10 November 2012

In Remembrance

Hello everyone and welcome. Today's offering follows a similar theme to many others today. Sunday 11th November 2012 is Remembrance Sunday here in the UK when we remember all of those around the globe who served and died in two World Wars and many other conflicts since.


This tag has been created in part to meet the requirements for the following two challenges;


I had no idea until completing some research on the First World War that so much machinery was used, and that got me thinking about how to depict this in a tag. The background was the biggest challenge, both to create and then to photograph effectively - not sure even now that I've achieved the second of those! How to get a mechanical background into a poppy field? The wonderful Sandra came to my rescue, as she has so often, with her brilliant use of the Tim Holtz whitewash background technique from Compendium of Curiosities 2. See her tag HERE. Can you see the little cogs in the background of the sky? Note to self; use white acrylic paint in future rather than Picket Fence Distress Stain!


My second idea was to depict poppies rising from the buried remains of those bits of machinery - mechanical poppies with cogs for centres. They have been embossed and covered with Rock Candy Crackle Glaze, with the metal centres inked over with Black Soot and Red Pepper alcohol inks. The butterfly represents a fallen soul being freed to fly, carrying the key to the future - WW1 was supposed to be 'the war to end all wars'. If only that were so.


Having stamped the TH grasses I added clear embossing powder to stop them fading completely into the background. Again, not sure if the light was good enough today to show the blend of Stormy Sky to Peeled Paint to Walnut Stain, but it works in real life, trust me.

As I mentioned a little while ago I got into this crafting lark after beginning the (unfinished!) task of scrapbooking the family tree research I've done. One double page spread I did manage complete told the stories of two members of my OH's family. The first story concerns GB, a young man of 23 years who left his small village in Derbyshire to go to France. Having only been there a month his regiment was involved in the Battle of Loos, close to the Belgian border. This battle marked the first use of poison gas by the British forces, as they released 140 tons of chlorine gas immediately before engaging with the German lines. In places the gas was blown back over the British trenches and as the troops had inefficient masks many were killed on that first day, amongst them GB.

The second story concerns GM, a bachelor of 39 years who left his family and friends behind in another small village in Derbyshire to start a new life in Australia. Having served a 7 year masons apprenticeship back in England he took the long journey by ship to Waterloo, Sydney in 1912 and set himself up as a bricklayer. Just as this adventure began the war in Europe changed everything. On 13th January 1916 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, claiming to be 35 years even though by now he was actually 42 years. Less than four years after landing in Sydney GM left for the battlefields of the Somme, where he was killed in August 1916 battling for control of a 'strategically important' farm.

I'm sure many of you will have equally sad stories about loved ones from all over Europe, Australia and the rest of the World that you know or are yet to uncover. It seems so many lives were and continue to be wasted. We can't change the past, but we all have the ability to choose to love and respect all of mankind in the future, accepting and embracing our differences so that those who gave their lives didn't do so in vain.

Please take great care of yourselves and each other,
with much love, Jenny ('Buttons') xxx

42 comments:

  1. Oooh gorgeous tag Alison, love how you've created the poppies, but love that embossed butterfly

    Sam xxx

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  2. We shall not forget them. Your tag is stunning and the techniques are marvelous. The Poppies are out of this world and the tag is a great reminder of why we celebrate Remembrance Day. Very Beautiful indeed Buttons. Hugs Rita xx

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  3. This is lovely - something I wouldnt have thought of doing. love the bright poppies.

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  4. Just noticed the key on the butterfly - thats fab too!

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  5. Just beautiful, Buttons; really clever of you to take inspiration from war machines. HIgs, Keren xx

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  6. Thoughtful and fascinating post; thank you for sharing your family stories, and that beautiful thought about the butterfly carrying the key to the future. It's a gorgeous tag - the industrial poppies are great, but the grasses have absolutely won my heart - they look just wonderful. Looking forward to meeting tomorrow!
    Alison x

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  7. An absolutely gorgeous tag Jenny and love how you made the background and poppies. Lovely to hear the story behind it too.
    It's very sad reading about your hubby's family members too and luckily for me, mine all survived although my hubby lost a great uncle in WW1.
    You take care too.
    Hugs, Fliss xx

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  8. WOW! this is out of this world a true "Work of Art" I love it.
    Fascinating Post off to have another read through it.

    Patricia

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  9. Wow! Amazing tag... and such poignant stories.

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  10. Simply a masterpiece - just love it

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  11. Wow Buttons ( Jenny ) This is fabulous. I love the thought that you put in to this tag and the grasses, poppies and butterfly are amazing.

    How nice to meet up with Alison too, hope you have fun x

    Crafty Hugs

    Annie x

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  12. What an awesome tag - I just love, love, love the poppies! xoxo

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  13. Hi Jenny,

    This tag is totally amazing I love it.
    A poppy has two meanings for me, first is those who faught for us and still are and second is my daughter is called Poppy and she is a beautiful girl.

