From when I was little my Mom influenced my creative craft abilities. She would have me and my sister work on a lot of differing projects — craft sticks, drawing, play doh, painting, and so much more.
One of my long lasting memories is when both my sister and I were home sick at the same time for 2 weeks with toncilitis. She brought out a ton of styrofoam balls which we covered with scraps of fabric, ric-rac, sequins, and other designs. These were created into Christmas ornaments. The last time I was home for Christmas, my Mom still had these ornaments which she placed on a smaller Christmas tree in the home (some 35 years still after we had made them).
In my later years, she encouraged me to learn Calligraphy. I took a course at a local high school’s community education program and the art took off from there. I went on to:
* teach at a hobby shop in Pflugerville, a community education program in Round Rock and Westwood, the Elizabet Ney Museum, and other areas;
* demonstrate calligraphy to Elementary and Middle School students in AISD in a program called “SNAP-TOO!” (Students Need Artists and Performers – Too!);
* calligraphize certificates of students in the AISD Gifted Education Bowl, honoring those on the Honor Roll, etc.;
* calligraphize certificates for the National Piano Guild;
* and, so many other calligraphy projects. One of the most memorable was a favorite quote for a choir member of a Church in Austin that I did on a 24×36 parchment paper.
The funniest thing that ever occurred about various calligraphy projects presented to me was a woman that came to me with a fishing pole to personalize. I just couldn’t do it. If, for some reason I made a mistake on it, I couldn’t simply start over with another fishing pole; plus personalizing it on a tightly curved surface would have been quite another task to conquer. I passed on that one!
To this day, I still enjoy doing calligraphy and craft projects; however, with the advancement of computer technology, the need for some calligraphy projects has been reduced greatly, although some still aspire to have that personal touch, look, and feel. I have always and still enjoy the personal achievement though! 
