54 stitches

Angels we have heard on high

Last year I hosted a local kid's ornament swap.  It was a great little swap and although it was born of my not having myself together to join an online swap, I really enjoyed keeping the kid's swap so local with the involvement of some folks we know and some we don't.  We are at it again this year, with the number of families having doubled from a dozen last year to over 25 this year.

All credit for the idea for our ornament this year goes to Hettie.  Over breakfast one morning we were discussing possibilities.  We'd settled on using toilet paper tubes (as we did last year) since our pile of them was overflowing and have a shape that just begs to become something more.  We were throwing ideas around when she exclaimed, "wait!  I've got it!"  And she sure did.  I just love these and am tempted to make a slightly more refined (less glittery?) grown up version.

"Mama, we could cut the tubes this way."

"And use cereal boxes to make the bodies this way."

"And trace a bunch of bodies, and cut them."

"And then we need to figure out how we attach the wings..."

"Maybe I could use the knife to cut a slit for the head to fit through?"

"Yes Mama!  That's it!"

"That is just how I wanted the wings to curl up."

"But I want to attach them."

"Maybe cut some notches, like this?"

"Yup that works Mama!"

"Now let's paint them and add beautiful golden and silvery glitter!"

"If we don't paint the faces, the glitter won't stick

and then we can add faces later."

 

Simple little innocent angel faces...

and an equally lovely, if slightly less seraphic, Zsa Zsa Gabor angel faces.

Sometimes...

the shutter clicks at just the right moment.

Winter ROTH and some thoughts to share

I am, once again, excited and honored to have my work included

alongside so many talented and creative people in the

Rhythm of the Home Winter 2011 edition. 

I made my first paper advent calendar for my husband fifteen years ago, the first winter I knew him.  Although, we both have a touch of the pack rat streak, especially about things we have made for each other, sadly I think that little black and white calendar disappeared many years ago.  Putting this one together was great fun and a nice nostalgic trip down memory lane.  Head over and check out all of the amazing work, thought and inspiration going on in the new issue! 

There is also a giveaway going on on the ROTH blog that I have contributed to and is full of wonderful things you just might win if you head over there and enter your name.

If you are new to my blog, please say hello!

--- : --- : --- : --- : --- : --- : --- : --- : --- : --- : --- : --- : --- : --- : --- : --- : ---

I have talked before about how important I think the creative power of this magazine, ROTH, is.  Unlike the other times I have been included in its pages, this time Hettie was sort of tuned in to the experience.  She often wants to know what I'm up to with this project or that, but this time she wanted to know more about the magazine, more about how I created my piece, more about what else and who else was included.  It was nice to involve her a little bit more in something I do in the world outside of our family... to watch her perception of me shift a little to someone beyond just her mama. 

It was also wonderful to model for her the satisfaction that comes with maintaining creativity and creation into your adult life.  I'm often asked how I "do it all" and get told I am "one of those people who can just do things" or have someone demand "ugh, is there anything you can't make?" and while I do hold some technical knowledge about how to accomplish certain handcraft related things, all of that knowledge came from just trying, just throwing myself into something, taking some risks, seeing what I could create.  So no, I can't make everything, but I can try to make anything.  It is not uncommon for statements like these to be delivered in a less than pleasant or teasing tone.  I try not to let that bother me, but it does sometimes.  I know not everyone is meant to be a maker, but I literally ache for it.  I would go stark raving mad without it.

I thought a lot about this as I was talking with Hettie over the past few months about the magazine and my project.  She may not grow up to be a maker, although knowing her now it would surprise me if she did not, but I hope these little glimpses she has into this part of my adult world do instill in her that it is important to do what makes you happy.  It is important to make if you are a maker... to read if you are a reader... to sing if you are a singer... to feed if you are a nourisher... to help if you are a helper... to drown out the noise around you... the naysayers... the critics and to stick with what you know feeds your soul.

First time

with glitter for Astrid. 

Talk about some seasonal magic...