Sunday, October 3, 2010

Love Connects Generations…

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Good afternoon, dear friends!

What  a lovely weekend it’s been…hope yours is going well, too!

I have the last few pages of my mini family album to share with you today…

First, my beautiful Mother, Karen

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My Mother is an amazing woman…she has managed to retain such a childlike love of everything all throughout her life…I love that about her!

She is an incredibly talented dollmaker, (a few of which you can see by clicking here), and has been featured in Dollmaker magazine, but isn’t too concerned about all that…I love that about her, too…

She has loved dolls and stuffed animals all of her life.  When young, and told that they couldn’t afford the things she loved, she simply decided to learn how to make them herself…and she did.

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So, my Mother’s page highlights her beauty, her creativity, and the dolls and things she loves so much…

My Grandmother Smith…LaPriel

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A beautiful and gracious woman, who loved all the refined things in life…poetry, proper etiquette, providing a loving home for her family, her favorite color; happy, sunshiny yellow…

Taken away from us to soon…I was only 3 1/2 years old when she passed away from the effects of cancer.  I still remember her, however…a small child’s remembrance of a Grandmother that loved her very much…

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And finally, generations earlier…a fourth great-grandmother that I love oh, so dearly…because I feel I know her well…

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Louisa Barnes Pratt…born in 1802 in Massachusetts…an accomplished tailor, adventurer, strong advocate for the rights of women, and a prolific writer who wrote her own story in amazing detail, which was published about 10 years ago…which is how I know and love her so well…

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…thank-you, Louisa, for telling your story so honestly and beautifully…

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The photo here on my album page is a rare treasure for me…she is pictured here, late in her life, with her beloved granddaughter, my second great-grandmother, Ida Francis Hunt, born in 1858…

Louisa B. Pratt with granddaughter Ida Francis Hunt

Have you ever wondered who in your family tree you resemble most?  Being as immersed in my genealogy all of my life as I have been, I’ve wondered this many times…pouring over generations of family photos, I had yet to see anyone with enough features combined to resemble my own in my mind…until I first saw this one, when Louisa’s book was published…

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…this is  the face I see when I look in the mirror…almost 50 years old now, I still sometimes see the face of the child I still feel I am inside, her face…

 

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(I have to tell you--don’t read this, Mom--there’s hardly a grade-school portrait of me in which my bangs are cut straight—and I didn’t cut them…!)

My album completed…already thinking of the next…I really enjoyed putting this one together!

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Images from Crafty Secrets Creative Scraps and booklets, Maya Road Chipboard album (sold by Crafty Secrets),

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copies of my family photos, vintage images found online…and all the trimmings and sparkly things I always love to use…

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I hope the rest of your Sunday is a lovely and restful one…and remember…

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Love connects generations

…it really, really does…

See you soon with something new.

Julie

36 comments:

  1. This book is a treasure and you've done a stunning job with it. I just love the way you know so much about your family history. It's easy to see where you get your artistic talent from Julie. Your Mother's dolls and figures are magnificent...such detail! I'm sure your personal collection is amazing.
    I am bad at being able to tell who looks like whom but I do see a resemblance with Ida...especially around the mouth. She was a sweet child and I love the quote on this page.
    "Love connects generations"...how very true. Thank you for sharing this beautiful project.
    Joyce

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  2. Hello Julie... Oooh, I love your book so much! Your ancestors sound wonderful and how lucky you are to have their photographs... I love to hear the stories about them and the incredible lives they led... I am so happy you keep them close to you in your heart, and their memories alive for all of us... I too feel like a little girl many times... one of my favorite quotes, which is on my sidebar with a picture of me as a little girl, and a picture of me now is "you aren't just the age you are, you are all the ages you ever have been"... so true! Thanks for sharing... I want to make one now so much!... but I don't have a clue where to start... xoxo Julie Marie

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  3. Hi Julie!
    It's really wonderful! I especially LOVE the red page with your great grandmother's picture...so sweet to see such treasured photos so lovingly displayed! You do such completely beautiful work! LOVE it! Hugs!

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  4. I know all about those bangs, I think we went to the same stylist!!

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  5. Hello Julie,
    My name is Mimi and I am the first "L" in Elizabeth's Halloween banner. I was so delighted to be a part of this swap and am so excited to receive it in the mail. I wanted to take a minute to visit each participants blog as there are many of you that I have not had the privilege to meet. I truly enjoyed my visit to your blog and all of your lovely creations. You really are a talented artist. Your family album is just amazing--such a treasure. I know I will be back to visit soon for more inspiration. So nice to meet you.
    xoxo
    Mimi

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  6. All of your projects are just gorgeous!!!

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  7. I wish I knew as much about my family history as you do yours -- your book is a beautiful tribute.

    I too had those at-home bang trims and many years of school pictures as evidence. :-)

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  8. LOL Had to laugh at the bangs comment...me too! Loved all the pictures and history and your mom is an excellent doll maker..so amazing! :D

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  9. Your creations are Beautiful today Julie.


    Hugs,Willy

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  10. Oh my gosh, Julie!!!
    I can't believe all the pics and the amazing tags--you must have a fairy godmother that is working overtime!!! I love your school pics--so precious!! And all the tags--wow!!! I hope you had a great weekend...
    I had not been to the beach since Feb and we took a drive there today--yeah!!! I'm a Calif girl, so I've never been without the waves for that long!
    XO
    Cindy

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  11. This book is such a treasure. Beautiful in every way! And I love your mothers dolls!!!
    Have a wonderful and creative week!
    Hugs Hanne

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  12. Julie
    your book is just AMAZING! What a wonderful collection of family heirlooms put together with creativity and LOVE! I so adore reading your "heritage" posts! gorgeous work!

