As we make our way into the fall season and the leaves start to change colors, we begin to appreciate the beauty of the vibrant world around us. September's theme will be YELLOW. There are no limitations on how to interpret this theme, so be creative!

Starting September 1st, upload up to 10 photos that follow the theme “yellow” for the chance to win $50 worth of Kolo merchandise. Winners will be automatically entered to win the grand prize of $500 cash and $500 of Kolo merchandise. The grand prize winner and six second place winners will be announced February 1st, 2011.

Don’t forget to check back on September 10th for the “nature” winners.

To get more information or to upload photos, go here.

-Kate

Here is the long-awaited conclusion of Steve Light's "A Boy and His Red Umbrella" Kolo Noci storybook. Glad to see that the boy and his red umbrella returned safely home to his bed after his flight over the city, an adventure through a field of flowers and a chilling encounter with a fire breathing dragon.

Visit Steve Light’s website.

-Kate

Chicago photographer Kelli Taylor just finished this “Little Black Book” bridal shower recipe book for one of her good friends, Ali.

Ali, bride-to-be, yoga instructor and nutritionist, is marrying a man that cannot survive for the rest of his life on only fiber. For his sake, I collected everyone’s favorite homemade recipe and brought them together into a recipe-themed book filled with her closest friend’s past memories and future wishes.

Each spread of the black Cortina Lux scrapbook is dedicated to one of the shower’s attendees. On the left side of the spread, Kelli features a Q&A about their relationship with the bride. The right side highlights the person’s favorite recipe securely tucked into a decorative envelope.

I wanted it to be functional without sacrificing the look of the book. Instead of carting a book cloth album into the kitchen, I designed it so the recipe cards were removable. I typed each recipe on an individual card, attached a string and slid it into a custom made envelope.

I got all of the paper from Paper Source. I was weary about spending the money for each individual piece of pattern paper, so instead, I decided to purchase a roll of pattern wrapping paper and cut it myself. This turned out to be way cheaper than the pre-cut swatches.

Thank you to always-creative Kelli for sharing another great project!

Visit Kelli’s site, here. More pictures of this project on flickr.

-Kate

California photographer and artist Emet Martinez created this collection of books for the Tustin Area Council for Fine Arts, an organization dedicated to advancing the study of arts through the support of local artists. The collection is entitled “A Modern Look at Old Tustin,” visually documenting the city using his own photographic style.

The goal of the project was to document Old Tustin’s architecture, greeneries, open spaces and sceneries at different times of the day through a modern photographer’s eye. I used a contemporary approach using selective focusing, creative angles and the use of watercolor filter to create unique images that are modern in terms of image capture style but traditional in terms of look and feel through the watercolor effect.

The collection consists of four books. I used three bonded leather 11 x 14 Kolo Newport albums with 8 in. x 12 in. prints and one platinum 8.5 x 11 Kolo Newport album with 5 in. x 7 in. prints adhered using double sided tape. I gave the first copy to the Tustin Area Council of Fine Arts, another copy to the Tustin Museum and with the last two serving as my hardcopy portfolios.

Emet Martinez has exhibited his work throughout California. Visit Emet Martinez’s website, here.

To see more photos of the art collection on flickr.

-Kate

The Kolo Essex Travel Book is now available in full grain leather. Kolo uses the highest quality full grain leather, unveiling each book’s unique natural beauty. The leather is carefully crafted to ensure the retention and preservation of the hide’s natural patina.

Customize the leather Kolo Essex using the trademark cover window and your choice of inserts. Available in two colors; black and loden. Both sizes come with a photo sleeve booklet and a lined journal booklet (the medium size holds one additional booklet). The inserts are easily interchangeable using elastic loops.

For more information on the leather Kolo Essex Travel Book, go here.

View these Koloist projects using the Kolo Essex Travel Book: Alero Boyo's Berlin Book, Blair Roberts' Mugshot Book or Patrick Ng's mind.Depositor.

Kate