IVOM: By the book

Late last fall Typepad did some kind of massive update that screwed up my blog for a week or so. At first I was annoyed and frantic. Once I calmed down I began to think about what I might do with my unexpected free time.

In December of 2020 I made a 20-page magazine via Blurb.com. "A Christmas Miscellany" contained old family photos, pictures of my holiday decor and three family-related Christmas stories I'd originally written as newspaper columns back when I worked at a daily paper. I gave the book as a Christmas present to my sisters, nieces and nephew and a few close friends.

I was so pleased with my Christmas effort that I stared a 48 page 7" x 7" book called "The White Album." It was going to be white flowers and winter garden shots. 

I abandoned it when I got too busy with other things. Now I looked it up again and decided to finish it. Luckily I found a few notes I'd saved that helped me figure out everything I forgotten in the two years since I last made a book. 

I finished that book and did two others between Oct. 25 and Nov. 17. I did these just for me; a way to remember hundreds of moments in my garden for the day when I am no longer living in the midst of it. 

Back cover of the autumn book. This is also 7" x 7" and runs 152 pages. 

IVOM is the third in this 7" x 7" series of garden books. It is 140 pages. I'm not sure how many more I will do at this size, but I expect at least a couple more to showcase spring and summer in the garden. 

Currently I'm working on a small one about our ducks and a 6" x 9" book on "The Sweet History of my Dining Table." They are very satisfying projects that also include learning a new computer program, taking new photos and finding old photos from the blog that need to be resized. Like any art project it's all about the process.

HOW THIS ALL BEGAN:

Mark had two of his photos selected for a competitive exhibit this past fall. We went to the opening and stayed for the excellent lecture by the judge, Aline Smithson. I was particularly struck when she pointed out that my generation is the last one to have had the experience of shooting film, taking the roll to the local drugstore to get it developed, followed by the thill of picking it up and discovering what we had captured — or didn't.

She also emphasized how technology is constantly changing and there is no guarantee that we will be able to access our images when we want them again. Prints — real, physical prints on paper — are the only archival way to retain our treasured images. 

Mark has done almost 30 books of all different sizes, kinds of paper and subjects. I decided it was time to join him; though I consider mine more like scrapbooks than photographic art publications. They are essentially vanity publications but I am happy with them; knowing that I can look at my house and garden when and wherever I want once my images are committed to paper. 

You can look through my books page by page without buying them if you are curious. Here's a link to see the three I've recently done. Click on the preview link and full-screen. You can also find Mark's books on Blurb.com here. Scroll down to see them all.

Comments

[Kristin]

I am always inspired by your IVOM compositions, and am tempted to buy this lovely book. I will look through the others later so I can savor them. The link for Mark's books didn't take me to them. Not sure if it's a problem on my end, or just not quite the right link. Thanks for sharing your books!

[Linda Brazill]

KRISTIN — Hopefully I fixed Mark's link. Also wanted to mention, the prices on the books are the actual cost. I could have added a profit margin but I am not trying to really sell them or make money. I just did them as memory books for me.

[Barbara H.]

Fascinating and good for you, Linda! I'll have to come back and explore this further (famous last words...) since it's something I've thought I should do to document the changes in my property since I moved here in 2007. And it confirms my belief that there is always a silver lining if we look hard enough.

[Linda Brazill]

BARBARA — Definitely a silver lining! We have made so many changes over the years that it would be fun just to take a particular spot and show them. I am really enjoying making these books. Even though they are pricey, we're not travelling or eating out much these days so I feel like it is money well spent.

[danger garden]

Wow. I remember those days of picking up the developed photos and wondering what you were going to see! I also think about the fact we may not be able to access our images when we want them, this has already happened with music. Thank you for sharing the link to these books, your artistic eye and journalistic background have combined to make something exceptional.

[Cathy]

How glorious your IAVOM book is, Linda - I feel I remember some of the vases featured, or perhaps it is the vases themselves I remember. You have reminded me what it is like to look at them this way, without reading through lots of text as well - it's ages since I have looked at mine but I will look it out tonight! Thanks so much for sharing 😊

[Linda Brazill]

DANGER ​Thanks for those kind words. I don't want to lose all these images which spark the memories. Where would I be without photos of my parents and my sister who just died? So glad for those prints of us growing up.

[Kris P]

These are truly wonderful, Linda, and a great investment of your time. I recently read a news story about how vulnerable digital books (and music) are to being "lost" over time. Your approach is a splendid way to hang on to those images and memories. I'm intrigued.

[Beth@PlantPostings]

How wonderful, Linda! I've had some of the same feelings about electronic files of various sorts. Long story for here, but I agree that it's important to save these special memories in formats that will persevere through time.

[Noelle]

So from the chaos of the computer glitch came this idea for creating something lasting, which will in effect be an heirloom which stands perfectly on its own. Congratulations.

[hb]

You've used your time wisely and creatively. It is inspiring.

[Linda Brazill]

NOELLE — Exactly. It has inspired me to cut back on screen time of the wasting kind.

[Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening]

Oh, I've thought about doing this, too, but with Shutterfly, not Blurb. Nothing against Blurb, just not as familiar with it. I was amazed at how little time it took you to put those books together! Perhaps your images were already more organized than mine are. Mine are in folders by year and month, so to hunt down all the white flowers would take me a long time. Also, I think I am more of a word person than you are. I would name every plant in every photo and include the date it was taken. As a visual feast, that wouldn't look as good, but I did find myself wondering the name of some of your plants. And I'd like to share the one other Blurb book I'm familiar with, which also happens to be a garden book: https://www.blurb.com/b/1321267-roger-de-muth-the-gardens

[Chavli]

I certainly remember film and photo development. Kind of unreal to think of how frivolously we take digital photos with smart phones these days.
Your books are wonderful, IAVOM in particular. I appreciate the Ikebana style of arrangements and you seem to favor them as well: you are excellent in creating artful vases. I wondered about the black and white photo on page 13. A childhood home maybe?

[Linda Brazill]

CHAVLI — Everyone who's seen the book has asked about that photo. It is an historic photo from an exhibition that was being tossed when the exhibit came down. I took it when offered it. It was taken somewhere in Wisconsin but that's all I know about it. It's mounted on stiff stock, so I put it on a bookshelf and popped the vase in front of it for the photo. I love that photo, though it's definitely a one of a kind thing. 
Thanks for the kind words about the book. I am enjoying playing around with different concepts since it's winter here and I can't garden for a couple more months.

[Nell]

So many pictures from your garden have really stayed with me. I wanted the autumn book the second I saw it.

When soaking in images, doing Pin or Insta "reading", I'm often drawn to Japanese and some Chinese gardens (and western gardens with that design). But it's also about the plants: *so* many great plants. And there are a lot of cognates, plants closely related to North American flora.

[Nell]

:: We have made so many changes over the years that it would be fun just to take a particular spot and show them. ::

Pre-ordering this one right now! My favorite sub-genre of garden photography.

[Linda Brazill]

NELL— I tried to find Asian versions of a lot of plants when we first started gardening. Now I am looking for the native originals!​