The HeArt of Family

Some of my fondest memories growing up are of the times spent with my loved ones. I can remember being curled up with my mother for hours while she would read to me stories from old copies of the Brothers Grim and Mother Goose. When we would go to visit my grandparents, I would sit on my grandmother’s lap while she hand stitched quilt pieces and sang little nursery rhymes. My brother read many a library book to me as a child and would sometimes let me sit and listen to him practice his parts for school plays. Growing up, any time I could get with my father was a cherished moment for me. Though life has set us down our separate paths, we always seem to meet back in the middle. The time spent together was always worth the journey.

I know for certain that I would not be the same person I am today if my life had not been filled with bed time stories of fighting pirates with my mother, jumping through rainbows with my grandmother, battling fierce knights with a sassy brother, and learning some of life’s hard lessons with my father.

I wanted to take my memories of my family and capture them. To take moments in my life and bring them alive using the tools I have and the passion I feel. Each piece represents something that I wish to remember most about my family. Each member of my family has helped shape the person I am now. The good, and the bad, are both ever present in our pasts and should never be forgotten; fore they are our teachers as well as our lessons.

Warmth's Embrace

For me there is nothing greater than the warmth of a mother’s love. My mother has been there for me through thick and thin, good and bad, and the adventure still continues. She has been my strength when I needed some, my confidence when I had none. She has given more warmth and love then I could ever imagine. She is one of the bravest people I know, and I would not give up that warmth for a second.

Warmth's Embrace - Close Up

Quilted Memories

My Little Playmate was a song that my grandmother would sing to me all the time. I would sit in her lap for hours while she would hand stitch quilt pieces together and we would sing that song. I never got tired of listening and watching as right before my eyes we would slowly be covered by her stitched blocks. When my grandmother passed away we found some quilts that she never got to finish so on the back of this piece is one of the quilts that we found.

Quilted Memories - Back

Still Helping Me Hold It

My brother has been my best friend and fierce protector. He went from trying to sell me to little old ladies in the store for a quarter, to reading to me what would become one of my favorite books. He always tried to have time for me even when he was getting ready for one of his school plays. When he moved away I would sit for hours just listening to him reading my book in a recording that he had made for me. He never stayed away for long though and soon returned to live closer to home allowing us to cause more mischief than ever. Costumes or video games, anytime was an adventure for the two of us. To this day he is still helping me hold it.

Still Helping Me Hold It - Close Up 1

Still Helping Me Hold It - Close Up 2

Still Helping Me Hold It - Close Up 3

Still Helping Me Hold It - Close Up 4

Still Helping Me Hold It - Close Up 5

Still Helping Me Hold It - Close Up 6

Still Helping Me Hold It - Close Up 7

Worth More Than A Thousand Words

A picture is worth a thousand words. In most case I suppose this would be true, however for me the experience is worth so much more. My father has been one of my greatest joys and most heartfelt sorrows. The memories I have with my father are some of the ones I treasure most. I always loved the time that we spent together; and though life has set us down our separate paths, we always seem to meet back in the middle. Whether it was time during the holidays, going to the race tracks, or just sitting for hours fishing, spending any time I could get with my father was a cherished moment for me growing up. Now a days, I see a lot more of him then I ever did, and I couldn’t be happier. My hopes are that in the future my father will share and create new memories with my children. Because a fathers love is worth so much more than a thousand words.