mum’s the word
“Compassion for our parents is the true sign of maturity” said Anais Nin. I’ve been learning this a lot lately. My mum has been through some scary emergencies this year, and that she’s here for another Mother’s Day is nothing short of a miracle. I found some old pix from my first photo album, apparently the result of getting my first camera for Christmas in 1969. With one of these, I’ve made this card for my mum, in recognition of her style. I had a notion that my sense of style was all mine, but when I came across a picture of my mother in a polka dot...
Read Moresome bunny loves you
I spent an evening this past week making a card for Nana, alongside my daughter. Card making is a regular side-business around here. We are a family of corresponders, believers in birthdays and holidays, and snail mail stamped with love. I made the above collage with some imagery from the forthcoming Nest, Nook, and Cranny by Susan Blackaby. Did my research on jackrabbits, thank you very much. And just added some embellishments from my ever lovin’ stash of paper patterns, along with some choice rubber stamping. But in a matter of moments, I was OUTDONE by my daughter, who has become...
Read Moresweet reward
Every book that Melissa Sweet does seems to be just up my alley. There was Carmine, a Little More Red. Fabulous: reds galore, hot pinks, a fairy tale send up with an alphabet soup flavor. It was my favorite book, until….then she illustrated A Boy Who Drew Birds. Audubon and birds, what’s not to like? Then, Tupelo Rides the Rails….trains, lonely hounds, the stars, a hobo. A book to tug at your heart and want to visit a shelter. So then, that was my favorite book. She just topped herself with A River of Words, a book of poetic leaps and collage symphonies. It won a Caldecott...
Read MoreIndie love fest
I’m off to Sherman’s Maine Books in Freeport this morning to be part of the KidsHeartAuthors day. Mitali Perkins, author of Rickshaw Girl, came up with this idea to bring together authors and illustrators on Valentine’s Day at independent bookstores, to share love and literary valentines. I always buy a special book for my beloveds on Valentine’s Day and today I’ll pick some out while schmoozing with cohorts I’ve never met, like Jay Piscopo, Sarah Thomson, and Aileen Darragh. There are 44 bookstores all over New England participating, so visit an indie...
Read Morevalentinopalooza
I hosted a lovefest of valentine making with middle school daughters and ladies on Saturday. What a blast of collage, candy, and connections. It dawned on me right before that I actually didn’t have enough chairs for everybody, but somehow we crammed in amongst the scissors and stickers just fine. It was parallel fun: girls in one room… and big girls in the kitchen (where else?) Some girls made valentines for moms right off. Nothin’ like that mother/daughter love, especially now as it gets dicey and delicate in the tween years. It’s important to be lovey dovey so...
Read Moreblizzard blues
Some people loathe winter. I am not one of them. I love it. Every new snow fall is cause for celebration. Yes, there is shoveling and scraping ice, slogging through snowbanks and shivering in bitter winds. But the rewards! A snow day is a gift from above, a chance to get out. Hey, I grew up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, thanks to parents who met in Aspen and wanted to settle near ski areas in New England. Here are the happy ski bums, circa 1955. I enjoyed a childhood of skiing every spare moment. Family portraits from this chapter would be the line of skis, from small to tall, in...
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