Sunday, November 2, 2008

Challenge : My Home Town



Every week the European Street Team at Etsy organizes a challenge to make something with a special theme.
The theme this week is organized by MirthQuake and is called "My Home Town".
She writes: "Anything that inspires you thinking back to the old days. Good memories or even bad memories...melancholy or pure bliss... I would like to see a black and white picture of your hometown (anything, a house, a church, a garden, even a tree is ok) in the listing, either as a background for your item, or as part of your item (for instance with photography), or as a picture in your listing if you can't embed it in your item itself."

My Friesian grandparents (pake and beppe in the friesian language) lived in a small house at the border of a large forest; I loved to be there when I was a little girl. It smelled good (I still remember the smell), it played marvellous (lots of animals, flowers, water and trees), it felt good (protected, at home and cozy); in short, a real paradise for a little town-born girl. My grandparents are dead for already many many years now, but I still think of them and that paradise of a house. This summer, after 40 years, I went back to that house, and it was a big shock. Nothing of a paradise anymore; it was much smaller than I remembered and everything was broken, the roof, the windows, the land; all was a ruin. Hence, a true faded glory ! Although, my father told me it was also like that 40 years ago; he never saw it like a paradise.... And seeing the pictures of then and now, I have to confess he is right. So, that's what feeling happy and at home does to a kid, I think, it creates this fairy tale memory of the "good old time".

Well, the old house inspired me to make this "faded glory" necklace for our weekly challenge. This 3-chain necklace is made of old vintage metal and bone buttons woven together with an old rope, old metal chain links, an old key and other rusted metal findings. Available on P8 Button Art on Etsy.


13 comments:

Kreativlink said...

Great piece Petronella!
And I just love that old photo! :)

jealousydesign said...

Love to read that story behind your challenge item. I think we all have something like that in our memories from when we was kids.
Beautiful item!

StaroftheEast said...

Love the necklace and the story behind it!

ingermaaike said...

It is a fabulous entry! How magical the child's world is :0D

Mitsy / ArtMind said...

Fab challenge item & I loved reading the story behind it! :)

X by Leina Neima said...

This is very touchy story... and beautiful challenge item. I really enjoyed this entry :)

limonada said...

What a story!!!

ira said...

Very touch story krap!

Sabine B. said...

I'd already told you what a great necklace you made - it's more a piece of art, really! But the story behind it makes it even more amazing! It's so sweet :)

Heli said...

It is great! I love the picture with the leather jacket!

glasfaden said...

Love the feel and look of the necklace. And love the photo!

gunnelsvensson said...

Wonderful necklace and so beautiful pictures, love it! And the story!

purplestevie said...

Hi, Love your button necklaces and your piece on dorset thread buttons, just to let you know i sell vintage button (at giveaway prices) at specialistauctions.com.