Rapping on the Window

It seemed my childhood was filled with parental pleading to do something, anything, to make my brother conform to my expectations of sibling behavior. My mother would always respond, "What would you have us do to him, he's not punishable!"  This theory was made evident to me one Hallows Eve.

Wanting to make sure the most efficient route was taken to collect the most candy in their pillow cases, John and his like minded friend knocked on the door of each of our neighbors home in the after-school hours preceding Halloween to ask if they would be handing out candy.

As they short-cut their steps past a corner lot split level, they could see a young couple sitting on their rec-room couch passionately embraced and kissing. Nothing could be more enticing to two eight year old boys, they rapped on the window and hurried on their way. A plot to return that evening already in their thoughts.

Dressed in their costumes, two heads spotted once again through the window, the boys prepared to wrap on the window. They were startled to find a hand on each of their shoulders. Escorted steps home, each more fearful than the next.

Answering the firm ringing of our doorbell, this sister could not believe her eyes at the sight of her brother's face and hands covered in our mother's wig, his very full lips squeezed through a slit made to breath.

My mother called to the door could barely contain her giggling as her son's lips opened and closed like a fish gasping it's last breath pleading for any help at all. My mother assured the young newlywed MINISTER that her son would not bother the young couple again.

My brother promptly retreated to his bedroom only to return to our living room again, his pillow case nearly reaching his knees, another with eyes and mouth circles cut, his lips once again giving his identity away. There was no punishing this determined Trick or Treater!

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Nutley, New Jersey

The very first time I became aware of Martha Stewart's Living was while waiting for a friend to gather her things together at her home so that we could go out for lunch together. I noticed a blond haired woman smiling at me from the cover of one magazine among many upon a coffee table.

Knowing my time was limited, I quickly thumbed through pages that were unlike any I had ever seen. As I reached the very last page, a title "Nutley, New Jersey" caught my eye along with a tiny old-fashioned photograph of a woman in her kitchen. A page of words, I began to read.

The words painted so clearly for me the members of a large family bustling about a tiny kitchen as they packaged fruit cakes in tins to give as Christmas gifts to their neighbors. I was enchanted. (Hot glue head bead to pine cone base.)

I didn't need to know anything else about the magazine except that I wanted to read more about the family at 86 Elm Street, Nutley, NJ. A subscription card pulled from within the glossy pages made it's way home with me. (Cut two inch square, cut curve. Match long edges, trim until opening is right size. Apply bead of hot glue, press edges together,

before glue dries, flatten seam by pressing between fingers.)

For many months and many years to come, I would await the arrival of Martha Stewart's magazine among the stacks of bills and letters my children would retrieve from our mail box. I would always turn to the last page, first, (Apply hot glue to end of pipe cleaner and position for each arm and leg cutting stem as you move along.)

and read about the every day patterns of the Kostyra parents and their six children.

I knew the stories were romanticized tableau's of  Martha's childhood, but to me they meant everything as my own childhood was not at all typical. The stories became a framework for the home life I wanted for my own children. (Slip shoes onto leg stems. Bend stems at right angles. Apply hot glue to top and bottom of created foot, press shoe bottom to top.)

In every way we were a family who created traditions to remember always the loving home we shared. (To position elf to stand, place two fingers at bend of foot. Lean elf towards fingers until able to stand alone.)

When I began my blog, I made a conscious decision to write in such a way that would evoke the feeling I had when reading about Nutley, New Jersey. (Long strip of felt is positioned to create scarf, hot glue applied to keep in place, trim to correct length.)

I love to come to this place I call Creative Breathing filled with it's pages of childhood remembrances and things made to celebrate holidays with friends. Martha Stewart will never know how her stories of Nutley, New Jersey have touched my life, but I know; and I am thankful. (Apply hot glue to both sides of arm stems, press mittens to both sides.)

How absolutely sweet Martha's elves are posed with my Happy Birthday sign from Diane's Etsy shop. I was suppose to wait until my actual birthday to open, but you know how that goes....

Birthday Wishes and Nutley Elves, now THAT'S A GOOD THING!

Creatively Breathing

Don't you just love visiting one of your favorite crafting friends and finding they are sharing their creative process with you? I always come away with great ideas to incorporate into my own work pattern.  I thought I would share my process with you today and tips I have learned that have helped me greatly.

BASIC ITEMS GATHERED
On this day I know that I am going to make paper clay items. I have arranged the Styrofoam shapes by the characters they will become. I have gathered items that are essential to making the items such as sticks for shakers, ice cream cups for snowmen, pipe cleaners for elves, and felt for owls.

With each step of the craft, I will work until my desk is cleared of supplies. Being able to see the beginning and end of a step helps me stay focused and know there IS an End in Sight! All shapes are covered with paper clay,

and set in front of a small fan to dry.

