At Home with Wendy Smedley

Happy Thursday, friends! I'm super duper excited to bring you the second installment of our brand new At Home With... feature. I suppose it's fair to say that I'm always going to be super duper excited for each one of these segments because, you know, I'm always going to select designers that I really admire. :)

My guest today, Wendy Smedley, is just such a one. We met five years ago as creative editors and though I don't see her as often as I'd like, I consider her to be a really good friend. You know, someone that you connect with immediately, you think just alike but express yourselves so differently, and all the while you've got this singular connection that lasts through time and space and when you do get together you're finishing one another's sentences. You know what I mean?

And while my heart is still broken that Wendy is not at the office putting her Wendy-touches on Simple Scrapbooks magazine, she's still making her mark on the industry with her contributions to Ella Publishing.

So, without further ado, here's Wendy Smedley with a piece of her home that she finds to be particularly inspiring, and the project she created based on that heartfelt inspiration.

This display sits on top of a shelf in my craft space. The objects displayed are personal and symbolic to me and serve as a reminder of why I value scrapbooking and what is important to me.


What are the objects on this shelf?

What do they represent to me?

Why are they important?


A. I am really into the look of torn fabric. The empty frame was made by simply wrapping torn strips of fabric around the frame, completely covering it.

(a) The red strip on the photo holder is a scrap of red fabric tied into a knot, simple and easy, yet adds color. Also my favorite colors right now are blue, aqua, white, and red.


B. This wire apple is something I picked up at a gift store a few years ago and I love to use it because it symbolizes the importance of curiosity and continual learning. As a voracious reader I like to think that helps to fulfill the need for education. (Plus I like white wrought iron.)


C. This is a photo card that was given to me by a dear friend whose Wyoming home I visited last fall. It is a picture of a statue of Esther Hobart Morris. She was remarkable woman known for being the first female Justice of the Peace in the United States, a key organizer in the passage of Wyoming's suffrage amendment, and a mother of three boys, two of which were twins. Why the Wyoming connection? My mother grew up in Wyoming and I have deep pioneer roots from that state--and I am a proud mother of boys, with a set of twins.


D. The three women in this photo are the MOST influential women in my life. My mom is on the left, my Aunt Virgie is in the middle, and my Aunt Grace is on the right. These woman shaped my life in so many ways as they grew up alongside my mother. They were raised in extreme poverty in a small town in Wyoming. Virige is the oldest of the three sisters and the one responsible for my mom going to college. The stories the three of them share about their upbringing make me laugh and cry. This picture reminds me of those before me and the sacrifices they have made, and the legacy they have left for me.

E and (e). The star shape is found throughout my home decor and to me represents a love of earth and an appreciation of nature. These two stars have a bit of a shine to them. I like bling in small doses.


F. This minature red flyer wagon was given to me by my brother-in-law Eric about 10 years ago, and it is perhaps the most poignant symbol on the shelf. My older brother Paul and I used a wagon in a game we made up called Johnny. Paul was Johnny and I was his mother. In the game we would go to the store, read stories, and I would pull my brother around in the wagon. I have a few photos of this and they are some of my favorite childhood images, especially since he was my closest sibling growing up.

Now that you know everything you could possibly want to about this shelf vignette you can better understand why I used the symbols I did in my project, and why I care about these objects.

This project will hang from a red burlap wreath on my office door, so I see it every time I come in. I chose the phrase, "Do what it takes," to serve as a reminder that I have the strength to do just that. My oldest son is leaving home next month and we have a lot of work to do to get him prepared. I am facing the emotional upheaval of him leaving the nest and need an extra reminder to be strong. My project incorporates the colors, torn fabric, star shapes, touch of bling, and the strong woman aesthetic.


Supplies

The base of the wall hanging is a leftover page from a chipboard mini album by Mind's Eye. To make the fabric frame I traced the page onto a sheet of chipboard and cut a 1/2" frame out, then wrapped it with torn strips of red gingham, adhering it with hot glue.

I am in love with bakers' twine. Available in tons of colors and easy to incorporate into just about any project, twine is a great supply. However, you may struggle to find it. My source is an etsy shop called Whisker Graphics. They have a great assortment of colors and fast service.

The font is Sketch Rockwell.

The border stickers are from Studio Calico and K&Company.

The bling stickers are from My Mind's Eye.

The flower is from Sassafras Lass.

I am a firm believer in surrounding yourself with personal symbols of inspiration that will keep you inspired and remind you of what you value. I challenge you to create your own vignette or display and include some personal objects or symbols.

Warmly,

~Wendy