Grandmama's Stories

COUNTRY ROADS

TAKE ME HOME

TO THE PLACE

I BELONG...

WEST VIRGINIA

You are looking at a young artist's watercolor rendering of my childhood home in the great state

of

WEST VIRGINIA.

Karen Watson was a Jr. in High School when she painted this picture.  She and I reconnected after 38 yrs via Facebook and I asked if by chance she still had the watercolor of my home.  She replied that she would look through her many files but doubted if the picture had survived 38 years of moving jobs and/or classrooms.  Karen is an art teacher in Wisconsin.

Fast Forward...

2 yrs.

I get a message from Karen telling me that when she cleaned out her classroom closets, she came across the picture of my home!  I received it in the mail that very week.  Of course, being a very accomplished artist, Karen was a little reticent to send me the picture since the quality of the painting was not indicative of her current painting ability.

Pshaw...I just wanted My Picture!!!

Each year, the art classes from my former High School, under the tutelage of Ms. Montrosse,

sat on a sidewalk in front of my house and painted in whatever medium they desired.  You see, my Daddy won Beautification awards for his Hybrid Tulips not to mention the plethora of other colorful annuals, perrenials, shrubbery, added to the landscaping.  Combined with the angles of the 70 yr. old Victorian house, close proximity to the High School, and warm spring weather,  it provided the perfect outdoor classroom for an advanced art class.  I can remember walking home for lunch and having to step over and around bodies of artistic teen-agers.  

My Dilemma 

How to best preserve the painting?

Here is what I came up with after seeing the idea on PINTEREST

I used tracing paper to trace the outline of my home from the watercolor painting.

Here it is "in progress"
(forgive the spot on the awning, I'll take care of that when I wash)

I've used this same technique to preserve precious notes or letters my grandchildren have written to me.

I simply traced over the note and then embroidered on top.  This is one of my most prized possessions as will be my childhood home once I'm finished.  I work on it intermittently when I'm waiting for a Dr. appt., etc...  I always get questions as to what I'm doing and it makes for nice conversation during a long wait.

Sorry for the long period between posts.  This is garden planting season, grandchild programs/graduations, lunch dates, etc...  I'm also quilting for clients so my posting as been slacking but I have lots of projects to share so I'll get back on my posting bandwagon.  I love my blog and don't intend to stop anytime soon.  

I love YOU, my followers.  Leave a sweet comment to let me know you're still with me.

Blessings