life. I am extremely proud of it and was influenced to make it by my dear friend, Ashley.

So, these are my journals for this year. There is such a beautiful story behind each journal.. as well as the beautiful stories within them.

Comments and faves

  1. ★

    SIRHENRYB.is ****the dreamer****, Leslie Kwan, pineridge_cowgirl111, eye Dare, and 421 other people added this photo to their favorites.

  2. *Out of my Mind* (51 months ago | reply)

    These are fantastic. Such awesome stories of their origins and beautiful covers and materials.

    --
    Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)

  3. SIRHENRYB.is ****the dreamer**** (51 months ago | reply)

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called SIR HENRY AND CO..., and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

    you are a exelent writer
    could you please write somthing for the groupe
    greetings from a snowy day
    henry

  4. tatumtatum (51 months ago | reply)

    Wow Jenna, so you've been to Japan? I want to go there so badly! I've just started keeping a journal. I just have one though, now I want more!

    That one made from your grandmother's poetry, that's pretty awesome.

  5. niki </3 (51 months ago | reply)

    you have a very beautiful collection of journals. i especially love the first one, it is a source of inspiration to me.
    so thank you :]

  6. suburban contessa (51 months ago | reply)

    omg! you can juggle a lot of journals, girl! i used to write in journals but once blogging came along I stopped. but like you, i'd have several going at a time.

  7. lookaroundandsee (51 months ago | reply)

    Thanks for this interesting posting.....stay on.....:-))

  8. michèlevanvliet (49 months ago | reply)

    wow, amazing! this makes me want to write again myself. i used to do it but now i'm too busy with my exams. when they're over i'm gonna start again. definitly. this is really inspiring. :)

  9. Jenna Carver (48 months ago | reply)

    I'm so glad that this was inspiring! It seemed a bit better than "What's in my bag...." Haha!

    @Who will stop the rain: Get writing, girlllll! It's awesome to look back on that stuff!

  10. taraviolet. (47 months ago | reply)

    so original and interesting.
    i want to write again in my journals.
    great shot.

  11. chloe marisa (47 months ago | reply)

    i have journals like that...
    some things i just look back on
    this is a nostalgic shot for me
    and it makes me think about every journal i've written in.
    I had switched to computer this year. this makes me think i'll switch back.

  12. Jannygirl (47 months ago | reply)

    Finished my 12th composition notebook today and thought of you! :c )
    www.flickr.com/photos/jannygirl/2738935673/

  13. Sophia Rapata (46 months ago | reply)

    wow, that last one... grand idea..
    I have a few journals myself .. each for a diff reason. very similar to the ones you have. but they def don't look as pretty. I just use those composition ones.. like Harriet the spy, haha..
    but now i stopped writing in journals n started drawin in sketchbooks..

  14. elizabeth.anne (46 months ago | reply)

    i love writing also. this is such a great pictures, with a story behind it. i think my favorite is the second one. or 15.. they all are wonderful.

  15. specialkayley [deleted] (46 months ago | reply)

    Amazing x

  16. ---___000 [deleted] (45 months ago | reply)

    Great stories. Photos become much more real when there's a story that's somehow attatched to it.

    I've tried keeping journals many different times, and I always end up forgetting about it. I'm bad at keeping things up :p

  17. kristenhaines9 (45 months ago | reply)

    :)

  18. Tonya Ashe (45 months ago | reply)

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Creations Of The Heart, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

  19. Luca_Fp (45 months ago | reply)

    Wow

  20. eagle stirreth (45 months ago | reply)

    Great photo......and great idea,too !!!!

  21. hilda_r (45 months ago | reply)

    Great photo. I journal too and this inspired me to maybe keep a few more journals at the same time.

  22. nicknelso (45 months ago | reply)

    Amazing!!! I especially love this passage: "They were antiques and could probably be sold for like, 150$ or something. However, I had other plans.... :-) I butchered them to make myself as well as one of my best friends a journal"

  23. )^( (45 months ago | reply)

    very impressive!

  24. ipagey (44 months ago | reply)

    Fantastic!

