The Power of Music

If people ask me why I set up Sentiment the usual reply is ‘Music’!

Knowing how music can vastly change an image you are watching, an event you are attending or an emotion that you are experiencing is the main reason for driving Sentiment forward. The right music at a funeral or an event can leave an impact that will last forever in your heart. And the right music set to photos or video means you will watch it over and over again feeding from the comfort of both the music and the imagery.

Music has the power to influence your mood, manipulate your perceptions and make a situation better.

I am well aware that not everyone is a music ‘boff’, in fact I have been incredibly surprised that half of my clients have no idea what music they want for their DVDs or events. In this instance I get the honourable opportunity to get to understand their tastes and help them choose something that’s appropriate and meaningful to them.

Here is my first instalment of 'Music For The Soul'... There is something here for everyone.

Join up to Spotify to link direct to the play list . If you don't already have a Spotify account then I would suggest you get one - its free and blooming great... the best music site next to LastFM

For those of you who are dedicated LastFM users then do check out Spotify , otherwise link to the LastFM playlist

I'll be doing more play lists - if your lucky you'll get one every month!!!

Jades wedding - photo slideshow / photo montage

So did anyone watch Jades wedding on Living TV?I love a good wedding so settled down to watch the 2 hour episode - I cried my eyes out all the way through! what did you think?

There was a lovely photo slideshow / photo montage provided by her ‘best men’– I love that photo montages are becoming the norm for weddings, funerals and anniversaries.

http://www.sentiment-productions.co.uk/ caters for all celebrations of life. New samples due to go up on the website in the next few weeks in the mean time there have been some updates, in products including memory books.

'Wendy Richards.. she was a good laugh'

2 blogs in 1 day - you are lucky people!!!

Great report from the beeb on Wendy Richards funeral

I love the comments

"Wendy's gonna love this"
"The whole thing was a show, I was mesmerised"

"A Stitch in Time Saves Nine"

"A Stitch in Time Saves Nine" ...It’s one of those phrases my Mum and Nan would use when I was a kid (in reference to keeping on top of things) I never paid much attention, I always ended up spending all day Saturday tidying a week’s worth of mess in my bedroom! I wish my Mum and Nan had taken their own advise when it came to organising their photos, memories and music. Trying to organise photos for my dad's 60th birthday was quiet a task when crammed up in the loft with a torch trying to hunt through 6 box's and a 2 bags of jumbled up photos!

I have this 'super organised' client who has asked us to create a life biography for her husband. On our first meeting she pulled out from her cupboard:

• 20+ photo albums, in year order.
• 10 CD’s each containing photo files all in order + a contact sheet for each file (A4 print out of all the photos) - not even I’m that organised!!!
• A box of photos all organised in date and event order packs with big bold back writing on each pack with details of what the photos are
• A box of video tapes is labeled and in date order
• Love letters, cards and trinkets all boxed up in order of year and everything is label in some way

For me she is a dream client! Instead of spending a weeks organising photos we sat down for an afternoon and the process was enjoyable , relaxing and rather therapeutic for her... this is not the norm. Often it gets stressful and more like a labour of love!

So ... today take with you ‘A stitch in time’... it’s never too late to start organising. A few minutes here and there and you could save yourself and your family much so much time and stress, plus you can actully start to enjoy your photos!

Digital Photo Organisation Tips

• File everything chronologically.
• In my Pictures folder have a folder named for each year, for instance, "2006."
• In each year's have a folder for each month, named for the number of the month, like "01." Always use a leading zero, like "01" instead of "1," or the name of the month so they always list in the correct order.
• In each month's folder have a new folder for each day / event / holiday: ie "09 Brighton Beach."
• Name each photo or favourite photos with key words to help with searches in the future
• Have a ‘highlights’ file for each year with a copy of all the best photos
• BACK UP YOUR PHOTOS create CD’s and even update onto external hard drives. Back them up!

Hard Copy Photo Organisatation Tips

• Put aside a Friday evening with a bottle of wine/ gin/ tea = whatever your favourite tipple
• Put on some good music
• On the floor lay out A3 white envelopes + colourful dividers a black marker pen for the envelopes and a pencil to write on the back of photos if needed. + storage box's
• File them in a similar order to your digital image.
• Write on the front of the envelopes dates, events etc
• Use divider to separate years / or decade in some cases!
• Take notes of any photos that you would like to scan
• Put aside a date when you can sit and scan the photos or send them to us and we’ll scan them
• Any old VHS and cine film get transferred to digital!
  

why a stitch in time?...

the next generation funeral

A friend pass this on to me today - I loved it!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=63073261696

check out the vids on this.

