My grandmother’s oxtail ravioli is the greatest thing you will ever experience. ~ Mario Batali

For beloved chef Mario Batali, family recipes passed down through the generations are as precious as family photos, so he was moved to receive this thick archival Kolo Newport from Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., filled with extra pages to hold a treasure-trove of keepsakes.

Learning he is descended from royalty was pretty cool, too.

Batali, whose family emigrated to the U.S. from Italy, is one of several famous Americans whose lineage was researched by genealogical expert Gates and his team for the PBS series “Faces of America.”

Other luminaries who keep cherished family mementos in a Kolo Newport photo album include Meryl Streep, Kristi Yamaguchi, Yo-Yo Ma, Steve Colbert and Mike Nichols.

- Ugo

June’s theme for Kolo’s Monthly Photo Contest 2010 is HAPPINESS. Starting June 1, upload up to ten photos that represent “happiness” to you. All themes are open to interpretation, so have fun with it!

“Happiness” winners will be announced on July 10th here, Kolo.com and Kolo Facebook.

Go here for more details on the contest.

-Kate

Music plays a special role in my life as a method of expressing my mood and feelings. I often give situations in my life corresponding music or sounds. Naturally, along with music, dance follows as one of the strongest ways of expressing myself. -Simone Haupt, Artist.

Simone Haupt’s book shows portraits of people in Berlin who have had a large impact on her life, all playing a part in the soundtrack of the city. The many street musicians, operas, theaters, galleries, small stages, pubs and music schools in Berlin influenced the art on the pages of this book. A musical journey begins.

Technical drawer Simone Haupt grew up in Bad Kissingen in Northern Bavaria and is now studying in Berlin. She chose a red Kolo Newbury to create this work.

Kate

Shim + Sons designer Sally Shim used a chocolate Kolo Capri to create this delicious cookie recipe book. She paired it with a handmade cookie jar made by her son’s class and the duo was auctioned off at the school.

All of J's classmates submitted their favorite cookie recipe and then I compiled them into a little book. It was really straightforward to make and required a few supplies-- Kolo Capri album, cardstock, xyron sticker machine [or glue stick], tape adhesive [or glue stick] and a few paper punches.

I printed the recipes and table of contents page on to textured paper. I used a scalloped circle paper punch for the photographs and backed them on to chocolate brown cardstock circles using my handy xyron sticker machine. After applying tape adhesive on the back of each recipe I adhered them to each page of the book so the recipe pages wouldn't slip around.

This was a fun project and I think it would make a wonderful end-of-the-year gift for a teacher.

See more from Sally Shim, here.

-Kate

Artist Suzann El-Abboud used an Ocean Kolo Cotrina Lux scrapbook to develop this work representing her time in the city of Berlin. She was born in 1976 in Zwickau, Germany and spent time studying at the University of Damaskus in Syria before settling in Berlin. After graduating from the University of Art in Berlin, she continues to work in the city.

This work was displayed in the “Berlin Through My Lens Exhibition.” For other albums, go here and here.

-Kate