December 28, 2008

Happy Holidays

This year for Christmas, I gave  my family the gift of heritage.  Over this past year I have scanned thousands and thousands of photos and slides.   My gift to my family was the digitized version of those images.  Talk about heritage and history!  There were images that brought back stories that had long since been forgotten.  There were other images that many had never seen.  It was especially rewarding for me to see the joy in the eyes of those who were looking at those images.   Watching as they remembered and began talking of the stories that went along with them was the greatest gift that I received.

I also had the privilege to help others create their own gifts of heritage this holiday season, which was also a great gift to me.  That is why I love what I do!  and I love sharing that with others.

I would encourage you to take a few minutes this holiday season and write down a few of your traditions and special memories that you have had at this special time of year, and maybe even a few from the past.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Building Heritage, Scanning

Tags: , , ,

July 26, 2008

Are you a “photo keeper” or a “story keeper”?

Did you know that Kodak estimates that in the US alone there are over 2 trillion (yes, that is a T) paper photos. How many of those are yours?

If a picture is worth a thousand words….what are your photos saying?

When I talk to people, a lot of them say that they don’t have a story….no one would want to know about me. The way Heritage Makers started, was with a grand-daughter wanting to interview and make a book of her grandfather. He just thought he was an ordinary grandpa, but he was his grand-daughters hero. If we look back we all could find that we have learned something important from a loved one in our own family. We all have important stories to tell. It is important that we teach our families the values that we find important. So now you can see that we all have stories…

Not only do we have stories but we all have some of those boxes and boxes of old photographs looming in the closet. You know you have some, we all do. We all want to do more with those memories. But, you just don’t know where to start. Or the thought of scanning hundreds of photos seem a bit daunting? Well, You are not alone.

Discovering Your Stories with Heritage Makers has the solution. Not only can you keep your precious memories alive in beautiful unique storybooks, card and other products, but now you can have a digitized backup copy of your precious photos. Anyone that has used a flat bed scanner knows how slow and time consuming the process can be. Now, you can archive all of your photos safely. It is an Insurance policy if you will. 9 out of 10 say that in an emergency they would get their family and then their photos.

I know that there are a lot of people out there, that are the “photo keepers” of their family. When you are the one left with all of the families photos, it is a huge responsibility and sometimes it can feel like a burden. It shouldn’t be, It should be a joy to share the photos and the legacy of stories that they hold.

When you have the only photo of Great Grandma Jones, that can be a lot of responsibility. I have had so many people tell me after having their photos scanned that they feel like a burden has been lifted. By scanning it gives you a way to share those photos with family and friends.

I offer personal scanning that can literally convert your shoeboxes and albums full of pictures into digital photos in just a few hours. Your photos will go from worries to wonders!

As a personal publishing consultant, I am here to help you every step of the way in your heritage making process. I am here to teach you how to take care of all those photos that are sitting in boxes or trapped in your computer. I am also here to help you strengthen your family and build up your childrens self esteem. I want to help you go from just a photo keeper to a story keeper/the heritage maker of your own family.

One of the co- founders of HM said that photos without the stories are memories lost. That is so true. It is mind boggling to think of how much of our heritage are we loosing, because the stories don’t get recorded for the future.

Get started Discovering Your Own Stories!

Leave a Comment

Filed under Building Heritage, Scanning, Story Keeper

Tags: , ,

June 30, 2008

Priceless commodity…our heritage!

Our heritage is a priceless commodity, it is a record of the precious moments in our history that define who we are, where we come from. In our society now days everyone yearns for the sense of belonging that comes from being a part of a family. Too often we let society tell the stories and dictate what values are of importance to us. Most stories that we hear in our society come from the media. News, music, movies, novels. But is the media telling the stories that are important to you and your family. The media and society in general will gladly encourage someone feeling lost, or someone without a sense of belonging. It will offer options of what we should or should not be. But, often times these stories and values are in stark contrast to the values and insights that we find valuable in our own homes. It is no wonder that without the direction and inspiration of a loving family to offer guidance and direction, that those who are lost find that hope elsewhere. By storybooking as a family you’re creating a heritage for your family right now that can show them “What It Means To Be A ________’, so that they don’t become lost. When I take a photo, I am saying “you are special to me”. I want to remember this moment, and everything that went into that special moment. I try to capture all of the thoughts, feelings, sights, sounds and smells that were happening. I don’t want my family to be lost. I want them to know what I believe is important and why it is important to me.

