Helena Wdzieczkowska

Basia McAuley

Helena Wdzieczkowska

This is my granma, my dad’s mum, she died back in 1980. This photo was taken around 1918 and was in a pretty bad state. I found it at my dad’s house over the weekend and decided to try and restore it so I can buy him a restored version of it so it’s just up here for a while..
Ohh,, and that use to be my surname!! Don’t even try and pronounce it!! LOL!! Glad to have a normal married surname now!! ;o)

Available for sale as

Greeting Cards and Matted Prints

Helena Wdzieczkowska by Basia McAuley
Helena Wdzieczkowska by Basia McAuley
  • Pat Lucas

    Pat Lucas

    What a beautiful lady!! I love these photos from the past eras, so glamorous. As for the surname, I bet it’s pronounced Smith or something. LOL.

  • Heather Hartkamp

    Heather Hartkamp

    Has to be Polish – that Name. What a wonderful tribute to your granma!!! You did a lovely job of the restoration.

  • Basia McAuley replied

    Thanks Heather! It’s still not as good as would want it but it looks 100% better! The original is about to turn to dust!

  • Basia McAuley

    Basia McAuley

    Thanks Pat! Yes,, I’m not even going to try and write how it’s pronounced! I think I’ve only ever met one only English speaking person who could actually pronounce it properly!

  • Karen Cook

    Karen Cook

    What a fantastic job you did on it Basia ~ your dad will love it! Oh, and why on earth didn’t you hyphenate when you got married??? :o)

  • Basia McAuley replied

    Thanks Karen,,, but no thanks to the hyphenation!! LOL!

  • Shelly Hiebert

    Shelly Hiebert

    What program did you use to restore this Basia? What a great gift for your dad :)

  • Basia McAuley replied

    You mean there is a restoration program?? I just used ps!

  • zomboy

    zomboy

    that is one serious surname!! LOL!!! never seen anything like it. Apart from that, the restoration is so well done…. he will be stoked!

  • Basia McAuley replied

    Yup,, definitely ‘serious’!! Glad to be rid off it! Now I just have to continually correct everyone on how to pronounce my first name!.. It’s like ‘Marshia’ but with a ‘B’ by the way! ;o)

  • Angela Stewart

    Angela Stewart

    You’ve done a beautiful job with this Basia! How old would she have been when this was taken? It’s lovely to see a portrait of this era with a person smiling as they always seem to be so serious…I can imagine she must have been a fun lady to be around!

  • Basia McAuley replied

    Thanks Angela! I’m not 100% of her age but by my calculations she was around 20, and yes,, I do like her smiling,, there’s still a lot of family resemblence & I remember her still as I was 6 when she died.

  • Simone Byrne

    Simone Byrne

    Fantastic restoration job on a wonderful image Basia! I just love these types of photos :o)

  • Basia McAuley replied

    Thanks Simone,, My dad has more of these photos so I might go through them again and see what other treasures I can find!

  • Kazzoom  IPA

    Kazzoom IPA

    wow that is an awesome photo, she looks so happy

  • Shelly Hiebert

    Shelly Hiebert

    Was just wondering what version of photoshop you use.

  • Basia McAuley replied

    Ohh, sorry Shelly,, I have PS cs2

  • Denzil

    Denzil

    Beautiful photo, and you’ve done such a top job on the restoration.

    (Great name! Would it be ‘djyechovska’ – ish???? Don’t know what to do with that initial ‘w’ though … I worked with a woman once who was Polish and basically her name was all consonants and only one vowel, but when she explained how the sounds were made up, it all made sense :)

  • MDossat

    MDossat

    Wow Basia, nice work on this image. You would never know that it was restored.
    Your surname sure was a mouthful, I always feel sorry for the little kindergarteners who have big names like that because it must take them forever to learn how to spell it. LOL! :)

  • Christine  Wilson

    Christine Wilson

    isn’t she beautiful lovely job on the restoration Basia

  • Rosemaree

    Rosemaree

    A lovely image Basia. Looks a lot like you. She has such beautiful bone structure. You have done a great job of restoring it….

  • CateTownsend

    CateTownsend

    This is a great photo Basia your gran is beautiful, you have done a fantastic job.

  • dougie1

    dougie1

    can see where the looks come from! xx

  • Wendy  Slee

    Wendy Slee

    This is a beautiful image….what a lovely face and not as serious as many photos taken back in this era – this lady has character and charm! You certainly did a great job at restoring this one….

  • Marita McVeigh

    Marita McVeigh

    A beauty!

  • Marvin Collins

    Marvin Collins

    Beautiful job on this Basia, she was a beautiful woman, love the smile.

  • CATNIPMEOW

    CATNIPMEOW

    I too have restored photos…....so very rewarding :)
    Thanks for sharing it !

  • carpenter777

    carpenter777

    looks great

  • Hollie Nass

    Hollie Nass

    Wow! Thats quite a name!! Looks like you did a fantastic job on this! I’d love to see the original to compare :)

  • Rany Lutz

    Rany Lutz

    What a great photo….beautiful girl and your work looks perfect now.

  • Pete Costick

    Pete Costick

    Lovely image, I love these old family photos, nicely done and restored. Reminds me, I must dig out some of my old family pics.

  • Colin Cartwright

    Colin Cartwright

    I like restoring old photos. Priceless family treasures and are always interesting.
    You’ve done a fine job here.

    I photoshopped an old torn, scratched photo of my Granma, for my uncle and his family, a few Xmas’s back. They still never visit me!

  • Meeli Sonn

    Meeli Sonn

    You have done great job here. So were your grandparents from Poland.

  • Patricia Gibson

    Patricia Gibson

    You are bored Basia!!! But I have to say that I can actually see the family resemblance, wow!!!
    With your maiden name being such a tongue twister for most no wonder even the High School principal called you ‘Whiskey’ oh, this brings back memories, both good and bad-LOL!!!! Great restoration Basia, you can restore my family’s old photos next???

  • KhaoticPhotos

    KhaoticPhotos

    This is so classic. I adore old photos.

Add your comment

You need to login or signup to add your comment to this work.