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  13. Your book is so wonderfully layered and detailed, Julie, and your stories are always fascinating!

    I had to laugh about the bangs, as my own daughter may be in a photo or two with crooked ones! Paper is so much easier to cut straight than hair! Reminds me to call for an appointment at the stylist. Picture day is next week ~ Shannon thanks you!

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  14. So fun to see more pages from your book, they're just amazing, what a treasure you've made!

    I don't think any of us ever had straight bangs!

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  15. Julie--amazing job on family history. The one of your grandmother touched me so much. You were loved.....keep up the good work. I love your family histories.

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  16. Hello Juile

    Isn't it wonderful when we can get to know our ancestors so well just through taking the time to research and look through the archives.

    Your really is a labour of love and such a joy to visit and read all you tell us.

    B x

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  17. Julie,

    Great Post! I so enjoyed reading this.
    Ha, the bangs.. I've got you beat!
    My dad was a barber in his earlier days. My haircuts always looked like a bowl was placed on my head and cut around.
    You were a cute little girl and still are!
    Thanks for dropping by too.

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  18. Julie, It has been such fun getting to know your family through your lovely scrapbook pages. Might we know the book title about your great-great grandmother? It sounds so interesting. Hope you have a lovely week ahead! Elizabeth

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  19. Julie, I really love your book pages to date! I also enjoy putting together creative books! Your colors and choices are super and your family anecdotes and photos are wonderful!
    Hugs,
    Coralie

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  20. You are so good at keeping up with your family's history...your work is amazing..you always inspire me each time I visit!

    Hugs.

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  21. Just amazing and beautiful and inspiring.Thank you again for sharing this with us.

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  22. Your album turned out beautiful, Julie! You have put so many thoughts in your project and I love how you incorporated elements to show each family member's fondnesses.
    xoxo,
    Julia

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  23. Julie, you have created something very beautiful here. I just love it. What a wonderful legacy it will be for your girls one day. I am lucky enough to be able to call some of your mum's dolls my own. They are beautiful treasures and I am so grateful for the gift of them. They lift my heart whenever I look at them, a beautiful reminder to me of a much treasured friend. It is amazing how much you look like your second Great Grandmother! I love looking at old pictures. Whenever I look at pictures of my great great grandmother Naomi Smith, I see my Aunt Freda's eyes looking back at me, and then I have a picture of my grandfather and his sisters taken in the late 1800's and my Grandfather's sister Meda and my own Amanda are like twins. It is so wonderful to see these familiar traits passed on down through the generations! I need to do an album for my own children I think! I send lots of love and hugs to you on this day my dear friend! xxoo

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  24. Julie how CUTE are your school pics??!! I am always thrilled and inspired by your gorgeous work, but I would read your blog just for the wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing both!!

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  25. You're so right. It does. Even if we never even met those past generations. They show up in us in the arch of a brow, or the shape of our lips. I see your mother's eyes in yours. And you in the other faces as well.
    Brenda

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  26. Hi Julie,
    What a delightful post. You know very well, how much I thrive on this. Beautiful thoughts, words, and photographs. You mini album pages come alive with love, each and every page. Yes, I do see your striking resemblance to your beloved Ida Francis Hunt. That is so very special. Thank you for sharing these thoughts and images with us.
    Hugs,
    Maureen

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  27. Julie.. I could go on and on as the others have done, commending you on the beautiful blog entries you have made. I'm so deep into genealogy and family history and story and picture collecting... I share the same passion of recording and preserving the stories and history of these wonderful people.
    I think some day you and I need to have a visit. Hope we can make that happen sometime.
    I'm back with the world of the well people.. almost. Terrible bug!! The cough has been the worst thing.
    Take care, Julie. Looking forward to your next entry.
    Hugs,
    Karen
    Ladybug Creek

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  28. I just popped over to say "hi!" and hope you're doing well!
    XO

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  29. Hi Julie!

    Guess what? You are a winner in my blog giveaway!

    E-mail me your mailing info and I will get your package in the mail to you.

    Hugs, Debi

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  30. When I was here earlier, I forgot to comment on your beautiful book Julie. What a wonderful keepsake you've created! Your pages are so beautiful, and you've chosen such pretty embellishments to represent your family members.

    And, I think the crooked bangs must have been a fad back then...I had them too! LOL

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  31. Hi Julie,
    This is such a darling post, just link it up--people will love to see it!!
    XO

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  32. Hi Julie,
    Woo hoo!!! So glad you linked this up to the CS challenge!!! I love your tags...you have such a gift with making them!!!
    XO
    Cindy

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  33. These are really special, Julie! I love how personal these are...and you do resemble your ancestor! Hopped over from Creative Spirit Challenge!

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  34. Oh Julie, this is exactly what scrapbooking is all about to me. You are leaving a legacy of memories and photos honoring your family, and you've done it with so much love and beauty, your pages glow. I too am an avid lifetime genealogist with many wonderful old photos and journals--so many it's almost intimidating, but you give me courage to take some steps. Thank you! Simply gorgeous work.

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  35. I am late coming to your page; and find we are related Lousia Barnes Pratt is also my 5x great grandmother. Her daugther Lois is my line. Thanks for the beautiful pictures. LaWana Fulton Mills

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  36. I am late coming to your page; and find we are related Lousia Barnes Pratt is also my 5x great grandmother. Her daugther Lois is my line. Thanks for the beautiful pictures. LaWana Fulton Mills

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