If you are familiar with my pages, you know how much I love historical places, and Little Lake is one of those special places that although I am still learning more about it, it seems to pull at my heart strings, and while a portion of it was still standing, it gave me peace. The fact that it now only exists in peoples memories, and old photos is quite unsettling.

Journaling reads: From my very first trip up to Mammoth Lakes, California, I fell in love with a small area of Route 395 called Little Lake. It was once a series of buildings, but when I saw it, it was a large stone faced building that I learned had once been a hotel. I knew it must have been a grand place in its day. There as a railroad behind the hotel, and a lake on the other side of the road. It was such a beautiful area, amidst the barren surrounding which included miles of lava formation and hills or red cinder, and a backdrop of the Sierra Mountains. It was so beautiful, and I imagined what it would be like to live there. Each trip up to Mammoth, I looked forward to seeing this building again, even fantasizing some day of buying it, and living there. Much of it had burned down, but I still loved the idea of this area. Then on one trip, I was horrified to find it had been bulldozed. I asked Ron if we could stop and see for a bit. The road was crumbling, and there was nothing left but a tiny square building that had once been the post office. I felt like crying, and did cry inside, but didnt want Ron to think I was silly to have fallen in love with this place. The hotel, built in 1923, was a stop midway between Los Angeles and eastern towns such as Lone Pine, and Bishop California, in an era when travel would take two or three days time. Travelers would stop for a nice meal, and a good nights rest. It even had a garage, and gas station. I think the thing that bothers me most about its disappearance is that it is like it never existed, and future generations will never know of its amazing history.

Everything by Anna Aspnes:
ArtPlay Palette Wayfaring http://www.oscraps.com/shop/ArtPlay-Palette-Wayfaring.html
LaceFrames No. 2 http://www.oscraps.com/shop/LacedFrames-No.-2.html
ArchiTextures No. 3 http://www.oscraps.com/shop/Architextures-No.-3.html
Travel WordART No. 3 http://www.oscraps.com/shop/Travel-WordART-No.-3.html
Painted Overlays No. 2 http://www.oscraps.com/shop/Painted-Overlays-No.-2.html
ArtPlay Palette Cuisine http://www.oscraps.com/shop/ArtPlay-Palette-Cuisine.html
ArtPlay Palette Anything http://www.oscraps.com/shop/ArtPlay-Palette-Anything.html
ArtPlay Palette Tinge http://www.oscraps.com/shop/ArtPlay-Palette-Tinge-SKU10011771.html
ArtPlay Palette Wilderness http://www.oscraps.com/shop/ArtPlay-Palette-Wilderness.html
ArtPlay Palette Snapshot http://www.oscraps.com/shop/ArtPlay-Palette-SnapShot.html

Process notes: I began with an Artsy Paper from AP Wayfaring. I used the inverted masking technique to add the photo to the paper. I copied the photo 2 more times: the lowest photo layer was placed on blend mode color burn, the layer above that on blend mode lighten, and the top photo layer was placed on overlay. Each of these photo layers were tweaked to emphasize different portions of the photo. I then placed the LaceFrame to the left edge of the photo, and placed the frame right next to that, masking out the right edge where the photo was. I added a variety of transfers from AP Wayfarer, and added the WordArt. I added the string and charm, stapling it to the frame, and added the photo corners. I Placed the Place name, using the antique scroll under the name, and added the journaling. I then added spatters and stains throughout, and added a painted edge overlay.

Fonts: Edelwise, Macarons
Thanks for looking