Well...I could have washed it out immediately...but I laughed and thought...no...go with the flow and thus I painted, glued, glittered and collaged with green hair....
So the word that I wanted to feature this week was LOVE....and then I woke up in the middle of the night last night thinking...OMG - That was the theme of my last hop project!...Oh well...must be something important to me if I'm still creating with LOVE.....
I wanted to use this years pictures of my girls....I actually have four kids - two of my own - Alex and Mariah and two step-daughters - Elise and Julia. I'm pretty confident that Alex didnt want to be included in this collage...he hates his picture taken ...so...sorry Al...
But, my thought process as I was designing was "reflect" and "love"...I was reflecting on all the happy times we've had this year as a family. We've had some really steep challenges, that I'll keep personal, but in retrospect, we've been able to work thru those as family and as individuals and to grow in our own relationships together. I LOVE that!
What I LOVE about Elise.....
She is 14...a very tender and hard year to be a growing girl. This kid is a truely warm, sensitive and caring person....she has lots of empathy for what others have gone thru and what they are going thru....she also has a beautiful voice and is about to be featured as a lead solo for her junior high jazz band... She's so talented!
As I began designing with this picture, I couldn't help but feel a sense of connection to her. It's hard to have a step mom in your life when you've already got a great mom. It can pose a real challenge and like I said, we've both grown this year. This picture was taken on a "Step-mom, Step-daughter day...just me and her sharing some fun at a local art faire. It was the day after I had come home from Minneapolis and she wanted "me" to take her. I felt honored and priveledged and this is a very special picture in my heart...I LOVE it and all the memories that go with it....(just look at that beautiful brace-y smile...)
And next I have Mariah
She's my own and as I worked with her picture I thought of all the lessons that our kids can teach us... She is a great lesson of strength and endurance amidst all the challenges and illness she's had in her lifetime. She's a fighter...She is a nurturer and her beauty is deep within her soul. We've shared alot of moments - fun, and heartwrenching and there is nothing quite like the LOVE that is shared with your children...
This picture was taken on our family vacation in Florida over the past summer....I'm also reminded that she isnt a child any longer...she's 19....and I LOVE the young woman she's turned out to be...\\
And the "BABY" of the family....Julia who I call "Jujie" She's just turned 9....
So when you put it all together....you get a big picture of LOVE....
All collaged together...each with their personalities...and full of words expressing why I "Love my Girls"....
Now...the products...
Brenda Pinnicks Brackets Album: Because the frame helps you focus on those you LOVE...
Canvas because well...you gotta have a base in which to grow some LOVE...
Muslin and Denim - I gotta have texture...Life is full of texture...you know that things that happen so that life isn't boring? Life isn't flat...so neither are my paintings and collages...
Flowers - This is Tim Holt's flower die...and I love it because it's layered...and it gives a warm gentle touch...and a little softness to the collage...and it's girly girl...
Glitter and Rhinestones...well...a girl's gotta have her bling!!! Right ladies??
Paint...like I said...I really had to get into the painting...I love how I can be expressive with my hands and finger paint...and get messy....and loose myself in the creative process...
ModPODGE...where's Mod Podge Amy?? Hey I'm runnin out of Mod Podge...I have to use it...It glues my pieces of life back together when they fray, rip and tear!!! I LOVE ModPODGE!
WORDS: I LOVE 'em...they allow me to be expressive...for me to be me...(and you can make them any size you wanna...)
Thanks to all for letting me share this project with you...I hope you'll make a love collage...and reflect on all the things in live that you "LOVE".....
Okay.. Hop on over to the next - click on the button at the top over there -------------->
9 comments:
Linda, this is beyond beautiful! What a touching and heartfelt post. Your daughters and step daughter are lucky to have you in their lives as a great example!
Thank you for using my die to tell your story of love for these beautiful girls!
Linda - What a wonderful, treasured keepsake! Love your mixed media style!
i loved seeing your project all come together in your post-
Linda- I love how you always put so much thought into each of your pieces and explain to us how you put it together. So glad you are part of our hop!
What a beautiful creation Linda and a meaningful tribute to your girls!
Linda, this is simply beautiful. I love all the colors, textures and embellishments you added. Fantastic!
simply beautiful!
Linda, this is just beautiful. I was taken by the way you incorporated the first daughters' head into the shape of the die. This is a wonderful project, and definitely shows your love for these girls. BRAVO!
WOW... this is the coolest project! Both heartwarming and beautiful! Such fun
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