The Richest of Experiences

The internally dark days following the passing of my grandmother June Anne Stone this past week were followed immediately with the crimes of Black Friday-- pepper-spray attacks, trampling, armed robbery. Over games and electronics. Serious crimes committed because of....stuff. Then comes Cyber Monday.  Big deals on big stuff shipped from all over the place. 

I had 10 hours on the I-65 yesterday to consider the lessons to be learned from my grandmother, or at least the ones she would want me to hold and pass on. During the times in which she had not much, she gave and gave. I often didn't understand how she chose the targets of her generosity of spirit. She was a shy activist. A quietly opinionated citizen, making small contributions in whatever way she could...even when she couldn't. She gave me skills. She gave me experiences. And I made my own opinions.  

And so today, at Wishcraft, it's Fiber Funday. Because it's a silly rhyme with Cyber Monday. Because it touches on some of our favorite media (fabric, felt, yarn...touchable things that so often bring people together.) As you make plans today to spend the bounty that we have on those we cherish, consider the gift of an experience. A creative, confidence-building almost inexplicably fun and skill-building experience at our workshop filled with laughter and color and joy.  Be it a camp for Winter Break (or 2012 on one of the days when school is closed), a gift-certificate for a Winter II Session class (starting January 23, 2012) or a small-group workshop for her and her friends, we promise to make memories.  

Feed your child's creative confidence and feed someone that needs it.  Turn Cyber Monday into food.  For today*, Fiber Funday, 10% of all part- and full-day camp fees collected using our website are donated to Common Pantry.  Let's make something and share something.  Tell a pal and let's share some food and fun.

*Expires 11:59pm tonight, Monday November 28, 2011

My 4-Letter Words

WISH is a 4-letter word. So is FEAR. And you probably have your own favorites for moments of frustration and moments of joy. Being an entrepreneur* brings with it a roller-coaster of 4-letter words, starting with RISK, TIME, and CASH on their one-way streets.  But when I STOP and allow myself the moments to GIVE back to the community that has supported us through our first 3 years (Yes! We just celebrated our 3rd Birthday!), it feels GOOD.
(Thanks to those of you that ask and remind us of the opportunity to help your school or your non-for-profit. The gift-certificates are on their way!)

At the workshop we have been preparing for a craft event next weekend (which involves a lot of MAKE) that pays us nothing but the opportunity to MEET like-minded artisans, crafticionados and their kids and KNOW, if for even just a few moments with each, the child-like excitement that comes with the experience of making something by HAND. That's RICH. We hope to see you there, where "Wish is a 4-Letter Word" will be the project we bring to the KIDS' area. You'll have to come visit to see what we mean. Have your kids start thinking about their list of 4-letter words and get there early to sign-up for a good time-slot to MEET us. 

Until then, I'll be focusing on the better half of my 4-letter word mind-stock, reminding myself that even when the entrepreneurial roller-coaster dips into places that are DARK, tomorrow there is always the GLEE, the HOPE, the LOVE (and in the case of the upcoming few months, CAMP and hopefully some LUCK) that comes with my WISH of crafting a space in which anyone can learn to feel powerfully and playfully creative, solving problems aesthetic, functional and practical. ONCE we HAVE THAT, WHAT CAN'T be DONE?  

Thanks to my daughter Lulu for the following list to help anyone that gets stuck with their list.  We probably don't want my son's list this afternoon as he does his homework.

Wish   Love   Hope   Make   Good   Food   Bake   Live   Give   Life   Know   Glad   Glue (ha!)   Play   Home   Book   Band   Rock   Baby   Felt   Yarn   Time   Knit   Draw   Cozy   Fame

*see Crain's Chicago Business blog to find a great article by Carol Roth about the 5 myths (and one truth) of entrepreneurship. My blog's inability to successfully link to it is beyond the luddite lurking within.