As A.M Homes once said, ”Every family has a story that it tells itself, that is passed on to the children and grandchildren. The story grows over the years...some parts are sharpened, others dropped... But even with these different sides to the same story, there is still agreement that this is the family story.”

This quote about our family name and our family story, get’s us thinking about our own stories and starts our minds wandering… Wondering about the tales our family has told from the past? How were our family stories recorded, kept sacred, treasured, and passed on through time?

Throughout history people have told their stories through art. Africa’s cavemen drew rock paintings, while Egyptians engraved their tales in hieroglyphics on the sides of pyramids. These were early art forms of expression and stories, creating an epic narrative of tales and legends before words and alphabets were even invented. Family name stories developed in form and motifs as time moved forward into the Middle Ages told on the family Coat of Arms, Crests, and Flags, relaying iconic allegory of a family’s lineage. Since time gone by, we have continued to tell our family stories through art and our visual heritage and heirlooms. And in modern times, the stories that enrich our family name today have been told in letters and photographs, as well as narrative artworks as well.

If you enjoy delving into the world of art and making your home a creative space or adorning your home with artwork, this can also be a way to start the conversation of your family name story. You can even create artworks done with your own artistic vision and of personal meaning. In this way art joins hands with storytelling, and you continue telling and enriching your family name story.

We’re excited for you to tell your family story and continue this beautiful journey of your family name - the memories passed down with your name with your family and all that connects your family name with who you are. So, let’s turn the next page on your journey of self and family discovery and the sharing of all the family stories behind your family name. Your artistic creativity through storytelling starts with this personal connection and inspiration. 

And why is your family story significant?

A Story Told Becomes A Keepsake To Forever Hold

Your family narrative may be told in different ways, and through different forms - through art, letters, photos and more - and throughout all, the meaning and significance in your family narrative continues. Sharing tales and memories, documenting and journaling, and recording deeper, longer, expressive stories, weave your special moments together into a dynamic family narrative - the stuff of which legends are made. Children delight in these kind of stories told to them, and your family name and the tales carried with it,  could be one of many of these fabulous tales. Whether it is in journals or letters, in conversations, or through personalized artwork, it all has the opportunity to enrich your family name, memories and stories, and keep it all alive.

Continuing The Story Of YOUR FAMILY NAME Enriches Its Meaning

Your Family Name and the narrative which you create with it is meaningful because YOU told it. And although a name may be thought of as just a way for us to identify each other, it of course, feels like so much more to us personally. 

This personal difference as related to your family name is interestingly noted here - that, “A personal name is an identifying word associated with a particular individual by which they are addressed. It is a tradition for people to have a personal name, a family name, or a surname. All over the world, people of different cultures and traditions follow different conventions when naming their children. Commonly, many countries follow the patronym practice where a component of a personal name is based on the given name of one's father. A name can hold great value and meaning to a person and even carry their legacy long after their lifetime.”

Your name, your family name and the stories you tell give your life meaning. And with recognizing and celebrating your name, you feel love. So many before us speak of this. Henry David Thoreau wisely said, "A name pronounced is the recognition of the individual to whom it belongs...he can call me, and is entitled to my love and service."

Embedded into stories told through the written word - from religious books, to biographies, to even modern memes, we find all across the web - the words we connect to our name, become our stories. And these words, your name, and how you tell your story, have the potential to come together to create art. Your meaningful personal story and family name masterpiece.

Playing The Role Of Storyteller In Your Family

We’re all gifted with roles within the family structure. Being the family storyteller is a special role you can play. Creating memories, telling tales of your family name creates a treasured keepsake for your generation and those to come. Every story told helps younger generations to connect to the beauty of storytelling and sharing your family name story. This tradition of storytelling and passing on the family narrative is meaningful, special, and of profound personal value.

The Path And Process Of Continuing Your Family Name Story

Purpose: Before we venture into this process of storytelling, creating art, family name remembrance and family story generation, know that this path you walk has both purpose and meaning, and to enjoy the journey. In your path’s purpose, perhaps bring a little of this guidance from Brandon Sanderson with you, “Keep in mind from the beginning “The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon.” Let the beloved family memories you think upon guide you.

Process: From purpose, there is a path, a process we move through, and choose which pieces to remember and bring into our future stories. “A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead.” ― Graham Greene, novelist and author. It’s a journey of looking within and reflecting. This process invites you to ask questions about your family and its name, think again remembering special moments together you’ve shared and treasure, and want to be part of your family name story narrative, connection and legacy.

