Advent 2012

This year for my Advent art project I am using an Advent guide by Mandy Steward of The Messy Canvas who is the co-founder of an art journaling community I am a part of. Mandy wrote an e-book with Advent journaling prompts called "Come Thou Long Expected". The theme of the book is based on the Advent calendars many of us had as children where you would open a little window each day to see what treasure hid behind it. We are given 25 words to randomly select as our journaling theme for each day. As we journal about those words we "are able to open a daily window for ourselves. Letting in Fresh air, new perspective and wonder." (Mandy Steward)

Advent practices are a relatively new practice for me as an adult. I spent over 30 years in the hospitality and retail fields and the Christmas season became an exhausting whirlwind of busy-ness and materialism. It took me many years to recover (somewhat recover). Participating in Advent observance over the past three years has helped me slow down and really participate in the true reason for this season ~ the coming of Christ.

My progress so far in my Advent Journal:

Altered Book Advent Journal

Gessoed pages ready to fill!

Day 1 ~ Believe

Day 2 ~ Create

Day 3 ~ Give