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