Collecting Photos
for Custom Photo Memory Quilts

Customers periodically ask for help in selecting photos for their custom photo memory quilts.

My first suggestion is to pick photos that tell a story without any written explanation.

The photo example is my favorite photo of my brothers when they were young. The photo is the epitome of their personalities, even now as adults, and no further explanation is necessary.
 

Photos Can Be Mixed

Photos in custom quilts and other home decor items can be both black and white as well as color.

The challenge is to pick enough so they suggest a geometric design.

For example, if you have a black and white photo in one corner, add three more black and white photos in each of the remaining corners.
 

Orient Photos At Quilt Edges

The other challenge in picking photos for custom quilts and gifts is making sure photos are placed so they are correctly oriented.
 

Select photos that face both left and right.

For every photo facing one way, select another photo in the opposite direction to make sure you have an equal number of photos.
 

Single Photos v. Photo Collages

You can get more photos on a custom quilt by making photo collages.

You can put as few or as many photos as you want in those collages.

If you want to bring attention to a certain photo, I recommend putting the photo in a quilt block all by itself.

Center photo blocks are good places to put a single photo. If you're using one center photo, consider selecting single photos for corner blocks, too.
 

Start With Your Every Day Collection

We all have what I call "every day" photo collections; photos tucked away on refrigerators, books, bulletin boards, in electronic photo frames and on electronic devices as screen savers.

When gathering photos for your custom quilts and other personalized projects, start with those collections.

There is a good reason you have those photos in your every day life. The memories, and moments, those photos represent deserve to be shared and preserved.

Smile, Everyone!

                                                             Charlotte