I wish I knew then what I know now …

Expression, July-August, 2005 by Mary Utterback

Sparklers and cherry popsicles scream summer to me. Not just summer, but July 4, a celebrated holiday when my family would travel to my grandfather's cottage on "The Lakes" in Indiana. The lazy summer days of childhood--sitting on the end of my grandfather's white-washed pier, my sun-kissed legs dangling over the edge, my toes skimming the lake, cherry popsicle in hand, staining my mouth, dripping onto my fingers and jean shorts, the sun beating down on my shoeless feet. And that was just the daytime activity! At night, families would gather--the adults lighting firecrackers off the ends of their respective piers, drinking a beer and eating late-night barbecue, while swarms of barefoot children twirled sparklers, lighting up the cool, midnight air. Those were the days.

When we first received the polymer-clay bowls on page 62, I was immediately taken back to The Lakes. I was reminded of all things red, white and blue and the freedom of being a child. My only care in the world as a kid was how to de-stickify my mouth, fingers, hands (and sometimes hair!) after eating my cherry popsicle. That and when my sparkler ran out.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The happy-go-lucky life of a child is something to watch with eyes wide open. We as adults are so bombarded with errands to run, bills to pay, mortgage to scamper for, laundry to do, plus maintaining a full-time job (and yes, you can call us superwomen if you like) we often forget to frolic every once in awhile. The feeling of sand between the toes and running barefoot across dewy grass can quickly be erased when the Jimmy Choos slip on. But all you need is a smell, a texture, a color, to bring you back to a time when life seemed a bit more easy-going. With the bowl's bright colors and glimmering sparkles, I immediately could smell the air of summertime, of lighter fluid and burning briquets, the taste of cherry popsicle and the coolness of the lake water.

This issue is chock-full of projects and feel-good reads to get your ink-stained fingers all over. If you love polymer clay, try out Lisa Pavelka's purses on page 46. They are, without a doubt, a much-needed addition to any clay enthusiast's wardrobe.

Plus, we've jam-packed these pages with fantastic and inspirational cards so diverse and unique in their own right, they each should get a standing ovation of their own. And keeping our art-full eye on the environment, we show you how to take a few everyday objects and recycle them into art. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

So grab a cherry popsicle, maybe a glass of iced tea (unfortunately sparklers are illegal in most states now!), sit on the porch, walk barefoot out on the pier, or maybe just kick up your feet on the couch, and enjoy the vibrancy of the colors, the simplicity of the images, and the youthful appeal of beauty in this special issue. Maybe a color or image will trigger you to take a trip down memory lane too. As for me, I'm off to price airline tickets for a trip to The Lakes.

Mary Utterback

Editor