THANK YOU IS NOT ENOUGH

Since the announcement, we have received so much encouragement, support and love. We know we have been enriched by the 5 1/2 years we have been a part of your lives. We wanted to share this post with all of you because it speaks for Forever Memories.

A Very Sad Day There is such a heaviness in my heart today. One of my favorite people in the whole world, Debbie Burks, has announced that she is closing the doors of her beloved store and one of my favorite places on the planet ... Forever Memories. The economic times are weighing heavy on lots of businesses and scrapbook stores are definitely falling victim. Forever Memories was not just a scrapbook store and it will truly be missed by those who have come to love the warm atmosphere within her walls and the feeling of "family" there. It was a place where so many wonderfully talented, creative and caring ladies met for crops, classes and just to stop by and say "hi" and see how the family was doing.I have had the distinct honor and pleasure of teaching classes and doing free Technique Thursdays for Debbie at Forever Memories. I decided to teach there and do free techniques training because the people at Forever Memories "get it". They get that selling stuff is okay and you have to do that to stay in business but it is SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. It is about making sure your customers UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE BUYING so that they can use their product to its full potential. At Forever Memories, they get that scrapbooking should be about preserving memories of loved ones for future generations. It's not about the cute layout of the month or stocking the gaudiest, sparkliest papers that will be in style for about 10 minutes. It IS about taking old photographs, letters and other sentimental items and carefully, lovingly placing them on pages that will become family treasures. It IS about expressing yourself artistically and not being afraid to try a new technique. It IS about the RELATIONSHIPS that are developed and cherished in that little community of lovely ladies who share the same philosophy. And even though the doors are closing, all of those artsy ladies are committed to staying together and continuing our friendships, sharing our ideas and encouraging each other in our artistic endeavors.Debbie provided us with that special little unique place at Forever Memories because she "got it" that scrapbooking, paper crafting and art in general is NOT about what is the new "hot lick" product just out at CHA. It's NOT about how much "stuff" you can cram into a store and shove in the face of your customers; nevermind if you know how to use it or not. It's not about sending people out of your store with sacks full of "stuff" that will sit in a craft room and end up in a garage sale because no one ever took the time to explain to them or show them how to use it. It's NOT about going from store to store and taking ideas for classes or displays because you don't have enough creative people in your own store to come up with original and unique ideas. It's NOT about lying to people who shop in your store and ask if there are other scrapbook stores in the area and you tell them "no" when you KNOW that there are. It's NOT about having an attitude of glee when another scrapbook store goes out of business ... because tomorrow, it could be your store. It's NOT about any of that.So, for those of you who are reading this blog and continue to shop at stores that have no "heart", you truly are missing out on what scrapbooking and art are all about. It's NOT about how much "stuff" you can accumulate. It's about being in a place that encourages you and challenges you to create and to become better with each piece you make. Forever Memories; the store will be missed. But, what Forever Memories stood for will live on in the hearts of those ladies who loved our little unique place and will continue to come together to create and share our art and our lives. At Forever Memories, "Scrapbooking Is A Work Of Heart" and it always will be. ~ Candy Colwell