Thursday, September 01, 2011

a very special launch and a giveaway


Today is a very special day.
I have been keeping a bit of a secret, and trust me that is no easy task for me. I get so excited I just want to blurt things out. Today I can finally share my big news. I was asked to be part of a brand new project, Everyday Storytellers at Paper Coterie. I am honored to be one of six inspiring women "storytellers". We will be celebrating the beauty in the everyday, the extra in the ordinary, through our own photos and words, and sharing it all there in hopes of inspiring others.

So much is to be said about photographing your everyday. Documenting the imperfections, the hard days, the sick days, the celebrations and defeats, the "little big things" as I like to call them. Life can be crazy, a whole lot messy, but assuredly beautiful. I believe there is grace and beauty in it all. It is why I choose to pick up my camera everyday, it is why I write here. To be fully present, to document and celebrate life, all of it.
"Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed.
I was here... I was hungry. I was defeated. I was happy. I was sad.
I had an idea and I had a good purpose and that is why I made works of art."

- Felix Gonzalez-Torres

Two beautiful ladies, Maegan of MadelineBea Photography and Tammy of Bliss and Folly, kick off the site as today's storytellers. Continue to click on over for new stories from different storytellers each week. I am honored to be part of this project. It is so very kindred to why I fell in love with photography and why I continue to shoot, write and share everyday.

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As part of this exciting launch I am thrilled to be offering a very special giveaway to one lucky commenter here.You will win $50.00 (!!!!!) to use on a product of your choosing at Paper Coterie. Personalized pieces such as memory books, calendars, and recipe books, are just a few of the items you can create. To enter, click on over to their shop and take a look around. Come back here and tell me what beauty you find in your everyday and which item you would love to create. I will announce the winner here on Monday morning. Good luck! xo.

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have to say those "swatchbooks" are very tempting! I could get ever Christmas gift done easily with those :) Congratulations on joining the PC team. I'm looking forward to learning from all of you talented storytellers.

Erika said...

Yeah!! Those journals are pretty sweet. Beauty in my everyday are the threads from a new quilt that cling to my PJs.

kate said...

wow, what an exciting new adventure! i am so happy for you...and would be equally as happy with one of those desktop calendars. because, maybe then i would have a smidge more hope at keeping things in order!

jodi said...

congratulations! how wonderful and well deserved.

and such a great giveaway! i'm kind of in love with the ABC books. what a fun project taht would be to work on.

lynnquiltsalot said...

Congrats on the new adventure with PC. I think the memory boxes and the swatchbooks are my favorites. Since doing Project Life for the last three years, I've found that the everyday photos that I'm taking are turning out to be pretty special and I love that!

Tammy Lee Bradley said...

Oh Oh, Pick me. :) All their products are gorgeous. So proud to be a part of this with you and the others. xo tam

Shan@FamilyBringsJoy said...

Love it all! Fingers crossed, hope I win! Have a wonderful Thursday!

Molly said...

so exciting kristin! congratulations on your new venture! can't wait to read everyday stories. and as for the shop, the recipe book be perfect to house our family recipes. (and how funny that the word verification i'm about to type in to leave my comment is "ovens".)

Reen said...

KZecch! I am so proud of you and so very thrilled for you. Not the least bit surprised they sought you out. I know you will continue to shine through your fabulous photography and beautiful writing. Best wishes in your newest endeavor. Congratulations!

Kimberly June said...

Congrats! How very exciting for you.

Laura Yurs said...

Congratulations!!! So happy for you!! And so looking forward to following the blog!! I'm smitten with the "Prompt Me" books...how fun!! xo

Chelsea said...
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Chelsea said...

So exciting...congrats!!! I love their products and can't wait to see what you lovely women do! I love the memory keepers boxes. I actually just ordered a few journals last night and can't wait to receive them.

Diane Grenkow said...

Congratulations!!!! And great stuff! Yay!!

Amy @ Lucky Number 13 said...

so exciting for you and i know it is going to be awesome with all of you amazing ladies involved!

Adrienne said...

I love this idea! I'm inspired! Paper Coterie has beautiful products and I can't wait to explore their products more!

Team Sass said...

Holy Smokes! So much good stuff! How did I not know about this website?

My everyday beauty is found when the light hits the CSA tomatoes just so as they sit nestled in a bowl on the table, or that moment during the day that is too fleeting to capture with a camera, and you wish you could just blink your eyes and take the photo.

With baby boy due soon, I would love to make a baby book with the "Our Boy And The Little Elephant" or create some swatch books for the grandparents. So many great ideas to choose from!

p.s. Congrats to you, and good job keeping it a secret!

