I started an altered book for my mother back in April.  I found a neat book on mothers at Border’s Bookstore.  I thought it would make a great Mother’s Day gift.  Alas, it took me over two months to finish on account of how busy I was.  The book is about my grandmother, Pauline Loggia.  She was an incredible woman and we lost in 2005.  I enjoyed working on this project and reminiscing about all our fun times.  Here are the pics:

It took me forever to figure out what I should put in the recessed part of the book.  I’m glad I didin’t rush it because I l just love that woman peeking out.  I stamped her on vintage wallpaper. 

This photo was taken the year I graduated from college.  we were all together for Thanksgiving and it was a really great day.

I had a lot of fun with this page.  My grandmother is the oldest in the picture.

This page and the last one are my favorites in the whole book.  I love this photo of my Bopka.  I have a copy in my bedroom on my husband’s dresser.  It reminds me that she was once young and sexy and thin and an all around knock-out.

I titled the page on the right “Vintage Bopka.”  My grandmother loved reading and we often times could not get her attention while she was engrossed in a book.  Invariably we would say, “Bopka?  Bopka?  BOPKA?!”  We she would yell, “Whaaaaaat?”  Tee hee.  I miss her as does the rest of the family.

This is my other favorite page.  It was taken right before her suprise 85th Birthday Party.  Thanks to my mother, I am learning to incorporate feathers into my work.  The background is the same vintage wallpaper I got on www.etsy.com.  If you’ve never been to that website, it’s amazing.  Anyway, this is how I best remember my Bopka — full of grace and beauty.

With the exception of the first picture, all the photos were taken by my better half.  He used some of my hats and scarves to frame the pictures and then decided to throw our kitty into the mix.  Isn’t she adorable?