{we are} storytellers

{writer's notebook} new class offering

Rather than posting a new challenge this week, I want to encourage all of you to take a few minutes to sign up for our first class at {we are} storytellers: "Listmania: Scrapping the Nouns in Your Life." The class is designed to teach you  how to use simple lists as a starting point for capturing your stories. These lists will focus on documenting all the "stuff" that we surround ourselves with; I've always felt that you can tell so much about a person by looking at the things they choose to keep around them, and so these seven journaling prompts will help you to examine your own stuff and to help you learn a variety of journaling methods that begin with a list of simple words.

The class is designed to cover a two-week period. On the odd days, I'll give you journaling prompts, beginning with a list and then moving into methods for extending the list during free-writing sessions. The journaling sessions are designed to take about 15-30 minutes a day, so you can easily complete the daily writing assignment while you drink your morning coffee or while your youngest goes down for a daily nap or once everything is quiet in your house before bed each night...it's up to you. On the even days, you'll get a layout template -- for a total of 7 overall -- (with ideas for customizing it) plus a couple of fun typography techniques. Not only will these techniques encourage you to learn more about fonts and graphic design, but you'll also learn interesting ways to include more journaling on your pages and methods of making journaling one of the early stages of your design process, rather than the last thing you do before clicking "save."

Don't worry that you won't be able to complete 7 layouts in 14 days. I know that some of you are slow scrappers or that others work fulltime. Someone might get sick, or have to travel out of town. Or any of a million things that can happen -- this is real life, after all. All items can be downloaded and saved, so that you can work on them when you have the time.

That's not all though. One of the most valuable parts of the process will be daily forum threads so that we can all share our ideas, our thoughts, our questions, and learn from each other as we participate in this journey. You'll also be able to upload your layouts to our education gallery, so that others can view them and leave praise for your efforts.

Class begins November 9 and runs through November 22. Registration is open until November 15th, but participants who register before October 31 -- that's THIS FRIDAY!!! -- will get a 35% off coupon for the {wst} store that's good through 1/31/09. We hope you'll join us for our first class offering, and we hope you'll share your feedback on the whole class process with us as we work to bring you more education offerings throughout 2008 and into 2009.

Look for upcoming classes such as "Celebrating Christmas: Now and Then," beginning December 1st, as well as a color theory class, a weekly gratitude class featuring photos and stories, and a character sketch minibook class. These are just a few of the offerings we've planned, and we'd love to hear your suggestions on the types of classes you'd like to see.

In the meantime, don't forget to stop by our store and grab the newest Book Fair kit and search out those fun Halloween treats each designer has on special too!

write on,

{storyteller} aud

{storytime}

I'm going to admit a major faux pas on my part. It's been like almost a week since I took a leisurely cruise through the WST gallery. Life tends to get in the way of such fun pleasures sometimes. Amazing layouts, each and every one of them....and so many new people posting their layouts. Love that!

Here are the layouts that caught my eye this week!:

by Resales

by Aromachock

by mimsmom

Don't forget to check out the Trick or Treat Sale in the Boutique here at WST going on now through Nov. 1st. New goodies each day marked down to $1. Each one only lasts 24hrs so make sure you pick them up quickly!

{storyteller} kelly

{trick or treat begins today!}

Over 20 products on sale right now for only $1! Take a tour of each {artist's} boutique and you'll be treated to wonderful goodies at a fraction of their normal price. Come back each day for new products, but don't forget to grab them each day, 'cause at midnight (est) they will be gone.

Enjoy!

take care,

{storyteller} deann

Trick or Treat Sale and a *FREE* Gift

Got any last minute treats to make for those Halloween festivities you have on the calendar?  I'm a last minute planner myself.  In fact, I decided to turn a simple dinner with family into a Halloween "party" the day before just to please my 3 year old.

Well, I've got something to make those spooky treats even better!  Enjoy these *FREE* treat toppers made with the Tales from the Manor kit by Paislee Press and myself.  

Download these spooky toppers HERE.

And you don't want to miss this:

Happy Halloween to you and your little princesses and pirates!   