The Facebook invite, the dancing on tables... I love it - Obviously they couldn't have said goodbye to Mo in any better way.

“It isn’t wrong, but we just don’t do it”

"Can we not agree just to suspend our critical faculties and let others do their thing"

(fab quote taken from Tuesdays blog update from the Good Funeral Guide)

My 2 years old daughter's favourite Thomas the Tank Engine book is ‘Gordon’ (we have read it every night for 3 weeks and I feel it’s speaking to me personally!!)

Gordon is a stereotypical English Engine, pompous, grumpy and jealous and always thinks his way is the right way! In the book he tells Henry off (my favourite engine) for whistling too much (Henry is a chirpy little engine)

Gordon moans “Henry whistles too much. No respectable engine whistles loudly at stations. It isn't wrong, but you just don't do it”
After that, Henry is upset. Percy (the cute little green engine) tells him that he likes Henry's whistle,
Then Gordon saunters past telling Henry to remember what he said!
Later on in the story Gordon learns his lesson when his whistle valve blocks and his whistles all day long! When he gets back to the sheds all the other Engines take the piss out of him” it isn’t wrong but we just don’t do it!! (woh ha ha that’ll teach you Gordon)

In the Good Funeral Guide blog it talks about British snobbery when it comes to tributes (such as flowers, letters, teddy’s at roadside memorials and great big plastic smiley faces and wind chimes on children’s graves) and why people like to complain about them. Here in England we like a good old moan and negative twist on everything we see that we don't necessarily agree with, especially when it comes to how we deal with death in an open hearted manner. As Gordon say’s (and the rest of the miserable UK) .... “it isn’t wrong but we just don’t do it”

Sound familiar? Like the old school English pompous funeral directors and their views on anything modern and outside of tradition!?

I like the fact that we are more open with our grief. The fact that so many people make such an effort to show their affections and display their grief by publicly placing letters, teddy’s, flowers etc. Its a comfort and I like it.

When Diana died seas of flowers were laid, yet there was so many people moaning that it was disguising and a waste. People couldn't understand why you would lay flowers for someone you didn’t know. “it isn’t wrong but we just don’t do it”. I liked it, I thought it was wonderful everyone came together and indulged in a bit of public grief!
I also like roadside memorials. It gives people driving past a moment to remember that they are not indestructible in fact they are themselves the possible destroyers - Albeit, it may only sit with them for a wee second as they drive by, but the thought is still implanted on their mind.

Public displays of grief and emotion show that we are human. Generations are becoming more and more open with their feelings and I like it! Down with the old English way and in with the all America heart and cheese – before we know it here in Great Britain we’ll all be standing at bereaved family’s front doors with candles singing ‘Calling All Angles’ ;o)

I wasn't go to write about this... but!

Its half term this week so I’ve been hanging out with lots of mums - Hot topic in the mummy world? You guessed it... ‘Jade Goody’!

To be fair I’ve not seen much of the Jade thing as I’m not one for the media – I don’t buy the papers, I rarely watch the news and I certainly don’t buy magazines due to the wise words of a Baz luhrmann’s song ‘Sunscreen’ - “don’t buy beauty magazines they only make you feel ugly”

So I did a bit of investigating into the media and my reaction was – wow, it’s everywhere! Also, where people can have an opinion they do! There are some beautiful messages to her, but also on a few blogs and social networking sites people seem to be up in arms about the media coverage she has encouraged... why? Because they all like a good chance to criticise and think they are so much better!

I like to think that Jade is saying...“ f*** you I’m dying! I can do what the hell I like and dam well do what I feel is right in my own death... I don’t give too hoots to what you or your dog has to say about it, come share the same opinions with me when you’re in my life position and I’ll kick you with your own sodding insults and see if you’re as strong as me”

My message to Jade Goody is ‘Good on you girl... good on you! Get as much money as you can! In the process you raise awareness of how critical cancer can be and how it can affect anyone one at any age. Show the UK that they are dam lucky to be alive and well, hopefully in the process they will face the reality that people die and maybe just maybe it could happen to them –Yes it’s like looking at a car crash, but doesn’t looking at a car crash make you more aware to drive carefully?

I am saddened for her, no matter what the media has to say about her, no matter how she is perceived ... she is human and until you are in her boots I don’t think anyone can judge.
The fact of the matter is, it is tragic! For her and of course for anyone else in the same position as she is.

My love and thoughts go out to Jade and everyone else that is going through the same suffering.