Handmade Friends


 For at least ten years now these two handmade friends have been getting together in anticipation of and to celebrate Halloween. In a way, they are related. The decorated gourd maker is the daughter of the brown paper bag pumpkin maker. The brown paper bag pumpkin maker was in kindergarten when he created his paper bag pumpkin.

Whatever the handmade decorations made by little ones at home or at school happen to be, they weave their way back on to shelves or Christmas trees or tabletops when the appropriate season calls them out of wherever they were put to rest up for their particular season or holiday to come around again.
After all, they have a very important responsibility. They just don't sit on a shelf or inside an old crock as reminders of a holiday. They sit there as reminders of the little hands that made them; a young imagination on full speed, using little scissors and glue if necessary and crayons and pencils; possibly glitter and cotton balls, even pipe cleaners when needed. Cutting out construction paper eyes and mouths and gluing them in place. Then waiting with anticipation to go home and, with stomachs turning and eyes full of wonder, present their creations to those they love.
Some things, especially things made with little hands and great excitement, like a decorated gourd with googly eyes and a brown paper bag pumpkin, are priceless, sitting together once again as the leaves fall and little ghouls and witches get ready for trick or treating.
Handmade, from the heart.

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