Craft by Eliza

Eliza is creative. I’m realizing it more and more. It’s a part of who she is and how she came. She’s never bored, doesn’t have to be entertained, and she’s always making something. A game, a craft, a story. Just yesterday I asked her if she wanted to read with me and she thought about it for half a second then said, “No. I want to make something.” It’s her favorite pastime. She likes to make things in her head, on paper, out of boxes, out of fabric. If I giver her what she asks for (and sometimes that’s a big IF), it morphs into something rather fantastic. In recent months she has made books, kites, a car, an adult-sized caterpillar, several kinds of self-portraits in various mediums, and clothes for her stuffed animals.

A couple weeks ago, I was in the living room talking with my mother, oblivious to the silent crafting going on the girls’ bedroom. When Eliza walked out she was holding this.

“It’s you Mommy! she shouted

“Wow! How Cool!” I said. “Did you make these at school?”

“No” she said.

“Did you see them on the computer?” I questioned further.

“No. I made it up myself” she said, as a matter of fact.

Pretty cute, don’t you think? She calls them Silverware People.

A bit later, I asked her, “So… what if… I posted some of your crafts on my blog? We could call them ‘Crafts by Eliza’ and you could help me write the instructions. Maybe other kids would like to make some of your things.” She thought this was a great idea. So below are her step-by-step instructions. (She dictated. I typed.)

Supplies needed: Paper, scissors, tape, stickers, and plastic silverware (two spoons, two forks).

1. Cut or break the spoon right by the circle to make a head.

2. Cut a triangle out of paper for the body or dress. Put stickers all over the paper. (She used butterfly stickers.)

3. Cut an oval out of paper for the face (same size as spoon). Draw a face on the paper and tape it to the cut spoon.

4. Tape two forks for arms onto the triangle. Tape two spoons for legs onto the triangle.

5. Make sure you do this in a secret place. Then go show it to your mom!

School is out for us. Summer is here and the schedule is suddenly wide open. Hurray! I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks. But honestly, someone needs to send Mother Nature a memo. We’re ready to pack away our winter coats, don some shorts, and pull out the wading pool!

And one other exciting sidenote. Doug is taking the week off. So I am too (from blogging and a few other things) – since we have all this time to play hard, stay up a little later, sleep in a little longer, and enjoy some family time.

Here’s to Summer and the hope that you are stocking up on popsicles and folding shorts instead of sweaters. I’ll catch you in a week or so friends.

Cheers!