My London....

Good morning everyone! 
It's Tuesday and you know what that means... City Crafters Challenge day.. Yay!!
This week's theme is London ...  you can either make something based on the city, or pick the colours red white and Blue... or use English /England Rose as your theme ...
 The talented Dana Gustafson is Guest Designer this week and there is a fabulous prize up for grabs ... The DT team have given you some lovely inspiration along with this gorgeous picture from
 Happy Loves Rosie

So what are you waiting for? Get to it!

I know that London has probably millions of visitors each year and hat better way to store all those little bus tickets, entry tickets and bits and bobs for your scrapbook than an envelope....

Mine is decorated on both sides... stitching, lace, buttons, a rubon, felt heart and glittered heart together with MF stickers, ribbon and pearls.... and of course my handmade roses....... all glittered up....

The papers and images are digital.....

I have a scrapbook with pages of London that this will fit into nicely. You see though I am a Liverpool girl ... a "Scouser" ... my parents and my brothers are all Londoners. My Grandmother (who was Swiss)  and my Grandfather (French) ... were Hoteliers for most of their lives in London. I never knew my Grandfather, but as a child I spent every summer and every Christmas with my brothers and our Mom in London in my Grandmother's hotel .. in Russell Square . These were the happiest times ever! and every memory is etched on my heart ..... Even to this day my brothers and I reminisce ... each memory so clear in their minds ... for it was their "happy' place too.

I could tell so many stories of the fun my Mom had in her youth ... how I was nearly an American! She had so many American servicemen proposing to her during the war years ... I still have her photo album full of pictures from those days ... I often wonder what happened to all those guys ... 

I kept up a tradition and went back each year ... though there was no longer any family in London - the Hotel still stands - and each visit warmed my heart - the woman in me longed to take a trip back in time. 

I took my son when he was young and we did all the touristy things .... then one day I said farewell and chose to keep my memories in my heart .... 

A special treat ...

Here ya' go... my Grandparents with my Mom and her Brother (yep, he was in the US Army... long story ... mixed up family!!) .... on the steps of the hotel obviously during war time.

Till soon

Ros