Thursday, September 18, 2008

make art... will travel


I came across some wonderful, wooden caddies at our neighborhood farm last week. A ninety year old man had made a larger, rougher version for picking raspberries. I fell in love with them right away and asked if he'd consider constructing a custom one for me. I wanted it smaller, smoother and enclosed (the original ones had slats). He said he'd be happy to give it a try, and called me yesterday to say it was ready. I discovered that this venerable craftsman founded our village's local hardware store nearly seventy years ago. He still has a little workshop and calls himself a hobby woodworker. I think I fell in love with this little old man as much as my caddy. Oh, did I gush on and on in my enthusiastic maya*made way when I first laid my eyes on it. I didn't want to overwhelm him, but he seemed so pleased with my exuberance and told me to stop calling him Mister___, but to call him by his first name, Art. You've got to be kidding, I thought. ART! How perfect...my stencil was waiting at home with the letters we'd already selected...I kid you not! So this is Art's ART caddy and I'm quite pleased with it...so is my daughter. My son has put in a request for one too. Actually, Art got an order for three more today. Each member of my family will find a special use for their personal caddy. My daughter had already chosen what hers would be for. We love to be able to take projects to different locations...sunny spots in our house, the lake, but mostly our backyard. Having your supplies in one portable carrier makes it simple to pack up and walk out.

Here's what we've included:


There is a calm and relaxed focus that seems to come from working in the fresh air and hearing the sounds of birds calling... leaves rustling. We only have a a matter of weeks left before the temperatures make it uncomfortable to sit outside. We'll still run and romp when the thermometer drops, but we are treasuring the sweetness of sitting at our picnic table.


You never know when a little divine inspiration will strike. Please consider packing up some art or crafting supplies (and if you have any, your lovely children ) and taking it...making it outside this weekend!

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18 comments:

  1. I love the caddy!
    I am proud to say that we are heading the outside crafting weather here..! Spring is coming this sunday, along with Oz's birthday...

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  2. sweet! i love the Art/ART thing. very serendipitous!

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  3. AAAHHHH! Trug's my favorite word and my favorite things... what a great post!

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  4. Thanks so much! My kids made versions of this in wood class and I was totally at a loss of what to do with them...they were supposed to be tool boxes but the tools didn't fit :( This would be so great and they'd get to use their projects.

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  5. I love caddys like those! Art could go into business!

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  6. I have a couple of "trugs" laying around that the boys made from woodworking kits. Now I know what to do with them! I LOVE that you are a gusher too! And I'm sure Art is probably tickled pink to making these.
    Can't believe you are an amateur seamstress - amazing. And the monster art is really cool, I really like the 3-D effect.

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  7. How sweet! What a great little caddy and a great story. Love the letters you put on it. This made me smile this morning.

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  8. What a great idea to take art into nature! Lovely.

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  9. So sweet. It's a great idea! Oh, I would love raspberry picking with one too. Perfect.

    ... and about the paint, you're so right. A good distance would make it work just fine! She'd love it. Just turned 2 and looking for stuff to do!

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  10. Thanks for loving the caddy with me..."trug" is such a good name, isn't it. I'm really enjoying the image of putting to use the ones your children have made.

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  11. I loved the photos before the post...now I love them more and "ART" too.

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  12. Nice caddy Maya. I love that its wood and ART label. I've been using plastic ones that your supposed to put your cleaning supplies in ...yours are much nicer.
    Thanks for the comments on my blog they are greatly appreciated!!

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  13. You just reminded me I have a caddy somewhere in the house waiting for a redo into my craft caddy! (I got it at a garage sale...it is a hideous yellow, and there are these cheesy plastic things glued to the side, except where they have fallen off, leaving a glue spot, rofl...when I bought it, the lady was enthusing about how gorgeous it was! lol)

    And love the story about Art! I am a gusher, too, and embarrass the living daylights outta dh...and most of my friends, too. :p

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  14. This put a smile on my face. It's charming!

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  15. hi I have just discovered your blog and love it so much! I love this caddy and have a couple of similar items around my house, one mum painted (folk art) when my first daughter was born 16 years ago (for safety pins etc)and I think it would make a PERFECT art caddy for my youngest daughter, we are always looking for more storage for her art supplies, thank you so much for the idea!!

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