Why I became who I am

Long ago, when my sister and I began to get curious about where babies came from and finally worked up the courage to ask, my mother told us that one of us came form a thrift store and the other came from a yard sale.  Very funny, mom.  This was a perfectly fitting and hilarious answer because just about everything we wore, played with, or snuggled up to at night came from either a yard sale or what we called the "sleek boutique".  Needless to say, as we grew up, we learned from her every trick to living on a budget while still discovering the great finds that can be found from being thrifty.

I am also from a small town.  When I say small I mean that there are more cows than people, my graduating class had a whopping total of 78 kids, we call it a CRICK not a creek, and there are no stop lights within the town's borders.  Really small!  Because I was raised in one of these rare underdeveloped gems that are left in today's world, I had the privilege of being surrounded by my 100 plus person extended family and living down the road from my crafty grandma.  Whenever we went to grandma's house there was always something to make or do.  She taught me at an early age how to sew and crochet.  I still remember sitting on the davenport making chains and whining, "When will I actually make something."  Her response, of course, was patient as ever: "When I see that you've got a good chain stitch going, we can work on making something out of it."  Aunt Suzie was also a teacher of crafty ways.  She showed us how to take something simple and create beauty.  I never truly understood how valuable these little crafting lessons would be until I reached adulthood.  I hadn't crocheted since I was a kid, but when I suddenly had the urge to make precious baby items for my portraits, that chain stitch came right back to me.  When one of my students asked me to show her how to make a snowflake, I showed her how to make elaborate designs containing angels, snowmen, and various other embellishments.  Their teachings were truly a gift. 

Now, it's my turn to teach.  As I venture off on my new journey of becoming a mom, I plan to thrift and create many necessities and accessories for my beloved little one.  I hope to share thrifty tricks and creative ideas with you all so that you, too, may benefit from the wisdom that has been passed on to me.