“Whoa, what have we got here?” Daddy Cliff asked as he made a ceremony of pulling a heavy rectangle out of the paper bag.
“It’s your Father’s Day card!” Joel exclaimed, looking at his dad’s face, smiling from ear to ear.
Eyeballing the odd card, Dad fingered the circle with rivets on the front of the card. “Why, that’s looks a part you’ve taken from our old lawnmower. Maybe a piston cover? You must have been digging around in the garage to find that old relic, son!”
“Yeah, you have a lot of stuff out there. It wasn’t hard to find pop rivets. And, look, Dad, I made the front cover from a scrap of the top of your old ’71 Ford van, when they put a vent in––the van we had when the whole family traveled with the art show when Crista and I were little.
Wiggling the hinge open a few extra times for full effect, Dad opened the card and read “To a very special Dad that can appreciate a few rivets here and there.” And then on the right side, where Joel had sprayed a section of the metal white, he read, “To a Father whom I greatly appreciate. Happy Father’s Day! And under it, a second signature: “Love, your daughter Crista.”
“Oh, by the way, did you put the tools back? Do you think I can I find my drill again?”
With a sheepish grin, Joel quipped a quick, “Well, I hope so,” as he scurried out of the house and jumped on his bike.
“Yeah, you have a lot of stuff out there. It wasn’t hard to find pop rivets. And, look, Dad, I made the front cover from a scrap of the top of your old ’71 Ford van, when they put a vent in––the van we had when the whole family traveled with the art show when Crista and I were little.
Wiggling the hinge open a few extra times for full effect, Dad opened the card and read “To a very special Dad that can appreciate a few rivets here and there.” And then on the right side, where Joel had sprayed a section of the metal white, he read, “To a Father whom I greatly appreciate. Happy Father’s Day! And under it, a second signature: “Love, your daughter Crista.”
“Oh, by the way, did you put the tools back? Do you think I can I find my drill again?”
With a sheepish grin, Joel quipped a quick, “Well, I hope so,” as he scurried out of the house and jumped on his bike.
+ + +
Two years later: Joel in raft, Crista wearing life jacket and friend with golden lab at the dock
+ + +
Have you made or received a unique card from someone?
Have you made a point of saving any special cards?
Instead of sending cards via the post office, do you use online greetings?
Good morning, Marian! What a creative and unique card your son made! Happy Father’s Day to Cliff.
I’ve made cards (never metal ones), and daughters have made some special cards, too.
Creativity runs in the family. I’m thinking of your mother and her visual art too. Cliff will read this and smile. Thanks, Merril!
Your son is so creative, Marian…takes after his father. I’ve never made anything that unique but I remember making cards for my parents while in elementary school. I’m old fashion when it comes to sending cards and letters. I might end up being the last person who uses snail mail. And yes, I have boxes and boxes of cards and letters I’ve saved. 🙂 Happy Father’s Day to Cliff!
I still see lots of cards on display at Target. Someone must be buying them!. Now it’s graduation and Father’s Day . . . tons of birthday too. Like you, I saved lots of cards but had to curate them when we moved. Thanks for the good wishes, Jill, which I’ll pass on to Cliff! 🙂
Wow! What an original and thoughtful card and gift. Obviously, Joel got the artistic gene from Cliff and I am sure he would have been touched by that. So much more rewarding to make things at home than buying them! We always try to make our own greeting cards too.
Happy Father’s Day to Cliff.
I’m not surprised that you make cards for others. It’s another creative outlet for you besides your lovely needlework, especial crochet. 🙂
Working with young children, we always made them for Christmas, Easter, Mother’s and Father’s Day and with my husband and father-in-law being Art teachers, it is the natural thing to do.
Wonderful!
What a unique Father’s Day card, Marian. Handmade cards, especially from a child are priceless!
I wonder if you saved some from your son and daughter. Kids in the elementary grades make cards for their parents, Mother’s day especially. Dads get gypped because school is usually out in June. Thanks, Kathy!
I love what this reveals about your husband as a father — making a ceremony out of a very special card from his son, noticing all the little details and fully allowing the moment and attention for it’s creator, to sink in. And I love the “can’t help being a father here” line about “did you put away …” Tells bunches about your whole family spirit. (I do not plan to show this idea to my hubby! He would surely get right to work on one. Or something.) Ha ha. Lovely.
Maybe show your husband this after he gets some chores done around the house. Besides, the card came from child to father, not the other way around – ha!
Did you notice that Joel used “whom” correctly in his greeting. At least, I think he did. I don’t believe I saw the card until it was presented. Garage work, you know . . . 🙂
What a wonderful card, Marian! Your son is an artist too! So special! Happy Father’s Day to Cliff.
I have made cards for people. I love putting crocheted flowers with them or on gifts
Some kids I taught in Sunday School made a pillow for me. I saved that. 😊
You have a unique artistic flair, which I see regularly on your blog. Unfortunately, I never learned to crochet though I took a stab at knitting. For years, cross-stitch was my “thing.”
What a neat gift — a pillow from your S. S. class. You are blessed, L. Marie!
