Thanksgiving with my best friend

My best friend, who was my roommate in college, and her family visited over the Thanksgiving weekend. We exchanged our Christmas gifts then, rather than mailing them in December.  I've spent the last month creating special gifts for Monica, her son Morgan, and her husband Brian.  Making gifts for my friends and family has always given me great pleasure, and watching them open their gifts always makes me smile.   I wanted to make something special for Monica, and since I've been making a variety of trinket boxes lately, that was the direction my creativity took.  For Monica's box I made stamped polymer clay mosaic tiles and decorated a clay covered metal box with them, using Glass Effects paint between the tiles.  The letters on the lid- LYLAS- stand for Love You Like a Sister, which is how we've signed our letters to each other since college.  I lined the inside of the box with purple felt and made polymer clay rocks stamped with inspirational words- words that come to mind when I think of my best friend.

For her husband, who I've also known since college, I made a fishing bear sculpture.


Her son is 6 and very into wizards and dragons so I made him a plush dragon and a wizard doll.  I used my own patterns for the doll and the dragon.  I really love making things for kids, and then actually getting the opportunity to watch them play with the toys.  Not only do the kids enjoy the toys, sometimes they're even inspired to create themselves. 

While they were visiting I showed Morgan my craft room. I let him smoosh some clay and explained what the different tools were used for, and how I created my sculptures.  I showed him my sewing supplies, craft books, and many of the items I have for sale.  He's a very intelligent and creative child even at just 6 years old.  He made me a beautiful beeswax candle for Christmas, and his creativity is easy to see when you watch him play, or listen to the stories he made up.  After being allowed to hold and examine some of the sculptures he liked best, Morgan said "When  grow up I want to be an artist just like Aunt Michelle".  He couldn't have given me a better gift!  To inspire a child to pursue his creativity is a wonderful thing.  My own "inner child" isn't too far from the surface, and I remember being encouraged at a young age to be creative.
So I had a very good holiday weekend, and now I'm creating gifts for the rest of my friends and family for Christmas.  The holidays have always meant handmade gifts, friends, family, joy, and laughter.  I hope your holidays will be filled with the same!
-Michelle of CreativeCritters

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 

Hard to believe it's "turkey day" already (where did the year go?).  Unfortunately I won't be able to have dinner with my husband's family this year, as we usually do.  I can't leave Gramma for that long and too many of his relatives are sick. I can't afford to bring the flu back home .  I will be cooking a small turkey breast and a few sides, but nothing too fancy.  I am very grateful that my in laws are here for the holiday though.  It's been far too long since I've seen them, and I really missed Mom especially.  I got pretty lucky when it comes to in laws.  While I won't get to see Mom and Dad on Thanksgiving, I will get to see them during the weekend.  Another little miracle I'm thankful for is that my cat Ozzy seems to be feeling much better.  He's eating well, and even came upstairs to say hi to Mom and Dad while they were over.  He's been playful and vocal, just like he normally is.  I also want to thank everyone who sent kind wishes his way.  I think all those postive thoughts helped.

I'm thankful, too, that I found ArtFire, and met so many wonderful artists there.  I've had more sales and more positive feedback than anywhere else I've sold.  I've also been inspired to try more complex projects and dared to go outside my comfort zone a bit.  I think this is a wonderful venue for me, and I've felt comfortable on ArtFire from day one.  I've learned SO much since I started on ArtFire it's amazing. Heck, I'm even able to help the newbies now.

Then there's my family- I'm very thankful for those who have helped, comforted, and supported me in all I've done throughout the years.  I guess I'm pretty lucky to have family and friends who have encouraged me to take my creativity and artwork further.  They had faith in my abilities long before I did.  My best friend, Monica, is an absolute angel.  She's always been there for me, through good times and through some really bad times.  We were college roommates and have been best friends ever since.  I think it was fate that we met.  She's made me a better person and she can always bring a smile to my face.

While a lot a things in my life have been incredibly difficult and downright bad, when I think about it, I have a whole lot to be thankful for.  I have wonderful friends and family, a roof over my head, Gramma's still here, and I'm doing what I love for a living (being an artist, that is).  There's a lot more I have to be thankful for, but I don't want to bore you.  So when life is really getting you down, try to remember the good things.  Even something as simple as a sunset, or the warm breeze through your hair, or the purr of your cat, is something to be thankful for.  So I want to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving!  Now go eat lots of turkey and pass out on the couch!

-Michelle of CreativeCritters