Favorite photos from my life collection often become the central element in my card making. Such a simple and wonderful exchange – a moment illustrated in faded, glossy tones with fashions that incite elation, youthful optimism brimming in everyone’s faces, my family in it’s early formation. I have spent timeless hours with old photos from both sides of my family helping me connect the varied chapters of my life and encouraging a familiarity with people whose influence I embrace.

Re-framing images in a gift is my way of saying thank you for creating your life as you did, for your participation in my life, and for our relationship as it continues to grow.

For my mother’s 70th birthday I wanted to celebrate her radiance and beauty in both her youth and her wise years. Choosing one image was impossible. Instead I made a short book using 59 images, totaling 26 pages which I created by folding 13 – 11 x 17″ full color prints in half.

As a long time collector of beautiful bits of paper, I found a lovely wallpaper-esque roll of cotton fiber paper in my craft closet to use as detail over a black card stock cover.

I put it together using an uncomplicated Japanese stitch binding. This video tutorial by Sea Lemon was perfect and when I found myself needing single frame instruction, this step-by-step at Design Sponge did the trick. Both are clear and easy to follow.

Seeing my baby self in the light of my mother’s glowing smile, fixed gaze, and capable hands fills me with warmth. Her smile became the theme of the book. By the third book, my stitching edged on graceful. Final size : 8.25 x 7.5″.