Fantasy Journal--to get through hard times or celebrate good ones

Some years back, Joseph and I were faced with dealing, long distance, with his elderly mother who suffered with dementia. It was a difficult time with many, many phone calls from the other side of the country...from his mother herself, from his sister, from doctors and attorneys.
We thought we'd go mad...so I created this little fantasy journal and every time the phone would ring I would sit near my dear husband and imagine us far away, in a lovely, quiet place.
Perhaps a fantasy journal might help YOU to deal with hard times.
This video was previously only for students in one of my classes, but I decided if it could help more people it needed to be public.

[@elasticunicorn]

Ooooh...I just had to come back for another look...Fantastic Cathy!

[@shereentimmerman4164]

How oh how can anyone give this a "thumbs down" it's so sweet and lovely. Happy trails to you 🎨

[@CathyJohnson]

Shereen Timmerman, you never know! Glad you enjoyed it, it was VERY helpful to both of us!

[@barbararivera2380]

I agree

[@bekahjanthevintagedreamer]

What a special journal. I felt like I was traveling along. :)

[@iartistdotme]

Art provides many versions of Samantha for those in need. I call myself an escape artist for lack of a better term.

[@CathyJohnson]

mary w, that's PERFECT!

[@susan7396]

Oh, dear Cathy, I wish I had thought of this brilliant coping devise some years ago when my sweetheart and I were going through a similar crisis. This is sheer genius. Thanks for sharing.

[@CathyJohnson]

Susan Dye, I can't begin to tell you how much it helped!

[@LillyFluger]

Awesome I LOVED THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@_S-O-S_]

I enjoy each and every video and all your lovely artwork, more than you will ever know... I loved the "birds eye view" of the camper... Thank you Cathy! >^..^

[@CathyJohnson]

***** Thank you!

[@JORLA2854]

Thanks for sharing Cathy. Take care ;))

[@catherinewells7360]

love the journal and the inside map...somewhere I would like to be....feel sorry for the poor pushed off the table cat though!

[@CathyJohnson]

Catherine Wells, Not like he doesn't jump off that same table 20 times a day, all by himself! :D

[@SashaFitzgerald]

Beautiful :) I feel very inspired to create a fantasy journal too!

[@CathyJohnson]

Sasha Fitzgerald, have fun!

[@andrewborloz3574]

Thank you, Cathy Johnson, for sharing how you cope with such a difficult situation. I found one drawing to be humorous - I would love to do the same thing with the phone - smashing it with a sledgehammer. Not because my parent have been getting too many robocalls or spoofed calls, but because I'm deaf and can't answer them for my parent who also has dementia. :-)

[@CathyJohnson]

Andrew, I do recommend this as a way of dealing with stress! My best to you...

[@Bubbless555]

I really enjoyed this! It's such a great idea,I might even make one :)

[@gatosandwichera]

Thanks for uploading for all of us! It really is an awesome way to help your mind escape for a little while, I think I will try this too!

[@CathyJohnson]

gatosandwichera, it can help, a LOT.

[@AmandaWestPiano]

Cathy - I just discovered you yesterday and I can't get enough of the videos and watercolors and books you've made. This one is so beautiful! Have you ever thought of writing children's books? You are such an inspiration - I've even already made two accordion books! I glued pieces of marbled paper I made onto the covers and they are just lovely. :)

[@CathyJohnson]

Amanda Leach, thank you! Glad you found me. And I did illustrate a children's book once, years ago.

[@darklittlepeople]

beautiful coping strategy, and thanks for the inspiration. 💜

[@CathyJohnson]

I hope it helps you as much as it did me.

[@darklittlepeople]

💜 thank you. i don't know how to draw, but this will motivate me ! and in the mean time, i enjoy rewatching yours and imaginig mine. :)

[@lavenderdaydreams1239]

Awesome! So understand the need to escape sometimes. :)

[@CathyJohnson]

+Marva Plummer-Bruno it was a HUGE help. We thought we'd go crazy!

[@barbararivera2380]

Love it. Like a bedtime story.

[@francoisederocher]

Pure delight!

[@PhoebesWorldProductions]

Wow. This is so sad, sweet, fun... A wonderful journal... My mother has dementia... Early stages... I dread the day that she doesn't remember me. My thoughts are with you.

[@CathyJohnson]

Phoebe, I'm so sorry...it can be really difficult. Clare never got so she didn't remember us, but she was very angry and paranoid and made some very scary and dangerous decisions.

[@PhoebesWorldProductions]

Yes, it can be very hard. Yeah, My Mom was making scary decisions too... She is now is a special home... but my sisters visit her almost every day, and I Skype visit as much as I can. She's been having a lot of "good days" lately... so we're grateful. =)

[@CathyJohnson]

Phoebe, I'm so glad to hear that. The good days are precious.

[@PhoebesWorldProductions]

Yes, indeed. =)

[@lansingstlady]

Thank you.....been there.

[@amysamin]

What a wonderful idea and book!

[@CathyJohnson]

Thank you, I think it saved my life...or at least my sanity!

[@amysamin]

Cathy Johnson Thank you for your reply! I just discovered your channel and website, and am working my way through both. After reading your tip The Why of Self Portraits, I even drew a blind contour sketch of myself (it was fun! Going to keep on doing that, although mostly I draw birds). I wish I had seen this video when we were going through a very similar experience with my husband's mother. It would have been very helpful, I'm sure. Thank you again, I am learning a lot, and being inspired.

[@jenniferphipps3772]

I just love this so much!!!

[@MaryVivit]

Thank you for sharing such a personal journal. I'm so glad it helped you and Joseph get through this time.

[@CathyJohnson]

Mary Vivit, thank you. We would have gotten through it eventually, I know, but oh, the humor helped!

[@ratherbfishing455]

This is so good!

[@CathyJohnson]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, it was a life saver!

[@nancyleblanc428]

hello madam Katy Johnson I buy mini class keeping artist journal paper and want to know how to download it. I received the letter that the PayPal paiement is made. the fun begin, good day. Nancy Leblanc

[@CathyJohnson]

+Nancy Leblanc, hi, I've contacted you via email...not a problem!

[@nancyleblanc428]

+Cathy Johnson hi madam Katy Johnson. did you receive my e-mail. can you give me the instructions to download the courtyard where thank you explain to me how the conduct of workshop

[@CathyJohnson]

+Nancy Leblanc I replied to you already, but you're using 2 email addresses. I replied to your email, from your gmail address.

[@nancyleblanc428]

+Cathy Johnson yes I have just written to you with my Gmail address I gave you my address that I use regularly. the problem happened, I had not received your reply to the court and that's just why I send you a message with Gmail. I'm sorry I was too eager to begin the court again thank you

[@FootypawsWorkshop]

No need to be mean to a cat.

[@CathyJohnson]

freyjafootypaws, I had to laugh, at that! Pepi is anything but abused, he's such a big spoiled baby. Plus he jumps off that table many times a day, all by himself.