Storytelling With InterPlay and VoiceQuilt

By Hope Flammer - February 21, 2012 - No Comments

Interplay Helps Seminar Participants Craft and Share Their Stories

Cynthia Winton-Henry is an accomplished author and former Adjunct Faculty member at the Pacific School of Religion. She’s also the co-founder of the Interplay Practice – a series of classes, seminars and events designed to help groups and individuals express creativity – primarily through play and other forms of artistic expression.

I learned about Cynthia because she created a VoiceQuilt called the “Sacred Stories Project” last fall. We were intrigued by the VoiceQuilt name as well as the instructions posted on Facebook.

“…How do we listen to the mundane or magical moments that have increased, challenged or inspired our ability to love! That’s what I call sacred!”

When I spoke with Cynthia last week, she shared that seminar participants learn how to craft brief but deeply meaningful stories from their lives.  One exercise she uses is ”’3 sentence stories”.  She asks participants to share anything from the mundane to the powerful, asking them ” to turn attention to moments that move, encourage or surprise them”.

Example: ”I went to Minnesota to teach this weekend. The weather was mild and people didn’t know whether to be happy or worried that there was no snow on the ground. I guess I bought those snow boots for some other trip!”  

According to Cynthia, the structure is as follows: “ The first sentence gets you going. The next one fills in a little more detail. The last sentence is where you stop. No finale needed!”  During the seminar, participants usually find at least one “keeper story”.  They share it with the group.  They are also invited to record it on the Sacred Stories Project Voice Quilt. 

Cynthia believes, “Many of these stories are asking to be told to the larger community. Over time, these stories develop into a body of wisdom that should be shared.”

We are proud of Cynthia’s work and delighted to help with her storytelling efforts. Need a creative break?  Check out the voice message story titled “God’s Breath” here or Interplay’s Facebook page here.

Making And Enjoying VoiceQuilts On Tablets and Mobile Devices

By Hope Flammer - February 17, 2012 - No Comments

We’ve been hard at work on a new web site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One goal is making our site easier to navigate with a mobile device.  At VoiceQuilt, we’ve always prided ourselves on being easy to use .  Anyone, anywhere in the world can call in (or Skype) a VoiceQuilt message; the average VoiceQuilt includes toddlers and seniors.  Now, our goal is to make our service easy to use — on the go — via a phone or tablet device.

We’re also hoping to showcase VoiceQuilt’s electronic deliverables a bit more.   We’d like our gift givers to know they have a wide range of choices:  Keepsake box gifts, CDs, Flash Drives –  or  FREE electronic deliverables.   (Roughly 10% of VoiceQuilt gift givers are now using the VoiceQuilt mp3 as the soundtrack for a photo montage or video!)

Please stay tuned!

A Romantic Wedding Photo Can Unlock Family Stories

By Ann - February 14, 2012 - No Comments


“We were two and had but one heart.”  — Francois Villon

A simple wedding photo is a powerful trigger for sharing memories: stories about how a couple met, courted and married.  Do you have an old wedding photo in a family album?  Today would be to the perfect day to ask Mom, Dad or any other family member about the details.  How did the couple meet?  What were their first impressions of one another?  Where did they go on their honeymoon?

Even if the people in the picture have passed away, another generation will know the details of a “Great Love Story”.

There’s no need to search for romance in novels.  I’m sure your family album holds some wonderful love stories.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

P.S.  Photo courtesy of Maureen Taylor, internationally recognized photo identification and family history expert.

P.P.S  Family stories help us define who were are.  Be sure to check out the interview questions at the bottom of this page if your family member needs a more structured approach to sharing family stories.

 

We’re Inspired By Operation: Care and Comfort

By Hope Flammer - February 11, 2012 - No Comments

Operation: Care and Comfort - A Military Nonprofit

Last week, Carolyn Dole at the National Charity League, Inc. (NCL), introduced me to Julie DeMaria of Operation: Care and Comfort (OCC). Julie and I spoke briefly about the OCC’s programs. I was so impressed!

Operation: Care and Comfort’s mission is to provide comfort to adopted units of U.S. troops while they are deployed. Thanks to the OCC, thousands of care packages and thank-you letters have been delivered to military personnel in combat zones since 2003. Groups like the National Charity League, Inc. work with the OCC to deliver entertainment bags and thank-you messages; corporations like Old Navy work with OCC to deliver donated clothing to the troops.

The OCC is a non-profit, all volunteer organization that virtually all of its funding on postage – delivering monthly care packages to troops using the U.S. postal service. They also have programs in the Bay Area that support military families while a loved one is deployed.

Tickets for Troops makes it easy for professional sports teams to show their appreciation to military families by giving them tickets to games.

Adopt A Military Family enables individuals, organizations and companies to anonymously “adopt” a military family throughout the year.

In short, Operation Care and Comfort makes it easy for people like you and me to support military personnel and families during deployment. Check out their web site here.

Homemade Valentine’s Day Gifts You Can Make With The Kids

By Hope Flammer - February 9, 2012 - No Comments

Want to make someone feel special this Valentine’s Day?  Chocolates are a lovely; flowers are elegant.  However, a homemade gift created by the kids will warm the heart and last for years to come.   Nancy, our crafting friend, has some terrific suggestions.

If you have young children, check out these do-it-yourself wonders for Valentine’s Day.

  •  Thumbprint cards  All you need is card stock and a washable red ink pad!  It’s really that simple.  Once you have cut the card stock to whatever size you would like it to be, have your child place his thumb in the ink and then place the thumb on the card stock twice, making little heart shapes.  Later, add some decorative touches.
  • Stick with me hearts Grab some laminate paper and all of the red objects you can find!  Cut the laminate paper into heart shapes, peel the paper so that the sticky side is up and help your toddler fill the paper with red objects.

Have a crafty teen in the household?  Here are two more suggestions.

  •  Valentine’s shadow box: Ask your teen to cut red paper into tiny hearts and fold some of them in half.  Then, provide a piece of matte board in a frame — and some glue.  Thisis a lovely way for your teenager to show someone how much they care.
  • Sequin heart bookmark:  All you need are some heart-shaped sequins, string and a hole puncher.  Ask your teen to assemble some sequins, punch holes in them at the top of the heart and run the string through the hole.  You have an amazing bookmark!

At VoiceQuilt, we’re biased (obviously).  If you call our recording system and read  a love poem, share a favorite memory or dedicate a love song – your voice will telegraph more about your feelings and personality than any other medium.  (Read about some of my favorite romance VoiceQuilts.)  We know that your loved one will truly feel special.   That said, we’re big fans of doing whatever works for you.  Valentine’s Day is a wonderful excuse to express appreciation for a loved one – whatever the medium.  Go for it!