A Special Celebration for a Very Special Lady

This lovely lady is my Mum, Carmel. She turned 70 a couple of weeks ago. Because she's awesome, and we wanted to do something she'd love, my sister and I took her and Dad off to Byron Bay for a little holiday (and she did love it!)

The totally delicious Chocolate Hazelnut cake was made by Charlotte from Let Them Eat Cake in Brunswick heads (I have to give Charlotte a plug here, as I don't know a soul in that part of the world to recommend her to - and my word - she does deserve recommending. That cake was ah-maze-ing!)

Deb and I also put together a little book for Mum, in honour of this most auspicious occasion....

If the "ooh's", "aaah's" and eye leakage were anything to go on, I think she kind of liked it...

Especially this page, where each of her Grandchildren and Grandchildren-in-law wrote her a message on a luggage tag - each one as unique as their authors - all precious in their own way.

The journalling part was left to work on while we holidayed...and a lot of happy time was spent reminiscing and cooking up the very best stories to commit to the pages.

We created some special memories while recalling special memories - how cool is that?

The pages were created on watercolour paper, with water colour paint over old letters and handwriting from her Dad; Starburst Stains sprayed over stencils, some stamping, photos transferred using Transfer Artists Paper, and a few bits and bobs of paper and ephemera collaged on.

Happy 70th Carmel...we are so lucky to have been blessed with you as our very own, very special Mum.