Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Challenge of Literature

For many of us, being born in the early 1960’s meant families with a single income where the father worked and the mother stayed home to raise the children. It was also a time where buying for the sake of buying was unheard of. In our family there were few toys and we were not exposed to many books, so I never developed a love for reading.

Fast forward to today. If you were to visit our house you would see a virtual library in each of the kids’ bedrooms. Our children love to read, and we have all genres of books one could imagine. I credit my mother for our children’s interest in reading. She cared for them when I worked full time in another city. Every day she would read to the kids, and bought Golden Books and other fun books at garage sales. The joy of reading was just one of the wonderful gifts my mother gave to our children.

But I do remember a few of my own childhood favorites such as Kavik The wolf Dog, written by Walt Morey in 1968, and of course I still have my first Little House on the Prairie hardback book. And I’ll never forget the cute story about Ralph, the star mouse in Beverly Cleary’s The Mouse and the Motorcycle from 1965. But my favorite book is The Borrowers, first in a series of fantasy novels by Mary Norton. (Oh how the fantasy genre has changed since 1952—the year The Borrowers was first published.)



In case you didn’t know, The Borrowers are tiny people who borrow things to survive while trying to keep their existence a secret. Who knows, maybe there are Borrowers living behind the walls in your home. The piece I made represents al l the little things the Borrowers might have ‘borrowed’ if they lived in my house. So if you’re still with me after that long intro, here is my piece inspired by The Borrowers.


'The Borrowers'







I have a little bowl where I keep little odds and ends, bits and pieces just for such an occasion. Included in the bracelet are washers, buttons, bingo game piece, watch face, tiny 8 ball bead, safety pin, paper clip, Barbie doll sandal donated by my daughter, various keys, odd beads, wrapped jacks game piece, and other interesting bits. I’m not sure who would want such an odd bracelet, but hopefully it makes someone smile.

Thanks for stopping by, and thanks to Erin for another fantastic and fun challenge! Please be sure to visit all the other participants to see what they made.

Erin Prais-Hintz
Rebecca Anderson
Rose Binoya
Lori Bowring Michaud
Shannon Chomanszuk
Marlene Cupo
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Kim Dworak
Beth Emery
Therese Frank
Amy Freeland
K Hutchinson
Kristina Johansson
Jennifer Justman
Susan Kennedy
Linda Landig
Lisa Lodge
Lisa Lowe
Kirsi Luostarinen
Beth McCord
Melissa Meman
Sharon Misuraco
Tracey Nanstad
Melinda Orr
Kashmira Patel
Alice Peterson
Sally Russick
Niky Sayers
Pam Sears
Amy Severino
Tracy Stillman
Emma Todd
Melissa Trudinger
Lesley Watt
Shai Williams

27 comments:

Niky Sayers said...

Love the book and the bracelet is fantastic such a great idea!

Unknown said...

This has to be one of my all time favorites! Love how you used elements from the "collection box" that we all have in our homes!

Patti Vanderbloemen said...

Oh my goodness! Your post truly hit home! I was born in 1960....the few books we had had so many dog-earred pages from being passed down amongst the four siblings in my house. But what got me in this post is The Borrowers!!! I remember that book!!!!! I loved that story! And your bracelet is absolutley spot-on! Thanks for bringing back some choldhood memories for me! Beautiful job!

Anonymous said...

Oh my heavens this is just so cool! I love it! All the little bits and pieces to make a beautiful whole piece! I must read this book now! You have sparked my interest!

kim said...

Oh you made me smile. I loved the book...I always begged my mom for money when the book fair would come. I would wear the bracelet with joy...all the little pieces and a doll shoe!! Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

It's an amazing book, both my daughters have enjoyed reading this book with me. Love the bracelet, just full with everything a borrower could wish for.

Lynda said...

Love the book and love this bracelet! I want to just sit down with it and pour over the details of all the little charms.

Amy F said...

That bracelet is PERFECT for that book. Awesome job!

Shai Williams said...

Now I am going to have to read the book after seeing your fun bracelet!

Lesley said...

Alice I love your bracelet. I was brought up with the borrowers too and have a drawl of 'bits and bobs' that would be of interest to them. A great concept and beautifully executed.

PipnMolly said...

What a wonderful choice for inspiration. Well done.

Mary Lamoray said...

You bring back memories!! My favorites were 'Ping', 'Clifford', 'Curious George', Where The Wild Things Are, All Dr. Suess of course, and the list goes on and on...Every Saturday I would walk home from the library with a huge stack! I constantly had my nose in a book... I was born, January 31st, 1960 :) (and of course we had the phonograph books that would 'chime' when it was time to turn the page. LOVE,LOVE,LOVE Danny Kaye!! 'Musicians of Brennan,etc... no one could tell a story like he could! :))) ok...that's enough rambling :)

The Crazy Creative Corner said...

Oh, my gosh! I remember reading that as a kid! I LOVED the Borrowers and always wished there were some in MY walls I could be friends with. What a great inspiration and what an adorable bracelet! Good job!

Amy S. said...

Oh my gosh - I have never heard of this book, but now I am dying to read it! After you described the book, I was delighted by what I saw as your bracelet! Wonderful! (p.s. - looooooved Little House in my youth!)

Therese's Treasures said...

Oh Alice I love the bracelet! Your design is fitting to the characters to the book. I can imagine the little people coming and snatching these item from various places in the house and one would never miss them until they are needed.
Therese

Tracy said...

Your charm braclet made me smile - it's a great book and you've captured it perfectly!

A Polymer Penchant said...

I love the jack especially. I bet you had a blast collecting and arranging.

Jenny said...

Love it! Its an eclectic mix, a great conversation piece. Didn't they just make a Borrowers movie? I never read it, but it brings to mind "Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH". they absconded with treasures too...

TesoriTrovati said...

Are you kidding me? I would love that bracelet! I loved the Borrowers too. I have not seen the Arrietty movie but I would like to with my daughter. She loved the book as well. I was always fascinated by the tiny. I loved the idea that they would use these things that we may have 'lost' or that were so utilitarian. This is the perfect embodiment of that book! Thank you for playing with me in this Challenge! Enjoy the day. Erin

Anonymous said...

Alice - your designs never disappoint. The charm bracelet is great, and a wonderful tie in to the story. Did you see the movie that just came out?

EB Bead and Metal Works, LLC said...

Oh my, love all the different bits and bobs you used to create the bracelet - it is perfect!!!!

Kim said...

Oh I love that bracelet, it is so fun! I am adding that book to my list, was already interested when I saw the movie preview.

Lisa said...

I'm a new follower and have so enjoyed browsing through your blog. I love your bracelet! Don't remember reading this book, but the name is so familiar. My girlfriend's dad would take us to the library on Thursdays, his day off, and we read so many books in the summers of our youth (in the 60's!). I still love the library, will have to go to our 'tiny' library and see if they have this one.

Anonymous said...

That's a great bracelet, and such a good use you've put all those bits and bobs to!

Cilla said...

Now I want to read that book after seeing your bracelet! What a great idea. Another great piece of jewelery from Alice!

CraftyHope said...

I think the bracelet is FABULOUS!! I was a big fan of the Borrowers as well and your bracelet is absolutely inspired by it. What a great way to look at that book. Very neat indeed!

SoulsFireDesigns said...

Wonderful wonderful book and the bracelet is just perfect! Love it! Well done and thank you so much for sharing :)