Who Are You Calling Crafty?

Today is my Grandma’s 81st Birthday and I can’t believe she is 81.  She still works (she runs an ice cream shop = coolest job EVER!), she still volunteers several times a week, she has over 10,000 dolls in her collection and she still hand writes letters (my FAVORITE!)  I would not be the person I am today without my grandmother.  My childhood house is across the alley or two fence hops (sorry Don and Cheryl) away so I spent quite a bit of time at grandma’s house.  She has a kiln in the basement, an amazing stash of craft supplies and lots of sewing machines.

She grew up a Depression Era Child who still doesn’t throw anything away (you should see the amazingly awesome stuff she sends me to craft with).  She can make a bag of dried beans a can of tomatoes and a cup of dried noodles into an amazing soup that will last for a month.  She loves Jell-O I would go over to my grandma’s to do homework on the computer and she always had Jell-O in the fridge.  She thought it was important that I learn how to sew and signed me up for sewing classes (at the time I was really upset now I am eternally grateful for that!)  She is an amazing artist and my biggest critic, if I can create something that Grandma can’t say anything about it is a good piece (the frog painting!)

My grandma also likes to make a statement (her purple house):

Grandma’s Purple House.  The doll on the front was made by her brother about 25 years ago it was one of his last woodworking pieces before his stroke.  He passed away several years ago but I know he would LOVE my grandma’s purple house!

My grandma’s name is Dona (Donna with one n) her mother misspelled her name on her birth certificate and that was how it stayed.

My Grandma Dona – she hates getting her photo taken. She was reaching for my french fries.

Michigan State Fair eating Norm’s French Fries                                                              Me: Come on Gram let us take a cheesy photo. Her: Only if this fry can be in it.
Me: Okay!

Great photo of the Princess with her Great-Grandma Dona

She does have an extensive doll collection, seriously like 10,000 plus dolls.  The on going joke is that American Pickers will just show up one day and she will sell lots because she has always had a thing for Dom DeLuise and Frank looks like him.  So if Danielle is browsing blogs and stumbles upon this and you need some small stuff my grandma’s house is the place to go – lol.  You could then go back and visit Charlie in Nahma because it is right there.  Did I mention she owns an ice cream shop?  So they could get an ice cream to go and who doesn’t like ice cream?

Well I am sure if my grandma had a computer and were to read this she would appreciate my blog post today.  I do plan on calling her tomorrow so the kids can sing Happy Birthday to her!

Happy Birthday Grandma!  I love you!