A truly excellent, detailed, resource-full, comprehensive book for all styles of journaling. ( )

In the process of drooling and sucking up the info into my wannabe artist child. ( )

We have a wonderful book in our library, The Decorated Journal, by Gwen Diehn, that might be of interest to many of you. For those of you who like to keep journals or travel and want to try journaling, this book will get you started. The basics on paints, palettes, paper, brushes, and adhesives and more are covered as well as how to layer, draw accurately, and bind your journal. After looking this book over, I was left with the feeling that all is possible and in fact I’m ready to start mine a.s.a.p. I really hate returning this book to the library so I plan to purchase one for myself. The examples are lush! I give this book a five star rating. By the way we have Sherry to thank for this donation to our library.
-Nan ( )

I found this title after purchasing Diehn's earlier book, The Decorated Page. It stands alone: if you are at all interested in journal making & journal keeping you will want to own both. It appeals to those of us who don't consider ourselves "artists" but want to practice more than simply crafts. I especially love the discussions of "determined vs neutral materials" and the exhortation that, when purchasing art materials, as with so many other things, "less if more." There are illustrations of techniques, examples, wonderful colorful illustrations, prompts, and a section on simple bookbinding with minimal investment in materials or time. An inspiring title. ( )

This is a luscious book, the ideas, the art, the journals, the possibilities - all are stimulating to me. I saw it and had to own it. A very creative offering to those who journal or want to journal. It is about combining art, sketching, travel, observation, writing, and self-expression. No one has done this better. She has a sequel that is as good or better.