A Belated Father's Day Tribute

Father's Day weekend was so busy that I did not have time to put together the little post that I want to share with you in honor of my dad.

Many crafters often talk about their mothers, grandmothers, aunts, or other significant women as the persons who nurtured their creative spirit as children and taught them the skills to sew, embroider, knit, or some other artistic endeavor.

I did learn to crochet with my mother as we took a class together when I was a kid, and she encouraged me to take art lessons (though I decided not to do so -- a decision I regret because I cannot draw worth a hoot).

But I believe that the person in my life who most nurtured my artistic side was my father, and I'm sure that it is he who passed down the "crafty" gene from his side of the family tree.

 I also get my love of collecting from him, as he was the first person taught me how fun it is to identify potential collectibles. He's still collecting various things today and we are now in competition for the coveted title of Best Costume Jewelry Collection Ever.

My father took many different classes as a child and teen where he could work with his hands: woodworking, working with clay and plastics, metal work. He made the requisite ashtrays and the like, but not much of his work has survived.

 I do have photos of couple of his handmade work completed around the age of 12 that have survived being tossed in a box and forgotten over the years.

This atomic age 1950s plastic salt and pepper shaker is unusually shaped, cut and layered by hand, and very cool. This photo doesn't do it justice and unfortunately, time has stained it a bit. You can see the opening for the pepper side in this picture:

This little piggy cutting board, also cut by hand, is one my favorite things:

So let's give three cheers for all the crafty dads out there! And happy (belated) Father's Day to my own dear dad.