  25. Tia Maria and More (44 months ago | reply)

    He he he - I have a collection of journals too. Empty. I love books and I must always buy a book with the intention of writing in it.
    Never do. 'coz once you write in it, it is not new anymore.
    How sad is that.?
    heheh - Love your collection, and how special is Book #10... lovely.

    book 15... hmmm you have given me an idea - my Mum passed away a couple of months ago and I could do something like that with stuff she has collected over the years... She was a big cutter of newspaper clippings and always sent me some trivial piece of info. Like "Baby born with two horns" or "how to clean canvas on your boat" LOL... Thanks heaps..... ANOTHER project for me to think about...

    Might just note that in my journal for later reference.. LOL....

  26. Planet Nadiah (44 months ago | reply)

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Random Fascinations, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

    This is such a great photo.

  27. RoadsterGrrl (44 months ago | reply)

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Planners & Journals, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

  28. c_meisenzahl (44 months ago | reply)

    VERY cool, that's quite a collection!! ;-)

  29. tara*marie (44 months ago | reply)

    I love love love journals!! I have so many too. I liked reading what you used each for.... some good ideas! Keep writing!

  30. tarteaucitron_2007 (43 months ago | reply)

    I love your title for this pic and the way you have organized your writings - very inspiring!

  31. Mi_Yo_Ko (42 months ago | reply)

    i love to look and read urs ^^

  32. vannadear (42 months ago | reply)

    I thought I was the only one with 10 or more open journals ^_^ thanks for sharing the stories behind each one, very awesome!

  33. Avarine (42 months ago | reply)

    beautiful, i love journals and notebooks. when i am old i want to have a treasure box full of used ones that are filled to the brim with scribblings.

  34. blanchebaby [deleted] (42 months ago | reply)

    i looove your work
    damn, keep writing

  35. Sannehoi (42 months ago | reply)

    wow
    i love your books
    i've even somuch books for one year.
    it became really a addict.

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  37. cali_grove_runner (41 months ago | reply)

    Wow, this is really cool! Writing is important to me too and I keep a lot of journals. I might have to do a shot like this one day! ;-)

  38. diegeschichte (41 months ago | reply)

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Nature meets Technique, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

  39. aerocott (41 months ago | reply)

    amazing collection - I am jealous ;)

  40. kutsuwadat (41 months ago | reply)

    This is a theme that it is made to think.

  41. ewac104662 (41 months ago | reply)

    Can you explain recycled cranes?

  42. katletendre (40 months ago | reply)

    the text is lengthy and delicious, so I have not read it all...I'm saving some, but I have to tell you how enchanted I am by your books and love for words, and from what I've read in only maybe, 350 words, you appreciate probably everything. Fairy princess, flittering in the corner, please keep sprinkling your magic wherever you go. And thank you.

  43. katletendre (40 months ago | reply)

    I wrote to you in a state of "couldn't sleep" and had to come back to finish your text. Wow! I kept a diary since I was 9. I had moved from my home town of Milwaukee, to Beloit, and couldn't bear to let go of one friend, so I wrote, which opened the door to the diary. They served me well, throughout my life, acting as therapist and sometimes helping me to "self-mother" myself, when my own was not available. Because I had stored so much pain in them, at age 52, I burned them in a prayerful ritual. I saw the pieces of pages for the next 2 years, in mine and neighbor's yards. I met my true love when I was 54 which I believe paved the way for the process of letting go. I keep a diary, still, but spread my words freely as an art enthusiast and teacher of the arts and life.
    My wish for you is the continuance and expansion of your passion. Your Mother did a wonderful job, raising a brilliant woman.

  44. walk in circles<3 (40 months ago | reply)

    This is awesome <3 Both the notebooks, the composition, and the fact that you've been writing for so long

  45. Judily (40 months ago | reply)

    your journal collection...seriously. It rocks!!!! I have so many too.. but they are mostly empty whilst instead, I leave my thoughts on scattered scraps of paper.

  46. talisa_isa_freak (39 months ago | reply)

    one word. AWESOME.

    additional facts: TO EVERY LEVEL.

  47. Ess.Raaa (39 months ago | reply)

    Perfect composition!!!!

  48. M' (39 months ago | reply)

    I loved them all : | <3

  49. pcokglitters (38 months ago | reply)

    Dang. I need to start doing stuff like this.
    You have definately inspired me.

  50. Sannehoi (38 months ago | reply)

    thanks for this idea to make a photo of all th books!
    youre books/photo's are amazing!!

  51. kadhine-lives inTrinidad now (38 months ago | reply)

    Wonderful journals and lovely stories to go with them. I also write in more than one at a time :)

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