craft : the book

Our First Book

thank you for the nice comments about the corsage i made, everyone! next week, i'll share a craft project that didn't go so well and it's a real doozy. but, until then, one last post about our first blurb book, which arrived on our anniversary - sweet. i'm really happy with it and have already started on the next one. if you've exhausted everything else on the web, you can see every single page here ;). i organized it by season with a separate chapter for home, but will combine them from now on. i hope i don't get bored halfway through the year, though. it would be weird to have two seasons in full technicolor and the others blank.

Our First Book

during the process, i learned a few things -
  1. there are those who take more photos than me, but i post a lot of them here and on flickr. too many. i'll edit more.
  2. i photograph a lot of flowers. again, too many. my goal is to find more grit and combine it with the pretty. love the contrast.
  3. we must do some new things.
  4. i love diptychs, especially when they play off one another.
  5. the higher the image quality the better. don't skimp on this and take the extra effort to meet the suggested requirements. you won't be sorry.
Our First Book

there's a very good article in the october issue of martha stewart living that summarizes the different services you can use to make a book with an abbreviated version online here. i really think everyone should do it. who needs a book deal to be published, anyway?

Our First Book

and, if that's not enough for you, pj mentioned a service called blog2print that will print your blog, including the comments. she is also having a fantastic giveaway this week for a $75 amazon e-gift certificate, so please visit her to enter.

xo, cindy

ps green tea mix in milk makes me so HAPPY and matches the cover of our book! tastes just like a starbucks green tea latte. the tea, not the book.

29 comments:

Stacey said...

I have been wanting to try out blurb, thanks for all the info on your experience (yours looks gorgeous!).

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Loved this post and the mention of Martha Stewart's summary of photo book venues.

I've been using Shutterfly to create books for the holidays, using digital copies of beautiful Christmas cards. I can't blog them because the recipients will see them.

Thanks for mentioning the giveaway! You're a peach!

cupcake studio said...

It's just lovely!!!

Line said...

It looks amazing I think I will make one as a christmas gift!

Joyce said...

Very beautiful Cindy! I have been thinking of blurb for some time. Now I just need to find the time. LOL... I thought it would be fun to make a book for my love and do do calendars for holiday gifts. Thanks for the wonderful leads my friend. xoxo

in another lifetime said...

Hi Cindy! The book looks wonderful, as does the green tea mix! Does green tea always have caffeine in it? I have been trying to stay away from caffeine but looove green tea. Anyhow, hope you are well!

hmstrjam said...

Cindy your book looks beautiful! bravo! I like your flowers! The layout looks great. WIll have to investigate this blurb book thing more!

Grace@PoeticHome said...

The book looks wonderful! I love the mixture of formatting and layouts you used. I made a photo calendar for my husband last year, and this year may call for a book!

Krissy | Paper Schmaper said...

What a great job! I'm so impressed. I need to give Blurb a try.

Lizzy said...

well didn't that turn out lovely! By the way, love your mug too :D

cindy* said...

amazing! i will have to do a blurb book...soon, when my next (top-secret) project is done!

Pascale said...

Dear Cindy and Scott,

I just went and had look at your book. It's simply amazing. So beautiful - excellent photography. There's so much happiness shining through those pictures. And as to the flowers: please don't stop making pictures of them. You're too good at it!
Congratulations on this first book to both of you!

Sincerely,
Pascale

onesilentwinter said...

hi, just viewed your book! do you know how pictures in that one book? curious..i have done several books on snapfish( promotion this week buy one get one free)

jane said...

oh the book is lovely! thanks for all the tips! besos!

Deniz said...

your books looks amazing!
i love your flower photos!
and your dyptech are so brilliant one of my favourite things on your blog!
reading this and seeing the book- make me really consider making my own. :)

green tea latte?_ sounds yummy

Cindy said...

thank you so much, everyone! your comments make me SUPER-HAPPY!

aimee said...

the book looks GREAT! now i'm looking forward to seeing the doozy...

erin said...

looks completely gorgeous! of course.

meg said...

ARE YOU EVEN KIDDING ME!?!?!?! YES I KNOW I'M YELLING BUT CINDY I SERIOUSLY CAN'T HELP IT!!! THE BOOK IS JUST ABSOLUTELY LOVELY!!! YOU ARE JUST TOO AMAZING GIRL - I CAN'T WAIT TO CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE THING!!!

YAY AND CONGRATS TO CINDY (AND ALL THINGS GREEN! LOL!)

much love,
Meg xoxo

Megan Coyle said...

What a beautiful book! You've done a lovely job with the layout and the photos look gorgeous. Do you like Blurb? I might be interested in using them in the future--whenever I get around to making illustrations for a children's book I'd like to do.

Elizabeth said...

Wowzers!! That was so fun to look at Cindy! I would be thrilled to have a book like that :) Thanks for all the wonderful links also!

Bonbon Oiseau said...

thanks for this cindy! you are sooo soo wonderful. I have been thinking to do this for a lookbook...very inspiring.

Bonbon Oiseau said...

cindy-just had to blog about this--you're over at my house today!

please sir said...

Oh your book looks amazing - kudos!

Cindy said...

WOW-EE!

SimplyGrove said...

Your blurb book looks amazing Cindy!!!!

Asya said...

Cindy, This is wonderful. Congratulations, and happy weekend!

Candi said...

I LOVE the book, it turned out beautifully!

Thank you for the comment on the photo of Fred in the costume. I've never submitted my photos, and would really like to. How do I find contests, etc. to submit to?

Lucy says hi! She, grandma, and Freddy are napping right now...which is a rarity, hence the fact that I'm finally able to check out blogs! lol

Have a good weekend!!!

Sydney Hotels said...

It's so amazing. The photos were awesome. Love this book, love the concept.