My talented mom.

My parents were childhood friends and sweethearts. They married right out of high school and my dad joined the United States Air Force at 18 years of age. My mom became a "military wife." She stayed at home and raised her kids while my dad jetted around the world keeping our country safe.  I have nothing but the happiest of memories of my childhood.  And my mom is largely responsible for that.

My mom is a very talented crafter/artist. She was sewing and knitting and crocheting for as long as I can remember.  She knitted my Barbie's wardrobe.....chic and modern for her time in the 1960s. And my nieces, her grand daughters,  dress their Barbies in gorgeous detailed victorian gowns and hats created by my mom.

Halloween was probably my favorite holiday...beating out Christmas and Easter by a nose. But it was so much fun to dress up in funny costumes and go door to door begging for candy. Candy! I loved the stuff. Anyway.... my mom always sewed my costumes.... and they were awesome......albeit not very scary......  this is the year I was a clown! 

Trick or treat! Give me candy or I'll make you die laughing!

My mom always had us doing artsy crafty things at holidays.  Of course we decorated Easter eggs. Made Easter baskets. We decorated Christmas cookies and home-made Christmas ornaments.  We decorated shoe boxes for Valentines day.  I had paint sets and crayons in every color. And she proudly hung my artwork on the refrigerator. 

My mother sews, knits, crochets, does macramé. She does very intricate needlework. Cross stitch, pulled threads, hardanger. Tatting. She has painted. Taught painting. My dad built her a workshop in the garage where she taught friends and ladies from the neighborhood step by step. For awhile she was making some money stenciling and painting decorative scenes on the walls of homes. 

It's because of my mom that I now truly appreciate all things hand-made. And I believe I got my creative gene from her.  And I just wanted to take this special day when we all honor our mothers, to thank her. For all the fun times we spent together creating.  And for all of her love.

Aren't my parents cute!?