Today...is a great day!

Today...I replied to a note from Marianne who let us know how she would like to see scrapbooking portrayed in the media:

Scrapbooking is so often ridiculed because of the following it has created. Realistically, scrapbooking has been around for many years, in fact centuries, in one form or another. As respresentatives, I would hope that the NSA provides a high standard of answers and a pride in our works.

I agreed:

Great opinion, Marianne!

Scrapbooking shouldn't be portrayed as a separate lifestyle, but simply as an extension of our lives. We're already taking photos; we're already making memories. Scrapbooking is a way for us to showcase and share them. Focusing solely on the creative aspect alienates newcomers. Scrapbooking is a great gateway to crafts, but it's not where it starts. It starts with a memory. And scrapbooking helps us appreciate the moments that become memories.

Thanks so much for your support and for expanding the passion!

ETP!

Labels: About the ING, Expanding the Passion, IMHO, it starts with a memory, Stop the DRAMA

Today...I share a little more from the Pottery Barn catalog. This quote hits you when you open to the first page.

On the NSA Forums, there is a Quote of the Day. Here is today's quote:

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. -- Jack London

And here are a few more I found on The Quotation Page:

Inspiration may be a form of superconsciousness, or perhaps of subconsciousness - I wouldn't know. But I am sure it is the antithesis of self-consciousness. -- Aaron Copland

Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but the writer must develop an approach for the rest of the time... The wait is simply too long. -- Leonard Bernstein

ETP!

Labels: About the ING, hand holding

Today...the September Pottery Barn catalog came in the mail! Pottery Barn has long been a source of inspiration (or should I say desire) for scrapbookers. The colors, the organization, the homey feel, the classic contemporary style. We love it all!. Here's some of the yummy goodness that, to me, applies to scrapbooking:

• page 13 - This project table has scrapbooking written all over it. Here it is in the kitchen. The labeled jars are cute, but does it bother you that they are out of order?
• page 18 - These monograms are suitable for framing...and embellishing!
• page 39 - Wouldn't this make a great scrap space? The white ledges and desk against the Bermuda blue walls remind me of the old-fashioned blueprints (think photos matted in white against a Bazzill Bermuda blue cardstock); the drawers of the Bedford desk are wide enough for 12x12; oh, and those adjustable pendant lamps...must-haves for lighting help!
• page 46-47 - I could put this iron home-office grid to work in a scrapbook area
• page 54 - the colors of the artisan-painted furniture (right) remind me of some of the collections from Cosmo Cricket (Be Good, Dutch Girl, Halfway Cafe)
• page 74 - I would love to have scissors as wall art grace my scrap room; I'll even take the "V" next to the rub ons on the linen pinboard!

Inspiration can come from anywhere. After I thumbed through the PB catalog, I was inspired to spend some time straightening up my scrap space.

And you? I'd love to hear your comments about inspiration, surroundings, space, and any other thoughts that may come to mind!

ETP!

Labels: About the ING

Today...is the first of August! Before we all get into back-to-school mode, I invite fellow bloggers to the End of Summer Blog-Abration at Lessons from the Scrapbook Page. You could win one of the great prizes and you'll discover new friends: real women who scrap.

And it's easy:

1. Add the Announcement Button to your sidebar and link it to here
2. Write a post inviting all your friends
3. Sign the Mr. Linky box with your blog site to register to win a prize
4. Enjoy what's left of summer!

ETP!

Labels: About the ING, Expanding the Passion

Today...Beth Mauro, editor of CNA Magazine, reported from GASC in Chantilly. Here are some quotes of note:

No matter what your crafting niche I highly urge you to attend consumer shows whenever possible. There is nothing better than seeing the industry through (these) customers' eyes. When crafting is your business there is a danger of getting jaded when it comes to products and projects. A short trip to a consumer show is like a shot of adrenalin.

My favorite part was seeing scrapbookers of every age, color, size and level of expertise. We saw three generations of scrapbookers visiting the show together and plenty of new moms looking to start a baby book. The crops were packed. Over a three day period, hundreds of scrapbookers dragged all their stuff in for the fun of scrapping with friends and soon-to-be-friends.

and

Digital Scrapbooking 101 classes were full as were sessions on getting photos off of your digital camera (I should take that one) and photo retouching. The fact that that attendees that come to this show are hardcore scrapbookers should prove that traditional scrapbooking and digital scrapbooking can co-exist under one roof. Will next year be the year of Hybrid Scrapbooking classes?

