Visual Blessing Squares
Growing gratitude by gathering, arranging, and photographing
Gathering snippets of art and nature from my studio and around the house and bringing them together in a flat lay format has brought more joy and gratitude than I imagined. I’ve gone ‘round and ‘round on what to call them and now think the simple ‘Visual Blessing Squares’ makes sense. Much of the art has been featured over the years on this blog, originally called ‘Visual Blessings.’
I plan to include new art as it is made in the squares, but after 14 years of blogging and longer of making art, I have a lot of art to draw from. Being the kind of person who makes something and then moves on, the activity of looking, gathering, arranging and photographing is helping me look at my art, and other things in a new, fresh way. Each time my gratitude grows as well as an appreciation for being able to create. I hope to feature these weekly visual blessings squares once a month throughout the year.
Here are the new entries so far.
The story behind the art
A new beginning
Not surprisingly, I began the square above with the little egg book with the title ‘a New Beginning.’ It seemed fitting for a new year. I made that book from a repurposed board book when our youngest daughter flew the nest and went to college. It was a definite change. Now it feels like just as dramatic of a change, except totally different.
Above, the circle clasp ring with the squares of patterned watercolors were an activity for wellness and creative breakthrough. This watercolor and pen activity that has also been a creative reference for me. Just seeing it makes me want to do more.
I feel the same way about the mini-hymn 6-page journals made from scraps of watercolor paper. They live in a little house shadow box I filled on my wall. Reading through them with the snippets of hymns, Washi tape, paint pen and tiny scraps of paper makes me happy.
It’s all so simple, but it encourages me to feel gratitude and joy, even while facing the uncertainty of the new year.
Be courageous - clarity is coming!
The square above is my favorite flat lay photo I’ve done so far. It also reflects what I need and how I feel right now. Included is another mini-hymn journal next to the centerpiece of a drawing of our youngest daughter, an egg, the metamorphosis of a butterfly and the growing of a seedling from an acorn. This speaks to me of hope and fulfillment of purpose. In order to do that, and risk the failure or lack, it takes courage and overcoming fear. The oak seedling and the adaptation of the Scripture verses reflect my life verse and desire to grow and be who God made me to be. Now that I’m in my mid-sixties, there is a niggling fear I won’t make it, that I might stand in the way of reaching the fullness of the plan. Courage needed indeed!
The nature pieces and old music collected over the years speak of time, it’s natural process and how there is beauty in every stage of life.
Previous Visual Blessing Squares and Inspiration
Directly below at the left is the actual beginning of the visual blessing squares for 2025. It features my word for the year, the theme and a number of journals. The idea began last October, shared about in the right hand square. The links to the posts are below the images.
Beginning 2025 with journaling
https://www.valeriesjodin.com/blog/gather-arrange-photograph-write
Word of the Year journal
https://www.valeriesjodin.com/blog/word-of-the-year-2025-journal
A new idea - Vignettes of Beauty - Squares of Gratitude
Gathering - Arranging - Photographing - Writing
I’m still amazed at the benefit of this activity of gathering, arranging, photographing, and writing about these things. It has lifted my spirit and I am counting my blessings with thankfulness. I’m thinking about putting the Visual Blessing Squares and the story behind them together in a photo book or journal at the end of the year. It seems like a unique way of having a retrospective account, while looking forward with hope.
If you try this gathering, arranging, photographing, and writing exercise it would be great to hear about your experience.
I’d love to know your thoughts or questions in the comments section below.
Be blessed!
Valerie
Explore Your Word for the Year with ‘A Beautiful Word’ E-course
If you want to dig deeper into your word and expand your creative techniques, check out my online course ‘A Beautiful Word.’
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StencilGirl Products: I receive royalties from stencils I’ve designed from StencilGirl Products. I hope you enjoy creating with them.
https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-mask-Fancy-Houses-Mixie-Valerie-Sjodin-p/l728.htm
More inspiration
Check out a recent blog post I wrote for Archer and Olive that includes an INSPIRATIONAL VIDEO, 7 Ways to Use Stencils to Decorate Your Journals and a FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
Visit my blog post at Archer & Olive about making a commonplace book and get a FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD and watch the accompanying how-to video. Use code ‘Valerie10’ to receive 10% off
Set up for my 2025 journals post: https://www.valeriesjodin.com/blog/journals-set-up-2025-washi-tape