Monday, June 2, 2008, 04:02 PM EST [
Featured Book]
Good morning, scrappers! Kristin, here. I’m so excited to announce the release of Memory Makers’ newest book, Modern Memory Keeper. Stay tuned this week for some sneek peeks of the amazing art in the book. In the meantime, read on to learn more about author Ronee Parsons and modern memory keeping. Then visit the messageboard to ask your own questions of Ronee and chat with other scrappers.
Snapshot: 3 Quick Questions
MC Kristin: How did you get started scrapbooking?
Ronee Parsons: I started when my son was about one year. I had been collecting photos and ephemera to make him a baby book, and finally just jumped right in.
MCK: What creative project are you hoping to tackle next?
RP: Oh my! I have so many projects that I want to get done, including a slipcover for my couch and finishing up two mixed media collages I've been working on. But I think I'm most excited to try out this awesome pattern for pants that I found at burdastyle.com. (Who knows when all of that will actually get done though!)
MCK: What blog do you visit most often?
Apartment Therapy. I love all the different color combinations, seeing the personality in each little created space, and the inspiration for DIY projects.
The Deep Stuff
MCK: This book is all about scrapbooking family heritage photos, old and new. What is the most important thing you’d like readers to get out of Modern Memory Keeper?
RP: There is no one way to scrap heritage photos. You don't have to do them all, you don't have to do them in order, and you definitely don't have to use only browns! Heritage pages can be just as expressive of your own personality and artistic style as your everyday photos.
I think it's pretty easy to get overwhelmed with heritage because the research can be so daunting, but really, you just need to find one photo that you like, one that inspires you, and then discover the story behind it. The rest is just self-expression.
MCK: What gave you the idea for the book?
RP: I have a huge family! Tons of photos, tons of heritage photos, and honestly I felt that there were so many stories outside of my own that had shaped me and my life that I wanted to capture. I love color and texture and I felt that, although the photos of my fabulous ancestors were in black and white (or shades of faded brown), their stories were full of life and color. I wanted to represent that and share that in this book.
MCK: Tell us something unexpected about yourself.
RP: One of my favorite CDs is Meat Loaf’s “Bat Out of Hell.” I suppose it's officially considered an “album” since it came out five years before I was born!
MCK: Your blog is called “Scrapper’s Muse.” What are your muses?
RP: I love movies, music and books. If you look closely you'll find a lot of lyrics and quotes interspersed in my journaling on projects. My favorite movie is Casablanca (and actually, I talk about it a bit in the book) and I love all sorts of books. It's wonderful the way one book or movie can lead to the next. It's like they almost jump off the shelf at me. The book I'm reading now, Women Who Run with the Wolves, says, "Stories are medicine." That really rings true for me.
MCK: What’s your favorite layout or project from the book?
RP: The first one that comes to mind is the "Treehouse" layout on page 16, and also the "Over Seas" album on page 104 … and "The Tree" album cover on page 120. Oh I don't know, I like all of them! There is a beautiful layout contributed by Cindy Ellen Russell that you definitely have to check out: "Timeless" on page 99.
MCK: Do you have anything else to share with readers?
RP: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share! My main hope for the book is that a few people find inspiration in it. If that happens then it is a success.
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To keep up with Ronee on a regular basis, check out her blog. And don't forget to pick up a copy of Modern Memory Keeper!
