As a photographer, I believe family pictures are the most personal and valuable gifts, as they help to preserve and evoke memories and stories. An incredible number of photos are taken every day, most of them resting on mobile phones or in the cloud, and not likely to be seen ever again – and that is probably for the best. However, there are some important and special images that are worth much more because they are special to you – or, for example, you took the time, energy, and money to have professional photos taken. These are the pictures that you have printed out, that go into your family album, or become decorations for your home. In this post I will introduce five Hungarian creators who are able to make your special images even more miraculous.
Fantastic albums – Punkrose
In today’s digital world we hardly break away from our screens, and we create even our photo albums with an online editing program. We don’t really create anything with our hands; we miss old cutting, sticking, and writing in an album. This is exactly what makes scrapbooks increasingly popular, where memories come alive with pictures and the visual world they create. Mónika Fiáth, the creator of Punkrose, creates albums, photo frames, decorations, and other works, with a number of techniques and tools, and needless to say her products are fantastic. If you want such miracles, you can contact her (also in English) via Facebook or email (info[at]punkrose.hu), and you will have to send your images to her through email. You can choose something you like from her blog, but she is also open to personal ideas. It can be palm-sized or vast, elegant or bohemian, can be made with ‘tricky’ solutions or can be clean and decorated simply, or with mixed media techniques and materials. The point is to create a gift that best suits your needs, your taste, and the mood of your images. She will help you to choose the solution that suits you best, but it is important to also allocate time for discussion. For making an album, she needs approx. 8-10 days, and Christmas orders should be submitted by 7 December. The price depends on your requirements, for an album approx. 20-40.000 HUF can be expected. The best thing is that if you want to learn about scrapbooking you can also take part in her workshops.
Magic boxes – Bunnyzsönial
Szandra Szántó-Brezanóczy also produces scrapbook pages, albums, and keepsakes, and now I’m showing you a special box from her creations. I was very happy when I found it because I had seen similar things, but I did not feel like I could make them myself. This photo box in itself is a perfect gift, but you can even put something in the center, jewelry, a watch, and other smaller items. With regard to orders, you can contact her on Facebook (also in English) and you will have to send your pictures to her via email. The products are made according to individual requirements. The prices are determined by the quantity and quality of the photos and the decorative elements and decorations used. The completion time also depends on the complexity of the work. Christmas orders have to be made by the end of November.
Stylish photo jewelry – Artmami
Szilvia Veron, also known as Artmami, probably needs no introduction, since her work is already known to many. As she says, her business started out with the inkling of an idea, and now you can find her bracelets all over the world. Szilvia creates jewels – among other things – decorated with photographs, but she is also open to individual ideas. Her statement piece is a wooden photo bracelet that is available in brown, black, and white, and can be made with color, black and white, or sepia photos. Simple and clean form of art, no kitsch – for me this is the perfect photo jewel gift. You can order from Artmami via Facebook (you can also contact her in English). Your pictures will have to be sent by email – she will edit them to the right size and the jewelry is typically made within 2 weeks. Christmas orders must be submitted by 18 November at the latest, so better hurry!
A worthy place for first memories – Babystory
When I look at my little daughter, it always reminds me how quickly these 16 months have passed; and from a little helpless infant she has become an adorable young lady running around, communicating, and having her own definite will. Viktória Tóth’s Babystory keepsake box immediately caught my attention – not only because it was so elegant and clean, but primarily because it is a worthy place for these first memories. The package includes a Babystory baby journal and a name-tagged wooden gift box. The baby diary is also a photo album and memory book in which you can add new tabs. In the box, for example, you can place ultrasound pictures, a hospital tag, the first shoes, dresses, rattles, pictures, and of course the baby diary itself. So these first and most important memories can be kept in one place, and this box will be a time capsule that will help to recall this story many years later. The baby journal is also available in English. Christmas orders can be submitted until 13 December, and the English versions can be ordered on Etsy or via email (hello[at]babystory.hu).
Disclaimer: I appreciate the work of the creators featured in this post, and I also consider it important to preserve memories in special ways. I have no affiliation with any of them, and I have not received any compensation for their appearance on my page.
