When she was small she would draw and color for hours, literally hours. By the time she was six she had outgrown her little girl desk and I decided to buy two file cabinets and put a piece of wood across the top. My mother had the idea of a countertop instead of wood due to easy cleanup of paints and markers AND the back piece going up the wall which would prevent things from being lost over the back edge. The 5' countertop piece was $25 at Lowe's and I bought two of the $20 cheapo file drawers at Walmart. That was over 11 years ago and it is still a part of her. The first time I saw something written on her desktop was about 3 years ago when she had gotten deep into Shakespeare. She had written a quote on it in Sharpie marker and at first I was ill, but by the time she got home I decided it wasn't a big deal because this $25 piece of countertop isn't a family heirloom. lol. She began to write song lyrics, Bible verses, poetry, and the name of her future husband, Daniel Radcliffe. (He hasn't met her yet though.) Her friends sign her desk in some way when visiting and sometimes a simple new drawing will appear. My dd will NOT part with this desk. Do NOT even discuss it with her. And it thrills me because she is surrounding herself with creativity. I'm thankful for that because I can't imagine life without creativity and I want it in her life. It has brought me many hours of joy and comfort. I've solved my problems and everyone else's through the years while sewing and cross stitching. Hours on end of journal writing have helped me avoid a therapist I couldn't afford anyway. Scrapbooks have told the life of many a loved relative. Music has calmed me, set me on fire and made me cry, all in a matter of minutes. I picture myself bored without creativity so I'm thankful I have a bit of it, and I'm especially thankful my dd does.
7 comments:
My grandparents farm will eventually be sold. I grew up on that farm. A few months ago my grandmother asked me if there was anything I wanted. (She was referring to items of value in the house.) The only thing I could think about was the large wooden feed box sitting on their front porch that was falling apart. I love the smell of the inside of it. Sometimes when I was a kid I would crawl into it and sit in the cool darkness on top of a bag of dog feed. But I didn't tell her that. I didn't tell her anything. Then I would have had to explain my most secret hiding spot as a kid.
But I can imagine the feelings of having to hold onto to items that hold a memory. To any other person it would just be a broken feed bin.
I really enjoyed reading about your dd's creativity and your respect and encouragement of it. Just think what her life will hold with such support to express and be herself.
Thanks Dinah. I wish that customer left negative feedback, because Etsy would have removed it but unfortunately she left a neutral. Darn.
I really LOVE that desk! and those walls look like my bedroom walls
It's so cool when creativity runs through a family--your daughter has learned from you how to express herself and let that creativity play out and run free--awesome!!
Smiles, Karen
Wonderful post Dinah!! And I love your daughter's room, it's how I'd have my room if I was her age ;)!! Heck, I'd like her desk right now! I love how she has personalized it---it definitely will be cherished for many years to come! She has the makings of a collage artist, just from the looks of her walls!
Creativity does help you get through the dark days---I'm not sure what I would have done this year if I hadn't stepped up my creativity quotient. I'd probably be in the funny farm :)
lucy
Organized and organic - that is simply awesome inspiration. The intensity kids have when it comes to "decorating," wow, I'd like some of that back please.
DINAH IS A BLOGGER! I am so excited! I can't read much right now, because I have guests walking in the door for the weekend, but I am so going to read this rockin' cool blog asap! Yay! We can keep in touch now! Give your dd a HUGE hug for me.
Love you!
Jaime
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