Patchwork

Patchwork is a handcraft technique in which patches of cotton fabric of different colors and sizes are sewn together. “Patch” means piece of fabric. The fabric patches can be used in different colors, designs and shapes, so there are countless possibilities to make an original end product. But we, of course, do it on paper 😉 

Writing and drawing

1. Choose one theme that you would like to work on. That could be your day or something else. I chose the theme ‘warmth’ here.
2. Draw a large square in pencil, which you subdivide into smaller squares. This will be your patchwork blanket.
3. Now fill in each box with something around that theme: a collage image, a sketch / drawing, written text, stickers … you name it.
4. Then connect all compartments with one thick pen (or washi-tape or …), if necessary, so that the ‘blanket’ is complete.

“I like to think of humanity as a big, beautiful patchwork: each of us so different and yet stitched together by love and life experiences.” 

What if … one magazine-image is bigger than the other? I connected them by cutting them to the same size and as you can see my lines are not perfectly straight either. That is not necessary.

TIP: Do you want to make the game even more fun? Then give yourself this extra challenge: no box may contain the same technic next to another box (or below or above): either collage, or write, or draw, but no two writing nex to each other, no two collage and no drawing twice.

Would you like to get in touch with others? In Facebook you find a page where participants connect.

Important to know:

Working in a Creative Diary is NOT about results, it’s about expressing you inner self. It is NOT about techniques, techniques only help you to express yourself in more different ways. The exercises I give are an INVITATION, not an obligation. You can do the exercise, or not, you can do it differently, it’s at your choosing. The most important thing to remember is that you’re putting yourself and your (inner) world on paper, you are NOT making art. So feel inspired by images, but don’t compare yourself ! Fun and self-expression come first.

What do you need?

• markers
• coloured pencils
• writing materials
• scissors
• glue
• watercolour
• soft pastels
• oil pastels
• some magazines

And of course: a journal/diary. I recommend an 8,3 inches x 11,7 inches notebook (A4 format) with blank paper, but take whatever you find in your house. Blank papier is good too.

More information:

The exercises used in this Creative Diary are based on a method described by Lucia Capacchione, American art-therapist and author of the book The Creative Journal, by Anne-Marie Jobin, Canadian art-therapist and author of the soon to be coming book The New Creative Journal, and myself, Sarah Timmermans, Belgian art-therapist and psychologist (Dutch book: Het Creatieve Dagboek). The method blends knowledge from writing therapy, art-therapy, psychology and basic creativity. It’s a simple method that doesn’t requires any artistic skills and has been used with many ages, many individuals and many groups of people. More questions? Please write me.

Who am I?

I’m Sarah Timmermans, Belgian art-therapist, naturopath and psychologist. I’m trained by Jungian art-therapist/psychologist Csilla Kemenzcei. I work with individuals and with groups. I’m specialised in using diaries, tarot (archetypes) and dreams.