Deeds not words

Sometimes it's nice not to have to think too hard, to just follow a view instructions (use PaperArtsy products) look at a few photographs for inspiration (Suzanne Czosek) and of you go.
 
So I did.

I still really wanted to use the London Nights, Mushroom Fresco paints, the grey lilac colours are beautiful, deep in tone but so soft.  So I found a frame and gave it a good couple of coats of London Night. 

Before I stamped any text I wanted to add another layer so I used Mushroom to stamp the lovely leaves from the new Lin Brown Eclectica stamps (ELB01).  Once stamped I rubbed them back a bit and then went over the top of the whole frame with a couple of light washes of London Night.  I didn't want then massively visible (and they aren't) but there is another layer.

For the text stamping I used one of favourite large text stamps from PaperArtsy Blackie's Children's Annual  and Moonlight Fresco paint. Finally I used my favourite "when I want add a suggestion of grime" paint French Roast (with a touch of Chocolate Pudding) to just go round the edges.  On top of this a smidge of Aquamarine Treasure Gold. 

For the recess I used some purple metal and ran it through an embossing folder (love those trees). I put some Hey Pesto with a little bit of Moonlight over the top, let it dry for a bit and then gently wiped back to reveal the purple trees. 

The wreath was a very gaudy bright gold Christmas decoration that I painted in Mushroom, then stippled on some French Roast and gently dabbed a bit of Aquamarine Treasure Gold in places. The bow is some sari silk and a pretty button with some hemp string threaded through and knotted. 

Once I'd finished I realised the colours were the colours of the Women's Social and Political Union who had a high profile (if somewhat controversial and highly militant) role in getting women the vote (the First World War also had a big role to play in women getting the vote as well if I'm honest). Those women in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century did indeed use actions (and so did many other women in the latter part of the twentieth century) that allow me today to vote, to work whilst married, to get equal pay for the work I do, to be recognised as an individual and not as a chattel of the man that sired me or the man I married.

Not every woman in our modern world can live the same way as me, there are still many situations where women are not seen as individuals and treated appallingly. So in this week when we celebrate International Women's Day I give thanks to all those women (and men) before me who used deeds (and still use deeds) to change the world they live in.

hugs
jo