July 26, 2008

Photo Challenge: Numbers

Time for the latest Brenda Photo Challenge! The subject is Numbers, picked by the current challenge hostess, Karen M. at Loved and Engraved.

Handmade Numbers – Below is a section of a needlework sampler that I completed in May 1995. (No, my memory is not that good. I read the label on the back of the frame.) This is one of three of the Garden Samplers, Book No. 45, by The Prairie Schooler. The chart was issued in 1994 and now out of print.

Those are little peas surrounding the top part of the sampler and framing the cross-stitched numbers. The set of three samplers hang in our upstairs hallway. I love the early Prairie Schooler designs because of their folk art appeal.

portion of a Prairie Schooler Garden Sampler
Timely Numbers - This is a close-up of our grandfather clock in the great room. It was handmade by hubby’s uncle (who has since past away). A master woodworker, Lawrence enjoyed making clocks and was also an antique clock dealer. The dial and works are from Germany, and he made the case out of black walnut. The wood was from a 100 year old tree that was in the front yard of his wife’s childhood home.

dial of the black walnut grandfather clock

Monetary Numbers
- With all of our household budgets under scrutiny these days, I had to include a money photo! We have a few coins and paper money left over from our trip to Ireland in 2001. Shortly after that journey, Ireland converted over to using the Euro. How can you resist the charm of that nun on the five-pound note?

pocketful of Irish money, featuring Sister Catherine McAuley and Daniel O’Connell

53 comments:

  1. Great pictures. That nun on the 5 dollar note is too funny. Have you ever posted a picture of the whole grandfather clock? I would love to see it!

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  2. Thanks, Jeanette! The first time we went to Ireland and saw the 5 pound note, we laughed and laughed. There is such a ruckus over here in the U.S. about separation of church and state, but Ireland didn't have any qualms about honoring religious people important in their history. We also had to get used to the different sizes of the paper money.

    No, I haven't posted any overall pictures yet of the two grandfather clocks that Lawrence made. I'll make a point of doing that soon! They are quite lovely!

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  3. Wonderful pictures! That clock is beautiful and I love how you took the close up. Very effective!

    I love your cross-stitch picture too.

    And the money is a nice touch. The nun is funny.

    Thanks for playing and great job with the challenge.

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  4. Did you go to photography school??????Hahaha...These are Beautiful!!!!! 'Ta Heck with the Numbers, Look at that symetry...those Lines..the focus...Yeah, I knew it...you're a closet photographer!!! Well done!hughugs

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  5. Did you go to photography school??????Hahaha...These are Beautiful!!!!! 'Ta Heck with the Numbers, Look at that symetry...those Lines..the focus...Yeah, I knew it...you're a closet photographer!!! Well done!hughugs

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  6. Thanks, Karen M.! I had fun taking going through the cottage, trying to figure out what to photograph. I was going to do a money shot, but was going to take a picture of my little antique tin cup that I use to hold pocket change. Hubby thought of the Irish money instead. The bills were kind of crinkly, so I had to iron them for the photo shoot. LOL!

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  7. Aawww, you are so sweet, Donna! Photography is one of my hobbies, so this challenge is right up my alley! I see that I will have to do a post sometime and tell my story about photography.

    I took all the pictures inside with natural light on an overcast day. I took the sampler off the upstairs wall, and propped it up in one of the wicker chairs in the solarium. The clock is about 2 feet from a window, and I had to carefully position myself to take the closeup. The money was laid flat on top of a dark gray cloth draped on the window seat in my office.

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  8. Great job!! Indeed you are a good photographer.

    Have a wonderful day!!

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  9. All of you guys are so creative! The clock idea DID occur to me, but I don't have a clock nearly as rich in history as yours. What a treasure!!
    Love the sampler, of course. It's beautifully done. And so perfect for this challenge.
    I'm going to have to admit that the money idea never came to me! It's like the gas sign that Jeanne took a picture of. Once I saw it, I wanted to slap myself in the forehead because it didn't occur to me before but it's so appropriate.
    You did great - love your photos and your thoughts. I'm going to have to work a little harder to match you guys!! lol

    Kari

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  10. How wonderful! Everyone's are all so different. Love your sampler and your grandfather clock is beautiful. Great shot and crop of it... makes it very interesting. The money is fun. I wonder how many nuns still wear the neckpiece? Our nuns are full habit, but they don't have the face framed with the white.
    Wonderful photos!

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  11. Thank you, Kari! I struggled with the clock because I wasn't happy with how the overall pictures were looking. So I just zoomed in on the clockface and resisted the temptation to frame in the whole face. The partial shot just worked!

    These challenges are really stretching me becaue I am trying to tell a story with each one, feature a treasure or two, and show a little subtle humor. See how I put little rules on myself, LOL?! You can do it! Just decide on your personal approach!

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  12. Thank you for your kind words, Cindra! It is great to see everyone's take on the subject!

    I was having a hard time with the grandfather clock until I decided to zoom in and make the shot simple. And I don't see nuns in the old-fashioned habits anymore. When I went to parochial school, I sure felt sorry for them when it was hot!