{storyteller} angela

{writer's notebook} don't forget the basics

The basics of writing, especially when it comes to journalistic features, are captured in just a handful of words: who, what, when, where, why, and how. The 5 W's and an H -- that's what we called them in school. As you work to capture the important stories in your life, don't forget to include these vital details too. Years from now, your family will cherish the conversations, inside jokes, hopes and dreams, good times and bad times that you've recorded, but they'll also be glad that you included these basics about the photos in your layouts:

• WHO is the subject of your photo
• WHEN was the photo taken
• WHERE was the photo taken

The WHAT and WHY are the things we most frequently convey in our stories, but sometimes we forget to include the other details. We assume that if we are writing our journaling directly to our loved ones (especially if they are the subject of the photo), that they'll know we are talking to them, but future generations won't have that same knowledge.

We'd like to see your creative tips and tricks for including this basic information on your layouts. Our {wst} boutique is full of great products to make this process easier, including date stamps, tabs, and more. Post your tips in our {writer's notebook} forum and add your layout to our {storytelling} gallery; make sure to include a link so we can leave some praise for your work.

Don't forget -- this week's Book Fair begins today with a great kit from Kathryn Wilson: Frenetic!

We're also thrilled to announce our newest {education} offering at {we are} storytellers: ListMania, a new 2-week class designed to help you take ordinary lists and turn them into {extra}ordinary stories.

When it comes to sure-fire journaling strategies, creating lists is at the top of my…err, list. "ListMania: Scrapping the Nouns in Your Life” is a two-week class that will provide you with seven journaling prompts that begin with list-making and move on to additional techniques for expanding your journaling into layout ideas and full-fledged stories. For each prompt, you’ll also receive a layout sketch / template and 2-3 typography techniques, with full step-by-step instructions. Daily forum threads will provide additional resources and information, as well as give us all a place to share our questions, comments, and ideas. At the end of two weeks, you’ll have seven layouts that tell your stories by documenting the things you choose to surround yourself with. Class participants will receive access to a private classroom forum with daily handouts, as well as a classroom gallery where they can upload their layouts. Class begins November 9th and runs through November 22.
Best of all, if you register for class before midnight EST on October 31st, you'll get a coupon for 35% off your next purchase at {we are} storytellers!

write on,
{storyteller} aud

{storytime}

A new week, a new {storytime}!

There are so many great pages in the gallery this week, and every day when I'm going through the newest layouts I can't help thinking to myself "Wow, we all have such cute kids."  Don't you think?  So this week I picked some layouts that tell great stories about what some of these adorable kids have been up to.  Like Apple Picking from our very own Angela Powers:

The beautiful Leaf Collection by amberleigh, and I'm wondering if this little one is available for hire because I definitely have some leaves he can help himself to:

and Sing it Out by mimsmom, I love the "varsity feel" of this page:

As always, a big thank you to everyone who shared their pages with us in the {stories} gallery this week.  We're thrilled to see so many people taking the time to journal about these special moments.

{storyteller} peppermint

{it's a spooky PTT today!}

Well, not sure if our Halloween goodies actually qualify as 'SPOOKY' - I actually think they are all ADORABLE! Pick up your favorites today.

take care,
{storyteller} deann

{storyteller} spotlight: jane aka soblessed

I've been married to my husband Andy for 8 years. We have a bunch of kids including Ethan(5), Noah(3), and Alex and Elizabeth (9 month old twins). I'm a nurse but quit my job to be at home full time. Our life is busy, crazy, loud, and very happy!

Q: How long have you been scrapping and how did you discover digi?
I never did paper scrapping, but I discovered digi in April of this year and decided to give it a try.

Q: Why do you scrap?
Scrapping is what I do to relax once all of the kids are asleep for the night and it's been a great creative outlet for me. Most importantly, this has been an incredible way to preserve memories for my children so that they can look back at snapshots of our lives together and recreate precious memories.

Q: What do you do while scrapping?
I totally enjoy the silence while it lasts.

Q: What program to you use?
Photoshop CS3

Q: How long does it take you to complete a layout?
I don't usually take more than an hour, but that hour may be spread out over a few days if life gets busy.

Q: Once you’ve completed a layout, what do you do with it?
Typically, I save it to my EHD and upload to galleries. 

Q: What is your favorite digi item?
I love Lightroom Presets (Kathryn Wilson has some great ones!) and I'm kind of addicted to Emily Merritt's paper block/strip templates.

