This week, I'm heading to Indiana to see my sisses and their families. While there, I am attending the annual family reunion of my dad's side of the family. We always call it the Downey Dinner (I grew up as Karkie Jo Downey)
My sister, Bobbie Sue, has been collecting recipes all year from cousins and aunts to compile a cook book, and I got to make the cover for it, and named it "Downey Dinners".
She has filled the pages with old family pictures, stories, and illustrations, and I can't wait to see it all together. When I get to Indy, we'll be assembling the books, and then bringing them to the big event to pass out to relatives.
For my cover, I did a small pencil sketch from a photo of my Grandma Downey, as she was holding up a fish she had just caught. I changed the fish to a wooden spoon, added an apron to her dress and set her in front of a table filled with bread dough in progress. She was renowned for her home baked bread. (Bobbie Sue inherited her skills in bread making, I did not)
I had to add a cigarette hanging out of her mouth, because that is how I always remember her.
After I finished the sketch, I scanned it, edited it in sepia, then printed it on mat photo paper.
Next, I used Copic markers to add some color, and white ink to add highlights, then cut out the image.
My cuz, Paula (who was in our tag book swap), sent me a scan of her dad's grade school report card with Grandma's signature on it. I used this as the background for my tinted drawing, and then layered it over some kitchen-ey old wallpaper, inking the edges of each layer for depth.
Then, I scanned it again, and added the words in Picnik.
(feel free to use these images in your own art, if you'd like. I'd be honored to see Grandma Downey in someone's journal or on a tag somewhere!) Just click on the picture to open in a larger window, save to your computer, then print.
My Aunt Alma had sent me a recipe for my very favorite pie and I offered to do an interior page with it. At the time, we were going to divide up the book and cousins were all going to do some of the pages, but Bobbie Sue was brave enough to take on over 130 pages on her own. I did end up still doing this one page, after all. But it was a very last minute project. I was hoping to find a better photo of my aunt, but none was available right then, so I had to use a snip from a group shot. Its a little blurrier than I would have liked.
This page went together really fast, maybe 15 minutes because I was running out of time to get it to the copy shop Saturday afternoon. I used a favorite wallpaper background, the photo of my aunt that I slipped into a mat from an old album, the recipe card she had sent to me, and a clipping from that day's paper that just happened to mention that Sugar Cream pie was the Hoosier state pie. Who knew? And how serendipitous that it happened to be in my local Lawrence, Kansas paper the day I was making the page.
I finished it off with a hand drawn vine and rushed both pages off to the UPS store to be copied. I think they do the best job for the price. I'm always happy with the color and quality there.
Before I head East for my trip, I want to announce the latest winner of the $15 online dress form tutorial.
Debbie of Romancing the Bling
If you'd like a chance to win one, please leave a comment on any post. If I draw your name and you are already taking the class, I'll send you a kit full of vintagey goodness to make the doll from.
Please forgive me if I dont' have time to answer comments. I will keep up with dressform tutorial orders and can send you the passwords from my Ipad. I'll ship all order from the Boutique on Thursday the 11th.
Have a wonderful time! The cookbook and layout looks wonderful! That Sugar Cream Pie recipe reminds me of the Cornstarch Pudding my mom would make me when I was young. Yummy!!
I love what you have done with Grandma Downey and Aunt Alma. I also had a relative who cooked with a cig hanging from her mouth all of the time. It was awful and funny and as children we thought she was the coolest aunt ever. Sea Witch
Love the cookbook cover; you’re doing awesome w/those Copics!! My mother did a family cookbook before she passed away and it’s such a treasure. Have fun at the reunion!
Such a great picture! I know your family will love it!
Great post! Funny it came up at this time, for the last couple of weeks I got to thinking about a family cook book.
This just gave me the push I needed. Thanks!
donna
Karla–thanks for much for my tags–love them. Also love your cookbook cover–the cigerette is the crowning glory!! Regina
I have a family recipe book and glad to have it now that most of the women in the book are no longer here. It’s a treasure. Your family will love the artwork, makes it extra special. Have fun!
I love your cookbook cover! I want to do a family cookbook too. My Grandma’s maiden name is Downey also, she was born in Wales and had 5 of her 7 children there before coming to America…maybe we are related! 🙂 karen….
hahaha love the cover picture!!
My Grandmother quit smoking before I was born. She was 60. But I do remember her favorite anger saying; “Sonsabitches.”
Alway, whether cooking, cleaning or playing poker.
Love he cookbook painting/cover! What a hoot, it make me giggle to see her stirring up a pot of something with a cig. hanging out of her mouth! Love the page about the pie, too. What a cherished family book!
my wonderful grandma’s name was agnes- i still miss her so much and i’m 50 years old 🙂
Your cookbook cover is the best. Safe travels and enjoy every moment of your family reunion…
Those covers are so great! The personal touch and sentiment to them….it is amazing. What a gift you have!
What an awesome reunion gift! Not only is it a work of {he}art but also a wonderful legacy – love it!! xxoo Heidi
The cookbook is going to be great! I know you’ll have a wonderful time.
~elaine~
Boy, does this bring back memories of my Dad’s mom. She was the best g-ma possible. Showed nothing but love and acceptance of me, even with my teenaged bleached hair, white lipstick, and dodgy boyfriends. The pencil sketch (really wonderful, Karkie) could be Gramma, without the cigarette. And I also have her recipe file with many handwritten file cards. Thanks for the memories.
Wonderful! What a special cookbook cover – I love the way you added her signature from the report card – wish I were a family member to receive one of these cookbooks! Have a great time!
Cute post! Love the cig hanging out Aunties mouth. Seriously, a wonderful treasure for the family. Enjoy your trip! xo,Jenn
Hey, Cuz, do you remember that she could cook with that cigarette and never flick the ashes and they NEVER fell into her food. The darn thing would be all ashes and she just kept it in her mouth while she worked. She even rocked my babies with a cig in her mouth–who knew how bad it was for all of us back then?
Lolzz