moment , we ask her to stash the results in storage cubes , upstairs or downstairs . Then the paper can pile up out of the way until we are ready to do something with it . You can harvest anything . What has your family been up to ?
Gather the bounty
It ’ s easy to roll along without stopping to appreciate what we have created this past year . But your job is to make sure this does not happen . The harvest is your big chance to take stock of what your family has done and gather it up . I increase my daughter ’ s sense of pride by gathering her drawings in binders she can revisit in the future . Even if she doesn ’ t want to look back over her recent works right now , I still do my part , which is to gather the best examples of her work , so she will be reminded in the future that consistency and commitment created all these results .
What are the results of your family members ’ passions ? Gather up those cars or dolls or team photos or articles or theater posters . They offer evidence of time well spent .
Prepare the results
We set up a craft space in the corner of the laundry room . It ’ s not fancy , just a folding table , a storage rack and some storage bins . In order to preserve the best of my daughter ’ s drawings , I have to go through piles and sort and resort her work until I have culled it all down to the best of the best . It ’ s messy work and sometimes I get interrupted , so it ’ s nice to have an out of the way space in the house where I can leave a project and return to it later without having to pick up after myself constantly .
There is no need to save every single thing my daughter creates . I am looking for examples of creative strides or moments of inspiration that demonstrate her growth . By taking the time to do this work , I get the gift of reflecting over her efforts . By preserving her efforts , we show her that we value her self-expression .
Share with others
Once you have taken stock , gathered and prepared the best of what your kids have to offer , consider how you might be able to share the bounty with others . When you grow flowers , you can give bouquets . But when your kids use their inner gifts , you need to brainstorm ways to spread those gifts far and wide . Technology can help ( see sidebar ). The post office can also help . I typically
encourage my daughter to include one of her drawings with letters she sends to friends and family . We also include a couple in our annual holiday letter .
The best of the best of what your family has sown may make a great gift or donation , so stay alert for ways to make a contribution . And always be sure to find a prominent place in your home to display whatever your family has most recently created . Even better if this can be a rotating display throughout the year . A mantle , tabletop , hanging wire or display shelf can all work just fine .
Celebrate all that you have
The harvest is the time of year to focus on formalizing all that we offer , all that we have and all that we give . So don ’ t let harvest season whip by in a blur of pre-holiday busyness . Prioritize the tasks that will help your family have a meaningful harvest celebration of the creative kind . What your family gets in return for gathering , preparing , sharing and celebrating the harvest is a feeling of connection that transcends time , culture and religion .
When we appreciate our gifts and share them , we feel rich , happy and generous .
The harvest is not merely about having enough ; it ’ s about recognizing that we always have something to give , and that when we share what is plentiful with others , we celebrate not just ourselves but also life itself .
Resources for Harvesting Creative Works
Portfolio & Scrapbook Supplies : OfficeDepot . com OfficeMax . com Michaels . com Amazon . com
Products or Gifts : CafePress . com Zazzle . com Costco . com
Photos : Shutterfly . com Snapfish . com Costco . com Apple . com ( Macs only )
Self-publish a Book or Chapbook : Lulu . com Blurb . com CreateSpace . com Apple . com ( Macs only )
Author , journalist and writing coach Christina Katz loves autumn and celebrating harvest season with her family . She especially loves the way her creativity goes up as the temperatures go down .
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