Travel Journals: Why Didn't I Think of This?

You know that saying about the left hand knowing what the right hand is doing? I'm kind of feeling that right now idea right now... so years ago, back in 2005 when I was a carefree college student, I studied abroad in China over the summer. It was an indescribable experience. Like I still get chills thinking about it. I seriously saved every single little thing I came in contact with there, from maps to money to receipts to candy wrappers. Yes, candy wrappers. That following spring, my wanderlust was still going strong and I traveled to Europe with some friends and did the same thing. They thought I was nuts and it became this running joke, where they would give me their trash asking me if I wanted to save it.

So here I am now, seven years later (wow I suddenly feel old), and I have all this stuff in shoe boxes. I have been art journaling like crazy for the past year and obsessing over other peoples' journals and websites and blogs and pictures. Travel journals have been of particular interest to me, because I haven't been out of the country since 2005 and urge to do so is almost unbearable. Suddenly, this past week, it dawned on me. I have all of this great stuff, all boxed up collecting dust... why am I not making a travel journal?? I am beyond excited to start this new project. And maybe soon I will take a trip (I have always wanted to fly to Europe alone with no plan and just go where my feet take me) and have a whole new box of stuff to work with. Here are some of the travel journals that have been inspiring me lately:

Mary Ann Moss... good lord. I am obsessed with her journals. I'd pay money to look through them in person. Seriously. Check our her Flickr page. Be sure you have at least an hour or so to kill before doing so.

After you are done oogling Mary Ann Moss's Flickr page, please dedicate another hour to Ashley Connelly's blog, The Creative Place. You know those blog's that just inspire you to make something immediately? This is one of them. Sometimes the gratitude I have for being a right-brained creative weirdo is overwhelming.

Jessica Pollak

Simone Capano

Okay last website, seriously. August Empress. Inspiration and eye candy galore. Time to go make something :)