Stolen
Yesterday I taught some scrapbook classes. I so enjoy doing this, partly because I enjoy sharing the craft, but mostly because I always seem to have such a great group of women to teach! I have been so impressed with their creativity and pro-active good natures. I meet so many amazing individuals in my line of work and I feel very blessed because of it.
Yesterday, however, held a very bitter surprise. I was preparing to teach my Cosmo Cricket blackboard class, which is based around the princess album I created for Maggie. I love this album. It is one of my favorite things that I have made, and so special to Maggie because it is all about her princess dress and crown. Imagine my disgust and disappointment when I discovered that it had been stolen from the store.
Now, I don’t know what kind of person it takes to steal someone’s personal scrapbook. I don’t know if they just have no sense of collective responsibility and goodness, or if they function out of jealousy for another’s talent (jeez, just take the class, I’d have helped you make your own), or if they are just mean spirited. I don’t know if it was desperation, entitlement, or flat out meanness, but I do know that it was very wrong. It also makes it darn hard to teach a class.
Most people would agree that stealing is wrong. It isn’t a tough concept. People like to keep the stuff they have and know that it is safe. Stealing from shopkeepers is wrong because it makes it harder for them to turn a profit, and it forces them to raise prices for the rest of us. But it isn’t usually personal. It makes a shopkeeper angry to be stolen from, but I don’t think it hurts their feelings quite like stealing a piece of artwork, or a family heirloom or treasured item. It doesn’t make their daughter sad to be missing item 100634 out of isle 9 the way it might make her sad to find out that her special photo book was taken. So this is personal. That just makes it more wrong, doesn’t it?
You may think that this is a fluke thing, that it doesn’t happen all of the time, but you would be wrong. I know many designers who have had a precious piece of art taken when it has been on display. You may think that the person doing the stealing must be one of the unwashed miscreants of society, but you would be wrong again. When I attended CHA, many, many booths had their designer’s work literally tied to the booth just to make it more difficult to steal. Do you know who attends CHA? Store owners. Scrapbook retailers. People who routinely get stolen from and who you think might have the concept of how treasured a scrapbook might be to someone. Despite this fact, many, many fabulous pieces of personal artwork volunteered to be on display by people who support these companies mysteriously walk away each time. Even pieces that have been tied down occasionally disappear, meaning that people had to work to steal them. It boggles the mind.
I am trying to be forgiving. I am trying to tell myself that I must be pretty damn awesome to have people want to steal my art. But mostly, I’m just hoping that whoever took it might be willing to sneak it back into the store. Leave it in the bathroom, or in a back corner somewhere. Slip it into a basket of ribbon or onto a paper rack in a quiet corner. Just make it reappear. I really want it back.
I am so sorry for your loss. The book certainly is special and I hope it reappears.
Comment by Beth Norman — March 10, 2008 @ 3:06 pm
I am so sorry. I would have been in tears when I was teaching the class. I had a camera stolen once, and my name and address was on a sticker on the camera. the person could have at least had the decency to mail me the film of my children.
Comment by Judy in Indiana — March 10, 2008 @ 3:50 pm
I can’t believe it!! I am so sorry that some filthy, dishonest, scum had to steal your album. Hopefully they bring it back to the store. KARMA is a b*tch!
Comment by Tracey — March 10, 2008 @ 4:42 pm
I am so sorry this happened to you. I assume that it is not your store, but that you teach your class at someone’s store.
I would suggest making copies of your photos and asking the store owner to post several around the store with a big MISSING or WANTED sign. This way, if someone has a friend who is showing off your album, they will know who to report it to. This is just awful. I can’t even imagine how you feel.
Comment by Lynne — March 10, 2008 @ 4:53 pm
That is terrible. I hope the guilt takes over whoever took it and it finds it’s way back home.
Comment by msdramateacherlady — March 10, 2008 @ 4:58 pm
What is wrong with people! I love that book.
Comment by stacey o — March 10, 2008 @ 5:20 pm
Girl this just sucks!!! I am so sorry this happened to you. And also to little Maggie. I really hope it turns up as well. HUGS!!!
Comment by Selena Kimsey — March 10, 2008 @ 6:29 pm
That’s unbelievably creepy and wrong!
Comment by Janine — March 10, 2008 @ 8:40 pm
That is sooo sad! I had no idea that this happens! OH I would have been so furious. It would make me want to take everything out of the store, to protect it!
Comment by Amie — March 10, 2008 @ 8:45 pm
I am so, so sorry for you - and for Maggie!
