A Goddess of Crafting Passes

I am saddened by the news of the passing of Aleene Jackson this week. Yes, the woman behind the name on the gold bottle of the Glue-that-does-just-about-anything. You can learn more about her on her facebook page - her daughter Tiffany Windsor authored the last entry.

I have great admiration for a woman who was one of the founders of the crafting world we know today. She had ideas at a time when hobby shops were full of model kits for airplanes, and the people behind the craft industry were men in suits. Her bio is fascinating stuff.

In the early 90s she and her daughters Tiffany and Heidi had a craft show on television. What a blessing for me! I was having babies, sitting at home breast feeding, under-slept and looking for a television show that wasn't about disfunctional families or stories about the scary world. It was a crafty oasis of the soul! She expanded her brand at the time of the show to include craft books, paints, tools and some really unique crafting items. But darnit, our dollar was low and the things I wanted were only available in the US. I did eventually get a hold of some things, and her paints did make it here. I learned how to make interesting Christmas ornaments with tissue paper, foiling glue and foil.

And, my very favourite was flowers made of a unique product under her name called Twisted Satin Sheet Ribbon.

It was a plasticized version of the tradition twisted paper ribbon. The technique was to flatten it, cut out petals, then heat the ends and antique them with paint. Put them together with a glue gun and voila! (The tins in the middle and right picture are coffee and baby formula cans that have been painted and decorated)

You can't get the product for a long time now, and the flowers lasted a long time and still are vibrant. However, I had to move at work last year and I moved my "bouquet" only to find that when I touched the blooms, they crumbled. Fine, unless you touch them! What is interesting is that this plastic was NOT exposed to sunlight, just fluorescent light. (the ones on the right). I just checked my remaining stash (in a bin in the cool dark basement) and it looks unaffected by the degradation. More roses?

Anyway, she helped renew my need for crafty things in my life. Since that time, its been fabric painting, cross stitch, polymer clay, paper crafting, mixed media....pretty much whatever. I've done some crochet too - never could get the consistent hang of knitting. I've done some sewing when necessary, but its more instinct than skill. My mother and her sister are Ninja-class sewers as was my wonderful cousin who passed away early last year.

So, here's to you, Aleene, my you rest in peace you wonderful woman - thanks for being who you were and for filling my days with creativity.