My crafting...part one...thank you, Mama

Just about everyone that knows me, knows how much I love to work on crafts.

Over the years, I've had my hands in a few different kinds of crafts. Heck, my earliest "artwork" hung on the wall in our front room, in the house we lived in, when I was born. Two pieces, in identical ("golden gilded", mind you) frames, on either side of a large, black & white studio portrait (of yours truly). I'm certain that it began as a way to keep me busy (and quiet) while Daddy was doing homework, or studying for class the following day. (side note: for the first four years of my life, instead of going to work, every day, my father went to school...TCU. After serving in both the Navy and the Air Force, he was retired from his military career and was now enrolled in college)
Mama cut up small, random shapes of multi-colored construction paper and had allowed me to paste the colorful pieces to a black background. What started as a child's "busy work" became my very first mosaic-style "art work". What came from that project, too, was the beginning of making crafts, as gifts, for family members. I remember photos of another pair, hanging in the livingroom at my Grandma and Grandpa McDonald's house.

There were (and are) some pretty terrific seamstresses in my family. My Grandma McDonald and Mama were my first influences/teachers. In fact, the first time I got to sew, Mama had me sitting at the sewing machine as she led me through each step of making a garment, was when I was just around five  years old! It was on an old treadle machine and I made a simple baby gown, for a new cousin, when one of my very favorite aunts (also an amazing seamstress with a passion for quilting, that we will get to know, later) was expecting their first child. I still remember the look and feel of the fuzzy, pale yellow, flannel fabric we used. That day, I learned so many of the "basics": recognizing the weave/grain/nap of the fabric, laying a pattern out, pinning it, cutting the pieces out and why the little notches were important, then following pattern directions to sew it together. I learned why seams are trimmed a certain way, then why we stop to iron them flat before going to the next step (getting to use the iron was "fun", at that age!). I learned how to place and sew in simple raglan sleeves, baby cuffs (the kind you can turn inside out, so the baby doesn't scratch themselves) and how to pull a drawstring through the bottom hem, with a large safety pin (that I believe, officially made this baby gown a "sacque") Mama made nearly all her clothes. She sewed for me and my little brother, too. In watching her and listening to the "whys and hows", by the time I was 11 years old, I knew how to go to the fabric store and get everythng I needed to make any project I wanted to.
I knew how to go through the big pattern books, find an outfit, get my pattern from those huge drawers, read the back of the pattern for the recommended fabrics, ask the person at the cutting table for the yardage I'd need and then how to pick out the sewing notions, to complete what I was making (usually a funky, weird 70s outfit...oh, the clothing styles, back then!).

During the years, between getting to sew that first baby gown and later, sewing outfits for myself, Mama also taught me how to embroidery. She taught me a few, basic stitches and I would use them to make a set of "day of the week" kitchen towels and a pair of pretty pillowcases, that I got to give someone for gifts (I don't recall who I made them for...I'm sure they were appreciated as anyone would, to get a handmade or hand decorated gift, from a child). She also taught me how to crochet...I never quite caught on, too well, but may still revisit the whole yarn world again, one day. I'd love to make some beautiful afghans, like the ones I'd watch her make.

I don't know HOW she found the time to make all the things she did...or where she got the patience to show me how to do all the things I would watch her do. Looking back, now, I see how much she taught me, while I was still very small. I must have been quite the little shadow! If she was cooking, she would show me how to read the recipe, measure ingredients, cook on the stovetop or bake something in the oven. (I received "The Betty Crocker Children's Coobok", for my sixth birthday..from another precious aunt..and to this day, there are STILL a couple recipes that are "family favorites" we'll make, from time to time, mostly for grins) If Mama was doing dishes, she'd give me a hand towel and let me dry some, before she'd put them away. If she was doing the laundry, there'd be a basket with hand towels and washcloths I could fold. IF she was sitting down, which now I see wasn't terribly often, that's when she'd be busy with her hands...the embroidery, crocheting, etc. No matter what she was doing, though, I never once remember the lady shoo-ing me away to get out of her hair. Heck..I even watched her every step when she was DOING her hair! Putting "Dippity Do" gel on each section, wrapping them around those bristly rollers that were “fastened” in place with either white or pink, plastic "sticks" and then getting a portable hair dryer (with a long, coiled hose) that went to a vinyl bonnet she'd put over the top of her head, to set her hair..just like the ladies at the beauty parlor. Bless her heart!  She simply made everything she was doing be time well spent with her little girl.

Thank you, Mama

In the beginning...

Good grief, no...I won't take y'all back THAT far...not today, anyhow. 😉

I have thought about starting a blog for some time, now, so I guess this is how and where to begin.

So often, I have a lot more to say, or to talk about, when I post something in one of the social media outlets (Facebook or Instagram, especially) and those places aren't always the appropriate forum. The way I see it, I'll use those for "standard" updates...keeping in touch with family & friends...but if anyone is really wanting to know more/read further, I figure they'll take a gander at the blog (this is what I'm hoping).

Now, I can't promise that I will post "regularly", like really interesting, experienced and dedicated bloggers do. I procrastinate with the best (worst). I can't even promise that what I have to say will be interesting...although I will really try...I mean, that's the whole point of taking the time to read a blog, isn't it? I surely don't want to waste folks' time...there's not enough hours in the day!

Eventually, I'll go in and add some personal background (so y'all will know a bit about me) and I can guarantee there'll be mentions of my kids, my Grandkids, my Grandpuppies, the crafts I love to work on, the photos I love to take and the places I have been fortunate enough to visit. There's no telling what else I'll end up talking about, of course (if I see "something sparkly", there's no telling where I'll end up! 😆) , although I am hoping it will make folks want to check back in, to see what I'm talking about the next time.

Bear with me, as I learn, explore and discover this form of modern communication...I hope it will be as nice of an experience, for anyone that wants to read it, as I am hoping to get out of it.
I hope there will be times y'all will find something interesting, something funny, something nice to look at, something even thought provoking...who knows where this journey will lead?

Right off the bat, I will say "THANK YOU!", for taking a portion of your day to stop by!