    Love love love

    Ria

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  14. Hi Jenny, your tag is so beautiful, it reminded me of the stamps they brought out a couple of years ago, with the barbed wire and they were stunning too. So many families lost so much and you summed it up so well. I found it quite moving.

    Hope you have a lovely time with Alison. Crafty hugs, Anne x

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  15. Such a thoughtful poignant tag. Beautiful work.
    We shall remember them.

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  16. Beautiful tag, so very delicate - beautiful tribute, hun! xx

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  17. I always find stories of the courage of people during war both uplifting Jenny Buttons but also incredibly sad.
    Your use of the TH Embossing folder on the poppies is inspired!
    My husband lost his father when he was 18 months old in WW2 and a harder life than he had it is hard to imagine.He lost his mum when she was in her fifties and he believes she dies from over work.
    Her story would fill a book!
    With that background I recognise why Super Star is so driven. I often wonder what it might have been like for our son to have his Grandparents and family from his Dad's side in his life.
    Your last sentence in your lovely post sums it up perfectly - it is and always will be about respect, recognising the humanity always in the species human!

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  18. How special to create such a delightful tag, so we will never forget the ones who died so we can live...

    You're a great woman, Alison!

    greetings, Alie :-)

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  19. Beautiful....so perfect. Well done! x

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  20. Jenny your tag is beautiful, and telling the stories of those long gone is the way for all generations to know. You just never know who hasn't heard this before, who you are enlightening, who will tell their children the story they heard from you (count me as one), and so on. Thanks for sharing the art and the history.

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  21. I am so moved by your post...just so moved. We call it Veteran's Day here, and I haven't done a thing to commemorate it! Kudos to you! This tag is absolutely fabulous!!! I love the bright red and the gears! Oh the background is just so great! I love this!!!

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  22. A wonderful tag and you can see that a lot of thought has gone into it. The poppies really stand out for me.

    Love Chrissie xx

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  23. The poppies are so symbolic to many and you have depicted it so well in this Tag Jenny, well done.
    Smiles:)
    Sue

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  24. A fantastic tag, the bright colored flowers rock. Love the key on the butterfly. Thanks for dreaming with us at TIO.

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  25. What a gorgeous tag! Love the background color, the mechanical poppies and the wonderful butterfly with the key! Your stories were so beautiful! They really moved me!
    And thank you for mentioning me (again!)! Hugs, Sandra

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  26. Beautiful tag and beautiful post buttons. Cx

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  27. Stunning Commemorative Tag... Lovely post Buttons... Gorgeous background.. Love the poppies & butterfly... Simply Brilliant...thank you for dreaming with us at Dragons Dream... Hugs May x x

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  28. Just a wonderful piece, what a fabulous remembrance. Kim

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  29. Wonderful tag and a touching story. Thanks for sharing at dragons dream tio

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  30. Great tag the poppies are just stunning. Thanks for sharing with us at Dragons Dream TIO. Love Elizabeth x

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  31. Great tag - the background shows off the poppies brilliantly. Good to read your story - it's so sad when you think how many young men never came back!

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  32. So very poignant, thank you for sharing your stories and beautiful tribute x

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  33. Beautiful tag Buttons and being a military wife, daughter and sister in law, I love what it stands for. Your poppies look gorgeous.
    It was so interesting to read you post and I must confess to having watched a number of programmes over the weekend concerning the WWI and of course two Remembrance celebrations, one of Saturday and the traditional Cenotaph one on Sunday.
    Well done you. Have a good week.
    Juliaxxx

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  34. A moving post and such a beautiful creation...trace x
    Thanks for dreaming with the dragon! Xx

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  35. Your tag is stunning - the poppies are beautiful and the centres are such aclever idea. The pale blue sets it all off briliantly.

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  36. Gorgeous tag - beautiful colours and details and I specially like the way you have used the key on the butterfly - inspired :) Elizabeth xx

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  37. Amazing tag Buttons, so much thought gone into it. A wonderful post. Hugs Sandra X

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  38. I don't know how I missed this but it's beautiful.
    Hugs Brenda xxx

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  39. Love the poignant tag and how it evokes the subject so beautifully. Thank you so much for joining in with my TIO recipe this time!

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  40. Two very touching stories about tow brave men. Your last paragraph perfectly puts into words the sentiments felt by many, me included, that the only way we can avoid future wars is with tolerance and understanding.
    Ann B
    PS thanks for visiting my WOYWW today #67 - bit late getting round and in a rush to go out for lunch but I had to comment on this lovely post

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  41. Hi Buttons
    Sorry I've not been about much and missing your posts.
    This is such a glorious tag, WOW.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comments - they are really appreciated and will be published when moderated. Jenny xxx

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