What a clever idea for a card. How old was Joel when he made this? I love the ingenuity and I’m sure Cliff did as well. I save the very special cards as well. Especially those hand made. I still send cards in the mail and sometimes send e-cards. My daughter is very much into the environment and prefers e-cards. I can see her point but I know how happy I get when I get a card in the mail. I hope Cliff has a wonderful Father’s Day.
From his size and the setting, I think Joel would have been around ten. In the early years, dates weren’t important to me. Looking back, I wish we would be able to pinpoint the exact year. Your daughter is gifted artistically too. Her sculptural works are gorgeous!
Thanks for posting, Darlene!
Thank you all for your compliments and best wishes for Father’s Day coming up!
I vaguely remember as a boy my creating some things from my Dad’s countless number of cardboard boxes in our basement and garage–but Joel often added disparate items together to make plausible creations, this being one of them. I keep it on a shelf in my art and music studio. i think of some of Joel’s artworks like Salvador Dali grabbing various items, textures and putting a collage together!
His paintings and photos also have a certain grittiness to them, many times pictures with an “industrial” tone, perhaps from the imprint of watching the miles fly by in his early years on the road with us. Thank you!
Super creative people seem to produce more of their own kind. Love this card and the story that goes with it. Joel must have enjoyed coming up with this line: a dad who “can appreciate a few rivets here and there.” Happy Father’s Day, Cliff and Joel.
I’ll pass the greetings on to Cliff and Joel. Thanks, Shirley.
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Grandma L. used to say. That’s true of your family too. In your May post, I enjoyed seeing your daughter’s visual art and your son’s skill as a wordsmith and more!
I make cards for people who will appreciate them. Recently my twin sisters each got a handmade birthday card. Same cardstock, same thoughts, and the creative aspect was similar but not identical, just like they aren’t identical. I treasure snail mail thoughts in this day of electronics. I especially treasure the cards my husband gives me, as he likes to simply say out loud his thoughts.
I admire your creativity and the thoughtfulness that motivates it. Sure, it takes time and energy to create, but you are making keepsakes for those you love.
Your husband sounds amazing. As I read your words honoring him, I thought of the verse in Proverbs 25:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Thanks for all this, Ginger!
That is one beautiful card Marian:) A keepsake! Happy Father’s Day to Cliff – one special Dad! I’m sure he’s looking forward to it. I’ve sometimes made my own cards – on black card, with a little simple painting in special silver and gold pens and a quote … and I have many from my sons which I guess I will always keep.
Your handmade cards sound dramatic. Silver or gold on black – wow!
I am amazed at how many writers are drawn to the visual arts, you among them. Thanks for adding to the conversation here, Susan.
Handmade from a creative, loving heart. Priceless!
Thanks for noticing, Linda!
What a nice card – how thoughtful and creative. It reminds me of the days when my boys would make cards for their dad, using all kinds of things, but never out of metal with hinges 🙂 Great story!
I’m glad you could relate to this story. You could tell a different story with your boys. That’s the marvel of storytelling. Thanks for visiting, Barbara!
Great card. To be cherished for sure.
I agree, Arlene, and thank you!
After my mother passed away I went through boxes and boxes of cards she received. I think she kept them all. I kept a few that dad had given her. He wasn’t creative in the visual arts, but he loved poetry and was quite sentimental, always bought her beautiful cards for her birthday and their anniversary. I sent as many as possible of the cards and drawings her grandchildren made for her back to the original creators, and they had their moment remembering their “Oma” and what she meant to them.
I treasure all the cards and letters my grandchildren make for me too.
Thank you for sharing the unique and creative card your son made for his dad. They obviously had a special bond.
How wonderful that you sent a sampling of the cards and drawings Oma’s grandchildren made for her back to them. Now they have even more of a keepsake status. I’ve done that (probably to a lesser degree) with some cards I found going through my mother’s and aunt’s card collections.
It’s always good to hear from you, Elfrieda! 🙂
Marian (and Cliff), always enjoy the family memories shared here. This is especially near and dear to my heart since I’m married to a man who keeps all kinds of treasures in and around his work benches in our garage. What Cliff received on that particular Father’s Day is indeed a true treasure and likely one of his favorite cards ever. Happy Father’s Day 2019, Cliff!
Thanks for the appreciation and good wishes – and the same to Bob!
This week I was reminded of Bob’s skill in making treasures, in this case musical stands for the White House – wow! And then there’s that spectacular treasure of your multi-faceted studio, a gem in your back yard. Thanks for all this, Sherrey!
Marian, I shared your post with Bob. He then questioned what Joel might be doing today. Perhaps he’s a product designer or designer of some sort? Definitely he was a creative child.
Thanks for asking: During the school year our son teaches art in our city’s public school system. This summer he is running a workshop at the Museum of Contemporary Art. His art decorates some of the walls of our house. Often his polished works have an industrial theme. What I featured this week was the product of a ten-year-old’s imagination! 🙂
Now that was creative! Nothing shows more personal than a handmade card 🙂
I couldn’t agree more, Debby. Thanks for the thumbs up here again! 🙂
🙂
When someone puts that much care and love and creativity in a card, he or she is SHOWING a deep appreciative love. Cliff is quite a dad to inspire that kind of creative love in a Father’s Day card.
