Okay, I'm going to do a sort of work in progress - tracking my process to create a kindergarten memory book for my daughter this year. School has just begun and I am neck deep in other graphic design projects (which I'll be showing here soon.) So the first step (and only step to do right now) is keep everything organized and together.
Step 1: get a box.
This one is just right. It is 8.5 x 11, from a recent Amazon order. In it I will place all of her little projects and writing samples that come home, a notebook and pen.
I want to jot down Joanie's observations from time to time. These are to be her memories, not mine. I want to capture the great little things she says. She always has some good ones. For example, the very first day she came home all charged up, telling me about the butterfly box (a reward system her teacher implemented for reading at home). Leaving those things in the box, instead of just my moleskine in my purse helps me stay organized.
Right now I'm considering a 6" x 11" format with a 1/2" spine, folded from a scored and folded cardstock (or manilla folder) cover. The cover will conceal a wire-bound spine beneath. Pages would be different widths, and various materials, with touches of colored pencil accents throughout. I like the idea of repeating a medium that she uses in class. That's the current thinking. Two other great ideas that I've seen lately are Lisa McGarvey's and Noell Hyman's interpretations. There are aspects of both of these books that I love.
This format might change as I turn it over in my mind and talk about binding options with the local kinkos. This may well be the only post in this category until after January as I don't plan to work on this again until after the new year. Just containing those papers and notes is all that needs to be done until then.
