I Could Live Outta My Journal Bag

With the exception that there's no food, drink, toothbrush or clean underwear in my journal bag, I probably could live out of it. This is ridiculous! I just cleaned out my journal bag to take this picture. Four bone folders?? Really? Two pairs of scissors (the pink ones from JetPens.com are for the plane, when I travel). At least four (if not more) glue sticks. Enough pens to start my own Kinokuniya store. Stencils (Crafters Workshop and Prima Marketing) and rub-ons buried at the bottom of the bag (the last way you should store rub-ons. They don't like heat. Nor should you feed them after midnight. I do wish they'd multiply when I wasn't looking 'cause they are rather expensive, but how I love them so). Watercolor crayons I've hardly touched (I'm a snob when it comes to watercolor crayons. I prefer the deluxe version, the caran d'ache neo art watersoluble wax pastels). I should probably swap these out for my stabilo woody crayon pencils that I love. (I just have the high school mentality of their name. "What are those?" Insert Beavis and Butthead laugh.) If anyone needs any tape, boy, do I have some. Two bags and five rolls because, really, you never know. Tim's tiny attacher with extra staples (what is it about baby staplers?). I carry my rapidograph black india ink with me just in case. The black Eagle Creek shoe case in the bag holds all of my collage crap, I mean, collage stuff. It's filled with focal images, background paper and transparencies in that order. I took my sticker bag out (because that was a whole bag itself that needs to be seriously downsized, big time. Do I have enough pens? Obviously not because before I cleaned out this bag the other day I had six, SIX, pen bags in it. Now I have 3. (I won't tell you that I took out 3 additional tape bags). Did I mention that there is a journal in there somewhere? I swear.

I really don't take that much with me when I'm on the go (except for long weekends or traveling away from home). I have been known to travel with just my journal, my rapidograph pen, my lattes and sweets pens, glue sticks (with extra in the hotel) and a very small amount of collage ephemera. Really, I have made art with crap, I mean, paper stuffed, um, stored in a small wet ones container (which, by the way, also fits said glue stick and journal). It can be done.

For now, I am traveling with a bag o' said stuff, and boy, am I set for an art emergency!

(The above photo is what happens when someone asks for a picture of the inside of my art journal bag. As a teacher, I like to please. Please remember that one does not need this much crapola, ahem, art supplies, to be able to make art. Time, effort and passion along with a small handful of supplies will more than suffice!)

Comments

Thank God you never change. It all began with you!
Natty said…
I want to live in your bag too! I'll cuddle up with all those lovely, lovely washi tape bags <3 Thanks for showing Kelly!
Laura said…
and I thought I was bad hahahahahaha seriously though YUM I just want to jump in your bag and stroke the goodness hahahahaha
Sharon W. said…
Great entry! I printed this one to carry with me when I am "browsing" in art supply stores. Love finding lists of new things to play with.
Sandy said…
I want to be the person sitting near you when you take all that out and start journaling. ;)

Can you tell me again the size of the Eagle bag and where you buy them?
Zoe Nelson said…
One can never have enough "crap"... uhhh art supplies! (Can you believe that my word verification for this comment is clutr ?)
Andria said…
Impressive collection of supplies! You MUST be a teacher to carry all that on your shoulder! I enjoyed your post...your voice comes right through.
Frau S said…
I need a bag like this! Although the four bone folders did make me laugh. :)
Heather K Ross said…
Would you mind posting a pic of your actual bag too? I've been in search of something I can pack a few supplies to keep with me all the time. Thinking a field bag may do the trick. Would love to see what you use.
Anonymous said…
Dear Kelly,
I rarely comment but am a faithful daily follower! I must say this is just a delightful post and the picture is RICH!!! Thank you so much for your blog and sharing your talent. Of course now I am dreaming of a properly equipped journal bag....
Kindest regards,Missy from the bayou
Pretty Things said…
LOL at the four bone folders because I have multiples of so many tools. Some people have ten pairs of black high heels -- me, it's hammers.
Laura said…
This is a great post, a first class piece of writing that i really enjoyed.
LuLu said…
That explains where all my bone folders went. They transported over to your bag!

yes I need tape. Are you going to de-stash some of your tapes?!?!?!?!

Peace,
LuLu
www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com
Kamala said…
The pen number is not too bad. I cleaned out my purse one day at work looking for a pen...found 20 of them. I am always afraid that if I don't have it, then that item will be the one thing I am looking for.
JessiVille said…
I can never find my bone folders! This post cracked me up - I can so identify with the "crap" part! Btw, I love all your "crap"!
Anonymous said…
Lurker here--Love your bag. I want that stuff. I thought I was the only pen carrier who carried it to extremes. After a conference or day-long meeting in a conference center my purse is full of pens. At least a dozen, likely more. Everytime they put new pens on the table I take at least one. I'm not really stealing, they just jump into my purse. At least yours are colored. Mine are either black or blue.
Pat from Chicago

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