I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Friday 4 September 2015

What makes a house a home?

Hello all, and a warm welcome on yet another chilly day.  I hope you're all wrapped up and safe at home!  It's time for a new challenge at A Vintage Journey and the theme chosen by the wonderful Jennie of Live the Dream is Home Sweet Home.  She's asked us to create projects according to whatever home means to us.


Well, with my dollshouse connections (Small Worlds, anyone?) I knew right away I wanted to make some little houses with the Artful Dwellings die.  But it wasn't until I was cutting, covering and stamping them that I started to think about what home means, or what turns a house into a home.


Gradually the project started to take shape as I allowed those ideas to make their way down on to the craft table.  And assembling the thing became part pleasure, part jigsaw puzzle!






So the first idea was that really it's the people who make a home.  The huge wrench of leaving the family home of 40 years recently was made far more bearable because we remain a very close family.  Where they are is home.












And along with family, there are important things like being accepted for who you are...














... being able to share troubles...













... love, generosity, kindness, forgiveness...













There are some pretty explosive tempers round our way so that last one's definitely important!












And there are the shared memories which build up within the walls of any house... 













I've also done my share of sharing houses with friends and other folk, and the same things apply.












As well as all those things though, there are certain physical elements which I like to have around me if possible...











... plants being one, indoors and/or out - hence the branches stamped on the papers...













... colours which make me feel at peace - blue is always around (and often green - anybody surprised?!), and neutrals too (papers from the new Regions Beyond stash with added branches, blueprints and stitching in places)...











(I used Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Pumice Stone and Hickory Smoke on Ranger Mixed Media paper to create my inky backgrounds.)










... and it's definitely desirable that the architecture of the house is "right".  I'm partial to high ceilings and large windows, otherwise I feel very claustrophobic, and I've been lucky enough in my life so far mainly to have had those desires indulged.

So the architectural plans stamp is the other one I've used to add detailing to my little houses.











Some of the photos are from the Photobooth collection.













Others are cut from one of the Lost and Found papers because they needed to be quite small for the smaller houses. 











And the additional panels behind each picture are from my trusty Pocket Cards. 
















I even had some fun with my new paper punches!














I hope you've enjoyed this little tour of my tiny houses - no, my tiny homes.  It's all about the place where you spend your everyday life... the place you call home.









If you need more inspiration, you'll definitely find it over at A Vintage Journey where my team-mates have been creating their usual wealth of fantastic projects.  We hope you'll be inspired to share your Home Sweet Home with us this month.  You could be the lucky winner of our prize draw, sponsored by Country View Crafts, or be picked as one of our three Pinworthies.


Thanks so much for stopping by today and coping with this picture-heavy post, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend, crafting or otherwise.

Home is not where you live, but where they understand you.
Christian Morgenstern

You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it's all right.
Maya Angelou

Home is where you can say anything you like because nobody listens to you anyway.
Anonymous

I'd like to enter this in the Anything Mixed Media/Creative Goes at the We Love 2 Create Challenge.

66 comments:

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

I thought this challenge was perfect for you Alison. I love your houses and the imagery is perfect. I love the colours, one of my favourite combinations. Love the floral touches too. So pleased to be joining the team with you . Tracy x

S@ndy Diller said...

This piece is just too wonderful. I love all the details you added to each panel. What a lovely way to say Home
Sweet Home.

Cazzy said...

That is amazing, I love all the detail and your story.

Chrissy said...

Outstanding Alison..love every 'home 'page with the photos and wonderful colours and all the details..just gorgeous.

luv CHRISSYxx

Julia Aston said...

What lovely stories surround your beautiful string of houses Alison! Wonderful colors, techniques and ephemera on each section! Julia xx

Michelle said...

Oh! I adore these! Each one is a treasure!

Helen said...

What a challenge for you - perfect!! your row of houses -sorry, homes! - are just perfect.

Monika Gulyas said...

This project is amazing, Alison! Beautiful and very inspiring! I love the idea and the story beside it, too!

Deborah said...

Beautifully put together with much thought - just what i expect when I visit your blog and I'm never disappointed. Hope you are feeing better.

Ruth said...

One home would have been beautiful but what a pure delight to wander through each one and with such a lovely narrative. One of my favourite creations of yours.....again! Amazing!! Ruth x

chrissie said...

A real tear jerker this one. The more I look the more it tugged at my heart strings. Beautiful project Alison.

Love Chrissie xx

TAM said...

Simply gorgeous project.

brenda said...

