Saturday, April 25, 2009

Pet Store


"You know what I want to be when I grow up?" Gabriella asked one afternoon.

I figured she would say a doctor like daddy, or a librarian like she had said days before. She's mentioned being a school teacher or a police officer. I was expecting something along those lines.

Nope. It wasn't any of the above. She told me she wanted to be "a pet owner."

I smiled that being a pet owner was her goal in life, her career even. She must know full well that it's not going to happen under my roof.

We were playing at home one morning after rushing and leaving the house early for weeks straight. I was playing baby Cabbage Patch dolls with the girls when Gabs suggested in her best Cabbage Patch voice that our dolls go to the pet store.

That's when I remembered this wood carrying case I had kept in the garage since Christmas. It originally stored magnet dolls, but the plastic that slid over it had broke and it was no longer a good carrying case. I kept it because I knew something great would come of it. I was thinking of painting it and hanging it near my sewing machine to store thimbles and thread and some of the old wooden spools I have. But nothing had come of it, until yesterday.

I got it out and we cut scrapbook paper to fit each "kennel". I got down my bag of notions and the girls picked their do-dads to decorate it with. Gabriella got out her markers and colored pictures to decorate the walls of the store.

I suggested the store name "GG's" but Gabriella wanted bigger. Brighter. She said "The GG Sisters Pet-Pet Store." So that's what we did. Every princess, polly pocket and cabbage patch doll has been to that pet store a million times to buy a new pet since.

This didn't require any creativity of special skill. It was completely free and finished within an hour. It's hardly worthy of being on a so-called craft blog, but it was something we worked on together and something the girls felt like they created. It isn't glamorous or fancy. But it was fun. And it reminded me what I should be doing more often with my free time. Playing with my kids and helping them use their imagination.


Mission accomplished.

11 comments:

  1. Jamie - very cool pet store! How clever to have compartments in one, rather than several million individual kennels, like in my crazy house, using shoeboxes. Thank you for sharing this lovely idea.

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  2. How lucky to have a mom like you! My favorite childhood gift was a barbie esq house my mom made and personalized for me.

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  3. That's such a good idea! I love how it turned out.

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  4. Love it. Love that you created it together. Love it because it is so cute. Just love the whole thing. These girls have one fun creative Mom!

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  5. So cute Jamie. Ya, I should be spending my free time doing this kind of thing too... but I think I will save being 'super-mom' for some other year. I'm so glad you are posting on here again!

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  6. I found your blog through google reader, it was a suggested read for me. My daughter flipped when she saw your pet shop! And she is nine! So we will be watching for something to do the same thing with. I have had so much fun scrolling through all of your old posts and creations, I subscribed so I won't miss any more fun. Nice to meet you!

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  7. Hello Jamie! I am a new sewer and I'm completely obsessed. A friend forwarded me the link to your blog because we're going to try a few of your adorable and creative ideas. I have two boys but if I had girls...my mind spins when I think about the pretty dresses and clothes I'd be making. I love this blog and will be back to visit often. But the reason I'm posting this comment is selfish. Here you are with a new baby and I'm bothering you with this, but what kind of camera do you have? I really, really must know! Ours broke this weekend and your photos are gorgeous. I'll pretend that mine will come out equally as good and that there's no technique involved...but I'd love to know the make/model if you don't mind. Take care and Happy Belated Mother's Day :)

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  8. How fun! My daughter is lovin' these pets lately too.
    I just reviewed the most awesome crafter’s cabinet from The Original Scrapboxand I wanted to tell you about it! Stop by
    my blog
    to join in the fun!

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  9. Hi,

    We have just added your latest post "Nothing Fancy: Pet Store" to our Directory of Pets . You can check the inclusion of the post here . We are delighted to invite you to submit all your future posts to the directory and get a huge base of visitors to your website.


    Warm Regards

    Petgarden.info Team

    http://www.petgarden.info

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