People or Places...What triggers the Memory most?

My Alma Mater: TRHS- Des Moines,IA

I used to think that is was shallow minded to have many of one's fondest memories be wrapped in  a favorite place or building (one's old high school for example) After all, the building or locale is only an object and not a living breathing organism...shouldn't it be people that we share our lives with that create those treasured memories? Yet, recently I have been revising my thinking on this. I believe it's a mistake to separate the two and think of them as exclusive categories.  They often feed on each other and serve to cement those memories for us. A childhood home, or your old high school, triggers memories, probably both good and bad of your growing up experiences. Which in turn triggers memories of those people who shared events within our childhood. In that respect, the building or place has served it's purpose in connecting us to the people of those particular memories.

Yet, in someways the special building or place can evoke memories that stand alone-devoid of any connections to other people in your life. Perhaps those places serve a purpose in our memory in and of themselves. They help to provide a highly personal collection of memories that is exclusively our own, ours and ours alone. An example I'm thinking of from my child hood is a special place I used to go near my Grandmother's house. I used to "escape" there to be alone with my thoughts and also to reconnect with nature. It was in the nearby woods, close enough to the road so I wouldn't feel lost, but nestled in the trees so I could feel alone. There was a huge slab of stone, quite comfortable to sit upon. I dubbed it my "thinking rock". Whenever we went to visit, I sought it out to have some precious "Me time".

Taking the opportunity to relive and cherish happy times is good for the soul.  Conversely, as a matter of self-preservation, hurtful memories are delegated to the darkest corners of our mind. Sometimes they are frequently meant to stay there, because sometimes they are better suppressed.  We can continue to cope and move forward without them being on the forefront of our consciousness.

"Sometimes,  I guess there just aren't enough rocks"

 Some things can't be "resolved"  other than to just put them on a shelf. Then sometimes the sadness, anger or fear is brought forth and triggered by a specific place. One of the best example of suppressing memories in this manner is beautifully illustrated in the film Forest Gump.  Jenny had come back to visit Forest and as they were strolling came upon her abandoned childhood home. Living in that home with an abusive father, her face clouded over, then turned to anger. She began hurling stones and breaking the last of the remaining window glass. It is one of the most powerful, telling scenes in the whole movie. As she dissolves in tears, Forest comforts her the only way he can by saying: " Sometimes I guess there just aren't enough rocks." Simplistic in nature on the surface, Forest had it spot on by revealing that sometimes in our psyche, injuries can't be healed but only fade to a distant memory.

The discussion about what triggers the memory most, people or places, can be revised very quickly when one finds out that it is not the sense of sight that is the strongest sense for triggering memory. Out of all of our 5 senses, scientists have confirmed that the sense of smell is the strongest for memory recall.  Here is a ranking, that is generally agreed upon in the scientific community, of how our five senses rate in assisting us with our memory recall.

1. Smell - Certain smells can trigger vivid memories almost instantaneously.
2. Taste - Taste is closely linked to smell, so it also has a powerful connection to memory, 
3. Touch -  Textures and certain feelings can bring out old memories.
4. Sight- Most people consider this the most important sense, however it does not rank high on the list for triggering memory.
5. Sound - I found this very ironic that sound is the least important sense for recalling memories. Hard to believe when I think of all my favorite music from my high school and college days. Maybe this ranking is different for different people (?)

According to several neuroscientist's theories, memories fad with time to be replaced by more recent memories. Memories that have have deemed worthy of retaining can usually be kept if "re-visited" and brought to the forefront of our thinking. I love to scrapbook family photographs and it's a perfect way for me to keep those memories alive and exercising my brain. Not only is it a good way to recollect events, but serves as a good reference point when random questions arise....."What year did we go to Maine?"

 It's interesting though that memories are frequently revised and embellished, sometimes we only remember what we want to remember. Again it's the old self-preservation of the psyche, wanting to protect one's self. Who can blame you?
 
 However memories are triggered for you, they are an important part of what defines us as a person and helps to keep us mentally happy and healthy. Whatever form they take: a building, a photograph, the scent of your aunt's favorite casserole, just cherish them and let them be refreshed now and then so they don't become lost in a dusty, remote corner of the psyche. Bring on the nostalgia, it's good for the soul. JES

Scrapbooker's Nirvana

Yes, Nirvana....paradise for a Scrapbooking aficionado: Stamp & Scrapbook Expo. This past weekend I recently attended the expo in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with 3 of my girlfriends.  We had absolutely the BEST time and not only did we have hours to dabble and explore the possibilities of our hobby & craft, but the "girl time" together was priceless.

