While we rambled through the stones (I always get caught up reading names and dates and imagining lives) I found great-great grandma Lula Mae resting near her second husband, Mr. Bowden. She was born Aug. 16, 1892. She very well could have been born here, when it was Indian Territory. It made me want to search out more about her, and especially Jim-- the father of her only son and my great-great grandfather. He is buried somewhere in an unmarked grave. I feel the need to find him...
The young Van Winkles
And being so inspired by my young and dashing great-great grandparents who lived out in the prairie but (obviously) still had great style, I've decided to use them as inspiration for my first collage for KC Willis' "Collage Camp."
We are having such fun in this class, which is completely online, and I am blown away by the creations I see made by my fellow classmates. I am modestly trying to make my own creation. I hope Lula and Jim would approve ;)
KC is an awesome teacher and the videos are great quality. I am so excited about my creations and getting to know my sewing machine... I love the richness of the texture of using fabrics. Its just something you dont get with paper. And if all goes well, I hope to enter my collage in the local art show next month :)You saw a peek at some of my materials drying in the sun a couple of weeks ago...hope to soon have a finished product to show...slowly but surely...so much going on...
Tomorrow we'll be out and about on the neatest adventure ever. A real prairie adventure...yes, we're going to head out to the Ingalls homestead in rural Kansas. Try not to be jealous ;) I will take a bejillion photos (as always)
Til then...
~H
12 comments:
The Ingalls' homestead?!? How fun! Someday I plan to take a road trip to see the sites where Laura lived in her lifetime. I can't wait to see your pictures. Also, you are so lucky to have all of those great pictures of your ancestors. I so wish my family had valued those things more throughout the years. I love it so. Perhaps someday I will find a stash of photos buried deep in a closet or attic...sigh...
has anyone told you you look like your great great grandma?
One time my mom and I were desperately searching for my great grandmother's grave. She had remarried later in life and was buried by her second husband, to whom she was married a long time. Anyway as we were stumbling around, reading headstones, I found my true great grandfather's grave under a very old scraggily tree. He died in the 20's. Well, I was so excited I blurted out, Mom! I found Grandpa!
It was so funny we both just about wet our britches. Me and mom that is.
I can't believe you are going to the Ingalls' homestead! Can't wait for the pictures - I loved those books!! Your great great grandparents looks wonderful. I've been making some collages lately with some of my ancestors photos and just love it! I hope you'll post what you make with your photo! :) Silke
Oh, I love that photo! They are so young! I can't wait to see their collage. I really do need to go back out east and find everyone's graves. At least I did find an English Pace-we met at family wedding and he looks just like my dad did when he was young and he has our sense of humour! It was like we had known him our whole lives! Crazy!
Our family here is all buried in the big Crown Hill cemetery. James Whitcomb Riley is buried at the highest point. What is crazy about all of that is that my mom's and dad's relatives are "neighbors" in the cemetery-crazy! Some of the oldest relatives have huge old Urns instead of headstones that are very cool.
Your trip to the praire will be amazing! I feel you need to dress up for the occassion! I wish I could dress in some of my vintage cotton petticoats and take your photos! I have a bonnet or 2 around her somewhere too...
Make us all jealous!
love, merle
wow....the Ingall's homestead! well, you said to try not to be jealous, but too late, i'm already jealous! oh, the inspiration you'll find there! i just love reading about your family and seeing the old photos...Lula Mae was so beautiful! thanks for sharing! :)
it is so great that you have your family history right there at your fingertips. my family is scattered all over the US so it is hard to find everything.
:O That would be like going on a pilgrimage to Canterbury or Lourdes! I would probably cry like people that visit Graceland. LOL! Have a wonderful time! XO
I can't wait to see what you do with that photo~ they look so young and sweet.
They are such a handsome couple! Wouldn't you just love to have her hat still? (You look a lot like her by the way). I can't wait to see what you make and, yeah, I'm jealous about visiting the prairie. Seriously. x
What a wonderful photo...they both look so young.
I have several photos of my Italian great grandparents taken just before they left Italy to come here and also just after they arrived in America. I have their wedding photo as well...very Victorian looking;stern and stiff and so serious.
I am so envious of a trip to the Ingalls homestead...those books and everything by E.B. White were my best girlhood companions! Plus I adored the t.v show!
Sounds like a very inspiring day for you! Collage
is like memory....a great semi-abstract illustration of the faint and even obscure....excellent for expressing the spirit of the past...
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Love that picture----her dress is amazing! Wish I had one like it....
Ingalls homestead sounds super---have fun!
Aw, thanks guys for saying I look like pretty Lula. I think she's gorgeous, although I really dont see much of a resemblance between us except maybe our hair color. Love her come-hither eyes, dont you? ;)
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