Hello friends and happy Sunday,
It has been a while since I have uploaded. Life has been interesting here, in my neck of the woods. Many difficult things. This week we had the service for my Mom-in-law. I created this piece to commemorate her life and to speak about something very dear to my heart.
The chapters of our life are so important. Honoring the chapters is healing, no matter what they contain. All of our chapters teach us something. We learn and grow through them and become better people.
In our chapters, we say hello and we say goodbye. We laugh and we cry. We stand up and we fall down. We rejoice and we grieve.
Doors have always reminded me of chapters. I love old doors especially, so this collage paper from http://Shawnpetite.com was perfect for this beautiful and yet simple piece. Doors usher us in and they usher us out. They create opportunity and hope. They teach us things, long after they are closed.
My mom-in-law has been part of my world for longer than my own mother. She was a sweet and good woman. As I look back on her life, I am saddened by the reality that she never really figured out who she was. As many in that generation, she met a man and fell in love. She married and had babies. She did end up going to beauty school but was not able to use that knowledge for a new career. She was a good mom and a proud grandma. I think it would have been more pleasing for her to have been able to stay closer to home and spend time with kids, grandkids and great grandkids. However, that is not the path her later years took her on. I grieve for missed time. I feel like there are chapters missing for us all. She was always kind to me. I love her very much.
The last chapter of her life closed on April 28, 2021. She is now at peace with her husband who passed before her by 16 months. Dementia and Alzheimer’s devastated them both and came on quickly. I am so grateful that she is not in mental anguish anymore. It has been a very hard chapter.
I wanted to create this piece to honor her, but to also acknowledge the chapters in all our lives. There is so much life to live. Chapters open and close, and are often outside of our control.
My heart has always been to bravely open and close doors. To walk with integrity and grace. Sometimes I do that well, and other times, not so much. However, regardless of what we do within those chapters, they are part of the story of our lives and so they deserve honor and recognition.
So today, I would like to encourage you dear friends to embrace your chapters. Our chapters can often be undesirable to return to, but healing calls for it sometimes. Scrape out every moment, every memory, every vestibule of goodness, as well as every lesson. Honor your chapters for what they are. They tell your story. They tell where you gained strength. They tell how much you have grown. They do not need to be feared.
I am so grateful for the chapters with Avis Mary Wolf, my mom-in-law.
Supplies used:
Shawn Petite Collage Pack – Old Door – https://shop.shawnpetite.com/Old-Door-collage-pak-instant-download-7-pages-p338543379
Shawn Petite Cobblestone Stencil – https://shop.shawnpetite.com/Cobblestone-8×10-stencil-p202082874
Various vintage papers from my stash – use what you have
Gesso & Matte Medium – see basic Mixed Media Supplies list below
The Crafters Workshop 12 x 12 stencil – https://www.amazon.com/Crafters-Workshop-Designs-Stencil-Texturized/dp/B00IXWPUOS/ref=sr_1_35?dchild=1&keywords=TCW+12+x+12+stencils&qid=1621700875&sr=8-35
Liquitex Acrylic Ink – Cerulean Blue Hue, Raw Umber and Sap Green Hue – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=liquitex+acrylic+ink&crid=1YO4289EIVXT3&sprefix=liquitex+a%2Caps%2C275&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_3_10
Art Alchemy Waxes – Patina Green & Peacock – http://Scrapbook.com
The Crafters Workshop Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste – see basic Mixed Media Supplies list below
DecoArt Crackle Paint – http://Decoart.com
List of basic mixed media supplies:
TCW Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=light+and+fluffy+modeling+paste&crid=3PFDSLJUPLGOO&sprefix=light+and+flu%2Caps%2C272&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_13
Shoresua Script Stamp- https://www.amazon.com/Shoresua-Transparent-Silicone-Scrapbooking-Embossing/dp/B07PGN3MR3/ref=sr_1_77?dchild=1&keywords=bo+bunny+stamps&qid=1601231832&sr=8-77
Golden High Flow Acrylic – Transparent Yellow Oxide – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=goldenhigh+flow+acrylics&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Liquitex Matte Medium- https://www.amazon.com/Liquitex-Professional-Matte-Medium-8-Ounce/dp/B000IYWYNE/ref=sr_1_1?crid=74CDOKRUL040&dchild=1&keywords=liquitex+matte+medium&qid=1586229506&sprefix=liquitex+ma%2Caps%2C291&sr=8-1
Liquitex Glazing Medium- https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Multi-Purpose-Acrylic-Polymer-GAC-100/dp/B001YJPX58/ref=sr_1_46?dchild=1&keywords=golden+glazing+medium&qid=1586230065&sr=8-46
Liquitex Heavy Gesso- https://www.amazon.com/Liquitex-Professional-Super-Surface-Medium/dp/B001UNREO6/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=liquitex+heavy+gesso&qid=1586229647&sr=8-1
Penny Black Script Stamp- https://www.amazon.com/Penny-Black-Script-Unmounted-40-470/dp/B01HNO5R08/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Penny+Black+script+stamp&qid=1586229678&sr=8-1
Shawn Petite Stencils- https://shop.shawnpetite.com/Stencils-c14287046
Decoart Crackle Paint – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=decoart+crackle+paint&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Rembrandt Soft Pastel – Black – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rembrandt+soft+pastel+black&ref=nb_sb_noss
Golden Fluid Acrylics – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=golden+fluid+acrylics&crid=1140N398O4PP1&sprefix=golden+fluid+%2Caps%2C520&ref=nb_sb_ss_ac-a-p_1_13
Again, you are the Queen of texture. I love this piece. I understand what you mean about chapters, I revisit my chapters frequently because they were so fulfilling. God bless you.
💛
First, peace to Mama and your family and I am sadden for your loss. What a beautiful piece that you have created to celebrate the chapters of life. Each chapter builds upon one another in this wonderful journey where we have experienced love and joy and we find trust and security in what we believe most. Your beautiful blue door represents that the amazing journey continues and the texture represents that while sometime our journey is filled with bumps and texture we never give up and we find our way to the next chapter in our amazing lives. Please continue to create, your work in beautiful and touches our hearts! Many blessings and prayers.
Thank you 💛
I am so sorry, my website did not alert ne ti this comment 💛 I enjoy responding to all comments, so thank you for your beautiful words! I love your interpretation 💛 blessings!