Perhaps that is one of the reasons scrapbooking and card making/rubber stamping has become so incredibly popular; not only is it oodles of fun but it is also a wonderful activity to share with other women.  Kind of a modern day Quilting Bee. Definitely mostly women I might add. At the show I noticed that an overwhelming amount of the crowd were women.  Any men present were either exhibitors manning the booths or husbands, in tow, looking bedraggled and really not wanting to be there.  The women, on the other hand, were exuberant and thrilled to have all the tools of the trade and new products for their craft all available under one roof.  I knew this type of hobby was big, but I had no idea how "universal" until I went to this Expo. And big it is...the Stamp & Scrapbook Expo. holds expos literally coast to coast. To find one close to you and details on what happens at an expo., here is their web site: scrapbookexpo.com.
     When I first arrived at the expo., I was like a deer in headlights...so much to look at, so incredible to take it all it. Also, classes are offered and an abundance of "make and take" projects are readily available.  Since this was my first expo., I did not sign up for classes.  I just wanted to explore what was available. So I basically shopped and shopped and then shopped a little more. How could one shop for hours like that you say?! Well....when I am scrapbook shopping I am thinking of projects in my mind's eye...virtual scrapbooking, shall we say.  At this expo, almost all the retail prices were very discounted: I would say I got some really good deals. I know prices on this stuff, because I have been doing this for over 20 years.  Actually, I was doing scrapbooking before it was "cool" or before they even called it "scrapbooking". I put together an album of my trip to Paris my senior year in HS and I remember saving ticket stubs and menus to put in amongst the photographs.

     The variety of products were amazing. Here is a photo of just a sampling of the items I picked out.  The die-cuts were really detailed and the quality really stood out-not the kind of thing you can just find anywhere. My friends that went with me were focused more on card making, rubber stamps and paper crafting, but nevertheless the techniques used in those crafts overlap with many of the scrapbooking techniques....so as it turns out, we were all delighted. I am so glad that I went and I would go to another;if and when the opportunity arises. I highly recommend attending an expo for any crafter who pursues scrapping or stamping! A fantastic and joyful Girls Day Out!     Keep Scrapping!

The "Process Art" in Scrapbooking

I bet every Scrapbooker out there occasionally experiences this feeling: there is a good chance that the bulk of their finished product will go unnoticed, not shared with others and literally collect dust on the shelf. Trust me, I have felt this way many times and can't help but wonder if some of the albums that I spent hours creating won't really be looked at until after I am 6 feet under.  Sounds a bit macabre I know, and I am not trying to feel sorry for myself, just realistic.
So after all these years, why do I continue to Scrapbook? Simply put: I enjoy it...the whole process as much as the end result.

Creativity inspired: Tools of the Trade

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Journaling...documenting your treasured memories

Journaling....documenting your treasured memories

 I have been keeping a diary and /or Journal since I was a young girl. When I was very young we had little one year diaries complete with a lock and key to keep our innermost secrets safe. It was terrific to record all the events and day to day happenings of the day. The disadvantage of those little diaries

were that they came with a page printed to each and every day of the year, so one felt obligated to writer EVERY day.  Sometimes this got a little ho-hum, and then there were days that you could have used 10 pages to describe a major event and ALL the emotions surrounding it. So we graduated to Journals, allowing us the freedom of expression and the freedom to document when and how much we wanted to.  To this day I still keep a personal journal, yes with pen and paper, and I love the freedom to write only once every few months...whenever the spirit moves me. In my life, the Journaling process has navigated over to my scrapbooking craft. It is so valuable to designate dates, events, names in your albums.  Years from now when looking back, it is so hard to remember details like that. There was a time that I felt all the documentation in my albums should be typed and neatly displayed by the picture. My attitude on that has changed...the originality of having the information and impressions of the moment be in your own handwriting is so much better.  I believe that you don't want your family travel pictures to look like a printed up brochure-you want them to look like your very own family album. Having notes in your own handwriting gives it a look that is distinctly yours.

