Friday, March 11, 2016

Women / Naisia

It was International Women's Day on March 8th. I set out to make some cards about women, fully intending to pay heed to one challenge that wanted to see 'feminine and fancy'.
I started making fluffy pink backgrounds from scratch, stamping them,  adding pearlescent mists and mica flakes.

But then! My women refused to be fluffy and feminine, they clearly had a mind of their own!

Meet Hanna, Aila, Kaisa and Terttu:


 If they look sad and tied down - that's just how they are. Life is no picnic, not a basket of cherries, nor cupcakes and kittens, but hard, cruel and disappointing.

 Yritin tehdä iloisia ja naisellisia kortteja, sen sijaan näihin hiipi paljonkin melankoliaa ja hieman historian havinaa. Nainen ei voinut opiskella hakematta erivapautta sukupuolestaan (Hanna); koska nuoruus oli lyhyt joutuivat useimmat ottamaan aikuisen vastuun elämästään jo nuorina. Monet murtuivat (Aila), monet kovettuivat ja aikuistuivat ennen aikojaan (Terttu), mutta jotkut sentään pystyivät pitämään avoimen mielen (Kaisa).

Meet Terttu - a dreamy young woman who married a country vicar and thought she would have a quiet, nice life. Instead she had to shoulder duties before she was up to them. 'Who is free to leave?' she asks.

Hanna, a young woman from town, wants to study, but cannot, because universities are still closed for women. 'Please understand me', she pleads. She would have to put in a petition to be exempted from her sex. Sounds bizarre, but was the only way a woman could study (in Finland) late 1800's.

Kaisa is not taking everything for granted. 'May I ask something?' A shop-keeper from a small town she is still curious about life.

Aila, a daughter of peasants came to a town to be a maid of all things. She is not used to people, she is too trusty and will get easily hurt. 'You really think you can survive'  - we think, likely not.

Entering these into these challenges:
Simon Says: Make your own background
Use your stuff: #213 Lace, ribbon or twine
Stampotique: #235 Include flowers in your project

Thanks for looking!

15 comments:

  1. Amazing ATCs are this ! Wonderful! Please don't forget to link to
    TRY IT ON TUESDAY Feminine & Fancy as you mentioned in your introduction of the post!

    Happy weekend!
    oxo
    Susi

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Susi! But these are *not* feminine and fancy as I tried to explain. These are sad and 'un-fancy', aren't they?

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  2. They are lovely :)
    Thanks for joining in with us at Stampotique this week :)

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  3. Excellent work! I like how you placed the letters on the lacing. Thanks for playing along with the Use Your Stuff ribbon, twine, and lace challenge. I hope to see more work from you for upcoming challenges!

    Khristina UYS DT

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  4. Alice, your ATC's are wonderful! I love the stories each one tells, and how you have framed each one. Thanks for joining us this week in "creating your own background" on the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge.

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  5. Fantastic! Loved the stories behind these women's photos. So interesting.
    Gail from Use Your Stuff

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  6. Such a great idea, beautiful! I hope you will join us again soon at USE YOUR STUFF ♥

    Majo – DT

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  7. These are fantastic! You did a great job with them! Thanks so much for joining us this week at Use Your Stuff!

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  8. Wow i love the backstories and everything! sad but true, but women have come a long away thanks to girls like these! Thanks for sharing at Use Your Stuff.

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  9. I really like these and so glad they have minds of their own! They need to speak out and be heard :) Thanks for playing along with us at Use Your Stuff and hope to see you again.
    Tammy DT co-ordinator

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  10. Beautiful! Thanks for joining the Stampotique DC

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  11. Your work speaks. Artist talent and contemplation are yours.

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  12. Alice, these are just so cool! Congrats on your SSS spotlight too!

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