Good evening, my friends!
What a lovely start to a beautiful weekend…75 degrees, a lovely ocean breeze…perfect!
Just a couple of things to share with you tonight before I head out for an 80th birthday weekend {not mine!}
First, a card I made for this week’s Crafty Secrets’ challenge over at Splitcoast…the challenge was an easy one this week…we were to use pink (in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness this month). Not a hard task for this pink-loving vintage girl!
This fun image is from Crafty Secrets’ new “Vintage Photos” Creative Scraps…I so love this set!
Here’s a cute couple out for a spin on this VERY old-fashioned motorcycle…”Live a little. Life is an adventure”, they remind us!
They reminded me very much of another cute couple …
My wonderful mother-in-law, Shirley, turns 80 next week, but we’re having her big party this weekend, as some members of the family wouldn’t be able to travel here next week.
For her gift, I tried my hand at a new kind of project …now, you have to forgive my photos…for some reason I couldn’t seem to catch it properly (I think it was the printable cotton sheets for the photos—they have a bit of a sheen to them)…oh, well!
A fabric wall hanging—all wonderfully rough around the edges…cotton batting, muslin, various swatches of vintage fabric, laces and my favorite mother-of-pearl buttons…
…rosettes made of strips of torn muslin…twisted and wound till they became the size I wanted. Glued to a piece of felt and sprayed with Glimmer Mist…a bit of “Lemon Zest”, “Gold”, and “Creme de Chocolat”…
The happy couple on the wall hanging are my mother-in-law’s parents…Ted and Fern Gorrell.
Friends and schoolmates since elementary school in Arizona…then divided by Ted’s family’s move to Los Angeles. Reunited once again at USC…the University of Southern California in 1924…
…where Ted was a football star…nicknamed “Butter” Gorrell, because he was almost impossible to tackle.
Here’s a few fabulously vintage football poses from his superstar days on the team…
…aren’t those wonderful?! Now, here’s a little trivia for you…also on the team for a couple of years before he could no longer play due to an injury, was a young man named Marion Morrison…
…he’s here in the center back looking straight at the camera in the darker shirt…Ted is right in front of him in position (up a little higher than the others)…any ideas who Marion later became??? Let me know if you know!
Their courtship and engagement were “big news on campus”…the lovely Fern and the husky “Butter”…
Fern was quite an adventurous young woman herself…
…here she is on a hike in the mountains in the early 1920’s…
…and here are Fern and Ted with a friend enjoying a few moments by a beautiful waterfall…
I had so much fun with this gift for Shirley…a little remembrance of her lovely parents that she loves so much…
I hope your weekend is a beautiful one…life IS always an adventure, isn’t it? Let’s have fun with it!
See you early next week with something new…
Julie
Julie,
ReplyDeleteGREAT projects and I always love all the family history you share!
Fabulous creations. Love those vintage football poses. These photographs are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteMaureen
Wow these are great Julie you out did your self I'm sure this will be greatly appreciated. Nan
ReplyDeletethose are some great pictures. what a man! your mother -in-love will adore your gift from the heart :) i hope you will take some pics of the party. i love cake. eat a huge piece for me ok. if its chocolate eat two :)
ReplyDeleteblessings,
aimee
Julie,
ReplyDeleteYour story is a touching one and what a heartfelt gift! I am sure Shirley will be just thrilled to have this beautiful piece of art of her parents. They were both such interesting people. I loved seeing the picture or Fern hiking in her blue jeans. So ahead of her time! And "Butter" and the story of his nickname and the picture of him in his vintage football uniform. Weren't those helmets funny? This is such a treasure. I don't know if you will be able but I would love to see a picture of your mil and her gift. Hugs from Suz.
Those are some great vintage football pictures! And Mr.M is now known famously As John Wayne himself! (Am I right? I'm pretty sure I'm right!) Have a wonderful weekend at the party and celebrating 80 years with Shirley!
ReplyDeleteYou have such a gift for telling a story! It goes perfect with your talent for creating. It is always a joy to read and see your wonderful posts!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift you made her, I'm sure it will bring a tear of joy or two to her!
ReplyDeleteenjoy the party!
Beautiful card and lovely story.
ReplyDeleteHugs,Willy
Good Morning Julie
ReplyDeleteAs we head rapidly into winter your weather sounds very appealing.
I just adore your first card, I think pink and brown are a perfect colour match.
Have a good weekend and enjoy that weather.
B x
What a beautiful gift Julie! I am sure that your MIL will just love it. I can't imagine her not loving it! You are so talented and put so much of your heart into your creations. I just love all the family history attached and I adore reading about it all. That would be John Wayne in that photo I am guessing, one of Todd's and my favourite actors. I just love old films. I think your pink card is very beautiful too, just like you! I hope you have a fabulous time at the 80th birthday celebrations and come back to us safe and sound! Love and hugs, xxoo
ReplyDeleteBeautiful artwork Julie. I am sure your Mother in Law will love the gift!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend!
Hugs Hanne
Great artwork; you are very creative.
ReplyDeletehttp://youcanfacetodaybecausehelives.blogspot.com
Dear Julie, I wish you a happy day, with your mother in law, and her 80 birthday.
ReplyDeleteYour present is so very special, and she will love it,dear.
It is such a beautifull visit here, alwayes.
Hugs,Dorthe
Celebrating any
ReplyDeleteage is such a gift;
this sounds like it
is sure to be a happy
gathering! Fun story
and the "Live A Little"
card is so sweet!!
xx Suzanne
What a sweet memory of relationships from long ago! Your story, card and the photos are so beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Coralie
First, a beautiful card--love the sentiment and the creamy brown and pink combo. Second, your gift is an amazing tribute to a family love story. I'm sure your mother-in-law will treasure it. Love your work. (I remembered that John Wayne's first name was Marion, so I googled it and I was right). Fun post!
ReplyDeleteWhat a A beautiful gift you have created...such a treasure of memories! Im sure that it will be cherished!
ReplyDeleteThis is an absolutely beautiful gift!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful creations you made Julie!
ReplyDeleteHugs,Willy