Momento is Spanish or Italian for "moment." It also sounds similar to the word "memento," which is an object, like a ticket stub or photo, that you keep to remind yourself of the good times. It's a "two-fer." Of course, the first few people I showed it to said, "You know, it's spelled M E M E N T O," and I'd have to explain about the Italian word - I'll definitely have to keep on top of that in my branding.
To me the word reminds us to pay attention to the little things, to live in the moment and enjoy what we have rather than thinking of what might have been. It speaks to me about why I scrapbook - to tell my stories to my family, and to remember the little details that add up to so much.
Here's the latest on my progress towards opening:
- The architect's plans are nearly complete and I hope to put the work out to bid very soon.
- The exterior signage has been ordered and is being worked on.
- Some "Coming Soon" banners are hanging in the windows.
I wish a Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, and a Happy and Healthy New Year to all.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
How does a computer geek from way back end up owning a scrapbooking store?
I'll admit it. I'm a geek. A Star Trek-watching, gadget-loving technophile. There's an 8 foot tall display case in my dining room filled with vintage Star Trek collectibles. I was the first girl in my high school to take and finish AP Physics. I've got two Tivos, three VCRs and a DVD player. We have high-speed cable Internet and multiple XM radios. And there are five computers in my house.
The funny thing is that I'm also a pretty big girly-girl. I like makeup and jewelry and shopping for clothes. I adore Christmas and decorate my house up the wazoo for the holidays. And I'm crafty. As a kid, I learned to crochet from my grandma. As a teen, I sewed myself some pretty happening outfits. In my twenties, it was cross stitch. And in 1999, I started scrapbooking.
What can I tell you? I love scrapbooking. I love that you can try lots of different techniques and materials, so the hobby is always changing. And I love that I'm working with photos of the people and things I love the most. And I can experiment. If one page doesn't turn out quite the way I'd hoped - well, there's always more pictures!
So back to the geek thing. When I got to college, I intended to major in Math and Physics. But Physics lost its charm, and there was a computing requirement for the Math degree. Just like that, I was hooked! Programming was everything I loved about science. Everything was logical, and one thing followed from another. My brain was made to write programs and I loved it.
In 1987, two things happened that changed my life profoundly. First my son, Alex, was born. Then I went to work for the NASDAQ Stock Market. For the next 18 1/2 years. Before I was laid off in the Spring of '06, I'd risen from an entry level programmer to a lead in charge of an important system. I'd also nearly completed an MBA, which I'd started in hopes of moving into management.
There was a point, a bit more than a year ago, when I realized I was going to be laid off. Jobs programming the type of computers I worked with don't exactly grow on trees. I feared my family would have to relocate in order to find another job. Then my husband got an invitation to his cousin's wedding. And I got an idea.
I bought a small album, and made scrapbook pages with empty photo mats. Cream and white and gold and silver. Tags and ribbons and fibers. Stickers and rub-ons and charms. It was quite lovely, if I must say so myself. I brought my digital camera, laptop, and my little Epson PhotoMate printer. I set up in the groom's room and printed and cropped 10 photos of the wedding and reception and placed them in the album. A gift bag and some tissue paper and the album was good to go.
But before we gave it to the Bride and Groom, we showed it around to other members of my husband's family. And the husband of the Bride's sister said seven fateful words: "You should do this for a living." At first I scoffed. There's no way that making scrapbooks for people could replace the income of an experienced computer programmer. But it got me thinking...
I love to scrapbook.
I've nearly got an MBA.
I'm losing my job.
I've got some money put away.
And by then end of the weekend, I knew.
On the plane ride home, I told my husband, "I'm going to open a scrapbooking store."
The funny thing is that I'm also a pretty big girly-girl. I like makeup and jewelry and shopping for clothes. I adore Christmas and decorate my house up the wazoo for the holidays. And I'm crafty. As a kid, I learned to crochet from my grandma. As a teen, I sewed myself some pretty happening outfits. In my twenties, it was cross stitch. And in 1999, I started scrapbooking.
What can I tell you? I love scrapbooking. I love that you can try lots of different techniques and materials, so the hobby is always changing. And I love that I'm working with photos of the people and things I love the most. And I can experiment. If one page doesn't turn out quite the way I'd hoped - well, there's always more pictures!
So back to the geek thing. When I got to college, I intended to major in Math and Physics. But Physics lost its charm, and there was a computing requirement for the Math degree. Just like that, I was hooked! Programming was everything I loved about science. Everything was logical, and one thing followed from another. My brain was made to write programs and I loved it.
In 1987, two things happened that changed my life profoundly. First my son, Alex, was born. Then I went to work for the NASDAQ Stock Market. For the next 18 1/2 years. Before I was laid off in the Spring of '06, I'd risen from an entry level programmer to a lead in charge of an important system. I'd also nearly completed an MBA, which I'd started in hopes of moving into management.
There was a point, a bit more than a year ago, when I realized I was going to be laid off. Jobs programming the type of computers I worked with don't exactly grow on trees. I feared my family would have to relocate in order to find another job. Then my husband got an invitation to his cousin's wedding. And I got an idea.
I bought a small album, and made scrapbook pages with empty photo mats. Cream and white and gold and silver. Tags and ribbons and fibers. Stickers and rub-ons and charms. It was quite lovely, if I must say so myself. I brought my digital camera, laptop, and my little Epson PhotoMate printer. I set up in the groom's room and printed and cropped 10 photos of the wedding and reception and placed them in the album. A gift bag and some tissue paper and the album was good to go.
But before we gave it to the Bride and Groom, we showed it around to other members of my husband's family. And the husband of the Bride's sister said seven fateful words: "You should do this for a living." At first I scoffed. There's no way that making scrapbooks for people could replace the income of an experienced computer programmer. But it got me thinking...
I love to scrapbook.
I've nearly got an MBA.
I'm losing my job.
I've got some money put away.
And by then end of the weekend, I knew.
On the plane ride home, I told my husband, "I'm going to open a scrapbooking store."
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