Am I the only one who is drawn to new boxes of Crayolas? I bought TWO boxes from the back-to-school displays, just because I love new crayons! That smell takes me right back to my childhood and those hours of enjoyment.
Since attending a Sharon Sala (Dinah McCall) workshop some years back, I always have a few crayons lying on my desktop. She passed out three crayons and a page from a coloring book as people entered the room. We were told to color as people got settled and she began. Into the program, she asked people to hold up their pages. She asked how difficult it had been to color without all the correct colors. Some people hadn't colored their picture at all.
The whole point was to do something different; to make Daffy Duck green and purple for example, and to be okay wuth that. Put a twist to your story, don't do the predictable. Take chances and color outside the lines. Numerous beloved kids have tried to take those three special crayons (orange, denim and fuscia) from my desk, but they never get far. Those crayons are my reminder to think outside the box.
Crayola brand crayons were the first kids crayons ever made, invented by cousins, Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith. The brand's first box of eight Crayola crayons made its debut in 1903. The crayons were sold for a nickel and the colors were black, brown, blue, red, purple, orange, yellow, and green. The word Crayola was created by Alice Stead Binney (wife of Edwin Binney) who took the French words for chalk (craie) and oily (oleaginous) and combined them.
My favorite Sharon Sala books is Out of The Dark. What's yours?
One of my favorites is SARA'S ANGEL.
ReplyDeleteAnother one of my favorites is FAMILIAR STRANGER. That one made me think about my cousins who had fought in Vietnam and espesially the one whose name is on the Vietnam Memorial.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've read anything by her. BUT, I love the smell of crayons. One sniff can instantly transport me back to the first grade.
ReplyDeleteThat makes me sound like a crayon sniffer, doesn't it?! LOL
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the smell of crayons! I have some too, Cheryl. My mother's an artist and she told me long ago to color outside the lines.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Crayola trivia. Love it!
I don't have a favorite Sala book. I've never read anything by her.
Oooh...neat idea! I love to color still...LOL. I think it is a great stress reliever for me and a way to be creative (I am not artistic).
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I have ever read a Sharon Sala book.
I always loved getting a new box of Crayola crayons! Now I get to color with my grandchildren! It's fun! lol
ReplyDeleteI've never read any of Sharon Sala's books.
I'm drawn to the limited, specialty type boxes. Bought some Multicultural Crayola crayons a few years ago. I swear they see me coming. No special colors - just special packaging.
ReplyDeleteI have several of hers, but don't recall a favorite, just that I enjoyed a couple so pick up any I see with her name, just like I do with you. I worked 8 yrs for Hallmark Cards Inc that owns Binney & Smith & did not know that story so thanks for sharing. I just bought a 64 pack with built-in sharpener for 25 cents & store it in the spare fridge with candles & beverages. Also have a commemorative tin from 1994 that says "Childhood memories that last a lifetime." ie: David locked the keys in our car when I dropped him off at pre-school so I went in & colored with him for 30 min while waiting for his dad to arrive to open it. I like to use swirly lines to make loops & fill in the spaces with color, like stained glass windows. it was a very relaxing time before a hectic day. I remember being mad at myself for getting purple & blue confused when I was in kindergarten and recognized the difference.
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