It’s a sunny day…

Apr 29, 2009

Posted by: SuperJenn

Bloggers - tlccraftywitches

The bodice that I am wearing is laced a little too tight and I’m wearing the skirt that I save just for this occasion every year. And as he steps up to the front of the stage my pulse goes crazy. And then he says it¦

“As some of you may know, today is Miguel’s birthday and someone has something for him.”

I see Don Juan smile as one set of eyes searches the front row of the packed crowd for me because he knows that’s where I always sit. That’s when I stand, letting the wrap I’ve had curled up in my lap unfold and uncover my master work for the year. It is a common teddy bear (but only in its make), that has taken months of hard work stitching, cutting, gluing (and the like) to get it dressed. And now the time has arrived to hand it over.

The best part of having finally reached this moment? The look that crosses my friend’s face when he first lays eyes on his birthday present.

For almost 15 years now I have been attending the local Renaissance Festival and one of my favorite acts has always been The Don Juan and Miguel show. Miguel, whose real name is Doug Kondziolka (pronounced Kon-jol-ka) has become a dear friend of mine over the years so when I discovered his birthday was Halloween (which is about halfway through our festival) I decided to make him a birthday present. This is how my love for crafting came to be.

For many years now, (I can’t seem to remember the exact number) I have gone out and bought a teddy bear that I dress in a miniature version of one of the many costumes that Doug wears during the shows. My entire year is based around what costume I am going to do this time and how in God’s name I’m going to save up the money for all of the supplies that I need.

Somehow, in the end, everything always pulls through and after months of work and usually at least 2 or 3 all-nighters I get the bear completed. Every year, as I sit there with the finished bear in my lap, I have a moment that many crafters I know experience as well: I feel utter joy at being done, and so much sadness that it’s finished.

You see¦I have grown to live my entire year for this craft alone, so when it comes time to put the needles and the thread back into my make-shift sewing box (which is actually a box from the Deathly Hallows midnight release that I went to) it’s like putting up my best friends in storage. And putting away best friends is no easy task by any means.

But then, a few months down the road, I’ll get to thinking about what all I need for my next project and I get so excited, because it’s time to pull out the box again and brush off the dust to take stock of what I have. And pulling out my needles and thread, renews my love for crafting all over again¦





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