Remembering, Creating And Sharing Your Family Name Story

When it comes to telling your family name story, what memories will you carry with you? Which tales of people, experiences and personal journeys will you include? Who are your main characters and how will you feature them in the story and create them in your visual narrative? Which family members will be highlighted and their vibrant tales brought into the art of your story? Which milestones and special moments will you feature? Which special experiences will bring meaning to your family name story? - weddings, birthdays, graduations, and all the significant moments in our lives we celebrate.

When telling the story of your family name, think of your historical ancestry, lineage and legacy. Who were each of these relatives and what role did they play in creating your family name story? What did they love? How did they live? What did they pass down to you? With this, you bring meaning and significance to their name, your name, and your family story. 

Your Family Name Is Your Personal Story & A Unique Gift

And, when we think of those who have positively impacted our lives, we see how we are gifted with the part they have played in telling our story. You can take this gift, all that you've heard them tell of your family, your loved ones, your memories, and create new experiences together, continually and wonderfully enriching your family story, and bringing your personal family story more and more to life. After all, at it's core the essence of passing on Your Family Name is storytelling. And continuing to contribute to, create, and tell your family name story, whether for yourself or another, is a truly special, personal and unique gift to you, and for you, to tell. 

Every family name has a story. Every family is gifted the opportunity to share it and enrich it. And when you do, this turns your family name into so much more.

Create your family name and continue your story! There’s no time like the present.

If you’re celebrating a special event, birthday, graduation, or are about to get married. If in the past, you have a long family story that’s been untold or lost along the way; or in the present, if you have just given birth to a beautiful baby or celebrating a special occasion - wherever you find yourself - now this moment you have the opportunity to tell your family name story. Your story, and your family name story, matters. Leaving your story for others matters. And those who love you, and love your family, truly do want to hear your story too.

“

”

by Lexi Stewart 


Editor
 - Decor, Design & Personal Style Ideas 

AlphabetPIX 

Next Week…

Your Family Name Remembered

With AlphabetPIX alphabet photography name art, it’s easy to turn your family name story into memorable, iconic, unique, personalized name art in just a few minutes at alphabetpix.com.

AlphabetPIX alphabet photography is a form of alphabet art picture-making where you create word art and name art using A-Z photo letters. What is unique about this form of art is each letter is photographed as a single picture from natural and architectural objects that are in the shape of A-Z letter characters of the alphabet.

These are photographs of actual "real art" objects that appear naturally to look like letters. The best artistic letter photo art that contains no man-made signage or fake photos.

Create Artwork That Celebrates Your Family Name Story!

STEP 1: 

Choose The Name You Would Like to Create

Select Your Best Theme For Personality & Style

No two pieces of name art are the same, just like families. There are more than 1000 letter photographs available to choose from, along with four distinctive themes. Take your time to browse through the different themes and our wide selection of images. Think about whether or not you want to go black and white or sepia with our Classic & Antique collections; bright,colorful and beach themed with our Shoreling collection; or rustic and western with our Frontier Collection . Consider realistic photos or abstract photographs. Think about your family name and what object, symbol, design, or picture represents them in the truest form. And the personality and style of your home or that of those receiving your unique personalized artwork as a gift.

You can choose a different theme for each room in your home or stick with one theme depending upon your decor desires there's a theme that will fit. AlphabetPIX has four special theme collections! Classic, Antique, Shoreline, Frontier

Pick Your Perfect Photo Letter Images

“

This is one of the most 

creative gifts I've ever given! 

And so many pictures to 

choose from to match the 

personality of the recipient. 

Highly recommended!

”

“

I created this for my 

dear friend for a wedding gift 

with her new last name. 

She loves it!

”

Wedding

~ reminder ~

PIX STORIES

 ““I love my Family Name art! I just moved into a new house and wanted to style up my living room. I am going for a neutral theme because I love prints and stripes, so I had to tone down on the colors. 

At the end of the day, however, I found that my living room became dull – beautiful, but dull. So I decided to get one of your colorful Family Name letter picture so that the room would be monochromatic and feng shui, and also feel bright and alive. 

I was ecstatic when my package arrived! I mean, I knew exactly what would arrive because I had picked out the photo letters myself, but the precision and the fine finish were beyond my expectations! 

The natural elements stand out perfectly, and blend wonderfully with each adjacent alphabet photo! The white frame draws your eye’s attention to my colorful unique name art’. And the shoreline styled letters are so beautifully shot… I am beyond pleased! 

My living room now has the complete cozy, colorful, and personal expression I was going for. I’ll definitely be ordering more.“ 

– Ashley, GA