The Kindness of Strangers

American soil firmly under foot, Neighborhood With the Hills our new home, the White Behemoth shared transportation for two, a mother ready to spread her wings. My father thought it a foolish waste of money for my mother to form a group of like minded women who wished to sell the art they had created. Highway driving every evening to Iverson Mall, hours spent hoping for any sale at all.

My mother was a gifted painter and a prolific one as well. Every painting she took to display easily sold, the money in her wallet increasing. The month's end would be a day of reckoning with a husband who needed convincing.

The last day of the month only days away, highway driving home interrupted by the sight of a young man standing alongside a station wagon that had gone it's last mile. My mother pulled over and rolled down her window. The man asked, "Can I walk to the nearest service station from here?" My mother noticed his young wife, an infant in her arms, in the front seat. "All of you get in, I'll take you there myself."

Interior warmth welcomed by the trio, a further explanation given. "We sold all of our belongings to buy this car to travel to Florida for a job interview. I'm afraid we won't make it now, the interview is in two days."

Instead of taking the young couple to the service station, she took them to a Used Car Lot where she retrieved the earnings from her sold paintings and purchased the couple a car to continue their journey. The grateful man promised to repay her kindness, her address tucked into his wallet now filled with money to continue the trip.

When my mother passed away, the remaining members of her art group gathered for a memorial luncheon hosted by my brother and myself. My brother rose from his seat to share a letter that had come in the mail from Florida. The letter recounted a story we had never heard. "I am now the head of the company I interviewed for so long ago. My wife and family have flourished all these many years. Your mother kept in touch with us, and we are so sad to hear of her passing. We have never forgotten her kindness."

A package came in the mail for me today, without a return address. A waterfall of vintage handkerchiefs opened themselves across my craft desk, "Dear Elizabeth, You don't know me, but I feel as though you are a friend. I get so much enjoyment from your blog, I wanted to give a little back. Your little corner of the internet is a wonderful place to visit."

I thought of my mother as I hung these wonderful treasures above my craft room closet. We often would ask my mother why she was such a generous person. She would tell us that joy felt when receiving a gift is exactly the same as the joy felt when giving one.  Today is a joyful day. Thank you Daisy!

Bon Voyage!

The time had come for my family to pack all our belongs from Apartment 1A and travel across the blue expanse my father traced with his finger across our Atlas. Thoughts of Magellan slipping over the horizon became my own. Home was a fearful new place with friends I hoped to have. My mother soothed my worrying with dressmaker visits and a Bon Voyage outfit to match her own.

My cute little brother in his short pants and jacket kept a secret from everyone he greeted as we crossed the gangplank onto the deck of the USS Constitution. Bupsy his pet turtle was nestled in the bottom of my mother's purse, a lettuce leaf to keep him quiet.

Our days were filled with activities, our evenings with glamor. My mother in her long white gloves, my father in his uniform so tall and handsome. Bupsy between the sheets of my brothers berth. New York Harbor just ahead, Lady Liberty welcoming us from just beyond the rail. Streamers trailing into the water, cheers that said this was the best Place to Be. American kids once again, adventures awaiting our arrival.

Take Me To Your Leader

My childhood life in Apartment 2A, Embassy Row, was filled with fantastical daily adventures as a card carrying member of the Spy Club. We were an international organization, our fathers and mothers in the employee of various government agencies from various countries. Language was never a barrier when mischievous pranks were the order of the day, gullibility in a young girl all that was necessary.

Carolyn Johnson was my very best friend from Apartment 4B whose bedroom was tucked underneath the space created by the building's central staircase. Older by several years, I hung on Carolyn's every word and mannerism. She was a Correspondent Student, her books and supplies arriving in boxes wrapped in brown paper cool to the touch. Everything about Carolyn was interesting, especially her three older brothers, the founding members of the Spy Club. I hung on their every words as well. When they told me they were Martians from Outer Space, I already nearly believed them. Disappearing before my very eyes, sealed the deal.

Ushered into the realm that was their orderly bedroom, we were situated bedspread edge facing the large balcony that was exactly like my very own. "Close your eyes, and count to ten. We will dematerialize into thin air." Eyes wide open, the space before them completely empty. Did Carolyn's parents know their sons were from Outer Space?

The characters that inhabit my craft room tell the stories of my life. Eyes Wide Open and a very cute Space Cadet recall brothers much too clever for a little girl who to this day is known for being gullible and who always sends her crafts in boxes wrapped in brown paper.

Flamingo Button Keeper Tutorial

Have you taken the Button Keep Challenge? It's only almost August and not at all to late to begin. A button keep for each month of the year, twelve projects to bring you lots and lots of smiles. I have represented the Perfectly Perfect Purveyor of all things Floridian for my kitschy topper.

There was not one single doubt in my mind that my August Button Keep would represent Florida at it's heyday of seashell souvenirs. There is just something about teeny tiny seashells attached to household items that just sends me.

SUPPLIES: Gathering together possible supplies needed was not an easy thing in the heart of the Midwest. Thank goodness Michaels has seashells by the oodles to purchase inexpensively. I printed my vintage FLORIDA postcard wallet size and cut apart each letter. (I ended up not using wire)

LID: The cutest of canning jars purchased a dozen for $7.00 at WalMart. Trace lid on cardboard, cut out. Trace cut out on back of blue area of map atlas, cut around drawn circle, enough room to later pink edges. Glue stick to white card stock, pink around drawn line.

Cut strip of cardboard width of jar lid edge, hot glue to edge of lid. (Note slight space) Glue lid seal to inside of ring, optional. Build up depression in lid with several layers of cardboard. Cut white card stock strip and map strip slightly wider than cardboard strip. Pink edge of either map strip or white strip. Hot glue to cardboard strip on lid. Hot glue pinked round to lid. Now for the fun part!

