VoiceQuilt Community

Our Blog Has a New Address

2011-06-13T17:04:00.003-04:00

We have moved our blog to a new address at voicequilt.com/blog. Please visit us there to see our latest posts.

Musing about Moms, Graduation and VoiceQuilt

2011-05-17T11:33:00.013-04:00

A few weeks back, I spoke with a Mom named Jeannae. She created a graduation keepsake for her son, Evan. The VoiceQuilt caught my eye because there were twice the number of voice messages we usually expect. I emailed her about talking, in hopes of learning her secrets for corralling so many voice messages from friends and family -- during such a busy time of year.

As always, the law of unintended consequences prevailed. Jeannae hadn’t used any special methods for inviting friends and family. Her son was simply the kind of person that coaches, friends, neighbors and family wanted to honor with words of congratulations, inspiration and encouragement.

When I asked Jeannae why she had chosen to create a VoiceQuilt, she told me that her decision had boiled down to this: “I would give anything to be able to hear my grandparents today”. That comment struck a chord and reminded me of a VoiceQuilt survey two years back. When we asked women whose recorded voice message they would treasure most, most said they’d like to hear from their Moms.

I like to imagine Evan at college next year, studying for final exams. Perhaps he’s a little nervous or a little tired. And maybe – just maybe – he listens to his Mom’s message and it gives him the boost he needs to finish studying.

Check out Jeannae’s message to Evan here – the first voice message in our graduation contest here.

May is Military Appreciation Month!

2011-05-12T13:37:00.003-04:00

In 1999, The US Congress adopted a resolution establishing the month of May as Military Appreciation month: "to honor the current and former members of the armed forces, including those who have died in the pursuit of freedom and peace."

The success of the recent Navy Seals mission in Pakistan highlights the dedication of elite soldiers, and we're feeling particularly grateful to all U.S. military personnel and their families.

Want to show your thanks and support? Here are just a few ideas.

1.) Get Active.
- Attend an Armed Forces event the week starting May 15 or a Memorial Day parade on May 30.
- Check out the events held by a local military non-profit. We're particularly fond of Operation Homefront, Wounded Warrior Project and Blue Star Mothers of America .

2.) Display the U.S. Flag.
- Fly the U.S. flag at your home or your business.
- Wear a U.S. flag lapel pin.
- Place a magnetic U.S. flag on your car.

3.) Say “Thanks”.

When you see someone in uniform, go up and thank them for their service. Know a veteran? Pick up the phone or send an email. Tell them you appreciate the sacrifices they've made.

Here at VoiceQuilt, we are happy to announce a new section of our website called “Thank a Soldier.” We’re offering special discounts to military families so that it’s easy for them to express their love and support for a soldier or veteran – either here or overseas.

Please show your appreciation for the U.S. military this month - in whatever manner feels appropriate.

Fun, Quirky and Inspiring Graduation Advice

2011-05-10T11:26:00.012-04:00

The sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance” are filling the VoiceQuilt Keepsake Fulfillment area, so it must be graduation season! With that in mind, please check out Gradspot.com’s “Top Ten All-Time Best Graduation Speeches”.

One of the funniest is Will Ferell’s “Best Extended Metaphor” speech to Harvard’s graduating class of 2003.

I’m not one of you. Okay? I can’t relate to who you are and what you’ve been through. I graduated from the University of Life. All right? I received a degree from the School of Hard Knocks. And our colors were black and blue, baby...

Another favorite was Steve Jobs’ speech to Stanford graduates: “Best Ironically Uplifting Comment About Death”.

Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

One of the most poignant one-liners is from the famous film director/producer, Jerry Zucker.

It doesn't matter that your dream came true if you spent your whole life sleeping.

A few years back, VoiceQuilt conducted a nationwide survey, asking a range of questions about graduation. We were stunned to find out that…

* Over three-fourths of women remembered what their parents gave them for high school graduation. (Mine gave me an electric typewriter. Now, I know I’m really old!)

* If they were graduating today, the recorded voice message women would treasure most would be from their moms (42 percent) followed by grandparents and dads, each with 20 percent.

Go on. Indulge yourself with a smile! Listen Moms and Dads leaving messages for their graduates here

Let's Celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

2011-05-05T06:54:00.011-04:00

You can tell by the number of Mexican restaurants in every city that Americans LOVE Mexican food. VoiceQuilt is all about finding reasons to celebrate – and planting warm memories with friends and family. Since Cinco de Mayo is today, why not whip up a delicious and memorable celebration?

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for the 5th of May) is actually a small celebration marking the “unlikely” victory of Mexican soldiers over the French army in the Battle of Puebla. While not the official Mexican Independence, it has become somewhat of a day to celebrate Mexican pride and heritage.

Who wouldn’t want to celebrate an “unlikely” victory?! Don’t worry if your amigos have no idea about why you’re celebrating. Just add in a few trivia questions for fun and everyone will learn a thing or two. For instance, here are few key facts.

1.Is Cinco de Mayo Mexico’s Independence Day?
Answer: No. It commemorates Mexico’s victory in the Battle of Puebla

2. Where is the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration held?
Answer: Surprisingly enough, NOT in Mexico. The largest celebration is in Los Angeles, CA

3. What colors are the Mexican flag?
Answer: Red, green and white

Although there are no official foods for Cinco de Mayo, traditional Mexican dishes such as enchiladas, burritos, guacamole and tacos are always popular. Check out this Cinco de Mayo meal for ideas.

Home with the kids? Dig out a sombrero, cue up some Mexican music and ask everyone to shout “Ole!” at key intervals during dinner. Who knows? They might reminisce about the experience on a VoiceQuilt someday.

Quotes And Thoughts About Mom

2011-05-03T07:05:00.015-04:00

With Mother’s Day coming up this Sunday, we want to share some of our favorite quotes about moms – both funny and heartwarming.

The Funny...
“A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after.” Peter De Vries

“Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories.” John Wilmot

“I want my children to have all the things I couldn’t afford. Then I want to move in with them.” Phyllis Diller

The Heartwarming...

“It is not until you become a mother that your judgment slowly turns to compassion and understanding.” Erma Bombeck

“Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.” Author Unknown

“When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.” Sophia Loren

"If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do matters very much." Jackie Kennedy

Most mothers would probably agree that the parenting journey is filled with so many ups, downs, joys and pains that every mother could publish a book of quotes. Our VoiceQuilt gift- givers have generously shared a broad array of voice-based toasts and tributes - everything from "You are my hero" to "Thanks for punishing me for touching the dead pigeon".

You deserve a break. Why not take a moment and enjoy some funny and heartwarming messages here?

Plan Ahead to Create a Memorable Teacher Gift!

2011-04-28T11:35:00.015-04:00

Children's school activities accelerate after spring break. During April and May, field trips, field days, concerts and end-of-year celebrations make it hard to find time for anything -- much less shopping.

To reduce end-of-year stress, why not plan ahead – at least when it comes to teacher gifts?

Here are some of our favorites:
- Journals

- Seeds for Planting

- Personalized Notepads

- Canvas Tote Bags

- And, of course, a VoiceQuilt CD.

Last year, a very clever Room Mom named Deanna asked each child in a preschool class to record voice messages, sharing “what they especially liked about school this year”. The voice messages were adorable and the teacher later told Deanna that her VoiceQuilt was the most meaningful gift she’d ever received.

This year, Deanna created a VoiceQuilt for a 5th grade teacher. She’ll be presenting in the incredibly cute Vera Bradley cooler bag shown above. Check out Jordyn's incredibly cute voice message here (the first on my list!)

With a little planning and a dose of creativity, your teachers' gifts can be fun, meaningful and memorable.

Royal Wedding Viewing Party Tips: Music, Food and Factoids

2011-04-26T08:32:00.014-04:00

Celebrations are a great excuse to get together with friends. As wedding fever peaks in London, why not use the Royal Wedding as yet another excuse to celebrate?

If you start TODAY, you still have time to plan a Wedding Watch party. Just remember to take Friday off (or plan a late arrival). Most coverage begins around 4am EST Friday morning with the processions from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. The actual ceremony begins at 6 am EST, which is 11 am in London.

If fish and chips are not your idea of breakfast fare, here are a few other British-themed ideas: mini meat pies, turnover pastries, potpies and various English cheeses such as Stilton, Cheddar and Shropshire.

To further set the mood, we recommend playing romantic love songs. VoiceQuilt gift givers are most likely to add these love songs to a romantic voice message playlist.

1. "At Last" (Etta James)
2. "Because You Loved Me" (Celine Dion)
3. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (Elton John)

Last but not least, why not use the factoids below to test the wedding fever in your crowd?

Why is the Royal Wedding at 11am?
Answer: Traditionally British weddings had to be between the hours of 9 am and noon. Although this custom is no longer English law, William and Kate have chosen to stick to tradition for their big day.

What was Lady Diana’s wedding processional music?

Answer: Diana walked down the aisle to “Pomp and Circumstance”. There’s no word yet on what music Kate has chosen. However, the music selection for the wedding ceremony is rumored to be as traditional as it gets.

What famous singer is giving a song as a wedding gift?

Answer: George Michael is giving Stevie Wonder's song “Wonder's You and I” as a gift for the royals (for free download to anyone).

"Make Friendship a Fine Art"

2011-04-21T12:13:00.015-04:00

One of John Wooden's (legendary basketball coach) maxims is "Make Friendship a Fine Art". Now, researchers have uncovered data suggesting that strong friendships help us live longer.

Too often, friends falls to the bottom of the responsibilities we juggle: kids, work, parents, chores and errands.

Why not do one thoughtful thing for a friend this week?

Here in Atlanta, the azaleas are in full bloom. So, we’re listing ways you can express your appreciation with flowers.

- Brighten up a friend’s day with a gift from nature. Say “thinking of you” with sprigs from an azalea bush, magnolia or cherry tree.

- Or, buy some fresh basil, bay leaf or chives and create an herbal oil.

- We also love these reasonably priced gifts – with a floral theme:

Beautiful floral handbags from Vera Bradley;

Delightfully fun water bottles from Lilly Pulitzer;

Festive lunch tote for the dieting or health conscious friend;

A diary that says springtime all over it.

We hope you'll take some time to celebrate a friend this week.

At VoiceQuilt, we're very lucky. We have many generous gift givers who share messages which celebrate friends. Check out the amazing girlfriend voice message toast -- the first in this list here.

Feast Your Eyes (And Ears) On These Quilts!

2011-04-18T13:50:00.030-04:00

"Purple Passion" by Lorie Leonardi (Photo Courtesy of the Alliance for American Quilts)

The Alliance for American Quilts (AAQ)is a non-profit organization that celebrates quilting and history. Thanks to their project, Quilters' S.O.S. - Save Our Stories, over 1,000 interviews with quilters have been transcribed and archived by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

Most recently, the AAQ ran a quilting contest called "Alliances: People, Patterns and Passion". Over 100 quilts were submitted. A photo of each is posted online here along with an artist's statement. VoiceQuilt proudly donated services so that quilting artists could phone in comments about their work.

You deserve a break. Indulge your inner artist by pouring a fresh cup of coffee and taking a moment to savor the amazing artistry here. And while you're at it, mark November 12, 2011 on your calendar! On that day, these quilts will be auctioned off on EBAY. Bids start at $50 and support the AAQ's amazing efforts to preserve quilts and quilter stories!

Interested in learning more? Check out "Scott's Victory Quilt", the second photo show here.

Tips for Going Green this Easter

2011-04-14T11:55:00.014-04:00

With Easter 10 days away, we thought we’d share tips for “going green” with this year’s celebrations.

1. Natural Easter Egg dyes. Our experts tell us that you and your children can use blueberry and grape juice to create a wonderful hue of blue for Easter eggs; for red, we’re told that pomegranate juice is perfect. See this list of organic dyes.

2. The Annual White House Egg Roll will involve colored eggs made from a “bio-degradable paperboard material that promotes sustainable forestry”. (That’s quite a mouthful.) If you’re interested in alternatives to the plastic egg, check out these sites for crafting ideas.

Green Living Families
Handmade News
BabyParenting

The White House version will feature the President’s signature – which means the egg will become a treasured collectible. Why not come up with your own Easter egg keepsake - using a child’s artistry?

3. Last but not least, why not use recycled paper – or real grass clippings – for the Easter basket grass?

At VoiceQuilt, we focus on making it easy to celebrate a loved one with toasts, tributes and favorite memories. We hope you'll take every opportunity you can to create special memories with your families -- green or not. Best wishes for a joyful holiday and a host of magical memories.

Encouraging Words – Literally -- For Kids With Autism Spectrum Disorders

2011-04-12T13:04:00.012-04:00

One in six children suffers from developmental issues that include autism spectrum disorders (ASD), ADD/ADHD, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Parents and caregivers are excited about recent treatments based on brain balance therapy.

Brain Balance Therapy focuses on stages of brain development and brain symmetry. Because the brain is a muscle, practitioners believe that different parts or hemispheres of the brain develop at different rates. This provides opportunities to conduct therapies that enhance different parts of the brain at various stages of development.

Dr. Robert Melillo is the pioneering Founder of the Brain Balance Program. Here in Atlanta, where VoiceQuilt is based, there are three Brain Balance Centers. Thanks to the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, these centers offer treatment to families that normally could not afford it. Depending on the needs of the child, this treatment involves a variety of cognitive approaches - including audio.

At VoiceQuilt, we’re big believers in the power of encouraging voices – and music. We hope to suppport the work of Atlanta’s Brain Balance Centers so that kids undergoing hemispheric integration therapy hear encouraging words -- literally.

To learn more about the Brain Balance Center, click here. To get involved with your local United Way, click here.

How Much Do You Know About Voices & Audio?

2011-04-08T11:12:00.025-04:00

Like a fingerprint, each voice is unique. New babies recognize the sound of their mother's voice – thanks to overhearing her in the womb. Of our five senses, the ability to hear is the last to go at the end of life.

So, how much do you know about voice and audio? Why not take a moment to find out?

1.) What’s the most recognizable song ever?
- “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
- "I Can't Get No Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones
- “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
- “Imagine” by John Lennon
- “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers

Answer

2.) Who received the first patent for a telephone device?
- Innocenzo Manzetti
- Antonio Meucci
- Johann Philipp Reis
- Elisha Gray
- Alexander Graham Bell
- Thomas Edison

Answer

3.) Which of these actors overcame a speech impediment?
- Julia Roberts
- Bruce Willis
- Anthony Hopkins

Answer

4.)Which television and movie voiceover talent is nicknamed “The Voice”?
- Tim Allen
- Morgan Freeman
- Don LaFontaine
- Alec Baldwin
- Queen Latifah

Answer

5.) And now, one for the scientists: Sound travels fastest through which of the following?
- Gas
- Liquid
- Solid

Answer

At VoiceQuilt, we're hopelessly fascinated by voice messages and other forms of audio. Have an interesting tidbit or factoid to share? Email us here.

Customized Music Boxes – and VoiceQuilt

2011-04-05T23:05:00.029-04:00

We are seeing interesting trends in 2011 VoiceQuilt gifts. But the interesting part isn’t the trends; it’s the stories behind the numbers. Here’s what I mean:

More than one-third of VoiceQuilt gift givers are uploading music to their keepsakes.

