Creating a Treasure Trove of Happy Memories
This is a lesson from Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project, and I’m finally making a dedicated effort at creating a treasure trove of happy memories in my home. Getting back from Asheboro this weekend has really lit a fire in my heart to see more happy memories and tap into all the good times we’ve had together.
So where can I start? I wanted a way to hang James’s artwork and photos of all of us in select places in the house and be able to switch things out easily. During the remodel of James’s room, I began researching magnetic paint and after a lot of reading, I decided it would be easiest just to buy thin magnetic panels and screw them to the wall. So James’s room now has a feature spot for all his artwork:
Also the space heading downstairs has always been an ideal spot to hang pictures and messages so I installed 12 inch strips here too.
Unfortunately I’m good at buying the stuff to go on the wall, but not so good at actually sticking artwork and photos up on it. Josh stepped in and pinned up these photos of all of us with our late dog Jinjo.
But I did get my act together with this flip IKEA frame. That photo on top is our wide grins after getting engaged. A very happy memory indeed!
It’s funny how just seeing this photo will make me smile. I have so many memories like this that just make me swell up with gratitude and joy, but they so easily get missed or forgotten if I’m not reminded often. So I’m off to grab my measuring tape and see what other places in the house can be filled with good memories.
All this photo play is making me think of memory quilts and printing or transferring photos directly to fabric. Have you ever done this? Was it a fun project and did the finished quilt meet your expectations? I’m curious so I have a feeling a memory quilt is in my future!
Let’s go quilt,
Leah
I haven't loved my results doing photo transfers for quilts, although I hear it has improved lately. I saw a fabulous quilt at a show recently where the person got their photos printed onto fabric by spoonflower, and I think I might try that if I can figure out how to set up the file to send to them.
I have been using Spoonflower to transfer photos and other images to fabric for some time. One of my quilts that went to Houston was started in that way. In addition to photos, you could transfer James' artwork to fabric by creating a digital image of it via a scanner or, taking a photo of it. One of my friends crates a memory quilt for her grandson's teacher by having the kids all color the same image on good paper (the good paper is to get more texture) and then I get it ready for Spoonflower for her. The result is ends up being a fabulous wholecloth quilt.
Keep on with your Happiness Project, It radiates out like a beacon with everyone else that is made happy by it, like me.
I haven't used photo transfer, but I started blogging about memory quilts a while ago. It's an on-going and slow process.
It would be fun for you to incorporate some of the fabric from those shirts you were wearing in the picture!!
My blog isn't as organized as yours, but this is the first memory post if you are interested: http://chunkyboy.com/fireballquilts/2012/10/you-can-make-a-memory-quilt/
I made 4 small memory quilts last year for my kids of their dad and grandma who had passed away the year before. I thought they turned out quite nice, does use a lot of printer ink. Pictures were easy to print once you got them cropped the way you wanted.
I have made two memory quilts with pictures printed on fabric on my HP printer. Both of them turned out great. I agree it does take lot of ink, but I really liked the outcome.