Three Things + 1 : Inspirations for storytelling

(1) Jon Schmidt's Love Story (Taylor Swift) meets Viva La Vida (Coldplay) via Jana Beck (who does these very cool custom high-contrast paintings). I've started listening to more music again. I go through phases with what I listen to on iTunes/internet radio while I work. For a long time it has been all news all the time and I am finally starting to move back towards more music and less talk. I find that listening to music often connects me to stories and evokes a wide range of emotions from my past.

(2) I can't remember if I have posted about this one before or not but it is so, so good it bears a second posting: Phillip Toledano's Days With My Father.This is words + photos. This is real life documentation & celebration. This inspires me to tell the stories of my family with more words and less stuff. 

(3)Jen Lee's Fortunes: a little book of written pieces. Inspiring and filled with emotion, Jen weaves stories that are great examples of a different way to write our lives other than who, what, where, when, etc.

(4) I got a second and third batch of family photos from my cousin. These ones were even older than the others. Found some serious gems in this bunch. This one is my Great-Grandfather John (also called "Mac"), Grandfather Neil (my Dad's Dad), and Great-Grandmother Martha. Even though I have no idea of the stories of most of these people's lives they inspire me in the not-knowing. I could look at them for hours just studying the faces, looking for family similarities, day-dreaming about what their lives were like in the early 1900's.

4th Annual Paiges In Time Cropathon
Eugene, Oregon scrapbooking event coming up Friday, August 28th through Sunday,
August 30th at Valley River Inn. Includes a benefit auction for the Heart Gallery of Lane County (A Family For Every Child : one of my favorite local groups). All the details are listed here including the classes that go on sale July 27th. Note: I am not teaching any classes but am planning to go & scrapbook on the 29th.