When I was a child, I wrote a poem for my parents’ birthday and mother’s/father’s day cards. I thought I was the only one who did that, but when I was about 12, I discovered cards that my mom saved from my dad to her – filled with romantic self-written poems. Guess it’s genetic!
Thanks for your observation, Pam!
Writers and other artists can usually can trace their creativity back to their parents. Cliff’s dad doodled; then Cliff turned the bent he must have inherited into a full-time art career. I’m guessing that you gasped as a 12-year-old, finding those romantic cards. Maybe it was the sentiment, but it could also have been the recognition of the source of your creativity. Eureka!
I certainly realized that poetry must somehow be “in the family.” Although, actually, I found it rather natural to show our love through prose and poems. 🙂
It shows! ✍️
xo
That is such an unusual card I’m sure Cliff treasures it .
My talented sister has always made all of her cards . I have some truly beautiful ones that I treasure and could never part with . I will often bring them out again like old friends .
Cherryx
Of course cards are like “old friends,” Cherry. Talent with art and words runs in your family.
Right now I have 2-3 cards I got for Mother’s Day. Should I toss or just cherish the memory? Not sure what to do – I don’t want a build-up like what I had in our last house. I get a kick out of your comments. Thank you, Cherry! 🙂
What a fantastic card! Special doesn’t even cut it. The ingenuity, time, and creativity put in it! I can see Joel comes from an artistic and handy background. 🙂
Yes, when I was younger, I would create cards from scratch as well. Not as elaborate as this one, though.These days, when it’s a special occasion (and I have extra time on my hands), I’d create a personalized poem for the person or the occasion to put in a handwritten card. In general, I write emails or leave Facebook messages when it’s somebody’s birthday and, in the case of my parents, I’ll give them an international call.
I actually kept ALL the cards I ever received in my entire life, in shoe boxes at my parents’ house. But – and I might have mentioned this before – I recycled almost all of them last spring, as my parents cleaned up shop before moving in a one-bedroom apartment.
Now that you mention it, I remember that your parents’ moved. Not sure I recall that your huge stash of your cards went into recycling. I imagine it was hard to curate so many cards. Kudos to you for making handmade cards, some with poetry, Liesbet!
I still send “regular” cards to a few friends and close relatives. And because I know more people because of social media, I send some greetings each week to Facebook friends. Special cards mailed to us end up on our kitchen counter where two Father’s Day cards enjoy pride of place right now.
Thanks for your last two posts featuring your doggy friends. Without you, I would never have heard of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. Wow, oh, wow!
You’re very welcome, Marian. Best Friends is an amazing place. Even critics like Mark and I couldn’t find any flaws. 🙂 Two more related posts to come soon and then, the next chapter starts in my blog posts. I hope Cliff had a wonderful father’s day!
Thanks for asking. Liesbet. Our son, the metal card guy, and his family had us over for a Mexican-themed dinner. The boys made a chocolate cake, which you can see on Facebook. I got indigestion from all the spicy food, but they’ll never know! :-/
Happy (and safe) travels this week!
I LOVE THIS!!!! And it reminds me so much of my dad and makes me miss him!
Welcome, Luanne! Your comment piqued my interest in your blog. Wow, what an impressive body of award-winning work! It sounds as though you have strong family ties as well. Do visit again. 🙂
Thanks, Marian! I will!
🙂
Wonderful! A creative son and a creative dad. I squirmed a bit wondering how mom would feel about the photos cut out of the family album. Neither of my parents had much interest in creating poems or cards or family albums. I think they were too busy struggling with my dad’s illness and his business.
My grandmas were the creative ones, and (as you probably remember) one wall of my bedroom is decorated with my paternal Grandma’s crochet mandalas and runners. I loved spending time with her as a kid and learning her arts. And where are those tools?
An artist yourself, I can imagine the tiny gasp as you viewed the metal card. My reaction? I guess I thought then as I think now that art trumps all. As a girl, I would wander up into Grandma’s attic where all the National Geographics were stored and cut out what I needed for school projects. I felt a twinge of guilt but was not deterred. I don’t remember any complaints.
I admired then and admire still the unique metal card, even if it meant two chewed up photos from one album. I accumulated 22+ physical albums before such technology went digital, and I stopped filling physical pages with photos.
Blessings on the Grandma’s handiwork and for imparting to you the capacity and urge to create. Thank you, Elaine!
I loved reading this post! What an imagination for a young boy to have and then the patience it took to make the card! Amazing! Thanks for sharing this with us, your readers.
Anita, I have been thinking about you this week . . . (Has your nose been itching?)
Well, here you are, and I’m glad.
I’m glad too that you enjoyed the card and all that goes with it. Thanks! 🙂
Beautifully creative. What a treasure!
Jenn, this card has been sitting on a shelf for years. It seemed appropriate to dust it off for this post, glad you enjoy it!