COLOR
I believe color is the easiest guide to follow when you are not sure what your finished project will look like. I don't care a whit about pattern, it's all about the color.

Meri, ImagiMeri, gave me this beautiful rusty red paper napkin that I just knew had to become a fall craft. I looked at my supplies for items that would go with this color. A brown fishing card and brown striped legs are a perfect start.

I knew I was on the right track when I made a party hat out of the napkin. A tag on the card wishing Dad a Happy Birthday sets the theme for the craft. I have gone through this process with each character and have gone ahead and made each of their paper stands. Next it is time to

PAINT
A must purchase for all your painting needs is a large round brush for covering large areas, a medium flat brush for shading (cheeks) and a package of liner brushes. TIP draw your LEFT EYE first if you are right handed. It is so much easier to copy on the right side. This also applies when stitching. PAINT WHITE FIRST, BLACK LAST. You can paint white over your pencil drawn eyes, the lines will show through.

EYES
There is just no way around them! TIP don't worry about mistakes made painting with black. You can thin lines with adjoining colors. (Note orange and white paint) Everything is now painted, my craft table is clear once again. It is time to plug in the glue gun.

TELL A STORY
With all my characters glued on their bases, it is time to tell their stories. The theme for this year's holiday crafting is City Sidewalks. I have been imagining all the goings on at Bigsby's Department Store. I can't keep up with the ideas this scenario conjures. There are so many positions to fill!

Elves to assist customers,

Elves in charge of Departments,

to sidewalk Elves ushering in customers.

But back to my little owl. Oh my gosh, he tells his story beautifully. My husband loves to feed the birds, and he loves to fly fish.

REPEAT YOUR CRAFT
Favorite crafts made can be interpreted for every holiday!

From my spring colored owls to fall owls, from Boo pumpkin to Boo shaker, these are TOO Cute for words! I absolutely love them. It's now time for my very favorite task step,

PHOTOGRAPHING

I am often left comments about how sweet my photographs look. I have only a simple digital camera, but I do have a few tips to share. TIP 1.Use natural light when possible.  2. Light behind objects to photograph with a portable lamp from behind. (You wouldn't believe the places I have perched my pole lamp!) 3. Use another smaller lamp to direct towards the back light slightly above and to the left or right of your head. 4. Use a sheet of white paper to cut out any glare. (There isn't a photograph I take that doesn't use this tip!)

SETTINGS
Most of your craft room photographs will use the MACRO setting, FLASH OFF. A mistake many make on their blogs is depressing the button right away. ALWAYS lightly push button, HOLD as you hear motor whir, DO NOT COMPLETELY COMPRESS BUTTON UNTIL YOU HAVE THE SHOT YOU WANT. You can hold the button or let it go and start again without actually taking a picture.  Learn this, and you will be amazed at the photographs a simple camera can take.

BREAK IT DOWN

 

I have just shared one day in the life of this Creative Breather. I love to craft, and I thank you for letting me share this with you!

Happy Anniversary!

How often I have stated how very much I love my blog. For me it is the place I have woven together the connecting threads of Mother Love.

It is the place I have found the pathway through my own words to reconnecting to a mother I barely knew and longed to understand.

And the place I shared my tears over my own daughter ever finding her way back to me. 

And ultimately, it is the place where all my dreams have come true. This day, 9-10-12, finds my sweet Twirly Swirly Girl, happy, and healthy, and loved by Joe.

There isn't anything more this mother could want.

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Birthday Months

Do you love your birthday month? Is it your favorite month of the year? I think each month should absolutely be adored by all the birthday recipients it contains. I know I love each and every day of September as they countdown the days to my own special day.

As a child I didn't think it was at all fair that I had to wait all the way to the end of the month for presents and cake. I don't think it is at all a coincidence that I should marry a man whose birthday is the very first day of his month. The end of one month, boom you are eating cake the next day!

One good thing about having a birthday at the end of the month, I receive cards in the mail all month long. My husband's wishes are always late!

My husband asked me the other day, "What volume of Columbo do you have?" Hmmmm, I now have 28 more days to think about the enjoyment I will have at watching my favorite detective solve the crime.

And 28 more days to drop hints about other things I have been longing to have.

I love that on my birthday my husband will take the initiative to let Charlie in and out ALL day long. All the other days of September there is an oldest child showdown as to who can wait the longest before the other one gives in yet again to see to Charlie's needs.

I love also that my children can be expected behind their knocks on the door, eager to embrace me and tell me I am their favorite Mom. My reply, of course, is that I am their ONLY mom! Their reply, of course, is "And you're the BEST one there is!"

And so today I wish you a Happy September as this is the month I wait all year for, plus 28 days!