Watercolor Memories

A few sheets of aged, thick watercolor paper sitting at the back of my closet for years…carefully preserved, but not being shared…

On my mind, the sheets of paper were pulled out, shown to my daughters…and loved.

Three pieces painted by my grandmother, LaPriel,  in the early 1950’s….

My dear aunt, her daughter, remembers that she took a few classes with her sister.  They were outdoor classes taught locally, and she loved them.

The desert landscapes of her beloved Arizona, pine-covered mountains, an old barn…these were the things she practiced on...

My favorite—her color wheel, complete with the colors written out in her lovely hand…

They will now be framed…I love them dearly.  No more dark, hidden closets for these works of art…

Are they masterpieces?  No.  But they were painted by the hand of one that I love and have always missed.  LaPriel passed away not too very long after these would have been painted, when I was only three years old. 

Anything that her hands touched—and heart loved—are treasures to me…

Along with the few painted pieces were two blank pieces of the same thick, aged watercolor paper…a thought came into my mind…

Quickly cutting one of those blank sheets to fit (before I changed my mind!), I used it as the background for my newest family story page, made this week…

{beautiful, vintage background prints, photo corners & tag from Crafty Secrets’ “Creating with Vintage Patterns” CD}

Feeling inspired—by my grandmother’s paintings, a beautiful sunny day and my three daughters heading out to the back yard to paint—I joined them.

{yep—this is the view behind my house—not bad, is it?!}

Now, I’m no painter—I know this very well.  But there was something so very soothing, so very satisfying…so very connecting in the doing of it, that I just smiled and smiled…

…and my canvas?  The rest of the piece of watercolor paper saved by my grandmother…

{my attempt at the beautiful blue sky today on LaPriel’s piece of watercolor paper…}

Is it a masterpiece?  No.  Not even a little bit!  But I did it with my own hand, inspired by one that tried the same thing on sunny days many years ago, and I’m sure she smiled while she painted, too…

{a close-up of my very impressionistic hills…don’t worry, I won’t make you look at the whole thing!}

And maybe—just maybe—one day in future years, one of my granddaughters will pull my little painting out of a spot in the back of a closet…and love it simply because I smiled and painted one lovely, sunny day…………….

 

See you soon with something new…

Julie

LiveJournal Tags: LaPriel Riggs Smith,watercoloring,Crafty Secrets

Easter Treats

Do you feel it?  The breeze getting a little warmer…budding blossoms on trees just ready to burst…birds singing in the greening gardens…

Spring is almost here!

…in California, at least!

I couldn’t resist the urge this last week to make a few springy projects…the Easter Bunny will be here before you know it, you know!

These were all the easiest peasiest projects—and so much fun to make!  Quick as a bunny, I had three little gifts all ready to give to a few of my favorite little ducklings…

My source for all the vintage Easter adorableness?  Vintage Street Market.

{perfectly sized watering can from the $1 section at Target}

So hop on over…I think you’ll find some perfectly sweet treats for Spring just right for your Easter projects…

And if it doesn’t feel like Spring at your place yet, creating a little Easter joy will be just the thing to put a little Spring in your step, at least!

See you soon with something new…

Julie

{Aqua Ribbon Card, Aqua Tinsel, Aqua Twirly Twine set, Pink Twirly Twine set, Dimestore Vogue Paper Sheets & Tags kit, Family Fun Paper kit, Bingo Craft Cards set all from Vintage Street Market.}

Sweet Encouragement

Some stories aren’t always happy…but that doesn’t make them any less sweet…perhaps it makes them even sweeter…

This is just a little story, but a story that shows the beautiful character of a beautiful young man…

{the Ostlund Family, late 1950s}

My parents’ families were friends for years…they lived near each other, attended church together, enjoyed each others’ company from time to time…

{the Smith Family, early 1950s}

One night, two years before my parents were married, the two families got together for an fun evening.  Clayn  (my future father) was away from home at the time, but my dad’s older brother Grant was there, as was my mom’s younger sister, Judy…this is their little story…

Judy was blind.  She had been since she was 3 years old.  Not only was she blind, but cancer was very present in the sweet little girl as well.  None of this stopped her.  She was filled with the joy of living—and a lot of sass and imagination…

…Grant knew this.  He was much older than Judy—about 22 years old at this time—a strong, handsome young man…but most of all, a kind one.  The type that, even though he was popular with all and could dance with anyone he chose, would always ask the “wallflowers” to dance, took the time to write loving letters to his grandmothers…cherished his parents…that kind of young man.

{Grant, aged 20-21 in this photo}

And the kind of young man that would take the time to encourage a 6-year-old girl.

Judy could play the piano, but this night, when her parents asked her to play for the Smith family, she refused…

“I CAN’T play the piano”, she said… “I’m a horse—horses don’t play the piano!”

{charming, vintage Bakelite pin…image found online.  This is something Judy would have loved…}

Without hesitation, Grant said kindly, “I knew a horse that could play the piano…but he was a special horse—not an ordinary horse like you.”

Judy thought for a second, then snorted, shook her ponytail, and trotted across the room like a horse…straight to the piano, where she proceeded to play her memorized pieces for the families.

{Judy playing her songs at the piano…the very same piano that we play in my house today…}

Just a little thing, but a cherished memory to hold on to…

You see, Grant was killed in an auto accident the very next day.   Judy would only live one year longer…

{a new page made this week for my family storybook…simple and sweet, just like they were…}

A sad story, a sweet story…a story of encouragement to play—not just the piano, but to have fun in life…and encourage others to do the same.

See you soon with something new…

Julie

LiveJournal Tags: Judith Lynn Ostlund,Grant Smith,piano,encouragement