Some friends up north lost their 28 yr old daughter very unexpectedly due to a brain aneurisym. She had gone to the beach with some of her cousins, and just suddenly died. A beautiful lady, who had survived many surgeries during her young life, so bravely, without complaint. She was born with one leg bone too short. As she reached certain periods of growth, the doctors would operate, do some complex reconstructive surgery to lengthen that bone. Sounded horrendous when it was described to us. When she got to be about 16, she decided "no more" and had an amputation. Went ahead with her life, to an Ivy League school, where she excelled with her grades, and at sports. So what a tragic loss. Anyway, I wanted to send a card letting them know we care.
Now, for the road trip: Bonnie K and I had talked for a while about our making a drive up to take a class with her. She lives about 4-5 hours north of our area. Things finally gelled so that she was having a class, and it worked out that we'd be able to get away. I held my breath that something would come up, and made our hotel reservations at the very last minute.
What a splendid time we had. Wonderful folks in Bonnie's class, who all made me feel welcome. Bonnie & her husband were so gracious and welcomed us to their lovely home. I had hoped to get some much-needed water color training (we ran out of time!) but we did manage to do some faux enamel and encrusted technique. W/Color was next, but since we had some traffic slowdown on the way north, Mr. wanted to leave earlier than what I'd planned as a departure time. So hopefully, sometime in the future, we can do this again. Her DH is just the nicest guy, and took my DH to a flea market on Sat, so he was not just sitting 'waiting' for me to get finished :-). And Bonnie has The Most Organized Studio!
The class! I didn't ask permission to post this, so hope I'm not offending anyone. The lady in the checked shirt is another blog friend, Candee, and we didn't know until just beforehand - that either of us would be in this class. I'll share the cards we made - Bonnie had kits made up, and it was such fun!
Some of our North Carolina cousins are planning to come to South Carolina for a day visit tomorrow. Looking forward to that, as last visit was for a funeral. Much better to have the visit at a happy time.
Thanks for joining me, and big hugs to any who may need a hug today. God Bless.
Mary, your card is just beautiful and I know the family will really appreciate it. So sad about the young lady.
ReplyDeleteI know you and Bonnie - and all the rest - had a wonderful time!! Lynn
A really super card Mary, love the mixture of the die and stamp and your choice of colour.
ReplyDeleteSome lovely photo's and looks like you had a great time and certainly worth the journey.
Kath x
The family will be so appreciative that you took time to make such a lovely card for them during their heartbreaking loss of their daughter. Sometimes life just isn't fair :( How wonderful that you got to meet with Bonnie and the other stampers for some fun and friendship! You look great in that color too BTW! Enjoy the rest of your week with your visiting cousins too :)
ReplyDeleteA beautiful sympathy card Mary and so sorry to hear about your friends Daughter-sounds like you enjoyed your crafting weekend-shame about the watercolouring
ReplyDeleteCarol x
What a lovely card and just right for this sad occasion Mary, and a great photos of you, Bonnie and the rest of the ladies and so pleased that you enjoyed it and got to do lots of different techniques too. x
ReplyDeleteYour card is gorgeous, Mary, lovely design. I'm sure it will be treasured by your friends at this difficult time. So tragic to lose a daughter so young.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a fun time at Bonnie's class, thanks for sharing the photos. xx
Your card is understated and serene with the bold blue showing through and the gold flower...so pretty for such a horrible loss. I feel bad for the parents who should never go after their children but it happens often. The brain aneurism is something none of us know that we might have. I knew 2 people who passed away so quickly. On a better note, it sounds like your time away was a lot of fun
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sympathy card, such a great balance with the die cut and stamp. Love your crafty photos, it looks as though you all had a great time with Bonnie:)
ReplyDeleteSo sad for your friends to have lost their daughter so suddenly. sounds like despite adversity she lived her life to the fullest. Your card is perfect.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of the class. Are you the lady in the green top or the orange top?
Hope you have a lovely day. Sue
Oh Mary - 4-5 hours driving - that is amazing to us who live in a small nation - that would be a long trip by our standards! So glad you got to have some time with Bonnie as well as taking her class.
ReplyDeleteLove your card, if not the occasion that it was needed for.
Blessings
Maxine
A beautiful card Mary, unfortunately for such sad occasion, absolutely tragic to loose a daughter at that young age.