1 Comment

Filed under Building Heritage

Tags: , , ,

June 23, 2008

Building A Heritage Home Of Love

Build a heritage home of love. Become a Heritage Maker, in your own home. Have you ever stopped to think about how valuable your ancestors old photos are? Not only is it a physical link to the past, to your ancestors. But, it is a glimpse into their way of life and surroundings. Although you probably never met these ancestors, they sacrificed a great deal just so that they would not be forgotten. I have heard it said that it cost the equivalent to a full weeks worth of wages to get a portrait taken. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s it would have been a great sacrifice to have just a few photos taken. Can you imagine in our current economy sacrificing that much for a few precious photos? What are you doing to remember your ancestors? What are you doing to remember your own heritage? I have a favorite quote from an unknown author that says, “To the dead dying is not the problem, Being forgotten IS!” Have you already lost precious links to the legacy of your past? Many stories are told verbally from one generation to the next. As the older generations leave this life they take a library of information with them. There is an African proverb that says, “when a man dies, it is as if a library has burned to the ground”. Don’t let your libraries burn. Have you ever wondered what would you grab from your home if you only had 10 minutes to leave? 9 out of 10 people say after their family, it would be their photos. Heritage Makers has a way of safe-guarding your photos, an insurance policy, if you will. Search for the stories that shouldn’t be forgotten. Take action! Do something with your photos. Don’t continue to stockpile and hoard the precious memories that are yours to celebrate. We never know what tomorrow will bring.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Building Heritage, Storybooking

Tags: , ,

June 19, 2008

Scanning Your Boxes of Photos

We all have them. Those boxes and boxes of old photographs looming in the closet. You know you want to do more with those memories, but does the thought of scanning hundreds of photos seem a bit daunting?

Heritage Makers is the solution. Not only can you keep your precious memories alive in beautiful, unique storybooks, cards and other projects, but now you can have all your photos…in a matter of seconds.

Heritage Makers has taken the pain out of scanning!

• Archive all of your photos safely
• Share your favorite pictures with friends and family
• No time spent waiting for slow scanners
• Scanning service done by a professional with less hassle for you
• No worrying if photos will be lost in the mail
• Secure, private, and convenient
• Names you can trust—Heritage Makers and Kodak

You can convert those boxes of photos from worries to wonders…at a fraction of the cost and time.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tags: ,

May 21, 2008

What do you do in the summertime?

As the memorial day weekend approaches, and the kids are doing the last week of school events…it is a clear indication that summertime is here. Although, you would never know it by the crazy weather that we are having. High 80’s one day and then 50 degree weather the next. I look forward to the normal fun things that we do during the summer. We enjoy going to the drive-in movies (on a week night) because there is no school the next morning. Cooking on the grill-so we don’t heat up the house with the stove. We love spending time with our family, Sunday evening dinners at grandma’s with the whole family. When the kids have a sleepovers with the cousins at grandma’s house, meaning I have the night free. The long drives up in the mountains. You can feel the temperature drop and the air get crisper. Now instead of the buzzing of cars, you can hear the buzz of a bee or the chirp of a bird. The sound of the water raging down the river, especially this time of year as the snow is melting and running off the mountain tops. And yes there is still snow at the top of the mountain elevations. I love the combination of the strong scent of pine and the cool mist of a breeze blowing across the river. Gathering around the campfire and roasting a hot dog and marshmellows, more for the experience than for the flavors, for sure. The stories of the fish that got away. It was thiiiiis big, not it was thiiiiiiiiiiis big. With the arms stretching wider and wider with each time the story is told. I guess gathering around the fire and hearing and telling stories, is my favorite thing to do in the summertime.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Summertime Activities

Tags: , , ,

May 19, 2008

Welcome to Discovering Your Stories

Stories have always been important to me. I have always kept journals, photos and souviners to remind me of the memories and stories that have shaped my life. I have always enjoyed hearing stories. I love putting all of my senses to work when I am hearing, watching or telling a story. Disney has always been able to weave an incredible experience. I guess that is one of the reasons that I LOVE Disney! Growing up I loved Sunday evening because we would watch “Wonderful World of Disney” together. Now I love learning about my ancestors, and the experiences that they had to endure. We always think we are going to have more time, time to get all of our stories recorded in some form or fashion. Life gets crazy and then our intentions loose there way. Unfortunately, some of the stories of my ancestors were not recorded, because I always thought there would be more time. I have a lot of questions that I would ask, if I had the chance. Don’t let time slip away from you. This web site/blog is help you get inspired and help you to discover the stories you have yet to create or maybe you have forgotten some of those stories, and you re-discover them. I would love to help you get started!!! – Discovering, Preserving and Celebrating! The stories in your life.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Story Ideas