Quick Wildflower Seed Favors

Today will be the last time I teach step aerobics. The gals are taking me to brunch afterwards and I wanted to give them a little ‘thank you’ for sticking with me thru thick ‘n thin.

Step Aerobics wasn’t supposed to be my class – it was Mom’s. My background is in jazz dance as a performer, teacher & choreographer. Although that was many, many years ago. However when Mom first got cancer in 2009 there were times when she just wasn’t strong enough to teach the whole class. So she’d call me up and I’d take over. There were days when she couldn’t even make it to class and I’d do the best I could.

We went on like this for a couple of years but by 2012 I was teaching nearly all the classes. It was her dream to get strong enough to teach again so I just kept “subbing” so she’d still have a class when she was ready. I told the students that I’d show up as long as they did. And they did. Some of them were with Mom for nearly all the 30 years she taught.

If you’re keeping track, that means that Mom started teaching when she was in her early 50’s and continued into her mid 80’s. She was always the oldest in class and usually could run rings around us all. She was a force to be reckoned with, believe me.

So today is the end of an era at the Placerville Parks & Recreation. Anyone who worked there when Mom started has long since retired or moved on. Except some of her students. What an incredibly loyal group of gals.

When Mom died last October I took the rest of the month off and went back to teaching in November. Perhaps not the smartest move but I honestly thought it’d help me.

I was wrong. But I didn’t realize it.

Not until it came time to fill out the Summer program, which we do months in advance. I looked at the calendar and it just hit me – why was I doing something that I didn’t really like and took every bit of energy I had three days of every week. Not to mention it’s pretty hard on my back even when I modify the movements.

I took a deep breath and put in my notice to the office. Telling the class would be more difficult. Or so I thought. They were actually more than understanding and many wondered how I had kept going for as long as I had – in the same room as Mom, using the same music as Mom, and the same moves.

Anyway, the point is, they stuck with me, even though I knew they were there for Mom. They stayed with me. And that meant so much to me.

So I wanted to give them just a small token of thanks for their loyalty, their friendship and their support thru some very, very rough times – losing Mom, my brother and my husband over the course of two years.

At first I wanted to handpaint a little posy or something on a tag or card, add a saying of thanks, and tie on a bag of watercolor seeds.

Until I realized I’d be handpainting 20, yes TWENTY, handpainted whatevers. Um . . . no. The main point of quitting the class is so I’ll have more time for my business and handpainting 20 whatevers would take me, well, longer than I had to give. So I kept it simple.

Me! Keeping it simple! I’m marking this down in my calendar.

Supplies for Wildflower Seed Favors

• Wildflower seeds (I got these at the Dollar Tree)
• Organza Pouches
• Tags
• Stickers
• Thank You rubber stamp
• Ink pads

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Step 1 – Fill pouches with wildflower seed

I tried a few methods – pouring from the box, spooning the seed, but using a pyrex pour measuring cup turned out to be the least messiest and fastest.

Step 2 – Make sure holes in tag are large enough for ribbon to fit. If not, use a hole punch to make large enough

 Step 3 – Ink the stamp and press firmly onto tag.

Believe it or not, this is the first time I’ve ever stamped with ink. I’ve stamped with paint + glaze on walls, but never an ink pad.

I know.

Hard to believe for someone who used to work in a craft store, right? So I had to practice a bit. Then I had to resist the urge to make an ‘ombre’ stamp. Ha!

It actually was really simple, surprise-surprise.

Step 4 – When ink has dried, tie tag to pouch filled with seeds.

I over-thought this step too, thinking about a cute ribbon and a bow and . . . I resisted that temptation too.

Remember, I made 20 of these guys. In an afternoon.

Step 5 – Add a couple of stickers to the tag.

That’s it, you’re done! I found some cute dimensional stickers that I love.

I haven’t looked at stickers except for my grandson so this was a new world to me. Between rubber stamps and stickers I could get into a world of trouble.

They’re all ready to take to my students this morning for my last class.

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am at the prospect of having a whole week to paint, video classes and self-license products. It’s truly my dream come true.

Of course, there’s a ton of projects I’d like to do around the house too, but the business comes first.

Another door closes and a new one opens. I’ve had a lot of that in the past few years. This time it feels wonderful to be making proactive decisions.

Watch out World, I’m coming!

Have a great week!

Colleen

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