Wednesday 9 October 2013

WOYWW - Getting to know the Ancestors!

Hello and welcome to WOYWW at Magpieheaven! If you have happened upon this blog and you'd like to know what the acronym WOYWW is all about click HERE to find out more about why we show and tell about our work desks every Wednesday. Julia is our hostess and makes it possible to shrink the globe to the size of a tea-cup by the wonders of the Internet, bringing together old friends and new every week! So what's on my desk this week! If you've visited before, you may recognize my ancestors on my mother's side of the family. (My father's family were from Poland, a little Jewish village destroyed completely in WW2.) I scanned these photos into my computer after discovering them when helping my mum sort out her house ready for the house-move. At the time I knew nothing about them, but my Great Auntie Rene has been able to share her family research with me now. For this reason I am including their images, transferred onto fabric as part of a special birthday card for her upcoming birthday when she will be eighty-six.
The gentleman I now know to be my great-great grandfather, George Allen Payne. He was born in a little village called Milton near Abingdon. He loved music and learned to play the violin, but his greatest love was the church organ and when he left the village school he was apprenticed to an organ builder in Lambeth by the name of Hunter. George married Alice Hunter, the lady on the right, who was the sister of his employer! At the moment the various elements I want to combine on the cards are merely placed on them. My plan is to stick them down today and see if I want to add any others. Can you recognize any of the stamps I've used?
Last week when I played along with the Paper Artsy challenge and Jo Myhill, I had a go at transferring images onto fabric and this is what I have done again here. I still want to add some tissue covered buttons inspired by Alison Bomber who is guest designing at Paper Artsy this week. I love these vintage images so much I can see them appearing on lots of future projects! I still want to use them on a shadow box!
I know so little about Alice, but as I made my elements I felt that a natural history theme was emerging on the card where she was depicted. I have only a vague plan for a project when I start so where this came from I'm not sure. Maybe I'm going a bit mad, but I started to weave a little story. Did Alice find herself attracted to George's innocent charm; did he retain something of the boy who dreamed among the hedge-rows; maybe he brought a breath of rural air to Lambeth, sharing his love for dragon flies, butterflies and birdsong!
This week I've had a couple of challenge wins, which have lifted my spirits no end. Craft is keeping me sane and bringing me such joy! I am sorry to report that the kitchen is still at a standstill! We are beginning to suspect that Kevin must have some problems, as it's getting on for five weeks that we've been waiting for our cupboard doors and nothing else can move until they are installed. We are phoning tonight so perhaps we will discover! My mum's house-sale seems to be progressing well after the Asbestos scare, which was unfounded, and it looks as if we might exchange towards the end of this month so huge flapping of wings in delight about that! Perhaps I'll soon see the end of all the reams of paper the solicitor keeps sending me to read!!! I'm off to peep in at the window of some other deskers and see what lovely things you've been making and what adventures you've all been having in Crafty Blogland. Have a wonderful day everyone who flutters by. I have to go out later on today, but I'll try and return the visit and get round to as many desks as I can,

35 comments:

  1. Wonderful job with the photo transfers! And I love the layouts for your cards. Happy WOYWW! Nan G #14

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  2. Cool! We were visiting each other! CC102 is Creative Chemistry 102. It's an online class from the king of distress! Really cool.mheres the link to the site that hosts it.
    http://www.onlinecardclasses.com/

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  3. Great LO's and photos but sorry as it's WOYWW I did scan down too many desks to visit.
    To answer your ? The dominoes are made on real white plastic ones .... They are great to work on
    Happy Wednesday
    Janet @15

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  4. I love the canvas pictures, what a great way to show your family history. Hope you get some good news about the cupboards soon....we can have a virtual party when the kitchen is finished!! Don't solicitors love sending paper!!! Hugs. Pam#37

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  5. WOW, these are looking stunning! Learning about our ancestors really is so interesting!
    Thanks for visiting already - you always leave the loveliest comments, which really make my day! Thank you so much :)
    And neither of us is late this week *grin*
    Happy WOYWW and have a fun week :)
    no. 22

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  6. Thank you for this post - fascinating to read all about your GGGfather, no wonder you wanted to weave a story around his wife like you did. I just know your great aunt will love this card when she gets it. Can we see it when finished please. It is evident that you have loved every minute of making it and I hope you get many many more 'makes' from those wonderful photos.
    Sorry about the kitchen (I had a similar thing once with my kitchen at another house - turned out he was using my 'drip' money (he had me pay bit by bit as the job was progressing) to do another kitchen elsewhere) but glad the asbestos scare turned out well.
    Hugs, neet 35 xx

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  7. I love what you're doing with the photos. Finding out about your ancestors is great, I found out I'm related to a train robber and other cockney low lives, explains a lot I guess. I can't believe you still don't have your cupboard doors, you poor thing. You have a lot more patience than I have. Here's hoping they arrive soon.
    Have a great week.
    Von #55

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  8. Wow, your makes are stunning, you really did those old photos justice. We have one of the background stamps you used (diamonds) in miniature and we love it

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  9. What gorgeous work with these treasured family photos! And such a delight to learn so much about your great-great grandfather long passed. Such fabulous elements in both designs!!

    Happy hopping this Wednesday!

    Lynn #28

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  10. Your Great Aunty is going to be so happy with her card. What a lot of though and care you are putting into making such a personal tribute. Lovely family story to pass on too. Happy WOYWW to you from Helen 42

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  11. Wow, stunning projects and so personal now that you know a bit more of about them! Good luck with the doors and also the house, at least that sounds promising!
    Debxx

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  12. Wow, I am in agreeance with everyone else, stunning cards and so much thought and care taken to produce brilliant card/s I am sure she is going to love her card,who wouldn't. You have incorporated many challenges into producing masterpieces with amazing history, be proud and congratulations.

