I’ve been spending the last couple of weeks in Cincinnati, Ohio working at Frontgate catalog drawing layouts. What a joy to be able sketch all day. Over the weekend I went to the Burlington Antique Show. Found some lace, postcards, frames and 2 victorian photo albums . . . can’t wait to use them in my books.
I am working a freelance job in Ohio and got to visit the Dayton Art Institute. What a great museum and it’s free to get in! The highlight was a film that Salvador Dali made with Disney . . . a must see!
On our way home from Tarpon Springs we stopped at Florida Southern College to see the buildings that Frank Lloyd Wright designed. All of the buildings are connected by a walkway. The church was interesting with it’s glowing glass blocks of color.
After visiting my friend Elsie in Sarasota, Florida Michael and I headed for Tarpon Springs. It is a Greek town known for sponge diving. Established in 1905 it has the worlds largest supply of sponges harvested from the ocean. Of course I had to buy one. It’s amazing how soft and fluffy it is once you wet it and it will last for 10 years so they say. We had good food at Hellas, Lime-n-Coconut and Currents Restaurants. Downtown Tarpon Springs is filled with antique stores. My big find for the day was a 12×15 Victorian embossed sketch journal for only $8. Also loved the little shop on Athens Street called Sponge Diver Supply. It was refreshingly modern and hip compared to the rest of the shops by the sponge docks. The guy who owns it designed all of the graphics on the clothes and even took the photographs displayed on the postcards.
My friend Elsie exhibits her fashion illustrations from the 1950’s through the 1980’s. This one is my favorite. During my visit I photographed some of her work. My major in college was also fashion illustration. Gone are the days.
Elsie Diana in 1948
Elsie Diana and Suzanne Woodie, September 2009, during my visit to see my dear friend Elsie who I adopted as my Connecticut Mom in the 1980’s when I lived in Hartford, Connecticut. Elsie and I were both layout designers for G.Fox Department Stores.
I love this photo that I just finished retouching. Does it not look like it should be in a magazine? It is of Aubra Hoppers looking cool and relaxed.
I am thinking of my Mom day and how much I miss her. Today is her Birthday. There’s so many things I wish I could ask her. Especially now that I am doing my family history. Like did she make this dress she is wearing in the above photo. Where was she going? What year was the photo taken? Are the flowers on the dress real? Wish I had that handbag. I wonder what happen to it? I may not have all the answers, but I am grateful to have this photo and all the happy memories of my Mom. For all of you whose Mothers and Grandmothers are still alive . . . take out those old photos and have them tell you their stories. And please write it down and put it in a binder along with the photos.
Today I am meeting my friend Christa and her Mom for lunch to give Christa the birthday present I made her. When Christa was in college she did a study abroad program in Japan. The album that she had used was one of the magnetic page photo albums. These are so bad for your photos. She hired me to replace this album for a better one. But I decided it would make a great present for her birthday. For those of you who have your photos in magnetic page photo albums please dispose of them. The magnetic pages which are made out of thick paper stock, coated with glue and covered with clear mylar plastic will ruin your photos. The acid in the glue deteriorates the photos and the mylar seals in the acidic fumes. Please do not let your precious photos get ruined.
Just finished designing this layout. I took the old letter below, removed the original words in photoshop and used it in my design. The original letter is part of my family history. We found documents that had Hungarian seals on them. I always thought that side of the family was from Austria. But this 4 page letter I am told is written in Windish. Windish? What’s Windish? I had never heard the word Windish before. I am told that it is an area located in what today is currently Slovenia, and what was formerly mostly the region of Carniola in the former Kingdom of Austria. The letter is from my great grandfather Janos Brodnyan’s sister telling him that there was a fire and that they lost everything. If anyone out there knows how to translate the Windish language please contact me at suzannecreates@comcast.net.
Just received another beautiful photo today for the book. This is Anna May Dillion when she was 16 years old in 1909. It is a photo of the same women I posted yesterday before she was married.
I am blessed to have a wonderful client who is letting me share the progress of her book. She is a genealogist and has lots of wonderful photos and stories. She never fails to amaze me at what she is able to find. A recent family search for information came up with this incredible photo. What a treasure. It really tells a story . . . her cat is by her side as she rocks in her chair listening to the radio with the light streaming through the window bathing her face with a beautiful glow. I just love it!
