Creating journals vs working in them

May 29, 2026

A direct line from my art table to your inbox—where creativity, connection, and a little chaos collide.

Hey , I hope your Friday is going well!

2026 has been a year of working inside my journals. I’ve always said, creating art journals and working inside of them are two different, valid interests. And I am not always equally interested in both.

But this year, I have found myself working on the pages of my art journals more than ever. I also get asked all the time, "what do you do with your journals?" I decided this would be the perfect jumping off point for inspiration for the upcoming playdate I'll be hosting on Saturday, June 6th.

When: Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 12p - 2p CDT
Where: Zoom (plus lifetime access to replay)
Topic: working in the journal
Cost: $15

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In The Studio Email Graphic BB Henry Art

I’ve been experimenting, creating, testing, and playing as I get ready to film new lessons for my annual 12-week class - the BB Art Journals Masterclass. This year’s cohort opens in August. Join the waitlist here. results - black tea + rust dyeing

This class is about so much more than creating an art journal. It's about creating and building a creative, process-first, practice that puts play, experimentation, and curiosity first. All while building up a repertoire of techniques and intuitive methods that guarantee finished, cohesive projects and results that are undeniably and uniquely your own.

This week I've been playing around with dyeing bundles with rust and black tea. The results are scrumptious!

Take a peek at the process and results ⤵

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Also in the studio, I've been tackling my made-papers stash. And what they say is true... it definitely gets worse before it gets better! I've been purging and organizing into color piles.

I'm not 100% sure yet what my "final" storage solution will be, but I do know that what I have right now isn't working for me. My studio setup has been rearranged quite a bit over the past year, and what worked at one point is no longer cutting it.

Before going through the effort to figure out a new system, I knew I needed to declutter. My style has evolved so much over the past 5 years and I've been hanging onto papers that I really don't see myself using. Every time I sift through to find papers for a project, I get a pang of guilt like, you really should be using these pieces. But, I don't want making art to feel like an obligation in any way.

So as I sort through I'm asking myself a few questions.

1. Does this spark joy or curiosity?
2. Do I see potential?
3. Do I see myself actually using it (or will I always pick something else)?

This is an ongoing project, but I'm starting to make a dent!

I'll be sending off scrap bundles to a friend and student of mine that is hosting a large craft retreat, and they will be used for some door prizes ☺️ having a place for papers that I'm not keeping is making it a lot easier for me to purge.

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everything journal

* final reminder * this weekend my friend, Andrea Chebeleu, is teaching how to create your own "Everything Journal" with special lay-flat binding! I know that many of you are already enrolled, but for those of you who wait until the last minute - now is the time to sign up!

This class will take place live on Zoom on Sunday May 31, (+ a prep session the afternoon before) with access to the recordings to follow. So no worries if you can't attend live.

Early Bird Pricing is only $47 (price will increase to $97 after the 31st)

The Everything Journal Class - Learn more!

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I hope you've been finding time to play and create this week! Join me in the studio on June 6th if you want meaningful connection and inspiration. Talk soon!

xxBB

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TL;DR; this post contained the following:

> Topic: working in the journal - June 6th playdate
> dye bundle experiments for BB Art Journals Masterclass
> 3 questions that'll help you declutter your paper stash
> Upcoming class, May 31 - the perfect, lay-flat everything journal

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The BB ConnectionTheresa WithamMay 29, 2026Comment