On being a crafty, crafty girlie!

I've always loved crafts. That's why I loved Girl Scouts, more as a leader, really, than as a girl. That's because as a leader I could control the activities, and you can be sure they always included a craft. We had some dandies, too! The time we twisted dryer hoses into circles, stapled them together, painted them orange and stuck a wad of green paper into the hole to create fall pumpkin decorations stands out in my mind with shining splendor.

Then I discovered SWAPS. Oh, those wonderful, miniature crafts peculiar to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The ideas are so clever...the possibilities endless! 

I have a hat full of them! You make them, trade them, collect them. Fun for everyone!

A couple examples include: Get tiny, glass tubes with stoppers. Get green play money. Shred it. Place in glass. Make tiny label that reads, "In case of emergency, break glass and apply tape."

Ha!

Or they could be tiny replicas of camping equipment -- very popular with scouts. A cotton puff on a Q-Tip is a s'more. A bottle cap covered with plastic mesh and a couple of brown buttons is a BBQ. 

Can you see the wonder? 

I've gone through many crafting periods, each one a frenzy of activity as I became immersed in learning a new craft, achieved some measure of competency, got bored and moved on.

On my walls are cross stitches from my "Needle Period." (Sorry, Cooper...I'll get to your baby sampler by the time you graduate from ... let's say college.)

I have a collection of painted ceramics I took delight in creating. My dad absolutely LOVES the ceramic Santa I gave him. Maybe.

 I enjoy creating cosplay costumes, and going to conventions with my kids. This is a wholesome family activity, and fun for all. AND it allows our creative sides to have a field day. I've done Professor Umbridge and Professor Sprout from Harry Potter. This year I may go for Maurine Robinson from Lost in Space. 

There is a quilt on my middle child's bed, pieced when I was carrying her 21 years ago, and quilted (by someone else) for her high school graduation.

There is a portfolio of watercolors I deem too horrible to frame in the garage.

There are several nice stained glass pieces in drawers, as the windows in my home aren't right for hanging them.

There are many, many knitted scarves gracing the hooks on the walls in the homes of friends and family.

There are scrapbooks here and there in the house, commemorating this or that or them.

In the basement are bags of cross stitch materials; a box of stained glass tools; a box of watercolors; scrap-booking stuff; the list goes on.

My late ex called me flighty.

I prefer to think of myself as eclectic.

My latest passion is for paint parties. Have you tried this yet? Oh, my, GOODNESS! You pay a fee, and sit down in front of a blank, white canvas. Lying on the table are clean brushes. And before you is a palette of lovely, lovely paint. 

The teacher -- in this neck of the woods Cindy Carnahan -- displays her sample, and explains and demonstrates in great detail exactly how to recreate the wondrous masterpiece you'll be taking home that night. 

I've done goofy dogs, a koi, a black cat, the Eiffel Tower, a rooster, several landscapes, snowmen, a lighthouse, bird houses, coffee cups, and most recently, a lovely, Halloween witch. 

Are they original? To me, yeah! 

Are they brilliant? To me, yeah!

Do you want one? I can hook you up. I foisted the lighthouse off on my bro by gifting it to his foster son. It has glitter on it. Hey! It was a gift of love!

I'm foisted another off on a friend by writing her family name on it . . . a Christmas ornament picture. Heh heh.

She can't get rid of it til I'm dead.

I gave one to my sister by writing her children's names on each of three bird houses. It's not half bad, really.

And I'm planning on foisting another off as a housewarming gift this very weekend. 

Hey, if I'm ever famous (probably not for painting) these will be worth a fortune.

I'll get tired of this eventually, and move on. Possibly when I run out of wall space.

Meanwhile . . . I love it!

 So I encourage you to go out and find something crafty to do. You'll grow your brain, and fill your home and those of your friends and family with wonderful, handmade delights. 

I may try origami next.