I've wanted to share this little photo-story for a while. It's completely personal but family history has always inspired me; the element of mystery, around ancestors whose lives we may cross paths with briefly or not at all. I find very intriguing. Instead we have fragments and photos, anecdotes and scribbles in diaries to draw their stories from. 

We can never really imagine what life was like in the past, without this or that modern convenience or even in some cases, the same human rights we experience today. My great grandmother Eily struggled enormously to make a living as an artist after her husband died, leaving her nothing. Why? Because women four generations back had so little access to education and finance that marriage was almost essential. It's mind-boggling today (here in the UK anyway) and makes me feel so grateful for the opportunities I've had, to study and work in a field I chose. I'd love to tell her. She painted the plate pictured here.

Digging on through my archives there are several tales of creative people and it's these I am naturally drawn to. My other great grandmother Elena was Italian; you'll spot her with the beaming round face in the first photo. She came from a family of miniaturist painters. Some of their work is even held in The V&A Museum, The Royal Collection, The National Trust and has sold at Bonhams. (Giovanni Marras and his son, Constantino Marras). The Italians ancestors seemed to be a creative bunch and this part of the family tree includes a poetess, an opera singer and a harpist too! What I would do to jet back in time and be a fly on the wall in their lives. 

I am lucky to know most of these stories from the years I shared with my grandparents and their siblings. Below are some of my granny's retro sewing things that I still cherish - along with polaroids of her (and the cat). The pictures were taken by my grandpa, an avid photographer. The stories spiral, on and on. I could keep digging and this is just a glimpse. 

I lost the last of my older relatives, my granny's sister Denise, just after the pandemic and it feels like so many tales have faded away with her. I was so grateful to have this lovely last picture captured with her at our wedding in 2019, our goodbye hug. She made her own dress for the occasion, aged 94. Denise loved painting and I still think about her colour advice when I'm working. 

All these stories are from my mum's side of the family. Just wait until I reveal the mischievous Scots from my dad's side! (Meanwhile you might also enjoy 'A floral background' incl. more retro photo fun).

Denise and me, pictured by Sara Dalrymple.

Above; my mum as a child. Liberty dress made by her mum.

Photographed by Carmel King against my Primrose linen.