Saturday, March 23, 2013

Beautiful Souls

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Seeing it laying on a table in my craft room the other day, I realized I’d been neglecting it…

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…the old, Victorian photo album I found in an antique store last year—just begging to be filled—now coming back to life, page by page, with the women from my past…

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One these two pages—my grandmothers.  The pictures I chose for them here were their teenage selves.  Young women just beginning to blossom into the women they would become…and they were gloriously beautiful women—inside and out.

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The margins filled with bits of their lives—their characters—words to color and flesh out who they were…what they stood for…

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Borders chosen by colors that represented them in my mind…

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Yellow for LaPriel.  Her favorite color, I was told when I was a child.  The color of sunshine, happiness.  Words that describe what she did for others—how she made them feel whenever she was around them…

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A lovely deep purple for Velda.  It reminds me that she loved violets.  Each year, on her birthday, she told me that her grandmother would thoughtfully give her a little crystal basket filled with violets…I just planted dozens of newly budding violets in my garden—thoughts of my dear grandmother in my mind with each and every hole filled…

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My little “Character” book is coming along quite nicely.  I’m hoping my daughters and granddaughters will treasure it as much as I do, and learn just a little more about the women who came before them…

See you soon with something new.

Julie

6 comments:

  1. What a lovely idea! You did such a beautiful job!
    ~Donna~

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  2. How precious, I would set this out on a coffee table for all to admire. You are so fortunate to own these wonderful pictures.
    Ann

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  3. So nostalgic and comforting...I love it!...instantly makes me fell safe and secure. How oddly our brains and memories work.
    Darly
    of the Abbey

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  4. Everything you create is so beautiful Julie. Your daughters will be very lucky to have your legacy. I wish I had your talent for this type of thing! Snowing here in England this morning! And for the past 24 hours actually! Winter has revisited us! xxoo

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  5. Hi. New to your blog. Just wanted to say hi and let you know you have a nice blog:)

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  6. Hello from Athens, Greece!!
    I just came accross your very interesting blog and have been reading some of your posts for over an hour now!!!
    What a nice idea you had to create your 'Character' book with all the women of your family so nicely presented. Your grandmother and her sister were both gorgeous! I have lots of photos of my ancestors (going back to 1850) and you made me think of doing something with them. I just love collage and mixmedia creations! Thanks for the inspiration! I will be following you, Julie !
    All the best!
    Marie-Anne

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