Favorite gifts from my childhood
It’s that time of year. The time of year to give. People give gifts as a way of showing love and affection. When we give gifts, it brings joy to the receiver and is something that usually makes us feel good. This has me thinking, what makes the perfect gift? And what did I receive as a child that I still have?
It did not take me long to find a few of my favorites that I still have. Apparently I like to hang on to things. Things like: doll clothes my grandma made, Little Golden books from my parents, and a couple dolls of the world. You might be wondering why would you keep this stuff?
My only explanation is they mean something to me. A few of the doll clothes we used as a patchwork on the back of a bench my husband and I made. The books I keep thinking I might tear apart and use in my art, but then I can’t quite bring myself to do that yet. And the dolls sit on a shelf in my studio, as a reminder of the places I dream of traveling to someday.
Then I have a few gifts from my childhood that I still use almost on a daily basis. I believe I got this hammer as a gift when my dad and grandpa built a playhouse for my sister and I. This hammer is in my studio and I use it all of the time.
Up next is a set of markers that are also in my studio. These might not really count as a a childhood gift, as I got them in college from my parents. However, that was quite a few years ago so I am counting them as a childhood gift. Any who, I use them in my sketchbooks still.
The last gift is a Santa Mug that comes out every Christmas. My sister has a matching one. Every Christmas morning, we would sit at our kitchen table drinking milk in our mugs and eating breakfast kolache (an old family recipe). I still do that every Christmas.
I hope this has you thinking about your favorite gifts and warmly reflecting on years gone by. From my studio to your hearts, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in 2021.
PS…That first picture is me opening up a wood burning set that yes, I still have and use it in my studio.