22 June 2006

Something from Nothing

I've been spending a lot of time this week creating a 4-evening workshop for kids at our church as part of an arts camp. I created a mini-album with lots of techniques to learn, places to put photos, spots for journaling, etc. I based the album on the song "All Good Gifts" from Godspell. Unfortunately, I had to cancel the workshop due to low enrollment. I wish kids could have seen the project in advance...it is such a fun and colorful album and I know they would have enjoyed it. It's tough getting classes to fill during the summer months. At any rate, it was a fun project to create and I know that we'll throw it out there again at some point. When the time is right, it will happen.


That's the way it goes in this line of work. You may spend hours designing and creating what you believe is a wonderful project, and then your class may not fill. It can be disappointing and discouraging, but it can also be an opportunity to step back and think about what people want. The scrapbooking world has changed a great deal in the past 5 years or so that I've been teaching. My sense from talking to folks in classes is that a majority crave work time, and they need simple, doable ideas that will help them focus on completing their albums. Many scrapbookers feel overwhelmed by too much product and by backlogs of photos. Some feel pressured to create works of art or perfect, "publishable" pages. For others, the hobby isn't fun anymore.

So I always try to create projects that are straightforward, practical, and easy to replicate at home. And somewhere in that creative process, with my scrapbooking stuff spread out all over the floor, I get reminded about why I love this hobby. It doesn't matter if the class fills or not. I created something from nothing, something that didn't exist before, and that something is a reflection of me.
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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good afternoon,
I can't believe I am reading your blog!! Now I can say I've read it.
Cute pictures of your kitty. The project you created for church is so cute. You might be able to use it at the store.
Bye!!

Unknown said...

Miss Janet, you so rock! Boy did those kids miss out. Looks like the project is adorable.

Call me some time when you are in town.

db

Anonymous said...

I agree with Diane. How about a class at the store? The kids did miss a good project. But, I know you and it was enjoyable as you were creating it. Keep those projects coming.