Chicago photographer Kelli Taylor designed this myKOLO photo book filled with an assortment of shots taken of her subject, Henry. She chose to print her album in a Kolo Newport photo book. (She could also order a matching, travel Kolo Noci brag book for 24 of these photos to tuck into her purse).

Kelli talks about the importance of adding variety to a photo book while keeping its design simple and sophisticated:

I tighten up the design by limiting my template options to a few, clean layouts. (For this book, I chose full-page spreads, panoramas and square trios.) I introduce variety with the use of color and black & white photos, mixing them up throughout.

If all of your pictures are in color, no worries, in just a few clicks, you can convert to black & white on myKOLO.

Kelli’s full photo book is one of the projects on the inspiration page at myKOLO.

To see more from photographer Kelli Taylor, visit her site, here.

To see a myKOLO photo book from Joy Bianchi Brown, go here.

-Kate

If you’re looking for a unique Valentine’s Day gift, Michigan graphic designer Lisa Marie Norton will draw a custom portrait of your sweetheart’s beloved pet. (Your sweetheart’s beloved monster might cost a bit extra.) Her depictions are modern, influenced by Japanese anime.

You supply the photos, she does the drawing in black ink, then colors in the picture digitally.

Lisa sketched these layouts in a Kolo Cortina Lux:

I really like the paper. The only pen I use for drawing (Pigma Micron) sometimes can bleed with certain papers, but it doesn't with the Kolo books. I also like how they are bound — it’s hard to draw in some books that don't open flat.

For more information, visit Lisa’s web site, lmnoprint.com

- Ugo

Unclutterer.com blog editor and author of the book “Unclutter Your Life In One Week” Erin Rooney Doland was featured in a “Shopping With” New York Times article yesterday. She suggested using color-coded Kolo Trivino three-ring binders to help people organize their homes.

Stopping briefly at a wall of binders, she said that while there was no one-size-fits-all solution she favored color-coding binders and folders for each member of the family. She suggested choosing products that you find appealing — she liked the look and feel of cloth albums from Kolo — even if they cost a little more. “It’s a lot easier to maintain a system that you enjoy using,” she said. “So I’m all for spending a little extra money if it helps motivate you.”

Read the full article, here and see what other tools Erin Rooney Doland suggests.

-Kate

Long time photography lover Meghan Senkel recently decided to start her own photography business and is blogging about every step she takes. Her latest challenge was to put together a portable portfolio.

The idea is to have a purse-sized gallery of images ready to show potential clients or anyone not smart enough to avoid the subject of photography. Or to sit next to me on a bench.

Meghan chose a mango Kolo Vineyard paper album and 25 small pieces that showcase her best work. She attached them two per page using soft white Kolo Allegro photo corners to keep the simplistic design of the album.

I’d like to get as much use out of this as possible. Not only can I take the undamaged cards out of the album to give away (which would be great in a pinch), but I can also swap them out for newer, updated images to keep the album fresh.

Learn more about the portable portfolio, here. Also, keep updated with Meghan’s work and budding business, here.

We wish you the best and hope to hear more from you, Meghan!

-Kate

When I received my Kolo Essex 2010 calendar insert this weekend, I noticed some cool international holidays I never would have remembered.

I thought I would share the fact that today our friends in Scotland are indulging on haggis and whiskey in celebration of Robbie Burns Day. Click here to find out more about the national poet and Scottish traditions for today’s holiday.

-Kate