...studio calico news

A few weeks ago, I found out that my contract with Studio Calico wasn’t being renewed.

Studio Calico is a business, a brand, just like Coke or GAP. And they have a product to sell. And let’s be honest, my scrapbook style is not conducive to selling a whole lot of product. And it’s Studio Calico’s prerogative to want to sell product.

I have never been comfortable with self-promotion. Ever. I don’t think it’s why you come here. It’s not why I’ve been blogging since 2005. It’s not why I’ve been scrapbooking since dinosaurs roamed the earth.

For me, scrapbooking has never been about the manufacturer or website I worked for. I have never owned a die-cut machine and ninety-nine percent of the time, I have no idea what people are talking about when they talk about the latest and greatest trends or products. I know there are people out there who don’t care for my style. People who didn’t think I belonged on the Studio Calico team in the first place. That's OK, everyone's free to have an opinion. But it didn’t matter then, and it still doesn’t now, because I was never scrapbooking for them.

I was scrapbooking as a way of remembering us.

And then it became about remembering her too.

And then him.

And, finally, remembering us.

I have no idea what’s ahead for me now in the scrapbooking world. Since 2006 I have either been a Garden Girl at 2peas or on the Studio Calico Design Team. I like to think I’m entering the twilight of my scrapbooking career, and I’m honestly happy to fade into the background of the industry, sit on my front porch in my rocker with my paper cutter and watch the new kids crop up. I just hope they remember what this hobby is really, ultimately about. Not misting or messy or simple or getting published or picked for a team or mentioned on a blog or whatever.

You get caught up in that crap and you forget why you’re really doing this.

I would like to bold, capitalize, and put that statement in 72 point font. But instead, I'll say it again. You get caught up in that crap and you forget why you're really doing this.

Thank you to those who will say nice things about what I did, what I do. Welcome to my blog to all who came from one site or another. Sit down, stay awhile. Come back again. I’m not going anywhere.

Comments

[jody]

Your simple style has been one of my go-to places for inspiration for a long time :)

[Lilith]

I have always LOVED your style and am so sad to see you go! I will keep on following you as I just love your blog as a whole!

[Louise]

I love your style and you were always one of the first people I checked out when the gallery was revealed. I will miss your pages. I need to bookmark your blog as I always just linked through from sc. Xxx

[Allie Hamblin]

I am so sorry to hear that you are leaving. Yours was the first gallery I checked every month and I have more layouts inspired by you in my albums than anyone since Tina Cockburn was on the DT. I hope you continue sharing your amazing work and I wish you all the best for the future. Allie

[Melanie]

Thank-you for this post-like you say scrapbooking is a business but I do think it's lost it's roots.I'm a grandma and scrapping for me is about remembering and leaving my family my thoughts and memories but when every layout I see requires pounds worth of products or equipment(especially equipment!) to achieve I think this is not the way for me.
I hope you will continue posting your layouts you've inspired me that it can be done, if that's what we want, without quite so much pressure to break the bank!

[Ruth]

Dear Laura, you are such a lovely person and so authentic and genuine. I can see how much you love your family Every page you create. It makes me sad to hear you and others are hearing such unkind things from opinionated and mean-spirited people. I discovered your blog when Ali Edwards, the original scrapbook trendsetter, said that she admired you do much and linked to your blog. Your beautiful and original style is so
Lovely. I will miss seeing it eachonth in the sc gallery. All
The best.

[Gen]

Laura, THANK YOU for this post. It articulates so well what I have been thinking for a while. Somewhere along the line memory-keeping became self-promotion and rife with competition. I agree with you - for some this is a business and profit is paramount. But I'm not sure I'm 100% comfortable with the atmosphere this has fostered over the past couple of years. I hope you continue to share your creations - I have always loved your style and your blog is one of the few that has reduced me to tears and made laugh uncontrollably :) Best of luck.

