Hello, my friends!
Another wonderful weekend…rainy, but wonderful!
First of all, I’d like to thank you all for helping me to welcome my friend Barb to her new shop, Varinia Rose…and I’m so happy to announce the winner of my Domestic Goddess Giveaway—Ashley of “1942 Charm”!
![[Barb with aprons[5].jpg]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JT2R2y20nZzXJQbiYYmBlEPsMKLIuB6QGQaZm9Cc9RLCnKWOQtFibQUQ2g5fa9fKn1G1yD_LgRjWu4ySZws9pTdF4-Z0vh26SBnds3-Uur14vr03V1waItdA3ojzbmAyk_ej2POJ1tQ/s1600/Barb+with+aprons%5B5%5D.jpg)
Congratulations, Ashley! Please email me your address to avintagechic2@yahoo.com and I’ll get everything out to you right away!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Just one project to share with you today, but one with lots of meaning in it for me…
My grandmother, Velda’s, birthday was just a couple of days ago. She was such a beautiful and vibrant part of my life…and still feels very much a part of my life today.
I love thinking of her on her birthday…all the things I loved to do with her…all the things she taught me….
My first embroidery, crocheting and knitting lessons were by her side…
…washing the dishes together, learning how to clean properly, how to be a lady…going through family heirlooms, telling me her stories…
…supporting and encouraging me in my years of piano lessons, schoolwork, and…everything!
Even on my wedding day, she was there by my side…giving me her love, her support…and the twinkle in her eyes that let me know she approved of my choice and was happy…
Every year, I could count on a sweet card from her (and my Grandad!)…usually with a check inside to get myself “a little something”…but my favorite part?
All the “x’s and o’s” that I knew would be at the bottom of the card…an “xo” for each year of my life…
…accompanied always by her phrase, “Love you the mostest!”
She did this up till the year she died…each year the xoxoxoxoxo’s got a little shakier…but ever more precious…and were always carefully counted out and present on the card.
Such a tender tradition…one that my mother carries on…
…I will do the same.
A new page for my heritage scrapbook made yesterday…
This beautiful portrait shows Velda as a young woman…recently married and a new mother around 1940…so much excitement in her eyes…so much life ahead of her…
I always think of Velda…Grammie, as we called her…when I see or smell violets. Her grandmother, Polly May, gave her gifts of violets each year for her birthday…once in a crystal basket…
…so, a few “sugared” violets created with this sweet, old-fashioned gift in mind…
…a pretty vintage needle packet from Crafty Secrets’ “Sew Nice” Creative Scraps to represent the things she taught me…
…along with a little cut-out and popped-up image of Velda when she as about 1 1/2 years old in 1917…
A little tuft of soft, old netting, dyed with purple & blue Glimmer Mist to mimic a violet’s shades and tucked just behind Velda’s portrait…
…and, of course…an “X” and an “O” made of vintage mother-of-pearl buttons in honor of her sweet tradition…
A few months after she passed away, I woke in the middle of the night with thoughts and images of “x’s and o’s” in long lines in my head…
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
I lay there wondering why, and then I suddenly remembered that it was Velda’s birthday…and it struck me that it was an “I love you” message from my grandmother…just for me…
I quietly whispered “I love you”, and went back to sleep…
Another loving gift from my mother this last Christmas…a little remembrance given to young girl Velda from a childhood friend…carefully kept (as she kept everything), all these years in the original gold box it was given in…
…a soft, silky pink handkerchief rosebud…never removed…on this beautiful Art Deco-style card from about 1925…thank-you, Mom!
A sweet and lovely gift made for One World One Heart received yesterday from the beautiful Cindy Adkins of “Whimsical Musings”…
…thank-you so much, Cindy, for your generosity, friendship and inspiring creativity!
Well, that’s it for me today! Hope your day is beautiful and filled with every wonderful thing…
Julie xoxoxo
I won??!!!! Yay!!!! I so wanted to win this giveaway!!! I'm so excited =) Xoxoxo (I emailed you a little earlier today)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful memory about your Grandmother Velda and the "xxx & ooos" I do that on my cards to my kids, too. (But only 2 of each) I feel as if I almost know your family after reading so many wonderful memories Julie. Your heritage book will be a masterpiece!
ReplyDeleteHave a peaceful Sunday..
xoxo
Joyce
Julie,
ReplyDeleteYou have become an inspiration for me to get busy with my family scrapbooking...I must get organized, I have so many to do and you have shown me a "style" that is so perfect! Thank you for all of these! I can now take my thoughts and feelings and put them to paper...
I enjoy your blog.....but also wanted to let you know I'm not a spooky stalker :) I'm trying to find a few blogs that decorate closer to my style. I'm not so much a white vintage chic person and am having trouble finding people like me (since I'm kind of undefineable, too). So I come and look at your blog but also to find YOUR "favorite places". So I go check one out, come back here, check another out, etc.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the winner!
ReplyDeleteI think that 'XO' tradition is very sweet, and so fun! What a wonderful grandmother. :)
Hi Julie,
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so happy that you got it so fast! And I love this post...Your posts are amazing! Thank you so much for your sweet comments on my blog...I will be doing a feature on you on my magazine blog next Monday!!!
XO
Congratulations to Ashley!... Lucky lady!... I love your story about your grandmother... and I really love the photo of the two of you on your wedding day... grandmas are so very special, and I love how close the two of you were and are (she is still your sweet grandma!)... precious memories of a beautiful lady... xoxo Julie Marie
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful memories of your Grammie. I love your page with the xo made of buttons.
ReplyDeleteMy Grandma taught me to crochet too. We spent hours together "tolaying" as we called it and then would feast on Vienna Sausages...
