Yes, it is that time of year again when our family and friends celebrate the annual Mother’s Day Stall at Our Dear Boy’s school.

Long, long ago, the Mother’s Day Stall was stocked with cheap plastic stuff from discount shops that probably went directly to landfill after Mother’s Day. And then a group of mums decided that it would be better for our environment, for the children and for the mums to make things by hand.  So now, mums make beautiful, useful things which they donate to the school for the children to buy to give to other mums.

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There are all kinds of things at the stall, little succulents, brooches, scarves, aprons, biscuits, hot chocolate kits, necklaces, earrings…all made by hand. The money raised buys things like astroturf and shade sails for the school grounds.

It makes me feel very proud to be part of a community that values what can be made with our hands.  It makes me feel special that another person gave up their time after, between or during paid or unpaid work to make something not just for our school but something that they thought a child would wish to give a mum. It is the one time, I don’t mind how cheaply handmade goods are sold.  To a five year old, fifty cents is a fortune and they truly believe they are buying the most beautiful thing in the world.

Last year, I made bicycle gaiters and wheat bags.  This year, we made packets of sunflower seeds.  Both children helped to make our contribution, filling me with hope that they might turn out all right.

We grew the sunflowers from seeds that the Grade Ones had sold last year. The kids harvested the seeds from the sunflower heads and we dried them inside.

I drew up a seed packet, photocopied and painted it.

Lots of cutting out and pasting later, Our Dear Girl helped me fill each one.

So Happy Mother’s Day Stall to you and to all those who have ever made stuff and given it away. It is not that the making has no value but rather that the value is greater than can be measured by money.