I’m Amy.
My name is Amy, the sole owner and designer of Shoebox Albums. I’ve been a graphic designer for 20 years here in Minneapolis, MN, but my journey with Shoebox Albums goes beyond my passion for design; it’s deeply personal.
A few years before my dad passed away, he gifted me items that had belonged to his late sister, Margie, who had tragically died at 19. These keepsakes—her journals, artwork, scrapbooks, and slides—were memories preserved by her parents, a way to hold onto her vibrant life. My dad believed that one day, I could do something meaningful with them.
Four years ago, I decided to fulfill his wish, crafting a book that told Margie’s story. It became a cherished family heirloom, and with it, a new purpose emerged for me: helping others preserve the stories of their dearly departed loved ones in a way that honors and celebrates them.
This experience became the springboard for Shoebox Albums. My passion now lies in creating custom, high-end photo books that don’t just showcase life’s joyous events, like weddings and vacations, but also celebrate the legacy of those we’ve lost. I believe that honoring the deceased doesn’t stop at the funeral; it continues through memories that spark stories, keeping their essence alive for generations.
When I’m not designing, you can find me spending time with my family, drawing, sewing, estate-sale shopping, wandering a craft store, or, let’s be honest, binging a series I’ve seen a million times.
At Shoebox Albums, I’m here to help you tell the stories that mean the most…whether it’s the life of someone you love or the memories that bring you joy. My story of loss continues below.
MY STORY OF LOSS
It started when I was a teenager. I lost a friend in a car accident. It was my first experience dealing with the sudden and tragic realization that life can be snuffed out, quickly. I had to process, very early on, my own mortality while questioning all the whys that surrounded this untimely death and death in general.
Over the years, I lost grandparents, more friends, schoolmates, co-workers, etc. My mid-20s brought on a life shattering moment when my father suddenly passed away. Then, my father-in-law 5 years later when he succumbed to complications brought on by cancer. I spent many years in therapy grappling with the grief of losing these significant people in two very different ways. The grief process is beautiful, painful, ugly, alienating, but necessary. You cannot run from it, it will find you. It will find you in the grocery store as you pass by your loved ones favorite donut, it will press down on you as you attempt to fall asleep. But those moments come and go. It won’t be forever oppressive. Even all these years later, I still have hard moments and I let those waves of grief wash over me with tender compassion and care.
I started this album design business to celebrate life’s most joyful moments…weddings, baby’s first year, family vacations, anniversaries, and more. But very quickly, I realized something, there are countless ways to honor life’s milestones, yet very few dedicated to honoring those we’ve lost.
The stories of loved ones who have passed deserve to be preserved with the same care and beauty as any other celebration. While I still welcome albums for life’s happy occasions, my heart and focus have shifted toward creating tribute albums…designed to celebrate a life lived, no matter how long or short.
Every life tells a story. These albums ensure that story is remembered and cherished, so generations from now will know and honor them.
My mission is to provide custom album design to any and all people who have someone who's life they want to celebrate and share with their family and friends. From the most complex albums, which include writings, keepsakes and old photos, to the more simple-streamlined album of photos over the years. We can work together to capture their lives as it truly was meant to be seen. And in this process, my hope is to help heal a part of your grieving heart as you pay tribute to the extraordinary life of this person, no matter how long or short they were here with us. May you find peace in your heart.
