Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Having a go!

This week I have been having a go at some altered art, it has been great fun looking through all my bits and pieces and Im sure I spend to long choosing what to use and getting sidetracked reading bits in books.  It has been really good to get back to creating something. I have been very uninspired the last couple of weeks since doing the accounts and the tax returns it was as if that had sapped all my enthusiasm  and creativity and I spent quite a few days sat at my desk just doodling rubbish! 






















The little girl in this piece is actually E's grandmother born in 1894, he inherited a large number of old photos but sadly we do not know who most of the people are, E can remember his gran telling him who they all were but he didn't take it in and she never wrote on the backs of the photos, such a shame.  We have figured out quite a few of them and it freeks me out a bit that we have a photo of his great, great grandmother born in 1796!























I just loved this photo of the little girl playing her lute in her pierrettes costume and I just happened to have some old music from Harlequine so they went together well.























I was going to show you this little shrine/cabinet that I made E for christmas when I got my present from him.  Let me explain, this is the christmas present he started to make for me Christmas 2007!  And he still hasnt finished it!!!!! I do hope to get it in the quite near future though.  Well anyway I hid away in my room and made him this, he likes Zebra's and has a treasured  toy wooden one and I decided to build around that.  A copy of an old print is on the doors, the dots on the domino add up to the number of years we have been married, the shell one we found on holiday years ago.























Inside is the toy zebra, a secret message (of Love) and an old jar containing a million kisses, in case he needs more! The two drawers are for him to fill with secrets.

And because I have not had my present yet here is one he made earlier!  My beautiful Egg Emporium.  It has a little 'emergency' egg door in the door where one egg can rest and inside it holds five dozen eggs! we did used to have a LOT of chickens. Its made mainly out of an old door that has the most amazing layers of paint on it.  As you can imagine when he finished this, another Christmas present I didn't get till Easter, and gave it to me at about 12 o'clock at night (I had to wait up till he had finished it!) I was absolutely speechless, its one of my most favourite things, ever.







9 comments:

Rose&Bird said...

What brilliant ideas you have Jane! I love the idea of the shrine, it makes a treasured item even more special!

The Little Cloth Rabbit said...

wow! Lots of gorgeous things to look at. You are both very clever!

Renee said...

What beautiful and loving gifts. How wonderful it is to be married to someone we love.

Love Renee

Country Cottage Chic said...

The pictures a fabulous & I LOVE the cabinets - such special gifts!

Vanessa Brantley Newton said...

Hey Sweetie,
These pieces are just YUMMY and DELICIOUS!!!! I love what you did with Grandma! This is simply wonderful! Thank so much for your hilarious comments. I wish I could say that I have these great plans for the evening with my man, but sadly both of us will be working so I will slip him a little love note and a chocolate truffle his favorite. What are you planning??????

A time to dance said...

I am just in love with the little cabinet of love...you are so clever Jane...have a lovely valentines day....love and big hugs H

snippetgirl said...

I just LOVE your blog!! So many wonderful treasures to look at....animals and vintage tidbits...my favorites :)!! I am anxious to check out your etsy shop. Thanks for sharing your creativity!
Many purrs and woofs,
Carrie the SnipPet Girl

Vanessa Brantley Newton said...

Oh Honey, you are so kind and I feel like I've know you for years. Thanks so much for your encouraging comments. I so look forward to when I can come to visit you and take a class. I'm working hard to get to England. Thanks again my friend. Hugs and kisses to you. Enjoy the rest of the week.

Carolee said...

Oh how beautiful! Love the cabinets, and how special to create work from old family photos....just lovely!!

~ Carolee