I know it’s been quite some time since I posted anything. I was inspired this morning to take some quick shots of my cat. She has no teeth. (A story I will tell another day) So when she’s really relaxed her tongue sticks out . . . too cute!
Today my article about preserving your past ran in the Sunday Palm Beach Post. A full page in color appears in the “Residences” section. My first published piece.
Here’s what I wrote . . .
Preserving your past can be a rewarding experience to share with your family. How often do we sit down with our family members and share the stories and memories that our photos evoke? Isn’t this the reason we create photographs, to remember the times and the people that are important in our lives? I have so many questions I wish I could have asked my grandparents. They left behind so many unidentified photos. I realized that I needed to preserve the precious memories in these old photographs by interviewing my remaining relatives while they were still alive. It’s been more gratifying than I ever imagined. I only wish I would have started sooner. Here are some tips I learned along the way.
The most important thing you can do is identify your photos. People tend to loose interest in things that are not identified. Don’t let future generations discard your photos because they do not know who is in them. Take the time to identify those in the photos and date them. Another suggestion for labeling photos is to make photocopies or scan the photos. You can then use the copies for identifying purposes. This way, individuals can write all they want on the copy, even drawing arrows to individuals if they are in groups. Label every photograph with the answers to those old journalism questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Make sure you get the story behind each photo. Make duplicates and mail them to your relatives so they can share their stories too.
I highly recommend scanning your printed photos. Store them on your computer and keep backup copies on a CD, DVD or removable hard drive. Scanners are reasonably priced, you can get one for under $100. Scan them in at 300 DPI or higher. I also scan it in 200% larger then the original photo. This gives you the option to restore damaged photos, crop them and print out enlarged photos. Don’t take a chance that a hurricane, flood or fire could destroy your photos. Store disks in a water/fire proof storage box with other valuable paperwork. Also send a copy of the disk to relatives in another state.
Store your photos properly. Avoid keeping your photos in the attic, garage or basement. If you have photos in magnetic albums you should transfer them to a better album. Album pages that are coated with glue and covered with clear mylar plastic will ruin your photos. The acid in the glue deteriorates the photos and the mylar seals in the acidic fumes. I recommend scanning your photos and organize them into labeled file boxes. When storing the photos upright they take up much less space. You can also keep the negatives or a CD of your photos with each group of pictures.
Turn those special moments into treasured and meaningful keepsakes. I have begun designing hardbound and digital heritage scrapbooks about my family filled with all the photos and stories that I have collected. They are created in a digital format which enables me to print multiple copies for all of my relatives. As I look through the first Family Heritage Book I created I realize that this could be one of the most important things I did for my family.
For anyone who lost someone close to them. Within the past month I sadly have had to send out 4 sympathy cards. I thought the words to this one were worth posting . . .
LET THERE BE MEMORIES
Fond recollections of special occasions and everyday things.
Let your heart start on its journey to healing by feeling the comfort remembering brings.
LET THERE BE MEMORIES
Pictures, mementos and favorite stories both funny and sad.
Let your mind wander the paths of remembrance, reliving the joys and the good times you’ve had.
LET THERE BE MEMORIES
Signs that our loved ones remain near in spirit long after they’re gone . . .
tender, surprising, heartwarming and welcome. Sweet proof of the promise that love will live on.
This wonderful flock of birds were feasting in my backyard.
Easter egg hunt with Anna in the garden, lots of good food, yummy key lime pie all celebrated with friends and family.
Frontgate catalog shot their March book in south Florida. I was hired as the assistant stylist. We shot at so many amazing beach front homes. Here I am standing in front of a patio table set. I know it’s sunny Florida but it was a little chilly the day this photo was taken.
We always try to do a group shot during the job. This is my favorite by far.
Yesterday was my Dad’s Birthday. He spent the day watching the super bowl and eating ice cream cake! This year I honored him by celebrating his many years of playing baseball. He’s 79 years old and still plays three times a week! I altered an already fabulous book about Major League Baseball that I got at Barnes & Noble. I added photos of him playing ball, articles, ticket stubs, and more. To view the book in it’s entirety click on “Baseball Book” I can’t wait till he reads everything I wrote. I love you Dad! I also made him a baseball memory box. I found this very old cigar box made out of tin at a flea market in Cincinnati, Ohio. Apparently there was a Philadelphia Phillies brand of cigar. You can also “View Memory Boxes” and scroll down to see and learn more.
