Saturday, May 19, 2012

The Music Box

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It sits on the shelf now…tidily nooked in the china cupboard in my mother’s house…

But once upon a time it sat near a little girl.  A gift lovingly given to one that wasn’t to be long for this world…

Judy sitting on vanity {Judy sits on her mother’s vanity…reflecting}

She was only 7 at the time…blind and cancer-ridden.  The music box came during the Christmas season…a family friend seeking to give what joy he could to this dear little one so loved  by so many…her last Christmas.

Eyes that could no longer see could feel…the tiny, perfectly carved roses…the little birds perched here and there…

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…miniature musicians busily playing their instruments.

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Little ears could hear the sweet beautiful melody the music box was made to play…a lovely Swiss folksong.

image {the sweet 1950s bedroom shared by my mother and her little sister Judy}

Time passed.  The little girl was gone now…but another little girl slept in the same room, from time to time—visits to her grandmother’s house that filled her with such joy…

 Smith (57)_edited  {little me}

And one of her favorite things?  The little music box that sat next to the bed…nothing was more wonderful to her than to gently wind it up with her chubby little fingers, then lay there quietly listening, while the musicians turned round and round, playing that same sweet, little tune…

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The tune could be called up into her mind with perfect clarity whenever she thought of it and wherever she was during her life--no matter how far away from her grandmother’s house she was…and no matter how old she became…

And nothing gives that old girl more joy now than to carefully take that music box off of the shelf in the china cupboard whenever she visits her mother…

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…gently turning the key with her older, careful fingers…eyes closed while she listens to that familiar old melody which remains the same, undimmed by the years that have rolled by…

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The little music box is loved.  Loved by my mother who shared a room with her little sister Judy.  As she sits quietly and turns the key, the notes of the song remind her of that little girl she loves and misses…

DSC09279_edited-1 {Mom winding the music box while reminiscing…}

And the other little girl—me, loves it because it never fails to remind her of being a little girl in her grandmother’s house so very long ago……………………

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A little piece made this week—the music box serving as inspiration…pinks and soft blues the color scheme here…reminiscent of the beautifully painted box…

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…perfectly dried, diminutive  rose buds from my garden {my mother’s favorites—Cecil Brunner}, a sweet Frozen Charlotte doll turned fairy {one of my favorite things}…little blue birds and vintage sheet music—and a key, of course…all combine to remind me of that sweet little keepsake of my mother’s…

Wishing you sweet, melody-filled memories today…

Julie

Judith Lynn Ostlund portrait, June 1958 {portrait of Judy}

{“Loves Old Sweet Song” and rose images from Crafty Secrets’ “Love Mail” Creative Scraps, Frozen Charlotte and key from the Tim Holtz collection}

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

A Middle-Aged Girl

DSC09505_edited-1 {isn’t she sassy?!}

Oh, the journaling!  I’m definitely getting hooked, I’m afraid…

A few more pages to share with you…I promise—I’ll get to different things in my next post!

My title page:

DSC09510_edited-1 {lace border stamp from Crafty Secrets’ “Antique Trims” set}

Yep…a middle-aged GIRL, that’s me!

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I am so enjoying the watercoloring with these iridescent paints…so much prettier than it comes across in pictures…striping is awfully fun!

Two more pages…

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Not sure why I did these two back-to-back…but then that’s the fun thing about journaling—it just doesn’t matter!  Whatever comes out of you thoughts at the time is absolutely perfect {even if it’s imperfect!}

DSC09515_edited-1 {scallop border stamp from Crafty Secrets’ “Artsy Banner” set}

One of my very favorite quotes… “It’s kind of FUN to do the IMPOSSIBLE”…quite a saying from one of the most imaginative men I can think of…Walt Disney. 

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What is it about vintage moon faces that makes me so very happy?  I have no idea, but there’ll be plenty on the pages yet to come, I’m sure!

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Little paper stars cut from an old book page, then outlined & glittered up—can’t be a proper star if it doesn’t sparkle!

And finally…

DSC09532_edited-1 {a bit of a gloomy day today…the pinks on this page are actually much pinker…oh, well!}

A favorite quote from Theodore Roosevelt found on Pinterest (one of my favorite places!)  “Comparison is the thief of joy”…isn’t that the truth?!

Just a page about my thoughts on the subject…

DSC09541_edited-1 {flower doodle stamps at bottom from Crafty Secrets’ “Art Blooms” set}

No more joy thievery for me, please!

DSC09538_edited-1 {my sweet, little muse of joy comes from the stamp set “Fairy Jar”, designed by Hope Wallace Karney}

Well, that’s all for me today.  I really hope you give journaling a try!  Just dive in…put pen in hand and see what comes out!  You’ll be SO glad you did!

See you soon with something new…

Julie

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Go Confidently…

DSC09488_edited-1 {beautiful image by Hope Wallace Karney}

Oh, so many fun things to do in this life!

Here’s just another one…something I’ve been meaning to begin for so long…

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Art Journaling…I was so very intimidated to first put pen to thick, nubby paper…

WHY???

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May I just say, that now that I’ve begun it, I may never, never stop!

So liberating, so creative, so messy, so….FUN!!!

DSC09481_edited-1 {corner flourish stamp from Crafty Secrets’ “Flourishes” set}

Thoughts jumbled one on top of the other…doodles popping right out of my head, down through my hand onto paper…I feel just like a little girl again!

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Backgrounds painted with my never favorite find…iridescent water colors!  Found at Michaels, they’re my new best toy…

DSC09494_edited-1 {stamp from Crafty Secrets’ “Art Studio” set}

Piles of things to fill in the spaces with…favorite quotes, thoughts, stamps, images…lace, buttons, do-dads & knick-knacks of all kinds, random bits of sparkle whenever & wherever the sparkle muse dictates…the sky’s the limit!

DSC09501_edited-1 {a simple border of “Linen” Tinted Tape from Vintage Street Market…just the thing!}

I’ll be sharing these sheets as I make them…my book getting fatter & more filled with experiments, thoughts, notions, dreams & very important nonsense…

DSC09483_edited-1 {lovely vintage label from Crafty Secrets’ “Creating with Vintage Illustrations” CD}

…who knows what I might learn in the process?!

And all I keep thinking is…

What took me so long?!?

DSC09495_edited-1 {scalloped lace edging stamp from Crafty Secrets’ “Antique Trims” set}

And may I wish my dear Mother the happiest of Mother’s Days…

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…you gave me life--have filled my life with love and the wonder of learning…and you continue to inspire and encourage me, each and every day of my life…I love you, Mom.

Happy Mother's Day wishes to ALL you beautiful and creative mothers out there…you inspire me, too.

Julie