art
Family-themed art is a look into one's living room; it depicts celebration, crises, and the quiet moments of familial interactions.
Arts and crafts
Arts and Crafts 1 Having a hobby is good for the mind and body. Sewing and knitting are great skills to have. It works your hands while making great outfits, blankets, bags, and more. Tools needed include Scissors, fabric, sewing needles, thread, knitting needles, yarn, and/or a sewing machine. Some people use fabric, and some use rabbit or alpaca fur. According to a recent interview with a guy who took interest in sewing, after his grandmother and mom. He made a pair of jeans, and a poodle skirt for his wife. He also mentioned that he bought old sewing machines, and a machine that makes letters.
By Kelly Vedder5 years ago in Families
My Legacy
“Didn’t you forget something Oma?” These words came from my gorgeous little granddaughter staring up at me while putting her still wrapped birthday present on the table next to her. “What might that be?” I said with a knowing smile. “Ummmm my card!!” she says now with her hands on her hips tapping her foot impatiently. Most kids would be excitedly tearing open the wrapping paper on their gift with their card tossed, given little thought. My grandchildren however were so eager to see what design I had come up with for their birthday card that year, their present now took second place or third really, second being their cake. This little exchange brought so much joy into my heart, what had started off as a little hobby of mine had now become something very meaningful to my family and friends. I had no idea landing a job at a newsagency some years ago would lead to so many wonderful memories and treasured keepsakes for those around me. I began collecting cardmaking magazines and the freebies that came with them that were about to be thrown out. I thought this creative outlet would complement the cakemaking I already did for my loved ones. As well as a cake of their choice they would also get a customised card for birthdays and special events. So my passion began. While I had amassed an assortment of papers, card and stamps etc, I didn’t really have the essential tools needed so off to Spotlight I went. That’s when I discovered Fiskars who thankfully have loads of reasonably priced good quality gear perfect for cardmaking with scissors being at the top of my priority list. There isn’t a card I have made where having a pair of super sharp scissors hasn’t been a godsend. From cutting pretty papers and card to size to meticulously cutting out tiny little pictures to perfectly enhance my cards, scissors are at the centre of what I do. Having seven children and three grandchildren at the time there was plenty of inspiration to get me started. This spread to friend’s birthdays and I even became the go to in the office to create personalised cards for some of my treasured colleagues as well. With seven more grandchildren coming along, friends giving birth and a few weddings to boot I am never short of an occasion to get creative for. Even when it has unfortunately been for the few funerals I have had to attend, I can express my sympathy in a way a store bought card and words never will. Everyone who receives a one is always so delighted by how “them” the cards are. I often get commentary about making them to sell at markets or online however given that the person at the centre of the card is the sole inspiration for the card design, making them with no one in mind or en masse is not something I could do. They are a love project meant to bring joy to people I care about and joy to me when I see their faces as they receive them. My little hobby now takes up a substantial portion of my living room, luckily most of the kids have moved out now and hubby doesn’t mind. As the grandchildren have grown they have also started sharing the love with their friends, coming down for cardmaking weekends when they have special events coming up. I have even inspired my super macho sons and husband to get creative every now and then when they want to show their love in a way only a personalised card can. This is the legacy I have passed onto my family that it really is the thought time and effort taken that means more than anything money can or more specifically cant buy and Fiskars scissors have been an essential part of that legacy
By Kate Lamers5 years ago in Families
Scrapbooking : It's Actually Not So Lame
Have you ever wanted to travel? My entire life, 36 years and 5 months, I have always dreamed of traveling. I want to travel the world. I strongly believe that I will someday. Hawaii, Ireland, Germany; the list goes on and on. Daydreaming during class, as a little girl in Croydon, Pennsylvania, of the far away places I would voyage to. My days would be filled with the most eccentric locals. I would spend hours listening to their history. Not just the country's history, but each individual's story; their own, personal graphic novel . I could not wait until I was outside of those decrepit walls of my local Roman Catholic Grade School and able to roam this beautiful land. I wanted to explore and learn about anywhere imaginable, but life doesn't always go the way we dream.
By Sharon Smith5 years ago in Families
Leviathan
Shhh… it’s a present for my sister. Don’t tell her, though. She will have to wait til we get to Cape Cod in July. If I have to enlist a grandchild to distract her, somehow I will manage to have it waiting on her bed at the rental house. We love whales for their intelligence, grace and the enormity that belies their calm, gentle demeanor. Besides the wild salty breeze, family time, treasure hunts at low tide along Corn Hill Beach, and seafood fresh-caught, our annual whale watch is a memorable thread in the fabric of our Cape Cod retreats. I can’t wait to see her expression!
