Still working through the WOYWW list...and something that Dee showed on her desk set me to thinking about some comments that were made to a friend earlier in the week. Me and that Scrap Lady Ally took met other chums for supper, and showed them our cards what we made for the Mid Summer Madness Card Marathon. Yep, we have to have some sort of overview, it's helpful to know if they're too simple, too complicated, too lacking in technique, blah blah. I have a couple changes to make that came to light when I saw my 'share' of them lined up. The Enthusiastic Educator was as always, enthusiastic and supportive. She said to Scrap Lady Ally that she felt that her style of card making had really moved on over the last year or so. Which we all took to be a great compliment. I know it was meant that way, the Educator is that sorta gal. And then Dee shows us an album on her desk that she started about 2 years ago and wants to settle in and finish. My immediate response was - will her style still be the same..will you be able to look through the album and TELL the newly completed pages from the originals? So what I'm asking is this (I think!). Are we evolving as crafters or....are we simply making use of an evolving product market? Are we using glass slides and beaded pins and vintage buttons and old cinema tickets (for example) because now they are in fashion we have them to hand, or because individually, we're working through product overload and finding things, techniques and 'findings' that naturally fit into our own style. My scrapbook style has certainly evolved...in fact, it's in danger of become formulaic. But my card making style, hmm, not so much I don't think...I think I'm really just making the most of all the products out there. For example, I rarely stamp a background pattern - just reach for a nice paper these days. Is that my style changing or product availability dictating my style. (Set aside the lazy issue!) . I cannot decide. I rather suspect that as I'm as shallow as a puddle, my style and my current like sin colour are entirely dictated by fashion. We'll see - one thing for sure is that time will tell! And hopefully, Dee will finish the album and no one will be any the wiser about the pause in completion. Not that it matters. But is interesting. Huh?
If you're at a loose end this Weekend, and can, try Kraft Crazy at Station Road, Tidworth - just had an email to tell me that Shopkeeper Gal is having a SALE starting tomorrow and open on Monday as a bonus! Details from her on 01980 844010.
Have a lovely weekend!
Hi Julia,
ReplyDeleteThanks for explaining the PIF. I might just be able to get something ready :)
I believe that it's a combination of both. We area all eveolving on our own level and we are using the products which are easily available to us. I mean, I have liked the steampunk look since I saw around the world in 80 days. But I wouldn't have been able to incorporate that into my scrapbooking or art until now. Ok, I would have had to make my own gears and things. I would have had to fuzzy cut a lot of stuff! But having the products available makes it easier and therefore more likely that I would use it in my projects ;)
Thanks for the puzzler!
Karla
madebykarla10.blogspot.com
I think as you go on you gain confidence and try new things which looks like it is your style evolving but in fact it is you getting the guts to try something you haven't before and also their is far far too much choice. I have so much patterned paper that I no longer have the room to keep it all so have gone on a self imposed stash diet, cant get anything new till I used the old.
ReplyDeleteMmmm that made me think ...yes my style has evolved yet still stays simple ...I do think we are influenced by what is out there to buy and the designs of the papers that are available ...yes taste changes but some times I pick out an old paper and think 'why have I not used you' yet on many occaisions I wonder'what possessed you to buy that'. I no longer feel I have to have everything but the odd burst of new titbits seems to fire the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI have just moved the last box back into my room ....everything is not quite as organized as I would wish but I had to rush it as I have visitors this weekend. For this reason I will not be PIFing although I had a last minute brain wave...maybe I can make time ... but I will be WOYWWing on the 2nd birthday ...how could I miss it.
Mm think it is an ongoing change Julia we are influenced by what is around us but generally we put our own take on it.. my card style has really changed with blogging.. have done it since early 1990's when things were very limited now so much is available - much to our pocket's detriment!!
ReplyDeleteShaz in oz.x
Am late passing by this week so will comment on this post and not weds - love the quote on your tag might have to get that! I find that my style has changed dramatically over the years - some of it must be down to new products and fashion but a lot of it is also down to experience and confidence when I look at old layouts they were so simple - one photo matted and stuck in the centre of a page with a few embellishments scattered haphazardly around nowadays I much prefer to start with plain cardstock (I find it much easier to work with than patterned papers) and ink, distress and paint away and I find that process much more enjoyable than I do the finishing off sometimes! I seem to have lost my papercrafting mojo again this week though so I have been busy sewing up baskets using old material that I have been hoarding - such fun! Thanks for visiting my desk :)
ReplyDeleteI keep my first scrapbooks well & truly hidden lol.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see a difference in my style since I started 5 years ago & I'm quite proud of the fact that I have been told that my work is instantly recogniseable as something that I've created, I love the way you always make us think Julia.
Cxx
This is an interesting question, I'm not sure there is an answer. My crafting/art has changed beyond recognition in the last few years.Mostly because of the fact I have more confidence in what I do and learn more and more techniques and skills as time goes on. Not sure is I follow the 'fashion' or not, think maybe subconsciously I do. Maybe this is because I like to try out new products (esp paints powders etc) and also because I like to browse the internet and read 'arty' books and gain alot of inspiration from them and put my own slant on things - so I guess I do glean stuff from the latest trend, but I hope I am not a slave to fashion.
