Goodbye Grandad

Today was my lovely ninety-four year old Grandads funeral. It's been a really special day, getting together with all the family and honoring his life. It's been lovely to see old photos and hear lots of stories about his life.

Look at this picture. My Grandad is the one in the middle row on the right with the ears and the wonky hair cut. My Granny is second in on the bottom left. They have known each other since they were this small!

My Grandad kept an old suitcase full of letters that my Granny wrote him since they started courting in 1936 when they were just sixteen years old. They are so sweet. She is totally in love with him. She worked really hard as a maid and she didn't get to see him much. In her letters she is always waiting until the next time they can be together.

My Dad read some of the letters out during the service. He read the first one that she ever wrote and the last one we could find when he had just gone off to war. 

“It’s hard not knowing when I will see you again but if we are to be spared how wonderful it will be when it’s all over and at last we can be married. Without you my life would be so empty so please take care of yourself. If it’s God’s will we shall come through all this and spend the rest of our lives together…always your loving sweetheart, Meg.”

They didn't wait until the war was over and they married 1941. Their first boy, my Uncle Ted was born soon after. My Grandad traveled a long long way to see his newborn son, only to have to turn around again a few hours later back out to war. He didn't see him again until he was three years old. Imagine. 

Thankfully the war ended, Les came back safely and at last they could be together. They had three children. The cutie on the right is my Mum. 

My Granny died fifteen years ago. Every week my Grandad walked many miles up hill to the crematorium with red roses for his sweetheart. I think that's what kept him in such good shape. 

My Grandad died peacefully two weeks ago. Today, Ffion, Euan and I sung them a love song in the chapel. I had to do it with my eyes closed so the tears wouldn't roll out. It was beautiful to imagine them together again. No more waiting.

Honesty

I've always loved Honesty. My Mum always grew it in the garden and we had a big bunch in a large green wine bottle vase by our kitchen table. Very nineteen-seventies!

I asked my Mum for some to draw last year and she brought me a huge bunch. I laid all the seeds out on my light box and took these photos.  I find it so beautiful. The way the layers of the seeds come apart to the touch, the crispy sound it makes. the iridescence of the pods, the gorgeous shapes and the cute little seeds. 

For years I've considered it's potential as a paper cut light design but I couldn't get my head around how to do it. I decided it was time to work it out.

I started with some drawings and made them into files for the laser to cut.

And a few days later Voila! They held together really well.

It lends itself so well to my technique, 

with the layers of light shining through the seed pods and making the crisp cut silhouettes of the outer shells stand out. I'm liking it. I'm just trying it out on some other sizes and shapes of lamp...then maybe the wallpaper....the fabric....the cushions....oh my the list goes on :)

Charcoal Paper Meadow

I always love seeing pictures of my products in their new home. Gemma Holtam sent this one. The charcoal wallpaper looks great with the black iron bedstead and the yellow bedding don't you think?