It has been quite a journey working on this book. I never met my mother-in-law, Pat, she had passed away 2 years before I met my husband. Through the collecting of pictures and hearing of stories while putting this book together, I feel as though I have met her and know now in my own special way. Looking ito the eyes of her in her pictures, seeing the things she enjoyed and that meant so much to her and especially the pictures that were taken of her apparently without her knowledge have made this a very emotional journey for me. I wish I had met her in person and been able to talk to her before she died but I will remain content with the story she has told in her children's and grandchildren's memories and in the pictures and momentos she has left behind.
Tapestry covering with blue ribbon and black button from one of Pat's jacket's. Closure is gold and white rope ribbon attached to the back cover.
Inside front cover of book.
This picture of Pat and Donna is on material from Pat's skirt and the black is from a jacket of hers. Beads and embellishments include cat dangles too.
Pat with grandchildren Joey and baby Andrew (Donna's son). Picture of Pat as a little girl (netting was placed over the picture to soften it but isn't she adorable?) and one of Donna and Doug. Doesn't Donna look so much like her mom?
Picture of sister Mary, brother Chris, Pat and her mom framed with ribbon and with beads. Picture of Pat, her mom and grandmother and my hubby, Doug. Picture of Pat and her friend.
Bathing suit picture of Pat. Picture of Pat with baby Donna and toddler Doug. Picture pocked of Pat playing with another picture tucked inside of Pat.
Closeup of photo.
The wedding page contains pictures of Pat's grandparents wedding, Donna in her wedding dress and son Andrew in his tux. Pat in her confirmation dress and bottom right picture of Pat's mother in her confirmation dress. Some of the buttons used were from some of the clothing that belonged to Pat. Pat's confirmation picture was beaded to highlight the flowers that were in the pic.
Pat loved the Orioles and had a life sized poster of Jim Palmer. This just had to be included in the book.
This page includes a cap and gown shot of Pat as well as her and Donna's yearbook photos. The pics are all framed in stitches and beads as is the page border.
One of the things Pat had done was take pictures of her grandchildren. During one of these occasions she went around getting the kids to stick their tongues out so she could snap a pic of them...it seemed fitting to include one of her doing the same thing...the cat is another patch from Wallyworld. Dangly beads including a blue cat hang from the top of the page. A picture of Donna and Pat sitting on the steps at Donna's townhouse. A picture of Pat at Niagara Falls...I've been in the same spot with hubby in Canada!!The poem is on medium and attached to a fabric swatch.
This page has a picture of Pat's mom, brother Chris and Pat. I took fabric ribbon and tacked it down using buttons at the corners. The picture of Donna in her cowgirl outfit and best friend dressed as an indian has the copper embellishment 'friends' and is framed in fabric ribbon also with an extra piece of fabric underneath that was allowed to fray on the edges. The encrusted picture at the bottom is Pat in her school uniform. I also fringed the bottom of the page with loops of seed beads and other beads too.
This is the family page and includes the teenage pics of Donna, Pat and my hubby Doug (he's the one with the crossed arms acting cool). A pic of Pat and one of Donna and Doug in their scout uniforms...weren't they adorable??? The cat is a predone patch from Wallyworld (Wal-Mart). The lady bug button, charm and at the corner of the scout pic, is a cat head. THe flowers at the bottom of the page were made with tulip beads.
This page includes my favorite picture of Pat, her obituary and the last photo of her before she passed away. The profile was captured first by putting a vellum sheet in the copier and copying it and then running the same sheet of fabric back through copying the profile of Pat. I combined my favorite feather stitch with shells, fish, a turtle, coral chips and other rocks and stones to look like the water. Pat enjoyed boating and the water.
The inside cover. I copied and reduced a Christmas Card onto fabric and signed it to Donna with the date and my siggie.
Here's the back cover:
We went to Donna and Tim's on the 27th and she cried when she saw the book. She smiled and laughed too. I'm pretty sure she thinks it was worth the 3+ hours spent scanning all the photos in the summer. It was well worth all the time that went into it and I'd gladly do it again for her. Some people are just worth the extra to do things for....
1 comment:
gawgeous hunny but then you know that...glad to see she was thrilled with it...
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