Live Your Story with Stacy Julian

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Family History šŸ  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 ā€¦

Iā€™ve received several questions about this interview and therefore thought it might be FUN to highlight one corner in particular that Iā€™ve been curating for 3+ years. I sometimes call it this our ā€œplacesā€ 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 ā€œhomework tableā€ that used to be in this cornerā€”for a reading chair, cabinet and crate shelvesā€”was to create a collection of more interactive or at least easy-access projects that will appeal to children (think grandchildren šŸ˜Š)

Letā€™s highlight a few aspects of this corner ā€¦

šŸŒ³ā¤ļø Vintage maps: I found maps circa 1970-ish for both Seattle and Denverā€”where Geoff and I grew up and then had them framed.

šŸŒ³ā¤ļø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, Iā€™ve noted (rather than names) the places where ancestors came from.

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


šŸŒ³ā¤ļø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 1/2ā€ wood cubes to craft a block puzzle. I (carefully) measured and then measured again my photosā€”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: Iā€™ve linked on Amazon to products similar to those I used. The box Iā€™ve linked to is listed as the same size as the one I usedā€”the blocks too, but I cannot guarantee that they fit snuggly inside.
A general craft storeā€”like Hobby Lobby or Michaels will have an aisle of wood-crafting supplies like these!


šŸŒ³ā¤ļøToy jar: You can learn more about what I call my ā€œMamaā€™s Jar of Toy Storiesā€ 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 Iā€™ve blogged many times about these awesome little books and the kit that makes them possible. Hereā€™s one about a place.

I also have two of my Library of Memories PLACES albumsā€”the brown ones pictured here. These albums are 8 1/2 x 11 Modern albums from American Crafts. Sadly, I donā€™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 youā€™ll see in my IGTV with Wendy. Youā€™ll also see an old lock and keys and a pint jar with wheat and a small stuffed mouseā€”I love creating evidence of family stories in the form of trinketsā€”I view these invitations to remember and share stories.

Currently on the bottom shelf is our collection of favorite childrenā€™s books.

There is definitely more I could write about and highlightā€”future blog posts šŸ˜€ā€”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.


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.

Youā€™ll be surprised what you can accomplish with a few of the photos you have collected or been given.