    Happy WOYWW
    Eliza & Yoda 3

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  13. I missed visiting you too!! I love getting updates on your kitchen!! Sorry to hear it is at a stand still :(
    Your ancestor pictures are fabulous! Love what you are doing with them!!
    xxDaniella#10

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  14. Hi Julie Ann. Gorgeous projects again and such a lovely idea for Great Aunt Rene's card, I'm sure she will love it. Huge congrats on your wins - I saw your project at OCC and was bowled over - F_A_B_U_L_O_U_S! Glad to hear your so is having a happier week and good luck with Kevin! Thanks for your visit MMx #51

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  15. Well, how funny that you and I both share a story about an Alice in our family!! I loved reading your story..how wonderful that you managed to get the information from your great auntie before it was too late! I think that you've incorporated the photos incredibly well into those LOs...they manage to look vintage and modern all at the same time!
    Thanks for the visit and kind comments earlier..
    Hugs, LLJ 44 xx

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  16. These look beyond amazing and I love the story behind the pictures. I don't mind you using the vintage pics in many, many projects, I so enjoy looking at them :-) Belated congrats to you for the wins and I hope your 'kitchen problems' will be sorted out very soon.
    Happy late WOYWW and have a great week. Suzanne
    #86

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  17. The cards are just wonderful. What amazing vintage photos and so interesting to read about your family. Thank you for dropping by my blog earlier.
    Karen busby no.56 x

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  18. Fabulous cards, love your colours and reading about your family is interesting :-) x

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  19. What a beautiful thing--being able to transfer these wonderful family photos that had been put far away, and they are now part of a special keepsake work of art! Love it. Thanks for the visit and happy WOYWW! Sandy Leigh #5

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  20. Lovely, Aunty Julie! And congratulations on the challenge wins! I hope to see posts all about those very soon!

    Interesting that your great-great grandfather was a church organist, as my grandpa was a church organist for over seventy years, retiring just last year at age eighty-seven. And my great-great grandfather lived near Abingdon, as he went to college at Oxford, before he came to the States.

    If I didn't know any better, I'd say you could be my "real life" Aunty. We come from such similar backgrounds -- Jewish Poland and Oxfordshire, England!

    Beautiful things, as always -- Can't wait to see more!

    <3 Kate

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  21. What great pages and super memories

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  22. Oops - Thanks for the visit BJ#102

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  23. What gorgeous artwork here! Love the vintage look of it. Thanks for sharing the story. :)
    Sharon #110

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  24. Your image transfers and combined elements are looking fabulous Julie Ann and I can't wait to see the finished card for your Aunt. The past is so fascinating and I hope you discover more about this pair soon as it shows how passionate you are about your family history. I so enjoy reading your posts. Happy WOYWW! Danie #16

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  25. Your photo transfer turned out great. love the cards, and they are the perfect gift. happy crafting #4

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  26. Love the card Julie Ann, sure your Aunt will love it. Thanks for swinging by earlier, apologies for the late post. Thank you for the nice comments..I do believe we should live life to the max when we can. Cx #30

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  27. You tell a good story, Julie Ann... I bet Rene loves the cards. As you know I was out yesterday so catching up on some visits now! Helen 20

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  28. Hi Julie Ann,

    Very cool cards! I love having old photos of family members, even if you don't know their story. I like how the theme just came together of Alice's card. Which technique did you use to transfer the images to fabric? I haven't tried that yet but am wanting to do it.

    Thank you for visiting me already!

    Happy WOYWW
    Peace, Kay (19)

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  29. Hi Julie Ann, such an interesting post. It is fascinating learning about our ancestors but you've taken it a stage further and made up a whole history with your creativity. The stamping is fabulous and the transfer of the images on to fabric ... I think I'd like to give that a try sometime in the future. I hope the kitchen issue is resolved soon. Thanks for sharing. Hope you have a good week. Elizabeth x #41

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  30. Oh yes, love the way the old sepia photos are coming along and the images youa re using with them are perfect. Good news about the asbestos scare being a scare and the sale going along nicely, hope the kitchen get sorted soon... sometimes you have to make a stand and become a priority on their list or you just keep getting pushed to the bottom... squeaky hinge and all that... good luck!! Annette #7

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  31. I love Alice and George, fantastic photos and I like what you're doing with them. I love family history stuff, it's one of the things I'll pick up again as winter approaches and we can't be outside as much. The storage caddy has now had three coats of paint and is ready for some decoration! Good news about the home sale, hope it continues to be smooth, but what's the deal with the kitchen? Sounds a bit odd that! Have a great weekend.

    Hugs
    Brenda 1

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  32. Oh Julie Ann I hope all goes well with the move and that your kitchen cupboards get sorted soon. I think it would drive me mad, but I'm sure men being men think nothing of it lol. Thank you for such an interesting look into your history, it certainly must be interesting. I have always wanted to look into my dad's side of the family as he died when I was 5 but because of the way mum was all of his family didn't want anything to do with us and have never wanted to since :-( lots of hugs happy Woyww :-) Kezzy xxxxxx

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  33. Hi Julie Ann! Thank you for sharing such a beautiful project. I love looking at old family photos and wondering about the stories behind them. All those little sweet details.

    I am just starting up my family research and scanning in old photos and loving it. I never thought of transferring images to fabric. What a great idea.
    Thanks again for sharing and thanks for the visit.

    Have a blessed day!
    Belinda (8)

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  34. I love your old photos. My mother-in-law brought a whole box full of old family photos - most of whom she doesn't know. We found some names documented on the back. I'm hoping we can use ancestory.com to find out more information about them. Thank you for stopping by my blog earlier. April #21

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  35. wonderful photo memories.
    thanks for visiting and the snoop around.
    Robyn 6

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