Friday, 22 February 2013

Artful Readers Club - The Last Telegram

My book this month was The Last telegram by Liz Trenow. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, finding the characters totally engrossing. The story is set in the second world war and centres around a family who manufacture silk. It is a love story told at the end of the heroine's life. I admire the spirit of the women in the story, Gwen and Lily herself. These were ordinary people doing their best in the time of war, making parachutes and knowing "if you get it wrong you have dead pilots". The relationships are so credible. I was inspired to make a box for keepsakes as it is the unearthing of such a box in a cupboard by Emily that has Lily reliving her story. I don't want to spoil the story by revealing the story in case anyone wants to read it!

I used a wooden box that had once contained a pen set and painted it with purple acrylic paint
 I then, in sections, painted over it with watered down PVA glue followed by white acrylic paint. I used a heat gun to dry it and watched the crackle appear.
 I then stamped the outline of a design  using a two daisy stamps from Sheena Douglas. I painted my leaves and daisies using Sheena's paint fusion techniques and added ca few sprigs of lavender.
 Finally I lined the inside of the box using a love letter written in the 1800's by a soldier, this is available as a download from Chocolate Baroque.and added a few old letters and a photo.
So enjoyed doing this  I plan to keep a few special mementos of my own in it.
Jen x
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19 comments:

  1. Beryl22 February 2013 at 09:20

    Your box is beautiful Jen. Love it.
    Beryl xx

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  2. Gina22 February 2013 at 12:56

    Ooow what a gorgeous project this book inspired!!! This sounds like a lovely poignant story :D XXX

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  3. San @ Made in Hem22 February 2013 at 13:35

    Wow, what a great little box you made! I can hardly believe you are inspired by a book... ♥

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  4. Jez22 February 2013 at 15:05

    Strange that we both picked the same book to read for February, which made reading your review and seeing your artwork special for me. I enjoyed your review, just enough detail to encourage people to read the book, but not the whole story. So much better than having the story 'given away'. As you say, the relationships are so credible, and very much so with Gwen and Lily.
    And I was blown away by your idea for artwork, such a good idea, and so beautifully interpreted. Hope between us many people will read the book, even those who don't usually like a story with a love element in it.

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  5. Sarah22 February 2013 at 18:19

    I'm so glad that Jez just confirmed that you read the same book this month, as reading your synopsis I was thinking "this sounds very familiar"....of course it does when I read Jez's review this morning :D

    Your keepsake box is beautiful! especially those pretty daisies

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  6. Janet22 February 2013 at 18:26

    Sounds like a really good book to read. Love your idea of the box as your artwork. Beautifully painted, transforming something very ordinary into something very special.

    Janet xx

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  7. Darcy Marshall22 February 2013 at 23:07

    This is such a special piece that you have made, makes me want to make one too. That stamping and painting is wonderful, they look like a photo!

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  8. Unknown23 February 2013 at 00:25

    Oh I love this idea you have created I love the look of the box daisy's & purple I'm sold :) Sounds like a good read

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  9. Shirley23 February 2013 at 17:02

    It is so good when a book can inspire such a lovely piece of artwork.
    The way you have painted the flowers and then added in the lavender is amazing.
    Also a nice teasing review, just enough to want me to add the book to my ever growing list. Off to see what piece of art Jez did for the book now ...

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  10. abby j23 February 2013 at 19:38

    What a great idea...nice that it was book-inspired. Sounds like a wonderful book and the box is beautiful!

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  11. Leialoha24 February 2013 at 03:08

    Thank you for this wonderful review Jen...what a precious memory box...I especially love the crackle aging effect.

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  12. Bleubeard and Elizabeth24 February 2013 at 05:40

    I just read Jez's book review right before I came here, and wondered if I had read something wrong. It was nice to see that both of you reviewed the same book, and that you both had very different takes on the art. I really loved the crackle effect. I've also used PVA glue to make cracks, but mine were never as good as yours. Nicely done with the daisies, too. And thanks for the interesting review, also. I may look for this at my library.

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  13. Šolanje na domu-Waldorf24 February 2013 at 13:55

    Gorgeous box! Love the cracks and the purple. :)

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  14. Tracey FK24 February 2013 at 23:39

    how awesome that you and Jez chose the same book and fun to read both together... and love the box... so beautifully done ...xx

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  15. Catie Cuddles25 February 2013 at 11:43

    Beautiful fusion work and what a lovely inspired piece of art to make from the book. Adding this to my list of things to read.
    Catherine

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  16. Kerry6 March 2013 at 14:35

    Your box is beautiful. Something to be proud of.

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  17. Carmen 6 March 2013 at 15:51

    What a gorgeous idea for your art piece - I have a keepsake box but it is literally a hinged wicker basket that I bought from Woolworths many years ago - yours is so much more special. Love the techniques used too.

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  18. sue-b31 March 2013 at 12:02

    What a great idea, love the box and now i have to try this out and hope it turns out as good as your's, love it xx

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  19. Maz5 April 2013 at 13:47

    Lovely review and the keepsake box is beautiful - your fusion painting is great. x

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