Hello crafty friends, today is bittersweet. This Calls for Confetti's first stamp and coordinating die release is finally here. I am honored to share with you a deeply personal project that is very close to my heart, Alice’s Story.
Before delving into the main content of this blog post, I want to share a personal moment—a turning point that felt deeply reassuring. It seemed as if my mother was guiding me from afar. Growing up, one of our cherished traditions involved watching "Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas" every year. My mom adored it, and so did all of us.
As I considered different phrases to include on this new stamp design, the phrase “Sweet as honeysuckle on the vine” kept echoing in my mind. This old Southern saying intrigued me not just because it fit well with the design but also because there was something profoundly lingering about it—almost haunting.
Driven by curiosity and this persistent thought, I decided to search for the sentiment online. To my astonishment and delight, the first result was a clip featuring Emmet Otter and his ma sitting in their tiny rowboat on the river; Emmet turns to his mother and says exactly those words: “Sweet as honeysuckle on the vine, Ma!” At that moment, I felt an indescribable connection—as if my mom were gently pushing me forward in this decision.
Alice's Story is a heartfelt collection of items, each one holding a precious moment from my journey with my remarkable mother. It is more than just products; it's an expression of deep gratitude and love I feel for having been blessed with a mother like Alice. The desire to share these significant memories will flow through every piece in this collection, essentially inviting everyone to experience the joy and luck that I felt in being Alice's child.
Without further ado, I give you Honeysuckle. This 4x6 Stamp Set features a minimalistic honeysuckle image and vase along with two words and seven buildable sentiments included. I was captivated by this image as I browsed countless images of honeysuckles. Without hesitation, I acquired the necessary license and eagerly began designing This Calls for Confetti’s first stamp set dedicated to my beautiful mother.
Momma passed away September 8th, 2023 after suffering a massive brain bleed not quite two weeks earlier. In that nearly two weeks, our immediate family gathered daily, first in the ICU waiting room before moving onto the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield, NC. We found sharing memories of momma helped pass the day and ease the pain.
I remember the moment I realized I was now the keeper of momma's stories. It was at that point I began gathering memories like precious gems washing ashore, rushing to grab each one before they could drift back into my sea of forgetfulness.
As days ticked by, one big question kept spinning around in my mind: How do I even begin telling everyone about the incredible person she was? If words on pages were my thing, sure, I’d probably crank out a book filled with nothing but stories of her.
While sitting in my craft room, inspiration struck as naturally as remembering the scent of honeysuckle on a warm breeze: my creativity would be my medium and This Calls for Confetti would be my outlet. It suddenly all made sense; telling you all about my amazing mother through carefully curated stamp sets felt right. Not only does it allow me to honor who she was by sharing our stories, but I could continue her legacy of generosity by giving back to those who helped us navigate the stormiest days of our lives, the incredible people at the SECU Hospice House.
Once you have your Alice's Story products in hand, flip the product packaging over, and you'll discover a heartwarming memory from Lisa. This collection of stories is an ever-expanding testament to momma's incredible spirit. It's my sincere hope that through sharing these memories, everyone will understand and appreciate the wonderful woman my momma truly was!
Momma, thank you! I me because of you! I love you and miss you everyday. Of course, you know this from our daily conversations. ♥️♥️♥️
Momma possessed not only external beauty but also internal qualities such as resilience, determination, selflessness, and generosity. She was truly one of a kind.
Thanks for reading this far. It means the world to me that you took the time to do so.
Lisa