We're creepy & We're kooky . . .

They're creepy & they're kooky, Mysterious & spooky,
They're all together ooky, 
The Addams Family.
Their house is a museum,
Where people come to see 'em
They really are a scream,
The Addams Family 
Neat – Sweet – Petite                  
So get a witches shawl on,
A broomstick you can crawl on
We're gonna pay a call on,
The Addams Family.
They're creepy and they're kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They're all together ooky,
The Addams Family!      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFD7KGBUtKI

Our rendition:

We’re a little creepy & kooky,

Mysterious & spooky,

We're all together ooky,  

The Goesel Family.

Our house is like a museum, Where people come to see 'em We really are a scream,

       The Goesel Family 

 

 Neat – Sweet – Petite                                                                                       

So get a witches shawl on, A broomstick you can crawl on  

Come pay a call on, The Goesel Family.
We are a little creepy and we are a little kooky,

Mysterious and spooky, We're all together ooky,

The Goesel Family 

                                                                                                                                                                                  

As the lyrics say, “Our house is like a museum, so come pay a call on Our Family Museum!”  
                                                  Happy Halloween

Theme for the TV series The Addams Family was written & arranged by composer Vic Mizzy.

Attention, please! How to create a Family Museum is now on Facebook. Feel free to write your comments there. Thank you.

 

Halloween Memories

 

We finally finished decorating the front yard, putting the Jack-o-Lanterns in our windows and assembled about 100 bags, each containing several pieces of candy and a few trinkets. Then we stapled the bags shut and placed them in a very big basket that will be on the front porch on Halloween. On that night, the neighborhood ghosts & goblins come up onto the porch and pick their bag. Wow! What fun they have and so do we, talking with the kids and asking them to tell us about their costumes. And some of these creations are really awesome!
Our family does this every year and look forward to it. But perhaps you ask what does Halloween have to do with creating a family museum?  Good question. Answer is that the Halloween holiday, like most holidays, conjure up memories, and memories and memorabilia are what is displayed in a family museum. Most likely, these recollections are in photographs which are framed, in an album or scrapbook that resides on book shelves. But this Halloween, put whatever is kept from this day into your family museum. For example, something from the costumes worn along with a picture of the person wearing the costume. If a party was given or attended, save the prize won or the trinket from the event.

Our children are adults now, but the memories of their Halloween days are kept in our family museum. I just wish I had more room to display the costumes they wore, and though they are not displayed, they have been saved and are stored under the museum shelves for perhaps a future use. (A grandchild?) Today, these costumes are probably considered vintage, so not only is there sentimental value, there is some monetary value, as well. Charlie loved Star Wars, so he wore a Obi Wan Kenobi and Tiffeni adored Little House on the Prairie and I made this costume for her. She played in it as well, so it got a lot of use.  So now when this Halloween is over, save something from it to enjoy and share the memories. Happy Halloween for now, and look for special post on that day.  

As you know from previous posts, I always like to add some edifying tidbits FYI. Here are some on the history of Halloween.   Enjoy!                             http://www.halloweenhistory.org

Look for Family Museum on my Facebook Page and when your visit my blog, scroll down to archives to find the how-to's and stories about our Family Museum. 

 

 

Mini-Museums in a Shadowbox

While shopping at Michael’s Arts & Crafts Store, I found a fabulous shadowbox. Commodious in size (11”x14”x3.5” deep), front-loading glass door, cream backer board, and both horizontal and vertical hangers on the back. I want to create a special display for it, and though it may take me some time, when it’s finished, I will post it.  

I have several shadowboxes in my Family Museum, beautifully and artistically displaying while protecting an assortment of keepsakes. Here is one with my husband’s baby shirt that his mom kept in her hope chest for years and when she started to go through all of the heirlooms in the chest, she found this and gave it to him and I put it in the shadowbox. The other one displays bits-&-pieces of jewelry I collected over the years.

Life is full of special moments that were saved with keepsakes, photos and collections. Preserve and protect them in a personalized shadowbox for yourself or as a gift to someone you love, place them on shelf, hang the shadowbox on a wall, or put it in your Family Museum.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create your shadowbox:

1.      Focal point: object you want to draw attention to (your centerpiece).  
·         A memento, souvenir, keepsake, artifact, historical object
·         A collection item from a hobby (pursuit/ pastime) or study
·         A photograph, letter, newspaper headline, postcard, art image
·         A artistic rendering (painting, drawing, needlework, sculpture)

2.      Background: shadowbox backer (usually included) or your choice.
·         Scrapbook paper, gift-wrapping paper, wallpaper samples
·         Fabric, clothing remnant such as an image from a t-shirt  
·         Paper such as maps, newspaper, sheet music (found at antique stores)

