Book Design Archives - Annie B Designs

Bookmaking | One-of-a-Kind Treasures Gwenna's Book cover

Now that Gwenna is 2 years old…

it is her turn for an “Ama Book”. I had made one for Liliana at that age … and I gotta play fair! Hmmm, what can I try this time?

Bookmaking. A one-of-a-kind family treasure.

I decided to combine both vector and raster file types for an imaginary, playful setting.

Cruising online through stock art files, I purchased a multi-layered Illustrator document to use as a backdrop. This file had many objects to play with and I extracted its objects (chair, bed, table, lamp, etc.) onto separate layers so I could move them around as I pleased.

Zoe and I both took photos of Gwenna’s favorite stuffed animals and exchanged them by email. As I silhouetted each character, it was fun to place the figures into this imaginary bedroom, suspended in the air as our cramped little Gwenna wails, “Roll OVER!” Then the objects and critters tumble all helter-skelter! Luckily, big sister Liliana is there to cushion their fall!

The cadence of reading this book aloud with it’s repetitive, count-down call-out is a child’s delight!

Taking the photos of the two humans was more difficult than any other part of this project.

The original idea was that Liliana and Gwen would be wearing matching pajamas … the cute ones that have penguins on the leggings and top. However, it seemed nearly impossible to have both sets fresh and clean at the same time …

Ready, Camera, Action!?

Not exactly … Coaxing both girls to pose and respond to my simple direction was hilarious and unsuccessful. “Sit still, please. Cozy up together … that’s good! Look at the camera, please?”

Tripod in place, camera settings adjusted, lighting not so good. Where’s Gwenna? Second try, hold still G! Where’s Lil? Oops, need a diaper change. Oops, the light has shifted. Oh man, someone is tired … its nap time.

Well, for better or worse, I got the needed shots of both girls sitting upright in the bed. Liliana handled the photo shoot like a pro, posing in a variety of positions as though she was catching the tumbling critters midair! I improvised the rest with photos in my library. Their images didn’t turn out as bright and clear as I had hoped …

The most important thing is that Gwenna and Lili loved the book – and that makes me happy!

This book was designed in InDesign. Hard copies come from an online, print-on-demand publisher who I have used for a variety of projects. It is soft cover, printed on a bright white quality paper. Here are a few spreads from the project…

Bookmaking | One-of-a-Kind Treasures Gwenna's Book, sample spread

Book Design!

I had been graced with attending Liliana Satya’s birth in 2010, a gift I will never forget.

On Liliana’s first birthday, her mom and dad felt called to have a Naming Ceremony at Story Ranch in Las Vegas, New Mexico, where they were living at the time. Friends and family assembled under the massive Story Tree to chant and drum and call out her name, to acknowledge her presence, her gifts, her vitality.

That year, circumstances prevented Nick and me from traveling west, and I was so, so sad. To make up for missing it, I threw myself into creating a one-of-a-kind book as a gift for Liliana’s second birthday.

On the sly, I had taken photos of many of Liliana’s favorite stuffed animals, who are as real and animated to her as you or me. I also gathered photos of family near and far. I assembled a visual story of Liliana’s rightful place on the planet.

Liliana’s cover photo in this tiny green hoodie was taken by Joe’s mother Maryann. It was an early cellphone image that blew my mind. Her joy, her vitality, and presence were overwhelming to me. The image was very small in file size and could not be enlarged or it would look terrible … so I tucked tiny Lili in a rolling field of grass … and all was well in the world. It was perfect!

An on-demand four-color book.

Liliana adored her birthday book. She carried it in her backpack everywhere she went. She studied the faces of her family and friends – knowing she belonged and was cherished. I printed 30+ copies and distributed them to friends and family as gifts.

Now Liliana is almost 8 and she has a baby sister named Gwenna, who will be turning 2 in October. Guess I’d better get a move on, I mean, fairs-fair! I wonder what will I come up with??

Bookmaking – Liliana and Gwenna in petticoats

Here are a few spreads from the 42-page, 6″x6″ kid-size book that includes Liliana’s grandparents, great-grandparents, loved ones, her beloved stuffies, trees, wind, clouds. I hear her name called out on the wind. And good energy and blessings surround her!