First thing to do, it to take a tour of your home, what have you found? Hopefully, if you are looking with scrappers eyes you will find enough in one room to keep you busy for a while! Ask your family too, I was surprised when my daughter told me she had not a clue about the beautiful embroidered samplers we have hanging in our entrance hall. I had assumed that she knew all about them…………… see what I mean?

This kind of project starts with research - get yourself a notebook, maybe devote a page to each item, and here, jot down answers to questions you can ask yourself, others family members, the original owner. You won’t have it all at once, but don’t panic, just get started, and build up the information gradually as you uncover it.

Hopefully you are excited to get started, so start out with the things you do know the answers to, things like -
Special things you have bought – when did you buy, why did you buy, what made it special enough for you to spend the money? Gifts you have been given – who gave it to you? Was it for a special occasion? Keep remembering – you know the story, but do your family, your friends know……..
A few ideas -

• Perhaps it’s a collection – gosh! you could do an entire album on a collection…….
• Travel souvenirs – all those things you bring back from a trip – when was the trip, where did you go to
• Jewellery with a special meaning – engagement, 21st gifts, wedding presents
• Clothing with a special significance – maybe your wedding dress, first communion, christening robe, baby clothes – with these, lovely to use a photo of the occasion when it was worn.
• Your own children’s babyhood items – plates, mugs, shoes

Once you have exhausted all these ideas its time to move on to those which probably take more research - inherited things – a few thoughts to help fill your page with information -

• From which side of the family did they come?
• Who originally owned it?
• Has it been passed through generations?
• Did they buy new? Secondhand….. Was it a gift? Hopefully, by asking questions you will start to unravel the story.

If it is an antique, or really old item, try to find out a bit about the history – where it was made, what its present value is, any facts make it interesting. For this kind of research a local antique dealer would probably be willing to help, try internet searches.

Once you have a collection together set yourself up to photograph them - a few thoughts:

• Good natural light, next to a window is often a good spop, you want to AVOID using a flash.
• Plainish fabrics work best as a backdrop, you don’t want patterns!
• Use a tripod, avoid the shakes.
• Use macro or super macro focus if you have, particularly for smaller items.
• A hint I found for jewellery or other small shiny objects - I have NOT tried but sounds good:
• Take a gallon plastic milk bottle and cut the bottom out of it. Then, enlarge the top where the cap is to allow your camera lens to snuggly fit through. Use a dark piece of black velvet or similar and put the milk jug over the jewellery (say a ring, for example), and stick your camera lens in on the top. The milk bottle holds your camera in place like a tripod would...then just focus and shoot. I think it helps soften the glare that gold or silver or any kind of stone would reflect and results in a sharper photo.

Once you have your photos, I would put them into a folder named “special things” or something equally explanatory and you are ready to begin!

I have a kit called “Special Things” which works very well for pages like this. I also have an Instant Album – Special Things Instant Album, but of course any kit you have or fancy in the store could be used equally well.

Good luck with your album, I look forward to seeing and enjoying many of your special things!

Meryl

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© Meryl Bartho July, 2006