Scrap Happens

Evolution of a Bedroom - Innocence, Independence, Tranquility

The other day while cleaning up my youngest daughter's bedroom, I realized how much I like being in it. The walls are painted a pretty lilac color, and the sun was bringing a cozy amount of warmth into the room. What I really love about this space, is the little girl element. Still full of very pre-teen items like pretty ponies, Bratz, a plethora of stuffies, and volumes upon volumes of books! This haven for her is one of innocence, that will be dissipating all too soon.

My next stop was in the bedroom of my emerging teenager. While also cozy and warm, there is a new element of independence. Posters of teen werewolves and vampires, backpacks stuffed with textbooks, the beginnings of cosmetics and hair appliances, and finally her beading projects. She has her room just the way SHE wants it. It has evolved from that innocence I spoke of, to a space where you can observe her emerging voice as a teen.

Ahhh...my own room. The contrast is quite apparent. This is one space in the house with no chaos, no clutter, no noise. I keep it this way as a means of escape; that of solitude and a place where I search for intuition and my inner voice. My tranquil sanctuary.

 

 

Etsy Sale!

In my ongoing efforts to streamline the nuisance know as clutter, I have taken $25 off the original prices of all albums at My Esty Shop! Check out the merchandise and let me know if you want to see any additional pictures of these scrapbooks. This is really a great deal!

Unpolluted

This quote is from a book I just finished while home with my kids this week. The title is "The Year of Pleasures", by Elizabeth Berg. The main character, Betta had a cool perspective on keeping a scrapbook. While hers was filled with newspaper clippings, photos of random objects and unsuspecting strangers of different cultures.

"It became my habit to sit sometimes in the afternoon with a cup of tea, making up stories to fit the pictures. It was a different kind of writing, in a way; nothing I had to  put to paper or turn over to a publisher or anyone else. It was imagination back to its purest and best form, unpolluted by thoughts of deadlines and reviews and sales figures and book tours. I liked the way the stories changed each time I flipped through the pages. I liked the way bits of dialogue would come into my head, strains of music, and I liked the way the pictures would sometimes expand in my mind"...

Love it.

 

 

Thoughts from 1976

Since I am on a mission to purge the visual chaos from my humble abode, I decided to weed through my books a few weeks ago. Twenty years worth, each bound tale telling it's own story of my life at any given time. Horror, a big favorite until suffering through a major depression...glad I enjoyed it while I did, as I have no need for the negative images anymore. The scary stuff gave way to relationship and parenting books, some still with a bookmark where I left off. Life is like that, as I digress for a moment, sometimes we take a break in the story and come back to it when things are less chaotic. Anyhow, then the self help. The Spiritual. And the ever intriguing...History.

But behind all of these tomes, was a bitty diary of mine from 1976. The sweetest little Hallmark book where I could write my random 10 year old thoughts. It was a one year diary, that actually spanned seven in a very sporadic fashion.

Here are a couple of the initial entries. My own daughter, now of the same age, is loving these similar though vintage words of mine.

Progressive Stability

My days have changed in recent weeks. Focus and clarity are becoming a welcome reality, as fear and insecurity diverge on a new path... far, far away from my psyche. Good riddance to the negative self-dialog.

With this comes renewed interest in my old hobby, one I have not enjoyed in recent months. I found myself digging through old supplies this evening, some that I plan to give to the Boys and Girls Club for their scrapbook entry into the county fair. I offered to help or teach a class but Jeanne, realizing what is on my plate now assured me the donated supplies are enough.

So bottom line is, I think I am getting some of my creative groove back...and I like it.

My Own Memories

So there are days prior to starting my new job, across the parking lot from my old job, that I would walk from the east wing to the west wing to gather a fax or mail. At times I would get to my destination and as I entered the door I would question "Why am I over here?" "What was I supposed to be getting?" To the point that I would need to retrace my steps to the east wing until I remembered! Holy cow...only 42 and dementia is already setting in? Dad teases me that if I am bad now, how will I be in another 20 years. Glad he finds the humor in it. I argue that my kids took most of my brain power, as it all started with "Mommy Brain" while I was pregnant. Back then I was executive assistant to two busy men and had to literally write down every detail of my day. While I am not in that same state of hormonal trauma, I do feel forgetful on most days and realize the culprit is time. Time that is moving too fast. The universe seems to be swirling around us, with no pause.

The other day Emma asked me why I haven't scrapped our own photos lately. When I pondered on the word "lately" I realized it has been almost four years since I have done anything with my own family albums! I have over 12,000 photos sitting in my computer. Obviously, my camera obsession is a completely separate issue. Anyhow, she brought this concern to the forefront of my thought process and made me own up to the fact that I really am missing putting together my own stories; of my life. I use to find such joy in creating pages after a very moving event in the family, or even something as simple as the first time the kids tasted a lemon. This very therapeutic activity has been missing for me in times lately of much turmoil and transition. I need it back. It is a way I cope with diversity in my day, my mechanism of escape.

So with much thought and excavation of my psyche I have decided to stop putting so much energy into my "Keepsakes by Kellie" business. It has been so amazing, this journey of the past eight years. Weaving tales for my faithful clients and putting together heirlooms. While I will continue to work on an "as requested" basis, I am just not going to expend as much energy into the marketing and networking for new clientele. For now, I am going into a mini-retirement to recreate the years that are passing all too quickly within my own four walls.

The pages of my blog will still contain images and thoughts related to scrapbooking, as I really am a bit obsessed. But interspersed will be stories of life in general, opinions that may or may not interest the reader, and just overall insight into my world.

I can't wait to again breathe my creativity onto my own pages, blank slates that will tell the story of life as I know it...one that is evolving into the future before my eyes.

Where Oh Where Has My Little Toddler Gone...

....oh where oh where can she be?

I found these pictures a few days ago as I was reworking the organization (or lack of) in my studio. This cute little pumpkin, bending only a few inches to gather leaves, is now ten years old. She has her last concert as a fifth grader tomorrow and is giving me pre-teen (tween) attitude on a daily basis. These pictures were among those that her Dad chose to use when I requested that he be my test pupil as I started to sell Creative Memories. He agreed to put together a scrapbook page, under my direction. It was the cutest page and the only one I have seen a Dad put together (in my experience). Anyhow, I am thankful for Phil's vision of this day, and of my own....this is actually one occasion that I have in an album. I am about four years behind on my books, while creating keepsakes for my beloved clients!

 

My Etsy Shop

Please feel free to check out my Etsy shop and pass the link along to anyone else you think might enjoy my albums. Thanks!

Etsy

Retro Memories

So, I just came across my old childhood scrapbooks today. I remember vividly how much I enjoyed going through these pages looking at certificates, Valentines, birthday cards, programs, and frequent postcards from my Grandparents' travels. Back then, the pages were not so brittle and yellowed. The contents were still actually adhered to the pages with "Scotch" tape. And the articles attached to the pages were still of an original white or cream hue.

These books of mine are a reminder, and bittersweet reality of what can happen if we don't preserve our memories with care in archival quality albums, and yes...with a bit of an investment.

Speaking of the monetary element, I am in the process of streamlining my price structure. I want to make it more client friendly, removing the guesswork of a final bill.

Stay tuned....

 

Nosh on Pics!

Take the time to be creative with your Thanksgiving photos this year. Don't just get the kids ala' parade mode. Or Dad via recliner football mode. Focus some time on your table, treats, and time. Get pics of your prep work and the mess. Zoom in on a favorite decor item, an heriloom that will be or has been passed through the generations. Think outside the box...here are a few of my own that, gee...I still need to scrap. Anyone know a good scrapper-for-hire?