I had a couple of funny conversations this week, both were so similar that I decided to just share one.  I was speaking with one of my friends who’s a fellow designer in the scrapbooking industry.  She and I have been on several design teams together and both admire one another’s work. In-fact, she is one of my favorite designers.  We were talking about my site and some of my projects and she said something like, “Well, they certainly are simple looking” (code for below average and certainly not worthy of a professional designer).  She went on to say, “I remember when you use to do really elaborate work” (code for amazing high quality professional work).  Now, I love this girl and luckily I don’t get offended easily. But it did make me reflect on my purpose and focus.  There was a time when I could spend over $20 on a page and take possibly three or more hours perfecting it.  Measuring and trimming. Stitching and inking, overlaying and eyelet setting , etc.  I’ll be honest there were times when I even impressed myself.  However, what I realized is that all of the money I spent on the hippest and most cutting edge products and time I spent beautifying and perfecting a page, had little to do with the people in the photos or the memories on the page.  If the journaling didn’t fit or look perfectly symmetrical then It didn’t get included.  If the clothing in the picture didn’t match the paper perfectly (even if it was the best one to illustrate the memory) . . . well, it stayed in the box.  In fact, I rarely scrapbooked for my personal leisure.  It was usually for a publication or a company that I was working with.  I had little sentimental attachment.  What I’ve realized along the way is that what makes me passionate is sharing simple ideas that ANYONE can do.  Not just an expert.  In fact . . . I purposely make my projects as simple as possible so that the women I share them with can fill in the holes and the blank spaces with their own interpretations.  I want women to finish and project and be proud of themselves.  In fact, the greatest compliment someone could give me is to love their finished project more than they liked mine.  The joy I get isn’t from someone admiring my work, but admiring their own.