Tuesday 5 February 2013

A little family history project..........

 This project was inspired by a class given by Dyan Reaveley a couple of years ago and has been brewing in my head ever since.
It is nothing like Dyans project except I have used an old book - there the similarity ends - but we are all inspired by things we see so I thought I would mention it!

This project has pictures of my Dad and 2 brothers Darren and Richard.  Darren is on the far right, Richard in the middle and my Dad on the left hand page.  You cannot see it well but Richards dog Sam is also in the right hand photo.
 Ironically this photo was the last one taken with Richard on.  In 1994 my Dad died suddenly - we found we had very few photos of him as he was always the one behind the lens. The photo of Richard and Darren was taken to ensure there were photos of them together and then tragically Richard died in a car accident 9 month - exactly 40 weeks after my Dad.
 Dad took the family to Scotland to live in 1987.  The month I found out I was pregnant with my first child.  Mum was gutted but Dad was trying to realise his dream of becoming a Hotelier.
 Here you can see that dream was fulfilled - he loved working behind the bar - spending time with his customers and offering them hospitality.
He delighted at reading menus and was always striving to make his hotel a place folks wanted to come back to. Maybe you stayed there sometime?  It was the Royal Hotel on the harbour front, Campbeltown, Kintyre.
My brother Richard was only 18 when he was killed in an accident.  I had just begun to get to know the gentle man he was becoming. Most of my memories are of his childhood including the little elephant you may have noticed at the side of him.
Like most children Richard had a cuddly - it began life as a beige coloured mohair elephant (probably now it would have a warning on of do not give to a child under 3!) Richard used to stroke the ears of his elephant whilst sucking his thumb.  Elephant and he had many adventures until Elephant became just the scraggy bit of his tail (and even that was patched!)
Each bit of this project has some significance.
The book itself is an encyclopaedia - a symbol of knowledge - My dad and Brother Darren were/are hungry for it and given time maybe Richard would have been too.
It was written by Arthur Mee the closest I could get to Arthur Lee who was my Grandad.- another man who was hungry to learn.
The page is open with a picture of sheep - this symbolises our roots here in the Yorkshire dales - despite Scotland being my dads last home.
The verse - I cherish my memories and hold them dear.
Dad lived for the day - following his dreams and I know Mum is so glad she helped him realise them as he only had 8 years to enjoy them.

My intention is to add some tags to the pages so some of the pages are stuck to hold pockets.  I have lots of memories to write down - to pass on to my children and this seemed a great way of keeping them alive in my home forever.

At the Lovin' Ink craft retreat we are altering books in March. My class will be along a family history theme. Undoubtedly there will be tears - memories can bring back sorrow and pain as well as happiness and joy but the past is something to celebrate and keeping loved ones alive in pictures and memories means they are never forgotten.
So if you are reading this and coming to the retreat - get your thinking cap on and start collecting your memories.

Thanks for stopping by
Janet x

17 comments:

  1. Janet this is an amazing tribute to your brothers and father and I love how you have planned and thought out every little detail, it's so easy just to stick photos onto pretty papers but there has been a real heart and soul put into this project. Well done.
    Hugs
    Dawn x

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    1. Aww thank you Dawn. I have to sy all my scrapbooking tends to be rather personal - be it colours, words or pictures its important to me that it means something. I think I have been putting it off knowing it would be painful as well as joyful but it feels good to see it how I imagined.

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  2. This is great Janet I bet you wept buckets on and off making this. And so good to put down your memories for future generations. FANTASTIC x

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    1. Thanks Linda - it was actually writing the post which was the most emotional - I am an emotional person - ask my Mum who says my bladder is too close to my eyes!

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  3. Hi Janet. I totally agree with Dawn, this is such a good way to capture the Memories even if they are painful. I agree in celebrating life and not dwelling as things happen don't they. When my Dad died he was only 67 and I was so cross at first, but now his photo's are always the first thing (besides the Kids) I go to when Scrapbooking, and I have learnt to calm down and not get annoyed when I think he could be here with us now, he took a fab photo and I have some great ones.
    Cannot wait to see what else you put in the lovely pages of this book.
    Big Hugs Debbiex

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    1. Thanks Debbie. The book has actually been sealed open - there are pockets for my memory tags but my purpose for the book was to have it open on show so my Dad and brother Richard are here all the time. the saddest thing about them not being here anymore is that my youngest Megahn and Darrens children have never met them or felt their love - this is just a way of keeping them alive for us all xx

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  4. My eyes are full of tears ... beautiful,Janet x

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  5. Oh Janet this is an amazing tribute to your dad and brother... What a wonderful legacy this will be.....S xxx

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    1. Thanks for stopping by to look and comment I know my brother Darren was very taken with it - I think I may have to do another.......

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  6. What a fantastic way to preserve memories of your loved ones, hun - I'm glad you found a way to push through the sadness. A truly fitting tribute to those who are clearly dear to you.

    Hugz, Jan xx

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  7. A wonderful memories book. It will mean so much to your mum and family as well as yourself. It gave me a lump in the throat reading the story behind the page.
    Hope you have plenty of paper hankies at the ready for your workshop.
    Yvonne xx

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    1. Thanks Yvonne - I hope we will have lots of love and laughs too but I am sure the odd tear will be shed x

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  8. Oh Janet - what an amazing tribute to these men that have been such a big part of your life. I love what you've done and all the amazing symbolism on the pages, I don't know if this was hard for you or good therapy or just a yearning to do something, but you've done an amazing job and I hope it's something you can cherish and enjoy for years to come

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    1. Aww thanks Virginia. When I saw Dyans fun Christmas altered book I knew straight away I wanted to do a family history piece. I had thought about doing my parents wedding but the pics they has were all snaps and a little out of focus. I was also going to put a picture of my Grandad on the book but it was too cluttered. If I find the right book I may do one of my Grandparents. I did not intend it to be cathartic but it ended up being so - especially writing this post linking all the plans together. I so miss my Dad and just know he would have been delighted with my kids. I feel sad I didnt see my brother grow into the young man he was destined to be - yet they both walk with me every day in my own kids. My eldest son walks like my Dad - from a distance my heart skips a beat thinking its him. The lads both have traits which must be genetic and that makes my heart glad. I am delighted at the response I have had to the project - to be honest I expected some tellings off for defacing a book! As always thanks for taking the time to stop by xx Janet x

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  9. Janet what a beautiful thing you have created - thank you for sharing something so personal. Cheers Anne

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Thanks for taking the time to stop by and look at my bits and pieces. If you leave a comment I can pop over to yours and have a peep at your work too.