Today is my mom's birthday, which means I woke up thinking about her and sending her happy birthday wishes from my heart. She's jet setting right now - off on a trip to visit the San Antonio Riverwalk. I spoke with her briefly this afternoon, but didn't really get to tell her what's been on my mind today, the day of her birth... a day I truly celebrate. And because I didn't get to share my thoughts with her, I figured I'd write them down, lest I forget to tell her after her trip:
I've come to the conclusion that every ounce of the crafting gene inside my body came from my mom. In fact, I can't remember a single day of my childhood when my mom wasn't working on some craft or another. In the eyes of a child, she could do it all. In my mind, she was a crafting goddess. And now, when I look back today through the eyes of an adult, I still feel the same way, because all these years later she continues to create beautiful things for her home and her family. Lucky for me, the crafting gene was passed on. Some may say, "nature or nurture?" But as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter... all I know is that I got the gene and it defines who I am. And for that alone, I have my mother to thank.
Years ago when I was growing up on the farm, I had a lot of freedom - freedom to roam, freedom to express myself, freedom to create... freedom to be ME. My mom always encouraged her children to be unique. She embraced individuality and she did everything she could to let us be whomever our inner spirit dictated. And since I only had brothers when I was learning these things about freedom to be me (my sister Jenny didn't come along until I was almost 10), it was only natural that I would gravitate towards everything my mom did, because for the most part, she was the only female around - her actions were what I understood to be the sole definition of all things feminine and girlie. The kicker was, since I was encouraged to express myself, I became a bit of an oddball, and if she was doing one thing, I felt it necessary to add my own twist... just to make it my own. And so when my mom was painting cabinets, I was painting rocks. When she was crocheting rugs, I was making mile long chains to embellish my bedroom walls. When she was sewing clothes, I was sewing on cardboard. And when she was in her decoupage phase, I entered a 3D art stage - creating lovely works of art using cut outs from Holly Hobby wrapping paper and blobs of glue. That's how it went... always the same, but somehow different. Today, I'm the same way - if a project includes instructions, I rewrite them and make them my own. For some reason, I still find this to be fun.
After my musings today, I have decided that in the end, the true beauty of my childhood was that Mom made sure to tell me every single day that I was a creative genius for coming up with colorful rocks, yarn strewn walls, cardboard cross stitch, and the blob of glue technique (and oh how I wish I still had some of that Holly Hobby art - it was truly spectacular!).
Because my mom is so creative and crafty, I don't often make her gifts. My theory has always been, "why bother when she can make the same thing as well, or better, than I can?" The problem with this way of thinking is that sometimes... even as an adult... I still want to make her a gift of heart - regardless of the fact she can make the same thing for herself. And so when I stumbled across the rag quilt project, I tried to explain the technique to my mom over the phone. I even posted pictures and instructions on my blog. And still, she could not envision these quilts. Voila! The perfect opportunity to sit down and make something for her... something she had never made before (truly a novel idea!)... if only for old times sake - because the older I become, the more I know that although I am an adult, I will always be her little girl.
And so after several trips to the fabric store and more miscuts than I care to mention, I was finally satisfied with the gift that is now known as Mom's Birthday Quilt. Last week I gently and lovingly placed it in a box and mailed it on its way. Before my mom left for San Antonio, this is what she received:
I think she liked it.... of course she did... it all goes back to the fact that no matter what I make, in her mind I will always be a creative genius. And so even if it was awful, she would love it just the same because that's what mom's do - they love everything their children create for them. Gotta say - all these years later, that still makes me feel pretty darn good!
This is my favorite picture of my mom. She is in the middle with her sisters. The reason I love this picture so much is because even though my mom may be Mom to me and Grammy to my kids, she is still the baby of The Girls and the love she has for her sisters is truly a beautiful thing. In fact, I'd say their love defines the word sisterhood!
Happy birthday, Mom. I love you, love you, LOVE YOU! May the year be filled with love and happiness... and memories... lots and lots of memories! And hey - thanks for the crafting gene. That was a good thing to pass down. And thanks too, from the very bottom of my heart, I thank you for loving my rocks and my Holly Hobby art and the cardboard sewing cards and all those crocheted chains I made. You allowed me to be ME, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
this made me cry! I always here the goofy BB9 Kelly-but this was so personal and so sweet. Wow. It touched me personally on two levels. To my 7 yr old, I'm an artist. She told me the other day that I needed to come to her school and teach art. And I too, am the baby of my famil of three daughters. I hope that my 7 yr old see's me as you see your mom one day!
Posted by: kristiejow | March 26, 2008 at 10:30 PM
I love that quilt! I even went to JoAnn Fabrics just because you inspired me. Then I realized, I don't remember how to quilt! It's been too long. Needless to say, I didn't buy any fabric.
Happy Birthday to your mom. She will love that quilt.
Posted by: Kim B | February 26, 2008 at 07:30 PM
Hope that your mom had an awesome birthday! that's one beautiful quilt!
Posted by: slammie | February 25, 2008 at 03:53 PM
I got the sewing bug from my Mom. She had me sewing by hand by the age of 8 and by machine at 10. I only had 3 years of machine sewing with her before she passes away. She would have been proud that I made my wedding dress 6 years later and all of Kellis dresses until she was in 6th grade. Kelli never got into sewing, she made a quilt in 11th grade of left over material from the dresses I made her, after that she said that she had enough sewing. Now I'm waiting for grandbabies (none in the the future) to sew for. Randi
Posted by: Randi | February 23, 2008 at 06:19 PM
Our Moms have the same birthday!! Happy Birthday Kelly's Mom!
Posted by: Katrina | February 21, 2008 at 09:39 PM
i loved this post...it really spoke to me. while my mom is the total and complete opposite of yours, i have had other female relatives who were just like her. without them, i would not still be puttering around "making stuff"....
happy birthday to your mom!!!!
Posted by: pc smart | February 21, 2008 at 09:34 PM
Such a sweet entry...you are blessed to have such a great relationship with your mom. And the quilt turned out beautiful!!! Love those bright, cheery colors.
Posted by: Amy Sorensen | February 21, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Kelly what a totally beautiful tribute to your MOM. THe quilt you made is absolutely gorgeous
Posted by: Chiara | February 21, 2008 at 07:49 AM
To Kelly's Mom . . . .HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hoping Texas and San Antonio is treating you well. You sure did bless Kelly with a superior crafting gene!
Kelly -- loving that quilt!
Posted by: heather | February 20, 2008 at 09:57 PM