3.      Attaching items: decide whether you want a permanent or temporary fix. Try:
·         Pins or Photo corners, double-sided removable scrapbooking tape
·         Double-stick foam mounting tape, Velcro hook-and-loop tape
·         Hot and/or craft glue, Photo Mount acid-free adhesive
·         Magnets with foam adhesive (many sizes)

4.      Details: add items to accent the focal point
·         Photos of a special moment that gives emphasis to
·         Found objects that highlight the focal point
·         Ribbon, flowers, or buttons that accent the treasure
·         Use letter to make a word, name or date that draw attention

5.      Be creative: There are many ingenious ways to use and display shadowbox(s).

Hang several shadowboxes on a wall. Put one or several items in each shadowbox and arrange them for a striking wall display;  such as this Triptych.
A completed shadowbox makes a great gift! Personalize any display case based on the recipient’s interests.     

Display vintage items to create unique wall art. kitchenware, books,  game and toy pieces, one or a pair of shoes, small clothing, jewelry  
Military medals, flags, photos, arms collection, uniform hats, etc.
Sports memorabilia: baseballs, footballs, helmets, jerseys

Special events: wedding pieces, birth announcements, Award ceremonies, family reunions, homecoming, road trips, graduations, commemorations.

No matter what, who, when or why you create a shadowbox, you are capturing a bit of history, or as the name implies, a trace of memory that recalls that moment in time, all neatly wrapped in a box with a window to see it all.            Enjoy!

Find everything listed here at http://www.michaels.com
 

Children's Artwork . . . keeping it on display

What did you like to draw when you were a kid? From the time a child can pick up a crayon and scribble on paper (maybe the wall) it is interesting to see. All first scribbles, squiggles and doodles are forms of expression. Ever wonder what is on their little minds while they draw and see the outcome? Are the drawings some kind of clue to the child’s future?

For example, this drawing of a train by
my husband Keith when he was in first grade, shows his attention to detail. He did not become an engineer, but his love for trains was passed onto his son Charlie.

Though Charlie loved to watch the trains come into the station and he always waved to the engineer when a train passed by, his love was ships. He first drew submarines, then ocean liners. This drawing was found in a Father’s Day card Charlie gave to his dad. Charlie did not go on to have a career at sea, but gave him the love of reading travel and adventure books.

The juggler was drawn by our daughter Tif. She would watch her father juggle and this was her interpretation. Her love of expressive art has given her many hours of drawing pleasure and she now passes on her talents to children as a teacher. As for me, the only picture I could find was this drawing of a little girl jumping rope. Self-portrait? Perhaps.    

There is so much written on the subject of art that it is truly mind-boggling. But whatever those early images are, they should be saved. And more importantly, to save as much as you can because it is truly amazing to see first-hand how artistic minds are expressed and developed.

Today, that are many products that you can purchase for the preservation of artwork. As this blog is focused on a child’s work, the display and storage units vary in size and use. Like these individual frame boxes in which you can both display and store pictures. These units come in various sizes and should be hung on the walls of different rooms, not just the child’s bedroom. By displaying their artwork in public areas of the home, the child can feel proud that his family takes much pride in him or her by showing off their artistic talents.

 Another storage idea is a multi-drawer cardboard box that stores many papers including school work and school mementoes. When artwork becomes larger in size and multiple in quantity, having a unit like this swinging panel that flips open like a book will present artwork in a movable display.

Whatever presentation method you use, it will give both the artist and the observer hours of pleasure and pride. For these and more products ideas, check out Blick art supplies & Michaels arts & crafts.

October - the FUN month!

Hello October!

Did you know that today is National Do Something Nice Day?   

I didn’t even know this, but as in the past, I like to begin each new month highlighting the special days in that month. Of course, the main attraction is Halloween, but like today, there are so many interesting and even a little bit weird days of recognition this month. If you are curious, go to http://nationaldaycalendar.com/october/   Of the 120 days of designation, there are really too many I like to mention here, so I encourage you to check it out and have fun finding your favorite day.

So today being ‘Do Something Nice Day,’ I sent my dear friend a box of fresh sweet banana peppers that were growing in profusion in our garden. There was no way our family could eat them all, so I sent her a bunch, including two large green peppers.

So what do all these holidays have to do with creating your family museum? Lots! October is the first month of the holiday months, with Thanksgiving in November and the Christmas season in December. These next three months have an energy of their own that produce crafty and artistic creations that hopefully will be preserved in your family museum. Particularly children’s handcrafts they make for their Halloween costumes, drawings of turkeys, holiday gifts for friends & family.

Over the years my kids have contributed many artistic endeavors that would fill up a museum. And there are many ways these items can be preserved and displayed, giving pleasure for all for years. I will post on this subject with pictures and suggestions. Meanwhile, do something nice today!

P.S. I recently signed up for Facebook.  Look for me, Elizabeth Goesel. Feel free to comment on the BlogSpot there or on the blog itself. Look forward to reading your comments.