Kaya Shewakramani – Founder, Kreating Keepsakes

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. ~ The Wonder Years

We’ve all done the slam book in school. The photo wall in college. Even now, the office-softboard-turned-picture-album works as the perfect cubicle softener. For the sentimental and nostalgic who wish to hold on to the special memories gone by, a scrapbook is an ideal way of preserving memories - favourite childhood moments, tender moments of love, fun at college, vacations , those elusive 'firsts' in your life, childhood madness, and the fun-we-had stories with your friends.

Kreating Keepsakes helps people preserve their memories through customized photo albums and innovative wall and memory journals. At the studio, you can learn to convert your photo memories into an unusual, one-of-a-kind wall décor piece by working with the people at the store, or you can buy one of the kits and apply your innovative skills to create something on your own.

The Colaba based design studio was started in September 2007 by Kaya Shewakramani, owner and promoter of Keepsakes Design Studio, with a seed money of Rs 2 lakhs. Kaya says that her greatest challenge so far has been promotion and publicity. But with write-ups in the Times of India, Hindustan Times, DNA and regular mentions in the ‘Whats Hot’ section of various teen and city-info sites, Kreating Keepsakes has a growing base of loyal customers, and footfalls inside her store are steadily increasing.

Shewakramani had started scrapbooking to minimise the piles of photo albums in her cupboard. She also loved the three-dimensional appeal of the scrapbook. "It transports you back in time and helps you relive your memories, unlike online photographs where the focus is on your mouse," she says.

The Kreating Keepsakes story began when a few friends decided to spice up their memories by adding one-liners and memory tags to their vacation pictures and baby photographs. This trip down memory lane became a joy ride that never ended, says Kaya. She was quick to realise that this pastime activity could bring a lot of smiles (and moolah too) if she used her talent to create photo scrapbooks for others too. During her stay in the USA, Shewakramani took to scrapbooking as a hobby. When she moved base to India last year, she wanted to use her expertise to create something unique. And opening this studio was the most natural choice. Now she helps people create their own "memory books" that preserve the past.

Kreating Keepsakes Design Studio is the pioneer specialty studio for all your scrapbooking needs in India. They stock supplies like scrapbook kits, embellishments, stickers and albums all under one roof, with a focus on workshops and personal consultations in order to spread the techniques of scrapbooking and making memory keepsakes.

“India has no indigenously made scrapbook kits available. Scrap booking products are available but not as an organized hobby activity and products are not branded in India. Kreating Keepsakes studio aspires to popularize brand scrapbooking products. The studio is a place for production, distribution and promotion of scrapbooks, scrapbook kits, journaling strips, embellishments and all ancillaries that make an attractive unique scrapbook layout.” says Kaya.

Kaya, along with her staff of 5 at the Kreating Keepsakes Design Studio also teach scrapbooking enthusiasts to make stunning Scrapbooks much quicker with their pre- packed themed, color coordinated kits. Making scrapbook pages that effectively show off your favorite photographs is fun, and it’s easier than you might think. The customer is encouraged to be a part of the entire process, giving ideas and suggestions as to the layout, colours, theme etc. "It is time-consuming," admits Shewakramani. "But it's a beautiful gift for someone dear."

The creative team puts together colour coordinated album kits, to simplify your album making. It is so well put together that a scrapbook page can be created in less than 30 minutes. Simple page designs with a single photo or elaborate ones with many photos is a snap when you have Keepsakes' specialists helping you along with brilliant ideas and inspirations. You're also free to experiment with new techniques and layouts. The highlight of the whole process is that you get to design your own pages using expert resources "Plenty of layout resources are available for scrapbookers. So you aren't on your own when you sit down to create your first pages", remarks Kaya.

A few of the popular items are the mini door hangers, frames, journals, photo collages. There’s also an interesting item called The Lap Tray, a tray that's actually a thick photo frame that carries your memories, with a thick cushion attached to its bottom and kept on your lap to place your books on, when you study or work. The most impressive service on offer at the studio is the series of three classes that covers the basics of scrapbooking as well as provides a general overview of techniques and ideas, for both children and adults.

Kreating Keepsakes also have a series of five popular workshops for children, and some of their products are especially for them. Their DIY kits are theme and colour coordinated making it simpler for the child. Each item created at the studio has an option for photographs, some journaling and embellishing. Over the sessions, the child can cumulatively acquire different scrapbooking and paper craft skills. This makes it easier for them to learn and apply scrapbooking concepts. Then, of course, the sky is the limit to what can be created. These skills help kids create their own scrapbook and subsequently manage their school projects independently. Children are taught layouts, journaling (or captioning), mounting and layering photos and embellishing (with paper, foam, fabric decorations).

In the age of Facebook albums, the art of preserving memories through a scrapbook is a dying art. But Kreating Keepsakes is actively trying to revive the trend. Any thing and everything you need for your scrapbook, school projects or memory albums are available here and it is a place that you can relax in and complete your keepsake project at leisure. Plus, you get the added benefit of making new friends and expressing yourself creatively. Conveniently located at Colaba, the ambience and space is perfect for scrapbookers. First timers can look forward to the fun events and workshops that are held regularly at the store. "We love fashion, we love food, we love art, we love good living, we love to travel, and we love people. Come be part of our world," Kaya beams happily.