I was born on 5/5 and I just turned 50 on Tuesday – that’s gotta be auspicious! I’m in- this sounds like lovely fun. (And no, I haven’t forgotten I need to learn to make a video with my little Flip about carving a stamp to honor your 50 things for 50 years…) Carving the stamp is a whole lot easier than figuring out how to make the video!

Thanks for the catalyst!

Edie

What a lovely idea — I am going to play.

-janet

As a self-confessed fan of generosity in all its forms this is just perfect. Thanks again Patti for starting something wonderful that makes the world a little bit better. I’ve been looking for something to post on my blog on this cool, grey and damp May Saturday, and guess what? This is it.
Viv

the smallest things made from the heart are the absolute best. I still have art-i-facts that my children made when they were small in with the “good” stuff! this is one of the many feel good posts…thanks… I will participate on my end! All the best to you!

Nancy! I am going to start using this line whenever I feel as if everything is just running together with no spaces between….

“Sorry, my return key isn’t working”.

LOVE IT. LOVE IT.

You are a poet.

Amy

I’m in! I had decided to challenge myself to Write The Letter; I love adding Make The Stuff.

Count me in! Great idea.

I guess this makes me number eight. I will eagerly participate in this artful challenge but do not know if 5 people will comment or respond if I place it on my facebook…then what?

I’ve seen this meme going around BloggerLand, too. It’s a great idea, fun and inspiring.

Patti: Your post reminds me of the most precious birthday gift I have ever received.

I was a school district technology director with a special project going with the behavior disorder kids. They used palm pilots to track their behavior throughout the day, and it was working very well to help remind them to stay in check.

Amy was one of the students. She dressed in goth, complete with dog collar and black lip stick. I first learned about Amy through my clean as a whistle, Girl Scout daughter who was in her class and came home to say one day, “You know, Amy is pretty scary to look at, but I talked to her today and she is nice.” So I took a special interest.
Found out her mother was a drug addict who took Amy’s sister and disappeared one night, never to return, except for a few harassing phone class during drug-induced stupors. Amy was in trouble a lot at school and really struggled to read.

The kids were selected to give a presentation for our state school board conference about their behavior modification project. Amy arrived sans Goth. Did a fabulous job talking to board members. Never showed up in Goth to school again, and I’m proud to say she is a National Honor Society member now, and a senior to be next year.

The gift? A hastily crocheted winter scarf, about 18 inches long, with about twice as many rows at one end than the other. She clearly ran out of yarn, or time, or both. I wore that scarf with pride all winter because I know the amount of focus and caring that went into it. It’s the only gift that has ever made me cry when I opened it. It came with a big homemade card and a small homemade chocolate cake she wanted me to share with the teachers in the lounge.

So your challenge inspires me to give back. I could not equal Amy’s gift, but promise to give it attention and time. Two things we all are short on these days.

I look forward to meeting you when you’re in Nebraska in June.

Sounds awesome!! I’d love to do this!!

Count me in as well. And I’m about to be a birthday girl too, although “girl” is probably stretching it as I’ll be older than any of the other May birthdays who posted.

i did somethnig like this on my blog before–a “pay it forward” blog post–was great! so count me in!
random gifts are special…whatever you make will be treasured by someone;-)

LOVE this! I’m doing it on my blog no matter what. Love to be a part of spreading a little Art-Love around.