OHMYGOSH!OHMYGOSH!OHMYGOSH!

An optional step, but one that truly gives this craft it's umph, lightly apply two coats of Modge Podge to lid and strip as well as cut out letters.

Hot glue main shells in place after finding pleasing arrangement.

FLAMINGO:  Bend stem end into teardrop shape, twist to secure, bend at right angle, trim with wire cutters about 1 1/2". Body: Coil one pipe stem around wide part of pen towards pen point. Wide end slips over tear drop. Neck: Coil pipe stem around small paint brush desired length of neck, trim. Head: Coil pipe stem beginning just before pen point to point. LEGS: Bend pipe stem right angle to create foot, U bend at leg length desired, right angle again to create foot.

ASSEMBLY: Slip wide end of body coil over teardrop, pinch end of teardrop to create tail. Slip neck coil over straight stem, bend at right angle to create head. Slip on head coil. Insert small bent black stem for beak, glue eyes in place.Slip leg U between coils. Wings, length of stem bent towards center, slip between coils.

Vintage buttons washed up on shore, candle holders filled with pearls, Dominos played by Boca Raton retirees. There just couldn't be a cuter place to store my buttons.

July and August Button Keepers side by side. Dare I hope September will be just as wonderful? I do hope you will take the challenge and create a button keeper of your own design or copy one of mine. If you do, please let me know!

Tour de France!

Oh my goodness! Who would expect a peloton of colorful cyclist whizzing by to inspire the cutest ever spectators. This little French duck and his Wait-and-See companion seem to be enthralled by the excitement of the Tour de France.

Viva la France! This little duck wears his country's colors proudly. His Napoleonic collar is eight layers of crepe gathered by hand along one edge with a running stitch. Layers separated, the collar is glued on upside down.

Could a feline spectator wear a more perfect hat? I love to using vintage greeting cards to make cone shaped hats. Ruffles are made by stitching down the center of layers of crepe on the sewing machine. Width determined, edges pinked, cut between pinks to sewing line.. Hot glue in place, separate layers of crepe.

A vantage point high above the crowd. Wooden dowels are inserted into large Styrofoam balls after Paperclay has been applied.

Simply adorable! Striped sticks are the perfect final touch. Thin strip of crepe is secured with hot glue just under head shape and spiraled down stick. Secure with glue again. July crafting comes to an end on the final day of the Tour de France. What a wonderful day this has been.

Wise Old Owl

I know it is the middle of summer, but inspiration seems to have no seasonal boundaries. I smiled with every stitch taken as this very fat and wise owl appeared before my eyes.

When I went to file his photo away on my computer, his autumnal colors drew my eye to previous projects with the same color pallet. A most favorite paper garland made with ME images.

I do think I will have to add it to the list of crafts I have been remaking for my craft room. Scotties in sweaters, too cute!

I especially love his stripy legs! Seasonally challenged? You bet when characters this cute need to make their presence known!

Pattern for personal use only.

Styrofoam Bird Tutorial

My gosh is there ever a commotion among the characters of my craft room. It seems the postal workers of Creative Breathing are complaining there are just TOO many BINGO cards left about when I am crafting.

They have assigned the title of Bingo Collector to the representative of the July Button Keeper Challenge. He is slightly nervous about being the first and hopes to be joined by other Button Keepers.

BODY: Press Creative Paper Clay onto the surface of large and small Styrofoam balls. Roll between palms to smooth. (Clay found at Michaels, $10.00) Dry shapes in front of fan.

LID/HAT:  Three Bingo cards are used to make Bingo Collector. TIP: Use same household items repeatedly to create shapes to give a consistency to crafts.

Create card stock base to glue decorative strip upon wide enough to cover edge of container top. Cut out center of hat brim.

(Canning Jars-WalMart 12 for $7.50.) Glue seal to ring. Fill depression with cardboard. IMPORTANT STEP: With any lid used make sure to hot glue card stock base to EDGE of lid. (Note the slight space between paper and lid) Glue decorative strips in place.

Trace around edge of papered lid to create template. Trace onto printed card and pink along drawn line. Glue pinked round to lid, glitter along drawn line.

HAT: Glue edges of BINGO strip together. (Small strip of paper on inside helps) Apply glue to top edge of BINGO circle and position around FREE SPACE. Trim away excess. Apply glue to base of BINGO and adhere to hat brim. Glue Tinsel stem, feather, button in place.

FEATHERS: Pleat crepe 25 times, press pleats firmly together, pink one edge, trim to length.

It seems the little BINGO Collector is making a case for additional help.

PAINT: Body and head white using large round brush, eyes black using liner brush, cheeks pink using dry brush technique. Apply craft varnish to eyes.

GLITTER: Working quickly, apply thin coat of Mod Podge around eyes and front half of head. Apply glitter. Repeat with head back. Holding pipe stems, glitter body front, body back.

ASSEMBLY: Immediately glue feet to lid. Glue button markers, hat, and beak in place. Let body glitter dry several minutes before adhering feathers and tie.

Apply glue to flat end of crepe tail, adhere to body and fan pleats. Hold in place several seconds.

Apply thin bead of glue from back to front along body side.

Position flat end of wing in center of body, fan pleats towards back to adhere, towards front to adhere. Hold in place several seconds.

YEAH! It seems he won his argument and has additional help in picking up all the BINGO cards that can be found in my craft room. I hope you will stop by next month to see my August Button Keeper. Perhaps you will have one to share with me as well!

ROCKETEER GIVEAWAY WINNER: Leslie of Craftyles