ReplyDeleteI too have pondered some of these things.
ReplyDeleteWhen I started actually scrapbooking I had 'no style'. I didn't know there was such a thing until I started looking around. Everyone has their own look. I first noticed it in online gallery's. I could tell after a while who's creation I was looking at just by noting the style. I too have those unfinished projects...or books I started and will add to occasionally. I will always know where I left off and started, especially with the early ones when I wasn't smart enough to do the entire base with coordinating product. I think we are all constantly evolving and this is a good thing. Once we figure out what our 'style' is, it is easier to not buy the things we probably won't use....well unless its just too good not to try LOL Keep smiling and creating.
PS I love reading everyones comments on this.
How would you define Your Style Julia?
just to say I have improved since I first started crafting. Magazines, books and the stamp shoow in London have given me more to work with. I am not very good, compared to others, but I like what I do which is the most important thing
ReplyDeleteBarbara [Sparklessimplestuff]
Interesting question! I suspect most people will say the same as me- it's a bit of both! We can't help but evolve- take on new trends, techniques, products, styles. I'm sure though that even in the event of having no more stash ever than I have now (shudder), I would still evolve as a crafter. You can't keep doing the same thing forever. It doesn't make what you used to do less valid, and I often go back to a previous style or technique, I just like to think I now carry it off with considerably more aplomb!
ReplyDeleteUr style will always be dictated by what products are available, be it down to whats in fashion or simply cos the product u always buy gets discontinued. All designers are influenced by other peoples work, its impossible not to be and I think us crafters are such sharing caring people we can adopt other peoples styles even if only temporarily! Me personally I want to try every technique/style I see and I want to try it now now now - I think that sums up my style, lol. Oh look Blogger is having a paddy who'd've thought it! This is jodpea if ur interested!
ReplyDeleteHi Julia, I've got to agree with jodpea, above. We do depend on what products are available at the time, though once we have tried them out, it's what we do with them that makes for our individual style. Some 16 years ago, whilst living in the US, I discovered scrapbooking which was very popular. I returned to the UK with a very small stash and a couple of books only to find that scrapping was just not that popular here and it was really hard to find supplies. However, when my interest revived just over a year ago I discovered there had been an explosion in the paper crafting world. There was YouTube, craft magazines, a TV craft channel, and heaps of web-based craft suppliers. I also found all the hundreds of keen bloggers out there, not only willing to showcase their work but also producing how-to-do-it tutorials. I have noticed, too, that in many cases it is crafters themselves who have become producers or distributors of the products we are all enjoying. Take, for example, flower embellishments, first they were hand cut from templates, then ready-mades became available, and punches, then we all went back to making flowers out of punched circles which has led to the development of cutting dies specifically for making those same flowers, and so it goes on. So, like jodpea, I'm trying out lots of new supplies and techniques. I think I'll find my own style – eventually - but if not that's fine because I'm having a ball anyway.
ReplyDeleteBlogger wouldn't let me play on WOYWW so I am catching up now! I like to think my crafting is evolving - I get ideas from all over and then adapt them to suit my style and the materials I have available. Its nice to encourage others too. Your workshops must be a brill way to pass on ideas. Looking forward to seeing you on WOYWW 104! x Jo
ReplyDeleteA really interesing question, on the whole I think paper crafting evolves with the product. Blogging has opened the way to share experiences and techniques which can only inspire people to try new techniques and ideas. I've always been into art and even here fashions change and my art has evolved not through products or techniques but what has become popular. I believe most people develope their own style using available products, otherwise most of us would be creating our own background papers and using a knife to cut out our borders and labouring to sketch out a cute image to colour. Whatever products we use our style of working will change and improve.
ReplyDeleteI think my crafting has evolved a lot... but my basic style stays the same.... nomatter where I open a scrapbook to (I have 12 so far!), I think anyone could tell it's a page I have done (regardless of the subject). Certainly, my style evolved most witin that first year of starting scrapbooking - I think you learn new techniques and get ideas from others that you like to incorporate into a layout, and this is the foundations, the basis, of how you develop your own flair and way of doing things.
ReplyDeleteIt's not so much as to what's available on the market, in my opinion.... but rather how an individual can look at a product that they like, and then try to make it in their own way.... for me, it's paper flowers - I love making them!
Interesting thoughts...I am certain I had no style when I first began all this papercrafting, And have since evolved into a CAS style using products that make it easy. I know nesties and copics have dramatically changed my card making! Thoughts to ponder for sure! It really is 5 o'clock somewhere LOL! Great creation!
ReplyDelete[url=http://loanconsolidationgov.loan/]gov loan consolidation[/url] [url=http://webcamsluts.webcam/]webcam sluts[/url] [url=http://casiono.top/]casiono[/url] [url=http://howtomakemoneyquick.top/]how to make money quick for kids[/url] [url=http://gladiatorslots.top/]live roulette online[/url] [url=http://livewebcamporn.webcam/]porn webcam chat[/url]
ReplyDelete