Unclutterer.com blog editor and author of the book “Unclutter Your Life In One Week” Erin Rooney Doland was featured in a “Shopping With” New York Times article yesterday. She suggested using color-coded Kolo Trivino three-ring binders to help people organize their homes.

Stopping briefly at a wall of binders, she said that while there was no one-size-fits-all solution she favored color-coding binders and folders for each member of the family. She suggested choosing products that you find appealing — she liked the look and feel of cloth albums from Kolo — even if they cost a little more. “It’s a lot easier to maintain a system that you enjoy using,” she said. “So I’m all for spending a little extra money if it helps motivate you.”

Read the full article, here and see what other tools Erin Rooney Doland suggests.

-Kate

Long time photography lover Meghan Senkel recently decided to start her own photography business and is blogging about every step she takes. Her latest challenge was to put together a portable portfolio.

The idea is to have a purse-sized gallery of images ready to show potential clients or anyone not smart enough to avoid the subject of photography. Or to sit next to me on a bench.

Meghan chose a mango Kolo Vineyard paper album and 25 small pieces that showcase her best work. She attached them two per page using soft white Kolo Allegro photo corners to keep the simplistic design of the album.

I’d like to get as much use out of this as possible. Not only can I take the undamaged cards out of the album to give away (which would be great in a pinch), but I can also swap them out for newer, updated images to keep the album fresh.

Learn more about the portable portfolio, here. Also, keep updated with Meghan’s work and budding business, here.

We wish you the best and hope to hear more from you, Meghan!

-Kate

When I received my Kolo Essex 2010 calendar insert this weekend, I noticed some cool international holidays I never would have remembered.

I thought I would share the fact that today our friends in Scotland are indulging on haggis and whiskey in celebration of Robbie Burns Day. Click here to find out more about the national poet and Scottish traditions for today’s holiday.

-Kate

Chicago photographer Kelli Taylor is at it again. She loves using Kolo Noci photo albums to create mini recipe books. If you don’t remember, check out the previous post about her travel recipe books. This time she is organizing by type of cuisine.

Kelli chose mango Kolo Noci photo albums for the "ethnic" dishes in her recipe collection. Each photo album represents a different type of cuisine; pictured here are the Italian, Mexican and Asian recipe books she created.

I like being able to remove a recipe card, so I did not secure the photos/cards allowing you to slide them in and out. If you want to secure them, you could use photo corners or mounts. If you have nice handwriting you could even write directly on the page, then slide the sleeve back on.

Kelli must never have trouble answering the question “What’s for dinner?”

Visit Kelli Taylor’s website, here.

-Kate

Too many photos, not enough space? Don’t feel overwhelmed.

Here is a tip from Photo Album: The Essential Guide to Sorting, Sharing and Keeping Photos:

It often feels instinctive to fill up every last inch of an album page, but empty space can increase your photos’ impact. Repeated full point of view can get tiring, whereas a restful hiatus allow the eye to refocus afresh on each picture. Also, in a scrapbook like this one, white space leaves room for journaling, quotes, or souvenirs.

Find more layout ideas in Photo Album: The Essential Guide to Sorting, Sharing and Keeping Photos by Susie Cushner and Vanessa Holden. This layout is displayed in an 11x14 Kolo Newport photo album.

-Kate