Sometimes I think scrapbooking is the most narcissistic act on earth. Then again, maybe it's just me being a narcissist.
I was looking through old layouts (a combination of being sick and avoiding working on an enormous project that's due tomorrow) and it got me thinking about how I've changed over a relatively short span of time. Beyond the obvious changes in artistic skill and changing product, my scrapbooks are a pretty accurate snapshot of what's been happening in my life.
In this layout (circa 2005/2006), I love my job.
In this layout, not so much.
And then back again to love…
(Isn't it interesting and odd that all three layouts are red? And double page spreads? Which I so rarely do!)
My books are full of stories.
I've got a page about how I want to get married and I'm getting antsy. Then a page about getting engaged. Then there's the wedding book, still in progress. I've got some pages where I'm angry at my husband and others where the journaling would lead the reader to believe that he was a saint. There are pages I've done about myself that are hyper-critical and those that are unreasonably congratulatory. I think I have a million pages about me and my Mom, with our faces smushed together. There are vacations and friends and holidays and inanimate objects — all catalogued and discussed.
But for all the techniques that I've loved…and designs I've agonized over…and new product I sold a kidney to acquire…it turns out that "they" were right.
It's the journaling that really makes the pages come alive.
I forget how much hindsight colors my memories. But, it's true. I look at a photo and it is filtered through my current state of mind. To read about what that photo meant to me two years ago (or even two months ago) is a lot of fun. And, it's a healthy reminder to me to keep journaling. Keep writing. What seems inane or ridiculous now, may be a lovely reminder of who I was.
Proust once wrote, "Time, which changes people, does not alter the image we have retained of them." I think that's a true statement sort of. I know what he means. But, I think our images of people, ourselves, the world around us, change slowly, infintisimly and almost unnoticeably so that we feel that the images haven't changed. But, they have. Maybe not in essentials, but in the little details. And isn't life lived in the details? In the little moments? In the thoughts and glances and dreams that are so ephemeral?
Even though I dabble in lots of different artsy craftsy stuff, I think that's the reason I keep coming back to scrapbooking. Even though I was expressing myself through my jewelry or cross stitch or quilting project when I created it, it doesn't give me myself back in the same direct way scrapbooking does. I like that.
I'm going to leave you with a cheeseball quote from The Wonder Years. But, I think it's true. "Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."
Thanks for stopping by!
So true. The funny thing is since I scrapbook I don’t write a diary anymore. That is sometimes bothering me – I have loads of written books with scraps and ephemera attached to each side from my daily live. I still write on my pages but not nearly as open or much as I did in my journal – of course because I show so much. Mhhh! Thinking.
So true. The funny thing is since I scrapbook I don’t write a diary anymore. That is sometimes bothering me – I have loads of written books with scraps and ephemera attached to each side from my daily live. I still write on my pages but not nearly as open or much as I did in my journal – of course because I show so much. Mhhh! Thinking.
So true. The funny thing is since I scrapbook I don’t write a diary anymore. That is sometimes bothering me – I have loads of written books with scraps and ephemera attached to each side from my daily live. I still write on my pages but not nearly as open or much as I did in my journal – of course because I show so much. Mhhh! Thinking.
So true. The funny thing is since I scrapbook I don’t write a diary anymore. That is sometimes bothering me – I have loads of written books with scraps and ephemera attached to each side from my daily live. I still write on my pages but not nearly as open or much as I did in my journal – of course because I show so much. Mhhh! Thinking.
Aww, The Wonder Years! That alone took me back! 🙂
Love your lo’s comparison and the way you did your journaling on the 2nd one is very cool!
Aww, The Wonder Years! That alone took me back! 🙂
Love your lo’s comparison and the way you did your journaling on the 2nd one is very cool!
Aww, The Wonder Years! That alone took me back! 🙂
Love your lo’s comparison and the way you did your journaling on the 2nd one is very cool!
Aww, The Wonder Years! That alone took me back! 🙂
Love your lo’s comparison and the way you did your journaling on the 2nd one is very cool!
This is so funny that you wrote this today. Just last week I got out all my albums and was flipping through my pages and was hit with how quickly I would flip past those pages that felt like they were just fluff (you know, the ones that are just product and little journaling – mostly those that were assignments) and then how I lingered and savored those pages that had more photos, more journaling and actually shared a memory, a story, an event or the feelings that I was feeling at the time. That is how I want my pages to be, accurate assesments of my reality now. Those that I loved most too, were double pagers.
