Old Friends
/Ron and I moved to Kaysville in October 1986. Our oldest daughter was just five months old. We were blessed to build a brand-new home that we lived in for 21 years. Much longer than we ever anticipated. To qualify for the loan, we had to cut two feet off each side of the house. This home was tiny, around 1,682 square feet, but not all of that was finished when we first moved in. It was three levels, called a California split. You walked through the front door into the living room, then you could walk upstairs to an open kitchen/dining area, two bedrooms and one tiny bathroom. The basement was unfinished, with the exception of one room we finished for my sewing room, which took up half the basement. There was a three-foot-tall crawl space under the main level living room for storage. And Ronnie was thrilled with his two-car garage. So when I say tiny, I mean super tiny! When we added two more kids to the mix, we had no room to put them other than upstairs in cribs next to the dinner table, in the open kitchen/dining area that overlooked the living room separated by a half-wall. After a year of this, and me on my last nerve of crying babies, we were able to finish the basement to add two more tiny bedrooms. The laundry room was downstairs and it too was unfinished. Many years later we eventually added a shower, toilet and sink to the laundry room downstairs. We completed the finish work on that bathroom after we moved out and prepared the house to be sold. This picture is how the house looks today, not much has changed other than the planters on the front porch, the sign next to the door, and the raised planter bed under the front window.
Shortly after moving in, I met the most wonderful woman named Barbara. She is one of those happy, positive people you instantly connect with! Through the years we have kept in touch off and on, but mostly it’s been running into each other at the grocery store not even once a year.
Last summer she called and asked if I would come and teach a floral class to her quilting group. They have met monthly for years, but once a year they gather to make a Christmas craft. She and another sweet neighbor, Marian, came to my home and we visited as if time had never passed.
They had a specific faux Christmas greenery arrangement in mind, and I went to work gathering the materials and putting them together in individual kits.
Barbara set up tables in her garage, her friend from out of town came and cooked a delicious lunch for us, as well as participating in the floral arranging class. I even came home with a booklet of all the recipes from the yummy lunch!
We were working on a tight budget, and I wanted to put as much toward quality faux greenery as possible. That meant we had to come up with a lovely, yet inexpensive vase. J & J Nursery in Layton, Utah carries a large variety of clay containers made in Germany. I love to use them because they are smooth, take paint nicely, and the price is right. Chinoiserie vases have been popular the past couple of years, but are pricey. I had seen some videos where people have taken pretty paper napkins, and covered vases and seashells to give a Chinoiserie type look using Mod-Podge.
After painting the dark brown clay vases with my go to “Heritage White Rustoleum” spray paint from Home Depot, I went with my favorite “Hester & Cook” brand dinner napkins, and the “Matte Finish Mod-Podge” from Hobby Lobby. The “Hester & Cook” napkins are nice quality, and the prints are lovely too. Here is the link to the current designs available from “Hester and Cook” on Amazon.
This turned into a labor of love as I soon discovered the time it would take to cover all the vases for the class. The napkins tear easily once they are wet from the Mod Podge, but it didn’t take long to figure out the perfect technique to accomplish the task.
Oftentimes in teaching, I discover that I too am the student as well. I love the challenge of learning new things, and figuring out how to make them work for the project I am creating from scratch.
It was so much fun to go back to my old neighborhood and re-connect with these dear women after more than 18 years. One of my favorite things when I teach a class is to see how each person uses the same exact materials, yet each arrangement is uniquely their own. There were 12 different arrangements made that day, each one different, and each a creation of beauty.
Barbara’s family does a craft on Thanksgiving Day after dinner. They have more energy than I do! I just want to pass out on the couch after I’m done cooking and hosting Thanksgiving dinner! 😊 She wanted to offer this same craft to her family.
Knowing they would not have as much time as we had with her quilting group, I put the kits together in packets again, covered all the vases for her, and pre-cut all the greenery adding the floral picks as well.
I also prepped each vase with the Sahara Foam, made specifically for faux and dry floral arrangements.
Having done all this ahead of time, made it easy for them to open their packet and assemble their arrangement.
Because Barbara and her daughter had already made one, they were able to teach their family members without any help from me.
Barbara sent me this text afterward: “Everyone had a blast, and were highly successful with their arrangement. I mean honestly sweetheart, who couldn’t win with how you prepared everything for us. You absolutely set us up to succeed.” My favorite part of this arrangement was the addition of the fairy lights. I try to add some form of LIGHT to as many projects as I can. Nothing dresses up a project like a strand of tiny, battery operated, “warm white” fairy lights from Amazon. I’m picky about the lights I use. Here’s the link to my favorite ones! They come in a four pack. You will LOVE them!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0XUF5P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
Last week, Barbara and her daughter Kari, came and brought me the kindest thank you gifts and note! Kari brought me two boxes of hand-dipped chocolates – one milk chocolate and one dark chocolate, my favorite!
Barbara contacted Ron to find out my shoe size and then made me a pair of hand-knit slippers just like the ones my Aunt Leone taught me to make when I was little complete with pom-poms on top!
The memories that brought back filled my heart with LIGHT, and I will cherish these each time I wear them! I pretty much haven’t taken them off since she gifted them to me! As I sit here crafting my next big project, which I will be posting about next month, I look at my cute slippers and not only do they warm my feet, but also my heart!
I love sharing the gifts and talents the Lord has blessed me with, and often this is in the form of teaching.
I am looking forward to more craft and floral classes in 2025, as I branch out to share the LIGHT of “Candle in the Window” with others who want to learn and discover the talents they were born with, starting with one simple project! If you’re looking for someone to come and teach a craft or floral arrangement at an upcoming party or event, DM or email me direct from the website – www.CandleintheWindow.com I would love to come help add some LIGHT and fun to your party! I can help you formulate an idea of your own, or offer suggestions for the perfect craft/floral party activity.
Have a great week, and look for a creative way to add some LIGHT to your life!
Love Ya, Les 😊