Clearly so much thought went into creating this stunning piece of artwork Alison, it really is a beauty and I especially like the variation in dies you used to give the different dimension's of 'houses' which of course is exactly how they are if we reflected on say just our own location.

B x

Rika said...

This is gorgeous,
you put so much detail into this project!

Hazel Agnew said...

I have really enjoyed visiting your tiny homes and trying to create a picture of their respective lives! I love the quote about being able to say what you want! Love the branches, love the colours, envious of high ceilings! Great piece! X

Margik said...

This is so fabulous, Alison! The houses are really stunning, and I like all the great elements on them, and I also love your story. The colours are perfect! :)

maria's knutselplezier said...

Super Alison, your houses are really homes, I'v bought some of these houses a long time ago , but I didn't do anything with them till now, so thanks very much for the beautifull samples I can take some as inspiration sourse!!!

Have a nice weekend
Maria

sally said...

This was always going to be right up your street if you'll pardon the pun!

Sally

Juliz Design Post said...

Such a pretty project Alison and it has a lovely homely feel to it with great accents and details.
Julie x

Hettie said...

This is gorgeous Alison. Specially like the last quote - appropriate in our house er home!!
Not at all surprised to see blues, greens and a little neutral in there. However I am surprised to see the young Frank Sinatra in there - friend of yours?? LOL!
Hugs
xx

Nikki Acton said...

Oh wow! This is just stunning Alison, from the inkiness to the collage to the words you have chosen, Bravo! Nxx

A Pink said...

Oh how I love visiting your blog Alison not only for the incredible artwork you create but also for the wonderful narrative you always write . You have a real gift . Your homes are absolutely stunning ( I love everythijng about them ) and youfor me you couldn't have summed up what a 'home' is any better through both your words and pictures .
Thankyou so much for being such an inspiration . x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

I am always drawn to this die and to houses type art in general! I LOVE all the happiness inside of a created house...the little dream house and all the hopes of the person who created it! I'm getting philosophical, but I can't help it. I LOVE all the people on each house and their word of representation! If only the whole world could be so happy and content and so beautiful! Great make! Made me smile ear to ear!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

PINNED too!

Marci said...

This is one of my favorites!!!

Connie Mercer said...

stunning work !!!

Lisa Minckler said...

My goodness, that was FUN! I loved seeing it all on your craft table and all put together in the ivy was magical. You did an amazing job on this challenge. Love your houses!

Adventures in Paperland said...

I adore this project Alison! What a super idea and each home is decorated beautifully. I just love this!! xx

Paper Profusion said...

A truly beautiful project Alison. Love your post too! Nicola x

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I don't need to read your post to know the answer to your title question--a cat! A cat makes a house a home. Since you seem to disagree with me I guess I'll read your post, but really I thought I was going to get off easy this time. I agree about family being important but I like my furry family better than the human ones (maybe if they'd just purr more), I love that you included plants and nature. I think that is important. I love all the ephemera that you added to show the different personalities and different stages of life. Truly a gorgeous project! Yes, even if you did forget to add the cats.

Nan G said...

Lovely thoughts on what makes home, Alison. And your 'home' folio is fabulous! Love the colors and the stamping..the pics are so winderful! Very much you. Thank you for sharing! Hugs

Jennie Atkinson said...

One word - which seems totally inadequate - just STUNNING ! A beautiful project which I just love. Jennie x

Unknown said...

These are totally fabulous Alison. Dear me... such creativity, patience and tenacity you have. Wonderful. j.

Words and Pictures said...

I do love cats - but they might eat the birds! xx

Words and Pictures said...

And dogs too btw...

Tindaloo said...

awesome creation, such gorgeous details :)

Meggymay said...

Awesome small houses. I loved reading todays post and your thoughts behind your home and family. An inspirational project.
Yvonne xx

experiments in paper said...

Oh my, Alison - what an incredible make you have here! It is physically beautiful, and I love (as always) your colors and how you put it all together, But what really touches me is your thoughts re home and how you've made that come to life here. Home is seemingly such a simple concept, but you've delved into it wonderfully to expose the complexity and beauty of how people live together in community. I so love all your little houses and how you've represented your ideas here - just fabulous!! xxx Lynn

Flo Langley said...

Fantastic!! x

Dorthe said...

