Bobby Pin Girl

{Photo corners from Crafty Secrets’ new “Photo Studio” stamp set}

A solemn night…but hard for two young cousins to understand the solemnity that brings them together and allows them a sleepover at Grandmother’s house.

Their grandfather had just passed away unexpectedly—at only 54—while away from home, and their parents had gone to help Grandmother bring him home.

{lovely seam binding tinted with “Crushed Shells” Glimmer Mist"}

Sitting, talking, giggling late into the night…much too happy to be together to sleep.  Great-Aunt Hazel—the designated caretaker—comes in time and again to quietly tell the cousins it is way too late for such silliness…

Chewing on a bobby pin that had earlier been carefully placed on her young blond head to keep pin curls in place…Karen accidentally swallowed it…

{vintage 1947 bobby pins}

The next morning’s trip to the hospital required an x-ray, which showed in great detail a large bobby pin in that little 9-year-old stomach…

“Give her bread and liberal doses of mineral oil”, said the doctor…”watch and wait…”

Sitting at her desk later that morning…butterflies—and a bobby pin in her tummy—wouldn’t her teacher and friends be surprised to hear?!

{Journaling image from Crafty Secrets’ “Little Dolls” Images & Journal Notes booklet}

“I swallowed a bobby pin!”, she said excitedly……and no one believed her.  “You did not!”, they said.  “If you did, you’d be dead!”

A bit wilted by this time, Karen stuck to her guns…”I did, and I’m NOT dead!”, she said.

{Beautiful flower punch from Stampin’ Up!…vintage button found in the perfect Kraft shade}

Snickering and staring in class, and later while playing on the playground…she heard repeatedly, in sing-song voices…

“Bobby Pin Girl! Bobby Pin Girl!”

…wherever she went…

{My favorite scallop edge stamp from Crafty Secrets’ “Artsy Banners” stamp set…Platinum Stickles used for edging}

Karen…my sweet mother…remembers feeling hurt that no one believed her, but she felt how important it was, even at that young age, to tell the truth—even if no one else believes you.

The teasing went on for a few days, then faded away…as childhood teasings usually do…

A new page made yesterday for my heritage scrapbook…

…so satisfying to bring little bits of family history to life in this way.  Small moments of time captured and preserved…to remember and teach those that come later…

This photo on my page shows my mother (in the yellow dress) along with her cousin (in the white hat) and others family members on the day of their grandfather’s funeral.  Mom loves this photo, and reflects that the infamous bobby pin was still snugly resting in her tummy that day!

I had asked my mother if she had any old bobby pins from the ‘40’s that I could use for my project…she searched, but none were found. 

It occurred to me that I could probably find some on eBay…and what do you know…

…I sure did!  This pack—made in 1947—would have been just the kind my mother had in her hair that night in 1949…a bit different than the ones we use now...much flatter…no round, balled tips….

I also bought this pack—a little older than the first—and so beautiful!  How wonderful to find them still intact  on the cards…

While looking at images online, I found these other beauties from the same period…

 

Such lovely packaging for something so simple…

So glad you stopped by for a visit…how will you bring your history alive today?

{on of my favorite ‘40’s era-style scripts…”Sweetheart Script”, available from MyFonts.com}

See you soon with something new…

Julie