as i mentioned in my last post, i went to a weekend scrap retreat. for you non-scrapbookers, this may seem a bit extreme. 3 days dedicated to scrapbooking.
scrapbook (skrap book) n. a book of blank pages for mounting newspaper clippings, pictures, souvenirs, etc.
this is how the Webster's on my desk defines scrapbook. not even a verb definition offered. of course, 1991 is the last publishing date listed inside the cover. much has changed in the scrapbook world since then. while certainly not an Olympic event, scrapbooking is most definitely an action worthy of verb note.
that being said...i actually agree with those who nodded their heads in agreement to 3 days being a bit extreme. it was great being able to spread out papers without fear of sticky hands grabbing them, and laying down my nice pens for a second without fear of them walking off only to be found months later, uncapped and dried out among a box of crayolas. and it was especially nice to be able to talk for hours with Heather and Sarah and all the other ladies at the retreat, without having to worry about 'doing' anything else, and while also getting LOADS of pages done.
AND! (side note!) for this time away, i am so grateful for a husband that is not only willing to have the kiddos on his own for the weekend, but actually excited about it, with fun things planned for them to do in my absence. (note for any of you unmarried gals out there ...do not marry a man who is incapable of preparing food and cleaning. it is highly unlikely that these things will change after you are married, so if you ever want time away--ANY time away--you will find yourself writing notes describing in detail how to heat up food that you have spent extensive time cooking and freezing to ensure the family does not starve while you are gone, only to return to receipts piled on the counter from each meal ordered out. this is not my experience, but then, i married a capable man. choose wisely.) and, while i most certainly love my man...
i discovered that i am not in love with scrapbooking.
it is not an entirely new revelation. really just a confirmation of what i suspected. i do love the art form. and i especially love admiring beautifully done pages, but the actual process of scrapbooking does not create a desire in me to do more. i simply want it done. not to do it. just to have it DONE. and, as any scrapper knows, it is never done.
so, what to do with this information? chalk it up to one more thing i have tried and now don't do anymore? that leaves me with many unfinished albums (4 of which are my children's baby/school days ones!) and random pages through the years (not to mention the thousands, no that's not a misprint, of dollars worth of supplies sitting in the dedicated 10x12 room my husband designed and built for me to scrap in--oh, how i love him! oh! how he is not going to love reading about this...!). keep going, despite the knowledge that i would rather be doing something else with the massive amount of time this hobby requires? i am opting for a more moderate approach. there are certain albums i will finish, namely the baby books and wedding album (yes, ours. hey! i've been busy these past 12 years...) but beyond that, i am committing myself to ordering prints of the photos i take within a week of taking them, so that the hard copies can be put into albums quickly. despite not being as creatively laid out as i would like, nor embellished with the latest techniques, more importantly than either of those factors, they will be SEEN and ENJOYED. and i will have more free time.
hahahahaha
well, at least i will have less guilt.
6 comments:
Oh I love it! I was so worried when you said you were going that you were going to get your whole lifebook done and I would have to live with guilt.. I am with you, I LOVE the idea, but the work just stresses me out. I overthink every page and it is just not fun at all! But a girls weekend, I could probably sit and stare at pictures to get that! ;0) I would like to try out the digital scrapping, that sounds much easier, no glue sticks, no "stuff" to get out or put away... Though I do hope to do the lifebook someday, before she turns 18 at least! Love the new blog look by the way!
nooo...i definitely did not get any of the lifebook worked on. in fact, i actually worked on a scrapbook for the theater company--not even my pics! ha! :) i say we just do a girl's weekend a ditch any attempts to mask it with a productive vice. thank you for complimenting the new look. you are the first to say anything. i have been actually a bit nervous. like people are going to stop linking to me because I am not just writing about the fam now. gah! i just needed some breathing room :) of course, 99% of the stuff will most likely still be the same. it is my life after all :) and I LOVE it! :) you are in my prayers, my friend. i read your blog...just need to water that garden more often, I know!!!
I love the new site too. I just now got around to checking it out today. I never even look at mine. I don't know why people would ditch it. What is a blog but just a place to say what you want to say? Anyway, sorry that the weekend drove you to decide you don't like sb'ing but I know what you mean about it just eating time, but I don't have all the acting like you do, so I guess I'll keep it. I did enjoy spending the weekend with you--especially "running". I'm glad you stayed that second night. I know you and Sara both really wanted to ditch me but you hung in there. I'll have to get copies of the pics.
and you know, it's not even that i don't not LIKE scrapbooking--i just don't LOVE it enough to devote the amount of time needed to do it well. of course, now i am cleaning out my scrapbook room and getting all these ideas...! oh my, i did sooo want to leave that second night--but NOT to ditch you! never! :) i'll send pic copies over right now...
uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh (me gasping for air! Okay, let me just process this for a bit. Not in love with scrapbooking! I still love ya. And I'm proud of you for being authentic and true to yourself. With the third child, I'm learning to do less fluff and just get'em in an album to look at. I didn't know you were a blogger, Can I link ya?
hee hee hee...don't worry, my friend, I am still planning to host the scrapbooking night for gals at church :) --hey! we all still need our gal-creative time, right? and I am soooo glad you still love me! ;)
I would absolutely LOVE to be linked to your website! I read everyone's (read...yours, Eryn's, Lee Ann's, Shannon's, and others regularly...but never have the nerve to ask you to link me. silly, I know, but I get nervous about stuff like that! lol)
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