Now we have a grand daughter Phoebe who desperately wants to carry on the tradition. She has spent countless hours in my studio and shop over the last five years. When she was first born she would stay in my studio, often sleeping in my arms while I worked at my desk. As she became more mobile her toys littered my studio. She learned to draw on my knee. Now five, Phoebe loves to spend time in the shop. Her playhouse lives there, on wheels so it can be pushed out of the way when we need the space. She is learning about tools and how to handle them. Her favorite job is painting and when she is wearing her paint clothes she is allowed to help.
Today was such a day. She had a day off kindergarten and she got to spend all day with grampa in the shop. She kept busy in the morning painting various projects of her own including some fancy new designs on her playhouse. But she was constantly looking over her shoulder at my projects for they looked far more interesting. After lunch I let her help. I had saved some shorter signs just for that occasion. Since I was the taller person we decided it best if I painted the top portions of the sign. She would handle the lower parts. We had a grand time working together!
-dan