Journaling: helping the pictures tell the story

There are many different ways you can Journal in conjunction with your Scrapbooking. Some take a fine pen and write directly on the page.  This is great if you have decided and already practiced what you are writing.  If you do it directly on the page, it is harder to correct if an error is made. I like using Journaling cards.  If you mess up, you can get a new card and not have to worry about fixing the entire page.

 The styles and colors on the market provide a very wide variety to reflect any theme. It is so fun to select complimentary papers, journaling cards and embellishments when telling the story with your photographs. In addition to pre-printed cards for journaling, you can also create your own with rubber stamps. I own several and have fun stamping out designs with several different colors to create journaling cards that fit my needs. Here is a picture of one of the stamps I own that I use alot...definitely got my money's worth.

Although Journaling seems like extra trouble when organizing your photographs, it is worth it in the long run.  Things that seem so obvious now, years from now you can confirm which cousin is which and which lake is which....and what year did we met Aunt Judy at Custer National Park? When did I buy that car?  The possibilities go on and on, so be sure to document it to help you answer those persistent  questions.  Keep Scrapping!

Scrapbooking....finding your Creative Niche

Scrapbooking....the joy of taking all those cherished photographs and arranging them in albums with special papers, stickers, embellishments and journaling to document events.  I have always believed this is a better alternative, then sticking them in an old shoe box and placing them on a shelf somewhere.  So many memories can be preserved through scrapbooking your events in life...both the "big" things and the everyday treasures found in day to day living. I have been Scrapbooking in one way or another for over 30 years-it's funny because I was a Scrapbooker way before it was cool or "trendy".  I remember a trip to Paris my senior year in HS that is well documented by not only my photos, but collected postcards, ticket stubs, menus and of course the journaling of my visit there.
So in some ways I think of myself as an expert in this field: I know what I like and what I don't like when it comes to Scrapbooking and scrapbooking techniques.

 It is an Art....not an exact science

 My main purpose in this blog is to encourage every Scrapbooker out there to follow your creative spirit and go with what works for you. I don't like to be pushed into something just because it's the trend or I "should" to it that way. It is an art...not an exact science. To give you an example, I use albums that are 8 1/2  x 11 format, smaller than the "mainstream" size of 12 x12.  I have several reasons why I prefer the smaller format, but mostly because they are easier to use when you sit down to look at pictures....less cumbersome I think.

 Albums and papers of the 8 1/2x11 size can still be found, thank goodness, but the predominant size on the market is 12x12. I have dug my heels in, and have refused to "convert" to a 12x12 format, and have not regretted my decision. I still have so much fun creating the albums with the format I am most comfortable working with. Here are a couple of pages documenting our Alaskan fishing trip-a very successful catch of Halibut. The shading on the pages was done by texturing several different colors (stamp pads), with a stiff bristle brush.  I love the marbley look you get with that....and it is a subtle look that does not distract from the pictures themselves. Also, I really love to use die-cuts whenever I can find them. The blue "Alaska" die-cut I found in a Scrapbooking store up there. My guys were very patient with me when I just HAD to make a stop there. The use of a Cricut machine is also handy.  I don't own one, but I have a friend that can sometimes do cut outs for me.

 When creating die-cuts, the use of paper punches for small, simple embellishments are great to just add a little pizazz to your albums...here is a good example with the little orange swirls. These are photos of Devils Tower Wyoming, very impressive but lots of gray...I put them on forest green paper and the orange swirls add a touch of color. Matting pics in a contrasting color also makes then stand out.
Do whatever inspires you & you will be sure to create a family keepsake. Keep Scrapping! 

Don't Forget the Sign Picture!!

My love of writing extends to Journaling in the scrapbooks that I compile with photographs of family events and travels. While preparing for our next trip, to Alaska, my husband and I were talking about a family tradition of standing by the sign of  the attraction (usually for us a National Park) to document that we were actually there! When my boys were younger, it was viewed as more of an adventure, then as a task, when they hear Mom say..."Ooo, Ooo...stop the car! We gotta get this sign picture! Nevertheless, I like to think that as the years go by my family & friends will look at the albums with a smile and remember when....

My blog is here to show my love of writing and sharing ideas through words and photographs. So come share your ideas, tips and inspirations with me.