Regular scrapbook galleries

[graybonnie]

So I went exploring yesterday to the land of so called normal scrapbooking. I was just looking for inspriation. Have not created a "normal" since sometime last fall. I found lots and lots of gallery uploads which didn't surprise me. But what caught my attention was the lack of comments. After the visiting one site I started focusing on the number of comments. The "no comment" seems wide spread to a degree. Of course some sites are better than others but...

I'm so proud of our Quirkland community... we may be small and it may take us some time to produce new creations but we totatlly support each other! You guys take the time to comment with meaningful insights. We have something special here!

[kygirl]

Your observation is so true. I think everyone goes to DigiShopTalk to post their layouts and leave their comments, and the galleries of many of the other sites have been virtually abandoned.
One reason that we're so successful here is because we're a true community. We all feel like we really "know" each other, so we like to show our support.
Of course, the other reason could be that we're just such nice people. :D

[SteinwaysMom]

Your observation is so true. I think everyone goes to DigiShopTalk to post their layouts and leave their comments, and the galleries of many of the other sites have been virtually abandoned.
One reason that we're so successful here is because we're a true community. We all feel like we really "know" each other, so we like to show our support.
Of course, the other reason could be that we're just such nice people. :D

I think DST is a big forum hangout but unless the LO is really good you almost have to play the daily "Praise Game" to get comments...

I wish I had more time to be quirky but the design thing is taking serious amounts of time...

I just love coming here because people don't spent inordinate amounts of time hyping designers and prattling about stuff I could care less about...(whoops, I never said that)...

[graybonnie]

I'm glad you dropped by and don't worry at some point the Quirk will once again demand a bigger share of your time...LOL

[Diginellie]

I just love viewing the Gallery here. There is much inspiration and talent from what is really a small group of artists. I am very glad I found this site - everyone very busy making art and not wasting time with yada yada yada:)

[Nevermore]

Well excuse me, Diginellie, but I have to do my yada yada yada ! Every site needs one and I am this site's! Rotfl. I do know what you all mean. It may be because we are small that we don't like to ignore anything anybody posts. But that comment means more than just politeness, methinks. When the site is this small, it is readily possible to get to know people's styles and what they are working on and what is intriguing them so it makes it easy to comment on the paths and directions and growth people are taking. Plus, we tend to post to challenges so we are all in tune with a theme however broad and wide we interpret it! I know that several of my pieces here that have gotten a lot of comments have either none or one at other sites. I don't think it is because people don't "get it". I think it is because they are not so interested in quirk and because there are 50 new layouts a day.

Just an example, I did a light piece for Judith and someone commented that it was light, hoped I meant it that way. That made me laugh in a comfortable way--here is someone familiar with my work who thinks twice before just assuming I mean it to be light because they know most of my pieces are a little on the dark side. What is wonderful is that the person obviously knows my stuff. That is very neat, don't you think?

I also do think that we are a bit non trend here. I don't just mean because we quirk. But because we don't seem to have any overall "style". I don't mean that negatively at all. Look at any gallery right now. How many layouts do you see with one small picture grouped around 97 elements and lots of background? At least every second one. I like this style a lot but I do run out of things to say about it after the first 6 layouts.

I also think that our challenges dig much much deeper than most into exploring subjects that are off track and therefore easy to comment about above and beyond "Lovely". Classical music, Janus, Lovers, Reflections.

Lastly, and I am not sure on this one, I could be wrong, but I think most of us are of an age where we are not scrapping baby's first steps. I have a youngish child but am well beyond scrapping him in adorable outfits. (Yada yada yada: I don't think he owns an adorable outfit at present. It all resembles prison grunge.)

[graybonnie]

Kim, I think you are correct about the age of our members. My guess is the majority of us are not in our 20's and prehaps we don't even remember that young age. I for one feel out of step with all the baby and young children layouts... yes they are beautiful, but that is not center or focus of my world.

The diversity of Quirk is the biggest factor for me. I know that my expression has grown on so many levels because of this groups influences. I'm a more happy person because of my digital creations and Quirkland. :D

[ScrapAlice]

I think you have hit on why I feel so comfortable within this group (and I still am grateful that you have *adopted* me :) ). I tried to join in some "crops" with other sites, but got shoved to the side as everyone else talked about breastfeeding and poopy diapers. I just didn't fit in the places where all the adorable kiddy pictures were lost in the confusion of forty-leven ribbons, tags, paper bits and riotous backgrounds.

I'm not condemning or griping about that trend. It's fine for those who enjoy it. I enjoy using the occasional quick template and my own elements to make something about my cats or relatives. It's just not fulfilling enough to my creative self. I have found the joy in creating my own elements and learning the ins and outs of digital art, much as I enjoy the process of learning new craft skills. (Did you know I'm also a quiltmaker?)

This group, as I've noted before, has stirred my creative juices. Being 54, that's a good thing. I think I'll go look at that Photoshop tutorial about making realistic ripples now. ;)

[graybonnie]

Quiltmaker - yikes - you do have patience...LOL

[Pixeldigger]

Wow, Alice, you are positively ancient, I only just reached 53! (does the snoopy 'happy' dance)

LOL I had to read what you wrote a second time, I could have sworn that I read you wanted to make realistic nipples. I thought we were back to babies again.

[TammyMoore]

Here here!

When Robyn first introduced me to this site (through another site's PM since she couldn't come out with it) I had my first online "OH MY GOSH!!" moment. LOL I had just started playing around with digital collage, and never knew anybody else was doing it too!! :) So, I found my home. I've been MIA lately due to family stuff, but upon coming back, it's like coming home. Thanks to all the wonderful ladies (and gents?) for "keepin' it real" here and being so encouraging.

