Friday, May 17, 2013

Common Ground: Crafting




My mom and I are different in many ways. 

Many of those ways are small. She wears make-up, I wear sunscreen. She curls and sprays her hair... every day, I brush mine... most days. She dons coordinating outfits, I try to remember to wear solids with a print. Her coffee table is covered with lacy doilies under pretty things covered with glass couches, mine is covered with stacks of sometimes overdue library books. 

These little things have nothing to do with our 30 year age difference; she has always been the way she is, even with three little people underfoot. 

We differ on religion, politics, and some other biggies too. 

But for all of our differences we share some very important things in common. 

Along with loving your family, treating others with kindness, holding your tongue if you don't have anything nice to say, and other aspects of common human decency, we also share the love of making. 

When I was growing up she was always crafting in some way or another. I can't even begin to count the hours spent at her side while she glued, painted, or arranged. Or record the many craft fairs we attended together both as sellers and shoppers. 

This is a language we can speak together. 

As you may have guessed already, we create in very different styles and have extremity different tastes. She favors lace, intricate beading, and steampunk. I am drawn to linen, clean lines, and practicality. 

But we support each other in our creating and always have an encouraging word when sharing our newest creations or designs. I know my style is not her style. I know she would add a row of ruffly lace or a cluster of shiny beads to most of my creations if she were making the same pattern. But she is always respectful of my aesthetic. She is constructive and helpful when I need guidance, without pushing her personal style into the design. This means the world to me. 

It also means the world to see her creating with the kids when she comes to visit. They share their creations over Skype at least once a week, so it is thrilling to watch them side-by-side at the table brainstorming ideas, making lists of supplies, problem solving, creating together. Just as when I was young, she is helping to foster the idea that you can make what you want, and make it just the way you want.... even if your ideas don't work out the first time, even if you have to ask for help, even if your hands can't quite do what you want them to do. You do your best, work together, and most importantly keep creating!

So for all of our differences, and there are many, there is common ground and we tread there every chance we get!

15 comments:

  1. Lovely post Dawn!!
    And just on a sidenote: i never brush my hair... hee hee

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    1. Thank you Sylvia!
      Happy I am not alone in not brushing my hair much! ;-)

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  2. lovely, lovely thoughts. It is so important for our children to see us value our own parental relationships...as well as foster their own with our parents. I love the photograph of the young and old hands intertwined. xxoo

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    1. Thanks Rebecca.
      I think it is especially important when our views on so many big life issues are different.
      I love the relationship they have with their grandparents. I missed out on knowing my grandparents so it is really important to me to foster these relationships.

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  3. What a lovely post, Dawn. Nothing like crafting and creating to bring families together :)

    Happy weekend!

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  4. Fantastic post! The last time I wore make-up was at my wedding 9 years ago when I went to the mall and had one of the make-up selling people do it for me. :) I sometimes brush my hair too.

    Did your mom do all the lace even in Japan?

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    1. Thanks KC!
      LOL the makeup and hair brushing. For a time when I was younger my mom was one of those department store makeup artists. She loved it!
      Yes... she found a way to add it into even the simple aesthetics of Japanese decorating! ;-)
      And... How I wish I had some of the furniture pieces that came home with us from Japan! Over the years most have been sold in favor of other decorating styles but she still has a few I love.

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  5. Such a special connection to share. No make up here either, don't even own any :)

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    1. I love the connection! Makes me realize how much I missed out on not having a relationship with my grandparents. Those relationships are to be cherished.

      I don't own any either.
      Some time back the little gal wanted "egyptian" eyes so we purchased some eye liner but I think that is gone now too.

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  6. Such a beautiful post! It reminds me of my mom and her creativity which both my sister and I inherited. Differences are good things.

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    1. Yes. You did!
      Differences are good. My mom calls them the spice of life!
      Thank you!

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  7. what a lovely post! And how special to share "making" with your mom. I share that in common with my nom too and yes, we have different taste as well. It's funny how I will see fabric and just go gaga over it and my mom will say "oh, thats nice."

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    1. Thanks Summer!
      Yes. We do the same thing. So funny!

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