By Laura Rachinsky5 years ago in Families
Mad Craft Skills
When you enter my house, you know you have entered the domain of people who craft. There is embroidery on the walls, and home made pillows on the couch. If it is winter, my children are likely to walk by you in home made pullover and hoodie sweaters. Year round there is a crochet afghan on the back of all the living room seating.
By laura reinhardt5 years ago in Families
Fussy Cutting
As a very young child I was introduced to fussy cutting by my Paternal Grandmother. In her youth she worked as a dressmaker, often being teased, primarily by her five brothers and 2 sisters because she wasn't very interested in boys! Her retort was that one day she would bring home the rag man. This rag man went around on his early model one ton flat tray truck to dressmaking establishments collecting the material off-cuts to make into flock for mattresses.
By Glenda Inverarity5 years ago in Families
A Grandmother’s Gift
Over five years ago, my grandmother asked me if I’d make her a quilt. Nothing too big she said, just big enough to drape over her casket. When I asked her why, she said she didn’t want flowers, but a quilt. She’s made tons of them in her life, but me? Nah, I had NEVER done it before. I had never thought to take fabric and cut it up just to sew it back together. I had an embroidery machine, but no experience at all. I carefully selected bluebonnet fabric (Texas state flower) and designed a small quilt of blocks that had information about her, my grandfather, her two daughters and six granddaughters (I am the oldest of the six). I started with blocks about my grandparents, where they got married and when. I put a block of the Army posts where they were stationed. Some blocks show things about Mississippi, where she was born, and some show Texas, where they made their forever home. Each of her great grandchildren had their own block, too, along with their spouses. Names of great-great grandchildren are there along with info about her parents and siblings. Each of the corner blocks are the combination of the Magnolia and bluebonnet flowers since she was born in Mississippi and they retired from the Army in 1962, moving from US Army Garrison Fort Buckner, Okinawa back to Texas. This was their final move. The center block is information about them, their names and when they married. Their two daughters flanking each side. Their two great-great granddaughters on top and bottom of their center block. The top row of three center blocks are of me and my two sisters, our husbands, and children. The bottom row of three center blocks were my three female cousins, their husbands, and children. One shows the names, birthdates, and death dates of her nine siblings. I even had one block leftover where I put a poem about a Grandmother. I’m not much of a seamstress, but I can use a computer to make designs for my computerized embroidery machine. I didn’t think I’d be able to make a quilt, never mind one good enough to give to her. But, I put my mind to doing it and gifted it to her on her 88th birthday in 2016. It’s nowhere near perfect, but she loved it. For almost four years she showed that quilt to anyone who had the time to look at it. She was going blind and couldn’t see very well, but would ask her friends and family to read each block to her. My grandmother, who all who met her, be it family or friend, called “Nanny”, was such an extraordinary woman. When my grandfather was stationed in Germany, she would babysit and iron uniforms for money. She charged 10 cents for one soldiers’ uniform. By the time they arrived in New York after a four year tour, she’d saved enough money to drive a brand new 1956 Chevy station wagon off the lot. She quilted and made things for others as well. My mother had a poor friend in high school who could not afford a prom dress. My Nanny took some cream fabric and made her one. The dress was so beautiful that my mom’s friend put lace on it and wore it to get married in a few years later. My grandmother was so special to me. I may not have had her sewing gene, but I did my absolute best for her. My grandparents took in young soldiers who were far away from family. Some of them attended her funeral. Today, June 4, 2021, the very first quilt I made was buried with her, just as she requested. Rest in Heaven, Nanny. ♥️
By Bobbi Williams5 years ago in Families
Snipping Memories
When the packaging fell away and I slipped into Her hand for the very first time, I became Her trusty sidekick. My shiny orange handle fit perfectly in Her grip. I could tell by the pressure in Her enthusiasm that we were a perfect pair. The name on my blade was Fiskars, but She gave me a name of my very own. She called me Snippy.
By H. Jane Harrington5 years ago in Families
Happiness in a Box
As a mother of 8, I’m always looking for things to create that are fun and that give me a chance to be able to also give happiness to others in my painting obsession. Plus it’s also nice to have that little get away of time to just enjoy myself and what I love to do, and that’s paint. I really love to paint anything, well except for walls LOL. I also love peacocks and flamingos! So what better thing to do than to paint what I love and what others are passionate about as well.
By Julie Khan5 years ago in Families
