Memories and questions - and a link to some fabulous Mother's Day crafts

I did this layout for the latest Color room challenge (and it's late) and for ScrapGal - one of our manus of the month is Jenni Bowlin. I made the flower from a piece of silk chiffon from a vintage scarf that is somewhat shattered (have you ever heard of shattered silk - it is when an old piece of silk literally shreds -the threads just break). The center of the flower is a vintage cufflink and the locket up in corner is also vintage. I used a transparency (really loving them lately) and some other bits and pieces from my leftovers bin.
the journaling reads - Old photographs keep their SECRETS. No one alive today knows who these children were. (Actually I do know who they were as the names are written on the backs and I knew 2 of the people when I was a child (grandmother and grandfather) but once I am gone, no one will know who they were except as names.)

As I said, the layout is late for the deadline - I just can't create like an automaton - weekly challenge sites are just too much for me - I read the challenge and see the great DT work but life intervenes and if I can get one or two done maybe, that's it - and I also think rushing through layouts is sort of pointless - what's the hurry? How many layouts are enough? How many layouts did you create last year or have created so far this year? William Morris wrote "if you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it. Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe that is beautiful."  He wrote that as a reaction to the crass commercialism and consumerism of the Victorian age in England - I think it is very appropriate for our world today - there is just so much stuff in the stores, in our houses, and in our lives - and for what, we certainly aren't any happier with all of it. I recently went through my older layouts and divided them into piles - those that I loved, either very meaningful to me or very beautiful, those I thought would mean something for Brian, and those in which I saw little redeeming value - those were taken apart, photos and some components saved, and the remainder trashed. I probably reduced my layouts by half.

Anyway, I don't have the answer - I guess the most important things are to record memories and to create things that you love.

One of my design team jobs ends this month and I have some thoughts about DT jobs.  Being on a kit design team has been very good for me as it forces me to be more resourceful and step outside my little box in order to showcase products that I probably would not have selected on my own - and the really really cool thing is that I have discovered some fabulous products and some super color combos that I will continue to use even after my DT term is over.  So, all in all, I would recommend applying for DT jobs for anyone who loves to scrap - not only will you receive some fantastic product, you will work with some incredibly talented and super nice designers, and your own designing skills will blossom.

Thanks for reading my thoughts and I would love to know what you think. I have to work this afternoon at the book store - we are so low on volunteers at both the book store and the gift shop (we are especially low at the gift shop and may have to cut the hours that we are open) that some of us are working extra shifts. All of the profits from the book store and gift shop are donated to our county library, and unfortunately we won't be able to donate as much this year as last (and last year was less than the year before). Florida has some major budget problems, and funds for libraries were cut this past year and will take a monster hit in the next fiscal year.  In the past, our donations paid for things like online services but this year we have to use the money for books as the library has no funds for new books. They will have to close earlier and one of the libraries is not open on the weekend at all because there are not enough funds to pay workers. So sad......

Hope you have a wonderful weekend - do you have any special plans for Mother's Day? My son is driving over tomorrow afternoon and is taking us to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. Then he will drive home on Sunday. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful young man as my son - he is a very special person and very loved. And be sure to check out http://www.craftcritique.com/2010/05/mothers-day-blog-carnival.html for some fabulous Mother's Day craft ideas - my Mother's Day is on the list!!!!

ttfn
Chris