A Creative Legacy

Creativity is such an important part of my life and I often think about how grateful I am to have grown up around so many people who valued and exemplified creativity. Through their example I learned the importance of being creative, and was able to develop my own talents and the desire to always try new things. 

This post is going to be a little different than what I normally share here, no project or tutorial, but I wanted to write a little bit about the influence of a very important person in my life and my family's. Today is my Grandpa's 85th birthday. 

Table made by my Grandpa when he was a teenager, boat also made by him. 

My Grandpa is one of those creative influences in my life. He worked in construction for as long as I can remember and was always making things with wood. As a kid we used to come to Utah to visit my grandparents a few times a year and my Grandpa had a workshop in their basement. I loved walking through that workshop. Seeing all of the tools and wondering what each of them did, the smell of wood and sawdust. I was fascinated by all of it. 

For each of the granddaughters my Grandpa made us a cedar chest for our 13th birthday. Each one was different and unique. 

Cedar Chests made for me and my sisters for our 13th birthdays

He has made some really cool wooden toys too, and a couple years ago my parents asked him to make nativity puzzles that they gave each of us for Christmas. My kids love playing with it at Christmas time. 

Grasshopper toy made by my Grandpa

Another thing I really admire about my Grandpa is how he has always been so quick to use his talents and skills to help others. When my siblings, cousins, and I started buying our own homes he was always willing to step in and help fix things up. He came and made a mantle for our fireplace soon after we moved into our house, and did the same for my sister and brother. 

My sister's mantle and hearth built by Grandpa 

He has helped with so many projects, whether they be big home remodel projects or helping one of our boys cut out a Pinewood Derby car. Whether it is family, friends, neighbors, or people from church, he is always serving. 

My brother's mantle and hearth built by Grandpa, train on mantle also made by him

I feel like his desire to create has been passed on through my dad, who also has worked in construction most of my life. I have watched him build buildings, remodel our home, and work with wood and other materials to make cool things.

Photo holder made by my Grandpa 

In the next generation, my siblings and I, there is also a lot of creativity and I feel like a lot of that is a result of growing up in a home where people were always making things. I spent lots of time as a teenager cutting things out of wood with my dad in our garage, or sewing or crocheting with my mom. Now that desire to make things has turned into this blog where I am able to share the things I create. 

Clockwise from top left: My brother and sister in cosplay they made, painting by my brother, my dad's most recent construction project- the Oklahoma City Temple, concrete table made by my dad

I share the things that I create all of the time but I have siblings who are also amazingly creative. They recover furniture, paint and draw, sew, put together parties, work with plants, make costumes and more. 

Clockwise from top left: Game of Thrones party by my brother, embroidered felt camel ornaments made by my sister, drawing by my brother, chair recovered by my sister

I hope that we can all follow the example of my Grandpa and use our talents and creativity to bless the lives of those around us like he has done for the past 85 years. 

My Grandpa, my Dad (his youngest son), and my Dad's 9 kids

Happy Birthday Grandpa! We love you.