Many times, only one person is involved in creating the VoiceQuilt. The gift giver records a song dedication and then uploads one or more songs. Some VoiceQuilts do not even include a voice message! The gift giver simply uploads meaningful audio – a popular song or a sentimental musical performance rescued from a cassette tape or CD. The VoiceQuilt Keepsake is, literally, a custom music box. Although these statistics are interesting, the stories behind the trends are even more compelling.

In December, a daughter included three versions of “Amazing Grace” in a Keepsake Box and shipped to her father as a Christmas gift.

In February, a doctor in Philadelphia uploaded songs as varied as Franki Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes off Of You” and Kermit the Frog’s “Rainbow Connection.” He recorded brief song dedications and had the VoiceQuilt Keepsake delivered to his wife for Valentine’s Day.

A friend shared a story about her son, Rick, who created a VoiceQuilt Keepsake earlier this year. The interesting twist: Rick recorded voice messages for his fiancé while he was stationed in Afghanistan. When he returned to the U.S. to get married in March, he placed a pearl necklace in the VoiceQuilt Keepsake Jewelry Box and presented it to his fiancée at their rehearsal dinner.

I never cease to be amazed at the creativity of VoiceQuilt gift givers! Have a story you want to share? Please join the conversation!

Mad about March Madness

2011-03-31T14:17:00.009-04:00

I admit it. I am obsessed with March madness.

I have games on the TV and the computer and the iPAD---all at the same time. I even went so far as to take a trip to Vegas so I could bet on the games (and I was successful! Hurrah!).

What is it that I like so much about March madness? I think it’s all the talk and discussion before, during and after the games. It’s fun to connect with friends on Facebook and declare team loyalty and “animosity” for the favorite. Who doesn’t love VCU and Butler? Long live the underdog!

The tournament also provides a great diversion from the more serious problems facing our world. It’s a good day when the biggest decision a fan has to make is which team to cheer for.

And sometimes these special events in life are more about building memories with friends and family, that's what is most important after all. Time to train the kiddos while there's still time - "Go Huskies!"

Have a fun March madness memory or story to share? Join the conversation!

Make Mom or Dad’s Birthday Party The Best Ever!

2011-03-29T11:28:00.017-04:00

VoiceQuilts are created for many special occasions. Over the years, we’ve shipped many birthday keepsakes for 70th, 80th, 90th and even 100th birthdays. Our gift givers tell us of unique requirements to celebrate these milestone birthdays. Here are their top tips:

1.) Choose a date early. If friends or family live far away, choose a party date at least a month in advance. That way, everyone that has to travel can make appropriate hotel accommodations and secure inexpensive flights.

2.) Think “Day”. Brunches are nice because they can be casual and leave the afternoon open for the birthday boy or girl to relax from the event. And if there are many traveling, you may want to consider the event on a Saturday as opposed to Friday or Sunday, both heavy days for weekend travelers.

3.) Remember Access. If there are older guests attending, you need to choose a wheelchair-friendly facility. Wide hallways and easily accessible bathrooms are critical.

4.) Mellow Music. Pick relatively quiet music to set the party mood. Remember that guests with hearing issues may have trouble socializing if noise levels (or echoes) are high.

5.) Encourage Participation. One enterprising VoiceQuilt gift giver asked each guest to bring a favorite photo for a scrapbook. You can even also ask guests to help create the scrapbook there and then: have each each guest insert their photo and write an quick comment or inscription.

Another version of this is asking party guests to sign the matte frame for a photo – or the border of a poster - featuring the birthday celebrant, of course.

If Mom or Dad struggle with memory issues, you might consider this tea party idea here.

One final thought. Some parents “don’t want the fuss” of a big party. They struggle with health issues or prefer celebrating out of the spotlight. In that case, we recommend a VoiceQuilt Keepsake Box, of course. The collage of voice message memories and tributes is similar to the toasts given by party guests after a long and joyful meal.

Need a few more party planning ideas? Check out these links here. http://www.homeandgardenideas.com/entertaining/birthday-parties/adult-birthdays/90th-birthday-party-ideas http://www.zimbio.com/Birthdays+Party/articles/QzvT1qAeAcy/90th+Birthday+Party+Ideas+90th+Birthday+Gift http://www.livestrong.com/article/232100-how-to-plan-a-birthday-party-for-a-90-year-old-dad/ http://www.ehow.com/way_5297822_gift-ideas-th-birthday.html

Favorite Monogrammed Gifts – besides VoiceQuilt Keepsakes, Of Course….

2011-03-25T11:37:00.017-04:00

VoiceQuilt's 2009 gift giving survey revealed that most women prefer giving personalized gifts. The most popular option is monogramming. Our friend Nancy discovered that monogramming has extended way beyond towels. Need a uniquely personal host or hostess gift? Check out these monogrammed gift ideas!

Monogrammed wine openers

Steaks

Car Mats

Cutting Boards

Mirrors

Sunglass Straps

Golf Cart Mats

Most VoiceQuilt Keepsakes are uniquely personalized -- including voice message toasts and tributes as well as a favorite photo or an engraved plaque or both. We just love it when voice message toasts are reinforced with inscriptions like “Most Wonderful Mom in the World!”

"My Friends Are In The Room With Me!"

2011-03-21T16:00:00.018-04:00

I spoke with an amazing gift giver named Mallory who created a series of VoiceQuilts for her Mom during cancer treatments. Here is a quick story that we cobbled together with the help of Mallory and her Mom, Ellen.

Ellen is a remarkable woman, who has touched many people through her thoughtfulness and consideration as a volunteer talking with other patients who have been diagnosed with the same cancer as her. Her daughter, Mallory, obviously inherited the "caring" gene from her mom. When Ellen became ill a second time with leukemia and faced a long hospital stay, Mallory and her family searched for a way for Ellen's many friends and family members to support her without overwhelming her. VoiceQuilt was the answer.

Most people give a VoiceQuilt as a one-time gift to commemorate a special occasion. Mallory and her family expanded the idea by turning VoiceQuilt into a gift that keeps on giving. First, she invited family and friends to record messages of love and encouragement for Ellen on Valentine's Day. Although Ellen was too weak at the time to engage in two-way conversations, the messages on her VoiceQuilt Keepsake lifted her spirits and helped her feel like her friends were "right in the room with her".

When Ellen faced a particularly grueling treatment, the group recorded a new set of voice messages for the beautiful VoiceQuilt Keepsake box. (Mallory simply inserted a memory card with the new messages.)

Soon, friends and family will record a third set of messages, congratulating Ellen on her imminent return home.

As Ellen looks forward to once again enjoying her friends face-to-face, she will always remember how the sound of their voices kept giving her the encouragement, inspiration and strength she needed to stay positive and heal.

Create a Meaningful Keepsake Gift with Spring Break Photos!

2011-03-18T07:54:00.022-04:00

Sam, Her Dad and Uncle Gary - Kayaking in Oklahoma Last Week

It’s almost spring, and that means warmer weather, spring break and maybe some family photos.

One great way to savor spring memories is to create a photo book. Choose Shutterfly’s “Simple Path Photo Book” and you’ll create a terrific memento after only a few minutes of work.

Need something more elegant as a “thanks for hosting us” gift? Picaboo has some intriguing options – and they’re running a $10 off special – plus free shipping – this week.

If you’d rather share a virtual photo book, check out TripAdvisor’s new slideshow capability. They have some really fun travel themes.

If you're serious about scrapbooking, the designers at Fiskarcrafts offer wonderful inspiration. We also like these spring break layouts, from About.com.

At VoiceQuilt, we're fascinated by the way our gift givers combine voice-based memories, favorite stories or vacation impressions with photos. Have you done a photo shows or photo book recently? Please share your photo tips with us!

P.S. Haven’t gone on spring break yet? Check out Hip Travel Mama ‘s tips on taking great photos!

Jim Reviews Leading Voice Messaging Aps

2011-03-15T09:11:00.010-04:00

Messaging between phones is getting smarter—and cheaper—with the new wave of social messaging apps. We asked one of our technical friends, Jim Phillips, to give us a quick tour of the leaders. Here is his review.

Beluga, available for iPhone and Android phones, made headlines recently because it was bought by Facebook. With Beluga, you can create “Pods” or social groups like “work”, “family” or “school”. You invite members to the pod, inviting anyone in your contact list. They don't have to have Beluga installed. Once the pod is created, you can send voice messages out to the entire pod and they can reply back to the pod. Want to organize a birthday dinner for your friend, Rosie? Set up a pod for that purpose. (You can also message individuals separately.)

GroupMe, available for Blackberry, iPhone and Android phones, is similar to Beluga. However, there are a few key differences. Once you define a group, you can assign a number to it. Dial that number and you have a group conference call. Share your location with the group and you can see each individual’s location on the same map! You can also share photos with any group you have set up. This takes a huge amount of lag out of social organizing. “Let's meet here. Look at what's going on!” And you're off!

HeyTell, available for iPhone and Android, is more or less the push-to-talk feature that you used to get on Nextel phones in the 90's. It doesn't come with a lot of bells and whistles, and there are plenty of other apps covering the same ground TiKL available for Android only, allows for group chat as well as individual one-on-one chats. It also does text messaging.

At VoiceQuilt, we focus on helping families collect voice-based toasts, tributes and favorite memories. However, we're fascinated by the way these new voice messaging applications speed up group communication. They appear to make spur-of-the-moment conversations, meet-ups and parties EASY. Check them out and let us know what you think!

VoiceQuilt Friends Share “Thinking of You!” Tips.

2011-03-10T11:22:00.011-05:00

We’ve learned a lot from gift givers creating “Thinking of You!” VoiceQuilts for loved ones struggling with Alzheimer's, dementia and traumatic brain injury. In honor of Brain Awareness week starting March 14, 2011, we’d like to share some of their tips.

1.) Post a comment.

Beverly M.tells us that Chloe, who is recovering from a brain injury, loves it when her mother reads comments friends post on her Facebook page. If your loved one’s family created a page on Facebook.com, Carepages.com, CaringBridge.org or a blog site, please post a quick comment. Then, schedule weekly reminders so that you can regularly check in and offer encouraging words. (It's easy to get busy with work, family and other activities, so scheduling this outreach can be a big help!)

2.) Mail a paper card. If your loved one has a long convalescence, a card can become part of room décor!

"One of Chloe’s friends is decorating her room in Get Well cards and the family has asked for people to send them to the house so it's ready when she gets home."

Hallmark will even put a card in the U.S. mail for you – for free until March 20!

3.) Coordinate meals.

Offer to set up a calendar for the delivery of meals by friends. Sites like Lotsahelpinghands.org offer free online tools for soliciting volunteers and sending timely reminders.

4.) Do research.

If your loved one's family is busy with the day-to-day illness, offer to do research on new protocols or alternative therapies.

Our gift givers tell us that that being chronically ill can be lonely. The most important thing is to reach out - in whatever way feels most natural - so that loved ones know that they are not forgotten.

St. Patrick's Day Crafts With Kids: “Thinking of You!”

2011-03-08T08:45:00.011-05:00

You have many ways to let a special someone know you are thinking of them. We feel Saint Patrick's Day is a great excuse for crafting with kids – and making a little “thinking of you” for Grandma.

If you start now, you’ll have in in plenty of time for St. Patrick's day: Thursday, March 17.

Here are some ideas to pique the imagination.

1.) Hearts And Crafts
Go.com offers a way to make St. Patty's day stamps by using heart shaped cookie cutters. (And you thought you were done using those hearts from Valentine's Day!) You’ll need some potatoes, though, so be sure to have a few handy.

2.) Shamrock Love
Most kids love the process of cutting with scissors, especially if you provide shapes to cut out. Find some green construction paper and trace out some shamrocks. After the kids cut out a shamrock, glue it to a wooden popsicle stick. Then, decorate the shamrock with paint, glitter or any other notions you have around the house.

3.) St. Patrick's Coloring Pages
Here is our favorite link to fun coloring pages for St. Patty's day. Be sure to have your artists sign their work!

At VoiceQuilt, we're big fans of finding reasons and media (voice messages, crafts, phone calls, paper cards, you name it!) to let someone know you care.

Tips for Moms or Dads Managing Home Alone - VoiceQuilt

2011-03-03T09:20:00.010-05:00

Here at VoiceQuilt, we’re big fans of military families. We’re also big fans of caregivers in general. With that in mind, we’d like to share some sage advice from a VoiceQuilt gift giver who has experienced multiple deployments at each duty station.

1.) When you need a break, take a break. Separate yourself from the situation. Lean on a neighbor or friend or call the chain of command and request information on how to get assistance.

2.) Socialize with parents in the same situation. Take turns hosting a potluck supper. The kids can play and interact while you connect with someone going through a similar experience.

3.) Try to find some positives. Remember that military families can take advantage of free services Operation Purple (summer camp) and Operation Kid Comfort (quilts). Contact your local Family Readiness program or other ACS programs to see about additional free services that might be helpful.

There’s one more novel idea. Ask the deployed family member to cheer you on.

Last week, a military family asked us to set up a VoiceQuilt for their son, Rick. Rick wants to record voice messages for his fiancée back in the U.S. while he is stationed in Afghanistan! Now, that’s a very romantic angle that we hadn’t ever considered. We’ve often had families here at home recording “thinking of you” messages for soldiers serving overseas. (See the last message listed here, “Mike”).

We never cease to be amazed by the creativity of our gift givers.

Photo courtesy Left-Hand on Flickr.

Creating A Circle of Appreciation - VoiceQuilt

2011-02-26T16:46:00.016-05:00

A few years back, scientists established a link between feelings of gratitude and good health. Oprah picked up on this theme right away, urging viewers to keep a gratitude journal. Then, the Wall Street Journal pitched in, reporting that a medical study had proven that “an attitude of gratitude can improve psychological, emotional and physical well being”.

We occasionally overhear snippets of VoiceQuilt messages in quality testing. Virtually all express thanks and appreciation. I can’t help but wonder whether callers feel physically better after recording those voice messages.

Many VoiceQuilt gift recipients enjoy expressing their gratitude, too. Some send a thank-you email; others send a formal thank-you letter. Last week, one gift giver shared her father's thank-you video .

I like to think that every VoiceQuilt Keepsake creates a circle of appreciation that bolsters the immune system and beats the winter “blah’s”.

Birthday CARE Packages - And VoiceQuilt

2011-02-24T11:14:00.030-05:00

If you want to send a birthday CARE package to a loved one far away (whether deployed or away for another reason), we suggest a few creative approaches.

If you have children, ask them to draw a birthday cake (with the appropriate number of candles, of course) and add that to a birthday care package. You could also ask your child to sculpt a birthday cake with clay. (Crayola Model Magic works great for this and is light weight.)

Inside the box, we recommend including lots of confetti so that other soldiers, friends or family can laugh as it spills over your loved one’s work space or kitchen table. We also recommend adding your loved one’s favorite treats – preferably something that won’t get damaged in severe weather conditions.