Comment by Zarah — March 10, 2008 @ 11:16 pm
I am so very sorry someone so meanhearted took your wonderful FAMILY treasure. It really is shameful. And how right your are about this subject. It makes my heart sick with what 2 pieces were stolen from me. I am praying that it does REAPPEAR for you. What a shame!
Many hugs,
Robyn
Comment by Robyn — March 11, 2008 @ 12:19 am
This is discusting, im truely sorry!!! I cant imagine how you are feeling!! {hugs}
Comment by SARAH — March 11, 2008 @ 3:04 am
I’m so sorry! I hope that somebody will end up doing the right thing and returning it to you. I see this sort of thing happen all the time at gallery openings, and I’ve had a sketchbook, full of months of work, from all over the world, stolen. It’s heartbreaking. I teach high school artists, and one of my students had her work stolen from an exhibit opening—and she was there!! Who steals art by a 15-year old, I ask you? Some people have no shame. I just hope you’re able to recover your beautiful treasure.
Comment by Mome-rath — March 11, 2008 @ 5:32 am
That is UNBELIEVABLE!!!! I can’t imagine ANYONE doing something like that. It is heartbreaking and maddening. Your album is stunningly beautiful, and I can only imagine your heartbreak at it being gone. I pray they have a change of heart, and return your album.
Comment by Carla — March 11, 2008 @ 7:56 am
:(
What is wrong with people? I hope it show up. How sad to take a treasure away from your little girl. 
You are so right about tying things down at CHA. We had to do that and still had a couple items stolen. GRRR!
Comment by JoNell — March 11, 2008 @ 8:35 am
I’m sorry this has happened to you. What a selfish act.
Comment by Sarah — March 11, 2008 @ 11:25 am
I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine how anyone could do that!! Your poor little girl! That beautiful album that you put your heart into!
I count myself as fortunate enough to own a piece of your beautiful artwork - I bought your snow mini album recently. I treasure it. I hope they do the right thing.
Comment by Jane — March 11, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
I know many designers that have had thier stuff stolen and I am shocked everytime. I don’t understand people who steal, especially somthing that is so personal to someone else. I am heartbroken for you and Maggie. I don’t have a clue why someone would ever steal someone elses mini album, what do they do show there friends and take credit for making it themselves, urgg! this makes me so angry. I am so sorry this happened to you.
Comment by Angie — March 11, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
OK, so I think that stealing from Wal-mart is wrong, but at least I can see the appeal, but honestly, what appeal does it hold to have someone else’s personal pictures? I hope that someone does just dump it in the bathroom. That book is truly beautiful
Comment by Ellie — March 11, 2008 @ 6:51 pm
I am so sorry this happened! I hope it finds it way back to you, soon!
Comment by Jan — March 12, 2008 @ 9:59 pm
Oh my gosh. I am so sorry to hear about that. I don’t often comment, but I read your blog regularly and enjoy it.
~Lolly
Comment by Lolly — March 13, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
You poor thing. I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I’ll keep you in my prays, that it finds it way home. It throughly was a beautifull book, if I had a girl I might of consisdered making one similar.
Comment by Jackie L. — March 13, 2008 @ 5:39 pm
I am so sorry. There is nothing worse than being stolen from and especially soemthing you worked hard on and were teaching others how to do. It has actually happened to me several times and each time it bothers me even more. I hope it finds its way back to you.
Comment by Jenny — March 13, 2008 @ 7:03 pm
I am so sorry that this happened to you - it’s mean and just plain stinks - hope it finds it’s way home again.
Comment by debbiefitz — March 14, 2008 @ 2:56 pm
I understand your pain. At a store I taught at, I had designed an altered book class that was actually three small books that fit into a book sleeve. One of the books was stolen. It had been the “fav” book because I had used clear micro beads over a black and white photo of my newborn daughter. Not only did it make it difficult to reproduce that particular book during class (not to have my sample), but it broke my heart to have that stolen as I naivly used the original photo presuming that I would be taking the books home after we finished running the class for the store. We live and learn, hopefully, we also forgive and forget… right? I feel your pain sista! Now, I NEVER use originals when producing samples for store displays.
Comment by Sue Shepherd — March 17, 2008 @ 7:36 pm
Oh I am so sorry!! I hope that someone returns it!
Comment by Kara — March 18, 2008 @ 11:45 am
Sounds like a nightmare! Terrible!!! Have they never heard of karma?
Thanks for stopping by my blog-anytime you want to ask homeschooling questions, feel free! The letter cards are from Hearthsong or Magic Cabin-both sister companies- they are super cute, huh? My girls just LOVE fairies! KIT-so corny, but I love saying that!
peace, danielle
Comment by Danielle — March 27, 2008 @ 6:54 pm