Monday 2 March 2015

Life - DT layout for CSI 156

Hello, hello, today I’m sharing a DT challenge for CSI


So, are you ready for this week's challenge? Grab your forensics kits, 
CSI members, and get ready for some serious sleuthing 
as we open Case File No. 156.
to see what the team and guests have created for your inspiration
I struggled with the colours and binned my first three attempts, so reverted back to what I know best.  The KISS principle.
I used the Teresa Collins range of papers "Nine & Co"
the bright patterned ones.
And a ten year old corrugated one by Wendy Irving.  
Glad I didn't purge that one!
Do you like the hat?

EVIDENCE
Leaves/flowers
Liquid pearls 
Cursive font
Triangles

TESTIMONY
I used the words, grow, spicy and power to inspire my journalling.

The photo of me was taken at a friend’s wedding on Kangaroo Island many moons ago.   We had just finished our Nursing Training and for the first time in our lives, had some choice about what we would do next.  My friend decided to marry, after only a few months courtship.

I was shocked, to say the least.  Marriage to me, at that time, spelt lack of freedom, inability to work and endless pregnancies.  Who, in their right mind would want to do that?  

Three of my Aunts were Registered Nurses, two of whom were single.  These two lived a life of freedom, dressed beautifully, drove their own cars and had regular holidays.  By contrast, the third Aunt married soon after training, had four boys in four years and suffered a nervous breakdown.   The poor woman never really recovered her brilliant mind and incisive decision making skills.

Which path would you choose, I wonder?  It seemed like a no brainer to me.  My inner voice said “Pick up your own power, explore the world and grow into the Woman you are capable of becoming.  Who knows what lies beyond the far horizon”.   So off we went, myself and I, with two like minded friends.  For a year we explored Europe, Britain, the United Sates and Canada. We Nursed the landed gentry on Harley Street.  We poured beers in pubs and cups of tea at Village Fairs.  We listened to jazz in New Orleans and protest songs in Irish pubs. We rode Camels in Egypt and ate spicy curries in Bombay.  Each country offered something new and fascinating.  Different food, architecture, languages, smells and sounds. Such enriching and enlightening experiences, which taught us that our previous view of the world was parochial and xenophobic. 

We returned home with a passion to continue our Nursing and a determination to have equal rights in any partnership. Nothing much had changed in our little corner of the world in our absence, but we knew there was more; we’d tasted it and were not ready to settle for mediocrity and small town attitudes.  This was the first of many journeys; once the travel bug has bitten it stays for a life time.  In the following years, life has not always been rosy, but I've learned that it doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful.

“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it is lethal.” - Paul Coelo

Photobucket

11 comments:

  1. Ha ! Love that quote. Your page looks digi, it's sooo perfect......BINNED em? All 3? Helen! I shall have to come & give you un-bin lessons!!!!!!! Anyways, it was worth the angst cos this is glorious! I am happy that you had such a wonderful beginning to your adult life. Right decision it seems, eh??!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. It sounds like you made the right choice for you at that time and you would have marvellous stories to share about your life now.. your simplistic layout makes it beautiful.. love the photo, of a by gone era of fashion...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sounds like you had a wonderful time during your travels Helen, not many women would have had the courage to do what you did!! Take my hat off to you!! This page is gorgeous!! You may have struggled with the colours and thrown your first few attempts in the bin (sacrilege I say!!!! LOL!!) but you rocked it in the end!! Love it!! ox

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gorgeous layout Helen! Thanks for sharing the story behind the photo! Love the fancy hat :) Thanks for the wonderful inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You know Helen - you're journaling is amazing. I could happily read your words for hours. This is fantastic - oh and the layout's not bad either! (just to clarify, that was a joke - it's amazing!)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ahhh! too long since I came for a visit. How I enjoy to read your wonderful tales from near and far, Helen! Very stylish hat, bet a bunch of young men must have turned their heads when you turned up at the wedding. You do CAS so incredibly well, it is an amazing page truly is! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love your page and love the story behind the photo even more. You were very adventurous. I giggled at the 4 babies in four years...no wonder the poor woman had a nervous breakdown xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. OMG Helen I wish I had a friend like you when I was young. How different things would have been... not that I am not happy now BUT is has been a very long and hard road to get here. All because I did not put myself first. Sounds like you had a wonderful time and certainly the best education - that opens not only your eyes but your minds. Such a glamorous photo and I have to say KISS approach is always the one that catches my eye. I love the mm layouts and so on that you see because it blows my mind and how they are created and the insight that goes into it. BUT when I see a clean layout like this, a punchy photo and such insightful journalling it reinforces why I do what I do. THANK YOU for always getting me back on track <3

    ReplyDelete
  9. LOVE the photo and the keep it simple works perfectly here. As always love your journalling, what wonderful memories . Sounds like an amazing life
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  10. GREAT job! What a slick looking page!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh wow...how awesome is this page and the journalling such an absolute treat! I love the photo and your hat is amazing...you look like Audrey Hepburn! ;-) Love the journalling as I said....and just love hearing about you and your beautiful life! It has made you into the beautiful and strong woman you are! ;-)

    ReplyDelete