Thanks for sharing Julie and keeping it all honest…your pages are just awesome.
Hugs,
Jen
This is so funny that you wrote this today. Just last week I got out all my albums and was flipping through my pages and was hit with how quickly I would flip past those pages that felt like they were just fluff (you know, the ones that are just product and little journaling – mostly those that were assignments) and then how I lingered and savored those pages that had more photos, more journaling and actually shared a memory, a story, an event or the feelings that I was feeling at the time. That is how I want my pages to be, accurate assesments of my reality now. Those that I loved most too, were double pagers.
Thanks for sharing Julie and keeping it all honest…your pages are just awesome.
Hugs,
Jen
This is so funny that you wrote this today. Just last week I got out all my albums and was flipping through my pages and was hit with how quickly I would flip past those pages that felt like they were just fluff (you know, the ones that are just product and little journaling – mostly those that were assignments) and then how I lingered and savored those pages that had more photos, more journaling and actually shared a memory, a story, an event or the feelings that I was feeling at the time. That is how I want my pages to be, accurate assesments of my reality now. Those that I loved most too, were double pagers.
Thanks for sharing Julie and keeping it all honest…your pages are just awesome.
Hugs,
Jen
This is so funny that you wrote this today. Just last week I got out all my albums and was flipping through my pages and was hit with how quickly I would flip past those pages that felt like they were just fluff (you know, the ones that are just product and little journaling – mostly those that were assignments) and then how I lingered and savored those pages that had more photos, more journaling and actually shared a memory, a story, an event or the feelings that I was feeling at the time. That is how I want my pages to be, accurate assesments of my reality now. Those that I loved most too, were double pagers.
Thanks for sharing Julie and keeping it all honest…your pages are just awesome.
Hugs,
Jen
I love your layouts, esp. the last 2. Quite a piece of art.
I love your layouts, esp. the last 2. Quite a piece of art.
I love your layouts, esp. the last 2. Quite a piece of art.
I love your layouts, esp. the last 2. Quite a piece of art.
Wow. Very inspiring post! You’ve got me thinking. I am going to start doing more journaling – on my layouts and in my art journal. I’m starting today. THANK YOU.
Wow. Very inspiring post! You’ve got me thinking. I am going to start doing more journaling – on my layouts and in my art journal. I’m starting today. THANK YOU.
Wow. Very inspiring post! You’ve got me thinking. I am going to start doing more journaling – on my layouts and in my art journal. I’m starting today. THANK YOU.
Wow. Very inspiring post! You’ve got me thinking. I am going to start doing more journaling – on my layouts and in my art journal. I’m starting today. THANK YOU.
*sigh* you’re pure creativity!! you’ve got an award!! 😉
*sigh* you’re pure creativity!! you’ve got an award!! 😉
*sigh* you’re pure creativity!! you’ve got an award!! 😉
*sigh* you’re pure creativity!! you’ve got an award!! 😉
Great flow of the scrapbooking journey!
Great flow of the scrapbooking journey!
Great flow of the scrapbooking journey!
Great flow of the scrapbooking journey!
A very enjoyable post Julie!
I hope you’re feeling better.
A very enjoyable post Julie!
I hope you’re feeling better.
A very enjoyable post Julie!
I hope you’re feeling better.
A very enjoyable post Julie!
I hope you’re feeling better.
I think you’ve put into words what so many of us feel. I love to look back and read what I’ve written – look back at the journey I’ve taken to get to *here* – wherever that is. Thanks for sharing such a thought-provoking post! 🙂
I think you’ve put into words what so many of us feel. I love to look back and read what I’ve written – look back at the journey I’ve taken to get to *here* – wherever that is. Thanks for sharing such a thought-provoking post! 🙂
I think you’ve put into words what so many of us feel. I love to look back and read what I’ve written – look back at the journey I’ve taken to get to *here* – wherever that is. Thanks for sharing such a thought-provoking post! 🙂
I think you’ve put into words what so many of us feel. I love to look back and read what I’ve written – look back at the journey I’ve taken to get to *here* – wherever that is. Thanks for sharing such a thought-provoking post! 🙂