Sunday 22 July 2007

Junk It Up



Pieces of Me.

Before scrapbooking I tried a lot of creative things. I didn't realise how much I used to do until I started looking at this project. The challenge is to "Junk It Up" at How Dare You!!

Sophie-Lee and I made a little foray into the three antique shops in Uralla. The inspiration just kept flowing as we browsed each nook and corner of these old and cold shops.

The first thing I laid eyes on was this very cute crocheted doiley and that set me off on a little journey of remembering. I taught myself to crochet after seeing a girl doing it at school. I added sheet music which I used to buy almost compulsively because I just hated seeing it lying there silent and alone. Music has always been part of my life (thanks to my Dad especially, who tried to give my sister and I a wide variety of musical nutrition) so I added that to my wall hanging.

I used to sew a lot. I did sewing at school, sewed for my children, others and sometimes for myself. There was a certain pleasure in tearing up the old pattern to stick it into my collection of memories.

Okay - there's more! Those knitting needles are the shortest needles I have ever seen and they were my absolute favourites - they were no good for knitting a scarf because the stitches kept falling off. Size 8 - great size for learning to knit (my grandfather taught me to knit when I was about 8 years old and my Mum kept it going).

There was a little patch in my life when calligraphy was my 'thing'. I bought the pens, the paper, books galore, and did works of art to hang on my walls. So there's a little snippet of an alphabet and a nib to remind me of those days.

I've doodled (just give me a writing implement and a scrap of paper when I'm on the phone and watch out!), painted, drawn, and sketched all my life - so there it all is as a sweet little reminder of the little creative things I have done.

Those buttons... Dad found a whole bag of gorgeous gold buttons (some with bling, some with pearl, or emblems, or just plain) at a garage sale and just couldn't go past them. I was impressed by the surprise parcel that arrived for my girls (I don't think they got much of a look-in) What a treasure - I am attracted to all that sparkles - sometimes more, sometimes less.

Oh! One more thing. There is a little collection of stones and another little collection of shells on my wall hanging. I used to collect anything and everything from shells to Readers' Digests, from gemstones to shoe boxes - so these signify my tendency to collect.

So there you go!

3 comments:

Delta said...

Oh wow this looks amazing Diane and it holds so much personal meaning love it! I was going to attempt this aussie dare but i really dont think i will find time (oh well *sigh* lol) loving the antique look and what a great idea to turn it into a wall hanging. See you later.
Love always,
Nae xoxoxo

jilly said...

I have to giggle at you Diane because I'm EXACTLY the same - I've dabbled in everything too! Absolutely love your take on the Dares. Gorgeous gorgeous work!
xxJillGG

Sarah said...

Wow, love what you did for the Dares this time around!! It looks great :)