This simple little collage is for my dear friend Carla. Her book in our pock-et-ful round robin is really a treat — a little jewel full of sweet little children in brightly colored collages. I really love it.
My piece for the book is sort of an anomaly, but, it does have a story. A while ago, I stumbled across a fellow in Austria who was selling out cabinet cards. They aren’t the kind usually seen over here that are 4×6" or bigger. These are tiny — more like 2 1/2" x 4" — and a lot of them are communion pictures. They are very sweet and I had been happily buying them up until I stumbled across the girl pictured here. The photo is dated from the early part of the century. She looks like me. She looks like all of my cousins. She looks like my daughter. I wonder if she is a relative? It seems unlikely as my family is from Russia, but I could put this picture next to the one on my mantel of my grandmother and her siblings and it would fit right in.
At some point, I’m going to have to see if I can do some research and figure out who she is. For now, I’m imagining her story. I hope she got out of Austria during World War II. I’m sure she felt like she wanted to fly away when all the ugliness started.
Beautiful page and a very expressive face for this possible relative of yours. Lucky Carla.
Joanne
I agree–LUCKY Carla. I love it Joyce and seeing the resemblance between this young lady, you and lil Ellie will make it even more special!
thanks honeybee!! Oh and re: your note on my blog–nope, sadly I won’t be coming to A&S this year. Instead at the end of May the family and I will be going to FL to my lil sis’ wedding and then off to a week @ Walt Disney world. Should be lots of fun, but I will miss my art girls 🙁
This is so weird. The second I looked at the picture, I thought it was Ellie. Then I read you description and got goose bumps. My DH just found out that he has a number of relatives who went to Israel after the war that he didn’t know existed. Let’s hope this lovely young girl is now a grandmother who gets to sit on the floor and play with her grandchildren. This is a beautiful and meaningful piece of art. Judy
Its gorgeous sweetie, and Carla will love it.
Kim
x
Joyce,
I thought the same thing — When the photo came up on the screen I thought it had to be your grandmother or someone like that. She looks so much like you and Ellie. I love what you’ve done with this piece overall — its sweetness and its honesty suit the photo so well.
Also, congrats on the BPL showing! How did I miss that?
I thought the same thing as the image came up. She looks so much like you and Ellie. I love what you did with her. The background, text, everything suits her perfectly. I love the “butterfly” bow!
Karen
Joyce,
this is wonderful!
She does look like a relative – what a great find.
shirley
Oh, you should put her up on the mantel. The resemblance is uncanny!! I have a photo gallery in my dining room with relatives and non-relatives alike. Makes for more of a story when I have to “introduce” everyone to visitors, lol.
This is so beautiful Joyce.
How amazing that photo is, Joyce. I had just seen Ellie’s photo on your blog and marveled at how alike they look!