I was so close to my grandma too. Still miss her even though she's been gone for more than 30 years. A beautiful tribute for a beautiful lady. Mimi
ReplyDeleteWhat a heartfelt post. I love how your Grandma signed with all the x's and o's
ReplyDeleteAdorable art as always!
hugs Lynn
I love your beautiful scrapbook page about your grandma. Very special.
ReplyDeleteOh wow Julie, so much goodness here today. Congrats to your lucky winner! I love reading the stories about your wonderful family and seeing all your heirlooms. I love this newest page you have made as well. How very beautiful. You inspire me. You really do. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead.
ReplyDeletelove you loads! xxoo
What a sweet, sweet post and project about your Grandmother. Love the picture of the two of you on your wedding day. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead.
ReplyDeleteJulie, everytime you write about your grandma, I love her more. I love that picture of you and she on your wedding day. Have a great day! Twyla
ReplyDeleteHi Julie,
ReplyDeleteI just popped over to say "hi!" and hope all is great there in California...Your blog is pure joy!!!
XO
Dear Julie,
ReplyDeleteAnother beautifull post , sweet-
how I would love to "create" the same beautifull memmories for my grandchild- as you "hides" in your heart and mind-about your grandma.---- The art piece you created is beautifull- I so love the sugared violets you added----and the greetings with all the XO`s so wonderfully sweet.
Hugs, from me-
Dorthe
Sooo fun, love your creativity and fun to find you!!!
ReplyDeleteXXXXX- Emily from EL Vintage
Julie,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading the story of your grandmother, Velda, so much...thank you for sharing it as well as the amazing photo of her as a little girl...what a treasure that is. I was very close to my grandmother too and, although she passed away a long time ago, I still think of her every day...like you, she taught me so much and with such patience and love. Beautiful post!
Cheryl at My Sister's Cottage
p.s. I love your blog design...great colors and vintage buttons.
My dearest bella Julie, I have missed your wonderful posts and it appears I came back at the most wonderful of times to visit, because I got to come & share your beautiful post for your bella grandma Velda <3<3<3 Hope you are well dear friend, Besos! Rose <3
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, what a wonderful post! But then again, all of your posts are so heart filled and inspiring. I got goosebumps when I read of your Grammie's heavenly message of love with x's and o's in your head. How sweet of your mom to pass the wonderful card along to you for safekeeping. Your entire family truly are keepers of the past. Wishing you all the best, Tammy
ReplyDeleteJulie, I always enjoy the lovely posts about your amazing family. You have so many wonderful memories and I love how each family member inspires you to create something beautiful and special to honor them.
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Julia
Such a sweet post.
ReplyDelete:)
Oh Julie this post really touched my heart. Your Grandmother sounds so much like my Nana who raised me. I love the X's and O's she wrote at the end of her letters to you...what keepsakes those letters are especially now. I love the heritage scrapbook page you did in honor of your Grandmother. You are so very fortunate to have such lovely memories of her and it's wonderful that your Mom is following in her footsteps. I hope you have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteMaura :)
I just love your stories!! They're the best!! Your creations never disappoint!! What talent you have!! Thanks for sharing your priceless family history with us!
ReplyDeleteI loved this post...thank Heaven for grandmas who are filled with..and fill us with their XOXOX'S! ;D
ReplyDeleteso many beautiful memories and cherished photos! I adore the layout you made to honor Grandma...and isn't it wonderful that some of the things we do daily our Grandmother's taught us. My Mom often tells me if my Grandma was still alive she would be doing art right along with me! Thank you for sharing your heart with us!
ReplyDeleteHave just discovered your blog, Really beautiful and inspiring, thank you!
ReplyDeleteAlso it would have been my grandma's birthday in February too.
She was so artistic and lovely and a inspiration to all the family. So many of us have gone down the art avenue because of her.
So love your memory to yours. Really beautiful.
thanks, am now a new follower,
xox
Julie, Mom is visiting
ReplyDeleteand I just read her
excerpts of this very
special post....She is
also "Grammy!" My Gigi
was born in 1917 and
always signed her notes
to me with x's and o's,
too : ) What a lovely
tribute to your Grammie!
xx Suzanne
hi julie,
ReplyDeleteyour posts are always beautiful but this one is extra warm and special. always adore your stories and of course, your creations.
xo
elyse
So sweet...your grandma reminds me of mine...I am an x & o girl...and so was my grandma.
ReplyDeleteHugs and love to you...your stories always make my heart sing. xoxoxoo
Julie, My heart aches with the sweetness of this post. We are an XO family as well. There is wonderful XO news on my blog today, you must share in my joy! Have a lovely day, and thank you for sharing another beautiful page in your heritage book. Elizabeth
ReplyDeleteWhat a beatiful tribute to your Grandmother. I have some wonderful memories of mine and need to get some pages done for them. You have given me inspiration. Thanks for sharing your lovely stories with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat sweet memories of a wonderful grandmother. It was a pleasure to read. And, I love your artwork honoring her...
ReplyDeleteMany Blessings,
Spencer
Julie,
ReplyDeleteYour post made me cry happy tears when reading it. How special the relationship you and your grandmother Velda shared. Your tribute to her shows the love that you have for her. Something we could all hope to have. I wish it had been my story.
Oh, Julie,
ReplyDeleteThis is, without a doubt, one of the loveliest posts you have written. I loved every bit of it, from the tiny rosebud to the "xo's" to the special visit from you grandmother. I was teary through most of it! Thank you for sharing from such a deep place in your heart. You are a treasure!
Hugs,
Suz