"Wisconsin Memories" Book...

I finished my memory book last night. I'm calling it "Wisconsin Memories", 

and I've filled it with items that come to mind whenever I think of Wisconsin.

I didn't do anything to change the layout of my front cover, except to add the silver

 owl bead. I threaded my seam binding behind it after I finished making the bow.

Why the owl? One day, I looked out the window of our home to see a Great 

Horned Owl sitting in the old oak tree on our hillside. He was looking right back at

me! We watched each other for a long time that day. He belonged on the front cover,

 right along with the acorn. They represent the woods and wildlife on our property.

The first set of inside pages only changed a little. I added our favorite photo of me

with Bannor to the page. I printed it on linen fabric and then affixed it to the lace.

This was taken by a staff photographer for the Department of Natural Resources. 

I was featured in an issue of the DNR magazine celebrating the 25th Anniversary 

of Wisconsin's Hunter Education program because I was  the administrator for 

the Hunter Education program in Fond du Lac, WI and I was the first only female 

to hold one of the top three positions for the state-legislated Wisconsin Conservation 

Congress in their now-eighty year history. I was State Secretary for the organization.

I served as the administrator for the Hunter Ed program, and as WCC Secretary

for ten years during the 1990's. The photographer captured my reaction as Bannor

surprised me with a kiss, and of the thirty or so images he took, this is the one they

used. It's still my favorite picture of me with my boy, so I had to add it to my book.

The left side page represents Mom Grace. She taught me to crochet my first granny

square, so I made this one using #12 pearl cottons. She also loves daisies, so I stitched

a bouquet for her. The heart is Swarovski crystal. That sweetheart ribbon at the top

was so very appropriate for her page...and it was a recent gift from my generous friend,

Sherry of Createology blog. She sent a whole card-full, and it came just in time to use.

Of course, the right side also represents our high ground woods at Hawk Hill. There

were many squirrels that lived there. This squirrel is a design from The Hearts Content.

I stitched him using one thread of floss over one thread of linen. Michelle Palmer

created the wooden button with one of her ink drawing of an acorn. I love her work!

The center of my book is very special to me. First, the heron (a pendant) and 

the feather remind me of the birds that were always visible around Handsome's

and my home - lovingly called Hawk Hill. The feather represents the resident

hawks that inspired the name for our home. I also sewed a whole page of silver-

lined beads beneath my "North Star" on the right. They stand for all the blinking

fireflies that used to fill our view on hot, summer nights in July and August.

The left side page is a tribute to my paternal grandfather. Printed on fabric is 

an image of my grandfather's pride and joy...his mill house in White Creek, WI. 

He personally built a home that overlooked the creek and mill, and lived he there 

for a number of years. I worked about a half hour away and visited him often

when he lived there. It makes me happy just thinking of him and his bright smile.

Below the mill house, I stitched ruched seam binding (the same used to tie the

book closed). I also added a charm of a frog on a lily pad and three abalone discs.

They added sparkle, and made me think of the water swirling below the dam.

I have multiple collections of British cigarette cards, so I made a pocket to hold

a few of the cards representing some of my favorite Wisconsin flowers - geraniums,

chicory and wild roses. I just liked the basket of blueberries button, so there it is!

Anyone who knows me well, knows I love barns. I've pointed them out and marveled 

at them since I was a child. I have no idea why. They just always captivated me. A

quilt and robin's eggs in a bird nest also seemed to go with the theme for this page.

My final set of pages has a vintage crocheted lace sewn to make a pocket of the

faces I remember most affectionately when I think of Wisconsin...all the beloved

dogs, long gone but never forgotten; our sons and their wives and children. Our

hearts fairly burst when we think of them; and one of my favorite photos of 

Handsome with our grandchildren. That little red head hanging on his neck, 

and the older two grands being silly and serious. We miss seeing them every day.

These are two of the photos that I placed in the pocket. There is a third - a family

photo taken of all of us in the studio of a photographer friend up north. 

The last page is my Brynwood page. I began Brynwood Needleworks in 1989

as the name of my cross stitch design business. Although I rested for a while, 

I've been Brynwood Needleworks ever since. Acorns and oak leaves were my

inspiration for the logo that was designed for me all those years ago. The pin

on the right side of the page was available to my customers - and I even have

a dozen or so of them left. I may have more of them made in the future to sell.

  So, there you have it. My completed labor of love - "Wisconsin Memories". I'm  sure I'll add more photos to my last page. My BFF and other family members will  be tucked into the pocket, too. I always think of them when my mind goes north. This was really a fun project. While I'm quilting, everything has a certain size and  place, but with this little book, my mind could wander and explore. I'm sure I'll make  more in the future, but for now, I'll just enjoy this one...my heart in a little fabric book.