On a crisp Autumn morning when I have the time, there is nothing I like better than a trip across the river to the huddled terraced houses where my grandparents used to live. They're long gone now, but many of the shops they knew are still there. Not Artie the Butchers, with the sawdust floor, nor the Post Office with its teasing rack of paper dolls; but the factory fabric shop, and the knitting one, remain. And of course that's where I'm usually headed.
I can still picture Grandma coming down the road to meet me in her tifty patent shoes, sometimes a hat, always a brooch. The first time I took The Accountant to see her she was out and about. we caught up with her at The Coop and ambled home. He stood on her freshly cemented step and left a footprint (which was bad). But he asked for a trowel and fixed it (which was good). Even better - "he's got a look of your Grandpa about him," she whispered as she ushered us inside for a cup of coffee and an almond slice. .
That was twenty five years ago - any day now. I always did like October.
And here is the paper applique page I made, with room at the bottom for the journaling:
It's paper piecing by another name really, but then I think it's due for a revival. And no photo because I don't think it needs one. Anyone else make layouts without photos? I'm working on another one right now - and it's definitely all about the story. I hope it'll be ready soon, when I've found the right story to fill it.
Today I'm Loving...Amy at Over At Our Place now has her draw up and running for Septembers Pass The Book. Do check it out to see the page it inspired and leave your name in the hat for Beth Gutcheon's Still Missing
Today I'm Loving...Amy at Over At Our Place now has her draw up and running for Septembers Pass The Book. Do check it out to see the page it inspired and leave your name in the hat for Beth Gutcheon's Still Missing
32 comments:
Sian - I absolutely ADORE the paper applique - it looks like fabric! and you've been with The Accountant for 25 years! Wow, and congrats. How long were you two together before you got married? Seriously, you don't look old enough to have known him that long. Unless you starting dating when you were...ummmm...ten?
what a wonderful story! scrapbooking is about preserving memories, with or without photos. some of my favorite moments don't have photos to go with them so i love the concept doing a page without them.
love the applique, perfect for the story. Like how you gave equal space to the story and the creative.
Hi Sian, thought I'd pop in to see your new look blog (I normally use Google Reader) It's fab, really stylish!
I often do layouts without photos, most often when I'm scrapping about myslef lol!! Oftentimes another self-portrait would be pointless and the LO is better for not having a photo. Love your's - the story is wonderful. Your writing always inspires me :)
Your page is absolutely A.Maze.Ing! I love it, and the story behind it. I could clearly see The Accountant leaving his footprint and then sorting it out. Brilliant!
A lovely and sentimental story, and fabulous layout to go with it, Sian. I love the paper applique - And somehow love it much better called applique instead of piecing! ha!
I've done some mini-books where some of the pages had no pictures, but never a larger layout. That may be in my future...
loving layouts without photos. loving your writing even more. keep writing - i love reading :-)
Layouts as beautiful as this definitely don't need photos :-) I do a layout without any photos every now and then, and they're just as 'valid' within my album - they just tell the story in a different way is all! I'm liking this particular story very much xx
Wow Sian - lovely story and awesome page. Love the idea of scrapping without photos.
What a great story. When my now husband, then boyfriend, first met my parents, his father made him put on a tie. My FIL said, "a father would like to see her daughter's boyfriend in a tie on something other than their wedding day." My father welcomed Paul with several drinks (it was midmorning during the Christmas holiday.) Afterwards, when I asked my father about Paul, he said, "He seems nice. Drinks a bit, though." Then he paused and added, "But he drinks good stuff, at least."
Thanks for bringing back that memory.
Rinda
Rinda, I love your story too. It really gave me a smile
Another lovely story....another gorgeous applique LO...I've yet to do LO snas photo!!...& I'm off to check out Amy's 'Pass the Book' post!! :)
Ooops...of course that should be 'sans'...serves me right for trying to be smart!!
that story is gr8, does that mean u and the accountatn are about to celebrate a big important day soon? i love the LO but the plane made me feel sad as i should have been on one to u :-(((((
Jo xxx
If this is the city I think it might be, Sian, then your lovely post took me straight back to memories of my own grandmother in the same one - and she never went out shopping without a hat and smart coat either, and she and Granddad lived in a little terraced house too, not far from the river... I've been wanting to put together memories of those times for my own children, and have so few photos, so you are inspiring me to have a go!
I think your story is lovely and it doesn't need a photo. Preserving memories is what scrap-booking is all about. Some of the 'older' memories would be forgotten if not written down and there's seldom a photo depicting what we remember.
Lovely layout too and I really do like the paper applique technique ;)
You told that story so well, it really really put me in mind of my 'Nana' always had a brooch on and I have one in my drawer upstairs that she always wore.It's pretty unshiny and the pin is broken but I love that brooch so much.Your paper applique is perfect on the page x
Oh Sian, you have such lovely memories, you've really made me think of mine.... :)
Love your page - I did a page without photos recently with just journaling about a day of our vacation. I loved capturing my thoughts and feelings about the day without a photo to distract from the journaling.
I send the love right back to you Sian - I love pages without photos! I have done quite a few, because, there isn't always a photo and sometimes the words are so much more important :-)
My funny story is The Engineer corrupting the mind of his BIL to be and getting caught by his MIL to be. The boys have a ten year age gap and one weekend the older lad was caught showing the younger lad how to make ping-pong ball smoke bombs .... caught red handed by my mum - it was hilarious!
I love the page, and would never have thought of doing something like this. It's perfect, just a work of art, with your usual wonderful story to accompany it. I love paper piecing when I'm making cards, now I'm thinking about scrapbooking, too.
Fabby page with lovely writing.
(and no, they aren't fractals - that's something else entirely, but it would be nice to find some of Nature's other mathematical examples ... and scrap them too!)
What a nice, sweet story. You gave a great sense of your Grandma & the lovely town. Pretty page. Happy WW & thanks for the Birthday wish!
Thank you Sian, for another beautiful story that has left me with a smile on my face. Such a lovely layout,
thx for popping by Sian! i did the same the other day to you & left a comment or 2 :)
i'm loving the idea of crossing the river to the terraced homes..
i've lived a few months in london myself so picturing vividly your description!
lovely memories ~ THX !
looking fwd to the 'let's eat' hop :)
Hope you don't mind me asking if it was under another name Faith Hope Cherrytea? I'd love to track down your comments but I can't. Thanks!
Hopped over here from my mom's blog (Paper Turtle) and just wanted to say that I love your scrapbook pages! The colors you mix are perfect!! :)
Love this story Sian.. 25 years?? Really? wow! Adore the paper piecing and the page with no photo.. something I must try more often!
I've missed so much this last few weeks.. will try and get back for a longer catch-up tomorrow!
:o)
i've had a relook myself Sian, but think i may have missed keying the verification or something - i've been known to miss that little step:) sorry - so no worries!
we've connected now & i do thank you for taking that step too :)
I LOVE your layout Sian, this is a very inspiring post. I only seem to use photos and sometimes I can forget to scrap about 'moments' due to a lack of photos.
Thank you for reminding me that it isn't all about the photos! :)
Another beautiful story Sian and exactly why I'm trying to get over my journalling block. Stories like this should never be lost and you've saved yours in such a beautiful way.
I love the story, and you're right I don't think you needed a photo - the paper piecing is amazing and sets the scene perfectly.
Post a Comment