September Snapshot: The Storyteller

This is a picture of my then three year old daughter during early morning play. I took this same image over and over again through the years. We used film then. A single shot, results days if not weeks later. When I saw this one, I remember calling it "the storyteller." There she was, little sleepy-fine-curly-girl hair and pink rosebud thermal pajamas, snuggled up in my unmade bed, she lined up her babies and read them a story. She knew her books by heart so it didn't even matter if the book was turned upside down.She would tell that story with voices, inflections and sounds.


I thought then that she would be a teacher or somehow part of whatever she would eventually chose. I was afraid to tell her that for fear of influencing her. It is so easy for a child to uptake a truth and follow it, without it being the truth. Turns out, the story in that picture does seem to be her truth. My husband has two grown daughters and says that he can look at them today and see the same toddler they once were. It seems it may be true for my daughter as well.


Allie was always such a mother hen. She would come in from first grade and tell me with great concern and dismay that so and so's mother needs to send her to school in a coat. Some might call that maternal, others may see that as a leadership quality. Frankly she might be bossy, but she always looks for improvement that allows the best environment for learning, play or spirit to occur.


I suppose if I could go back and get a few minutes with my daughter as a little girl, it might just be this particular morning she was reading to her "kids." I would take her up, put my nose right into the back of her neck and squeeze those little fleshy thighs right through the waffle weave of those rosebud PJ's. I would swing her around and hold her tight. She would throw her mouth open, her head back and laugh. Except for much more mature straightened hair and a floral skirt, she still is that same spirit, surrounding herself with little kids at her after school job, reading to them, telling them a story, no doubt checking their work. Maybe even sending a note home to a mother about the chill in the air and the need for a good jacket. Running, throwing her head back, mouth open, laughing.

New Obessesion and Earring Recipient

I do have a winner for the earrings from my last post. Just wanted to let you know I never use the word "give-away" in a give-away title because I really want to thank you for reading the post. So, thank you for reading the post and commenting. But first...

I have a new obsession. Pretty much everyday I have a new obsession without giving up the old obsessions and so it takes all day to make my rounds. I am sure you understand. In fact I know you understand...

I have always put 4 x 6 photo prints in albums. Always. I had a little cute white one from the 70s that started it all. I will have to blow the dust off that and show you. Although I always wanted to scrapbook and certainly hoarded supplies, I never really liked the look, the time, the goofy...you know what I mean. I made one for my daughter's wedding and even though it was only 6 years ago, I actually stamped "sugar and spice and everything nice" across two 12 x 12 pages. Gag. So I forgot about that and just continued putting prints in albums chronologically. I did keep hoarding scrapbook supplies mind you...

Plain old albums had been working for me until I could no longer get this same album from Target (why, why does everything I love get discontinued???). I decided to give the Becky Higgins Project Life system a chance. The kit comes with album pages, journalling cards and coordinated papers. It didn't really thrill me. But here it is August and I do not have one picture in an album for 2011. I pulled out the kit and started, then got going and now it is all I can think about. I added papers that go with everything but are more muted and less modern.

Now I love it. I do have to edit the number photos I use which is good for me.

Editing...good.

I just wanted you to know about this system if you don't have the desire to scrapbook from scratch but want a nice cohesive system. In case you are considering it, realize the products are to be released in October and they will sell out.

Congratulations to Debe Leone!!!!!!!! Email me at Rpaulklthomas at aol.com with your address and I will get those right out to you. I will do another earring give-away in September.

As always, my deepest thanks for coming here!!!

Dress Me Up in Modge Podge

For a non-scrapbooker, I certainly take a lot of classes at our scrapbook store, The Paper Crown. My peer pressure source, I mean friend, Jemellia , and I took the Dress Canvas Class. Here is the instigator, I mean beloved friend now.

Our teacher was Jackie Peters and her work is so great. I have no links for her. Rather than sitting at the computer, she just puts her head down and creates. Hmmm, interesting concept...

Getting started. Can you smell that Modge Podge?

Did you see my shoes?

Along the way.

There were name tags and cookies. Jackie made these (over-achiever).

Although we had time, I completed mine at home as the work just screamed for this picture of a certain little girl that hung the moon.

She was so mad when I told her she was cute and I wanted a picture. She is trying to hold on to her anger whilst in those pink gingham shoes with her little bloomer leg pouched up that mean wee thigh.

My work lives in the laundry which is a very revered place. Come in. Its where I work happily at the computer to the sounds and smells of laundry.

I love laundry.

And there is my dress canvas.

Thanks for taking this class all over again with me. I find the odor of glue quit irresistible. Did I say that out loud? I meant do not huff glue, please.