Saturday 21 June 2014

Orchid - CSI 128

Hello blog friends, welcome to my little corner of the world.
Today I’m sharing a layout as a double agent for CSI and Meg’s Garden.  
I don’t use a lot of purple, but this photo was just right for the colours this week.
I’d love you to hop over and have a look at the stunning layouts
 created by the Design Team and perhaps play along.  
There is a generous prize pack to be won from Meg’s Garden.
MEG'S GARDEN
I used the gorgeous Correspondence collection, 
"Distressed Letter" P6402 by Kerry-Jean Watson, (green)
 and "A French Account" P6401 (neutral)
The marbled purple (amethyst) is also from Meg’s Garden, 
as is the jewel bright, purple brad.
Texture was added with Jo Sonja texture paste
and a little colour with Tim Holtz distress ink.
The required blue and white colours are in this little cluster
Cream alphas are by Prima and fit within the permitted
 10 percent additional colour.
EVIDENCE
Flowers
Distressing
Pearls
Metal (on the brad)

TESTIMONY
I went to the journal jar prompt and was inspired by this question. 

What little things have happened to you lately that have really touched you or made a huge difference in your day?

The journalling is on the back of the page and it reads:-

This glorious orchid was grown by a neighbour of mine.  He and his wife have been having a bit of a tough time over the last few years, but they’ve picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and created new ways of giving their lives meaning.  Their generosity is legendary, yet they see themselves as ordinary people. 

I called in to see them briefly this week and was given a stem of orchids from their greenhouse.  Their random act of kindness has stayed with me all week.  The vibrant colour, the unusual fragrance and the exquisite shape of the spray, is a feast for my eyes and brightens the hallway with it’s beauty.  Their simple act of generosity has enhanced my week and created a bubble of joy every time I look at it.  Why is it so?  I think it’s to do with the random nature of the gift.  I wasn’t expecting it and somehow that makes the gift even more special.   Just as an unprovoked rude response from someone, can cause intense sadness, so too, does this give intense joy. It has made me to think about how I interact with others and decide to pay it forward whenever I have the opportunity.  “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy.  They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”   Marcel Proust

Photobucket

15 comments:

  1. A stunning page Helen! You have interpreted, or should I say solved, this Case beautifully. Your journaling is so heart warming. It is always lovely to hear stories such as this. Too often we only hear the 'bad' about people, it is such a joy to hear about the 'good'. An exquisite page to complement those gorgeous blooms. ox

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  2. This is such a gorgeous colour palette & I love what you've done with it! Your journaling is beautiful...it's a lesson for all of us. We have a thing for orchids, but don't have any as exquisite as that one! Thanks for your lovely comments on my blog...I too am here from Heather's recent post. I've admired your work on Facebook, Paper People...I recognise your name ;)

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  3. wow Helen this is magnificent ... you have solved this case with such style xoxo

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  4. Margy has posted her blog hop and it is just magnificent and so interesting, cant wait to see yours x

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  5. Beautiful page Helen! You've certainly nailed the gorgeous colour palette. Your journaling is so true. Thanks for that. :)

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  6. Wow so exquisite Helen really love this one!

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  7. Love the sophistication you've given this page...& orchids truly ARE such a flower...that little cluster down the bttm of the page is a gorg touch....& there's something about orchids that makes you happy just looking at them....very thoughtful of your neighbours:):)

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  8. You nailed the purple Helen! And your journalling is so touching.

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  9. This made me all warm inside! I loved looking at your gorgeous page. It is so well composed that I felt like I was walking into your living room,....the distressed script background was wall paper and the rest was your interior decoration with the gorgeous orchid as the icing on the cake.
    Love it!!

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  10. Great details on your page Helen, you nailed the colour and inspirational challenge at CSI, I love orchids too

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  11. I have a window in our living room full with orchids. The day I see the first bud is a day of celebration as I know all of the plants will soon be blooming, sharing their beauty with us. It's those unexpected moments of kindness for no other reason than to show somebody else our appreciation, that stay in our hearts. Gratitude is a beautiful thing, sending our thanks and thoughts to people make rings of goodness and life suddenly becomes richer. As always you have created utter perfection, elegant and spot on! xoxo

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  12. Ah I just love this layout and the way you used the colours. The magnificent photo and also your journalling which as always made me stop and think. You are so right it is the little random acts of kindness that mean the most and if we all put this into practice I think the world would be a better place. One of my fave layouts this one.

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  13. Wow....that orchid is amazing! The colours are just fabulous! You picked the perfect papers for this page too....that almost cosmic purple patterned paper is super! It is so true, how a random act of kindness can touch one so profoundly and I guess, remind us that in the end we are all people, and it does not need to take much to bless someone else! x

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  14. Absolutely stunning. I love what you did with purple...not any easy colour to work with. What a beautiful gift to get. Loved reading your story behind the photo.

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  15. A gorgeous flower and photo..... Your layout is stunning Helen.....perfect colours , layers, embellies and wonderful journaling! x

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