Saturday, December 18, 2010

Dear Santa…

 

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Hello, dear friends!

What a grey, drizzly day it is here in California…not too good for my photos, as you’ll soon see!

First of all, I really want to thank you all for your kind and thoughtful comments on my last post—each and every one was so appreciated.

On to cheerier things today!  A couple of new projects to share with you.  First…

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…a snow globe purchased after Christmas at Target a few years ago, finally put to good use!

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On the inside…a mini collage made with real vintage ephemera, courtesy of the Victorian Christmas kit from Vintage Street Market

…a piece cut out of a page from an old German book is topped by a vintage Santa image…beautiful.  Surrounded by Platinum Stickles.

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On the back side, another beautiful piece cut from a scrapbook sheet included in the kit…

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…around the base of the globe, a little arrangement made with vintage flowers, pinecones, ornament balls & greenery, all from the kit.  Easy peasy and very fun to do!

Next…

…something new for my “family tree”…

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…a mini hanging with a little boy’s Christmas wish upon it…

Teddie K Gorrell---boyhood portrait

…this particular little boy is 6 year-old Teddy Gorrell, my husband’s grandfather.  Here he is about 1911, when he wrote this little letter to Santa Claus…

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A blank form in the local newspaper in that December of 1911, just waiting to be filled out by an eager little one…

                                                   Phoenix Ariz.  RR 3

“Dear Santa,

I am a little sick boy and would like to have a drum, a pair of shoes, a new suit, a tie, and a cap, a little croquet set, nuts, candy, oranges and bannas (bananas).  Good by,

                                            Teddy Gorrell

                                              Age 6 years”

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An envelope addressed to Santa Claus, Toyland, Northpole…

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…and a small afterthought added in his mother’s hand, dictated, I’m sure, by little Teddy… “trumpets, raisins, little trains.”

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I added his signature to his picture on the collage…how nice to have his name written out in his own little-boy hand to use here…

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And the little angel I’m sure he was hoping to be…from Crafty Secrets’ “Altered Fairies” Creative Scraps…the postcard image is from their “Christmas” Creative Scraps.

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I just had to add a little halo…very rough and bent, but perfect, I thought, for a little boy in 1911…

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…and perfect vintage buttons found…always a happy coincidence!

And to close today, a little more Christmas to share…

…just a peek of a Christmas scene from my dining room…

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…another softly lit village, this one filled with beautifully glittered cottages from Teena Flanner (I love them!), and an assortment of bottle brush trees in lovely ivory tones…

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…and the best decorations a woman could ever have…these three little sweethearts sitting under the tree.  My daughters, Chelsea, Sarah and Annie…Annie’s very first Christmas in 1996.  I’m a lucky mom.

I hope your weekend is wonderful, and that each and every day of the coming week is merry & bright!

See you soon with something new…

Julie

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Sometimes…

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Life is good.  But…

Sometimes things happen that we don’t plan on…things we don’t expect…

Sometimes life isn’t smooth, no matter how much we wish for it to be.

But, all WILL be well. 

I have so much!  I have a wonderful husband, three beautiful daughters I love and am so proud of…

Smith Family Portraits (151)

…we have a loving and supportive extended family…

Smith Family Portraits (317)

…we have our health…the rest can be figured out.

Uncertainty is scary, though…that chilling feeling when the rug gets pulled out from under you, so to speak…

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…but those are the times we get to see what we’re made of…

What am I made of, I wonder?

For weeks, I’ve been thinking of my fourth-great-grandmother, Louisa…

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When she faced an almost impossible situation in her life—one that would have knocked me to my knees—she squared her narrow shoulders, and simply said, “Well, I’ll show them what I can do!”

What would Louisa tell me to do right now, I wonder?

Somehow, I know she would expect me to absolutely get down on my knees (which I always do!)… then stand up, push up my sleeves and get to work. 

She would also probably be a little upset with me for whining on the internet!

But, on the other hand…maybe she wouldn’t.  After all, the reason I know about her struggles and joys is because she wrote down her worry-filled words, as well.

 (image found on internet—not Louisa’s journal)

Maybe she did it just for me…she certainly couldn’t share her words with the entire world in an instant with the push of a button like I can!

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Louisa had absolute faith in her Savior…that He would be always by her side and see her through…as I do.  I feel the tender mercies of the Lord in my life every day, and I am so grateful…

Life IS good.  Things WILL feel certain once again.  The carpet will be under our feet securely once more…all WILL be well.

[Louisa B. Pratt with granddaughter Ida Francis Hunt[2].png]

I will show them what I can do.

Thank-you, Louisa.

I love you.

Julie

(Images from Crafty Secrets’ “Vintage Photos” and “Angelic Blessings” Creative Scraps…diamond print from their “Earthy” paper pack.)

Sunday, December 12, 2010

The Family Tree

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Good evening, my friends!

A lovely Sunday…hope you’re having a wonderfully restful day…

Just one (big!) project to share with you today…my Family Tree…

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Ten ornaments made representing different couples  in our family….

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Leo and Minnie…1890’s…

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Orley Seymour and Polly May…1894…

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Asahel and Pauline…1909

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Ted and Fern…1920’s…

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Dow and Velda…1930’s…

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Glenn and Estella…1940’s

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Rudger and LaPriel and Family…1940’s…

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Paul and Shirley…1959…

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Clayn and Karen and…me…1962…

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Roger and Julie…1988…

The ornaments were made using chipboard pieces by Maya Road, available from Crafty Secrets.  The beautiful journaling and vintage photography images are from Crafty Secrets’ “Vintage Photos” Creative Scraps.  Lovely Christmas paper from Graphic 45…

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…a single word chosen for each ornament that I felt reflected the couple or family…

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Love, Faith, Hope, Togetherness, Beginnings, Joy, Family, Beauty, Dreams, Happiness…

I hope your day is beautiful, and that you are enjoying every moment of this wonderful season of family and togetherness around the family tree…

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Before we’re done, one quick thank-you…

…the kindness of blog friends continues to amaze me…a beautiful gift from Jody of Home and Heart.  A gorgeous necklace made from some of my favorite colors and a vintage earring… “just because”…Thank-you, my friend.

See you soon with something new.

Julie

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