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| Credits: Digital Stamp: Ali Edwards Design |
Inspiration for this blogpost:
I read THIS blogpost of Ali Edwards as soon she posted it on her blog, but I didn't react to it at the time since I was coming back to scrapbooking again. So much has changed. It was a bit hard for me to figure everything out.
A little about my background story:
I started scrapbooking back in 2005. Ali Edwards and "Elsie Flannigan" where my inspirations (also "Kristina Contes" who was on the HAMBLY SCREENPRINTS designteam at the time).
Kristina was/is an amazing artist for sure. I remember contacting Kristina after I saw on a blog, where they bullied everyone who had a little bit of recognition for their work, my name after my appearance as "Prima Marketing" Guest designer and calling me names and a whole topic about me (well, I wasn't that successful or something. I didn't understand what I did wrong). I was in tears when I reached out to Kristina.
Why did I approach Kristina?
She was the main target of that blog with anonymous responses. I just wanted to know how she dealt with all of it. And I will never forget the advice she gave me: "Emine, don't read it, don't even look, it's not worth of it". She was right. Even though they were so cruel to her, she found it in her heart to not respond or look at it. To be the better person. She was wise enough to not even lower herself to that level. That's how I know who Kristina really is.
I would love to know how she is doing now and hope she is still creating. And if I had the chance, I would thank her for her advice. Because it truly saved my life later on.
And then:
In 2009 i had to quit. Live happened (Kristina's advice in the back of my mind). Now I am back again and a bit confused, excited about the new concepts in the scrapbook industry but still a bit reminiscing about the "good old days". Where we had more a forum and blog community (not that blog I mentioned above) instead of Facebook. Although I am getting used to it and I am trying to embrace this new way of sharing...
Ali's Approach to Memory Keeping:
What I love the most is the way Ali Edwards approaches scrapbooking. "Storytelling" and "Memory Keeping" sounds more right to me. That's what we do, we document our lives and tell the stories of our lives. Loved what Ali said and asked in the "Main Presentation" of her new January "Habit" Story kit class:
"Storytelling as a method of personal growth"
and
"How has memory keeping impacted your personal growth?"
Excellent.
My Project Plans for 2019:
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| Credits: Ali Edwards Design |
Ofcourse, almost finished, taking my time to really work with my word "Grind" and it has already made me realize a LOT. For instance that my word is not what I think it meant. "Grind" is a word used in the world of motivational/inspirational speakers as "don't give up", "believe in yourself", "Life with purpose", "work hard for what you believe" etc.. When i looked it up it said a whole another thing. I knew that I had to give this word my own definition.
So I wrote: " Nothing has a meaning, only the meaning you give to it". I struggled but I made it.... LOL
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| Credits: Ali Edwards Design |
Last year I was way too late to order my kit through the box system. I took my photo's and told my stories in a journal and lived my "magically imperfect" December 2018 to the fullest. I participated in your workshop: "Storytelling with December Daily" (wow, would love to have the opportunity to leave reviews, I learned so much, amazing content, I would recommend this class to ANYONE who likes DD. For real.
So that project is done for me. (I might create an album but I don't put myself into that pressure" I can tell you that this was the BEST way for me to get into scrapbooking and the new way of storytelling. And I like it. Definitely will be participating this year again.
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| Credits: Ali Edwards Design |
I am looking forward to it. I definitely will be participating in their classes too.
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| Credits: Janette Lane |
I need to create 3 hybrid pocket letters this month (1 for a pall in Germany, 1 for a pall in my Country, Netherlands and 1 for a pall in USA) Amazing concept and a very happy me when I receive them in the mail. Makes me smile... It's like a RAK (Random Act Of Kindness) we used to do, but more fun.
Love them so much. I have a subscription for 12 months. (or years)
The class content and products are my favorite...
I want to explore, in dept, which project or concept suits me the most. I don't travel that much but I would love to create albums telling the stories about the 4 times a year I get to see my children. That includes traveling, but mostly I want to document everything we do and say to each other in that short time we have together. Turning missing my children into celebrating the bond and love we have, the fun, the cuddles and kisses.
7) Last but not least, maybe the most important project to me is recreating:
Every single layout, mini-album possible I created for my daughters. I might have lost all of them, but Thank God I kept sharing it on my blog. When I found the them online (baby pictures of my daughters, the layouts I created, the thoughts I shared) it felt like I got my identity back, my memories, the details. I don't feel sad, the opposite I am excited to have the opportunity to tell all those beautiful memories again. I guess the Story planner would be very helpful.With what I now know. I'm Grateful for sure.
Years of scrapbooking for my family and magazine work I learned that not every story has to be about the good times or good things in our lives. Sometimes telling the story about something you are frustrated about can be so therapeutic. I have created a lot of layouts about my panic attacks or feeling lonely. There is no rule in memory keeping right? We got to do what feels right for us. Now years and years later I don't have that problem anymore. That's the beauty, I have grown, we all have.
WHAT ARE YOUR PROJECT PLANS?
