Celebrating the Life of an Inspirational Nana

Hello to you all and welcome to something a little bit different today.

I was hunting through my big blanket box which houses all my mini books the other day when I came across this little mini book I made about three years ago for a Textile Challenge here in Shetland. I have not shared it here on my blog and had actually forgotten that I had made it! So it was a lovely surprise to find it.

I had started with a piece of white furry fabric which I backed with a long piece of lace and some vintage ruler ribbon on the front. I had intended that this would wind around a bobbin to make a pull out mini book. However, by the time I had glued my photographs and other ephemera on it would not roll ! so I came up with the idea of this rather long and thin book.

The covers of the book measure 8 3/4" by 1 1/2" which I have decorated with some of my then favourite Prima papers. When extended the fabric book measures 22" (and impossible to photograph!)

The book celebrates the life of my paternal grandmother (Nana R) who was widowed in 1930 aged just 35 with three very young children (my father was only two years old, his sister four and his younger brother just a few months).

She was an outstandingly brave, hardworking, strong and powerful woman (in a soft and gentle way) who managed to work in order to continue the purchase of her own home and look after her young children.

She has been an incredible inspiration to all of us in the family.

I love that I managed to find some wonderful dictionary pages to describe her. I was very fortunate in being able to spend a lot of time with her as a teenager and before I was married. She was a wonderful passenger in my little mini after I passed my driving test and we travelled all over Suffolk visiting old family haunts.

I am so pleased that I found this little book and able to share it with you. 

I would like to enter my little textile book into this month's Mini Album Makers Challenge. If you are an avid mini book maker this is a challenge for you! Do hop on over and have a look at the wonderful DT creations - so much fabulous inspiration.

Thank you for joining me today and I hope you manage to find some crafting fun.

Jennie x