Friday, August 24, 2012

New School Shoes

I don't know about you, but when I think about my most favorite "Back-to-School" memories, my most fond memories are those of my Mother taking me to pick out my new school shoes.  Every year, before the new school year started, my Mother would take me to a shoe store called Clark's Shoes in Downtown Duluth, Minnesota.  This was always an exciting event.  We would walk in and head down to the basement where the Children's Shoe Section was located.  Most years, I got just one pair of shoes.  It wasn't until I got older that I would also get a pair of tennies.  But, my trip to Clark's was always to pick out my new "school shoes".  Looking back, they were pretty ugly (because they were corrective shoes).  I know there were years when my Mother sacrificed financially to provide those shoes for me, because they were very good quality shoes and I needed them for my feet.  But I was always excited about going, and at this point in my life, it's a wonderful childhood memory of time spent with my Mother.
 
When I saw this little postcard at an antique store in Minnesota, I snatched it up right away.  I knew that I wanted to create a "Back-to-School" card using it that would commemorate the special memories of school shoe shopping with my Mother.  With that said, here is the little card I made using the image.
 
 
Here are the challenges that I'm entering with this sweet little card that's so emotionally attached to these fond childhood memories:

http://www.simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/08/simon-says-back-to-school.html - Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog - Simon Says Back to School

http://cropstop.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/challenge-86-back-to-school.html - Crop Stop Challenge Blog - Challenge #86 - Back-to-School

http://www.foreverfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/fortnightly-challenge-no-43-anything.html - Forever Friends Challenge Blog - Fortnightly Challenge #43 - Anything Goes

http://www.creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/2012/08/challenge-17-mapsnewsprintsheet-music.html - Creative Card Crew Challenge Blog - Challenge #17 - Maps, Newsprint, Sheet Music, Text

http://www.tuesdayalchemy.blogspot.com/2012/08/challenge-28-learn-with-joy-blog-hop.html - Tuesday Alchemy Challenge Blog - Challenge #28 - Learn With Joy.  Kelli from Tuesday Alchemy invited me to participate.  So, here I am.

I would love to hear about your favorite Back-to-School memory.  I'd also enjoy hearing if any of you have similar stories about shopping for new school shoes.  It's fun to reminisce and think about those days gone by.   I love my Mother so much, and I'm so grateful for these special memories and for the sacrifices she made on behalf of her children.

Thanks for stopping by.
Have a blessed day,

Karen

31 comments:

  1. This is gorgeous,love the image.xxx

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  2. This is very nice! The details are amazing!! i design for Tuesday Alchemy, this week our challenge is Learning with Joy! We would love for you to enter our challenge this week!!

    tuesdayalchemy.blogspot.com

    Cheers!
    Kelli

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  3. I love this card! Beautiful image, lace and flowers. I have flat feet, so the salesman recommended corrective shoes for me when I was in school. Didn't help! Thinking back, they were quite ugly; but I never minded. Back then and at that age, I don't remember anyone carrying what you wore until I got older.

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    1. Mine were always corrective as well. That's why they were ugly. In 3rd Grade, about 1973, all the other girls had saddle shoes with a thick rubber heel, and I had corrective saddle shoes of real leather and a flat bottom (corrective). Not the most stylish, but nonetheless, what was best for me. Part of the memory.

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  4. Oh Karen this is so sweet.
    I remember more shopping for winter school shoes - as I have a very narrow heel and wide forefoot, shoe shopping was always a prolonged procedure, with the shop owner taking his time to ensure I got a good fit, and there would be dozens (it felt) of pairs of shoes on the shop floor before he was satisfied. They were always black lace-ups - the one year I prevailed and got strap-overs, I twisted my ankle so often I was pleased to go back to lace ups :-).
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  5. Hi Karen,
    What a lovely post. I actually hated my days going school shoe shopping. My father was a lay preacher and my mother a christian and they believed in plain shoes, no fashion whatsoever. This meant I had to wear flat, boy style shoes with laces, even in the first year of high school and I hated them. I was tormented and cried all too often. The funny thing is that now I have back problems, I am truly grateful for the care taken with my feet. If I had worn bad shoes for years, I would not still be walking today. So, in the end, my parents really did know what was best!! (I just couldn't see it at that young age).
    I adore your vintage card; what a fabulous find that you have used to created a very nostalgic card.
    Hugs Linda x

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  6. How wonderful Karen to have such a memory of time spent with your mother! Beautiful postcard that you've found! I love how you've framed it on the card!

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  7. Oh wow Karen, this card speaks to me, it is the image which is so darling... I loveeeeeeeeeeeee this card!
    I am having a giveaway at my blog, hope to see you there!