ReplyDeleteGreat photographs, it looks like you had a fabulous time.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x
Beautiful card! Sorry to hear about your friends daughter!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
Marilyn❤️
What a loss Momma Mary! To go through so much and to still rise above it all is something you don't see or hear about everyday. This woman sounded remarkable! Such a shame her young life was cut so short. Life just isn't fair and we are never promised tomorrow are we?! My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who lost this beautiful soul. Your card is stunning and so serene, I'm sure it will bring comfort to the family. I so loved that you got to go and meet up with Bonnie. I know she is as sweet in person as she comes across online! I love her studio, she looks very, very organized. Those cabinets are fabulous! Glad you were able to do the encrusted jewel technique. I could use help with that one as well as the water coloring myself! How fun that Candee came to the class as well! I wish I lived in between you two and could attend Bonnie's classes too. It was nice that Bonnie's husband and Joe hit it off nicely and that he kept him busy where it wasn't so boring for Joe. That is always a plus! Hope you get back to Bonnie's again sometime soon! Hugs, Brenda
ReplyDeleteForgot to say, I love the photo of you and Bonnie, you both look great!!!! Hugs, Brenda
ReplyDeleteSad life for your friends's daughter and tragic loss for them! Life is always strange and unexpected. I'm sure that your friends will appreciate your beautiful card.
ReplyDeleteSeems that you have had some fun with craft and class!
So good hearing you were out and about with a friend to enjoy cherished times! Nothing can be better than that treasured girlfriend time. I'm sorry to hear about your friends' daughter. Your lovely sympathy card will let them know how much you care - it's really beautiful, Mary. Lots of wishes for a fantastic week! hugs, de
ReplyDeleteI think I have that die in my NBUS box. I need to pull it out. It sure made an elegant sympathy card! What a devastating loss! I can't imagine...
ReplyDeleteWe did have a fun time! It was just too short! xoxo
What a lovely card you made for your friends! I know they will appreciate your thoughts during this very difficult time.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Pam
scrap-n-sewgrann.blogspot.com
Your card will be received with great appreciation, firstly because it's beautiful and secondly it was made with such lovely thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI read on Bonnie's blog you had visited, how lovely you had the chance and things "gelled" for you. AND hubby looked after too, what more can you ask for, lessons without thinking of how bored he is LOL.
Hope all is well after your trip.
Hugs
Faith
x
I am so sad there is a need for this card but I do know the beautiful design you did creating it will be so appreciated by your friends.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, what a devastating loss for your friends. Sending prayers. The card is absolutely stunning!! I love the die you used and the beautiful flowers!! And it sounds like such a wonderful road trip!! I'm glad you had a great time!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)
ReplyDeleteLisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
Oh goodness, what a sad reason for sending a sympathy card, the family and their friends must be totally devastated, my heart goes out to them. Your card is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got to go and meet up with friends, it is always such fun to do that and it looks like you had a great time! Hugs, Anne xx
The most elegant and thoughtful card Mary but so very very sad x.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had so much fun with one of Bonnie's classes and so glad you managed to meet up x.
Hi Mary,
ReplyDeletewhat a very gorgeous and stunnig card for such a very sad occasion.
I love your super design it's so stunning that cut away corner is a brilliant idea.
So sorry for your friends loss it's such a great shock to everyone when someone young paases on.
Love the photos of your trip and yes Bonnie's studio looks very organised not a bit like mine hubble..
The techniques learnt sound amazing.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.
How tragic to lose someone so young. Your card is a lovely one to send. I love the picture of you and Bonnie. I would love to take one of her classes and just meet her in person. Her studio is wonderful! Also so happy you posted a picture of Candee and that's great you got to meet both of them.
ReplyDeleteA lovely card Mary and I am sure it will be appreciated by the family, such a sad loss. No parent expects to outlive their child.
ReplyDeleteA lovely sympathy card Mary which, I am certain, will give great comfort to the parents of that amazing young lady. It sounds like you had a wonderful time on your trip xx
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty card Mary, what a tragic story however. Your card will at least bring a piece of peace to the family. This is awful to have endured all this. Glad you were able to get away and craft though, looks like you had a fun time.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty card for such a sad occasion! My heart goes out to that family!
ReplyDeleteI am very happy for you that you were able to meet Bonnie and even take one of her classes (and meet another blogging friend of yours! How fun!
Oh Mary that is so sad. I'm so sorry for your friends loss. What a shock. Sending hugs and prayers to you all. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a tragic story . Your card and thoughts will be appreciated by your friends. Your crafting time with Bonnie sounds great fun. Glad you enjoyed yourself and plan to get together again . Hugs Mrs A.
ReplyDeleteSuch a tragic loss. Your card is really beautiful and appropriate for a sad occasion such as this.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful card for such a sad loss. Looks like you had a great time with Bonnie - can’t believe her studio is so organised, I wish mine was!
ReplyDeleteHi Mary. What a beautiful sympathy card. I'm sure it will bring comfort to the family. Such a tragic loss.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a good visit with Bonnie and enjoyed the class. So fun that you had another friend there as well. And it's great that the guys got along and kept each other company during your class. I hope you do get up north again so you can have some more one-on-one time with Bonnie. I'm so jealous!! :)
I'm way behind on visiting. Hoping to do lot of catch-up this week. Take care Mary! Love, Loll