Family Spirit thru Collage

I wanted to share this small collage that I started last week once I knew I wasn't kicking the bucket. I wanted to remember that I said creating was much easier than waiting for doctors.

Of course you know EVERYTHING I do has a story (cheesy grin here). That day I was bonding with my mom going through her things I found a letter from my grandma to my dad. In it she asks about my siblings; I'm not in it because I was born after she died. She also asks whether my brother has joined the Marines; he was deployed to Vietnam soon after she died. The photo is my mom; I love looking at her face and squinty eyes and am amazed that you can't see the sorrow and hardship. Each wrinkle stands for something. Why would women want botox; there is so much to read in these folds. So much strength.

Although a bit drab looking I picked the colors because they symbolize the earth; my mom & family were farmers and she loves nature, flowers and animals. The brown section is made from the coffee grounds on deli sheet as taught by Laura. The others are altered papers. The flower vine is created with copper mesh that I've sewn on. I thought the flower centers were cheesy but I kind of liked them. It reminded me of doing crafts with my mom. And how my niece tried putting them in her eyes like contacts when she was three.

Anyway, I'm giving this to my oldest sister for Christmas. She's the one working on our family tree. It was a coincidence but the first full line of text lists my siblings names. And the section of text visible just to the left of my mom is my grandma's signature. Her name was Elena.

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Laura: Thanks for looking at the work in progress. I tried your suggestion of adding the orange and it wasn't cooperating. I didn't intend on the flowers, it just happened.

Suz: You know that kick in the bootay I needed. Looks like I got it (for now).