Q: What is your process for completing a layout?
I don't really have a set process.  I just go with it and see what works for that day!

Q: If you weren't were you are right now, where would you be and what would you be doing?
Wow, I'm very content with my life, but maybe I would transplant my house and family somewhere oceanfront. . . and I would be sitting where the waves meet the sand reading a good book (RIGHT! Like THAT'S going to happen with 4 kids under 5!)

Q: Show us your favorite layout of YOURS at WST.
This layout means a lot to me.

Q: What camera do you use?
Don't laugh.  I use a Kodak Easyshare.  I would love to get a fancy camera someday. 

Q: Do you have any favorite post- processing tips or actions that you use?
I use Lightroom on every single picture.

Q: If you could be any age for one week, what age would you be and why?
Hmmm so many possibilities. I pick age 12 because life seemed so uncomplicated then (plus I could sleep in until 11 and it was still socially acceptable)

I love this layout of Jane's - her classically elegant style and her simple, thoughtful journaling make for a layout that tells a perfect story.

Thanks Jane! You are one busy lady, and I can't believe you only started scrapping in April! To see more of Jane's inspiring work, check out her gallery here.

{storyteller} laura
 

{writer's notebook} a sense of place

I travel quite a bit for work. It's not extensive overnight travel or anything like that, but the schools that I work with as part of the grant I oversee are located about 2 hours from the university where our grant is housed. So a couple of times a month, I'm on the road each week, making my rounds and visiting my schools. Four hours a day of driving adds up, and in that time, I've become quite a fan of public radio. I enjoy listening to NPR, especially as there are a lot of stations that just don't play music I'm willing to listen to for any length of time. With NPR, I'm guaranteed to learn something new and I'm often left thinking about what I've heard during the day. There's a level of engagement there that I don't find when I listen to regular radio.

Yesterday, on Talk of the Nation, there was a feature about an upcoming series on Appalachian life that will be airing this winter on PBS. The conversations among listeners, commentators, and guests about how place can define a person and vice versa really affected me. It's something that I've been mulling over myself for some time.

About a year ago, my husband, my two daughters, and I moved from the tiny (we're talking one stoplight tiny) town I'd lived in all my life to a university town about an hour away. We're still in western Kentucky, so there's not a huge geographical difference, but the opportunities and the cultural diversity alone make this such a different place to live in for us. More than anything, though, it's a place that just makes us happy. We enjoy living here. No, strike that. We LOVE living here.

I had a conversation with a friend a while ago, who had just moved to a new town. When I asked her if she liked it, she explained that she finally felt like she was the person she was always meant to be. Living in that new town helped her to follow through and act on all the things she wished she'd been doing before but just never got around to doing.

It seems like an excuse almost, to blame where you live as the reason why you don't do the things you want to do. But I can understand where she's coming from. We didn't recycle when we lived in our tiny town. There was no location to take our recycling to -- nowhere to drop off the aluminum cans or plastic bottles or newspapers -- not unless we wanted to drive almost an hour to do so.

And now that we're in Murray, we find ourselves doing so much more, things we always wanted to do. We're simplifying our lives, slowing down and living in the moment more, because we have the time to do so. Everything is more accessible to us, and we spend less time driving and going (even just with the basics, like groceries). Even though the house I grew up in will always be the definition of "home" to me, I'm starting to make a new home and even redefining what home means to me now.

This week I'd like for you to think about the concept of home. What does it mean to you? Is it defined by the actual home you live in now, or the one you grew up in as a child? Is it more of a geographic location? Or are there certain items that, as long as you have them around you, help to create the concept of home for you, no matter where you are?

Here's a sample layout from {storyteller} Julie Ann, using this week's Book Fair kit, Heart & Home. Upload your layouts to our gallery and share a link in the forum with us.

write on,
{storyteller} aud

{storytime}

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  Just wanted to share some wonderful layouts this week that caught my eye not only because of their beautiful design but also because I loved the story they told. Thanks so much with sharing with us, ladies!

this one by Gabi with such a sweet sweet story about her little guy's scary halloween:

this one by Mimsmom with an awesome story about her family's trip on a rafting ride:

and this one by Chi-girl where she highlights one of the struggles with her dd:

{storyteller} kelly