Our favorite idea? Connect with your loved one over Skype or another webcam service and ask your kids to blow out the candles at home on a real cake. You could even have your loved one open the birthday box and blow out the candles on the pretend cake at the same time.

Rhonda N., a VoiceQuilt gift giver, took this idea one step further. She asked friends and family to phone in their birthday singing and greetings. Then, she created a video using photos of the friends – with the voice messages as the soundtrack. She shared it with her husband in Afghanistan via skype on his birthday, creating a virtual birthday party.

Many other military families that have shared VoiceQuilt messages with loved ones overseas, but Rhonda's the first (that we know of) to combine those messages with a video. For more tips on military care packages in particular, check out the link here.

Atlanta Falcons Record Encouraging VoiceQuilt Messages for Chloe

2011-02-22T06:53:00.013-05:00

Last week, we wrote about how proud we were of the Green Bay Packers. Even amidst Super Bowl celebrations, their president had taken the time to call in an encouraging message for a recovering teen named Chloe Brunke.

Chloe is a high school senior undergoing rehabilitation after a horrific car accident. She is re-learning how to walk and talk at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Chloe is an avid football fan and was thrilled to hear Mark Murphy's message.

One of our amazing VoiceQuilt friends heard about Chloe's story and helped spread the word here in Atlanta.

Thanks to her hard work and some thoughtful reporters at the Atlanta Journal Constitution, several Atlanta Falcons players called in and left heart warming messages of encouragement for Chloe We cannot thank the Atlanta Falcons enough! Players like Harry Douglas (#83), Joe Zelenka (#82), Garret Reynolds (#75) and Coy Wire (#52) and even announcer Wes Durham left amazing words of encouragement.

In short, we're very proud of our home town team. Just like the world champion Green Bay Packers, the Atlanta Falcons are a class act.

VoiceQuilt Military Families Share Thoughts About Flat Daddy

2011-02-17T12:35:00.019-05:00

After our daughter was born, I knew life would be different. Intellectually, I had understood this. However, I didn't really "get it" until I looked that newborn in the eyes. It was one of those epiphanies that friends with children had tried to share....but couldn’t.

I had a similar reaction when I read about the film documentary called “Flat Daddy”.

As military families across the United States endure the repeated deployment of loved ones to Afghanistan and Iraq, many have attempted to fill the void with “Flat Daddies” and “Heroes on a Stick,” life-sized cardboard cutouts of their husbands, wives, parents and children serving overseas. Using these two-dimensional surrogates as a connecting thread, Flat Daddy follows four such families over the course of a year to explore the lasting impact of the war on those left behind.

I was so struck by this documentary and an associated article here that I reached out to VoiceQuilt military families. Many had shared voice messages online with loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan across a wide range of events: birthdays, wedding anniversaries and Christmas

Some had heard of “Flat Daddy”; many had not. All, however, shared how difficult deployments are on families -- especially kids. Here are a few comments excerpted from their emails.

“We have a flat daddy ( a copy I had placed on a life size photo poster board made at Kinkos) and a puff daddy. This is a pillow that has my husband's full body photo with a recorded message in it that my son can hear anytime by pressing on it (this is created via a website called hugs for hero's). I got both of these made before my husband deployed after we had my first child so that he could see him daily.”

“So few Americans really understand what happens in military families and the current conflicts have challenged our communities more than ever with back to back year long deployments in areas of conflict. Perhaps this documentary will shine a light on what we do and have done to raise our children/grandchildren while their fathers and mothers serve in uniform.”

I thought I knew something about the stresses on military families. My college roommate is a military spouse. However, I just didn’t “get it” until I read about Flat Daddy.

Green Bay Packers, Chloe and VoiceQuilt

2011-02-14T10:58:00.014-05:00

Even amidst ongoing Super Bowl celebrations, the President of the Green Bay Packers remembers the important things – namely, the fans. Last week, Mark Murphy phoned in encouraging words for an avid fan named Chloe. Chloe is a high school senior undergoing rehabilitation after a horrific car accident. She is re-learning how to walk and talk at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

A friend of Chloe's named Bev is organizing the VoiceQuilt to encourage Chloe during recovery; she thought that Chloe would be thrilled to hear from her favorite football team. And she was.

The inspiration for VoiceQuilt came from a get well scenario, so it's particularly gratifying when families assemble a “cheering squad” for someone going through a difficult time. We’re big believers in the mind-body connection and I’m convinced that thoughtful gestures like Mr. Murphy's can make all the difference.

Kudos to the Green Bay Packers for being such a thoughtful and outstanding football team!

Valentine's Day Traditions and VoiceQuilt

2011-02-10T15:00:00.009-05:00

Not all stories can be as romantic as these two bald eagles madly in love. Some are fun, some are silly and some are hopelessly sappy.

Do you have any special Valentine's day traditions? Do you have a special love letter or romantic story that you share on February 14th?

Nancy, one of VoiceQuilt’s amazing friends, asked me to share the following.

For us, Valentine's day is a special day -- like Mother's or Father's day. With two cats, two kids, a workaholic husband and an entrepreneurial mom, things often get really busy. We’re always looking for a good reason to slow down and celebrate. And for us, it’s important to incorporate the entire family into our traditions.

For Valentine’s Day, we like to try something new. This year, we’re making a short list of restaurants we’ve always wanted to try. We’ll vote as a family and then make reservations FAST – since we’ve got kids in tow.

We’re also doing something new this year. We’ll be sending a VoiceQuilt to my parents, who have been married for 45+ years. My Dad is a military vet; my Mom is a school teacher. There’s no better time to celebrate how special they are to all of us.

Send us your Valentine’s traditions and join the conversation!

VoiceQuilt - The Medium IS the Message

2011-02-08T10:30:00.012-05:00

Elizabeth Bernstein's whimsical article in today's WSJ "I Just Called to Say, Ahem, I, Uhh, Love You" describes the riskiness of sharing your feelings -- especially as Valentines Day approaches.

This thought stood out:

"Technology doesn't help, even as it keeps us hyper-connected. We email, text or tweet in as few words as possible, many of which we don't even bother to spell out. And without eye contact, or even full sentences, it's hard to express our true feelings."

We beg to differ...

Technology can help. At VoiceQuilt, every day gift givers express their thoughts and sentiments for a loved one with a "tool" that is uniquely individual -- their voice.

Callers sometimes struggle over the exact words to say in their VoiceQuilt message, under the impression that they must say something "MONUMENTAL", worthy of being carved into a mountain side...

In fact, the opposite is true. The way you say something - your accent, tone, laugh - conjures up images and memories for a loved one that go beyond words. A playlist of friends and family singing "Happy Birthday" conjures up fond memories and conveys great love. In short, it's not what you say. It's how you say it.

Let's face it. Voices are as unique as finger prints. Who wouldn't want to hear the voices of loved ones?

Game on... It's Super Bowl time

2011-02-03T09:24:00.004-05:00

It's that time of year again, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers. Football fans and non-fans alike can rejoice because there's something for everyone at your Super Bowl party!

So, lets get this party started, here are a few ideas:

Ads, ads and more ads. Grab a pen and paper and let each of your guests rate the commercials with a yay or nay. At the end of the game tally the results. You may be surprised at which commercials were most popular. Plus, this game will provide ample conversation. Who are we kidding, we watch the game to watch the commercials. This is a fun activity for all guests.

Dress up. Encourage guests to dress up as the most fanatical Super Bowl fan ever. Encourage body paint, wigs, jerseys, you name it. Winner gets a prize, maybe a special dessert to take home. If your event is especially family friendly (fans are like family ), encourage guests to dress up their babies. Of course, all children are winners in that case, but the kids will have fun picking out their outfits and showing them off. A nice favor could be to give each child a brown paper bag filled with a few goodies, like sports stickers, sports inspired pencils, and maybe something sweet.

Obstacles. Every professional athlete needs to stay in shape. Create an obstacle course in the back yard for kids both big and small using items from around the house. Mom and dad might have fun with this too, and it will keep the event light and fun. This is a great pre-game or halftime exercise. Pun intended!

And if you need any ideas for refreshments and food, well, there's always some recommendations from the cast of Glee!

What's on your Valentine's playlist?

2011-02-01T11:45:00.016-05:00

“Music is the universal language of mankind.” Or so says Henry Wadsworth Longfellow...

Did you know that nearly every VoiceQuilt gift giver uploads a song to their VoiceQuilt playlist? Regardless of the gift giving event, we hear songs combined with toasts, tributes and favorite memories. In fact, many VoiceQuilts alternate meaningful music and voice-based memories.

Now that Valentine’s Day is approaching, we're feeling love in the air...and hearing it, too. In fact, I just overheard “Longer” by Dan Fogelberg!

With that as inspiration, we'd like to have some fun. What tunes will be on your Valentine's playlist? Tell us which special song you’ll play to create a fun mood on February 14th and we’ll enter you into a drawing for a $25 iTunes gift card! Just post your song title and artist on VoiceQuilt’s Fan page or email us at info@VoiceQuilt.com.

Next week, we'll update this post with the top songs mentioned – as well as the tunes we’re overhearing most this month when keepsakes are in final quality testing.

Deserving military family gets Extreme Home Makeover

2011-01-27T09:15:00.015-05:00

First off, let me say we’re big fans of ABC's Extreme Home Makeover show (especially Ty Pennington and all of his cohorts). There is never a dry eye in the house when we watch it. So, we were thrilled to hear about the 7,000 people in Beaufort, South Carolina that came together to help out a Marine family.

When their home became inhabitable due to mold, flood damage and structural issues, Marine Staff Sergeant Bill Dickinson and his family of seven were selected for Extreme Home Makeover.

The Dickinson family gave a big thank you to the community for their new digs:

Completed in 106 hours, you can view H2 Builders' final construction here. Their new home is really beautiful. More photos can be found here.

While it's exciting to witness, let's face it. This is not about how quickly these homes are renovated and refurbished by fanatical volunteers. It’s really something much more. India Dickinson sums it up so well with her words about “paying it forward”:

"In the process of applying, the one thing I did tell my children is, you've got to figure out one thing in your life, how you're going to pay this forward if you're chosen," India said. "When blessings are bestowed upon you, you've got to pay it forward.".

For more on the story, read this Marine Corps Times article.

We're big believers in expressing thanks to military families in general! To hear some fun VoiceQuilt examples of this, check out the retirement messages here and thank you messages here.

VoiceQuilt donates proceeds to Visiting Nurse/Hospice Atlanta

2011-01-25T14:34:00.022-05:00

“What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.”

Chief Crowfoot, chief of the Siksika First Nation

I just returned from a book signing by Marcia Gaddis, author of When God Comes Near. Marcia lost her daughter, Megan, to a rare neurological disease a few years ago. During that journey, Marcia got to know the fine staff of Visiting Nurse/Hospice Atlanta. At today’s lunch, she spoke passionately about the impact of hospice care during the last phase of life, when the shadow “loses itself in the sunset”.

At VoiceQuilt, we’re delighted to connect families during good times – and bad. We’re also honored to support Visiting Nurse/Hospice Atlanta. If you start creating your VoiceQuilt here, we’ll donate $10 of every Keepsake Box purchase to Atlanta's largest non-profit hospice care provider.

Since VoiceQuilt was inspired by a dire get well situation, we're particularly gratified when our service is used to assemble a cheering squad for someone going through a difficult time. In fact, some of the most meaningful toasts and tributes are from family and friends expressing appreciation for a loved one’s impact on their lives.

We hope you'll support hospice wherever your reside. It's important work.

Is VoiceQuilt "StoryCorps-Inside-Out"?

2011-01-22T11:36:00.025-05:00

It’s been a fun week. Betsy H. emailed the photo above and asked us to mail it in the VoiceQuilt photo frame keepsake she created for her Dad's birthday. Just love the idea of using a baby photo for a 70th birthday gift!

There have also been some poignant answers to the our exit survey question, “What was your favorite message?”

"A message from my niece to her grandfather...she quoted a song he used to sing to all of us when we were little!"

January 17, 2011

"All of these messages helped me to learn more about Daddy's years before me and also gave me a glimpse into his younger years."

January 17, 2011

Several years ago, an award winning radio producer named Dave Isay built a booth in Grand Central Terminal in New York. His goal was to interview anyone and everyone about their lives. It’s called StoryCorps and – if you’re an NPR listener – you know that the effort is still going strong.

At times, we think that VoiceQuilt is "StoryCorps Inside-Out". Instead of one person telling their life story (the StoryCorps model), a VoiceQuilt encourages everyone to share their impressions, memories and heartfelt stories about one person. It's amazing to hear the collage of voices -- and to hear the major themes emerge.

Flip Flops, Katie and VoiceQuilt

2011-01-14T19:01:00.026-05:00

In mid-December, Melinda started organizing a VoiceQuilt for a teenager named Katie. In October 2010, Katie received a stem cell transplant as part of her fight against leukemia. As of mid-December, she was still waiting for cells to engraft and the family realized they would be spending Christmas in the hospital.

Melinda invited everyone to record “a special memory, a funny story, a scripture verse, a joke, Christmas carols or just a Get Well Soon”. Katie’s Mom wrote about the VoiceQuilt a few days later:

“The whole family sat around listening to it on Christmas eve, laughing, smiling and crying…Our hearts were touched by your songs, prayers, scripture readings, jokes and well wishes.”

As New Year's Eve approached, Katie learned that she would not win her battle with leukemia. She left the hospital and passed away in the comfort of her home just a few days ago.

We admire Katie and her family for many reasons. Her mother's blog described fundraising efforts, picnics and bone marrow registration drives. Each post expressed such profound appreciation for all the ways friends and family encouraged Katie during her journey.

We heard the outpouring of love when the VoiceQuilt keepsake was in quality testing: Young and old were singing Christmas carols and shouting, “grow, cells, grow!” We are touched, humbled and inspired by the spirit of Katie and her family. A celebration of Katie's life is next week:

"Katie loved being at the beach, so feel free to wear happy, beach colors: teal, blue, beige, moss green… Flip-flops are 100% appropriate as Katie would wear flip-flops, rain or shine!"

VoiceQuilt was inspired by a get well situation, so we are always proud when our service is used to encourage someone during difficult times.

It's a little chilly outside, so I'll don my flip flops indoors this Saturday...in Katie's honor.

Football and Families

2011-01-10T16:52:00.012-05:00

Tonight is the BCS Championship Game for College Football.

Traditions are a huge part of College Football. From the Orange Checkerboard end zones in Tennessee, to dotting the "i" at Ohio State, to the last cries of “War Eagle!” (Auburn) and "Go Ducks" (Oregon) that will fill the air tonight, College Football is full of great rituals and customs.

Families perpetuate these football traditions season after season. Fans who cheer together often turn into a kind of a family.

One such “family” is creating a VoiceQuilt right now. A group of Iowa State fans who have shared nearby seats in Jack Trice Stadium for over 25 years are banding together to share memories with the “Grandma” of their group. “Grandma” cannot attend Iowa State games any longer, so the fans are recording special memories and stories to help her relive the season. I bet there will be a more than a few chants of “ Go Cyclones!” on the soundtrack!

Auburn or Oregon? What’s your prediction tonight?

Our prediction is that College Football will continue to bond all families together...

