Memories to Heirlooms

One of the women in my bridge group asked me about my business.  As I spoke, her eyes lit up and she started to tell me about the amazing treasures her husband had saved.  

The next week I went to her home and got to see it all in person. He must have known she was “the one” because he saved: his invitation and envelope from the dance in 1962 where they met, the dress she wore, a love note he wrote to her, and box of his formal accessories. He also had saved her "going away" dress and her grandmother's mantilla and pill box hat that she wore at their wedding. We brainstormed ideas of what to do to honor these items; not a bear, not a quilt or a pillow.  We settled on a shadow box of the first dance with a scale version of the dress and "braces" to keep the piece small. When I explained I did not frame she said, "you'll figure something out."

I contacted Tracee from Tracee's Framery to see if she might do it even though she closed her business years ago.  She did fabulous work and I trust her implicitly so when she recommended  Jenny at State of the Art Framing & Gallery I stopped by to see what she could do.  Jenny was delightful, gave me options to take to my client and an accurate quote of what the framing would cost.

I did a computer layout to visualize the idea of miniaturizing the pieces. Something was off so my sister, Lee, and I worked out a different option. 

We make a good team because Lee looks at things in a different way and together we came up with a layout that we both loved and that thrilled my client.  Lee choose the older looking suspenders and discovered our favorite feature on them, a lipstick smudge. I positioned the dress and we both worked out the position of the bow tie and box of cuff links and studs.
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The collaboration continued when my client choose the perfect frame and Jenny found a mat that matched the sash perfectly. Jenny was so accommodating with the special touches we wanted, including sewing the leather box down, and attaching the yellow satin pocket to the back of the piece to hold the Story Starter.
The finished piece is stunning and I can’t think of higher praise than my client writing that her husband would have loved it.

Of course my client did not want the extra fabric back - she was not the saver. Since I could not bear to throw it away, I made 4 Christmas ornaments, one for her and each of their children.  On the back I embroidered, ". . . and they danced!"  
It is truly an honor to be entrusted with such priceless keepsakes, and it is a real joy to collaborate not only with the client but with another artist to arrange them in a way that it will tell this love story for years to come.
Need help telling your love story? Contact me and we can see if we can tell it together.

I was lucky enough to purchase one of Jenn's cat ornaments to honor my cat, Lenny. She is incredibly talented and delightful. A resident of Lititz, Jenn has been doing gourd art since 1999. Her beautiful work features her love of nature and Celtic art. Beyond her art, I love that she is a teacher and even has a how-to video on her website.  When I told her I can't draw what it is in my head she assured me I could. She repeated what I have heard from every good art teacher - the more you practice, the more you learn your subject and the better you will be. Thanks for that encouragement, Jenn.
If you don't see her at a local craft show, you can always look at her work on her website or purchase some through her Etsy shop.  

When you look at this hareloom, what do you see? A cute bunny, right? But if you know the story behind a piece, you will see much more; Grandma’s sewing glasses, held by my baby necklace, Dad’s Cornell vVarsity jacket, Mom’s Christmas PJs, and so much more. This bunny tells a story about my life and the people I love. When I create pieces for clients I am keenly aware that they see my work through this filter of love. No one will see it the way they do - making it very important that I do my best to honor the treasures with which they entrust me.
Have a story you want help telling?  Contact me and we can get started.