Women / Naisia

It was International Women's Day on March 8th. I set out to make some cards about women, fully intending to pay heed to one challenge that wanted to see 'feminine and fancy'.
I started making fluffy pink backgrounds from scratch, stamping them,  adding pearlescent mists and mica flakes.

But then! My women refused to be fluffy and feminine, they clearly had a mind of their own!

Meet Hanna, Aila, Kaisa and Terttu:

 If they look sad and tied down - that's just how they are. Life is no picnic, not a basket of cherries, nor cupcakes and kittens, but hard, cruel and disappointing.

 Yritin tehdä iloisia ja naisellisia kortteja, sen sijaan näihin hiipi paljonkin melankoliaa ja hieman historian havinaa. Nainen ei voinut opiskella hakematta erivapautta sukupuolestaan (Hanna); koska nuoruus oli lyhyt joutuivat useimmat ottamaan aikuisen vastuun elämästään jo nuorina. Monet murtuivat (Aila), monet kovettuivat ja aikuistuivat ennen aikojaan (Terttu), mutta jotkut sentään pystyivät pitämään avoimen mielen (Kaisa).

Meet Terttu - a dreamy young woman who married a country vicar and thought she would have a quiet, nice life. Instead she had to shoulder duties before she was up to them. 'Who is free to leave?' she asks.

Hanna, a young woman from town, wants to study, but cannot, because universities are still closed for women. 'Please understand me', she pleads. She would have to put in a petition to be exempted from her sex. Sounds bizarre, but was the only way a woman could study (in Finland) late 1800's.

Kaisa is not taking everything for granted. 'May I ask something?' A shop-keeper from a small town she is still curious about life.

Aila, a daughter of peasants came to a town to be a maid of all things. She is not used to people, she is too trusty and will get easily hurt. 'You really think you can survive'  - we think, likely not.

Entering these into these challenges:
Simon Says: Make your own background
Use your stuff: #213 Lace, ribbon or twine
Stampotique: #235 Include flowers in your project

Thanks for looking!