Beauty

I am reposting a sketch from Tim Coffey's blog.  It is a wonderful philosophy.  He is such an amazing artist. 

Important to JOURNAL

I am working on a story for the writing class I attend.  Most of my scrapbooking is heritage and the journaling is critical.  Just want to impress to the newer scrapbookers to journal.  The fastest way is to use your own hand writing, next easiest is computer.  It doesn't matter the method, just journal.

Happy New Year 2012

      It seems that I prefer to read rather than write a blog.  I follow some very good artist, Tim, Ali, Becky, Debby, Tim (Holtz and Coffey), Donna, Karen and many more.  However, today is the 3rd anniversary of our moving into our new home and I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.
     Lots to be Thankful for, especially, our Christmas visit to Seattle and safe return.
     My New Years resolution is to record John's families in albums: Kings, Webbs, Cole, Fisher, Hutcheson and more.  I am excited for history is more exciting to me than current or future events.
      Jacob and Harriet Fisher King, Mtn View, AR, 1909, 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Studio signs

If you are not careful, you can spend far too much time either reading or writing blogs.  Did not want to stop today before posting my last two projects, studio signs for my studio and one for my grand daughter who also scraps.  Will not have to say much.  Will post photos, they speak for themselves.  The one rule I used when making these.  No new products, use what I had in my stash. 

Still adjusting

New Year's Eve 2008, my husband and I moved.  We had lived in our home 30 years, 6 months.  It was more than a home, it was a small ranch with 3 barns: horse, boat and utility.  That utility barn stored many things and was used as the attic and basement.  In Texas, most newer homes are built on a concrete slab.  It is way to HOT to actually use the attic, so you either keep your positions to a minimum, rent a storage facility or build one. 
     It was actually good for us to move.  We are aging and our son said move near him so he wouldn't spend time traveling to care for us.  We had experienced tending to distant parents so felt that a reasonable request.  We found a great home and moved.  That has been almost three years ago.  We got rid of tons of furniture, ranch equipment, old paper files and much more.  It was a great move for our children, they will not have to sort, haul off or throw away all the stuff that we did. However, we still moved too much and continue to collect (especially scrapbooking items).  What do you do with all the CDs that you made car travel and music at home so enjoyable?  We now find it so easy to listen to easy listening and music of the 40s on Sirius, both in the house and in both cars.  The older you get the less hassle you want and the more comfort you want. 
   So I am boxing up my favorite books.  If I cannot find a out of way house place to store, I will consider donating to library for the annual fund raiser.  I am pretty sure you cannot find these titles on Amazon or other e-book sites.  The authors I love are out of date.  I would like to reread each volume but cannot read and scrap at same time.  I still have John's family to create heritage albums and do not see reading in the near future.  Think I will get on Amazon and see what titles and authors they offer.  Good idea.  Makes me feel better.

Calming my soul.

I may have mentioned that I am no artist, cannot even draw a decent stike figure.  However, creating heritage albums and journaling are very important to me.  I also like to look through magazines and on-line at the terrifically talented ladies that create beautiful layouts and mini-albums.  So, I am always looking for a balance between pretty pages and basic pages.  The more I work at pretty pages, the more stress I have. 

When I need a bit of reality I hunt up my book Life Artist by Ali Edwards.  The first quote of hers that I embraced, "embrace imperfection."   I am a very imperfect creator, this saying helped a lot.  This week my new mantra, "do not not make it harder than it really is."   I have made a truce with myself; use the material I have on hand, forget about all the wonderfully beautiful new stuff and mover forward. 

If any one reads my blog, I want to encourage you, what ever your talent, to not forget the story, the journaling, the heart of the layout.  Tell your stories so your descendants can look at your albums and know who they are, where they came from and what makes them ticks.  You cannot do that with photos alone.  Now, I will get back to scrapping.  I am working on my school photos, dating back sixty-five years. 

New organizing drawers

I recently bought two 10 drawer organizers on wheels....at Sam's, at a great price.  So, instead of sprapbooking, I have been organizing.  Today, I went through several years of greeting cards, dividing them by person(s) that gave them to my husband and I.  I am giving them back so they they can use them again.  Of course, I am keeping the unusual ones.  None are handmade which made it easy to give back.  Just think how much money it will save.  I will buy one large size envelope for one size fits all.  We have a circle of friends that have exchanged cards for over 20 years.  So, today, I relieved lots of memories.   The oldest couple in the group are 96+ and 93+.  The youngest couple are 65 and 66.  They are a fun loving group and will have a big laugh when I come bearing all these old cards.

About making cards.  I made about 1/2 dozen non-descript cards this week.  I tired to keep them easy for no one in the group is crafty and after sitting out for a while, will go in the trash.  I just have not spend the time to make beautiful and expensive cards that end in the trash.  Remember, it is the thought that counts.  They do not care how pretty it is, they only care we remember them.  So, if you want to give me a beautiful card, I will treasure and keep it.  But for others, I will zip out a card and tell them how much we love them.