Every time someone says "you made that!?" or "you fixed that?!" in disbelief, part of me rolls my eyes. Yes, I make some clothes and curtains (and small children), I have been known to take apart toilets and tile bathrooms, if I need something my first thought is "how can I make that?" - really this is nothing.
Truth of the matter is, yes, I am somewhat handy but my real secret is I have good people to learn from, who will help me when I get in over my head. I spent many an afternoon and evening as a child holding tools, flashlights, mortar buckets, finding hammers, remembering where the box of nails was last, but mainly watching. You can learn a lot from watching. Most importantly you learn that things CAN be made and fixed at home. Creating things at home, and by things I mean walls, stairs, bathrooms, kitchens, floors, paintings, sculptures, clothing, musical instruments, silicone molds, tiles, furniture, whole buildings, worlds if you really get down to it, is possible and wonderful. Sure you can call a plumber to fix a leak, but it feels so much better when you do it yourself and have the dirty hands to show for it. I have a lot to learn but I look forward to each project and every chance I have to watch, help and learn.
The concept of actually being able to make things is disappearing. So many people can't make things anymore. We live in a culture where people buy everything. I try hard to make or fix as many things as I can. I take great pride in stocking a freezer and pantry with homemade foods from local sources. More and more of our clothes are being made in my sewing room each day. There are some house projects I am just not physically capable of doing, but everything else I tackle myself. It seems totally normal to me that way. I can't imagine NOT doing that. I hope that Otto and Mette grow up with that same attitude. They see me working and enjoying what I am doing and visiting my grandpa Chris and nona Jen where walls are plastered and the furniture made by grandpa Chris, then at the cabin where the building was built by grandma and grandpa and is decorated with grandma and uncle racer's paintings, I can only hope it will sink in to them as well.
To debut some of insane talents my family sports I am sharing a few links to their brand new websites:
My mom's new painting can be found here. There are a few new directions shown. I am working on scoring a few for our dining room!! You may want some too.....
Grandpa's out of this world custom banjos deserve some of your time. While you are there, be sure to click on the videos page. Speaking of being able to make things, Eric shot and edited the two videos for the website, you can see some of his non-kid home movie work.
Then if you are interested in the family business you can check that out here
I think you will quickly see I am not nearly as talented as many of the other folks I hang out with. Still I am very nice and who knows, maybe if I keep watching and learning I will get there.
Oh, while you are checking out their coolness, give a looksie to my brother's page. His stuff is wonderful as well.
1 comment:
Your abilities are becoming more rare... but then there is also a growing consciousness among certain people that these skills must be nurtured and saved. I feel very lucky that Harry will grow up with a similar world view, not least of which because of his awesome big sister!
Post a Comment