Yeehaw! All of our website products are now also available on our etsy store. Click on over to visit us there and to see some sneak previews of new products (one is shown below.)
Genealogical Forum of Oregon
We Love Old Books
Molly and I stumbled upon a Genealogy Library during our visit to Pushdot Studios last week. We were given a tour by one of the volunteers, and saw shelves of wonderful old books -- real estate records, marriage records, yearbooks, family histories. The library (in the Ford Building) is open to everybody, and offers classes in researching your own genealogy, as well as computers and helpful volunteers to guide you.
Studio Olivine Visit!
New Location for Studio Olivine
I walked over to visit Julie of Studio Olivine recently to see her new space at SE 7th and Morrison and take a few photos. (Visiting Southeast Portland work neighbors makes me feel very "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.") Below you will see: the lovely lady of the presses, Emma the studio cat, a plant, a wombat, a platypus, a cutter, and background cans of ink and a tiny press. We love you, Julie!
Guest Books with Blank Pages
Blank Pages in Guest Books = Creative Guests!
Here at HSS we're big fans of guest books with blank pages. Lines are confining, and usually result in guests signing only their name and address. (Bo-ring!) We find that when guests are faced with a blank page, they often rise to the occasion, writing heartfelt notes and even drawing pictures. Here's a peek inside a full wedding guest book with blank pages:
Warm wishes, funny greetings, and kid drawings. What could be better?
Take a look at other custom guest books here.
photo album care
Storing and caring for photo albums
You have a beautiful photo album. It was made by hand using archival materials and time-tested techniques. It is full of high quality prints that are mounted using archival adhesive. You have a priceless object that can last for centuries! Now how are you going to keep it in good shape? Follow our suggestions, and you'll be well on your way.
Photo Album Care and Storage
Do:
- Keep your album in a cool, dry place, ideally no warmer than 70 degrees F.
- If possible store your book flat with nothing on top of it.
- If you're storing your album vertically, give it enough space so that it doesn't become warped by surrounding books.
- Consider investing in a slipcase or a clamshell box to protect your album.
- Wash your hands before leafing through your book.
- Pull your album off the shelf by grasping the spine.
- Always support the covers when your book is open.
- If you choose to write notes in the margins, do so with an acid-free pen.
Don't:
- Don't store your books in a damp basement, molds and mildews ruin pages and photos! (30% - 50% humidity is ideal)
- Avoid spills. Don't look at your book with a glass of wine in one hand and a burpy baby in the other.
- Keep your album out of direct sunlight, covers can fade.
- Don't let your cat sleep on the album.
- Don't touch the photos, finger prints are difficult to remove.
Ultimately, books are made for us to use and enjoy. Their primary function is to protect what lies within. A little wear and tear shows love and adds history and personality to the book.
Click here for info on older album types and how they preserved (or destroyed) photos. Or learn how to treat spills on book pages.