Dear Allison, what a beautiful post, -I so loved reading all your thoughts about what a house/ home should hold, for you to feel good in every way, living there, and so agree with you, in all the importend aspects ,for me to feel happy,too !
Your house is so filled with all these thoughts, beauty ,sweetness, love and so much more. I love your blue/ naturel univerce, holding all a life should be rurrounded of!!
SORRY for not being much around, but helping my daughter and grandchildren pack, for soon to moove to another apartment!! Hugs from Dorthe

Astrid Maclean said...

Fabulous make Alison, each little house is a treasure in itself and the whole creation is just perfect for the theme!

Lauren Hatwell said...

What a really beautiful piece of work. I found myself nodding vigorously throughout my stroll along your delicious little row of houses. Lx

Brenda Brown said...

Oh my Alison these are such wonderful little dwellings that create an amazing focus visually and artistically about your feelings of what a home is. It is an evocative and expressive project that creates wonderful feelings and memories as we walk through the houses you describe. I love it.
Have a great weekend.
hugs Brenda xxx

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous post Alison, loved reading your thoughts with each little detail of home. Beautiful stamping and embellishments, all the ingredients to make a perfect home.
Avril xx

Cestina said...

It made me cry......xxx

(And laugh as well, especially the last quote)

Words and Pictures said...

Well, that was the general idea of the last quote! xx

Unknown said...

Such a touching creation of 'Home', Alison! Every detail is perfect and so totally You!! The quotes you closed this posting with are Fabulous! Happy Weekend to you!! XOXO-Shari

Barbara said...

Really a wonderful piece of art! Just pinned! It's a wonderful vintage creation, lovely colors and design! Masterpiece!Barbarayaya

SueC said...

Not sure what happened to my first comment so I'll try again ! Fabulous project Alison and I love the guided tour around the elements that make a house a home for you. Wonderful ! Sue C x

Jenny Marples said...

Superb Alison! You at your very best. I love how this superb row has come together. Jenny x

sam21ski said...

What a wonderful array of houses x

Terry said...

Oh I love the village Alison built! Home Sweet Home and you hit the nail right on the head! Absolutely gorgeousness! Hugs!

Sandy said...

Well I honestly think what makes a house a home is to be surrounded by the things you love. You don't have to have a lot of things but they should be things you love so much you would not part with them. For instance - I have that tag that you so graciously sent me hanging on the bulletin board in my craft room where I can see it all the time. I love that piece Your makes are always wonderful Alison and wouldn't this be absolutely splendid in someone's home using real (or copies) of old family pictures. Pictures that tie one with their roots.
Thanks for all the inspiration!
Sandy xx

Vintagehandmade said...

Phenomenal project! Each house is a separate fabulous piece of art! I enjoyed so much reading your wonderful post!
Hugs! Branka x

suzyb said...

I can't say anymore than has already been said, but truly a lovely project and it all comes together so well, I am inspired. Just learning about mixed media and there sure is a lot to learn, but with people like you out there, it makes it a little easier to get started. :) Thank you for sharing such a wonderful piece.
Sue
Victoria, BC

craftytrog said...

A wonderful street of vintage goodness! xx

Kirsten said...

So, so beautiful.

pearshapedcrafting said...

Beautiful as ever - but it's the words in between your photos that I especially loved this time! The high ceilings are something we had to give up when we moved here and it took us a while to get used to the lower ones! Chrisx

Sue said...

Really beautiful Alison, so much thought and attention to detail has gone into them and it shows! xx

Deb said...

Your homes are just beautiful Alison, so much thought and care has gone into their creation and you have truly encompassed what makes a mere house a home. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful project, Deb xo

Jackie PN said...

Oh!! This is just fabulous!! and now I have to have this die too? Alison, you really should be compensated by companies for your exquisite creations using their products !! For real! xo

SewPaperPaint said...

I truly enjoyed reading this post, what a very emotional, but well thought out response to this challenge. Your home is much like mine would be designed. :) I really love your little row of houses and all they represent to you. {Hugs}

Marjie Kemper said...

This is such a beautiful project, made more meaningful with the thought process. Love the addition of the stamping to represent your wish for plants in/out.

sarascloset said...

Alison, words that truly express my emotion over this piece escape me. This is so joyful to see what home means to you, and how wonderful you were able to convey that onto a simple row of homes. What a stunning project for the eye and for the mind! Love it!

sarascloset said...

I think I meant to say for the eyes and the soul...not enough coffee yet! Hugs!

A Pink said...

So glad to see your name amongst the winners at Love to Create! Alison I absolutely LOVE your home sweet home make and you so deserve your win . x