This post is dedicated to all the parents who have children who have “flown the nest.” So I get home about a week ago to California (I live in New York City) to help my family out with the launch of our new online boutique this past Monday, July 19th (http://www.letop-usa.com/)…As a child who works for her parents, one might think I would stay at a hotel – NOPE! I STILL stay at home, in my old room, with the old 80s soccer trophies, stuffed monkeys and funny childhood pictures I painted as a child. It made me start thinking about all of the other parents who hang on to the doo-dads, artwork and any other fun projects their children work on. Who knew that 30 years later, my parents would have my projects to this day in the living room next to a Richard Deibenkorn painting (a very fancy-schmancy modern artist from the 90s) – ooh-la-la! Below are funny items throughout our house that might make you (yes, you the parents who hang onto your child’s strange artwork that makes you smile)….smile! Enjoy this inside look to my home life.
The first one is a plaster of Paris ice cream sundae I made as a child. I thought it was funny to “trick” parents to try and drinks “my milkshake.” The true joke was on me in the fact that any adult obviously knew it wasn’t real.
The one on the right is a wood-fired/glazed lion I created in 5th grade where I was graded by my teacher on the anatomy of an animal and how well I could sculpt it.
This was a man I made in 6th grade out of clay and I was graded by my teacher on how well I understand the body form. Who is this man I sculpted. No clue. Ha!
Your first question might be, what the heck is that orange thing? My mom calls him “her little man”…I always thought he was a monster with tiger stripes. Hee-hee!
This was a soap stone sculpture I chipped away to make a seal that our housekeeper always turns upside down to look like a random rock. Here is how it is always posed when I get home…
On the right is how the “seal” should be posed.
Here is a watercolor painting I created with a train in 5th grade where I was supposed to draw a train and I was graded on the specs of my train and straight lines. I find this picture pretty funny seeing as how I thought at that time BP oil was a “big gas company” with a pretty and happy sunset. Who knew they would be destroying our earth now!
My final picture that will really have you laughing is this professional portrait of me as a child in the 1980s. SCCCCCARRRRY. I was 5 years old at the time. One might call this photo “black mail.”
Le Top blog 
Is that a Le Top Turtleneck i see under that “Candian Tuxedo”?! 🙂
Oh Melissa,
As a mom who has saved artwork, trophies and indescribable things made by my children I know how special each of your creations and pictures must mean to your parents. After moving and storing over 15 totes of memories I have finally parted with most leaving just a few that have a place in our home and in my heart. My favorite is the matching macaroni necklace and bracelet.
P.S. I love the picture you painted that hangs in your dad’s office.
I love this article! I was actually just wondering what to do with ALL of my daughter’s projects. I need to look through and see what are “keepers.” Sadly, my mom didn’t keep anything my four brothers and I made.
This article really put a smile on my face! You are a great artist! I think Tiger Man looks quite like Tony the Tiger! and even at 5, you were all business… 😉
We also have boxes and boxes of save papers, artwork, projects, etc. I admit, it is so hard to give up your childs’ memory. Yes, guess I am somewhat of a hoarder when it comes to my children’s memories. What I have started doing was going through each of the items and photographing them… ‘just in case’ it is not savable (or maybe end up being destroyed, lost or otherwise).
Melissa, it is great the way Paul and Chris have left all your stuff set up… Great memories! Makes you want to come back home, right? 🙂
Very cool!!! I am also happy about the online store. I love le top collection and wish I could afford more of them. Will there be a clearance section?
Amber,
We are so happy you like our new online boutique! Shop, shop shop (wink, wink). In regards to clearance, we don’t plan on having items go on sale “just yet,” but will keep you posted when it does. Sign up on our home page to “get in the loop” and we will let you know when it does. In the meantime, Zulily.com is a great place to find our items on sale every so often. We would also love an image of your child for our “Darling of the Day” – please email us at editor@letop-usa.com, as we would like to feature your child!”