I have to say that I don’t remember how I started to craft, I have done crafty things probably as long as I could hold a brush, crayon, or pencil. This is what happens when your Mom is an artist.
Mom’s fearless and will try anything once. (I’m OK saying that because she says it about herself.) Any new craft that came onto her radar screen and didn’t require expensive equipment or things we couldn’t find, we tried.
Expense and equipment ruled out welding and jewelry making, but we did copper enameling (a look I adore). Things we couldn’t find ruled out basket-making (although I have baskets made by her friends).
I remember trying several interesting things early on. One of my favorites was an ink projects. On paper that wasn’t very absorbent we poured a small amount of ink. Using narrow straws we blew and pushed the ink around making pretty patterns of lines. I loved the blue-green one I made.
One summer we had a craft group of my friends, we made papier mache banks out of bleach bottles. Ours we OK my mom’s two were magnificent. One was a teal blue pig with pink flowers. The other was HUGE, a bear who had “vacation fund’ emblazoned on him. Spare change went in to pay for treats on our vacation the next year. But mom forgot to put in a hole. To get out the money we had to break the bank. Literally.
So crafting is in my blood. But I’m not good at most of it, just at needlepoint which I tried in my early teens.
Thanks Mom!
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Really liked your story on how you got started in crafting! I look forward to seeing Day 2 tomorrow!
Mel x
Its so lovely to read about another craft. I have tried needlepoint but its not my strong point, I don’t have enough patience I think. Looking forward to tomorrows post.
Lovely story, I remember blowing ink on paper too! Sounds like you had a wonderful, crafty childhood!
Hugs Jo x