Nice to be back home again on a Saturday morning. Up early making cupcakes with Ellie, drinking coffee that my husband made, in a cup my mom threw.This is the cup.
My mom made it in 2007. She's been doing pottery since I was little (and I am currently in my early to mid 40s). There's a lot going for this cup other than the fact my mom made it: it is nicely made, a pretty color and holds a perfect amount of coffee (although some weekend mornings I need 2 cups.)
It's nice to use something that my mom made - it feels connected to her. And I like that it' is used in everyday life. This is not something you take out only when it's Thanksgiving. This is something I try to use (if it's clean) on any day I don't need to use a travel mug. It may not have been made specifically to be an heirloom, but might end up as one if I don't break it by accident before then. Actually, maybe I should ask her to make another one just like it so no one has to fight over this one.
My parents are both make things and it is neat to live in a makers' house. They made things like coffee cups and curtains, desks and shelves. In almost every room, you can look and see something they figured out and put together. I remember noticing it one day when I was in high school or college and thinking it was neat. I brought it with me - I like that you can look around my house and see things that I made and we are using. You can look around my house and even see things that my mom and dad made and that my grandfather made (I may be stereotyping, but aircraft mechanics are not stingy with the fasteners. I will show you sometime.)
One of the examples that makers-as-parents set is that trying stuff is good. They can also set the example that coming up with a plan before you start is good too. There's a time and a place for each - it depends on if it is important to end up with a certain thing when you're done. Oh and other lessons: there are times when neatness counts, sometimes it doesn't matter if you're doing something wrong as long as you stick to being consistently wrong in the same way.
Then there's the practicing the craft. All through my childhood there would be one or two nights a week for like an 8 or 12 or 16 week session where she would be at pottery or upholstery or something. I think she started taking pottery with some of her friends at a high school's community education program - probably on a lark. She stayed with it. She's studied at a few different studios. Due to family situations and scheduling, she was on hiatus for a while. But, she is back to taking pottery again and she enjoys it. This is great to see.
1 comment:
this is so marvelous. :)
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