Category Archives: step 1: decide

step one of the DOABLE approach to telling your family’s tales

50 Jar Gifts: idea #3 – Sands of Time

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image from indulgy.com

I think this idea is awesome. It is a beautiful way to remember your travels The different colors of sand are so beautiful and varied. You can also collect pebbles and rocks. I also like the idea of writing on the rocks. Here are a bunch of examples.

jars with sand and pebbles, etc. from different places from themagnoliamom.blogspot.com

image from interiordesigning.net

image from savvysugar.com

image from blog.kandrac-kole.com

What I’d really like to do is collect rocks and/or dirt from different places in my family’s history. Wouldn’t it be cool to go back to England where my great-great grandma, Mary Taylor was born and collect some soil. Then trace her journey to the west, stopping at key points along the way to collect more sample. Layered in a jar with labels of some kind and maybe a mini book to explain the importance of each place. With the power of the internet it would probably be possible to find people who live in each of those areas to gather what I’d need and ship them to me. The trip would be more fun but it isn’t in my budget in the near future.

dirt from places around the country
image from Sarah Wiley Joyce

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.jar gift logos4

50 Jar Gifts: idea #2 – Year in a Jar

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Year in a Jar By Kid’s Crafts Contributor Stephanie, from the blog A Geek In Glasses via ThinkCrafts.com

Here is a fun and simple way to help someone collect their memories for the coming year. All you need is a jar, a photo and vinyl numbers or another way to add the year to the jar. Then as they year goes by they drop those little things they collect from their days into the jar. At the end of the year it is like a little time-capsule. ThinkCrafts.com has detailed instructions on how to make this jar gift.jar gift logos3

image from thinkcrafts.com

image from journeychic.com

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.jar gift logos3

50 Jar Gifts: idea #1 – Memories in a Jar

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by Kendra Steel

I found this idea on Pinterest and thought it was the perfect way to kick off my 50 Doable Jar Gift Ideas for 2013. Uploaded by Kendra Steel, I love the idejar gift logos2a of capturing the memories of a trip to the beach in a bottle with a photo, sand and a few shells. It is easy to imagine other trips or memories that this idea could be applied to. A camping trip with some dirt, rocks, sticks and pine cones would work. A memorable walk on a beautiful autumn day with acorns and colorful leaves. A ski trip with fake snow, ski passes and other memorabilia. Think of a memory you would like to share and see what you can come up with. Here are some more ideas to get you started.

image via Yasmine Kaissi

image via Karin

image via jonni kilgore

image from http://www.CrazyWanderlust.com

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.jar gift logos2

50 Gift Ideas: Tips & Tricks

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Before we start posting this year’s gift ideas I wanted to share a great tip I found today on how to get the gunk off your jars without stinky chemical. If you are using canning jars this isn’t a jar gift logosproblem but if you are recycling jars (which is a great idea) than it can be a major pain to get the paper and glue off the jars. But Creek Line House has a great step by step on getting the gunk of just using baking soda and oil. Here is the tutorial.

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Memoir App

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Memoir App for iPhone

Have you seen the Memoir App for iPhone – Instant Memories? It looks super interesting. We are an android household so I can’t wait until they make it for android. I wonder just how it will affect they way we record our lives and tell our stories. So far I haven’t found a family history type review of the app but you can find more info here:

If you have any experience with this app, know some who does or find a family stories oriented review I’d love to hear about it. Have you found other apps that help you to share your family stories?

50 Gift Ideas: 2013 Edition

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jar gift logosI had so much fun last year coming up with 50 gift ideas that help in telling your family’s tales that I decided to do it again this year. At least I’m going to try. Last year was inspired by my 50 for 50 challenge for the year. So since this year I’ve done my Joy Jar I decided that all 50 gift ideas would have something to do with jars. I have a few ideas and I’ve started a board on Pintrest to gather more ideas. The challenge will be getting all 50 ideas put together by Christmas. It isn’t going to be easy but I really want to take on this challenge.

Do you have any favorite jar gift ideas that you want to share?

Family History Games for Kids

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image from Stacey of The Thrifty Chick blog

I found this great post today via FamilySearch on Geni about fun DIY games to teach kids about their family history. I love these ideas!

Pop on over to Amanda’s post and get all the details. We had a genealogy game growing up. Not sure I can remember the name of it. I bet my mom still has it. You had to build a family pedigree from clues on the cards. I played that game over and over. I’ll have to check on it. I just can’t come up with the name of it now.

Do you created any family history type games that your family enjoys playing?

Laundry Tells Stories

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by abdelrahman dnewar of Mansourah, Egypt on Behance

While I was browsing on Behance today, I came across this collection of photos that tells the stories of families in Egypt through their laundry hanging on the line. I’d never thought of this before. Hanging clothes out on the line isn’t something I see much of in my neighborhood it is fun and inspiring me to open my eyes to the things in our culture and the bits of info, photos and ephemera that tells us stories about our families. Stories are all around us, I’m just not as aware of them as I’d like to be.

Have you noticed any unexpected ways stories are told in the world around you?

another photo from abdelrahman dnewar

 

More on Story Prompts

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Since I’ve been working on my story prompts project (I really am making progress and I should have something to share soon.) I’ve noticed story prompts in more places. In Your Story Coach‘s October newsletter besides listing her own “story sparks” Tami also shared a Tumblr site that shares daily writing prompts. Both of these resources are intriguing and I want to use them in future projects.

What have you used to help get your memory going?

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Big Things From a Tiny Kitchen

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Here is a fun way to share your passion about food with family and friends. The first part of the video talks about making the cook book and the last part how to make her signature dish. Below are previews of her two cookbooks. I love the idea of putting together your own beautiful cookbooks. Food is such an important part of families and our memories of childhood and good times together. These books are great inspiration.