Welcome to Blogojojo!*

(* Not sure about the name.  Maybe a new name will be found soon...)

Blogojojo = Blogging + Photocrafting with the book, Photojojo!

Christmas 2009 found me opening an awesome present from my wife: the book from photojojo.com called Photojojo! insanely great photo projects and DIY ideas. At about the same time, my wife opened an awesome present from me (if I may say so), wrapped in an insanely great manner (if I may also say so): the movie Julie & Julia. During the ensuing Christmas break, after flipping through Photojojo! and watching Julie and Julia on DVD, I was inspired to create Blogojojo - though I was clearly NOT inspired to invent a cool name. Like my good friend Julie Powell did, I'm going to cook my way through the Photojojo! 'cookbook' in one year, and document my experience. Ok, I don't actually know Julie Powell, but I do know Amy Adams, who played her in the movie! Ok, that's also a lie, but I do own Enchanted, so I feel like I know her. Actually, the kids own it. Moving on...

So here's what I'm looking at:

• 52 weeks (The Deadline)
• 49 Projects & 4 Tips (The Book)
• 5 helpers, when I can force them to assist (The Fam)
• 1 short stack of bills (The Budget)

I will be attempting roughly a project a week. I will document as much of each week's project as I can, from finding and purchasing the materials, to modifying the projects if necessary, to difficulties overcome or succumbed to. I might even come up with a project or two that I've created myself. You will have to get a hold of the book yourself if you want all the details though. You can purchase it from the Photojojo store, or use the Amazon link that I include throughout, which is an affiliate link.

I have gone through and rated the projects based on projected time and/or planning requirements. The rating system is as follows:

• 1. Quick and Easy - Mere hours (28 Projects)
• 2. Average - 1 to several days (10 Projects)
• 3. Special/Difficult Planning - Hard-to-get/schedule materials and personnel (4 Projects)
• 4. Long Term - Several weeks to the entire year (7 Projects)
• 5. Not-Quite a Project - Really a photography tip (4 Tips)

I'll adjust as necessary. Hopefully I'm not too far off on any of them.

I also have other plans for the blog, from contests to win one of the projects once completed, to reader participation for when a project calls for many photos or traveling cameras and the like. I'll try to have a firm plan on how to participate in the coming weeks.

This week will feature one of the Level 4 projects - Project 365. This project will take the entire year, and is actually already started. I'll discuss my plans (and contingencies!) and how I hope to force myself to complete the project, as well as where and how to share with others.

Here's to the new year, to the new blog, and to fun, fun photocrafting!

-Sean