When I first started writing A Sweethaven Summer, I sat down and thought about all the things I love about scrapbooking. I wanted to find a way to incorporate those things into my story. And while the book is largely about friendship and forgiveness, it's all held together by this faded scrapbook, full of secrets and memories...
You can almost hear the laughter of the girls as they made each page.
I'd love to write "An Ode to Scrapbooking" but it's getting late and I have a two-hour episode of Downton Abbey to watch when Adam's not looking. It can be done, yes?
The fact is, scrapbooking is storytelling. It's a way to tell your stories. An artistic, creative way to get your words on paper. And I believe we're all storytellers at heart...
I created this layout, inspired by A Sweethaven Summer:
It's a simple, layered project celebrating the "Unexpected Friendship" I found in Deb Raney when I first started on this writing journey.
In Sweethaven, Cambell finds a group of women who become her unexpected friends... and in so many ways, these are some of life's most precious gifts. Finding a friend when you aren't looking for one. Realizing they're a life friend, a kindred spirit...it's something to celebrate.
Techniques: I rolled up a few pages from the Anthropolgie Catalog ("If you can't afford it, make art with it" is what I always say!) and tied strips of Divine Twine around them to give them a scroll-like effect then adhered them to the page. I used the same twine to spice up the buttons and incorporated lots of foam squares to get that layered, dimensional look that I find positively swoony.
SO...Are you up for a challenge?
Over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to be telling stories about the book and sharing layouts created by some of my very favorite scrapbookers...
And then, I'm going to issue a challenge to YOU. You create any kind of artwork (Scrapbooking, mixed media, home decor--anything) inspired by the book or inspired by one of the pieces I'm going to share and you could WIN a big, fat basket of goodies.
Like, really big. And fun. And artsy.
Because I love to give stuff away.
Now that I got that out of my system...I want to share what I believe is the best photo of me ever captured in the history of the world:
Which is all the proof I need to understand WHY my son is plagued the fine art of the weird facial expression:
Over the weekend, several times my mom told me "there's a time and a place for self deprecation. You need to learn where the line is." Apparently telling someone who is buying your book that you feel you might be in need of deodorant is crossing a line.
I can't help it. I like to self deprecate. (and in my defense, I knew the woman and she's funny so she didn't mind. I wouldn't say that to a perfect stranger.)
On that note, I won't say a word about this:
I will not even MENTION the ridiculousness of my hair in this photo.
And I'll surely not mention that this was at 6:20 a.m.
And I won't say a single word about my first television interview (because I haven't watched it yet)... but you can, right HERE: Author of "A Sweethaven Summer".
That's that.
I have to go ruin something in the kitchen now.
Will you take the Sweethaven Inspiration Challenge?? Who's with me?
