Calamity Kim

autumn holly

autumn holly, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

After a few hours of raking leaves, usually right before the blisters broke open, my Mom would always call me in to have some hot Russian Tea. I'd take off my shoes and jacket by the door and go into the "den" where she would have a small fire in the fireplace and I'd feel special and grown-up when she'd hand me the "magical elixir". I'd warm back up and daydream of Russian Princess' drinking the same tea from dainty little ornate cups...
My Mom would make the Russian Tea Mix when I was at school and I never could get her to tell me what was in it.
She would just smile and ask if it tasted all right. It sat beside the jar of Tang that made me dream of being an astronaught.
Maybe it was My Mom's wooden spoon that carried the magical something that transported me from a grumbling, cold, tired little urchin to a content, happy "little bit". Maybe all the Mom's of the world have that same magic?


Do they still make Tang?

Patchwork Hobbie

Patchwork  Hobbie, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

 

Holly Hobbie

Holly Hobbie, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

 

Holiday Hobbie

Holly Hobbie2, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

So here's a few images from my beloved Holly Hobbies Special Days book. Enjoy!

Holly Hobbie

Holly Hobbie, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

I have many talents in Arts & Crafts: Basketweaving, Paper-making, Felting, Sewing, Doll-making, Book-binding. But I sure can't draw like this! Every now and then I still try;

I buy another sketch book ( cause I usually can't find the others- they've been stuck away in a bookcase somewhere) and start to draw. I think in many ways that helps me to "see" things better when I sew or make a paper collage. That's what always grabs me- when the Artist can see their subject and make it appear before the viewer as if it were real.
Do you think Holly Hobby had a little girl dressed as a pilgrim pose for this illustration? I don't. I think she saw it in her mind and put it on paper. Lucky us.