The Sweetie Pie Chronicles: One of the Best Gifts I Ever Made

Years ago, I created a gift for my sister (who I will call Sweetie Pie to protect her privacy) that was a huge hit. I called it "The Sweetie Pie Chronicles." It is a book of true stories about her life; I included a lot of family photos and illustrations. She loves being the center of attention so having a whole book just about her is perfect. She likes showing it to anybody who visits. Since she loved it so much I made volume two and am thinking that I'll be writing volume three next year.
This is a homemade gift that can be made according to how much time and effort you want to spend on it. I spent several months on each of the chronicles because I wanted her to have a lifetime gift; something she could physically hold to remember us and to remember she was loved if she was the last family member alive. Each of the stories I wrote had photographs with captions and at lot of the pages are illustrated with artwork. I didn't have a computer when I made the first volume; so I used a typewriter, and applied acid free glue to the photographs so they would stick on the page and not be damaged. I drew the illustrations using stencils. After I put the pages into plastic sleeves so they would be protected, I found a pretty notebook to put them in.

Do you need story ideas? Well, the first story in volume one is called "The tale of two sisters." I wrote about our parents, their background and how they met. Then I went on to cover our births, childhood, teenage years and us as adults. It's a pretty long story. Then I wrote a few short stories about funny incidents in her life; all have "Sweet Pie" in the title. I also wrote a couple of other long stories about her various jobs and homes; and I included lots of photographs. In the second volume, I wrote about her hobbies, a story about Sweet Pie's favorite sister (her only sister), special birthdays and other fun memories. Volume three will be short stories explaining the moment behind various photographs. I think it will become a favorite also.

This is a gift with a potential of becoming a heirloom that can be passed down the family line for many generations.