Art Journaling Challenge-Monthly Muse-August-Signs Everywhere-Week#1-The End-EMotional

Love The Interesting Challenge You Have Started Here...Change Has Been Everywhere In My Life Lately & So Has Been "Signs Of The Times"...So This Is The Theme That I Chose...My Theme : "The End"...I Will Explain...My 50th Birthday Is Coming Up On August 11th & My Layout Is Based Off This fact...It Is The Jumping Off Point For My Discussion...Past...Present...Future...

*The Past: Of Course It Seems Obvious What The Past Means...Reflection/Moving On Etc...But Here For Me It Means(Because Of My Birthday Coming Up Next Week)...That Another Year Has Gone By For Me...A Year Of Ups & Downs & It Seems A Lots More Downs Than Ups..So The Tears Relate To That Fact But They Also Relate To Some Tears Of Joy In Knowing That I Have Come Along Way From Where I Was In A Lot Of Aspects & I How I Have Accomplished A Lot Despite The "Downs"...It's Also About Moving On...Mourning The Past & Being "Present" In The Now...Hence My Next Segway:

*The Present:I'll Start Out By Saying That The Tears Are For Our Dear Dawn Who Just Passed Away Recently Who We All Are Mourning Right Now But Also The Fact That My Birthday Is Next Week...So The "Present" Once Again & Tears Of Reflection & Perhaps Promise...But Also Weighing Heavy On My Mind Is The Upcoming Anniversary of My Mom's Death...It Is In A Few Weeks...So Tears For Another Year Going By That She Has Passed & Another Year I Have Gone Through Without Her But There Is Also Tears Of Joy For All The Wonderful Memories I Have Of Her & The Times We Spent Together & Tears For How Much I Miss Her...There Are Tears For Dawn...Tears For My Mom & Tears That Another Year Has Gone By & I Feel I Haven't Really Accomplished My Goals...So Many Goals & So Many Difficulties Right Now In Particular That I Am Struggling With...Hence My Next Segway:

*The Future:There Are Tears Of Fear & Struggle For Me Up Ahead...Eventhough I Remain Optimistic For The Future...You Have To Have Hope Or You Are Going Nowhere Fast...My Future Right Now Is Full Of Tears Of Joy,Tears Of Sadness,Tears Of Reflection,Tears Of Hope,Tears Of The Unknown But We Must All Find A Way To Move Forward In Our Lives Despite The Many Difficulties Now & Up Ahead...I Guess Without Struggle There Is No Resolution...So With An Ever So Slight Optimism & Love Of My Family...I Tread Ever So Slowly Or Perhaps Limp Slowly Towards The Future With An Air Of Optimism Trying To Put All The Tears Of The Past,Present & Future Behind Me & Into Perspective...Hence The "End" But Yet Hopefully A New Beginning For The Future...

*I Also Chose Specific Colors For This Layout/Challenge....The Black & Grey Represent The Angst & Struggle Of Life...Sadness/Conflict/Upheaval/Grief Etc...Perhaps The Blue Color Is Obvious...Blue Meaning Sadness At Times In Life But Blue Is Also One Of My Favorite Colors & Represents Happiness Too...A Blue Sky...My Favorite Denim Jacket...A Favorite Piece Of Jewellery Etc...Orange Is Also One Of My Favorite Colors & To Me Represents Positivity,Happiness & Reflection...Orange Can Also Represent The Past For Some...A Color Of All Things Vintage...Perhaps Sentimental Times & Of Course The Obvious One...The Fall Is Coming Ever So Soon & That Means That Summer Will Be Ending Soon & Orange Will Be Everywhere...Fall Is My Favorite Time Of The Year So I Am Ready For This...Bring On The Orange!...I Am Ready!...*

*For My EMotional Layout-I Used*

*Explore-M3 Papers-Lynne-Marie
*Journey-M3-Mixed Bag-Lynne-Marie
*Heartsong-Collab-For Dawn-The Lilypad
*Everly Art Dolls/Aspen Dolls & Closet/Lilian/Summer Solstice-Rebecca McMeen
*Autumn & It Was Worth It-Dawn Inskip
*Hand-Drawn Watercolor Butterflies-Knopazyzy(1 Item Used)
*In The Garden-Snips & Snails(1 Item Used)