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GeoBaby.Com  Articles Everything Else Scrap of Life
 Golf is not America’s most popular hobby. Research shows that scrapbooking has surpassed golf in popularity. While one in four American households has a golf player; one in three households has a scrapbooker, someone who “scrapbooks”.
What is scrapbooking? Odila Braga, owner of Hong Kong’s first scrapbooking materials & supply shop says, “Scrapbooking is the art of compiling photographs and descriptions into archival quality protected page albums. It is more than photo albums, as the journaling of the events brings to life the stories behind the photos that years cause us to forget.”
A Scrapper is Born
Odila started scrapbooking in 2001 after creating genealogy albums for her daughters. “I collected family tree information and photos for five years, and wanted to present the information beautifully. A friend suggested scrapbooking, and it was instant love, a way to creatively collect and share memories, as well as an amazing legacy to pass on to future generations.”
Odila started Memory Chest in 2004 to offer Hong Kong scrappers a supply shop. “Internet shopping is delayed by mail and doesn’t let you feel textures of the pages and the embellishments. Locally, there were no acid and lignin free papers, which are essential to scrappers as they preserve photographs in their original colours and prevent the photos from fading. Also, I wanted to offer twice weekly crop sessions.”
Crop sessions. The accomplishment and cosy conversation previous generations enjoyed over quilting circles is a highlight for many “scrappers”. The chance to gather together, get and give feedback on your work and receive suggestions for future books, and share experiences over photographs and journals is extremely satisfying.
Odila tells of how the Hong Kong ladies have learned from each other, as they gather together. “You hear through each other’s stories the different cultural habits and histories. A Scottish lady at a crop session shared over a book she was making for her parent’s anniversary that her parents received ration stamps as a wedding anniversary. I thought, ‘My parents were married around the same year, and they received wrapped presents.’ It made us all reflect on the difference between growing up in countries affected by World War II, and those not. Her story had nothing to do with scrapbooking, but so much to do with life. We tell these stories all the time, we listen and learn about each other’s families and friends, we see their faces, see how they have aged, and we watch their children grow.”
Friendship forming aside, crop sessions are also a good time to learn about page layout – which includes title, picture and journaling. “Although personal taste dictates how a page looks, you always want the picture to be the focal point of every page,” suggests Odila.
Why Do they Scrap?
 Why has scrapbooking grown to the point where Odila holds annual weekend scrapbooking retreats in Hong Kong? What is the allure?
“Companionship and the satisfaction of knowing you’re doing something with all your old photos aside, I can think of three reasons why scrapbooking is popular.
“First, it is an unselfish hobby. Many hobbies are about developing one’s own self, however, with a scrapbook you are not only using and stretching your creativity and talents, but you are creating something that is either going to another person, or tells a story that many will enjoy for generations to come,” says Odila, who has been in Hong Kong for seven years.”
Scrapbooks documenting milestones and important events such as birthdays, weddings, holidays, pregnancies, baby’s first year and vacations are very popular. Yet Odila says 70 per cent of women attending crop sessions do a “Hong Kong Memories” book. “No one wants to forget their time here and if their children are young they want them to remember it as well, with written memories attached to the photos.”
“Secondly, scrapbooking is a happy hobby. “No one ever comes in and scrapbooks the worst day of their lives. One lady who attended our crop sessions was making an album about her son, who had passed away at a young age. It was sad, but healing, and the album, which was created for her other children, was a beautiful celebration of her son’s life. People want to relive the happy days.”
“Lastly, scrapbooking allows you to connect. By looking a t photos, you connect with loved ones from your recent or distant past, which is good in Hong Kong where you can feel removed. Also, you are connecting with others. Sharing your stories, your day, your fears and plans.”
In ultra busy Hong Kong, if scrapbook admirers cannot afford the time to create their own books but wish one, Odila is also a partner in Milestone Memories, a company that creates personalized scrapbooks for clients.
But for those looking to start scrapbooking, but daunted at all the buzzwords, Odila encourages them to come to a crop session, where beginners and scrapping veterans gather. “Everyone did their first page at one time. The terms are easy to learn and environment is happy. All you need to successfully scrapbook are photos and someone you love.”
Written by Odila Braga, Memory Chest Scrapbooking |
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