Highlights of 2016 & Big Dreams for 2017

Before the 1st month of 2017 is out - I'd like to wish you a wonderful year. Hoping that the excitement and inspiration of a fresh start remains with you throughout 2017!
Looking back isn't always a good thing, but when it comes to gearing up to a new year, I find that gratitude for the journey behind me is something that helps to propel me forward.
So here are the highs of 2016:

- 8 in-house workshops in the Play Café - my Studio & Workshop in Pretoria dedicated to the transformative practice of visual journaling
- Sluierspel - A LEEF Magazine Creative Retreat, Cape Town
- Sluierspel - A LEEF Magazine Creative Retreat, Johannesburg
- JournalJoy - a 2-day retreat in Stellenbosch
- JournalJoy - a 2-day retreat in Pretoria
- Sluierspel Mpumalanga 1-day retreat
- Doxa Deo North Campus Evening Journaling Retreat
- Dubai Visual Journaling Playdate with Fadwa Al Qasem, May Shbaklo & Janice Clarke
- Circle route through Stockholm, Swedish Lapland, the Arctic Circle, Lofoten Islands and    the Fjords of Norway
- Thesen's Island Summer Break
- October Journaling Forest Retreat
- My babygirl Angeli turning 6
- Musical collaborations: Suitcase Ensemble & Kersfees in Augustus
- Solo music gigs: Winterbegin & A Spring-kling of Afternoon Jazz

As I list these, I am especially grateful for the people that support me to do what I am supposed to do.  My husband, Werner, my daughter, Angeli, my family, Christine Ferreira and her exceptional team at LEEF Magazine, Leandri du Preez, my friends who were very vocal and practical in their support of my visual journaling workshops and my music - Liezl le Roux, Sonja Blignaut, Helge Herbst, Yolandi Ferreira, Renate Gombault, Lize Duvenhage (who also happens to be my sister), Glen & Mariette Waterston, Muller & Annie Crauwkamp, Johan Kelber & Henry Holloway.  And a huge thank you to every single person who came to a visual journaling workshop or a music gig.  I could not do this if it weren't for all of you! Here are some of those precious moments...

The album - Mahai -  is available on iTunes here

Looking forward to 2017, I am very excited to roll out more themed visual journaling workshops, a weekend retreat in October, musical collaborations, solo shows, a Carpenters Tribute Show and possibly a sabbatical in the United States & Canada.

So without further ado (drum roll, please...!) here are the initial dates for visual journaling workshops in the Play Café for the year:

24 February 2017, Play Café, Pretoria,18h00-21h00: 

Ikonic Journaling

Bible-based meditation - visual journaling as worship & dialogue

25 February 2017, Play Café, Pretoria, 8h30-13h00 :

I want you to know …./Ek wil hê jy moet weet …

Life is short - while we have our loved ones with us, we need to say and demonstrate that love. 
With February being the month of love, we will be working in a miniature visual journal as a gift for a loved one - using appreciative enquiry, 3 supplies, ephemera & phrases.

11-12 March 2017, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, 8h30-17h00 & 9h00-13h00:

'n Topografiese Woordwewery/Topographical Wordweavery

A 2-day Visual Journaling Retreat during the last weekend of the 2017 Stellenbosch Woordfees

7 April 2017, Play Café, Pretoria, 18h00-21h00:

Ikonic Journaling

Bible-based meditation - visual journaling as worship & dialogue

8 April 2017, Play Café, Pretoria, 8h30-13h00:
By Special Request: Visual Journaling Collaboration for Mom & Kiddo
An adventurous dialogue between moms & kids (5-12yrs) - using bookmaking and visual journaling as instruments for connection.

30 June 2017, Play Café, Pretoria, 18h00-21h00:
Ikonic Journaling
Bible-based meditation & visual journaling as worship & dialogue

1 July 2017, Play Café, Pretoria, 8h30-13h00:
Foraging for Treasure
Visual journaling as instrument of restoration - we will be journaling with lost, found & discarded ephemera in altered books

18-19 August 2017, Play Café, Pretoria, 8h30-17h00 & 9h00-13h00:

'n Topografiese Woordwewery/Topographical Wordweavery

A 2-day Visual Journaling Retreat

16 September 2017, Play Café, Pretoria:, 18h00-21h00 
Ikonic Journaling
Bible-based meditation & visual journaling as worship & dialogue

17 September 2017, Play Café, Pretoria, 8h30-13h00: 
Altered States
Letting go and trusting the unknown to make unique images and collage papers for use in our visual journals.

13-15 October 2017, Lakenvlei Forest Lodge, Mpumalanga: 
Visual Journaling in the Forest

Chronicling poetry, photography, nature & self-portraiture in visual journals in order to reconnect & nurture & inspire.

Please leave me a note in the comments or email me at anelstrickerb@gmail.com for details.