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.
