a peek inside the fishbowl

1 | Gretchen Rubin

January 28th, 2007 at 12:24 pm

Hi Andrea! It’s Gretchen from the Happiness Project blog. I just discovered your kind words about my blog — you made ME very happy! and I’m thrilled to find your site. So much great stuff here. You’ve inspired me to start taking more photographs and posting them (I finally learned how to do this, but haven’t done much). Ok, I’m off to spend the whole morning in your archives…thanks and be happy!

2 | andrea

January 29th, 2007 at 10:29 am

Gretchen - (How can I say this without sounding mushy?) Thank you for your comment, I do love your blog and read it faithfully. I’m glad you’re able to find something that inspires you here! :)

3 | Miss Vicky

January 29th, 2007 at 12:09 pm

Just looking at that picture makes me happy. It’s a beautiful day to be outside in the snow, and the sun shining on the happy face makes me want to smile as well.

4 | Claudette

January 29th, 2007 at 9:29 pm

This is a nice smile! I could use one, I’m in the midst of a nice black mood…blah. Your girls are so very creative, just like you!

Question: do you recall if you did crafts with the girls when they were toddlers? I would assume so since you seem a very creative person. If you did, and if you blogged about it, would you recall where (I mean, in the archives)? I’m currently exposing my 22-month old to paint, specifically potato stamps to make cards. He lasts longer than I thought he would and we do a few more each day, but he’ll probably want to do something different soon. My brain is kind of dry these days…any ideas or suggestions?

By the way, I appreciate Mark’s response to my post the other day. We crafty types should be living in mansions so we can keep our stuff, and display it. One thing I remember reading someplace was to take some of the kids’ best artwork and have it laminated to make place mats. Just an idea…

I enjoy visiting your blog. Perhaps I will post Benjamin’s potato stamp cards on my blog later this week and share our efforts. If you’re interested, I’ll come back and let you know.

5 | andrea

January 29th, 2007 at 10:14 pm

I was working full time when Sarah was born. Emma was two at the time. We were fortunate they both went to very good daycare, and they were always coming home with interesting art projects.

Potato stamps are great for kids. I will dig around my archives to see if any other good ideas avail themselves to me. :)

I’ve been thinking… creativity doesn’t just come by doing art stuff with the kids. I think that raising a creative person comes from a variety of things:

1) Reading! Bunnies who talk, cats who disappear at will, everlasting chewing gum… Books cultivate the imagination. Read at every possible opportunity.

1b) A word about television and film. Pick GOOD television shows. GOOD films. Let them watch and don’t feel guilty. When they’re done watching, pack them up and throw them outdoors for a snootful of fresh air and exercise.

2) Enjoy nature and let them get dirty. Plant a seed, look for worms, turn rocks over and see what’s underneath. Encourage questions: why do you think the leaves are so green? Why are there ants on the peony? Why is the bird playing in the dust? Do you think fairies use that mushroom as a rest stop?

3) Play unconventionally. Make a postcard together and show him how to mail it to a friend.
Or write a story together (he dictates, you type!). Explain that it needs a beginning, a middle and an end. Let him illustrate. Share it with friends.

4) Let them see YOU being creative every day. Whether it’s gardening, taking photographs, painting, scrapbooking, writing… these are all creative projects that shouldn’t be set aside because you’re a busy parent. Don’t save your sewing project until after they’ve gone to bed. They should see you doing it. And loving it. :)

5) What do you tell your children to do when they’re bored? I send them to find a piece of paper and a pen and ask them to draw me something.

There’s scads more I can write on this topic. I’ll stop there for now. :)

re: Your other comment about our craft storage. Mark is right. We have stuff everywhere. It tends to overtake our office (I have a “dresser” thing which is full of paints, papers, stamps, ink and other bits and bobs). You don’t see it because I choose not to show it! No, seriously, we parents have to be ruthless with the artwork that comes from school. Especially the 3D art. There are very few creations I’ve kept. In terms of paper, I only keep the very best pieces. We have a large magnet board in the hallway upstairs that’s specifically for artwork. It doesn’t get updated as often as I’d like. But the girls are allowed to tape their art to their bedroom walls. They’re happy with that.

p.s I would love to see Benjamin’s potato stamping. Please let me know when they’re ready to show. :)

6 | Jenn

January 30th, 2007 at 9:48 am

Claudette- My two year old and I had a great afternoon “colouring” the back yard last week. Using a number of small spray bottles and squeeze bottles, we lightly tinted some water with food colouring and went to town! The recent snow has since covered up our art work but it was a great activity.

7 | Chantal

January 30th, 2007 at 9:20 pm

I have one for Monday’s installment. It’s even on video! I hope I don’t forget.

As for crafts - you know I’m not crafty, but holy cow, my kids are! Sometimes I think my not trying has made them more creative. They will use literally ANYTHING to make stuff at home. Boxes, tape, stamps, stickers, paints, thread, yarn and on and on. Usually they just throw the stuff on the table and get to work!