A budding artist, Karen was given free-reign to create as a child…and create she did! Clay, fabric, crayons & paint…she experimented with it all and made so many wonderful things!
Recognizing her talents, her parents encouraged her in every way they could…especially at Christmas time…
Large picture windows in the front of their Phoenix home were her canvas at Christmas…decorated for the neighborhood to see!
Karen was very proud of her work—and so were her parents! I love the photos I have of her posing in front of her festive masterpieces!
I know that she would practice her pictures on paper before committing them to glass, because I found one of those paper pictures this summer at my mother’s house…the only one surviving, I would imagine…
Looking through a cupboard with Mom, I found a large, folded piece of thick paper…browned and tattered at the edges…a bit of yellowed tape still remaining on a couple of corners…
…as soon as I carefully opened it up, I recognized it immediately from the many photos I’d seen… “Oh, Mom! One of your Christmas window paintings!”, I said…she just smiled…
“Can I take it home with me?”, I asked… “I’d love to hang it up at Christmas time!”
“Oh, you wouldn’t hang up that old thing”, she smilingly protested…
…but I did!
Hanging in my kitchen, a warm reminder of Christmas past, when my mother was given the gift of expressing her talents for all to see by her loving parents…
…a wonderful gift, indeed.
Merry Christmas, Mom!
And the happiest of Happy Birthday wishes to my beautiful daughter Chelsea!
How is it possible that I’ve been a mother for 22 years already?! You are the most amazing young woman and I love you so…
Julie
Oh you are so lucky to have all those pictures that capture those most important days in a Creative Girl life! Oh pleas tell your Mom you shared it with us and we Love it! Merry Christmas to you and your Mom ox
ReplyDeleteWow it's wonderful you have all these neat photos and memories I love it.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas if I don't get back here before.
WOW! what a great window artist! I'm so glad you have one of your Mom's original AND have it hanging in a place of honour!
ReplyDeleteFabulous to now have a picture of both your Mother AND your (same age as she was)daughter by the same drawing. (sigh) Wonderful!
Aloha Julie,
ReplyDeleteYou always share such wonderrful treasures and memories wth us. Thank you so much.
Hope you're having a wonderful holiday season. Have a very Merry Christmas!
xoxo
Hi Julie,
ReplyDeleteHow very talented your mom was as a child. Beautiful windows, and I just love all the photos showing us her artwork. So wonderful that you now have an actual part of that.
I hope you and your family enjoy a very Merry Christmas! Blessings also for the New Year!
Maureen
Julie this is such a precious post of your darling Mother and her artwork! She was good! I hope she kept it up through the years. So sweet to see your daughter standing by the painting. I am sure your Mother is saying, how time flies. Very sweet!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas dear,
Maryjane
xox
How wonderful that you have all these photos of your mom with her Christmas Creations through the years! What a talent and it's clearly a talent you have inherited! Love all that you create and write. I cherish the card that you sent me for Christmas a few years back. It is a much beloved Christmas decoration in our home always. Love and hugs and Merry Christmas wishes to all the Campbells! xxoo
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post - great to have a physical reminder of family memories.
ReplyDeleteLiz @ Shortbread & Ginger
What a wonderful treasure that you found! I definitely see where you get your creativity and talent. What a great gift your grandparents gave your mom, a chance to nourish her creativity.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie... what a precious early Christmas gift you received, it is beautiful!... stopping by to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!... xoxo Julie Marie
ReplyDeleteWow Julie! It is so very apparent where you get you creative talent from. How wonderful that your mom was encouraged to create these beautiful paintings each year. And how great that you found one of those drawings and are able to display it and have all those fabulous pictures of your mom and the family with her Christmas creations. Absolutely fantastic! Happy holidays to you and yours, Tammy
ReplyDeleteHello Julie
ReplyDeleteI'm not able to get into blogland much nowadays, but wanted to pop in to wish you and yours a Very Happy Christmas and to thank you for your friendship in 2011 which I really do appreciate.
B x
Julie it appears you are a gift to each other. To delight and share in such talent and treasures. From someone who was talent was shhed as a teen and a child I treasure each moment and encourage my children to express their. Merry Christmas dear Friend...Renee
ReplyDeleteOh, Julie,
ReplyDeleteYou touch my heart to the core. That is a beautful story of your mom and you told it so well. I just could not wait to hear who this was about!!!
Hugs,
Suz
Julie, this is a beautiful post, I think the loveliest of all this Holiday season! I just lost my Mom to breast cancer this last July and she was the creative force in my life and just like your Grandparents supported your Mom's creative passion, my Mom did for me. Although Mom is gone now that passion will be with me forever and it was truly a gift you gave me with this post, that I not forget this gift I was given! Thank you for sharing your Mom's story this season... it meant ever so much to me!
ReplyDeleteCrafty Hugs,
Pendra
pendrasplace.blogspot.com
Reading this gladdened my heart and made my eyes water! - a truly lovely post and a real privilege to read
ReplyDelete