VoiceQuilt Resolution For 2011: Reduce Your "To Do" List!

2011-01-05T17:01:00.017-05:00

Each January, we seem to be inundated by the flood of articles about New Year’s resolutions, New Year’s diets and even New Year’s technologies.

However, most of us are already juggling a full list of parenting, caregiving and community/work-related responsibilities. As this article describes, our “to do” lists are exploding.

Our resolution for 2011 is to periodically showcase sites that might make your juggling act easier. The first? Lotsahelpinghands.org.

What they do: FREE online calendar site for coordinating the activities of a group.

Why you should care: It’s perfect for coordinating meals for a family with a new baby. It’s great for assigning carpool drivers, coordinating classroom activities or reminding volunteers about their assignments.

Why it’s cool: Co-founder Barry Katz founded the company after his wife lost her four-year battle with ovarian cancer.

“We had all too often come home to more than one prepared meal sitting on the front stoop. And we could never quite find the right answer to the popular and constant question, “What can I do to help?”

VoiceQuilt gift givers have raved about lotsahelpinghands.org. Check them out and let us know what you think.

Expect the "Impossible": A VoiceQuilt Gift Giver Amazes Us

2010-12-30T17:56:00.036-05:00

We are continuously amazed by how creative and determined VoiceQuilt gift givers can be...

How do you make your mother's 80th Birthday extra special?

If you are ALisa S., you sign up for VoiceQuilt's 3 days of Unlimited Messages, immediately send email invitations to 51 friends and family, and then start choosing and uploading 16 songs that you know your mother will enjoy.

You are not concerned about delivering your VoiceQuilt on a Saturday to the North Georgia mountains. You aren't even deterred when neither UPS nor Fedex offer delivery to the North Georgia mountains on Saturdays. You simply Google a hotel in a town nearby and cajole the Hotel Manager into accepting a Saturday delivery for you (even though no one will be renting a room). Then, you coax a few of your mother's neighbors to trek over the mountains to retrieve the treasured gift so that Mom has it in time for her 80th birthday on Sunday.

Problem solved.

Not quite. A snowstorm in another part of the country disrupts the normally-scheduled Saturday delivery. If you're ALisa, you contact the shipper and persuade them to keep their Gainesville, GA office open long enough so that the cab (just discovered online) can deliver the VoiceQuilt Keepsake to the kindly Hotel Manager. (And did we mention that ALisa convinced the shipper to refund her shipping charges?)

So far so good.

Except the cab driver found over the internet will only accept cash. So, if you're ALisa, you make a quick call to the Hotel Manager (now vying for sainthood), securing a promise to pay the cabbie in cash until your Mother's friends can provide reimbursement - when they pick up the VoiceQuilt Keepsake.

Then, you go through 500 photos, selecting the best for a photo show to accompany the VoiceQuilt keepsake.

Late into Saturday night, your mother's friends gently place the VoiceQuilt Keepsake Box with 70 recordings for your mother on her front door step...just in time for Sunday's celebration.

Interesting part of the story: one of the daughters suggested dressing up the VoiceQuilt Keepsake Box up like an orphan baby wrapped in a red quilt . ALisa's mother always gets up early (like 5am). The friends put down the basket with the baby/box, rang the door and ran. They did it again and no one came.

Alisa's mother slept late for once in her life.

The friends came too far in this adventure not to see it through so this is what happens next. They coaxed a friend (unknown to ALisa's mother) to call around 7:25AM to say "I hear it is your birthday today. You have something outside your front door."

ALisa emailed us afterward:

"... I can say without a doubt that receiving this special and precious gift from so many who love her, hearing all her children, grandchildren, many relatives and friends who were not able to be present with her, brought her such joy. She wore herself out listening to all of it all day as it was over two hours long!"

Words Are a Wonderful Christmas Present

2010-12-23T11:36:00.014-05:00

We received an "early Christmas present" - some wonderful words in an email from Royce and Marge I. of Iowa.

"...We had never heard of VoiceQuilt until our daughter Susan, who is with her husband and girls in Japan where he is stationed with the Marines, put together messages from over a 100 of our family and friends...

We immediately played all of the messages from our children, spouses, and grandchildren and it was very emotional. Both of us had tears in our eyes, as well as did many in the room with us.

Many couples have special parties to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and we didn't care to have anything like that.

But what we got was so much better.

This will stay with us for years and years to come and we have no doubt that as we listen to it, we will again have tears in our eyes and a smile on our face. We can't wait to share it with the rest of our family when we get together at Christmas."

Your words warmed my heart and made a wonderful gift for the VoiceQuilt Team.

Happy Anniversary Royce and Marge!

A Cherished Family Recipe That Creates Tradition...And Connection.

2010-12-21T10:53:00.025-05:00

Ann, one of VoiceQuilt’s amazing partners, asked me to share the following:

Yesterday, I got a request from my sister-in-law for the recipe for a sweet potato casserole that I prepared last Thanksgiving while visiting relatives in Massachusetts. This delicious concoction is one of my favorite Holiday treats and I’ve been making it for years.

I flipped through my recipe book and remembered that I originally got this recipe from my sister – when she lived in Indiana. She got the recipe from her mother-in-law who lived in Atlanta.

This recipe has traveled from state to state, thanks to the women in my family. In some ways, it has become a cherished family tradition that brings us together – even if we aren’t sitting around the same dining table on Christmas day.

Isn't it amazing how far some recipes can travel – simply by word of mouth? And isn't it amazing how the act of making a simple dish can create a communal experience? Just wanted to share the story of this recipe -- as well as the recipe itself:

Sweet Potato Casserole
- 3 cups Mashed sweet potatoes (I cut them into chunks then boil them… much easier to peel after they have been cooked)
- 1 cup Sugar (or splenda)
- 2 eggs
- ½ stick butter

Combine these ingredients and put into a 9X 12 Pan.

For a crunchy topping :
- 1/3 Cup Butter
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1/3 Cup Flour
- 1 Cup Chopped Nuts (pecans or walnuts - optional)

Combine brown sugar and flour. Mix in butter (I use a knife to cut it in) and nuts. Sprinkle over top of sweet potato mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

All of us here at VoiceQuilt wish you a joyful and memorable holiday -- overflowing with good food and meaningful connections with friends and family.

One more thing: Eating together is one of the most important ways that families connect and create meaning. Be sure to check out more treasured family recipes -- and the stories behind them here.

Enjoy!

A Quilt (in Whatever Form) Tells An Amazing Story

2010-12-16T14:15:00.020-05:00

A few years ago, Brianna created a “Merry Christmas!” VoiceQuilt for her husband deployed in Afghanistan. On Christmas day, Mike enjoyed hearing toasts and greetings -- especially from his infant son and his Uncle Mike (last voice message shown here).

Brianna’s VoiceQuilt for Mike reminds me of the quilt pictured above. "Scott's Victory Quilt" was part of the Alliance for American’ Quilt’s “If These Quilts Could Talk” exhibit. Pam, the stepmother of a serviceman in Afghanistan, tells how she literally incorporated uplifting and encouraging messages from friends and family into a quilt for her stepson.

Thanks to the Alliance for American Quilts and their grass roots efforts, over 1,000 interviews with quilters have been transcribed and archived by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

We’re making a special offer to support this amazing organization and if you become a member today. Read more here!

Holiday Singing, Memories and VoiceQuilt

2010-12-14T14:45:00.010-05:00

As we head into the home stretch until Christmas, we’re hearing carols wafting from the VoiceQuilt Keepsake fulfillment area. We've heard many toddlers singing “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells”. I've also heard snippets of memories about favorite meals, traditions and stories.

We’re been collecting ideas around planting MORE memories around the holidays. Yum Sugar suggests a number of fun party themes…

* A party to watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
* A tree trimming party where everyone wears their most garish holiday sweater
* A white elephant party – where everyone brings a gift that they didn’t like from a previous year

Our family rented “The Grinch” last Friday night – the original. The clerk at Blockbuster tried to convince us to rent the Jim Carrey version instead. Much as I enjoyed Mr. Carrey in Ace Ventura Pet Detective, we prefer the original Grinch. How 'bout you?

Celebrate the Holidays By Creating Memories.

2010-12-08T12:35:00.019-05:00

A few months back, the New York Times reported that experiences are valued much more highly than expected and more (or as much) as things.

“One major finding is that spending money for an experience — concert tickets, French lessons, sushi-rolling classes, a hotel room in Monaco — produces longer-lasting satisfaction than spending money on plain old stuff.”

Oprah’s writers have been saying this for years.

"Great memories, not more "things" should be the theme...A day of baking cookies, a trip to a museum, a concert, theater ticket, restaurant gift certificate or even a donation to a special charity can leave a more lasting impression than another scarf or one more thing that really isn't needed."

Now that holiday shopping is underway, we are literally overhearing Christmas VoiceQuilt Keepsakes during quality testing. We can hear memories of holiday songs, stories and recipes. So far no mention of a specific holiday gift...

Why not focus on creating memories this holiday? Caring.com readers recently suggested starting these holiday traditions.

1.) Get in the mood by renting holiday classic movies.
2.) Have a baking or cooking party.
3.) Pile everyone in the car to drive around viewing holiday lights.

(By the way, the VoiceQuilt team voted ELF as a favorite holiday classic. Especially the scene shown above with the spaghetti!)

Hear The Voices In Those Stitches?

2010-12-03T14:52:00.018-05:00

The Alliance for American Quilts (AAQ) is a non-profit organization that celebrates quilting and history. Thanks to their efforts, over 1,000 interviews with quilters have been transcribed and archived by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

VoiceQuilt proudly donated services so that quilting artists could phone in comments about their work exhibited at the International Quilt Festival. The AAQ also invited exhibit visitors to call in their reactions. Many called VoiceQuilt’s toll-free number to talk about which Quilt touched their heart most.

Now, the pitch. The AAQ is auctioning off small, hand-made artistic creations on Ebay here. These pieces would make lovely holiday gifts. Plus, it’s a terrific cause.

In the words of blogger Betty Londergan:

"Quilts are finally beginning to get the artistic respect they deserve – thanks in large part to the efforts of The Alliance for American Quilts, a tiny powerhouse of an organization that is fanatically committed to preserving, archiving and promoting quilters and quilting online."

There are only 2 days left to bid on AAQ quilts! Please do some holiday shopping here.

VoiceQuilt Messages On Facebook, A Tribute From Iraq And More.

2010-11-30T20:46:00.031-05:00

Rachel's Grandpa with David-lex (when he was home on leave from Iraq)

It’s been quite a week. And it’s only Tuesday…

* On Monday, VoiceQuilt's Technical Team, led by Perry Flinn, made it easy for VoiceQuilt gift givers to share individual voice messages on Facebook. It’s incredibly fun, seamless and quite cool. While working on your VoiceQuilt, simply click on the Facebook "F". You can then post a heartwarming voice-based toast, tribute or favorite memory for everyone to enjoy.

* This morning, a VoiceQuilt gift giver named Rachel offered to share a voice-based tribute from a family member in Iraq. It's a very touching message and we're honored to feature it as VoiceQuilt's “message of the month” for December.

* This afternoon, we learned that East Forsyth High School, Class of 1973, created a VoiceQuilt to support a classmate named Rhonda recovering from a mysterious accident. Since VoiceQuilt was inspired by a get well situation, I love it when our service is used to create a cheering squad for someone going through a difficult time.

In short, it's been an exciting week already...

Personalized Holiday Gifts and VoiceQuilt

2010-11-22T07:10:00.015-05:00

We’re big fans of personalized gifts. Have a few moments during the upcoming week? Get an early start and take advantage of some special discounts! Here are our favorites.

1.) Thank a carpool friend with a photo key ring. Save 25% at Snapfish with the coupon code MERRY2010.

2.) Send Grandma framed photo. ImageKind is relatively expensive but they’re offering a 25% discount when you use the promo code GIVETHANKS. Snapfish has a less expensive option, a simple panel photo frame that is under $20.

3.) Surprise the Aunts and Uncles with a photo ornament. Exposuresonline.com has a very good selection but – as far as we can tell -- no special discounts.

4.) Of course, our favorite personalized gifts combine photo and voice-based memories. Many VoiceQuilt gift givers will place a TinyPrints holiday card in a VoiceQuilt Christmas Photoframe keepsake. If you finish shopping at Tinyprints.com before tomorrow, you can save 20% off of all holiday cards and holiday party invites.

5.) For the super-savvy, there's always the VoiceQuilt Freebie. Why not sign up for one free day, line the kids up in the kitchen and have each call in their favorite memory with Dad? Simply download a free VoiceQuilt mp3 and surprise Dad with a different kind of holiday music...

Holidays, Family Memories and VoiceQuilt

2010-11-16T20:27:00.013-05:00

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, thoughts often turn to family, turkey and memories. If you’re visiting with relatives next week, why not capture some stories? Ask Grandma to share the memories behind a favorite Thanksgiving dish or ask Dad to talk about holidays during wartime.

Bridget Poizner is a professional personal historian with a wonderful business called Save Their Story . She creates professional video biographies – usually by interviewing one family member and asking them to tell their life story.

If you’re serious about collecting family history, Bridget recommends preparing a list of open-ended interview questions ahead of time. That way, you can make the most of your conversation. Want more tips? Read more here.

Almost any holiday ritual can become rich with meaning. Just this week, a gift giver named Valerie asked us to extract voices from a short video of her father reading a Christmas story to his grandson. Valerie's Dad passed away a few months ago and she wanted a way to share this memory with others -- and to preserve her father's voice for generations to come.

We were proud to work with Valerie and are delighted to report that her father's voice will be played and preserved by one of our ivory photo frame keepsakes!

Why wait? Holidays are the perfect time to ask questions and preserve favorite memories.

More Friends, More VoiceQuilt Voice Messages = More Emotional Support

2010-11-12T11:56:00.018-05:00

Forgive me for ranting, but Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal piece, “Beyond Facebook: the benefits of Deeper Friendships” really made me crabby.

The author assumes that friendships are binary: either deep or casual. She also assumes that Facebook friends are exclusively casual and that "deeper" friendships can only be maintained by face-to-face or phone communication.

“Constantly connected via Facebook and Twitter, you may feel like you have a lot of friends. But will they be your go-to friends during crisis?”

Don't most of us have both close and casual friends on Facebook? Moreover, life at VoiceQuilt has convinced me that emotional support can come from all quarters. A cheering squad of deep friends, casual friends and somewhere-in-between-friends is incredibly powerful. Just listen here.

Here is an excerpt from an email we received earlier this week from a gift giver named Emily.

"My husband is going through a rough time at work so I had his friends call in and give him a "Pep Talk" which I put into his car this morning to surprise him on the way to work.”

VoiceQuilt's privacy policy doesn't allow us to listen to VoiceQuilt messages without the gift giver's permission. However, my intuition says that at least one caller shared inspirational words. I'll bet that at least one caller would have been deemed a "casual friend" by our Wall Street Journal writer. Maybe he shared a funny work memory, one that reminded Emily's husband that better times will come soon...