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  8. This is such a lovely card. I really love the music surrounding her. Hugs, Robin

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  9. Great memory to have!! This card is beautiful!! That image is very sweet and I really like the musical DP and stitching!

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  10. Lovely card. Thanks for playing along with us at Creative Card Crew.
    Hugs
    Elle

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  11. Hello Karen. This is so sweet and obviously brings back such happy and wonderful memories for you.
    Happy crafting.
    Love Sandra xxx

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  12. Hi Karen! Thank you so much for visiting my blog and telling me about Word Art Wednesday, I linked up!! I really loved the message of JOY.

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  13. Wow, Karen!! What a perfect vintage image for your school memories and you have dressed it up so beautifully. I hope you have a lovely weekend! ~ Blessings, Tracey

    http://gracescraps.blogspot.com/

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  14. This is a delightful memory and card design, Karen. Childhood memories of time spent with parents are always so warm. Blessings!

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  15. This is gorgeous, Karen.

    Thanks for joining us the Creative Card Crew for our "media" challenge
    Margaret DT

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  16. oh my! how wonderful!!
    Thank you for playing along with us at Tuesday Alchemy this week
    *hugs* Shell x

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  17. You always create such beautiful cards, Karen...no exception here, either....that postcard is just gorgeous, and you framed it so beautifully...love the lace, too!
    My fondest back-to-school memories are of going with my Mam to get a new fountain pen, blotting paper, ink, notepads...I still adore all things to do with writing supplies, heehee!
    I'm wondering if the Clark's shoes you used to get were the same Clark's we had in England? Clark's was a shoe factory in Somerset County, in southern England, and although their shoes were expensive, they were well worth the money, (all my kids had 'em!), and my Uncle lived nearby the factory and worked there until he retired, as did all his family.

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  18. Love this vintage card. Thanks for joining our CropStop Back to School Challenge.

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  19. A gorgeous nostalgic card! Thanks for joining us at Creative Card Crew

    hugs Vicky xxx

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  20. This is lovely !! Hugs, Marion

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  21. So gorgeous card! Cute vintage image and great layout! Like the stitching around the edge and lace!
    Thanks for joining us at Tuesday Alchemy!
    Maria

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  22. Very pretty! Thanks so much for joining in our "script, music and maps" challenge over at Creative Card Crew.

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  23. Such a touching story to go with the card! The love shows through on the card too! My mom would take my brother and I to Payless before each school year because we were always tight on money. The only thing I remember about that was being forced to buy 2 sizes larger to accommodate growing in the year. The beginning of the year I always felt like I was wearing clown shoes!

    Thanks for sharing your memories and creativity with us at Tuesday Alchemy!

    Eileen

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  24. Such a beautiful card, your papers are fabulous and so many stunning details. Your image is so delightful - what a wonderful find!!

    hugs
    Heather xx
    Thanks so much for joining Simon Says Stamp challenge.

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  25. I am in love with your card! It's so beautiful!

    Thank you so much for joining us this week at Tuesday Alchemy!
    Hugs Katya x

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  26. Gorgeous! Love the vintage feel :) I welcome you to share this with us at Tuesday Alchemy http://tuesdayalchemy.blogspot.com for our Back To School challenge! Lots of prizes!

    Lots of joy,
    Corrinne

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  27. Oh Karen... I am so thankful to have happened upon your beautiful blog. I commented beneath you on someone's card and couldn't help but read your lovely words. So I went to the Word Art challenge that she had linked to and am eager to play along. My new card I just posted could have fit perfectly, but one of the challenges has a limit so I cannot link up. :( I was compelled to come visit your blog from there and let me just say I am thrilled to be your newest follower. :o) Your projects are lovely and your heartfelt words are inspiring. Your blog gives me warm fuzzies. :o)

    This card is stunning. I love your use of the postcard and the inspiration that created this masterpiece. My parents sacrificed for a different type of shoe... dance! They had to give up a lot to support my love of dance and I am forever thankful. :o)

    Hugs and blessings!

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  28. Hi Karen! What a blessing you are. I am so thankful that our God has brought us together in this beautiful crafty world. Feel free to email me in regards to Guest Designing! I am humbled and excited at the possibility! You can reach me at HeavenlySparkles@ yahoo.com :)Thank you also for alerting me that I can participate without officially 'linking.' I was so disappointed, as I had already linked up at the others. You have given my heart so many smiles today! Love and blessings to you, my new friend!

    Hugs and blessings!

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  29. comme un album d'image de mon enfance...biz

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Thanks for your comments. They mean so much to me.