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  13. Spectacular photos. I loved all of them. The clock stood out to me the most. But for some reason I got a little awe struck by the money. I'm sure that is from the want of it, lol. Great job with getting some unique ideas. love em'

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  14. LOVE your photos, donna....so creative and the sentiment behind each one is as special! beautiful!
    hugs,
    kimberly

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  15. Thank you, Hallman Tribe! I had fun thinking of what to capture and describe. The money is intriguing to me for a couple of reasons. It is so different from U.S. money, including different sizes to the bills. Also, the pictures on the paper money are endearing. Look at the gentleness in their eyes, and the slight smiles on their lips! We found it all to be quite charming, which is NOT what you expect from monetary tender, LOL.

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  16. What wonderful pictures. So creative too. I loved checking out what you came up with for this challenge! So much fun!

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  17. Thank you, Sybil! I am busy and having fun checking out everyone else's posts too!

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  18. oh these are wonderful photos...that clock is absolutely gorgeous...of course, the tapestry is too...you really captured the theme well...

    have a lovely weekend ~

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  19. Great pictures! It's been a fun challenge and i have enjoyed looking at what everyone has done. The money is not too different to our Scottish notes! Thank goodness we haven't changed to the euro:)

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  20. Donna,

    I love your photos. I love ht idea that everything here has a special meaning to you. I love how you photographed the grandfather clock and yes you must show us the whole thing someday. I really wish I had a grandfather clock, they just have so much personality. And I love the Irish money. We were in Ireland in Feb. of 2002 and loved it. Isn't it the most beautiful country? Great hptos!!

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  21. Thank you, Amanda! Oh, I do hope to visit Scotland sometime!

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  22. Thank you, Joan! We have two grandfather clocks, both made by hubby's uncle. I promise to take some pictures of them to share!

    We adored Ireland! We've been twice, the first time on a tour and then we bravely went back to drive on our own. It is hard to remember to drive on the left side, LOL! We plan to go back one more time, if our budget and health allow.

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  23. Wonderful photos and I especially love the Irish currency. Now I'm going to read your squash recipe!
    Sandi

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  24. Thank you, Sandi! It was a fun challenge. Hope you get to try the squash recipe! I'll be postng one for okra this next week.

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  25. Your photos are just great ~ I love them!! The hand stitched numbers are so sweet ~ you are very patient to be able to do something like that.
    love and hugs XXXXX

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  26. Thank you so much, Tabitha! I have done a lot of embroidery over the years. Sometimes I look at it all and shake my head about how much time I have spent stitching, LOL.

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  27. I love your pictures Donna! I have no patience for cross-stitch, it's beautiful. I love the clock especially though, love the way you "framed" the photo.
    And yes, I am a fabri-holic, definitely, LOL.

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  28. Beautiful shots. Wow the work that must have gone into that sampler. Your clock looks like it's beautiful what little of it shows and how interesting it is to see money from other places. Frequently makes ours look boring.

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  29. Thanks, Kathy C. and Jeanne! I find needlework relaxing, and I love to work with fabric and fibers. I'll be sharing pictures later of the "rest" of the clock, LOL.

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  30. Beautiful Photos! Looking forward to seeing the rest of the clock, but that closeup is great. And, I admire folks like you who have the talent to do needlework. I love the images on the paper money.

    Nita Jo

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  31. I love the numbers you created! Just beautiful..
    The money from Ireland is neat..
    Elizabeth and I want to go there.
    xoxo Nita

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  32. wonderful pictures Donna! I love that clock!!

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  33. Thank you, Nita Jo! I'll take a picture of the whole clock and share it soon!

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  34. Thank you, Nita! You need to start making plans to go to Ireland! It is incredibly beautiful and the people are oh-so gracious!

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  35. Thanks, Cindy! I was going to take a picture of U.S. money, but DH came up with the bright idea to do the Irish money instead!

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  36. Your pictures are so clear! I love the money and the clock, but the needlework takes the cake. I tried cross stitching a long time ago and couldn't do one bigger than my hand, so kuddos on that! I need that clock in my house, it's a beauty :)

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  37. Thank you, Jodie! I've done a LOT of needlework over the years, but have slowed down lately. Age is catching up with my eyes and hands, LOL. But I love the results!

    We love our grandfather clocks, and have one set to chime throughout the day.

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  38. love your photos and you must have the patience of that nun to do the sampler that is super!

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  39. Thank you, momma grits! LOL!

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  40. Those are great! Love the clock and the money idea was great, I didn't even think of any of my Euro coins from my Holland trip a few years ago.

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  41. Thanks, Brenda! It is nice to have something a little quirky and unique.

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  42. Clocks are really popular with this theme but I love the history behind yours. The money photo is great - the nun is a classic :-)

    Sharon

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  43. Your photos are all so unique and elegant. Really beautiful. I love your needlework.

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  44. the money is definetly different!

    good choice

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  45. Hi Donna,

    I found your site through my aunt's blog (cindy b)and just had to leave a comment...your photos are beautiful! I especially love the clock photo ~ it's absolutely gorgeous.

    Beautiful job!

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  46. Why thank you, Angie! You are lucky to have such a sweet aunt! I'll be posting more pictures of our grandfather clocks so you can see the cases.

    So you are a budding photographer? You take some great candid shots!

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  47. I love the grandfather clock picture. It's beautiful. Great choices.
    Blessings,
    Kim

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Marty, here! Donna loves comments, and I faithfully pass them on to her. Thank you so much for visiting!