Thursday 24 March 2011

Meaning From The Mundane

I'm playing a game of two halves here today. Blogging For Scrapbookers has really got going - with new blogs to visit and new faces to welcome here. Hello! It's so good to see you. I've pulled out my 2009 class notes; and I've been thinking about Shimelle's ideas for today. Meaning from the mundane, something from nothing. Last time round I wrote this post about a teatime conversation. It's still one of my favourites. Since then, among others, we've had the crumble post and the pop-up tuck shop. I usually tag them "silly stories".

We all have days to celebrate, it's true; but, most of the time most of us get up and do mostly the same things most every day.
"And while it takes courage to achieve greatness, it takes more courage to find fulfilment in being ordinary"   Marilyn Thomas
Meanwhile, scrappin' on, I've been working on Finding Your Way with Karen Grunberg. Some of you said "No! What if all your pages look the same?" But so far, finding a groove is making me happy. If you know what you like, you really don't feel the need to reinvent yourself every time you make a page. I love that. Yesterday I made this one:

Check out that grin - for anyone who commented on The Small One's smile on Tuesday. That's her Granny, almost eighty years ago. It's exactly the same.

I'm thinking the Sian stuff on there might be:
Patterned paper background
Only one photo
Cutting up a pattern and putting it back together again
Sewing
More journaling on the back
Clustering


Does that sound like me to you?


34 comments:

Cheri said...

It most definitely sounds like you! :)

Amy said...

Oh yes, I suppose it does!

Except, we would add gorgeously colour coordinated with witty commentary on the side ;-)

scrappyjacky said...

It most certainly does!!!!

Miriam said...

I love that quote Sian:) and yes the page is you! just lovely x

Jimjams said...

It does sound like you, but I also look for weird things that I'd never in a million years put on one of my pages - they're normally somewhere on your pages!

Denise said...

It does sound like you!Whatever you come up with is always great. You have a lovely way of making your pages so interesting every time you do one.x

Sue Althouse said...

Your layout looks good to me! I have no worries about my layouts all looking the same just because I use a similar process on each. It's actually very freeing. I'm also getting the daily emails for BFS, but haven't done anything with them yet. Not sure how to incorporate them.

Heather said...

Yes thats you Sian :) Thats a lovely LO too xx

LisaDay said...

Absolutely beautiful layout!!

Lisa-Jane said...

I've recently tried cutting up papers for the first time and I loved the effect. Seeing your lovely layout here has reminded me to do it again.

Maria Ontiveros said...

It does sound like you! I would add that you often use fabric/stitching an a ledge or shelf on which to place your photo.
So fun looking back at your old post and all our old comments, too.
My post today started with the most mundane thing I could think of - taking the dog out back to, uh, you know, do her thing.
Rinda

Melissa said...

Wonderful layout Sian! I really like the lace at the top, I always think lace looks good with vintage photos. And you're definitely often cutting out the patterns to add to your pages.

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

I probably couldn't have picked out the 'Sian things' in your lovely LO, but you do have a style I recognise when I see one of yours.

Fiona xx

WendyB said...

Sian, that's a gorgeous layout and I absolutely love your pass the book idea. I keep considering book crossing but never quite get around to that one, yours I really like the sound of so will be keeping an eye open for your posts. Lastly, thank you for your lovely comment on my library/books post I am glad it made you cheer :-)

Jennifer Shaw said...

This Lo is so lovely! Totally captured the vintage vibe for that amazing photograph! I love your idea on knowing your style and celebrating it instead of thinking that it keeps needing to be changed. I sometimes look at my stuff and think it is looking all the same. I guess it is okay to do what we like. It is what makes us individuals in our creations! Your fancy cutting is amazing! :)

Lizzie said...

You do have a "Sian" style, yes! I would add some things to this... a line of embellishment across the page - often under the photo; large area of "white space" (though it's usually coloured or patterned hee hee); wonderful collection of bits & pieces, ribbon, lace, trims etc; something in the corner to balance the layout. And finally - A Solid Story (even if it's only a teeny one).
I do like your scrappy style and always enjoy seeing your pages.

Scrappi Sandi said...

Oh yes...I think I could pick a 'Sian' LO out of a line-up!! But somehow they all have a different appeal, even if the technique & the 'ingredients' are of similar choice!! Don't try & fix what 'aint broke...is what I say! (pardon my awful grammer there!!)

Mary B said...

Wow gorgeous page love the leaves and flowers at the bottom great photo to have too.

Ruth said...

There's not much left me for to add, is there?!

laurie said...

i like the 3D effect on the pages you create - it seems to give them a life of their own, as if they reach out to say, "come visit."

Tammy said...

Gorgeous! I love the lace and the popped up flowers. I'm enjoying Karen's class too. I don't worry about my layouts all looking the same - they haven't yet, so chances are not high that it will happen.

Cheryl said...

it's beautiful. and very you. you might have just inspired me to do something i've never done before - journalling on the back of the page... I'm thinking more than ever about posterity, about who these pages are really for, and back-of-the-page journalling seems like a nice surprise for whoever might find it one day :-) x

Alison said...

Love the LO Sian...it's like a vintage page with a modern twist!!

alexa said...

Very much so! Glad you've found your 'groove' and are happy in it :).

Ade said...

Love your tea time post and that layout is beautiful!

Michelle S said...

It's definately u! lol

Unknown said...

There is nothing ordinary in your posts or layouts :)
Love all the fussy cutting and layering! Beautiful!

humel said...

What everyone else said!! Yes, those things are you, definitely. I agree with the 'white space' comment, too. And 'soft and pretty but with enough interest to add edge'.... which is actually a compliment, just in case it doesn't sound like one! xx

Lisa said...

what a lovely layout

Sandra said...

Yes it does sound like you, and I'm glad it does, you know how much I love your style.

Fun Mama - Deanna said...

I love that quote about finding the lovely in the mundane.

scrappysue said...

Gorgeous LO and now you have got me wishing I had taken the class!

Rachel Brett said...

Yes, very you. It's gorgeous Sian :)

Anonymous said...

Well, I know one thing for sure: it is beautiful!! I'm always in awe of your ability to put embellishments together.

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