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.


Dayswithmyfather (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. 


Fortunes


(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.

Img110 (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.


Dottedline


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.


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61 thoughts

  1. Caity says…
    07/23/2009

    Just read Days With My Father. Amazing. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. kathleen p. says…
    07/23/2009

    That song gave me chills....so pretty! Tfs with us!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Robyn Murillo says…
    07/23/2009

    Ali I love the song!!! Music can really set the mood when I scrapbook. A song can transport me back to a moment much like looking at pictures or a scent. Amazing how much art surrounds and influences our life everyday through different mediums. Thanks for sharing it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Betsy in San Antonio says…
    07/23/2009

    If you liked that music, also try Vitamin String Quartet. They do lots of rock songs as classical/string pieces.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Emily M. says…
    07/23/2009

    Ali-- Check out "Julie-O" on youtube or itunes (Mark Summer). Awesome cello piece. I just saw a music teacher play it the other night.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Carrie says…
    07/23/2009

    WOW - that Days with My Father is amazing and touching.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Lya L. says…
    07/23/2009

    Thanks for sharing this beautiful and inspirational song video. I used to play piano too, but I left my piano at my parents' place since I moved to another country after got married. Love piano anyways!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. cjs says…
    07/24/2009

    I just have to comment again....I just had enough time to enjoy the 'Days with My Father' piece. SO moving & beautiful. Thank you for posting it again since I didn't see the first one.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Mindi Leatham says…
    07/26/2009

    Anna's a cutie!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Pilbara Pink says…
    07/26/2009

    Justed loved Phillip Toledano's work - i had not seen it before. So grateful to be inspired by this type of thing now while i still have my parents. Thanks Ali for the constant inspiration, I so appreciate it. For all the negatives about the internet it is also a wonderful resource, if you know where to look.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Corinna Lyons-Revello says…
    07/27/2009

    Ali, thank you for sharing the link to Days With My Father. It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. I lost my mother-in-law to Alzheimer's 2 years ago and it's a slow painful process for all involved. Wish I had thought to do something like this. It's so beautiful.
    Corinna

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