When it comes to emotional support, these old adages come to mind:

“The more, the merrier."
"Many hands make light work"
"Any port in a storm"

VoiceQuilt: BeClose Is Another Way to Stay Connected

2010-11-09T12:35:00.010-05:00

When her father's health started to decline in 2007, Liddy Manson, a seasoned technology and interactive media executive, had the same reaction every daughter does—she worried. She worried about her parents being in Boston, 300 miles away. She worried about her father's health and started thinking about ways to stay connected despite the distance. In fact, Liddy spent several years imagining how she might understand and monitor the rhythms of her parents' life.

Because of this personal experience, Manson started BeClose, an organization designed to help caregivers keep an unobtrusive eye on aging parents, friends and relatives. BeClose (www.beclose.com) is all about respecting an aging parent’s independence – while offering peace of mind to the adult child.

Liddy's father died just as BeClose was launched, and Liddy's mother, living alone for the first time in 50 years, became one of BeClose's first customers. Mother and daughter feel better knowing that a safety net is in place, and both are grateful that nagging conversations about the activities of daily life don't have to take place anymore.

BeClose uses wireless sensors to monitor an older person’s daily routines. If, for example, a parent lingers too long in a hallway, the caregiver or adult child is notified via email or text message. Daughters like Liddy can also log on to a secure website to monitor their parent’s daily activities. If something is amiss, help can be summoned immediately.

This kind of system is reassuring to everyone involved. It’s yet one more way that technology can foster connection – something we’re quite fond of here at VoiceQuilt. Please be sure to check Liddy's company out here.

Storytelling, Lucky Charms and VoiceQuilt

2010-11-06T09:09:00.017-04:00

This week, the Wall Street Journal published an article about "lucky charms", highlighting the story of a wig that has been passed from woman to woman – all breast cancer patients – “intended to help patients return to good health". Once one woman recovers, she passes the wig onto another woman just starting treatment.

Next, the article mentions the the Boston Keepsakes Project – a non-profit partnership which videotapes seniors telling stories about their keepsakes or “personal amulets”.

Because the Boston Keepsakes Project is the backdrop for a TV show, the storytelling seniors received extensive training and rehearsal to tell their stories effectively.

“BNN's Barbara Barrow-Murray shared her expertise in television production with the seniors by providing them with hands-on technical experience and nurturing their confidence in front of the camera.”

Perhaps that’s one of the best things about VoiceQuilt: the memories are unscripted, unrehearsed and brimming with emotion. The callers don’t have to worry about their hair or clothes. (Indeed, most calls occur in the wee hours of the morning or late evening – something we deem “the Pajama Effect”.)

Most callers focus on toa sts, tributes and favorite memories about a person. However, we’ve noticed several VoiceQuilts where family chefs talk about recipes and family cooking traditions.

VoiceQuilts are created not only for happy occasions - Birthdays or Anniversaries - but to commemorate the end of life. Mothers who are dying want to share stories about mementos they will be leaving to their children. These VoiceQuilts are heartbreaking but we are proud to help with an incredibly valuable process.

Like the Wall Street Journal’s lucky wig story, these VoiceQuilt messages invariably focus on the emotional significance of the jewelry – why that piece was valuable to the Mom and how she’d like to be remembered.

VoiceQuilt allows the lucky charms to "speak for themselves".

Funeral For the Phone? Not According To VoiceQuilt!

2010-11-02T20:28:00.012-04:00

This Sunday’s New York Times Magazine contained an article subtitled, “Mourning the lost art of the analog phone call”. The author, Virginia Heffernan, laments the disappearance of long, intimate phone conversations, a staple of her teens.

“A conversation could last hours upon dazed hours, as you sat on your parents’ bed, twirling the curly cord, or hauled the house phone into the bathroom, the better to monopolize family telecommunications...”

On one level, Ms. Heffernan is right. In absolute terms, phone calls are declining.

Nielsen, at the request of The Wall Street Journal, analyzed cellphone bills of 60,000 mobile subscribers and found adults made and received an average of 188 mobile phone calls a month in the 2010 period, down 25% from the same period three years earlier.

Most teens use cell phones almost exclusively for texting. Some, according to yet another Wall Street Journal article, consider phone calls quasi-rude.

Anne McAndrews, a 21-year-old marketing major at Emerson College in Boston, says she and her friends almost never talk on the phone. "If I were to call someone, it would have to be urgent," she says. "Otherwise, it's sort of rude and invasive."

I think that these statistics and perceptions overlook an important fact about listeneng best captured by Norman Doidge, the author of “The Brain that Changes Itself”.

“…The brain constructs the message…differently for reading and listening….Listening to an audio book leaves a different set of memories than reading does. A newscast heard on the radio is processed differently from the same words read on a newspaper.”

Doidge explains something we’ve known for a long time: The sound of someone's voice – their accent, tone and laughter – conveys something much different than a photo, letter or any store-bought gift. Listening to a loved one share a favorite memory is more emotional than anyone expects.

Maybe that’s why Ms. Heffernan is so sentimental about those conversations as a teen….She remembers those waves of emotion…

Musing About Music in VoiceQuilts

2010-10-26T08:17:00.015-04:00

More and more VoiceQuilt gift givers are adding songs or asking callers to include music. In fact, we’re seeing 4 key ways that music is used to create a VoiceQuilt:

1.) Add humor.
We hear lots of messages where friends invent new lyrics for familiar songs.
• Check out “the Dixie chicks” singing “Remember When” for a 50th wedding anniversary.
• Or, enjoy some lullabies from a Grandma – or even a rap.

2.) Capture a performance.
We often overhear piano, flute, tuba and violin renditions of “Happy Birthday” when VoiceQuilt Keepsakes are in quality testing.
• That said, there’s nothing quite like a toddler singing “You Are My Sunshine” or a family belting out “Jingle Bells”.
• We also heard many talented family musicians performing Broadway songs, hymns and college anthems.

3.) Elaborate On A Theme.

• Many 50th wedding anniversary VoiceQuilts include a song from the couple’s dating days. The gift giver googles something like “greatest hits of 1960” to get song ideas and then purchases the MP3 on Amazon. Or, they play the song in the background as they record their voice message.

• Get well VoiceQuilts often include prayers and favorite memories from friends – followed by inspirational music. More.

4.) Enhance Emotion.
• One Valentine gift giver recorded a romantic message and then uploaded love songs.
• Last week, an anniversary gift giver created a photo show with a soundtrack that combined VoiceQuilt messages and music.

Maybe Tim Westergreen, the Founder of Pandora, summed up music's emotional power best.

"When you’re young, music is a huge building block. Part of your identity is finding something you really love and can hold on to. It’s not only that it’s a soundtrack, it’s an exposition of who you are"

Quilting, Perfectionism and the VoiceQuilt Process

2010-10-19T19:33:00.008-04:00

Amy Milne, Regina Carter and Jodie Davis

Amy Milne at the Alliance for American Quilts (AAQ) invited me to a live interview with Regina Carter, an award-winning quilter. The interview took place at the Georgia Quilt Show this past Friday where Regina was teaching classes and exhibiting some of her handiwork.

The interview was one of many conducted by the Alliance members across the country as part of a grass roots project called Quilters’ S.O.S. – Save Our Stories. Thanks to this project, over 1,000 interviews with quilters have been transcribed and archived by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

VoiceQuilt is supporting the Alliance by donating services to quilters at the International Quilt Festival in Houston so they can record personal statements and comments about their quilts.

Even though I am not handy with a needle and thread, the interview with Regina was fascinating. She talked about the creative process, the women who taught her to quilt, and the quilting business she runs out of her garage. Regina shared the following poignant observation:

"The biggest challenge that quilters face is putting too much pressure on themselves to be “perfect”. Too many people curb their creative potential because they fear ruining fabric when learning a new technique.”

That fear of trying something new – because something might not be perfect (or even ruined) – isn’t a just quilting issue or a woman’s issue. It’s a human issue.

A few weeks ago a VoiceQuilt recipient stated that the favorite messages of her retirement VoiceQuilt were the “out takes”. (The gift giver included all the fumbling , bumbling messages -- the ones where people mis-spoke or got interrupted -- at the end of the VoiceQuilt playlist.) These messages weren't perfect...one reason they were so memorable.

With Regina and the VoiceQuilt callers in mind, I resolve to try MORE new things this week!

An Anniversary VoiceQuilt As Photo Show Soundtrack

2010-10-16T07:52:00.015-04:00

Dave's Parents -- 50 Years Ago

Just heard from a VoiceQuilt gifter giver named Dave. He created a VoiceQuilt and used it as the soundtrack for a photo show at his parents’ 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration.

“I was able to add photos (used the Ken Burns effect to give the photos motion) …and then had music playing below the VoiceQuilt track. Love that your service displays the duration of each message. I was quickly able to set the displayed photo's duration to match the message duration…..Mom and Dad were so surprised and grateful for this precious gift. Everyone who attended raved about the presentation. “

Dave’s one of a growing number of gift givers creating party entertainment – a photo show or video – by using a VoiceQuilt playlist of toasts, tributes and favorite memories as the soundtrack. There are more examples here.

Dave’s also an entrepreneur, the founder of RummageWisconsin.com. Check it out!

The Alliance for American Quilts, Oral History and VoiceQuilt

2010-10-13T05:37:00.022-04:00

"Shattered" a quilt by Karen Musgrave on Alzheimer's disease.

For the past few years, a small but mighty non-profit called the Alliance for American Quilts has been partnering with Michigan State University Museum (MSU) and MSU’s MATRIX: Center for Humane Arts, Letters and Social Sciences Online to create a virtual museum or Quilt Index. This online museum includes photos of over 50,000 quilts. The Alliance for American Quilts also runs a project called Quilters’ S.O.S. – Save Our Stories, transcribed interviews with quilters archived by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

In the words of blogger Betty Londergan

"The Quilt Index allows readers to log on and see a Tennessee quilt from 1850, then zoom in and compare it, stitch by stitch, with a quilt from Massachusetts from the 1950s. It’s like unlocking the treasures of every basement, attic, museum warehouse, and hope chest – along with the hearts of each woman (or man) who stitched these quilts together."

Quilters' S.O.S. - Save Our Stories (Q.S.O.S.) is a grassroots project. Anyone interested in recording the stories of local quilters can get started by downloading a free manual on the Alliance for American Quilts (AAQ) website here.

What’s not to love about a group that uses a seminal American Art form for storytelling and oral history?

VoiceQuilt supports the Alliance's efforts by donating services so that quilters with work on display at the International Quilt Festival in Houston can record personal statements and comments. And we’ll be making it easy for Quilt Festival attendees to call in their impressions and reactions to quilts like these. Stay tuned!

NPR, Precious Audio and VoiceQuilt

2010-10-05T20:25:00.014-04:00

Last week, NPR did a segment entitled “Storing Treasured Memories On CD May Be Risky”. I had to tune in because VoiceQuilt’s mission is to capture and preserve voice-based toasts, tributes and favorite memories - for this generation and generations to come.

Sam Brylawski, the show guest, was co-author of a study entitled, "The State of Recorded Sound Preservation in the United States: A National Legacy at Risk in the Digital Age." During the segment, Mr. Brylawski expressed alarm at the “ephemeral” nature of digital audio.

He recommended that listeners save audio in multiple formats, especially flash memory and gold archive CDs.

He recommended that listeners take advantage of “digital repositories”.

Every VoiceQuilt keepsake box stores precious voice-based memories on the most stable media available: flash. In addition, every VoiceQuilt keepsake gift and mp3 download is preserved online in the VoiceQuilt Sharing center. Check out the toasts and tributes the Association of Personal Historians left for Studs Terkel – in honor of his 96th birthday - back in 2008.

Our lawyers advise us not to say “forever” but our hope is that VoiceQuilt's online sharing center serves as a safe deposit box for precious voice-based memories.

Check Out A Storytelling Festival!

2010-09-30T07:37:00.016-04:00

We're big fans of storytelling -- and not just the VoiceQuilt kind. This weekend, more than 10,000 people from all over the country will descend upon Tennessee’s oldest town to be captivated by a well told story. The 3 day, National Storytelling Festival kicks off its 38th year in Jonesboro, Tennessee at 10am tomorrow, October 1. If you have a chance to attend, don’t miss it.

The story of how the festival began is as pure and true as the art of storytelling itself: a journalism teacher, inspired by a tale he and his students heard on the radio, decided to host a local storytelling festival. During its first year in 1973, roughly 60 people sat on hay bales as seats. The storytellers used an old wagon as a stage….and the rest is history.

Thanks to the popularity of the National Storytelling Festival, you can find storytelling events, celebrations and festivals in almost every city. Philadelphia has a storytelling bench; the Storytelling Association of California has weekly story swaps; Texas has an Annual Tumbleweed Storytelling Festival; New York has The Moth, a storytelling group that meets twice a week. My personal favorite is in VoiceQuilt's neighborhood: The Southern Order of Storytellers.

It's terrific entertainment: family-friendly and inexpensive (usually free). So, just google “storytelling” plus the name of your closest city and see what you find. You won’t be disappointed.

Audio Recordings + Fire = MyBirthdayCandle.com

2010-09-24T08:34:00.015-04:00

A friend wrote me about this crazy candle for birthday cakes.

“It exceeds expectations -- I'm even ordering another set. Check out the video on the home page. Used it for my daughter's birthday this week. Everyone went wild. It's hysterical.”

I must confess that “As seen on TV” sites have never had much appeal for me. I am also morally opposed to web sites that automatically play audio, especially the tinny, loud kind. Last but not least, I hear many, many snippets of “Happy Birthday” on a daily basis, thanks to VoiceQuilt Fulfillment quality testing in our office. (“Happy birthday” rendered on a tuba is one of the more extraordinary experiences I have had.)

Yet, I just had to do it. Went to MyBirthdayCandle.com, bought the candle, put it on a cake and surpised our turning-12-daughter. Truly a pyromaniac's delight. What a hit!

Crowdsourcing A Birthday, Anniversary or Other Gift with VoiceQuilt

2010-09-22T14:16:00.024-04:00

Lori and her "crowd" of cancer walk teammates

Crowdsourcing is quite the buzz these days. It usually involves companies that are outsourcing tasks to a community (a crowd), through an open call or invitation.

From a company's perspective, these are the advantages of crowdsourcing:

no fear of going "over budget" since the price is set up by the customer at the beginning of the project.
no fear that the designer will get the money and then leave the job undone. Payment follows only if a winner is selected
clients can provide feedback, request revisions and send messages to designers
guaranteed satisfaction - the client doesn't have to select a winner

Many distinguished companies have jumped on the crowdsourcing bandwagon. The most notable example is Pepsi's 2007 Design Our Pepsi Can promotion. The winning designer received a $10,000 prize as well as the distinction of seeing their work on 500 million Pepsi cans.

The most well known sites for crowdsourcing are the following:

99designs
namethis
poptent
crowdSPRING

We're big fans of crowdsourcing. In fact, we believe that VoiceQuilt is crowdsourcing - in audio form - for people like you and me.

A VoiceQuilt gift giver is in control of what "crowd" is invited to call in with messages. The gift giver controls the messages that are included, their sequence and how they are labeled. The VoiceQuilt gift giver also chooses how the voice messages are delivered - Keepsake Box, CD, MP3 Flash, email, download -- and how widely messages are shared.

