Sally Shim, editor of Shim + Sons blog, celebrated the end of her son’s school year with a handmade “Thank You” present for the much-appreciated teacher. She used an ocean Kolo Lucino album with clear top-load pages to display the children’s artwork, poems and pictures.

I sent home an envelope marked "TOP SECRET" which included a piece of cardstock + a letter to the parents instructing them to have their child decorate one page for Mrs. L's scrapbook.

It was so fun to see how the children decorated their pages, each reflecting their unique style. My son J drew a picture of Mrs. L using his favorite sharpie pens and he included a photograph of the two of them that I had taken during the last week of school.

Seen any other school projects by Sally? Check out this Chocolate Cookie Book she created for a school auction. Or visit her blog, here.

-Kate

As the Kolo Monthly Photo Contest 2010 proceeds, contestants are continually sending in more and more great entries. July's theme will be FRIEND. Upload up to ten photos that follow the theme "friend" between July 1st - 31st for your chance to win $50 worth of Kolo merchandise. The fifteen monthly winners will be entered to win the grand prize in Feb, 2011.

Don't forget to check back on July 10th to view the winners of June's "happiness" theme. There is still time! Upload your “happiness” photos now. Keep updated by joining our Facebook page.

For more info, go here.

-Kate

Qahwa LTD, Kolo’s distributor in Japan, recently brought Kolo to the Interior Lifestyle show at Tokyo Big Sight (Toyko International Exhibition Center). Kolo was exhibited among many of the biggest innovators in home furnishings, home accessories, decorative art and more. Interior Lifestyle is noted as one of the finest design-oriented shows in the world. Over 30,00 visitors attended the three-day event to see the latest trends.

-Kate

Another update from Blair Roberts, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Student, during her field study in Kenya:

I use my Kolo Essex to hold photos for my research, but I also use the lined journal insert to record my interesting sightings and other non-research happenings. When I return to the states I will have a log of my sightings and activities with my photos to illustrate.

I wrote a short journal entry about a cheetah sighting the other day. Three cheetahs had killed an impala and were dining roadside. I have been in Africa for almost three months and this was my first sighting of predators on a kill, so it was very exciting.

To read more about Blair's travels, visit her blog.

Check out Blair's Essex Mug Shot Book.

-Kate

Blog editor and graphic designer Marta Dansie prepared this ocean Kolo Noci photo album as a gift to her husband for Father’s Day. With the recent addition to the family, the album makes the perfect gift and keepsake.

After our first official family photoshoot, I knew I wanted to display the candids in an album of their own. I got it done just in time for a heartfelt Father's Day gift for Dan. The Noci is the perfect size for a brag book, meaning the next business trip he goes on, I will slip it into his briefcase, ala 1954.

Check out The Dear Diary Stories- Marta Writes.

-Kate