Wednesday 25 September 2013

The Voice of Little E

I've been checking out as many links as I can over at Rinda's Scavenger Hunt. There has been something so compelling about admiring many different takes on the same list. We all seem to be noting our favourites. Out of my own photos the one I like the best will always be the first I found: the dinosaur which came out of Little E's trip to the museum, back in June.

Sian Fair scrapbooking "a voice" for Get It Scrapped

So I jumped at the chance to finally put in in my album when Get It Scrapped asked for a page using "a voice". This is something I love to do. Everyone knows about my "dangerous notebook" which has a habit of appearing when I think you might be about to say something funny. Or smart. Or quick. Or thoughtful. Or even just plain bad. I'll write it down.

Or, at least, I'll write down the good bit.Because, of course, the thing about everyday conversation is - quite a lot of it is filler. We all "um" and "aah", we ramble about the weather, we pass the time of day. It's companionable, it's the stuff of life, but it's not killer.

So, know what I think? It's okay to leave a lot of it out. You can reproduce someone's "voice" by picking their best bits. Show what they intended to say, but not all of how they said it.

That's how I made a quick story out of Little E's trip.Everything in it is true. He really did ask those questions, in that order, on that day. But of course he also said he was hungry, said he was tired, said he was too hot, said he wanted to go home - not because he's the most annoying child on the planet (definitely not!), but simply because he's like any other four year old boy....

...or is he? We all hear extraordinary things come out of the mouths of the people we love. Our challenge is to pin them down accurately, but authentically. Too much detail in a dialogue and it dies. Go short, cut to the chase. Catch it while you can. Then scrapbook it.


In the end I turned Little E's chat into a little bit of theatre. I typed it out so that it looks like the first page of a stage script, with a big coffee splash stamped on it to show that it has been used, and some stage directions for fun.

The circle embellishments, banners and buttons are there to add some colour. You can't have a Little E page without a bit of colour: it just wouldn't be right.



25 comments:

Cheri said...

I always love the voice of Little E. I like the way he thinks!

Ladkyis said...

Oh I love how he knows he can say things to you and you don't shut him up or shut him out. How wonderful!

Ifa said...

Would you say, he kinda reflective kinda boy ? He is inviting you for a discussion and how can you not, when he put it so eloquently.

Jennifer Shaw said...

A Little E. post always makes me smile. This page is amazing. Love how the script took center stage. The border of colourful banners is stunning. Such a great mix of colour and pattern. Wonderful tips on documenting a conversation too. He is just too cute. It will be so much fun for him to look back on what he said as a little boy.

Jane said...

love what you've done here, conversations with children are always amusing, great to have it documented.

Anonymous said...

I love this post, love the layout and so love the tales of Little E. He is a lucky little boy to have an Auntie Sian and you are a lucky Auntie Sian to have a Little E x

debs14 said...

If you asked me if I enjoyed posts about Little E, I would say 'yes'!
A lovely story about a special day out together!

Ruth said...

Such a perfect page for such a perfect story.

Mel said...

I love this idea to really capture the moment. I bet it will embarrass him when he's older.

Lou said...

I love that you got this story onto a layout and a gorgeous one at that x

scrappyjacky said...

Love the post and love the page....and it seems to me that Little E has a very 'Little E' way of putting things!!

Anonymous said...

It seems to me that you and Little E are soulmates...

It will be interesting to see what happens as he grows up...

One thing is for sure...you are one terrific aunt....

Miriam said...

I love this post Sian, I like the way you set the conversation into a play, so creative.

Karen said...

I knew I'd love this post when I saw the title. I failed to write down the wonderful things my kids said, and have always regretted it. I just bought Sarah a little book to keep on her counter as Caleb is just beginning to talk. I don't want her to have the same regrets!

Maria Ontiveros said...

Great observation about taking a little creative license when recording such sweet conversation

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

Such a great looking layout! I love the layered circles.

I too keep a notebook of funny or wise things the boys say to me.

Susan said...

Brilliant page!

Anonymous said...

Love Little E posts and layouts and thanks for sharing your thoughts about including conversations in your blog or layout.

Barbara Eads said...

I love your story and the layout you created because of it. I'm all about the story. Sometimes the story can be very short---like when Elizabeth stepped in to my scrapbook room and said: "Grammy, did you BUY all this stuff??" So perfect for a page!!

Lisa-Jane said...

Beautiful page Sian! I love all the colour and that placement.

Missus Wookie said...

Beautiful page - I like the coffee stain and clusters.

The bits of conversation and chats I wrote down wayy back when mine were that size are some of my preciouses...

Becky said...

I just love this layout and also hearing little E's voice :)

alexa said...

This is a great observation and sound advice - and your page just amplifies it beautifully. I love the drama aspect too!

Nathalie said...

I love what you have been doing for Get it Scrapped lately! What a great match :) This is precious and I really like your long embellishment cluster on the left border!

Jo said...

I always know I'm in for a good read when Little E's name is mentioned :) great story and lovely layout x

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