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And no, I’m not talking today’s economy…I’m talking Great Depression.

This is the work of a man who made it through the Great Depression with imagination, pen, paper, a fancy camera, and a whole lot of gumption.

I heard this story last week from Bob, who is working on his family history book with me.

Bob’s father’s garment business was liquidated during the Great Depression. He needed another way to make money, so he started to draw. And it turns out he was GOOD at it. He illustrated these children’s books and pitched them to publishers…and got some published!

And then he somehow acquired a camera with the fastest shutter speed at that time. He started taking "rapid sequence" images like these.

Then he used the camera to photograph some dogs and wrote a children's book to go with it. Since he wasn't known, publishers rejected his manuscript. But since he needed the money, he found a known author who agreed to put his name on the book for 50% of the proceeds, and lo and behold it got published!

And when all was said and done and the Depression was over? He donated the camera to the Smithsonian where you can see it today.

I am one of the 4,121,135 people (and counting) who has viewed Randy Paush’s Last Lecture. I finally watched it last night, after hearing he passed away yesterday from pancreatic cancer.

What a remarkable, inspiring man. And what a remarkable legacy he left his 3 children. His lecture and book, though viewed and read by millions, were really just for his kids.

As he said on his blog of his book, “they’re about to have two million copies in print, but all I cared about was the first 3 copies.”

If you’re seeking perspective and inspiration, watch his lecture.

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This morning I’m working on my first wedding book. And hatching all sorts of plans while I work. I’ve decided it’s time. With a little encouragement & lots of great ideas from the lovely ladies over at Junebug, I will soon introduce some great wedding book ideas.

Feel free to send me any ideas of your own, or let me know if you’d like to be an early adopter and make a book I can use as an example when I launch!

Here’s a sweet little pattern I’m using for today’s book. More to come.

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Happy summer solstice tomorrow!

p.s. this photo is from a memoir in progress…couldn’t resist that cute little white ruffly swimsuit.

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I’m sitting here working on a 40th birthday book that is really a book celebrating a marriage and family. I love how it’s coming together, mainly because the inspiration for the book title and theme is Better Together – a Jack Johnson song this couple loves, and so do I.

So, being a music lover I will share another song I think would make the perfect anniversary book theme: This is Us, by Emmy Lou Harris and Mark Knopfler. I think you could title the book This is Us, and then show the different “chapters” of a couple’s life together. It would be especially meaningful for a couple that has been together a while.

Also, for those of you approaching your first anniversary (like me) who still haven’t put a wedding book together (yes, like me!) the first anniversary gift is supposed to be paper…a perfect book opportunity!

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I love this handmade book I found on Flickr, by Spills Her Coffee. I couldn’t agree more. Coffee and ideas totally go together.

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