An old satchel of love letters is discovered. The letters date from 1898 to 1928. Robert Sayers, Esq. meets Miss Fanny Guy and was smitten at first sight. But as life sometimes happens, Robert was rebuffed. Miss Fanny was engaged to another man. But as love sometimes happens, Robert persisted, and soon Fanny fell wildly in love with him. Robert was busy traveling the world but writes her every day. And Fanny replies almost as much. Their charming romance unfolds as they make trips back and forth from his small town of Wytheville in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, to her home in the city of Richmond. They marry in 1904, and this is their story of true love…
The artworks shown here are made up of the antique letters of Amanda McCauley’s Virginia ancestors. The paper is over one hundred years old, complete with envelopes, postcards, stamps, and antique memoranda.
LOVE YOU MORE
31” x 20”, New York, NY / Lopez Island, WA, 2019
Antique, handwritten letters collaged on board, stencil stamp border, translucent paint color, pressed botanical materials and herbs, sealed in encaustic.
Clematis Vine, Foxglove, Tulip Stamens, Unknown Buds, Unknown Vine.
LOVING YOURS
31” x 20”, New York, NY / Lopez Island, WA, 2019
Antique, handwritten letters collaged on board, stencil stamp border, translucent paint color, pressed botanical materials and herbs, sealed in encaustic.
Clematis Vine, Forget Me Nots, Oregano, Dill Flower Buds, Unknown Vine, Grape Vine Tendrils
MY OWN DEAREST FANNY
31” x 20”, New York, NY / Lopez Island, WA, 2019
Antique, handwritten letters collaged on board, stencil stamp border, translucent paint color, pressed botanical materials and herbs, sealed in encaustic.
Clematis Vine, Unknown Buds, Oregano, Marjoram, Poppy Stems, Dill Flower Buds.
NEVER LOVE ANOTHER
31” x 20”, New York, NY / Lopez Island, WA, 2019
Antique, handwritten letters collaged on board, stencil stamp border, translucent paint color, pressed botanical materials and herbs, sealed in encaustic.
Clematis Vine, Black Mondo Grass, Black Sesame Seeds, Unknown Vine.
I NEED TO TELL YOU
31” x 20”, New York, NY / Lopez Island, WA, 2019
Antique, handwritten letters collaged on board, stencil stamp border, translucent paint color, pressed botanical materials and herbs, sealed in encaustic.
Clematis Vine, Cornflower, Black Sesame Seeds, Heuchera, Unknown Leaf, Chocolate Cosmo
THE OLD, OLD STORY
31” x 20”, New York, NY / Lopez Island, WA, 2019
Antique, handwritten letters collaged on board, stencil stamp border, translucent paint color, pressed botanical materials and herbs, sealed in encaustic.
Clematis Vine, Borage, Black Pepper, Sweetheart Rose Buds, Rose Leaves and Stems.
HAPPIEST OF DAYS
31” x 20”, New York, NY / Lopez Island, WA, 2019
Antique, handwritten letters collaged on board, stencil stamp border, translucent paint color, pressed botanical materials and herbs, sealed in encaustic.
Clematis Vine, Chocolate Cosmos Leaves and Stems, Poppy Buds and Stems, Cayenne Pepper, Hasta Leaves, Corncockle
MY OWN DEAREST ROBERT
31” x 20”, New York, NY / Lopez Island, WA, 2019
Antique, handwritten letters collaged on board, stencil stamp border, translucent paint color, pressed botanical materials and herbs, sealed in encaustic.
Clematis Vine, Ground Oregano, Poppy Stems and Buds, Unknown Flower and Buds.
BOUND UP IN YOU
31” x 20”, New York, NY / Lopez Island, WA, 2019
Antique, handwritten letters collaged on board, stencil stamp border, translucent paint color, pressed botanical materials and herbs, sealed in encaustic.
Clematis Vine, Oregano, Marjoram, Unknown Stems and buds, Poppy Stems, Dill Flower buds, Unknown Buds.