Appliqued Portrait ~ Personalised Journal

My mother has been asking if I would 'sew a little something' for her Church Minister who is retiring this summer. It was on my 'to do list' but first I needed to finish the children's teacher gifts, as the end of term was looming.  Mum however obviously felt that I needed to focus more fully on her needs and as such she sent me an email containing an offer of payment if, and when, I came up with the goods. Her email promised;

"I'll clean the bathroom and the toilet every day when I come to see you for as long as I am able and I'll make pastry for the freezer".

I normally only sew for presents and frankly if the above is the normal going rate for my work then I don't think I'll be retiring anytime soon.  I also don't think that her offer sounds particularly binding on her part.  What on earth does 'as long as I am able mean'?  It sounds rather too vague to me...hmm, I hope I can trust her not to rip me off!

Anyway, she sent me a photo of her Minister and spouse and also reminded me that in English Methodism retirement is usually referred to as 'sitting down' and this is what I came up with.....

A journal cover picturing them 'sitting down' together!

Hopefully they'll recognise themselves!

Mum and her fellow Church Stewards and Elders are going to use the journal to record their messages of farewell and thanks.

Here's a close-up, before I had added the french knot earrings....

 .....And after!

Happy Retirement!

Postscript I

Barbara is actually the retiring Minister, her husband retired some time ago, he's eighty...Who would have guessed?

Postscript II
After Mum had received the journal she decided that she also 'needed' a matching tea cosy!  You can read more about it here.