This past weekend was one of my largest craft shows of the year. I work in the library of the house, which connects to the living room, so I get to enjoy my family the entire time. My heart melted each time Zack came over to quietly put his head on my shoulder and rub my back and check on what I was doing. When he saw I was making some little girl bracelets, he asked if he could help.
Why, of course he could, I said.
The only thing I did for the kidlet was cut the elastic or wire and glue or crimp. Zack chose all the colors and patterns, and he has a great eye for color. We quietly worked together for quite a while.
When he found my stash of ladybug beads, he got lost in them. He used every single one, even making an asymmetrical one when he didn't have enough ladybugs to finish one bracelet. I was proud of his innovation.
The first sale of the day on Friday was his ladybug bracelet. All of his bracelets, in fact, sold over the weekend. I'm not a bit surprised.
That look of quiet pride on his face when I handed him the money he earned was priceless. It wasn't a huge toothy grin, but a quiet, shy, towards-the-ground introspective grin. I know my boy well enough to know he was immensely proud, and I think I can count on him sitting beside me more often at the beading table.
Quote of the Day: Changed, but NOT Reduced
Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene and is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.
60 comments:
Precious, priceless moments. Thank you for sharing, and tell Zack mom's not the only one proud of him. :)
What a sweet sweet post :-) He must feel so good about his sales, And you must be delighted to have him working by your side. Getting the kids involved in what we do is a better feeling than a lucrative show!
Made me smile! My son is ten and is always proud to help at a show handing out cards and pointing out his favorite pieces to shoppers and often suggests coordinating earrings etc.
I think it is awesome that his bracelets all sold! Way to go!
What a wonderful story. Everything about it - spending quality time together, the lesson of hard work, the reward and the modesty. You must be so proud.
"Lori Anderson and Son" *LIKE*
My girls are currently making bracelets and Christmas Garland for our upcoming Island Art Fair. Their bracelets always sell out and I am constantly amazed at the designs and colors they put together. And they learn a lot about cash/presentation and cost of goods along the way! Thanks for sharing!
Aw, shucks! This is the sweetest story. Zack is a real sweetheart as evidenced by checking in with you to see how you're doing. And spending the time together is priceless. And what an eye for design he has. I think we have a future jewelry designer in the making.
I'd be very interested in hearing how the show went, too.
How fun to have Zack creating at your side. I would love to have seen the look on his face when you told him about the show.
Thanks for the great tips on the Earring Lunch. You've got my head spinning with ideas now. Living in a small town presents very little oportunities to sell, especially one that has been hit so hard by the economy.
By the way, I just started my own blog so I could promote my jewlery making business. One small step for me....
Have a wonderful week!
That was such a sweet post. Thanks for sharing that.
I think it is so wonderful what you did for your son. He has learned so many things, but most of all a sense of accomplishment and pride - something all children need as they are growing up. Go Zack!!
Total sweetness. I loved reading this story. What a great kid, Zack! What a great, Mom! I hope your show was totally fabulous!
Simply awesome! Being a mom and having your child/children interested in what mom is doing is the most wonderful feeling in the world, isn't it? I'm proud for you and proud of Zack!! Please tell him!
How wonderful for you and your son!! Congratulations to him on his sales, that's wonderful!
Oh, my gosh! How great for you both! I believe kids, having fewer inhibitions than adults, feel far freer to express their emotions through color, creativity, etc.
p.s., I love you called him "kidlet!" I call some of the kids at church that, too! So descriptive (heee).
I just bet he was bubbling with joy inside!
What a little sweetheart he is Lori!
Congrats to him :)
That's awesome. I can't wait for the day my daughter can help in the studio. You must be so proud :-)
Heart full, eyes teary - what LOVE! ~~T
That is absolutely wonderful! Good for you, Zack!
You've done it now Lori ~ made me cry ;-/ What a precious little boy you have...I remember those days, so long ago. My sons are mid and late 20's now and I cherish all those memories. So glad Zack joined in the fun, and made a profit! I especially love the photo of concentration with the tongue. ;D
This is so dear. Thanks for sharing a wonderful memory!
:o)
My oldest is 3 and already wants to help me. Even at 2 he was getting beads out and calling them Mummies pretties.
You've got a good lad there!
I'm so proud of him too!
And you, for letting him pitch in and work along with you. I know some parents would have shooed their child away. Kudos.
Isn't he the sweetest!!! What a dear boy. And with his mother's artistic eye! What a lovely time you must have had together.
