A Year in Milan

Marian says KAYA! 

My daughters are adults already but I still consider them my girls. If and when there are things I can do for them, I feel needed. Most of the time they are really so competent that they can do things for themselves.

Journalling:

It has always been your dream to study abroad and finally this 2008, your dream came true. You did all the paperwork, applications, exams, essays, arranged travel documents, student visa and tickets. I was still in a daze from Papa passing away when all this happened so I really didn’t have the energy or drive to help you in any way. When you finally left in January, the implications finally hit me. I missed you so much and kept thinking how you were doing. Thank goodness for the internet I could see how you were getting along.

I really had to let go as you were so far away and I couldn’t do anything for you when you would e-mail or text. I had to be detached when you said your room mate had spilled hot choco on you laptop and you had 2 reports in it. I was glad I got your message late when you said you were held in London for 7 hours before they finally allowed you to enter. It’s good I only knew about the drunks about to attack you when the taxi driver dropped you 2 blocks away from your friend’s apartment after it happened. It was a relief to know that you had no problems in Austria when the immigration office said you were illegally there for 2 days as they are not Schengen in June because of soccer.

I am so proud of you as you were able to cope and solve your problems on your own. I’m glad you had the presence of mind to scream at the drunks and run into a convenience store while you figured out how to get to your friend’s apartment. You learned to clean your room and bathroom. You had to do the grocery and marketing and cook your own food. You also had to do your laundry. All these household chores were things the maids did for you at home but you adjusted and learned to do it all. You have also kept within your budget spending only for essentials and not going shopping.

I am glad I did not let the fear of letting go prevent you from pursuing your dreams. I am so confident that you will fly, you will soar, in whatever you decide to do in the future.

Materials: 

Patterned paper from K & Co. Mc Kenna paper pad, chipboard flourishes Technique Tuesday, die cut letters Quickutz Metro & Magnolia, bird chipboard Maya Road, Stickles glitter glue, transparency Hambly Studios, Basic Grey magnets, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist candy apple red, forest green & and Luminarte Radiant Rain iridescent gold, brown pen Steadler Triplus, computer journalling.

Techniques: 

cut flowers from patterned paper; sprayed the flourishes with Glimmer Mist and Radiant Rain;outlined the flower cut out with Stickles, covered the bird with stickles; die cut the letters, journalling is behind the 3 photo block. Its kept closed with the Basic Grey magnets.

About Me:

I have always loved doing arts and crafts. I used to make macrame belts, paper mache, hair accessories, cross stitch, candles, beaded accessories and Christmas decor. My current favorites are card making, stamping and scrapbooking. I think these 3 are intertwined with each other. I do believe these will be lifelong hobbies as there will always be friends to get in touch with, pictures to document and stories to tell. I am learning to use Photoshop Elements by reading on-line tips and tutorials and trying to do what I read. I hope to become a good photographer through the classes I just started recently.