The challenge theme is In the Garden--Anything but a Card. Won't you join me there with your own creation?
Something a little different from me this time around. I usually do vintage in beige/brown, cream, pink or blue and with really old images.
But I was drawn to this Gecko Galz image of a mom and her daughter in the garden. I was born mid-century and this image reminded me of my childhood. So I went with bolder colors.
I started with a jeans pocket that I cut from a discarded pair of blue jeans. I glued it onto heavy cardboard in order to make a wall hanging. It's so loaded down that you may not be able to find the blue jean pocket underneath, but at least this explains its shape.
Even though I was working with denim, I didn't want a country or western theme. I wanted to evoke the 1950's era of gingham checks, eyelet trim, chiffon scarves, cuffed denim jeans, bobby socks and sneakers. (I really think the white picket fence concept is from an earlier era--but here it is since it's in the background of the image.). It was a time of transition from make do garden tools and WWII Victory gardens to a booming economy of tract home subdivisions with lots of new concrete sidewalks, black and white television, TV dinners on aluminum foil trays that you put in the oven (no microwaves yet), a telephone line that wasn't a party line (what's a cell phone?) and S&H green stamps to redeem for something special.
Here is my paper crafted version of my memory:
Materials Used:
Gecko Galz How Does My Garden Grow collage sheet: words, seed packet image (which I tore at the top); Gather Ye Rosebuds collage sheet: gardening image
Retro Cafe Art Lucky Day collage sheet: S&H stamps
Ribbon trims from my stash: white eyelet, red crochet, 3 bows on tools, red gingham gathered trim under fence, and green leaf vine on fence, Talon spring green rick rack along bottom of pocket
Make It Christmas plywood fence (Hobby Lobby)
Ranger Distress Stain and Crackle Paint in Picket Fence
Stampin' Up Gumball Green card stock
Flowers:
Flying Unicorn flowers (red and green roses)
Petaloo Mulberry Street Daisies- Royal Blue
Stampin' Up Dahlia In Color Assortment (yellow flower center)
etc. misc.
I'm also entering these challenges:
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #68 Flowers and Ribbon
The Shabby Tea Room Challenge #158 Anything Goes
35 comments:
Oh WOW, how cool is THIS!!! This is fabulous and there's so much neat stuff going on. I love all the design elements and fabulous details! This is gorgeous and such a lovely piece of art!
Awesome,love this so much! Really cool project....
Chris Boldovici
STUNNING!!! helene, we are so pleased that you accepted to be our first Guest Designer at Craft ROom challenge, and wow! You've really pulled out all the stops! I love the colours and the denim, Debi xx
Loving this fabulous project- the image is wonderfully enhanced with all of the wonderful flowers and bows- love the fence, the tools are another great touch. Congrats on the Guest DT!
this is gorgeous! i love that it starts with a jeans pocket! xo
Helene this is amazing! Love the bright bold colors and the little tools you used to embelish it. Really "digging" it :)
~Deb~
CDAC DT Member
A Look Through My Eyes
hi Helene, what a wonderful project. You've really captured that era perfectly and the whole thing is gorgeous!
Claire xx
Hi Helene, this is amazing. Love the depth - it just seems to spring out at you. Thank you for creating a great piece for us at the Craft Room and being our debut GDT. Suzanne x
Very pretty memory piece! Valerie
Hello Helene, so glad you are guest designing with us at Craft-Room Challenge.
Beautiful and bold retro style start, really an eye catcher.
Fabulous details and elements, especially love the garden tools!
Happy crafting;-))m
Loved the memories to go with this fab pocket piece, so original full of wonderful colours and images.
hugs {brenda} x0x
Hi Helene
This is stunning and so cheerful. Love the composition and how you have used the GG images.
I'm so glad that you are our Guest Designer at the Craft Room Helene, your piece is amazing, the colours are fabulous and I love all the details.
xxx Hazel.
Very pretty, love that it's a jean pocket!
Helene, this is too cool! I'm also a mid-century baby and I remember all those things you mention. Also, Chef Boy-Ar-Dee frozen pizza which tasted pretty much like cardboard! Anyway, truly love your piece, so much detail, fantastic embellishments, every touch just right!
I was drawn in by the image, but WOW! This is gorgeous and I love all the details right down to the garden tools! Have a great day!
I was drawn to that image for the same reason, lol! Love what you did with it! ~Diane
This is just so pretty Helen, What a wonderful way to have a happy remembrance on display. Keep smiling and creating
Helene, It is so cute. I love all the details it brings back lots of memories for me from the 50's. Joyous Wishes, Linda
Oh wow Helene this is amazing!
So pleased you have joined us as out Guest Designer this month Helene and love how you have embraced Suzanne's challenge. A cild of the 50's myself all your memorabilia chimes with me great hanging XOXO Zoe
Oh wow! This is so fantastic, and hard to believe how it started out! I love the personal touch with all your memories. It's just brilliant. Thank you for being our first guest designer :-).
Maria x
This is terrific! The image makes me think of a vintage seed package!
Lucy x
Helene, this is great! Love the image you used, the bright colors are great and I love that you started with a jeans pocket!
OMG what a perfect reproduction of my era!!!! You know I love your creativity but you really outdid yourself with this wallhanging!!! Oh and congrats on being the first design team member of the Craft Room. I'm going to go check them out right now!!! Thanks for the trip down memory lane...
CONGRATULATIONS! The Craft Room is a smart bunch obviously!
What a fabulous pocket!! Perfect '50s images...I always think retro is vintage too LOL
Oh Helene, this piece is outstanding! It's the perfect spring hanging! The little tools are adorable, it's a fantastic creations. Thanks for sharing it with us at The Tea Room!
Well, I'm from the same time zone and this is a perfect sample of how simple life was back then. I absolutely love this hanging!!
Fabby Hanging Helene...Love the bright colors and all the little embellishments...especially those little garden tools!
Hugs
Heather
So charming. I love the red checked ruffle :)
Hi Helene, welcome as Craft Room Challenge's first GD, and wow what a fantastic project. I was born in then 50's too and love the nostalgic image you have used. Sorry for late comment I have been having major broadband issues. Julia xxxxxx
I love the retro feel of this! So cute!
Have a great weekend!
Nancy
Wow love this great artwork, reminds me of all the things we used to do growing up with a garden, I would come in from school and my momma would hand me a paper sack and a knife tell me go cut okra for supper, not dinner, where I grew up supper is the last meal and dinner was the mid day meal. Thanks for reminding me of what a great childhood I had.
This is gorgeous! Thanks so much for participating in our Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge.
WOW - what an amszing burst of colour, a gorgeous creation, so lucky to have you as our Guest Designer at Craft-Room..Esther xx
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