Family Treasures

This large still life painting has been a work in progress for a long time.  It was inspired by my friend, Sue's beautiful paintings of dolls and toys.  Little did I realize what a challenge it would be!  It was begun nine years ago, as a collection of things that represented and/or were special to  members of my family. When it was about two-thirds finished, I got very frustrated with it and put it aside.  Several years later, I realized that, with so many items and no clear center-of-interest, it was not pleasing to look at . . . it needed a focal point and an overall dark abstract design to unify it and to lead the eye around the painting. The warm yellow daffodils against the darker, cool blue background are the focal point to catch your attention. The baby quilt in the background, directs the eye to the large doll in the yellow dress and then around the painting and throughout the various items. It was a lot of work . . . I am happy with the way it turned out and glad to finally have it completed! 

As for the special memories . . .

Daffodils:   For 40-some years, they have graced our home, spreading all across the front yard; they are also Allyson's birth flower for March.

Baby Quilt:   Made for Allyson when she was born by "Rue," the lady who baby sat for me when I was a child.

Yellow Dolls:   The large one was a baby gift for Allyson, coordinating with her yellow walls; the small one, a Joan Walsh Anglund doll, one of many that decorated her room and represented the theme of her painted wall mural.

Wooden Doll Chair:    This treasure has been in my family for several generations and has been loved and played with by many little girls. It belonged to my mother as a child and was purchased in the mountains of North Carolina. It was hand made and crafted out of rhodendendron roots. There were 3 pieces in the set and all remain today in my "playroom" upstairs.

Paint Brushes :   Used often by both my girls and me.

Red Camellias:   Graced the shrubs outside our back door.

Pottery Mug: (holding the camellias)  I collect mugs and this is one of my favorites that I use often.  It is part of a set of pottery dishes that I bought in Seagrove, NC many years ago; I still love it today as much as I did when I bought it.

Nikon Camera:   Represents my photographer brother, Warren, as well as my Dad, who also loved photography as a hobby.

Tiny teacup: (in front of yellow doll)  Every time I went to visit my grandmother, she would give me a teacup to take home; this is the only one that survived and actually was my favorite.

Brass Gavel on Law Books:   These belonged to my Dad who was the chief municipal court judge here in Winston-Salem for many years.

Pottery Lamb:   Always a favorite of mine and the girls, representing our sacrificial "lamb," Jesus.

Tubes of Paint:   My hobby and career . . .

Silver Mirror:   Belonged to my mother and has her initials engraved on the back. It always sat on her dressing table and now, on my dresser.

Pastel Sticks:   More of my hobby and career . . . perhaps my fave!

Seashells and Starfish:   Remind me of the many that I collected over the years and the many summers that we spent at the beach.

White Cup and Saucer with Blue Flowers:   My Mom's good china, which I have in my living room china cabinet.

Two Pears:   These remind me of my Mom and Dad and how they ordered pears from Harry & David every Christmas that I can remember . . . I continue the tradition!

Two Little Sculptures of Baby Jesus:   These are Christmas decorations that my girls made out of "play-doh" in my children's art class. They stay on the shelf in my den.

Silver Sugar and Creamer:   These were chosen and given to us by my brother, Warren as a wedding gift.

Wooden Lady with Baby:   This collectible was given to me by a friend when I became a grandmother.

China Soup Bowl:   This was my Mom's (and Grandmom's) everyday china . . . used for many years while growing up and now belongs to me.

Blue Bible:   This was my Mom's Bible, well used and worn, and has many notes written by her in the margins.

Green Pitcher:   This is one of the many pitchers that Allyson collected, one of my favorites . . . and I believe, hers.

Stuffed Humpty-Dumpty:   Amy's beloved Humpty, (or Ata as she called it.) It was a baby gift, but because she loved it so,  they quickly became worn out, and I made many more, for her and also for baby gifts.

Raggedy Ann:   Raggedy Ann lived in Amy's room as a little girl and was also the theme of her painted wall murals.

Glass Pitcher: (holding the daffodils)  This belonged to Gommy, the girls paternal grandmother; she personally brought it to my house to make sure it ended up with one of them.

Little China Dish:   This colorful little covered dish has always been a favorite of mine . . . not sure where I got it, but it sits in my living room today.

Tiny Framed Painting:   This little oil painting was done by a friend of my Mom's and was a gift to her since she had been a guest at their beach house . . .  (Mrs. Ogburn was also the lady who painted the portraits of my girls when they were little.)

Fish Sculpture:   This is unique and one of my favorites . . . it has been in my house for many years and brings back fond memories of the two most special things I loved to do most . . . going to the beach and scuba diving!

So . . . there are the "Family Treasures" that have brought me a great deal of pleasure and wonderful memories over the years.