Grudge Tuesday: The Grudge That Wouldn't Be

Mother and Child
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

I have been waiting to grudge about my father for awhile because I didn't want to have every grudge be about my family. This is the man that hasn't cared to meet my children, his only grandchildren, until recently. Like today, for example, he met my oldest son for the first time. They got along well. It was pretty uneventful. Thank goodness a four-year-old doesn't know how weird it is that he had never met his grandfather — a grandfather that lives in the same town! The baby got to meet dear ol' dad a little earlier because he was allowed to go to the reconnecting-after-six-years dinner, since he is still a wee bairn attached to my boob. Hey, at least my father has always been pro breastfeeding. Anyway, it's a long weird story about generational dysfunction, which I won't bore you with. But, damn him for taking the wind out of my grudge.

Christmas Stocking Wall

Christmas Stocking Wall
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

Thirty-eight years of Christmas stockings. Can you spot the decades. Almost all are handmade by family or friends. I think there are four store-bought ones. Can you tell which one my four-year-old had to have?

Tis the Season

mele kalikimaka
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

This one is courtesy of my sister and brother-in-law — it's their Christmas card. They got the idea from MSL last year, but wanted a word more complicated than Joy, they picked Mele Kalikimaka. Not everyone is as lucky as I, to have such a great brother-in-law, one that is willing to wear hot pink stretch pants for a photo shoot.

Fa la la la la la la la la.

Advent Calendars 1976

Advent Calendars 1976
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

I was going to put together the list of all the advent loveliness out there, but Steph beat me to it. This photo is from Christmas 1976—I was eight and my sister was three. We're standing in our white, faux-wood paneled living room next to our Advent calendars that my mom put together with something like interfacing and Liquid Embroidery. I got to draw the scene on the top of mine, but mom did the Santa for sis. Each day had a present tied with ribbon to a little ring. I remember exactly what the rings looked like, how the ribbon felt, how cold the linoleum was. I probably examined each present for hours, never sneaking a peek, although I did do that with the big presents. I think the secret was that they were wrapped well and had lots of ribbon to keep it secure to the calendar.

It will be a year or two before I get it together to do an Advent calendar for my boys. So far I only have one present for Christmas, let alone Advent!

Go check out Kim's photo that my four-year-old thought was me.

Craft Whore or Madonna?

CRAFTWhore
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

Once upon a time this crazy smart and talented friend of mine thought we should have our own alterna-craft fair — so we did. Her handle (how 70s is that?) was Craft Whore — mine, she determined, was Craft Slut. That didn't seem right for me (I'm much too prudish), so it was quickly changed to Craft Meanie, which is more in line with my Spice name, Grumpy Spice. Anyway, since I can't post any of my holiday crafts I decided to pull this out of the archives. It's Craft Whore's felt portrait that I made for our online craft bios.

I started by taking a photo for reference. When I took the photo she just happened to be holding her baby, who just happened to hold up her hand like baby J. Divine craft inspiration? I think so. At the time I was also having some difficulty coming to terms with the name Craft Whore (remember, I'm a prude). How was I going to present Craft Whore to the world, and in felt no less? But, then, I realized that she could be both, Craft Whore and Craft Madonna — and, that it's quite common to have a complex about this.

I got to use some of my long repressed soft sculpture skills from way back (I won 1st place at the county fair when I was about 12). I used a couple layers of felt for the cheeks (she's cheeky) and trimmed the edges with an Exacto knife for roundness. The halos are vintage German goldleaf glued to felt.

I don't know how to end this post except to ask: Which one are you?

Away From Family

Bird and Flowers (proof)
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

What to say, and how to say it? Isn't that always the question? I wanted to write a post about my good Sunday, which included two different two-hour sessions away from my family — this being quite a luxury to me — a first since my son was born seven months ago. But, my thoughts are with the Kim family. I'm distracted, hopeful. We have children the same ages. I can't imagine.

Stripy Afghan Work in Progress

Stripy Afghan Work in Progress
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

Seems I'm late for everything. It's rare that I can get a Work in Progress post on the right day. I also have blogger's guilt for not being able to attend to comments in a manner I would like. I wish I could keep up correspondences with everyone. I LOVE this crafty blog community — I hope I'm not offending anyone by forgetting to respond to a question in the comments section, or by not responding to each comment with an email. I do what I can do. I hope that's enough.