[rosemary]

Well said Laura. Concise and direct...much like your scrapbooking style. Love what you do and hope you continue to share. Love those littles who are so lucky to have you!

[betsy sammarco]

Laura - your SC gallery was always the first one I'd check out. I adore your scrapbooking style and philosophy.

Keep posting your pages!

[Paula]

I found your blog after becoming a SC subscriber. Even though I cancelled by subscription months ago, I still love following your blog. I look forward to seeing what this new phase in your life will bring!

[Michelle L]

I hope that you still plan on crafting and sharing here because I have always loved your work!

[Mary Jo]

Laura - I personally love your style! I have ever since you won ck hall of fame and were a suziebeezieland girl :) and this is not a slam of SC, but I have noticed myself distancing myself from that site for a long time. Just not *my* style any more. So I do hope you don't stop posting pages on your blog and keep sharing with us!

[Ziska]

Thank you for being such a breath of fresh air in a world where what you sell has become more important than what you have to say or offer. I love your style and will keep visiting your blog for inspiration.

[Pamela B]

Laura, your gallery is always the first one I head to when a new kit is revealed. In fact, i'm pretty sure my "favourites" is full of your work! My stomach dropped when I saw you'll no longer be with the team. I am very, very disappointed.

I'm so very thankful you have a blog and love your candor :) I've loved hearing about your little house in the big woods, and keeping up with how awesome Charlie and Clara are. I have a two year old, and find so much of what you say resonates so clearly for me. Will continue to be a fan always, design team or not. Thank you!

[emily (justem)]

Thank you for being honest. I hate the hype. I hate self-promotion. I've always loved that you were YOU. You scrapped the way you wanted to. You talked about what you wanted to. Thank you for that. You will be missed. :)

[Karen]

I will miss seeing your lovely work there. You are in inspiration.

[Rachel Millington]

Your gallery was always my favourite at SC and I will miss you! I love your style. So glad you've got a blog so you can keep inspiring hun. Good luck to you xXx

[Jessica]

I, for one, absolutely adored your style! You were, by FAR, my favorite on the SC Design Team! I love your simplicity and it always seemed like your main focus was the photos & words....not all the products! :) You have talent and I hope to continue to be inspired by you!

Best wishes for whatever may come your way!
xo,
Jessica

[TaraMcK]

Your gallery at studio calico is the only one I looked at. Love your clean and simple style. Bravo for your words because they are so true.

I'll always check in here like I always do because you're more than a girl who scraps! Enjoy the freedom to create what you want!

[lisa houpt]

First time commenting here...just wanted to say...I love how simple your layouts are and how they focus on the photos - your familie's memories. Your work is always so classy and beautiful! I will miss your work at SC Laura.

I wish you all the best - you deserve it!

Take Care!

[kellyk]

I will miss your work Laura! Your layouts are so classy and timeless. I will still be a fan no matter if it's just you scrapping on your rocker!

[Marianne Gonzales]

Well said! I'm new to your blog but love your style. Scrapping is doing what you love, not selling product.

[Julie]

What a beautiful post. I too prefer clean, graphic styles like yours that focus on the pictures and not the products--because I scrapbook for the pictures, the memories, and the way I feel when I sit down and remind myself of all the wonderful parts of life and the people I share them with.

I have a hard time finding people in the scrapbooking industry with styles that I love and that are similar to my own, but you are one of them.

Please keep up the amazing work (at your leisure, of course) and know that your are still inspirational to so many of us.

[Nicole]

i love you x100.
that pretty much says it all ;)

[ShellyJ]

Oh Laura... and that is why I truly love what you do! Your style couldn't be anymore opposite to me, BUT you always amazed and inspired me each and every month. Your simple cluster of embellies always connected with me and always inspired me even though I do double pages with lots of pictures! I would always go back to your gallery several times through out the month. I will never understand why there are such haters out there towards people... just dont get it. I will truly miss seeing your work. I really hope you will share here on your blog!