Twila and Hank

Meet Twila and Hank. Aren't those great names! Margie had a LOT of photos. Vintage ones and not so vintage ones. 

She saved every photo Christmas card and every photo that came in a Christmas card. She saved all the photos Paul and I sent of the boys growing up....and every other photo that came into her life. And Clarke and I went through all of them. We sorted and tossed...and we both pulled out ones we wanted and ones other family  members might want.  

AND....I kept all the vintage photos of people we didn't know for art and crafting. I couldn't bare to put them in the trash...so I might as well play with them.

I didn't do that great of a job on the background.....but it just occurred to me as I am writing this that I could paint over it and start over. Or not. 

Mostly I wanted to experiment with a little embroidery....and I think it turned out OK. For the next one I'll back the photo with stabilizer...because poking a lot of holes too close together on paper just makes bigger holes. It would also help to use a smaller needle. French knots worked pretty well....and I especially love Hank's boutonniere with just three little simple knots.

As I was writing this....the background was bothering me more and more. 

So I just went upstairs and put a quick coat of transparent zinc white paint over the background....and it's already so much better! It knocked down both the aqua...and the black. I may put a second coat on tomorrow and tuck this one in my art journal. 

I have a plethora of photos to play with....so bring on the stitching and doodling! 

And this one is a keeper....Margie's 2nd grade class when she was a teacher.