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Monday, November 1, 2010

Our latest project

We have a wall in our living room that we wanted to make into a picture wall for some time. It's the wall our piano sits against and it seemed to be the right place for pictures. We also have a lot of old family pictures that we thought would be fun to display.
About the time I was thinking this, my friend Leigh of Bloggeritaville did a post about a photo wall she did. Her pictures were placed going up her stairs and it looked so great that I mentioned it to Bob. (Thanks for the inspiration, Leigh!)
We agreed we wanted to do this, but had to start collecting frames and deciding which pictures to use.
In the meantime, Heather was doing some genealogy research on the Ellis Island site and she found the original manifest that Bob's great, great grandpa had signed when he and the family came to the United States. She also found a picture of the ship they sailed on.
We ordered a copy of them and I put it together and framed it.
This got Bob and Heather excited about the picture project. They picked out some family pictures and we had them redone in Sepia. We tried to find old looking frames and then Bob and Heather figured out how to hang them all up.
Here is the finished project!



We put my side of the family on the right and Bob's side on the left. We have pictures going back to our great grandparents. The family picture that is right above is Bobs' Moms' family. She is the little girl in white.



Here's a closer shot of the center. The little boy and girl on the right are my Dad and aunt, and the boy with a dog is Bobs' Dad. You can see the ship and manifest also.
When they got everything hung, I thought it needed something on top. I had a plaque hanging in my Dining Room that fit the space, and I thought the wording was perfect for our family. It says:
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15
We are really happy with the finished project!

25 comments:

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Oh, Mari! That is stunning! I appreciate your giving me credit...but you had the idea already and just went with it. I LOVE that you used family photos and pieces of family history. The original manifest that Bob's great, great grandpa had......unbelieveably cool! That truly is a family tree...a wall of history in your home. Incredible!!!! I absolutley love it!

Susan said...

What a great picture wall and family project. We have 2 picture walls in our entry but ours are not as lovely as yours but precious to us. I keep updating the latest pictures over the older one's so in years to come people can see many of the older ones, too.

Angel said...

I love how this looks!! You guys did a fabulous job!!

Sue O said...

I love this Mari. I'm slowly working on a photo wall for my music room, mostly of travel photos and nature shots that I've taken. The genealogy idea is inspired.

Jean said...

I LOOOOOOOVVVVVE it!!! It really is stunning! I have always had a family picture wall, often above the piano, but I haven't done it yet in this house. I think I need to do some work on it. You have given me inspiration.

Unknown said...

I love the history behind your family wall. I also like that you included your family on one side and Bob's on the other and then the plaque above. Perfect!

Raise Them Up said...

Mari, I love it! It couldn't have turned out any better. Seriously. And the plaque is the perfect touch!

Connie said...

What a neat idea and what a lot of work to get it all together. You did a great job, it looks great.

Lynn said...

I love it!!! It looks great AND has a special meaning for your family as well. Great family effort!

Cheri said...

It truly is so great! I love every time I come over I get to enjoy the family pictures of dad too!

septembermom said...

Wow Mari! That picture wall came out wonderful. Love all the history shared there. The plaque is the perfect centerpiece.

Sharon said...

Mari
You did a wonderful job.
I love the way it turned out.
I have been wanting to change a wall in my house now you have given me an inspiration. Thanks
Have a great day.

Kari said...

Mari your wall looks beautiful!! Thanks for the inspiration - I have an empty wall that could use some pictures.

Betty W said...

It looks lovely Mari! I love it.
I´m sure you will get many comments from visitors to your home.

Pat said...

Absolutely perfect!
I also have the manifest and picture of the ship my grandparent were on when they came to Ellis Island, but it's just put away in a drawer...this is a wonderful idea!
You did such an amazing job of arranging and picking frames. It's a work of art as well as having great semtimental value!

Nancy said...

This is incredible, Mari.....What a wonderful way to remember your families and to teach the younger ones coming along about their hertiage.....

Great job.....and for you, your husband and daughter to have it as a joint project, well that just wonderful....

Cherdecor said...

This is way cool! The original manifest of Bob's great, great grandpa right in the middle is quite a nice touch. I bet all three of you had a good time putting this together.

When we lived in Baltimore, I had a picture wall of very old pictures of relatives. I haven't done that in this house for two reasons; I don't have a large enough wall and I don't want the pictures to fade. I guess I could copy them and hang the copies. Well, not in this house. Maybe I will if there is a next house.

Brooke said...

that is incredible!! :) i love love love it!

Shelly said...

THAT IS AWESOME!!! WHAT A GREAT IDEA AND YOU ALL WORKED ON IT TOGETHER! JOB WELL DONE!

Kayren said...

I absolutely love it! I like that you used all the same type frames. I've been doing that lately too.

Laura said...

I think that is so cool - plus it looks beautiful!

Rachelle said...

This is AWESOME! I tried to do something like this on our stairs and it did not turn out near as good. :(

Marni's Organized Mess said...

Wow! That looks fabulous!

Kim said...

Absolutely lovely! Beautiful job.

TJ said...

Looks wonderful Mari.