While cleaning out my parents’ garage with family, a
brother in law unearthed a picture wrapped in white paper, rectanglular in
shape. Passed to me to determine if giveaway or have siblings look at, I folded
back the paper and squealed. My sisters came running. We found the crushed rock
and gravel picture my mom had made.
This picture hung above the china cabinet
in the dining room for many, many years. Then Mom replaced it with a homey
scene. I guess I didn’t notice it was gone for a long while and when I did,
thought she’d donated it (along with the horse head lamps).
Here’s what we found:
The scene is Oriental, a pagoda and tree.
This one is unique because the leaves are tiles as are parts of the pagoda. A braided
piece was glued and pinned, then specifically marked gravel was put in the
section.
Fun—right?
I did some online research and found these
craft kits were made by Mosette in the fifties and sixties. The subject matter of
the gravel ones crossed the span of popular television characters, animals, the
Last Supper, to exotic dancers. Craft Master manufactured paint by number kits
as well. Most were sold through hobby and five and dime stores. Over the last
ten plus years, I’ve seen many finished pictures at flea and antique malls. One
even had tiny lights in it.
Kits came in many shapes and subject
matter. Here’s a link on: eBay
When I took this picture home, I had no idea what
I’d do with it. Then something went boing!
And I knew I had to put it in my son’s old room with the new bedding. The
coral and pink are exactly what the room needed to pop. I’m thrilled my mom’s
picture found a home.
Were you a paint by number fan? Do you
dig the mosaic pictures?
Coming soon-Temporarily Insane? Yup, Hattie Cooks is in another hot mess and Allan is tangled up too. It's a Bad Job. Wrong love. And murder. Releases on September 9, but available for preorder at: TWRP
What are you waiting for? LOL
12 comments:
What a wonderful find. My dad is getting rid of everything in his house. I've shared some of the things but I didn't realize how much it would hurt me to hear him say that he was giving everything away so that we didn't have to do it. It hurts to consider that he's not going to be there... not that he's giving things away. I don't know what to do about losing him.
That is so terrific. What's more terrific is that every time you look at it, you'll have an explosion of memories of your mom! Love this, Vicki!
That's a fantastic find. It's wonderful to rediscover childhood memories and to find a new home for them. To have a piece of your mother's handwork gives you a special connection to her that you'll feel each time you look at the picture. What a treasure.
Congratulations on a very cool find!
Paint by number? I lusted after them for so many years (as a kid) that I was just a little disappointed when I finally got to have one. Following the directions wasn't nearly as fun as I'd expected.
LOL, I still hate directions/instructions/recipes. I'm more of an adventurous/freehand/lazy kinda gal!
What a nice find in what could've been a totally sad experience. Yes, I remember the paint by number things. I did many, none well. LOL I don't think I ever did the gravel ones. It's super that you've found a home for this special piece.
I have a hyku that my mother wrote with a picture of the dove the poem is about. Special keepsake.
Melissa,be grateful your father is handling this for you. When you do lose him (hopefully many years in the future), you'll be grateful. Besides it makes him feel like he's still able to do something for you. Parents are always trying to make things easier for us, no matter what age. Blessings.
I've shared, Vick. :)
I was a big fan of paint-by-number and mosaic kits. Plastic models, too. Christmas and birthdays weren't as happy without one or more (along with the newest Nancy Drew). I even remember seeing a kit similar to the one your mother completed! Guess that's where my love of Oriental art originated. Congrats on your sweet memories and for finding a place for the picture.
Hi, Melissa! I wish my parents had done this: set out boxes with our names on them and put things in them and ask when we visited if this would be something we would like to keep. I think one of the saddest things I have is eight quilts. Mom just stashed them in her closet instead of giving them to us and enjoy seeing us use them. :)
Hi, Donnell! I love where I put the picture above my #1 son's oldest bed. There's tons of green, but the coral colors really punch it up. Nice having. ox
Hi, Cynthia! I'm so happy you could share with me today. My mom and her sisters and Grandmother were master crafters. They could do just about anything. Mom went to "Home Demonstration" classes, too, and did more stuff. She passed this love on to us. Hugs!
Hi, Kathryn! I love you being an adventurous/frehand/lazy kind of gal. I always wished I made a masterpiece when I painted. Yup, never happened.
Hi, Marsha! You know, we found so many things to rejoice over and cry over. A special time. I dreaded going through, but it went well. Someday, I'll share spear throwing in the back yard.
Hi, Ashantay! I went to visit my aunt and asked about the one she had done so I could take a picture. She did this glorious panel of roosters. And when I asked, she said she had given it away years ago. :( Right now, I have some of my dad's plastic helicopter models on my desk that need a touch up with glue. Hugs!
What a lovely find! Not only a memory of your mom but an artistic one at that!
I haven't gone through (fully) the stuff from after my mom died in 2008!!
I just find it hard to do that - still.....
Hi, Patricia! Going through the house with sisters and family was really a joy. We laughed and cried and hugged and shared. I guess what I really am saying is if you can, go through with someone. And hopefully, you'll have a good memory too. Hugs!
Hi Vicki! What a cool picture! I never made one like that but as a kid I LOVED the paint by number pictures. What a fun treasure!
Hi, Karilyn! It is cool and definitely not the standard kit I saw online. Wish I could see your paint by number paintings. LOL
As a kid we did paint by number kits. Also I made a picture in Sunday School with rocks. It was the thing back in the sixties. On a whim, I entered it in our county fair and it took third place. I still have that picture somewhere.
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