365 photo project coming to life

Saturday night the girls and I looked through the blurb book I made of my blog from 2005. Remember this. They were getting a kick out of all the old pictures (it's crazy how much they grow in just a few years) and I reminded myself once again to keep working on the other years. I'm so close to getting 2006 published, but unfortunately still have a long way to go on the others. Trying not to let that discourage me.

It also got me thinking about how much the girls love looking at pictures and how all my photos are just sitting on my computer (I've stopped getting them printed because they just sit in a shoebox). I've thought for a long time that I just need to put photo books together for the girls to enjoy and it got my thinking about my 365 day challenge. By taking at least one picture everyday I have a great overview of our family life this year that I can put together. It got me really excited for the possibility of this book so while everyone slept last night I started working on it.


[click here to enlarge]

Because I have the photos I want to use in a specific place already it didn't take me long at all to put it together. Just a couple of hours to design the layouts and add the photos. Now all I need to do is go back and add the date and a little synopsis about the photo, well, and wait for the year to end.

I'm really excited about this project and it definitely has my wheels turning about other things I can do. I have also seriously considered creating photo books for others as a business (not of my photos, but of theirs) and may see what I can put together in the coming year to get the ball rolling.

here is a few examples (i.e. screen shots of the book)


[click here to enlarge]


[click here to enlarge]


[click here to enlarge]

finally it's tangible

After months of working. After weeks of waiting. I finally have a published copy of my first year blogging or rather my 2005 year of blogging.



It came in the mail yesterday and it was such a treat to pull it out and flip through it, even though I had a pretty good idea what it was going to look like. The one thing I wasn't sure about was the cover. Blurb.com (the company I used) now has a hardcover ImageWrap option, which covers the book directly with an image instead of using a dusk jacket. I have to admit I'm not in love with it as I was under the impression it would be made of different paper, so I don't think it's going to last that long, but I like it enough where I think I will do it for the rest of my books (I really dislike dust jackets).

A silly photo of me just so you can get the whole picture of the cover.

This is what I learned

a) You know as I was putting it together I wished I had more photos, so that would be my first suggestions...add photos, but now that I'm working on 2006, and I have a ton of posts without photos, I actually don't mind it. I suppose my favorite part is just having it printed all bound up nicely in one small package.



b) Write about what you want to remember. Write about what's important to you. As I was going through my earlier days I realized I wrote when I wanted and about what I wanted. I didn't worry about who was reading it (mainly because in 2005 no one was) or if the post was commentable (not sure that's a word). I just wrote. I think sometimes I can get caught up in whether or not someone else is interested in...insert topic...and I forget why I do it. I'm just a simple girl documenting my life while enjoying the connections and friendships I've made along the way.



c) Variety is best...at least it is for me. I like flipping through the year and seeing an assortment of post. For instance, one post will be about my day, the next post will have a list of things I like at that moment, then the next post will be about how I was feeling. They're all just so different. I guess naturally that does happen, but it was something I definitely noticed while doing this project and wanted to make sure I continued as I go forward.



d) I've grown. Not only in my writing, but I can see the person that I was in the beginning and the person I am today and there is growth. It maybe small and insignificant to others, but it's huge to me and the fact that I can actually see it gives me hope that as long as I continue to "do", more growth will come.



e) Note to self...never stop blogging. This is the first time in my life that I've been so consistent with a journal. I usually fade off or have about three entries a year, but for some reason blogging has provided me with a forum that keeps me coming back. I know it has more to do with the connections and friendships made, but whatever the reason it's something I can't imagine letting go of. It's strange to think of what my life would be like without blogging, it's made such an impact on me.



I won't say working on the book was the easiest thing in the world to do, but it was certainly one of my most favorite project this year so far. Not only did it have a design element that I enjoyed, but the end result is a treasure I'm grateful to have. So if you're thinking about it, stop thinking and just do it! It's definitely worth the time and money.

If you have any questions I would be happy to answer them.

examples

I've received several emails about my blurb book so I thought I would just post a few examples. Obviously it's still in progress, but this is what it should look like when published.







Definitely worth the time.

no sleep

The wind was blowing so hard last night I slept horribly. I remember waking up at 1:50am and prayed I could get back to sleep, but alas, I tossed and turned for at least an hour and a half that I finally got up.

In attempt to get back to sleep I started reading. Instead of sleeping, which I was certain would happen, I ended up finishing Franny and Zooey by JD Salinger for bookclub. I must admit, it made me feel like an idiot. I'm sure there is much to be discussed and understood (a lot of depth I know I'm not getting), but honestly I feel like I just read a not so intriguing story and am hoping bookclub tomorrow night will shed some light.

After that it was about 4am and I got on my computer and started working on getting my blog publish through blurb.com. I started doing it back in January, but after I got involved with my mom's book I never went back. It seemed like such a daunting task, but this morning I just went for it and once I got the hang of it it started to go really fast.

It took all my strength to walk away from it this morning to help my girls get ready for school and exercise, but once they were off I got back on and worked for about two and a half hours while everyone was at school. It's coming along and since 2005 wasn't a very long year I think I'll be done soon and ready to print.

One thing I've learned through this process is it would be nice to have at least one photo a post. It doesn't bother me to have a page without it, but when it's post after post like it was back in the day I find that I'm adding photos as fillers in my book. Anyway, I guess just something I need to remember from here on out. Photos are a good thing.

And in my attempt to actually learn my lesson and add a photo...

here's Tess wearing her handmade necklace. She first started off by making a snowflake, since it's snowing outside yet again, but when it came out looking more like a "surf board" (her words) she decided to turn it into a necklace. Love to see her being creative.

Finally I feel like I can stop the charade.

Phew.

For the past six weeks I've been bottling secret after secret for my Mom's 60th birthday and it's been killing me. I've wanted to share what I've been up to and show my mom the gift my Dad asked me to make for her, but of course I've had to sit back and wait patiently. Well, let me paint a more accurate picture, I shouldn't say sit back and wait because every moment I had went into making her gift. Seriously hundreds of hours sifting through box after box of photos, scanning, and putting the gift together on my computer was all I did since the moment I was asked to do it.

But before I get into all of that...my sister is back in town. Yes that would be twice in the last 3 weeks. The first time was to take a family photo to go with the gift and this time to surprise my mom for her birthday. I'm actually shocked it ended up being a surprise at all with my multiple almost slip ups that could have given it away.

So today while trying to keep the charade going we headed to boondocks, a family fun center, and had a day of it.





After the all day event, we were so exhausted, we headed for the party. It was fun to see my mom completely surprised to see my sister and then equally surprised that my dad had invited all her family and friends to join us in celebrating her 60 years or what she likes to say, 15 years (leap year baby).



I must admit I was a bit nervous and on edge the entire time. It's so hard to give someone something you've worked so hard on and that everyone is counting on to be the big thing, but I knew she would love it so I don't know why I was so nervous. How could she not right? I mean it is a treasure to me how could it not be a treasure to her.


I made her a blurb book of her life thus far. Like I said it was quite an undertaking, but I'm so so glad I did it. I learned so much about my mother and came to understand her in a whole new way. I cried on may occasions as I remembered times and experiences with my family and almost wished I could go back to those moments when all seemed right and less complicated.

a few of the 166 page book

You know with everyone there she really didn't have that much time to sit down and read it all and soak in the photos, but I'm certain when she does she will feel loved and see that she has had a full life, and really that is all we wanted to give her...to know she is loved.



Happy Birthday Mom! I love you.