Saturday, August 09, 2008

The Fellowship of Scrapbookers

Over the years, I've been involved in a lot of different things from team sports at the varsity level (volleyball, basketball and ice hockey) to crafts (knitting, painting, teddy bear making, card making and scrapbooking amongst others). All the crafts still inhabit my world, they come and go, get incorporated into each other and get put away again to be rolled out againwhen the urge or need presents itself. Scrapbooking however has been a constant since I first became an acid free addict earlier this century! (My doesn't that sound weird, earlier this century, HaHa!)
I've wondered about the reason, as I seem to wonder about a lot of what goes on around me and there is no doubt that the reason I love scrapbooking is not just because it can make my family members really happy when I make them a gift, but mainly because of the people that I encounter doing this craft. There is a quality amongst the scrapbookers that I have met over the years. An openess to share with others a little of who they are and what their lives are like. There is the communication of ideas, experiences that transcends the daily yet also embrasses the smaller things that are the glue that makes up a day, a relationship. There is the excitement of sharing a new tool or a new place to shop also known as the fine art of enabling friends and foe alike. Perhaps it is the ability to look a life's moments as precious that makes scrapbookers such magic people. All I know is that my life is far richer for meeting these people and that even if I were bored with the craft, I would continue to scrapbook, simply for the wonderful joy its enthusiasts have brought into my life.

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Another Fun Crop

Yesterday I brought all, well, OK, some of my for sale scrapbook supplies and went off to a charitable Crop at the Nativity Church in Brandon. Three of my regular "scrapbook buddies" were there, Janie, Sharon and Lisa. And my buddy Becky was organizing it. Becky is a very special lady who has a big heart and helps hundreds of people raise funds for charitable causes, through a yahoo group for charitable crop organizers. I also met up with a lady that I had spoken to and was thrilled to meet, Lisa C and another lovely lady that I had met before, Cheryl. Lisa C sells jewelry and Cheryl Southern Living home decorations. The usual CM, Stampin'Up and CTMH were also represented.

The day went by really fast, mainly because I got to spend it with such nice people. Michelle the co-organizer, all the lovely croppers most of whom I got to speak with and learn a little about. A very enthusiastic first time shopper, Rebecca, who I am sure will make her mom very happy! You see Rebecca's mom, who was not present, really wanted her daughter to start scrapbooking and I could tell that Rebecca was really getting excited about this wonderful craft by the end of the crop. I also met people that were already members of the Scrapbook Buddies and who I hope will become a regular part of our off campus activities!

I did a clear card make and take, showing people some of the techniques used in putting together those clear acrylic albums that are so popular right now. I also promised people that I would put together a couple of classes, one on a little mini album that is strictly made of cardstock and one of the cascading word books, which many people are attracted to, but are a little intimidated by when they take them home. AS luck would have it, I didn't get a chance to take pictures, so here is hoping that if someone reading this did, they will email some to me to share with you!