Alright, group hug... :p
Tammy

[Franbvm]

i ABSOLUTELY LOVE the LOs in the gallery here!!! There is so much talent and CREATIVE IDEAS that just blows me away!!!
I'm a digital Quirk "wannabe"!

[PamPie]

LOL I had to read what you wrote a second time, I could have sworn that I read you wanted to make realistic nipples. I thought we were back to babies again.
LOL--I read it that way too!

[happyrobyn]

How many layouts do you see with one small picture grouped around 97 elements and lots of background? At least every second one. I like this style a lot but I do run out of things to say about it after the first 6 layouts.
I just fell off my chair Kim!!!!! I can't stop laughing. I think the exact same thing every single day. I may be pretty quiet round here lately. That's all cause I lost my Internet at work and that was where I did the majority of Quirking. But I'll be getting it back next month so watch out!!

I love all of you and I definitely also think it is an age thing. I feel like such a baby at 36. A BIG HUGE quirk hug from me!!!!!

[SteinwaysMom]

Kim, I think you are correct about the age of our members. My guess is the majority of us are not in our 20's and prehaps we don't even remember that young age. I for one feel out of step with all the baby and young children layouts... yes they are beautiful, but that is not center or focus of my world.

Maybe that's it...now for some reason I am spending a lot of time at a popular forum...maybe cause I'm selling and need a presence there...who knows...but the type of conversation that goes on leaves me scratching my head...most of it just seems like digital noise...there is a lot of trendiness and energy spent hyping designers and popular shops...kinda like high school. It kind of weirds me out but maybe it's the age group...

Also a lot of the forum regulars are stay at home mom's probably going stir crazy and using the forums to make an adult connection. Whereas w/me I come come from work and think, 'who gives a crap about designer X or XYZ TV show'?, maybe if I was a SAHM it would be a different story, I dunno...

[webchyck]

I can imagine it is hard for working women to relate. There are many, many, many days when I have no real life conversation with an adult, not even my husband if he's on some rollercoaster of a work ride (he lives in another city during the week), so being involved online IS my only connection to the world. I do enjoy talking about silly stuff like TV and what's going on in the digi world. And of course you see a lot of CT folks pimping their designers...that's what they're getting free product to do!

[webchyck]

Hey Robyn...is it next month you move into the new Little Gym space? Is that why you'll have internet? Did you splurge for high speed finally? LOL!

[happyrobyn]

YES!!! I will be able to quirk at the speed of light!!!!

[SteinwaysMom]

I can imagine it is hard for working women to relate. There are many, many, many days when I have no real life conversation with an adult, not even my husband if he's on some rollercoaster of a work ride (he lives in another city during the week), so being involved online IS my only connection to the world. I do enjoy talking about silly stuff like TV and what's going on in the digi world. And of course you see a lot of CT folks pimping their designers...that's what they're getting free product to do!

I wish there was more serious intellectual conversation...this is the one thing missing in my life...I spend all day w/mostly computer geek guys so I get my share of small talk at work...I hate pimping....

[Nevermore]

Hmmmm, re more serious intellectual conversation. Honestly, Debra, whenever something has been nagging at me, I just post it here and I usually get input one way or another. The odd time I have asked for serious criticism or advice and I have gotten it. Anytime I have asked for information or tips, I have usually gotten that too. But truthfully, the real help I have gotten is the understanding from fellow strugglers. I don't think too many people in my life would have too much time to hear my ATC woes or my cutting problems. Most would suggest (many kindly) that I just give it up. It has almost never failed that when I relate a disaster I get two or three really decent tips on how to avert it in the future. So, maybe intellectual isn't what I am talking about and not what you mean. Off to think about that. The one thing I do love about here is I can nearly always get a blog post out of it!

[graybonnie]

YES!!! I will be able to quirk at the speed of light!!!!

I wish I could claim that. I fuss and fuss when try to get ideas from my head to computer. A new thread is to finish a piece only to decide I'm not wild about it and start all over again...ugh!

[happyrobyn]

I hear you Bonnie! I can't count the number of times I have spent hours on something, decide I hate it and delete the whole thing!!!

[SteinwaysMom]

Hmmmm, re more serious intellectual conversation. Honestly, Debra, whenever something has been nagging at me, I just post it here and I usually get input one way or another. The odd time I have asked for serious criticism or advice and I have gotten it. Anytime I have asked for information or tips, I have usually gotten that too. But truthfully, the real help I have gotten is the understanding from fellow strugglers. I don't think too many people in my life would have too much time to hear my ATC woes or my cutting problems. Most would suggest (many kindly) that I just give it up. It has almost never failed that when I relate a disaster I get two or three really decent tips on how to avert it in the future. So, maybe intellectual isn't what I am talking about and not what you mean. Off to think about that. The one thing I do love about here is I can nearly always get a blog post out of it!

Well I am probably referring to communicating w/quirky artistic people on the same wavelength, even though we can be silly here, I feel like there is more depth and thoughtfulness...I just can't connect to the 'OMG Designer X is sooooooo amazing!!!!!!:) :) ' type of stuff. That kind of energy just drains me...And you manage to turn even mundane experiences like cutting your rolodex cards into a witty essay. It's definitely a breath of fresh air ;)

[Pixeldigger]

Robyn, I almost did that. I took one look at a misty peace piece and decided it won't do and did another, but I couldn't quite bring myself to delete my first attempt. Come to that, I am not 100% pleased with its replacement, so still thinking ...

Poe-ette, I love reading your rambles ... er, posts. I like the way that I see your name on a message and can almost guarantee a smile, so keep well and keep writing screeds. Your 'disasters' give me the feeling that there still might be hope for me.