The Three of Us said...

Having 2 small children (ages 1 1/2and 3) they give me so much material to work with! Every day is a new adventue, something funny happens, they say something cute, etc so easy to find lots of beauty through the eyes of children. I would love to make a Hopes & Dreams book for them....what a great treasure for them for years to come! Thanks for being part of such a great team and looking forward to reading your stories!
Tammy R

Fun Mama - Deanna said...

I love their photobooks! I love capturing every day moments with my 4 year old daughter.

nq said...
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amy said...

so happy for you kristin - that others are recognizing your wonderful ability to see beauty in the small details of life. and what a lovely site - i think i'd have a hard time deciding what to buy but i'd probably go for the growth chart. during the recent days of having no power (thanks hurricane irene) i've spent hours sifting through the boys' outgrown clothing. sometimes it seems as if they've only had a chance to wear something once before they get too big to squeeze into it. of course this is a sign of healthy growing kids but there's a bittersweet feeling to it. they get big so fast—you know this. so a growth chart—seems a lovely way to keep track of the inches.

blue elephant photography said...

congrats to you ladies!

blissmamaof3 said...

great job on your inaugural post! I've enjoyed your work on Shutter Sisters and am so happy so see you at PC as well. I made 2 picture summer books last month based on Tracey Clark's class. I think I'd like to do the sisters and brothers books for my children. Best of luck in your new writing adventure!!

Jill said...

Congrats, Kristin! I love their "Prompt Me" book and the calendars make me swoon a little bit. My beauty these days? Seeing a new crop of smiling students, especially when I get their last name right :) Can't wait to read your posts!

kristen said...

congratulations momma! i never win, but i'll enter none the less. :)

Sylvia @ From The Heart said...

The beauty I love finding is the unexpected little surprises of kindness.

I loved the Memory Book! I would create a memory book for my sister who got married a year ago. I took a gizillion photos and I never got around to even printing them for her. A memory book would make such a wonderful gift.

keli [at] kidnapped by suburbia said...

congratulations!!!! such an amazing project!

Unknown said...

Congratulations on this wonderful opportunity! How wonderful!

After my mom died last year, I began to heal when I started seeing the beauty in all the ordinary things that are around me everyday. In a way, my eyes were opened to a whole new world that was always right in front of me. This experience birthed my blog and an entirely new life.

I love the prompt me books!

ally said...
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ally said...

Gorgeous project to be involved with.
Love the swatch books and the prompt me books too.
I'm into lots of the everyday miracles that happen around here - the garden, my sons learning, the cooking expeditions, the books we read, the magic corners of our home

Phyllis said...

The swatchbooks look fun. The beauty in my everyday is my early morning walk, enjoying the differences everyday.

Unknown said...

Congratulations on the new gig! It looks like a wonderful project.

Robin T said...

I have already made several journals and an ABC book (which made my mother cry big fat happy proud grandma tears) - LOVE PC!!

Amy Perry said...

I would love to make a calendar for next year actually, and a book of the first year of my son for my mom.

Papillon Sky said...

I love spying on my children playing together, and even lost in their own worlds as they play or craft by themselves. Today I took a picture of my daughter through her window. She was inside drawing in her room and the light was hitting her beautifully. I would love one of those memory boxes to put all of my favorite letters, etc from my grandma, who passed away in June.

Marvett Smith said...

How exciting! I hope to someday do something like this. You are so inspiring!

jordan said...

Congrats and how exciting!!!! There are so many awesome products in the shop. I think I would choose a growth chart for the bun in the oven:)
Thanks for a great giveaway!

DebbieInGeorgia said...

the site ,the story,the excitment,dunno how you kept it a secret. it all looks so wonderful and the sense of community this all brings really warms my heart

xo

peggy gatto said...

Prompt Me!!!
I love creating and this fits the bill!!
I found you thru shuttersisters and posted to their flicker group site for 1 rd adventure!!!ow

Kathy said...

Congratulations on your new adventure. The journals look wonderful, but then so does everything else. This is my favorite time of the year and I love watching the slow beauty of the change of seasons.

Joy said...

Congratulations on being selected. Paper Coterie is a new site to me and I love their unique products. I love the concept of Everyday Storytellers - and I can see why those chose you. The site gives me inspiration to take pictures on a daily basis.
If I was to win I would love a book to document all the wonderful things my kids say - such as mom, where is the ear picker? (His word for Q-tip).
I am also excited to be able to follow such wonderful blog writers that share some of the same intersts as me - documenting everyday moments.

Life in Eden said...

oh yeah, those little swatchbooks look so fun!

So happy for your new endeavor, you will be amazing.