It boils down to this:

• Always remember the customer
• Scrapbooking is for everyone
• Never underestimate the passion of a scrapbooker

ETP!

Labels: About the ING, Expanding the Passion, hand holding, retail tips, trade magazines

Today...I'm reminded that dreams really can come true!

Remember when I offered an invitation to create the ultimate scrapbooking web site! Well, it's being done! The new NSA site will be like no other! I'm just too excited not to at least mention how great it is going to be. For me, it's like having all my dreams come true AND dreams I didn't even know I had come true.

It's not too late to let us know your dreams for the ultimate scrapbooking web site.

Whatever your expectations are, they will be blown away!

ETP!

Labels: About the ING, Expanding the Passion, hand holding, industry insights, Latest and Greatest, Stop the DRAMA

Today...I realized how long it's been since I blogged. So sorry. I have thoughts in my head that I think would make good blog posts, but somehow they never make it to the computer. I shall try harder.

So this is the thought that came to me today, and I immediately wrote it on my white board. I'll share it with you:



ETP!

Labels: About the ING, IMHO

Today...I'm still recovering from a doosie of a cold. I hope to have 100% of my voice back in time for my Diva on the Road report on Wednesday's Diva Craft Lounge. Thank goodness for the Internet and the wonderful tools, like email, blogging and forums, where we can voice our opinions and news when we literally don't have a voice!

So let me tell you the big news of the week...kicking off the campaign for National Scrapbooking Day. Press releases were sent to manufacturers and industry insiders and posted on several news services. We presented the official 2007 logo and announced various file versions are available for download. If you haven't done so already, make sure to sign the petition to recognize NSD as an official holiday.

One important item I want to point out: The NSA promotes National Scrapbooking Day...because it's all about the ING. We promote the process over the product. It's the subtle way of getting people to scrap as part of their daily lifestyle. So make sure you use the full name of the holiday!

I'm still adding some features to this blog, so bear with me!

ETP!

Labels: About the ING, Diva Craft Lounge, NSD

Today...this article warns us that we --as a market/industry-- have gone overboard and scrapbooking is now alienating consumers. Perception has crossed from overwhelming to down-right frightening. From the author:

Scrapbooking is everywhere...There is even a television show about it, which I watched one time simply out of sheer disbelief.

Upon leaving the store, I had the urge to down a whiskey to counterbalance the act of purchasing scrapbooking supplies on a Friday night. But since I don't drink whiskey, I settled for a raspberry martini, which took the edge right off my uncomfortable foray into the world of scrapbooking.

It seems my old method of sitting down biannually with five photo albums and a shoe box full of pictures no longer cuts it.

...scrapbooking highlights my inadequacies in the craft department, takes too long, and makes my fingers and my neck ache.

It makes me sad, because there is only one rule in scrapbooking: If you're having fun, then you're doing it right. The author of the article was not having fun. And I don't know who looses more: that we loose a customer, or that she looses confidence in her capacity to creatively preserve her memories.

Expanding the passion is not about getting excited over the latest and greatest. It's about finding and embracing a way to integrate memory preservation into our lifestyle so we become more passionate about our life.

ETP

Labels: About the ING, Expanding the Passion, industry insights

Today...I read about two congresswomen who will be scrapping up a storm on their upcoming fact-finding tour of the Iraqi region. According to a press release from the office of Congresswoman Sherri Davis, R-CA:

Also along on the fact-finding trip, according to Davis, will be Democratic Rep.
Louise Slaughter of Buffalo. 'She is a neat lady and a major, major scrapbooker
-- and so I wouldn't be surprised if the two of us, with the aid of U.S.
military transport, set a land-sea scrapbooking record of some kind," predicts
Davis with her trademark grin. "Scrap-booking and fact-finding, fact-finding and
scrapbooking. It's a very good mix, and I expect to get several complete books
out of this trip. Arthur Schlesinger recently sold his scrapbooks to Penguin for
a cool 1.5, and so it is actually a very good investment of my time, as well as
being super fun and super educational."

Well, how about that!

I ask both Davis and Slaughter to let our soldiers know we scrapbookers support our troops and hope they enjoy the Christmas trees that are on their way to them!

ETP!

Labels: About the ING, Expanding the Passion, Harvesting Memories