Some gift givers share the entire voice message playlist on Facebook; others share messages with close family via email; others keep the messages private, delivering them only via the actual keepsake gift: a VoiceQuilt Keepsake box, flash drive or CD.

The crowd is what makes each VoiceQuilt keepsake so unique ...or rather, the crowd's assembled toasts, tributes and favorite memories. It's the sum of all those voice messages - the collaboration of all those people that love the gift recipient -- that makes a VoiceQuilt so meaningful.

A Cheering Squad of Voices: Get Well, Stay Strong or Thinking Of You

2010-09-16T11:52:00.012-04:00

Inspired by Robin Roberts, we began distributing flyers in local chemotherapy centers a few months back. We thought that patients like Robin Roberts would benefit from a cheering squad of family and friends, offering words of encouragement.

Our biggest surprise? The “get well” flyer here was not well-received.

As turns out, chemotherapy patients expect to feel worse after treatment. For them, it’s not about “getting well”. It’s all about “staying strong”. As a result, we developed the flyer you see at the top of this post.

The lesson? Each person is unique. Some are getting well, some are about to undergo a difficult treatment and some face an uncertain situation.

Even so, the best get well, stay strong or thinking of you messages include heartfelt toasts, tributes or favorite memories. A few gift givers have given us permission to share some wonderful examples. Please check out them out here.

Capturing Wartime Memories: The Veterans History Project and VoiceQuilt

2010-09-09T14:22:00.015-04:00

A family historian told me to check out the Veterans History Project.

Sponsored by the Library of Congress, the Veterans History Project is dedicated to preserving the experiences of American war veterans. Although most stories are collected on audio or video tape, many are written, too. The goal is to capture the first-hand personal experiences of war veterans – so that history comes alive for future generations.

The stories collected tell us about the people who left their homes, sometimes at a very young age, leaving their parents, sweethearts and even new families behind.

Frequently, a VoiceQuilt customer will give us permission to listen to the toasts and tributes collected for a parent. Often I hear a male voice sharing memories of World War II. I’ve heard about cramped fighting conditions in a tank; I’ve heard about love letters from girlfriends; I’ve heard about bunkmates lost in battle. It's very moving, listening to these snippets of history...

At VoiceQuilt, we’re honored to help capture and preserve memories from "The Greatest Generation".

Our hope is that these voice-based toasts, tributes and favorite memories will make history come alive for today’s children and grandchildren. After all, the sound of someone's voice – their accent, tone and laughter – conveys so much more emotion than an image -- or the written word. (But then again, we're hopelessly biased!)

Auntie Elaine’s 90th VoiceQuilt: Making Lemonade Out of Lemons…

2010-09-05T10:10:00.009-04:00

One of our intrepid gift givers is an eloquent blogger. Here is a excerpt from a recent post from her amazing blog here.

Robert Burns is quoted as saying, "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry". This was the case when it came to planning my Godmother's (Elaine M.) 90th birthday party scheduled for August 29th.

My brother and his wife, Auntie Elaine's nephew and his wife, and I had planned a wonderful dinner at the golf course for 18 of Auntie Elaine's dearest friends and family. Unfortunately, Auntie Elaine had not been well for several weeks and landed in hospital in the middle of August.

Over the summer, I had invited close to 100 friends and family to participate in making a Voice Quilt for Auntie Elaine's gift....We had calls from all over the world -- some friends told stories that brought laughter and tears, others recited special poems, while others sang various renditions of Happy Birthday! It is an amazing and unique way to include loved ones in a special celebration-- especially with so many people separated by miles.

Never let it be said we aren't adaptable, because although the dinner was cancelled and a tea held instead at the hospital, the "organizing committee" decided to hold a "Happy Hour" on the unit and comandeered a meeting room. Under the premise I would beg forgiveness rather than ask permission, I brought in a backpack full of gin and tonics, wine and beer along with an array of appetizers.

So, we took lemons and made lemonade. In the end, we accomplished what we set out to do -- to celebrate Auntie Elaine's 90th birthday, and to show her how much she is loved. Mission accomplished.

I just love the spirit behind Heather's post: the "can do" attititude, the love for Auntie Elaine and that spunky extra touch: sneaking adult beverages into a hospital environment. Heather's blog is a terrific read. Be sure to check out her exciting travel adventures here.

Let's Talk. It Could Extend Your Life.

2010-09-01T16:33:00.017-04:00

Two weeks ago, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study of lung cancer patients. Half of the patients in the study received conventional medical treatment; the other half received palliative care.

Here is the Wikipedia definition of palliative care:

"Palliative care (from Latin palliare, to cloak) is any form of medical care or treatment that concentrates on reducing the severity of disease symptoms, rather than striving to halt, delay, or reverse progression of the disease itself or provide a cure. The goal is to prevent and relieve suffering and to improve quality of life for people facing serious, complex illness."

Not only did the patients with palliative care score higher on quality of life measures, they also lived longer. Here is a quote from an article by ABC News:

"Early palliative care reduced use of aggressive measures at end of life by more than a third, cut the prevalence of depression in half, and added three months to the median survival of patients with advanced non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)."

In most situations, palliative care is coordinated by a team of professionals – from medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, nutrition – as well as social workers and family therapists. The goal is to get the patient and family members talking about the disease and its prognosis. In many ways, it’s all about helping patients and their families cope with medical and non-medical aspects of illness.

At VoiceQuilt, we don't have a team of researchers or mounds of statistical data. However, we often speak with gift givers honoring a loved one going through a difficult time. We're told that listening to loving toasts, tributes and favorite memories from family and friends can make all the difference. We're delighted that the medical community is beginning to see the therapeutic value of family conversations -- and family connectedness -- too.

"Voices in the Family" and a Random Epiphany

2010-08-27T10:16:00.014-04:00

Dr. Daniel Gottlieb, Author "Voices in the Family"

Most “self help” books sit on my nightstand and are dismissed with a summary read. "Voices in the Family" by Daniel Gottlieb was different. Family Therapist Daniel Gottlieb has created a very thought provoking Facebook page, too.

What gripped me most about "Voices in the Family" was his section about parents:

“When children are very young, they don’t have to take care of their parents; they can expect their parents to take care of them. But once we’re past a certain age – when we’re thirty, forty or fifty – it’s we who must hear our parents. It’s we who must nurture them. It’s we who must respect their dignity and integrity…”

I was reminded of this after watching a video memoir that Bridget Poizner (an amazingly gifted videographer) created of my father, who turned 85 in February. What surprised me most about his interview was a brief comment my Dad made about feeling bitter upon returning from World War II.

Thanks to Dr. Gottlieb’s book, I decided to ask my Dad about this comment last week. The answer to that question triggered one of the most meaningful conversations we've had in years. It was an epiphany for me.

So, when was the last time you asked a parent how they felt about a specific experience in their lives?

Preserving Memories, Slashdot and VoiceQuilt

2010-08-20T09:44:00.010-04:00

I’m not normally a reader of Slashdot. However, a good friend alerted me to a string of posts entitled, “Preserving the memories of a loved one”.

A man wanting to preserve memories of his dying wife started a thread asking for advice. The comments provide a wonderful/awful example of how complicated dealing with end of life can be (Please scroll down the page and you'll see 472 entries.)

Most responses suggest specific tasks:

That the wife create a video blog, write letters to the children or preserve a handprint in clay;

That the husband hire someone to do a video interview, compile a genealogical map, create a death mask or preserve some of the wife’s DNA.

Others recommend a completely different approach, suggesting that the husband focus on creating new memories with the wife while she is living. Some posts even suggest that the husband stop thinking about memory preservation and let the dying wife take the lead.

The posts resonated with the VoiceQuilt team because we have been involved with many end of life VoiceQuilts during the past few months. In some families, the VoiceQuilt is a "This is your life tribute"; in others, it is the dying person's final wishes and memories for those left behind.

In short, there are no easy answers. Each family copes with illness and loss in a unique way. There is no cookie-cutter recipe for dying well or helping someone else die well. We must all do the best we can, each step of the way, to honor our loved ones.

Fun Feedback From VoiceQuilt Gift Givers...

2010-08-17T07:48:00.006-04:00

Sybil's parents..listening to their wedding anniversary VoiceQuilt.

Here are comments from our exit survey question, “Which was your favorite message?”

"I really didn't have one favorite. I did this for my husband's birthday, who is currently deployed, so all the messages meant so much to both of us."

August 8, 2010

"One of the gals sang the entire birthday song & she was so off-key! It was hilarious!! I put it towards the end to lighten things up & it really did!!"
August 11, 2010

"There was a message from dear friends of my parent's recalling a time they had slept over during a snowstorm..and some of their other adventures. It was hysterically funny."
August 11, 2010

Here are email excerpts…

"Celebrating eight decades of excellence was the intent of the party we held for my mother…. One of the greatest highlights of this celebration of her life was the opportunity to allow those who could not attend the celebration to actually be a part of the entire experience through VoiceQuilt. Not only were so many people able to express their love and memories, but Bernadine now has a “living” reminder of what she means to so many and to recognize how many lives she has touched. Prior to the celebration, she was becoming more and more lonely, having lost her soul mate of over 57 years five years ago. Now she plays the VoiceQuilt every day and it brings continual joy into her life... "

July 15, 2010

"As you may recall, we did a Voice Quilt for my parents’ 65th anniversary….My mother had a severe stroke last week and has been in intensive care for several days. She still has her voice and memory and asked me if I would bring the Voice Quilt to the hospital for her to hear again. Said it would cheer her up. She listened to the entire recording, and I believe she appreciates it even more now that last month when we gave it to her and my dad. I know she will listen to it again and again as she goes through rehab and perhaps moving to a nursing home... "

August 3, 2010

Strengthening Relationships – and VoiceQuilt

2010-08-11T11:46:00.016-04:00

Ellin, Catherine and friends in Hawaii celebrating a 50th birthday -- with VoiceQuilt.

An article came across my desk the other day, outlining “destination” birthday vacations. According to the article, experiential travel is one of the few categories of consumer spending on the rise. The article details experiential trips that have been planned for 30th, 60th and even 70th birthdays. It’s fascinating reading.

That article reminded me of a recent New York Times article entitled, "But Does It Make Your Happy?” describing consumers shifting spending towards experience-based goods.

One major finding is that spending money for an experience — concert tickets, French lessons, sushi-rolling classes, a hotel room in Monaco — produces longer-lasting satisfaction than spending money on plain old, ordinary stuff.

A VoiceQuilt is often a souvenir of a destination birthday, anniversary or wedding. And -- for many gift recipients - the voice-based toasts, tributes and favorite memories are a powerful way to re-experience favorite moments and people.

Maybe it all boils down to this quote from the article:

Current research suggests that, unlike consumption of material goods, spending on leisure and services typically strengthens social bonds, which in turn helps amplify happiness.

We like to think that VoiceQuilt celebrates, enhances and strengthens relationships. And we couldn't be happier about this trend...

Music, the Ayatollah and VoiceQuilt

2010-08-06T07:44:00.017-04:00

According an article in today’s Wall Street Journal, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared music “not compatible with the highest values of the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic”. The author of the article goes on to speculate that Iran’s regime is afraid of the way music triggers powerful emotions. It cites two recent studies:

One recent shows that depressed patients improve more dramatically when they listen to classical music than when they participate in psychotherapy;

Another shows that that men purchase more roses when florists pipe in romantic music.

In short, music provokes “a visceral, emotive response” that can’t be controlled by dictators. I find this fascinating: Music can be therapeutic AND manipulative.

A friend and avid music fan recently recommended a list of “You can do it!” songs for women undergoing chemotherapy. We'll be publishing that list on VoiceQuilt's web site next week. Why? Our hope is that VoiceQuilt gift givers will combine voice-based toasts and favorite memories with music. We think it's the best way to cheer someone on as they go through a difficult situation.

We're grateful to the Ayatollah and the Wall Street Journal for highlighting how powerful this kind of audio can be...

A Quilting Authority on VoiceQuilt

2010-07-30T15:25:00.008-04:00

This month, we had a very nice testimonial from a traditional Quilter, Meg Cox. In addition to writing a seminal resource called The Quilter's Catalog: A Comprehensive Resource Guide, (Workman Publishing). Meg writes a regular column called Megabites for the magazine Quilter’s Home.

“Megabites knows from personal experience how comforting and warm a VoiceQuilt can be….At the party, my beloved opened his (VoiceQuilt Keepsake) box and we all listened to the voices of those that love him, from Dick’s 2-year-old granddaughter to his 90-something godmother. We laughed and we cried at this recorded version of This is Your Life. So this is a recommendation from the heart, not a product placement."

You can read the entire article here.

I like to think that each voice message is like a “patch” in one of Meg’s traditional fabric quilts. Unlike a traditional quilt, however, the sequence of voices doesn’t require intense planning. The sum of the messages is greater than all the individual parts. It’s that collage of voices – that montage of memories – that gives a VoiceQuilt its “This is your life” impact.

Needless to say, we are very grateful to Meg for the wonderful review. Be sure to check out her site's tips on creating meaningful family traditions, too.

A VoiceQuilt "Stroke of Insight" At CHA

2010-07-28T08:39:00.007-04:00

I’ve been at the Craft and Hobby Association Show (CHA) in Chicago the past two days.

I thought we would see supplies for scrapbookers. However, the show focused on tools for shaping, acrylic, beads, buttons, photos and other items into party invitations, birthday cards, thank-you gifts or Christmas decorations.

I am amazed at the artistry: a chandelier comprised of delicate acrylic butterflies; a kit for making cards that could be used to convey sympathy or to announce a new baby. (See photos here.)

On the way to the Chicago airport, I had picked up My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D. The book is the personal account of a famous Harvard brain researcher that had a massive stroke at the peak of her career. The story is her personal account of her left versus right brain during recovery. It’s a fascinating read because she learns to identify the left brain’s role as an analytical storyteller and the right brain’s role as a intuitive artist.

“The two halves of my brain don’t just perceive and think in different ways at a neurological level, but they demonstrate very different values based upon the types of information they perceive…(page 140)

My left brain is telling me that we didn’t find add-ons for keepsakes at Christmas. My right brain is thrilled by the possibilities after meeting two other companies in the capturing voice memories space. (We also got some amazing tips on sourcing in the Far East from kind reps on the showroom floor.)

The Best Medicine? VoiceQuilt’s “We Love You Playlist”

2010-07-20T13:36:00.013-04:00

We’re very excited about helping families encourage a loved one with voice messages. We are distributing flyers in Atlanta chemotherapy centers, offering discounts to gift givers who want to create a “We Love You” playlist.

You can check it out here

The inspiration for VoiceQuilt came from a get well scenario. My best friend’s husband, Glenn, was on full life support in an intensive care unit at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. Whenever I joined them at the hospital, we would tease Glenn as we played cards, worked crossword puzzles and listened to his favorite music. We shared everyday moments and treated him as if he could hear us. And – against all odds – Glenn recovered.

I came out of the experience convinced that loving voices can make a difference. VoiceQuilt is all about making the process of collecting those loving voices -- those encouraging words -- as easy as possible.

