Our Memory Catcher will reside on a nail in our kitchen since many hours of our day are spent there. It is a lined pouch, machine sewn from a neutral cotton with a loop of ribbon for easy hanging. I'm keeping a stack of index cards handy with our art supplies for her to decorate in whimsical toddler fashion with watercolors or crayons. Each mini masterpiece (once dry) goes into the Memory Catcher. (It will hold a decent sized stack of cards.) When she says or does something that I want to capture, I can record it on one of these cards, decorated by her own two chubby hands. Each time a card is used, it goes to the back of the stack in the Memory Catcher. When we've been through the whole stack, the finished cards can then be put into a scrapbook, framed, or threaded and hung as a garland and the Memory Catcher is refilled with a freshly decorated batch of cards.
This solution is more fun, practical, and certainly less cumbersome than keeping up with the baby book since it's hanging in a convenient place. It also makes it easy for grandparents to record the memories of their weekly visits. The two pictured in this post are available in the shop and there are more on the way.
I chose the butterfly theme because it serves to remind me that this day, and this stage, with all of it's ups and downs, giggles, tears, and tantrums, is fleeting. In a blink, she will be all grown up and I don't want to miss a thing.
For those of you who signed up for the Spring Swap, I've not forgotten about you. I just forgot about the holiday weekend! It will probably be Monday before you receive the mailing address for your partner(s) but no worries because you won't actually be shipping your swap pieces for several weeks. It's taking me a little longer to sort them all out since there are so many variables (number of partners, shipping preferences, etc.) In the meantime, you can, of course, continue (or begin) working on your piece(s). I'm so excited about this! Thank you all for participating!
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Easter Sale! 10% off any one item with code "stitch10" in the message to seller section at checkout. Discount will be refunded via PayPal. Excludes shipping. Ends midnight, EST, Sunday, 4.12.09.
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16 comments:
This is such a great idea. NOw if only I had thought of this when mine were wee folk. :-)
Oh, thank you, Tess.
You are such a wonderful Mommy...she will cherish those....I did this with typing letters to my boys but I didn't keep it going. Now on their birthday, I always write them a letter about what they like, interests, friends, teachers..it's fun.......
Great Idea, your memory catchers. I love, how you are keeping everything so organized and neat! I wish I could be like that.
I'm with Tess! I wish I had known or thought about this when my kids were younger. I miss the age where they say the funniest things. I so would have liked to have those things down because most are forgotten...sigh
What a great idea! I saved everything in a cardboard box. You will both cherish these in years to come!
What a charming idea - I love it - Wish I had done that wih my girls - You will treasure them forever.
Thank you all for your kind words, but I have to address one comment in particular. Please don't be fooled into thinking that I'm "together" and organized. Most days we're wading around piles of laundry and there are dirty dishes stacked in the sink. I'm always looking for my keys or my sunglasses and I'm terrible at making lists. Our house is just like everyone elses! (I hope!)
Lovely ideas..just drop in to say HAPPY EASTER!! will come back soon to catch up all the post I've missed these past weeks..:D a bit hectic around here..:D
What a beautiful idea! Thank you so much for your sweet visits to my blog - I really appreciate it! Happy Easter! :)
precious! wish i'd thought of it earlier too, though it's certainly not too late. :)
Astrid, I love reading your posts and you take such beautiful photographs.
That is such a practical and pretty solution! (we also end up spending many hours of day in the kitchen ...)
this is wonderful - and the wonderful cards that fill it will be something that is treasured for a lifetime!!!
I love love love this idea.
So clever! Thanks for sharing, I will have to do it.
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Thank you not only for reading, but also for your kind words and added thoughts. They bring me great joy and are one the many things I look forward to each day. My hope is that each post sparks a bit of conversation, and in keeping with that rhythm, I'll do my best to answer your questions here as well.