Sunday, June 26, 2011

Happy Birthday Ma!

Today would have been my mother's 88th birthday.  There is no way to adequately thank her for all she did for us on our birthdays over the years, but I thought, I'd post some birthday cards that she created, starting with one she did for her own mother.
Apparently my mother and her brother Harrison called their mother Moon even at an early age as evidenced by the card below.




For her Aunt Hazel's 90th birthday she created a large, elaborate card.  Hazel Irene Campbell Boyd, had been a school teacher and principal, much beloved by former students, hence the apple theme.  Each slice lifts to reveal a memory:

Memories...

Great trips through the countryside..Bumptown revisited

Your kitchen smelling of warm baby chicks or Grandma's famous "Eggs on Pancakes"

Crocheted caps at S.U.  Quilts for my kids.  Our bears (they still look good)  etc., etc., etc., etc.

Eggs Benedict and more for the hungry travelers.  And the jokes!  I wish I could remember them all!

1932 - Rescued!  Over-town to a real teacher.

That treasure box upstairs - Rosalie

His + Hers - Smokey and Clem

Bed and Board for us kids whenever needed.




In the days before Pizza Hut and other chains, Ma used to make pizza using Chef Boyardee's Pizza mix.  One year she planned a pizza party for my birthday and made the invitation below.  Thanks Ma!








This card may have been for me.


For my birthday while I was living in San Francisco, the card below arrived with a gift.





 A birthday party invitation for one of their Maine friends:


 For little Jackson, she created this banana themed card.  With her busy schedule, it is surprising there were not more belated cards.





The card for my builder husband, Michael Morley, below, folded out from bottom to top., and included our dog Merlin holding the ladder.






Another card for Michael:


 She missed Jackson's birthday once again,  but a handmade card is never too late.





 During the Mutant Ninja turtle craze she made this jumping-jack card for Jackson's May birthday.




 Hazel's birthday comes during the snowy month of February, so her cards often had a snow theme, like this card filled with snowmen in animal shapes.








Monday, June 13, 2011

Clinton L. Frank

Clinton L. Frank portrait ca. 1964  Oil in brush and pallet knife on 9x12 canvas board


Clint says, "Your Mom always took the opportunity to paint a face, whether it was a portrait or a peoplescape.  See seemed to see faces others never thought about.  Her calm and even way probably allowed her the inner eye that the creatively challenged seldom use.  I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to have enjoyed her talent and life for a time." 

 As I have said, everyone was fair game for my mother's artistic eye.  I had completely forgotten that she did this portrait of one of my DFHS boyfriends, Clinton Frank.  But as soon as I saw it, the memory of it came back.  Many thanks to Clint for providing these images of the painting!

Clint holding the painting

Clint and me, in the car, before his 1964 graduation, taken at 11Secor Drive
Clint 1969