Saturday, April 4, 2009

Finding My Smile

I work with a lady who has been with the company for twenty plus years and has a lot of vacation to use each year. Whenever she goes on vacation she posts a note on her computer monitor saying, "I'm off to find my smile. I will return on X date." A bit cheesy, but when I wandered into her cube this week to ask her a question and saw the sign I realized that I have lost my smile lately. I have been in a major funk. More on why I have been so funky (and not in a Marky Mark and the Funky bunch sort of way) in a later post.

In trying to find my smile I have been spending more time in my craft room (because eating carbs and playing hours of Spider Solitaire have not resulted in smile finding, only gaining weight and carpal tunnel syndrome). Picture a corner of an unfinished basement where three six feet tables are arranged in a U-shape with florescent lights hanging overhead, that's where I am right now. I love it even though I'm in an unfinished basement. There is no pressure to be neat and organized.

I've been working on my scrapbook diary 2009 project where I am scrapbooking some of my blog posts. I know, infertility seems like a weird thing to scrapbook, but I was inspired by Ali Edwards book "Life Artist" where she says that you should capture all aspects of your life, not just the happy ones. Infertility is my life right now, so that's what I'm scrapbooking about.


Here's some of what I've been doing in my crafting dungeon...

The scrapbooking version of the Hope - O - Meter...




This post...

And this post...


See what others are showing.

27 comments:

Queenie. . . said...

Very cool. I wish I was that motivated! I love the name of your blog, by the way.

Have you checked out Scrapblog and Blurb (two websites that allow you to electronically scrapbook and desktop publish)? I'm currently working on a Blurb book (pulling together old family recipes. . .it's only taken me a year!), and hoping I'll like the quality.

UnicornMommy said...

yeah I have lost my smile lately too.

Totally cool idea for scrap booking.

Tiger said...

Super cool idea. I think it is awesome that you are doing that. I need to do that as well. I have lost my smile lately too.

Delenn said...

I love scrapbooking and I think your pages were wonderful.

Anonymous said...

Ooooo...tnis is right up my alley! Those pages are beautiful. I'm an art therapist (ever heard of it?), and back many moons ago I did these huge collages with pictures, some orginal artwork, and magazines of my pain from my past...reminds me so much of these 'scrapbooking' pages from you.

I LOOOOOOOVE that idea..scapbooking the bad and not just the good. I'm going to have to pass that on to some of my 'crafty' but refuse to do art clients!

Anonymous said...

it's nice that you have the scrapbook as well as the blog. It's a great idea especially if it makes you happy.

JuliaS said...

Wow - I think it's neat you are doing that.

Hope you find your smile. (If you see mine, will you tell it I'm looking for it for me?) :0)

chicklet said...

That's really cool, well done!

Beautiful Mess said...

those are beautiful. You did a GREAT job! I think it's a great thing that your not only scrap booking the "good" times, but the rough times, as well. I hope you find your smile soon!

Beth Kyle said...

that is so cool...i gotta check out those sites

'Murgdan' said...

I think that is awesome...it is right to capture all the moments, because they are all we have. If you find a smile, would you send me half..I've been in the dumps lately and I feel like I don't even have a good excuse.

Anonymous said...

What a really neat scrapbook idea! I've never thought of doing this...My cricut and I may be getting busy soon!

Malky B. said...

Cool - you have a real talent for scrapbooking!

Kristin said...

That is incredible and could seriously be published as an Infertility photo based book. Wow...and I am incredibly jealous that you have that crafting space.

Caroline said...

I agree that we need to acknowledge and record all aspects of our lives, not just the happy times.

I have just finished my first scrapbooking effort of a holiday we took a year ago. It's not nearly as cool as your effort, but was a good distraction.

Cara said...

You bet - we have to life every minute of our life so we might as well embrace the bad with the good.

I am an AVID scrapbooker - and those pages are awesome! (I just did a 12 hours scrap day and got caught up on a whole year!!)

Elizabeth said...

This is completely brilliant! I guess I did something similar after a very difficult semester in college - it was very therapeutic. Hope this helps your smile come back.

Kate said...

I agree- this is brilliant. AND beautiful. I can't help but think you could sell those wonderful scrapbook level meters on etsy. It is really really really lovely. Good for you for being so creative, and I am so sorry for your funk, This sucks the life force, this IF shit, and the birth control pills do too.I wish on you a good week, a clear set of tests on friday, and a MAY cycle.

Anonymous said...

I think this is an amazing idea. They look great.

sunflowerchilde said...

I love it! What a way to take something crappy and turn it into something creative. Your scrapbooking talent is pretty amazing (to me at least).

Raggedy Ann said...

I've fallen in love with your blog. Thank you for dropping the comment on mine which has enabled me to find my way here. I remember the days when I found it so hard to smile (http://infertile-raggedyann.blogspot.com/2009/01/show-and-tell-mona-lisa-smile.html) I think the scrapbook is a grand idea & I'm going to suggest it to the members of my association.

Carrie said...

I love your pages! You have a real talent, not just for writing, but for scrapping! :) Happy show and tell.

Carrie

battynurse said...

Great idea. I've been trying to get some craft stuff done. Mostly sewing. I am so overwhelmed by the whole scrapbooking thing and all the pics I have.

Diana said...

Love, love, love this post, and love, love, love your layouts. Love them.
Oh, don't love the part that you've lost your smile, but I hope the SBing has helped you feel at least a little bit better. I know it always makes me feel better.
You are going to have an awesome pregnancy scrapbook; I can't wait to see it (I hope you'll share some of the pages!)
Keep scrapping and see if that smile will come back!
And I know what you mean about loving your craft space--when I don't have time to SB I can get a mini-lift just by looking at my scrap-nook and caressing some supplies (lol).
A.

Kristin said...

Your scrapbook must be amazing because even seeing three pages, one can see the talent you have at putting it all together. I'm glad you're taking time to do something for yourself that will help you find your smile. That's a good thing to live by... I'm going to try to remember that.

Anonymous said...

woha! these three pages turned out great good Job :)

Soo wish I was that crafty

Erika said...

What a great idea! Your pages you posted look amazing you're very talented!

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