LOC Isla's Art

This Layout is very special to me, the chicks were drawn by my beautiful Nana, Isla Annie Labone, this was given to me after she had 'gone home'.  Nana's drawing skills were well loved by ALL of the family, and we are many,  we are blessed that she has written a song for each of her 'grandchildren' and had written out the words in beautiful calligraphy and finished it with a pencil sketch of us - possibly NOT the photo we would have chosen to be sketched, but a treasure all the same!  When I have shown you the sketch I will tell you a little story - that will both horrify you and make you smile.....

I have used my favourite stamps - yes, Layers of Color!!  The Rise & Shine art stamp set is perfect - how those darling little chicks are just 'itching' to get in on the 'tug-o-war' for the worm.  I distressed the edges of Nana's sketch, the paper she used was perfect and just about distressed itself.  The picket fence is made with the Martha Stewart Punch, a gift from one of my very dear Twisted Sisters, and friend, Pat Smethers and has been distressed with Tim Holtz Distressing Ink and added to both the top and bottom of the image.

  The flourish is chipboard, I picked it up in a Thift Shop and sprayed it with Tattered Angel Glimmer Mist in Tattered Leather (my favourite)   I stamped the flowers from the Nature Walk art stamp set, coloured them with Chalks and popped the smaller ones up on foam dots and then added the chick to the flowers and two along the fence line.

Her Majesty's Urns are the obvious choice to add to the lower edge with the chicks.  The sentiment is written by my Nana, I wanted to keep everything I could from the original sketch.  I added a brad at each end and added a small section of fence either side of the chicks and urn.  Recycled crochet lace has been inked and layered onto the fence and a small flower from the Nature Walk art stamp set popped by at the side,.  The finishing touch is the gorgeous recycled crochet lace in the bottom corner - I love the whole feel of this page and am hoping the rest of the family do!

There is a story about chickens that has followed me all of my life....when I was about 3 years old I was staying with Nana, who had been a hard working farm girl...she had chickens and as children we loved them and just adored the chicks as they hatched and wandered.  one day I was heard to come to Nana and had one of the chicks in my hands, with a big smile on my face and said 'look Nana, chickie sleeping!'  you can imagine my Nana's look of horror as she realised it was not sleeping at all, but was infact dead - I had actually 'loved it to death' by patting it too enthusiastically.......as if that wasn't enough my older brother happened to hold some chicks by the neck and told them to 'eat' and their poor little necks were not up to the task - Nana's little helpers were given time off that day! LOL!  As you can imagine this tale has been brought up at many a family function....and probably will be again....so you can see why this sketch is special to me....as I was putting this layout together and saw Nana's writing, I remembered the many letters I have from her, handwritten and often with the words 'good girl Pet!'  What beautiful memories...but I am sure I was anything but 'Pet' that day, although Nana never showed it!  God bless her!

I am linking this to the:

Crafty Creations Challenge - Wings

PollyCraft Challenge - Things with Wings

 Belli Challenge Blog - Ribbon (I used lace ribbon) 

Thank you for visiting today, you know you make my day!!  God bless you!