Family History 🏠 at Home

About a month ago I was invited by my friend, Wendy to participate in an Instagram Live chat, where I showed viewers a few of the places in our home where I am creating greater access to our family history.

The link to the Instagram interview is no longer available, but …

I’ve received several questions about this interview and therefore thought it might be FUN to highlight one corner in particular that I’ve been curating for 3+ years. I sometimes call it this our “places” corner, because many (not all) of the things stored and displayed here document family history through the lens of places. My initial purpose however in changing out a “homework table” that used to be in this corner—for a reading chair, cabinet and crate shelves—was to create a collection of more interactive or at least easy-access projects that will appeal to children (think grandchildren 😊)

Let’s highlight a few aspects of this corner …

🌳❤️ Vintage maps: I found maps circa 1970-ish for both Seattle and Denver—where Geoff and I grew up and then had them framed.

🌳❤️Ancestry by place: I LOVE the company/website I-Chart-You where you can easily create a super-cool 4 or 5 generation pedigree laid out in a circle!

With this particular chart, I’ve noted (rather than names) the places where ancestors came from.

There are dozens of color combinations to choose from—even a metallic gold. You simply purchase your preferred design and then (via email instructions) input your names—or in this case locations—in a day or two you receive a completed PDF chart for printing and framing.

🌳❤️Block puzzle: So this is a project I created years ago after my parents built their dream home on a small lake in Western Washington. I started with 6 square photos 8x8 in size of scenes in and around their home and then used a wood box (similar to this one) filled with 25, 1 1/2” wood cubes to craft a block puzzle. I (carefully) measured and then measured again my photos—then cut them up into smaller squares that I adhered to the sides of each block, using decoupage. Since each cube has six sides, there are now SIX puzzles to assemble inside! I painted the outside of the box and decorated the lid.

NOTE: I’ve linked on Amazon to products similar to those I used. The box I’ve linked to is listed as the same size as the one I used—the blocks too, but I cannot guarantee that they fit snuggly inside.
A general craft store—like Hobby Lobby or Michaels will have an aisle of wood-crafting supplies like these!

🌳❤️Toy jar: You can learn more about what I call my “Mama’s Jar of Toy Stories” here and here.

In my cabinet, I currently have on display a wire basket chock full of Story Starter mini books. These are from my Story by Stacy line with Close To My Heart and I’ve blogged many times about these awesome little books and the kit that makes them possible. Here’s one about a place.

I also have two of my Library of Memories PLACES albums—the brown ones pictured here. These albums are 8 1/2 x 11 Modern albums from American Crafts. Sadly, I don’t think there are available anymore.

On the middle shelf I store most of our collection of Chatbooks, and a tin of old-fashioned candy sticks that you’ll see in my IGTV with Wendy. You’ll also see an old lock and keys and a pint jar with wheat and a small stuffed mouse—I love creating evidence of family stories in the form of trinkets—I view these invitations to remember and share stories.

Currently on the bottom shelf is our collection of favorite children’s books.

There is definitely more I could write about and highlight—future blog posts 😀—but this is at least an introduction to some very doable ways you can bring your family history to life in your home. I will add that doing so absolutely invites a grounding spirit of the generational framework that family is and the strength it can be in our lives.

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JUST SO YOU KNOW: At Big Picture Classes I teach a class that will help you begin to compile (with pictures) four generations of your family history. I LOVE to simplify things that might otherwise trick you into believing they are overwhelming or out of reach to you.

You’ll be surprised what you can accomplish with a few of the photos you have collected or been given.