You might think your "family tree" is something you get from your parents, and usually it is. The one pictured here, however, was a gift from my daughter. Seven or eight years ago, she gave me this whimsical tree, along with eleven photo-frame ornaments. At the time, I was living in a small apartment with no room to set it up--actually, since then, a series of four different apartments--until finally, a year ago, I moved back to my hometown where the depressed economy enabled me to buy a house I could afford.Fortunately, my house is big enough to accommodate all my "stuff," including a spare bedroom where a number of family treasures began to make themselves comfortable. I started to think of it as a museum of sorts... the family archive... the ancestor room... well, let's just call it The Mausoleum.
I thought I'd wait a bit and see where things settled in and then I'd decide where to hang the tree, which would at long last have a place to be. As luck would have it, I was offered a chest of drawers which used to belong to my grandparents, Rosmer and Evelyn Kerr. The top of it is about elbow-high, the right height for standing the tree just below eye-level, the optimum place for viewing. I decided to use the stand, then, rather than hanging the tree on the wall.
I like the way the trim on the chest of drawers mimics the curls in the tree.I spent a day or two making the photos to put in the frames--choosing which photos would work in which frames, editing and sizing them in Paint Shop Pro, cutting them out, and getting them into the frames--which, by the way, are simply elegant, and no two exactly alike.
I have to admit, I now visit The Mausoleum several times a day just to admire the awesome adorableness of my tree. It didn't take long to get a yen for more ornaments, so I got three last week and am awaiting delivery of four more this week. One of them gave me an idea which, if it works out, I'll show you in a future post.My daughter's gonna want to inherit this!
12 comments:
This looks great, TK, and the best part is that you are settling in and devoting a room to your keepsakes. That is a real plus. Where in the world did your daughter find this tree? It is just perfect and I love the way the photos photographed for this post!
Love it! Love it! Love it, TK! I have a couple trees with hanging picture frames but they are no where near as large or as pretty as yours. I have picture-tree envy!
Thanks for sharing :-)
I took the photos with my iPhone, Cheryl, since my *good* camera developed its little malfunction last year. I need to figure out where I can take it to find out if it can be repaired because, as handy as the iPhone cam is, it is limited in what it can do. But it did do an adequate job of showing off the tree!
Hallmark sold these trees, and the photo frame ornaments too (separately, of course) for a few years in the early 2000s. They're discontinued now, which I think is surprising, considering the number of people who do genealogy. You'd think this would be the Barbie doll of home decor products, what with people's family trees growing all the time and thus the need for more and more frames.
I enjoyed your post! I bought this exact same family tree for my mom years ago at Hallmark. She's done exactly what you have, Photoshop pictures around to fit in them perfect. It was the perfect present!
I absolutely love this, and that you waited for the room/house to speak to you first. I am hoping to do a series of shadowboxes, but you have given me new ideas. Thanks for sharing
TK, the tree is just delightful -- definitely the birth of an heirloom-- and with the item being discontinued, all the more special. Looking forward to seeing more of this heirloom.
I love these trees. I don't have the Hallmark one, but I do have a smaller version. I love how you have it displayed on the dresser with other family photos surrounding it. Beautiful and definately a treasure! :)
Very special. Thanks for sharing. They should definitely bring that tree back... someone should, anyway!
;-)
Not only do you get to "admire the awesomeness of the adorableness of my tree" but you also have your ancestors with you all the time! Really cool.
I love your little tree, it's awesome! I want one!
T.K.,
Lovely! I think our members would love to see your tree so I'm including a link to this post in the California Genealogical Society's February eNews.
I love it. I want one. But, you know I don't have the room. I hope you enjoy this for years.
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