Hello Susan...

Hello Creative Friends,

When I asked my Mom for some photographs of me as a child 

I was surprise to find amongst the sorted bundle a letter 

addressed to her from my Grandad written the day I was born.

Today i'm sharing it's journey, project 

and insight into how it came to be...

Using photo copies of the original letter, envelope and chosen 

photograph I gathered elements I felt relevant including broken 

jewellery, die cuts, snippets, buttons and lace to help 

decorate and frame the design.

This photograph was taken in my Nan & Grandad's garden, a snapshot of 

my amazing Auntie and me in the middle being held by my sweet Mom.

Gluing those elements down I painted them all in a layer of Gesso 

leaving the first line of the letter uncovered.  The number 1 

represents my Mother *Susan* the firstborn and me 

the first of 16 Grandchildren.

With Mom being the Eldest of seven children the number 7 also

fits in well with the year this photograph was taken 1971.

A wash of Vintage Photo distress ink brings out the depth and 

dimension of those elements, with a whisper of gilding wax 

and a bunch of die cut wildflower stems. 

*My Mom adores Flowers of every kind*

and finally..

The number 3 represents the three of us in the photo and how we still 

look out for one another just like the day this picture was captured.

Sadly my Grandad passed away when I was only 16 but 

we know he'd be so proud his letter of Thanks is as 

cherished today as the first day it was received.

His letter has been with my Mom for 50 years and now with me, 

who knows it's future and journey over the next 50 years...

Thank you for sharing today's journey.

Take good care everyone.

Creative Hugs

Tracey xx

I'm sharing today with:

Kristin & EVA: PPF WK3 YR9

Try it on Tuesday: Say it with Flowers

A Vintage Journey: Celebrate the Journey - Happy Birthday AVJ

Bleeding Art: March Challenge/Anything Goes
Wen's- Simply Neutrals 54

Country View Crafts: Letters and/ or Numbers

What's on YOUR Workdesk Wednesday #511

Hello Creative Friends,

It's time to share What's on our Workdesks as it's Wednesday.

Thanks to Julia over host over at the stamping ground 

giving us the platform for crafty friends to share what's 

been tickling our creative fancy... 

Welcome to WOYWW #511

Last week I visited The Creative Craft Show at the NEC with no intention 

of buying anything (honest) but whilst browsing around the exhibition I 

stumbled across a fascinating stall Linladan Scandinavian Threads. 

 I do not believe there was one single colour unavailable. 

Like a Vintage rainbow.. here's my box full of linen loveliness...

I can't share what I am up to as i'm working on some gifts but 

If you love textile history you may be intrigued to learn about the 

textile house Nordiska established in 1879, and it's lost archive. 

The exhibition from Linladan touched my heart as much as those linens. 

It's been another sad & wicked week in the world.

Take care everyone & look out for one another.

I'll be round to visit asap.

Creative Hugs

Tracey xx

She Blooms...

Hello Creative Friends.. 

I'm sharing a play day today where I used *recently* new to me 

Karin brushmarker Pro's discovered first within my monthly 

Scrawlr box I've been slowly building up my colour collection.

The image is created using Jane Davenport stencils.

 Scribbling the markers onto a non porous surface I simply sprayed those 

scribbles with water, applying directly to the image with a paint brush. 

I love how adding white gesso into the mix can change the opacity.

Even when applied onto the skin tone those delicate colours peep through.

and outlining with a fine liner really defines those stencilled lines.

With so much open white space on this A3 page it needed something 

to bring it together without over powering the beauty of this image. 

As these markers are also calligraphy pens I scrawled words, drew around 

the edge of both script and image and used my favourite colour of the 

moment *Curry* to pull out the colour using a drenched paint brush.

There's something quite rewarding about watching 

watercolour expand and dance on an open page.

Bringing both white space and image together *She Blooms*

Thank you for sharing part of your day with me today...

Happy Friday everyone... the weekend awaits!

Wishing you all a wonderful one...

Creative Hugs

Tracey xx

I'm sharing today with:

MOO-MANIA & More: #186 Close to Nature

Art-Journal-Journey: as the lovely Jo Host's HELLO SPRINGTIME

Kristin & Eva: WK2 Y9 PPF