Ireland: Done and Done!

It's a big day at my house. My Ireland book has arrived! Which means I'm currently up to date on my travel books. I know that sounds silly, but it really is a big deal and a huge item crossed off!

Putting travel books together is almost as big of a deal as the trip itself! It's a chance to reflect and remember the enormity of the places we'd been, and the things we'd seen.

The process becomes obsessive and all encompassing, swallowing up a week or two of my life (at minimum!). There's usually 1000+ pictures to sort through. I know the stress, anxiety and effort is self-inflicted and unnecessary, but it's part of my travel process. I end up learning more about the places I'm visiting, after I've been there and returned home.

I design my books in Adobe InDesign and use blurb.com's Pdf to Book feature to have them printed. The results, and customer service, are consistent and satisfactory, plus wonderfully priced.

With no international trips planned this year, and it being the 10th anniversary of my graduation from college, I'm toying with the idea of undertaking an even bigger photo project... sorting all four years of photos and putting them into one book. This being a mix of digital and film, it shall be an interesting endeavor... we'll see what actually comes of it. 

A look at Spain... as we Countdown to Ireland...

As I sit mere HOURS from my departure for Ireland, it's fun to reflect back on past trips in anticipation of the ones to come. 

I very, very recently (finally) finished my Spain book for my 2011 trip abroad. This was my biggest book yet, 178 pages, printed on Blurb (per usual). I love the print quality of Blurb pieces and have had amazing assistance from their customer service staff.This is an 11 x 8, hardcover, image wrap book.

The hardest part of making these books is sorting through the thousands of picture my friends and I take when we travel. I also have a tendency to get obsessive about writing descriptions for what we saw, making it a very thorough guidebook of our trip. I usually learn more about the place I've just been, once I'm back and working on the book, than I do when I'm there! 

Can't wait to build my travel book collection. Next up... Ireland.... 16 hours to go! 

 

The F Word: [Family]

I'm getting older (393 days 'til my 30th birthday). Which means the people around me are getting older too.

Last weekend we celebrated my Grandma's 80th birthday. (she actually turned 80 in February, but she was a good sport about letting me push it back until we could have the party outside). It was a day of family, food and a few flashbacks. 

Top: Signage for the Birthday girl and my first Strawberry Rhubarb pie. It was tasty. The recipe was from MarthaStewart.com. Bottom: Fresh flowers my mother gathered in the neighborhood. 

It had been a few years since the family had all been together, and it was good to see how much people hadn't changed. One of my intentions in gathering everyone together was to present my Grandma with her "Moments" book— a retrospective of her life and family. A piece that she can spend time reminiscing with. 

The book was created on Blurb using their hardcover image wrap option. I spent a lot of time gathering photos and going through old albums—something I absolutely love doing. It's good to reflect, and remember the way we were. But it's also important to keep in touch, so that we still know each other tomorrow.

Printed: The Land of Smiles

It's Christmas and the packages are piling up. I literally tripped over a delivery this morning as a left my house. But this gift was from me to me!

My latest Blurb creation, documenting Bethany's and my trip to Thailand last winter. These travel books are passion projects for me, often involving blood, sweat, and a few tears.

It's my largest Blurb book yet, 156 pages. And I tried for the first time the the hardcover dust jacket, which looks rather nice—though I think the image wrap is safer, as it won't tear or get lost. But per usual, the printing looks nice, the paper is fine and Blurb's customer service was extraordinarily helpful.

So it feels great to have one project done, and I've already moved onto the next!

Smash it this Summer

Top row: Cut and paste books, bottom row: Digitally produced photo books from Blurb and Shutterfly. [click to enlarge]

Scrapbooking was always one of my favorite hobbies growing up. Still is. But now I do all my photobooks digitally on Blurb and Shutterfly. When I saw this new Smash Book on PaperSource I grew real nostaligc for the days of glue sticks and stickers.

I'm a little bummed, though not surprised, that all pieces and parts are sold separately*. But still, what a great activity for the kids... And you!

This summer, treasure all your memories. Smash it!

*Book comes with pen and glue stick.

Three Cheers for the Blurberati

Also back from Blurb this week is a project three-years in the making. A personal memoir for Ms. Kent MacKay.

The 12" x 12", 128 page book was printed with the image wrap cover option from Blurb. A lot of communication and cooperation with the Blurb customer support and color management team was involved. But it was a patient process and with their assistance we had a fantastic outcome.

I used the PDF to Book option from Blurb, which allowed me to design in InDesign and then upload a finished pdf for printing. If you plan to use this option let me know, as I now know some fantastic tips to make it a smooth process.

A Man a Plan a Canal Panama.*

It seems my blog has taken a turn towards FOOD lately (I do like to eat) and also to home decorating, but print design is still my passion as well as my profession.

Here's a recent project—one of my favorite kind of projects—a travel memoir, for my 2009 trip to Panama. The 11" x 8" book was printed by Blurb, with the image wrapped hardcover.

I'm a big fan of Blurb (and travel!) and love that they now offer a pdf to book option, making creative opportunities endless.

Back to planning my next trip!

* Love a good Palindrome? Me too! Check out So Many Dynamos!