A few weeks before Christmas I asked some art friends about their opinion about what I can make for my niece for Christmas who lost her baby in utero at the end of July. This would be a bittersweet Christmas for her and I just wanted to let her know that we hadn't forgot. I got so many great suggestions it was hard to decide what to go with. Jewelry was a little too personal. An ornament was a good idea but I wanted something she could see all year, not just Christmas time. I decided on a simple little wooden plaque. I layered the background with vintage children's book text, lots of pretty paint and printed with bubble wrap. A few flourishes, some jewels the color of her birthstone in a set of three representing her family (mom, dad, brother) and an ever blooming flower. I stamped the words and added chipboard letters for her name. I think my niece liked it because it made her cry. I included a little stand so she can display it next to the tiny urn that holds her daughter's ashes. Thank you everyone for the ideas and the compassion.
On a happier note, I wanted to share a little project that my daughter made for her dad for Christmas. She's a pack rat like me and sees the usefulness in everyday items like matchboxes and mint tins. (Which reminds me, my mint tin is still in the fireplace where I charbroiled it...) She made a little shrine.
She made little people out of her and her dad and made them holding hands. She wrote "there is nothing better than going to the arboretum with your dad." She cut out trees and poofy cotton ball clouds and layered them to make them 3D. Very sweet. I think he really liked it. He thought using the mint tin was very cool.
We'll get him over to the art-side yet...