So, the idea of helping families collect toasts, encouraging messages or song dedications for loved ones going through chemo is incredibly gratifying. Know anyone going through a tough time? Why not remind them how much everyone cares? It could make all the difference...

Words, VoiceQuilt and the Atlanta Gift Mart

2010-07-17T10:02:00.017-04:00

Twice a year, Atlanta hosts a large gift show called the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market (“Gift Mart”). At the show, gift wholesalers display and sell product to independent gift retailers. It’s a terrific way to get a sense for trends in personalized gifts.

We visited the Gift Mart yesterday and– like the editors at Gifts and Decorative Accessories Magazine - we were struck by the following:

“Words are a big trend this market. Vendors are putting words on just about everything — from photo albums to decorative accessories.”

The gift industry experts showed the photo above as evidence of this trend. We, of course, were more fascinated with the proliferation of music boxes with quotes, inspirational sayings and words.

There’s something here that reminds me of the Wall Street Journal’s article about the growing popularity of Norman Rockwell’s paintings. The print version of the article implied that Rockwell’s art provided a comfort during anxious economic times.

Now, I’m all about sentimental but but some of the sayings made me feel as though I had put too much sugar in my coffee:

“Friends are kisses to us blown by angels.”

Curious? Check them out here.

Even if we're a little jaded, we applaud all the ways gift givers are trying to express love with thoughtful gifts. That’s important and we're delighted that gift givers are reaching out with words - written or spoken.

VoiceQuilt and Robin Roberts: A "We Love You" Playlist

2010-07-13T15:08:00.023-04:00

"Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts is celebrating the end of chemotherapy!

Six months ago, Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since then, she continued hosting "Good Morning America" while fighting the disease and receiving treatment.

On her last day of chemotherapy, Roberts talked about "little rituals" that helped her get through her "least favorite parts" of treatment.

This was my favorite part of the article.

Before her first treatment, Roberts was given by her friends an iPod loaded with photos of them corresponding with their favorite songs to inspire her.

"It's like a little slideshow that goes by with different songs. … It was a great idea by my friends and they just wanted me to know they were here with me, they were here with me," she said.

(Later on in the article, Roberts refers to her headphones as “magic shields” that fend off negative thoughts.)

At VoiceQuilt, we’re well aware of the power of music. In fact, many Get Well VoiceQuilts include both voice messages and music. We think of these as inspirational mixtapes. What better way to support a friend? We think of it as a "vivid visit" -- a way for everyone to be there...

Go to http://www.voicequilt.com/ and click "Get Started" to sends words of encouragement to that special someone.

VoiceQuilt - An "Instrument of Relationship"

2010-07-06T07:20:00.020-04:00

We were intrigued by this WSJ article today.

It's a review of retail expert Paco Underhill's most recent book, "What Women Want". The review contained a quote that jumped off the page:

"Men buy instruments of technology, whereas women buy instruments of relationship."

Many promising voice messaging companies have launched in recent years. Like VoiceQuilt, these companies have had impressive technology platforms. However, technology alone isn't compelling. As far as we're concerned, it's all about making it easy for women to capture memories and deliver the memories as a meaningful gift.

Women purchase nearly 3 out of every 4 VoiceQuilt gifts. These women understand that relationships matter most. The sound of someone's voice – their accent, tone and laughter – conveys much more than a photo, letter or a store-bought gift. The collection of toasts, tributes and favorite memories represents a legacy of sorts, a symbol of the gift recipient’s impact on the world.

We believe that a VoiceQuilt Keepsake is the symbol of a lifetime of relationships. The technology underlying VoiceQuilt's process enables this gift. We're hopelessly biased, but we think our cool technology is the ultimate "instrument of relationship".

Create your own unique, personalized "instrument of relationship" to commemorate a special occasion - Birthday, Anniversary, Retirement, etc. Go to http://www.voicequilt.com/ and click "Get Started".

Thanking a Soldier…In Your Own Voice

2010-07-01T15:22:00.018-04:00

Last year around Independence Day, the National Museum of Patriotism asked visitors to call in thank-you voice messages for military personnel overseas. Thanks to creative TV coverage by Jennifer Leslie, a newscaster at NBC’s affiliate in Atlanta, we have this photo show with highlights from the National Museum of Patriotism VoiceQuilt.

This year, we look fondly back on that VoiceQuilt. We won't be in a TV studio like last year. Instead, we’ll be enjoying fireworks, burnt hotdogs and a dip in the neighborhood pool. However, we have a new item on the agenda: seeking out a parade.

Why? Our goal is to celebrate the meaning of Independence Day -- and to find some military families -- so that we can thank them in person.

We hope you will thank a soldier -- or their family -- too.

Voice Messages, Music and Chemotherapy

2010-06-25T13:25:00.007-04:00

Last winter, we talked with Joyce, a Mom that created a VoiceQuilt for her daughter, Michelle. Michelle was fighting breast cancer and Joyce had asked everyone to call in encouraging messages. Read more here.

As the messages came in, Michelle’s sister suggested that they upload inspirational music, too. We just love it when our service is used in new ways!

Thanks to Michelle and her family, we’re talking with local chemotherapy infusion centers about donating FREE phone time to families of chemotherapy patients. Most centers suggest bringing an iPod with soothing music to appointments. This is just a slightly different twist on that idea.

It’s easy, too, because the VoiceQuilt mp3 can be downloaded at the last minute for FREE.

Maybe a family records voice messages just like Michelle’s friends did. Or maybe they ask everyone to record a song dedication, explaining why a piece of music is important.

Either way, we’re gratified to help a cheering squad like Michelle’s get heard – literally.

P.S. A recent medical study suggests a link between music and patient quality of life.

Music's Link to Memories (and VoiceQuilt)

2010-06-21T15:00:00.009-04:00

“Music shapes your personality. When you’re young, music is a huge building block. Part of your identity is finding something you really love and can hold on to. It’s not only that it’s a soundtrack, it’s an exposition of who you are.”

Tim Westergren, Founder of Pandora
Quoted from Wall Street Journal Magazine

Late last week, we thought of this quote as a Father’s Day keepsake was being finalized. An obscure (at least to us) oldie was last on the playlist: "Frenesi" by Artie Shaw. "Frenesi" was the most popular song in 1941 (we looked it up!) and the song reminded the Father's Day VoiceQuilt recipient of his wife and their courtship.

We’re seeing more and more gift givers including songs. With that in mind, we scanned our database of birthday VoiceQuilts for the most popular song upload.

The answer? "It’s a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.

For anniversary VoiceQuilts, the most popular upload was “I Love You Because” by Jim Reeves.

We know an 11 year old who is a Justin Beiber fan. "Baby, Baby, Baby Ooh" on end...Enough said. Nothing against the talented Mr. Bieber, but this older music is a very pleasant change....

VoiceQuilt - Finding Dad's Softer Side

2010-06-16T11:00:00.013-04:00

I saw this thought-provoking article in today's Wall Street Journal about father-daughter ties...Finding Dad's Softer Side:

"Why is it so hard for a grown woman to bare herself emotionally to a man she's loved all her life?

And why would a man have trouble discussing something sensitive with a woman he helped raise?"

It’s a difficult issue. Since a VoiceQuilt keepsake includes emotionally intimate toasts, tributes and favorite memories, I wondered if our customer data suggested anything different.

But it didn’t. Looking at year to date 2010, the majority of VoiceQuilt gift givers are women. It's also the case that the majority of VoiceQuilt recipients are women – or couples that include a woman.

The good news is this: the friends and family that phone in toasts, tributes and favorite memories are a good mix of men and women. Just take a listen here.

If brothers and fathers can leave sentimental messages for mothers and sisters, the reverse will surely come to pass! Hopefully, soon!

VoiceQuilt MP3s - Perfect for an iPod, iPhone or other digital music player

2010-06-11T10:43:00.007-04:00

Most VoiceQuilt gift givers order a physical keepsake AND download a VoiceQuilt mp3. The latter is like a podcast: the VoiceQuilt messages are combined into a single file for easy download.

A few months back, we began working on making each individual VoiceQuilt message available as an mp3 – formatted so that the VoiceQuilt Title, message description, and message number appear on the display of an iPod, iPhone or other digital music player.

Drum roll, please!

Next week we’ll introduce a USB drive that contains VoiceQuilt mp3’s. The best part is this: we can create mp3s for any VoiceQuilt -- even those very early VoiceQuilts created over 3 years ago. Cool!

VoiceQuilt: Dear Abby "Gets It"

2010-06-07T10:16:00.017-04:00

In Today’s “Dear Abby” column, a writer shares a Father’s Day gift he received: 365 written messages from his 4 children, each relaying a different favorite memory (one for every day of the year).

In some respects, this is a written VoiceQuilt.

Of course, we can’t imagine what it must have been like for 4 long distance siblings to write down 100+ memories (each on a separate piece of paper) and to get them mailed in one package to Dad in time for Father’s Day.

We think a VoiceQuilt is so much easier! (And of course we're biased! Wouldn't it be great to hear the emotion behind those memories -- in the voices of the children?)

Nevertheless, we're thrilled to see that Dear Abby understands the emotional impact of this kind of gift. She clearly "gets it".

VoiceQuilt allows you to invite anyone with a phone anywhere in the world to record a special message then share those messages.

Tell that special someone how much you care... Go to www.VoiceQuilt.com and click "Get Started".

VoiceQuilt - "I was surprised by the creativity of the callers"

2010-06-04T10:52:00.010-04:00

I thought it would be fun to share some comments from VoiceQuilt gift givers when we ask, "What was your biggest surprise?"

"The quality of the player was top-notch and the presentation (beautiful box, nice ribbon, well-wrapped for shipping)." Thu, Jun 3, 2010

"A friend from Belgium called in the international line!" Tue, Jun 1, 2010

"The emotional impact of the messages of support shown to my wife a two-time brain cancer survivor." Tue, Jun 1, 2010

"I was surprised by the creativity of the callers." Thu, May 27, 2010

"How quick it was to get the product completed and delivered. Thank you so much! And our party invitation fit perfectly in the "photo" section of the lid of the keepsake box. It was a beautiful gift." Thu, May 27, 2010

"The way everything came together and the recipient's surprise - it was truly a great keepsake that I know she will cherish." Thu, May 27, 2010

"One nephew left messages from "around the country" with different accents." Wed, May 26, 2010

Create a unique, personalized, sentimental VoiceQuilt gift to commemorate a special occasion - Birthday, Anniversary, Retirement, etc. Go to www.VoiceQuilt.com and click "Get Started".

Free tools for editing VoiceQuilt voice messages, audio recordings and music

2010-05-30T15:10:00.009-04:00

We often hear unexpected sounds during quality testing on VoiceQuilt keepsakes: dogs barking, babies gurgling and even a train whistle or two. We are also receiving quite a few questions about music. One gift giver asked how to include only the refrain of a popular song; another wanted to play a song in the background of voice messages. With these issues in mind, I reached out to Jim Phillips, our good friend and audiophile. I asked Jim to list his favorite tools for editing audio recordings, recorded voice messages and music.

Here is an excerpt from his tips.

1.) In radio, there was an entire catalog of sounds used to tell a story: a creaky door, howling winds, a cascade of falling objects (“Crash!”) and the ever-popular coconut shells that mimic the “clop-clop” of a horse’s hooves….

In movies, the person managing sound effects is known as a “foley artist”. If you want to be your own foley artist, check out this site on the Web.

http://www.stonewashed.net/sfx.html

You can download files as .wav or as .mp3. The .mp3 files are more compressed and smaller. The .wav sounds are much larger, but offer better audio quality. It would be easy to get the files needed to reproduce the ambient sounds of a walk down the street: wind blowing, lawn mowers starting, birds tweeting. Or you could have a stadium with cheering crowds and a voice booming over a PA system. You can also get enough car and highway sounds to reproduce your commute to work. You're only limited by your imagination.

2.) You can even get help with creating your own sound effects here:
http://www.marblehead.net/foley/specifics.html

3.) But how do you put all of those sounds together? There are many free MP3 editors out there for download. Most are shareware, where you pay after a trial use period. But some are free outright. They all have similar functions.

The best of the free mp3 editors is Audacity. It's available for Windows, Mac and Linux. It allows you to splice sounds together through common editing techniques like cut, copy, paste and delete. You can also use it for recording live audio or adding effects to sounds you already have (such as echo, phaser, wah-wah, etc.). You can speed up or slow down music or alter the pitch. You can also record multiple tracks and lay them on top of each other like a real recording engineer.

I could easily write a ten page article on the effects you can get using an editor. But the best advice is to get one and start playing around with sounds from the links above. It doesn't take much to get started. And with a little bit of trial and error, you can get some astonishingly interesting sound effects to amaze and fool your friends. As long as you save the sound tracks to either mp3 or wav format, you can upload them to a VoiceQuilt, too!

Also…If you want to explore other editors besides Audacity, a simple search for “mp3 editor” will give you a list of shareware alternatives.

BonaResponds collects volunteer thoughts and impressions with VoiceQuilt

2010-05-25T10:32:00.009-04:00

I am so inspired by a group of volunteers called BonaResponds!

BonaResponds is a non-profit, community service organization based out of St. Bonaventure College in St. Bonaventure, NY. The group recently sponsored an “International Service Day” on March 27, 2010.

Hundreds of volunteers across the US and the world spent March 27, 2010 donating their time and talents to those less fortunate. The “BonaRespondites” helped with a student health fair in LA, cleaned up a park in Chicago and helped with tax preparation in Buffalo. Others held a festival for special needs children, worked in a food pantry or pitched in to help build a home. They also performed good deeds in Uganda and New Zealand.

One of the volunteer leaders asked participants to share their thoughts and impressions of the day. Take a listen and be inspired!

VoiceQuilt's Time Capsule Challenge...

2010-05-20T13:12:00.010-04:00

This time of year, children are front and center. They’re finishing up preschool, high school or college, arriving home with diplomas, well-loved art projects or cherished personal essays. We’re awash in souvenirs of the school year and we’re absolutely sure we’ll never forget the way they talk, look and think. After all, we have all this STUFF.

But we will.

Why not set up a free, one day VoiceQuilt and create a quick verbal time capsule? To explain all that stuff!

That way, you’ll always have that sweet voice…or that enthusiastic voice…talking about highlights of the year. And when you’re done, just download it to your iPod and save it for those days when your progeny crabs at you – or rolls their eyes because you’ve done something embarrassing.

Just dial up VoiceQuilt’s toll free number with the phone on speaker and ask 3 questions – just like the local news reporter:

1.) What was your favorite thing about _____________th grade?

2.) Which of these items (pull out that class stuff) means the most to you and why?

3.) What do you want to be when you grow up?

(I am always amazed at my daughter’s answers to question 3. After years of answers like “a cheerleader” and “a hairdresser”, we’re on to esoteric answers like “an entomologist” or "an architect”…and it’s always changing….)

Just try it. You’ll like it.

