A Priceless Piece of Heirloom Art

Last Wednesday, I wrote a post that included a poem written by Laura McQueen and Emily Stringer, granddaughters of Anne Hughes Porter. The poem had originally appeared on the McQueen Family blog as a tribute to Mrs. Porter on her 75th birthday. Gracious southern lady that she is, Mrs. Porter thanked me for posting the poem and her picture and followed up with a Christmas card, sent as an email, that included a picture of a lovely piece of handmade art.
This piece of artwork is actually a jeweled Christmas tree, handmade by Cadman and Anne Porter, designed primarily from pieces of costume jewelry that once belonged to family members. Some other sentimental items were used, as well, including the button from the hat that was part of the "going-away" outfit worn by Mrs. Porter when she and Cadman Porter were married over 50 years ago.


A picture of this sentimental Christmas tree, compliments of Anne Hughes Porter, is included below.






The jeweled Christmas tree was created on a completely black background and was then framed. The result is a beautiful piece of original artwork, a collage of sparkling jewels, but it represents more than what the eye beholds - it represents a labor of love by two people who have preserved precious memories of those who wore the jewelry used in its creation.