the accordion fold book: a place to hold memories November 23 2024
staying present, paying attention, and tending to memories feels elusive to me in this digital age.
i crave small, tangible ways to remember. i made this accordion fold book and it is the perfect little container to satisfy me. fill it with photos, sketches, watercolor paintings, a story, or mementos. the outcome is an inviting compilation of memories tied up with a bow. i turned this project into a DIY kit so you can also make one. it is the perfect gift to assemble for someone, for yourself, to put out on display, and to give to a crafty person so they can make their own.
when i made the commitment to start printing my photographs, i started a new hobby that requires a level of engagement that i think we collectively miss. the joy of spending the time compiling and sorting and touching and crafting will invite you to revisit the memories. the result is something that you will want to look at and share with others over and over again.
as i dove deeper into this project, i began to consider how else we collect, hold, and save our memories outside of photographs and words. i like to think about this before i go traveling, and i am trying to be more mindful at home. i like the kind of paying attention required to stay present and create a tangible memory. during a camping trip this summer after our small backyard wedding ceremony (married after 20 years!), i filled a small flower press that my husband made with alpine wildflowers. making an accordion book, embroidering the cover with a bouquet, and filling the pages with dried flowers is a perfect keepsake from our special trip.
the accordion book DIY kit makes one 4.5 x 4.5” book that is 12 pages long. if you utilize the front and back sides, there are 22 spaces total for photos, sketches, and/or mementos. 4” square photos fit perfectly on the pages. it is available in 11 colors of plant-dyed organic cotton/muslin and includes:
• (4) 4.5 x 21” strips of off-white 90# art paper
• (2) 5.5 x 5.5” squares of plant-dyed organic cotton muslin
• (1) 36” strand of 1” wide tea-dyed silk ribbon
• glue stick, embroidery floss, and hand sewing needle
• full page of stitch inspiration for the cover
• detailed instruction booklet with color photos
once you learn the method, the possibilities are endless. you can make modifications based on the paper you have access to and/or the book size you plan to make. it is easy to add more pages for a thicker book or use larger paper for a bigger book. i love to make tiny books out of a single sheet of 8.5 x 11” cardstock. i am currently making one filled with tiny stitchings.
i have holiday gifting on my mind and i imagine you do, too. you can find lots of ideas and inspiration for handmade gifts in my collection of over 50 free sewing tutorials. happy stitching!
PS: since you made it to the end of this ridiculously long newsletter, you are rewarded with this slightly embarrassing photo of me and myra. i swear she likes it.
