at a recent mixer I attended for a new site/magazine called ‘the Bump’ which is part of theknot.com family, there was much talk about baby showers and what women spend on presents for baby showers. there was even talk that baby showers were so popular some women were attending one every couple weeks. honestly, I thought, “wow… thats watching a lot of women open the same presents week after week”. and since I have never done things the traditional way… I also thought, “how dull.”
now, I am in no way suggesting you shouldn’t celebrate your baby and cough your friends up for the ridiculous amount of gear required when you have a little one. by all means, milk the moms, so to speak. but let me suggest there is a more interesting party out there to be had. and in many ways one more meaningful and lasting. the kind of party where you share the most special moment in your life with the people you love most. an event that allows everyone to actually share the experience, leaving you with something special to remember it by.
at portraitbug we have two ways of creating and sharing life moments: photos + crafting. its simple, bring the mom-to-be for portraits with her bump or the new mom and her little baby. Help her create a book filled her pictures, pictures of the people that love her, and journal notes of well wishes and happy thoughts. really, while a that extra copy of Goodnight Moon might be really helpful down the line, would you rather get that at your shower or a small book filled with pages of artwork created by your friends and family. where each page has personal feeling and sentiment meant just for you and your baby (+ daddy too).
the portraitbug shower consists of:
1. half hour photo shoot with mom-to-be and her belly. we also allow mom-to-be to take some photos with her friends and family if time permits. the photos are available and printed immediately to use in your crafting party.
2. one hour ‘lite-instructional’ crafting session to use those photos or photos brought in from home to create an amazing book for the mom-to-be. food and drink are provided so you can eat, drink, or craft. this is not a class type environment, a teacher will be on hand to help you learn techniques or prompt you with journal concepts. but you can get up, chit chat with everyone, look over everyone else’s shoulder, laugh, and most definitely cry a little (and it won’t be over the bedding aunt marg bought with the bunnies on it).
3. when the mom-to-be leaves she will have an amazing handmade book of thoughts + photos.
If you are superstitious like I was and opted for a ‘baby naming’ instead of a shower, the party can be equally as unique. instead of photos of mom and the belly, we will take baby’s first portraits. with mom, with friends, with grandparents. or just baby. now, the book will be a first baby book, filled with artwork and created by everyone who loves him or her.
once we open we hope to have many more parties like these. providing a space where you create vs. just give. and if you want to give, you can give something which captures those important life moments like growing up.
until the next post… kim
* did I mention we clean up?
