It's them!

A good friend asked me to make a joint 80th birthday card for her parents, who were both celebrating their birthdays in November. She also requested that the card be extra large.

She told me that her parents are devoted fans of Coronation Street (affectionately known as Corrie), the long-running British soap opera that first aired in 1960. Set on a cobbled street in the fictional town of Weatherfield - based on Salford in Greater Manchester - it follows the everyday lives of working-class characters. It seems my friend's parents never miss an episode!

She also mentioned that they drink plenty of tea, often sharing a croissant. After checking the details, I learned that the croissant had to be a plain one, and the tea should be served in a cup and saucer - the traditional and proper English way to drink tea! Finally, she asked me to include a big 80 on the card.

My friend sent me a photo of her parents. She told me that her dad’s personal "uniform" is a blue polo shirt with light trousers, and that he always wears a plain black kippa (skullcap). Her mum, on the other hand, loves to wear red.
I decided to show her parents sitting together at a small café table, enjoying tea and a croissant. I added a big gold 80 in the background, along with the Coronation Street sign.
They were all thrilled with the card!

"It's them!" my friend wrote when she collected the card. "You are so talented! I knew that already, of course - but wow! The tea, the croissant, all of it. Wow!"

After their birthday party, she wrote to me again:

"I gave them your card at the party and they, and all their friends, were absolutely wowed! They all loved it! It made it really special."

* This post has been shared on Saturday Sparks, Sundays on Silverado,  Happiness is Homemade, Mosaic Monday, Busy Monday, Tuesday Turn About and Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop.

65 Years of Wedded Bliss

Back in 2020, I created a special card to mark this couple's 60th wedding anniversary. At the time I received a copy of their wedding photo and recreated it in paper, showing the groom in his top hat and his bride in her lace dress and flowing veil. Last month their daughter contacted me once again and asked if I could make a card for her parents who were now celebrating 65 years of wedded bliss!

This time she asked if I could use a recent picture of her parents, but to show them with a 65th anniversary cake, and not the Leyton Orient F.C. one that was in the photo she sent me!

Their daughter also asked me to recreate the setting of their salon, with its pale pink walls, and to include a couple of family photos in the background. One shows almost the entire family, though without the couple's daughter-in-law, who was unwell with corona on the day the photo was taken. To make up for her absence, the second photo features her alongside her husband on their wedding day.

I carefully created the portraits of my customer's parents, adding all the little details like the glasses hanging on a chain around her neck and the tumbler of whisky in his hands. I then added a large round cake on the table in front of them, photoshopping the greeting "Happy 65th Wedding Anniversary Mum & Dad onto it. I added some tiny red and pink flowers to the cake for a pop of colour.

The 65th wedding anniversary is known as the Blue Sapphire Anniversary. It is traditionally celebrated with the gift of blue sapphire, symbolizing strength, power, and the enduring love of a long marriage. However, this is a relatively modern convention, unlike the centuries-old traditions of silver, gold, or diamond anniversaries.

Once again the couple loved their card. "Thank you so much for the beautiful anniversary card you made for my parents" my customer wrote. "They loved it." 

On the 8th October, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement and signed the first phase of a 20-point plan to end the war. A ceasefire came into effect on the 10th of October.
As part of this first phase, all living hostages are to be released tomorrow, 13th October, in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 terrorists serving life sentences. Israel has already begun withdrawing its forces to pre-designated lines within the Gaza Strip.
Since the war began in October 2023, I have lit an extra candle every Shabbat, reciting a small prayer in my head for the safe return of the hostages. On Friday evening, I lit what I hope was my last extra candle, and tomorrow I pray I'll be celebrating the hostages' long-awaited return.
Still, my heart aches for the families whose loved ones won't be coming home. I think of the thousands who lost family and friends so brutally on the 7th October, and of the hundreds of soldiers who gave their lives - among them Gadi’s dear friends, Yakir and Ariel. Their bravery and their loss will never be forgotten.

* This post has been shared on Happiness is Homemade, The Good. The Random. The Fun., Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop and Funtastic Friday.