Shirley said it perfectly. You will treasure this moments forever, so will Zack.
That just makes my heart feel so good to hear how Zach and his mummy bonded over beads. It's just icing on the cake to hear that his bracelets all sold. How immensely good that must feel for him. Well done, both of you.
That Zack is probably the most popular guy around right now! Gotta love him! :-) You all sound like a very sweet family!
That's one of the sweetest pictures I've seen in a long time! Thanks for sharing!
It is such a precious time to share something with your child. (or in my case, grandchild) I have been doodling Zentangles here lately and had the joy of Eli, my 8 year-old grandson, doodling with me. My grands also LOVE to get to clay in my studio with me. :) Such a joy for me and I hope, memory makers for the children.
Thank you for sharing this. I had a big smile on my face reading this. My boys have grown but I remember how precious these moments were. Zack will have wonderful memories too!
Awesome :) Mother and son jewelry designing team :)
A precious memory. And what a great opportunity to build Zack's self worth and creativity. I love it when my grandkids sit at the table with me.
What a lovely blog post, really enjoyed reading that.
What a lovely family you are x
Aw, precious!
dita
What a wonderful gift you have!
Fabulous pictures of Zack and priceless moments of working together to remember!! So nice that it all came from him- VERY special!! I think that he really really loves his special Mom!!!
Loved your marketing ideas!!
I hope that you had a good show!!!
I love it when my daughter joins me out in the shop. I like to encourage her by helping her with the length and finish up with a clasp. None of her works are sold but she loves to give them to her friends and keep some herself.
That's very cool. Congratulations to Zack on his sales. Pictures?
What a great time and day you two must have had. Not only should he be proud, but you should too. Enjoy, they grow up way too fast. (mine are both boys, 29 and 25 now, but they both still call their mom every week.) :)
Your son is future jewelry maker who sell lots of his works! It was nice to read about him and find beads. I hope he makes more jewelry in the future if he is interested of making...
This brings back so many memories. My son would do the same thing. I love that the tradition continues.
Awww. When my nieces started making jewelry and asked if we'd sell it it was sooo special. Can't help adoring those little ones. There are no words to describe how precious those moments are.
Lori these are the most important times in the raising of children...time together and teaching them life's great lessons. Zack is so precious and YOU should be very proud. I'm heading over to learn jewelry business tips...
They say talents come from the mother, so saying that, Zack will go far with his creative talent. Way to go Zack!
Therese
This is absolutely adorable. I would've definitely bought one of those ladybug bracelets! Good for Zack =]
This is so great, Lori. He's going to carry that pride and satisfaction forever. Good for you for being so encouraging.
My heart is warmed- just reading this.
:o) this is the best blog entry I've read all day!
What a great kid!!!
:o)
Hurray for boys who bead! I'm so happy to read this post. :)
Five years ago, when my husband and I started dating, he saw my jewelry work for the first time and didn't get that bored look most men get when they see jewelry. He was interested and excited. So I gave him some lessons and bought him some tools.
And now he makes his own jewelry and does things I haven't even mastered yet. I love that I could encourage him and watch him take off in his own direction.
Your son sounds like an awesome kid! I'm glad he has a mom who encourages his natural creativity. We all need creative mentors, I think. :)
-- Sarah
You have a beautiful son!!
That is so awesome! Moments like these will stay with you forever!
PRICELESS and a treasured memory. That story makes my heart sing.Some of my most treasured memories is the Summers that my son and I took long, long walks and talked about everything. He was 50 this Spring, and we still talk about everything
Be blessed to be a blessing
What a beautiful boy. He believes in himself because you do. Really lovely, just like you.
Cathie
Way to go, Zack!!! You make your Momma proud! :-)
Oh, Lori. I love this story - Zack takes after his creative mama, for sure!
Oh how precious! I am sure that you have a designer on your hands.
Way to go, Zack. Thank you for sharing this Lori. Would love to see a photo of those bracelets. Do you have any? Good job for you BOTH.
Oh how awesome! And to have gotten that money from you for his time and effort. I'm sure that will be a lesson for him about hard work! I would have LOVED to see some of his designs but I'm sure you were hard pressed to get your own designs completed before the show. I hope it went as well for you as it went for him.
This is such a awesome story I love how young kids want to learn jewerly they are our furture.
I love the first picture of you and Zack together and the look on his face. It's priceless. I know Zack's an artist and I'm so lucky to have a piece of his art work. I can say, "I knew him when."
I read your post on Rena's blog- I was pleasantly surprised to see it. Great contribution.
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