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Tuesday 29 July 2014

Mum's memory box


At the home where mum is they have provided memory boxes to help the staff and visitors to be able to talk to residents to try and keep memories alive. Mum has Alzheimer's and so this is very helpful, although, sadly, she remembers little of what these are about. She is particularly interested in the picture of her as a baby with her parents and her wedding photo.

So these are the items I chose to put in her box, which is on her door:


I love this photo - the oldest one that we have of nana and grandad and a very rare picture of grandad in a suit. He was in the navy and most pictures we have are in naval uniform, including their wedding photo.


Mum and dad's wedding day:


Mum still enjoys singing and joins in enthusiastically at any opportunity:


Mum hasn't been able to knit or sew for some years now, but she used to. I can remember her making me a coat and hat to match and lots of jumpers etc. I learned to knit at an early age and when I was about 12 we used to knit garments between us - I would do the back and she would do the front, for example.


Mum went into the Post Office when she left school, had a break when she had us children and went back to work when dad was poorly when I was about eleven - and continued to work at the PO until he retired, became the cashier and later was auditor for all the sub offices. She also enjoyed many years as Church Treasurer - she loved working with figures.


And from an early age mum was a Sunday School teacher - I think she only had a break of a couple of weeks when we moved to Bromley before she got roped in to take a class ... and continued till 1990 something. She also began helping in BB from 1968 onwards (and that's me in the photo too!!)


I'm sharing these for the following challenges:

Handmade harbour: handmade Monday 178
The paper girls 60: old time photos
Ooh-la-la 161: vintage (the photo of mum as a baby is definitely vintage - taken in 1922 - she was born in November 1921)
Tuesday throwdown 206: other than a card or tag
The squirrel and the fox 75: inspired by a song - Memories are made of this, Dean Martin
Dare to be sassy Thursdays 239: it's all the same - monochrome (2nd photo)
Creatalicious 65: monochrome
Just inspirational monthly challenge: stitching (5th photo)
Just inspirational: hobbies and sports (5th photo - hobbies: knitting and sewing)
Alphabet: L for lace (5th photo)
Red carpet studio 75: pitch perfect - music (4th photo)
Mark's finest papers speedy fox and friends 222: music (4th photo)
Cutie pie 74: love and marriage (3rd photo - cute little bridesmaid)
613 avenue create 82: anything goes + option: use a sentiment
Crafting at the weekend 4: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 142: anything goes
Treasured times 21: anything goes
Scrapping4fun 22: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
The paper shelter: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Eclectic ellapu: anything goes
The pink elephant 261: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 67

26 comments:

  1. What a lovely Memory box for your Mum. Love the vintage pictures and the one with the sewing machine and knitting. So sorry to hear about your mum, al the best!
    Thank you for your entry at Scrapping4funChallenges.
    Rachelle DT
    http://scrapping4funchallenges.blogspot.com

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  2. It is such a lovely memory box, and I love how you've created pages with little embellishments and texts. I hope that some of the items help your mum to remember some of those special times.

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  3. This is wonderful, Hazel! A glimpse into the life of a remarkable lady! (I'm especially impressed by her facility with numbers - I still have to count on my fingers!)

    I pray that these pictures will bring back some memories. X

    love Mags B x

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  4. What a veritable treasure trove of pictorial memories. The problem with this horrid disease is that we have no idea what is going in the mind and so hopefully something here might just strike a chord, if only momentarily. It's very hard for you Hazel. Hugs Christine x

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  5. Wow Hazel! This is such a touching project! It is a wonderful way to help your Mom - and such a lovely creative look to each! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful project & creativity at our house!
    Challenge #81- ATG / optional theme of “Party Time”
    ~ginny, DT for 613 Ave Create
    RubberMAD (GettyCollection.com)

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  6. A lot of love went into this project. Thank you for sharing this wonderful creative art with us.
    Blessings, Carole Word Art Wednesday

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  7. Lot of hard work and love has gone into this project you can see,thank you for joining in with us at sassy studios and good luck

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  8. What lovely memories and treasures! Beautiful idea, bittersweet project. Thanks for joining us at Tuesday Throwdown this week!

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  9. Being a big lover of all things vintage, this really caught my eye. What a fabulous post. Thanks SO MUCH for sharing with us. Have a blessed week and please stop by again soon. Your participation is appreciated very much!
    Karen
    Word Art Wednesday

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  10. What a beautiful tribute to her life. I've been there and know how hard it can be to see them slip away. Hugs to you. Thank you so much for sharing your story and joining us at Just Inspirational Challenges this week. xo Melissa DT

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  11. Hi Hazel, Such a cruel disease, and much harder on the families as the person you love often disappears into a safe and happy place in their own mind, where we didn't exist. Photographs were good with my mum for a time, and good to spark memories. They were also great when visitors were a bit awkward finding something to talk about. This is a lovely way to present those memories.
    You are in my thoughts
    Janice W

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  12. What a lovely idea...beautiful photographs for you and your Mum to look at...and all the other memories as well...Maybe we all should do a memory box/book for our grandchildren...Julieannex

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  13. What an amazing idea it sounds like your mom's in a great place with people who will care for her properly. Your memory box items are so heart wrenching. Jacqui DT Sister Act

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  14. What a beautiful tribute Thanks for sharing at Marks finest papers.....Lis

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  15. WOW what a beautiful memory box Hazel! Gorgeous photos and details! Thanks for joining us at Alphabet Challenge Blog!
    Tammy x

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  16. wowzers!! beautiful beautiful beautiful!! Thank you for sharing a piece of your family's history. So neat and interesting to see and read about all these pics and pieces.

    Blessings
    Jen

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  17. Such a meaninful and lovely project.

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  18. Wonderful project. Well documented. Thanks for playing at RCS.

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  19. A awesome post, which I really enjoyed and thank you so much for sharing your treasured mementos & photos here. It will be a marvelous gift for your Mom, and who can say, perhaps somewhere, she will realize what the pictures are about, even if she can't articulate such. It's lovely that you did this for her, and I'm sure it brought back happy memories for you as well. Hugs

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  20. Hi Hazel,
    this a great Memory-Box. I love this idea!! Thank you so much for sharing your creation with us at Scrapping4Fun Challenges.
    Lovely Greetings Sandra DT

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  21. Oh Hazel these are wonderful photos and memories you did for your mum. I so appreciate you sharing your family memories with us.
    Thank you for joining us at Crafty Sentiments.
    Deborah CS GDT

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  22. I love this, Hazel - so much thought and love has gone into it.

    Thanks for joining us at the Cutie Pie Challenge.

    Helen x

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  23. What a wonderful project hun love it and thanks so much for joining us at Tuesday Throwdown hugs Judith DT x

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  24. Such a great project! I am very glad you entered this week at Tuesday Throwdown. I hope you had fun!!! See you back very soon to play in another fun challenge.

    TTFN,

    CraftyGirl
    craftygirlcardsandcrafts.blogspot.com
    Tuesday Throwdown DT

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  25. Such great memories and way to save them! Thank you for playing along with us at Red Carpet Studio!

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  26. What a wonderful idea to create memory boxes. These are definitely sweet mementos. And the card with the knitted sweater is just darling! Thanks for joining us at Scrapping 4 Fun Challenges. :D

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