For more on time capsules, visit these sites.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2154533_preserve-childrens-artwork.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_6637_make-family-time.html

VoiceQuilt and Save Their Story

2010-05-17T13:39:00.013-04:00

Bridget Poizner is a personal historian that has a wonderful business called Save Their Story . She creates professional video biographies – usually by interviewing a family member and asking them to tell their life story. Her business has been so successful – and her travel so extensive – that she has been profiled by Southwest Airlines!

Bridget uses VoiceQuilt when she wants to add comments and stories from long distance family members. A while back, she created a tribute video and had the challenge of collecting 20 second toasts and tributes for a photo montage. Here are the “fill-in-the-blank” instructions she gave to the family's grandchildren.

When I think of you, the first thing that comes to my mind is_______.

Do you remember when you_____? Or do you remember when we_____?

I still laugh when I think of the time_____.

VoiceQuilt offers “Thought Starters” but we often hear that people closest to the recipient have the hardest time figuring out what to say in their message. If you've got one procrastinator that needs some special coaxing, why not try Bridget's "MadLibs" out?

--

Traditional Quilts – and VoiceQuilt

2010-05-11T10:13:00.009-04:00

Last week, I heard from someone who makes traditional quilts, Meg Cox. Meg is the author of The Quilter's Catalog: A Comprehensive Resource Guide, (Workman Publishing). She called because she had just created a VoiceQuilt for her spouse for his 70th birthday and was delighted with his reaction.

During the course of our conversation, Meg shared an example of a photo quilt she created for a one year old’s birthday. Check it out!

I’ve always been intimidated by the skill, planning and time associated with traditional quilting. However, Meg tells me that quilting has gotten much easier thanks to digital technologies. This photo quilt is certainly quite different from the traditional country quilts seen in markets across the Southeast. Be sure to check out Meg's site (and her book) to get more ideas.

When we were writing VoiceQuilt’s patent in 2003, the traditional quilt was an irresistable metaphor. Since the concept of a playlist was new, it was easiest to explain our process as "stitching voice memories together”.

During pioneer days, before the loom’s invention, fabric was so precious that each swatch in a traditional quilt came from clothing worn to special events like baptisms, weddings and funerals.

In a VoiceQuilt, each message is a precious “swatch” representing someone special in the recipient’s life. Unlike a traditional quilt, however, the sequence of messages doesn’t require intense planning. The sum of messages is what counts. It’s that collage of voices – that montage of memories – that gives a VoiceQuilt its “This is your life” impact.

Needless to say, I am in awe of traditional quilting. Frankly, a VoiceQuilt is so easy -- and so last minute -- in comparison!

VoiceQuilt - for Mother's Day

2010-05-06T10:12:00.004-04:00

Interesting article in today's Wall Street Journal on Mother's Day. with this quote:

"Any mother," she wrote, "would rather have a line of the worst scribble from her son or daughter than any fancy greeting card."

We, of course, think that the Wall Street Journal is absolutely right.

Expressions from the heart are much more meaningful than a store-bought card.

Of course, we have to ask the following: Wouldn't Mom enjoy hearing her child's voice, too?

A young girl named Sofia won our Mother's Day contest last week with her rendition of "You are my sunshine".

Sofia's Mom tells me that her daughter's voice has changed even during the past few weeks. She's so glad she has Sofia's younger voice preserved so that she can enjoy it in years to come..."

VoiceQuilt - "Movin' on Up..."

2010-05-03T19:37:00.005-04:00

Effective May 1, 2010, VoiceQuilt has a new location:

1827 Powers Ferry Road
Building 6, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30339
NEW Phone: 770-951-2560

I had a good laugh when a friend started singing the theme song from the famous 1970’s TV sitcom, the Jeffersons:

“We're moving on up, to the East Side, to a deee-luxe apartment in the sky" ...

It’s not exactly like that. We moved to a building that’s just down the street from our old office. In fact, the two offices are highly similar: same size, same kind of building, same part of town. After all, the real work at VoiceQuilt is done online – automatically.

For now, I’m really relieved the move is over. No more packing and schlepping! May is a busy month because of Mother’s Day, graduations and wedding anniversaries. I'm really glad to focused once again on helping gift givers create something magical -- with toasts, tributes and favorite memories

VOICEToday Commemorates 1st Anniversary with a VoiceQuilt

2010-04-26T21:14:00.016-04:00

VoiceQuilt is often used by family and friends to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and graduations.

But sometimes VoiceQuilt is used to commemorate important milestones at companies – both public and private. Angela Williams, founder of VOICEToday (Victory Over Incest Changes Everyone), recently received a VoiceQuilt in honor of her organizations’s first anniversary. Angela founded VOICEToday to break the silence of child sexual abuse through education and prayer.

Williams (shown in the photo above – and on VoiceQuilt’s home page) was extremely touched by voice messages left by colleagues and beneficiaries associated with her organization. The organization’s mission is threefold: to break the silence of child sexual abuse through prevention and awareness education to give a 1) VOICE of healing to survivors, 2) VOICE of protection to children, and 3) VOICE of prevention to adults. Given the company mission, the voice-based toasts, tributes and favorite memories from VOICEToday’s community were particularly poignant.

We are inspired by Angela’s work and applaud her dedication.

Go to www.VoiceQuilt.com and click "Get Started" to commemorate a special event.

VoiceQuilt "Fit for a Queen"

2010-04-21T06:57:00.015-04:00

A customer wrote to us:

"We did a VoiceQuilt for my mom's 80th birthday.

After listening to it at her party — it was 55 minutes long — she cried throughout the entire messages. At the end she said that it was the best gift of her life!

She said that not even the Queen of England could have such a wonderful gift."

Go to www.VoiceQuilt.com and click "Get Started" to create a unique, personalized gift to treat your special someone like royalty.

VoiceQuilt - "Dying Well and Preserving Memories"

2010-04-20T09:40:00.016-04:00

When people are diagnosed with a terminal illness, many think of it as the end. But not Dr. Ira Byock, a longtime palliative care physician, advocate for improved end-of-life care and author of Dying Well: The Prospect for Growth at the End of Life. He, like his friend Herb Maurer, a now-deceased oncologist who ironically suffered from cancer, believe in the importance of making the end of one’s life a powerful, enjoyable experience.

As described here Maurer used the final stage of his life to focus on simple pleasures like food, drink, travel and of course, family and friends. He was lucky: Numerous family members were able to travel to see him and share happy memories with him. Others don’t have that same ability, which is where VoiceQuilt comes in.

I became aware of Dr. Ira Byock after talking with Don D., a VoiceQuilt gift giver. Don had organized a VoiceQuilt for Beth, his dying wife. He shared how the VoiceQuilt had enabled family and friends to say goodbye. It had given them the opportunity to tell Beth what she had meant to them – even if they lived far away.

It was, in many ways, a virtual version of the process Dr. Byock advocates.

On Friday, I spoke with another gift giver that has set up a VoiceQuilt so that a dying friend can record voice messages for her elementary school children.

I never ceased to be amazed at the creativity of our customers…

VoiceQuilt - "Thanks a Latte"

2010-04-15T19:18:00.004-04:00

A few years back, scientists established a link between feelings of gratitude and good health.

Oprah picked up on this theme right away, urging viewers to keep a gratitude journal. As one of her fans, I began writing down three things every evening that made me grateful during the day.

Most of the time, my entries were pretty banal: “Even though I left late for work, I arrived on time because there wasn’t any traffic.”

But every once in a while, something would strike me: a breathtaking full moon, the way my daughter laughed at A.A. Milne’s “Sneezzles” or a touching email from a VoiceQuilt gift giver.

That’s my long winded way of introducing VoiceQuilt’s “Thank-you” program. It’s a small gesture that we started a few weeks back. We’re now sending a $5 Starbucks gift cards to VoiceQuilt gift givers that refer friends.

It really doesn’t feel like “enough”. We’d like to do so much more. But at least we’re able to do a ittle SOMETHING. After all, we all feel better –literally and figuratively – when we express appreciation. So, thank you!

VoiceQuilt - 80th Birthday Gift of Family History

2010-04-14T09:48:00.007-04:00

This past weekend, Pam K. wrote us about the VoiceQuilt Keepsake she created for mother’s 80th birthday. Here is an excerpt.

"I wanted to express what a great gift the VoiceQuilt was to mother and our family. Although Mom has Alzheimers and can't converse, we gathered around the kitchen table with cake & ice cream, & flowers to celebrate her 80th birthday. It was the VoiceQuilt that made her birthday a real celebration.

The messages that came in were enjoyed by her grandsons, and caretakers as well - an insight to "Grandma's" life that wouldn't have otherwise been revealed, and it lead to more conversations and certainly will in the future. The messages help with family history, also as we heard from her cousins, dear friends going back to childhood, or lifelong friends. We chuckled to hear the first voice message came from Mom's first beau from high-school! - What a hoot!

Mom smiled and giggled through out the whole VoiceQuilt. Dad & Mom had been married 50 years when he passed on 10 years ago, so there were remembrances of their time with dear ones also.

It made her 80th birthday truly special and one could tell she knew this was indeed special - just for her!"

Go to www.VoiceQuilt.com and click "Get Started" to start capturing family memories. Create a unique, personalized VoiceQuilt gift to commemorate a special occasion - Birthday, Anniversary or Retirement.

This Is Your Life — And VoiceQuilt…

2010-04-09T13:45:00.012-04:00

From 1952 to 1961, Ralph Edwards hosted a wildly popular TV show called This Is Your Life on NBC. In a style similar to shows like Who Do You Think You Are? and Faces of America, This Is Your Life surprised celebrities and ordinary citizens alike by presenting them with a narrative of their life in front of a live audience. From Nat King Cole to Debbie Reynolds, participants were reunited with old friends and presented with stories and memories from their past.

After the show went off the air, it was revived briefly in the early ‘70s and ‘80s. Regis Philbin considered reviving it once again just five years ago. Why all this attention? Memories and experiences are what bring us together. They comfort us in times of trouble and elicit genuine emotion in an era when so many things are contrived.

Two years ago, a VoiceQuilt gift giver named Lindsey sent us an email her Mom had sent after receiving a VoiceQuilt.

“…Your messages made me realize the impact we each leave on everyone we meet throughout our lives, without even realizing it. That said, I plan to focus on displaying a positive attitude as often as possible, to quit sweating the small stuff, to always be conscious of others' needs and, most importantly, to never take family or friends for granted!”

That kind of sums it all up for us. A VoiceQuilt isn’t filmed; it’s not even terribly fancy. But it will serve as a concrete reminder – an audio tribute – to all the lives your loved one has touched.

Whether it's a birthday, anniversary or graduation, you can go to www.VoiceQuilt.com and click "Get Started" to create your own personal sentimental gift...

VoiceQuilt - "Meaningful Get Well Gift"

2010-04-05T11:43:00.007-04:00

Karen, One of our Get Well Recipients

During the last few weeks, we’ve shipped quite a few Get Well keepsakes.

Here’s an early peek at tips for organizing an inspirational get well gift. (We’ll be adding these pointers to VoiceQuilt’s Idea Center later this week.)

1.) Affirm the future. Ask children to tell jokes or sing songs. Ask adults to talk about things they’ll enjoy doing with the recipient when he or she is well. For more ideas, go here

2.) Inspire. Ask everyone to share prayers, encouraging words or favorite scripture. Consider doing a VoiceQuilt prayer chain

3.) Piggyback. If the recipient has a page on Caringbridge or FaceBook, ask the page owner to post VoiceQuilt dialing instructions.

4.) Share Early and Often. Many patients tell us that hearing a portion of the VoiceQuilt before a medical procedure is calming. It’s easy to finalize the VoiceQuilt, download a VoiceQuilt mp3 and then turn the phone system back on so that others can phone in messages.

Create a "Cheering Squad in a Box" to help someone get back to good health. Just go to www.VoiceQuilt.com and click "Get Started".

VoiceQuilt's Founder - Volunteer of the Month

2010-03-31T15:58:00.003-04:00

VoiceQuilt’s Founder, Hope Flammer, was recognized as Volunteer of the Month at Second Helpings.

Second Helpings is a non-profit food distribution project that delivers fresh food that would normally be thrown away by restaurants and delivers them to various shelters and food banks.

At 5pm every Tuesday, Hope retrieves bagels from Goldberg's on Roswell Road in Atlanta. She then drives them down to the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children the next morning.

Congratulations, Hope!

VoiceQuilt - "A Musical Prayer Chain"

2010-03-30T09:15:00.003-04:00

Over the years, numerous studies have shown that words of comfort and love can improve the healing process. It has also been proven that music and prayers can promote healing. Recently, a family showed us how a VoiceQuilt could combine all of these winning elements -- encouraging messages, prayers and music – to help a young woman named Michelle before and after her breast cancer surgery.

Michelle’s mother, Joyce, wanted to encourage her daughter prior to treatment and through a lengthy recovery. After learning about VoiceQuilt, she recruited family and friends to leave messages to sustain Michelle through the difficult months ahead. Because Michelle and her father are avid music fans, she asked Michelle’s sister, Rebecca, to add music to the VoiceQuilt that was meaningful to Michelle.

Using VoiceQuilt's toll-free telephone number, caring souls called by the dozens. Friends put Michelle's name on prayer lists across the country, and people who had never even met Michelle left prayers and scripture readings. Rebecca searched for music online that referenced these passages and uploaded them to the VoiceQuilt, along with additional musical selections she knew would inspire her sister.

Michelle listened to a portion of this musical prayer chain prior to surgery. After returning home from the hospital, her mother gave her a beautiful keepsake box that plays all of the messages. Michelle tells us that she is healing well and plans to use the keepsake to store her many get-well cards and e-mails.

Go to www.VoiceQuilt.com and click "Get Started" to start capturing your special memories...

A Scrap at a Time: News Roundup

2010-03-26T05:07:00.003-04:00

How do you share family history and happenings?

Here’s a creative tip from MacWorld.

Put down your scissors and use mouse-clicks to create gorgeous digital scrapbooks. Yes, once you’ve saved the pages as images, you can add your VoiceQuilt soundtrack to them.

Read our post on adding sound to slide shows

Tell a story about an event by scrapbooking for a cause. 250 scrapbook enthusiasts came together on Staten Island, New York to raise money for The G.R.A.C.E. Foundation's fourth-annual Crop for Autism.

Whether you collect family mementos and desire to share them or want to inspire others to join your cause, scrapbooks are a perfect combination of words and pictures. Create a digital scrapbook and add your VoiceQuilt audio to put together an effective statement.

VoiceQuilt - "Unique 80th Birthday Gift"

2010-03-23T10:32:00.004-04:00

A customer emailed us on the one-year anniversary of her VoiceQuilt:

"Working with all of you and creating the VoiceQuilt for my Dad was a truly memorable and rewarding experience. With close to 80 messages for his "80th", my sister and I felt the project was a huge success. Dad still talks about it, and takes the VoiceQuilt box on the road when visiting friends and family members who helped create it. One of his closest friends died just a few short months after completion. His message is a really special one that I am so glad we have recorded.

I have told so many people about your company and this special gift. Thanks for helping create something so unique. Keep up the fantastic work you do!"

Whether it's a birthday, anniversary, graduation or some other special occasion, you can go to www.VoiceQuilt.com and click "Get Started" to create your own unique, personal sentimental gift...