just jill...: day 7 ~ christmas came early this year...

I've told the story a few times here before, but just in case you've drank a few eggnog and rum's since then, I'm going to share it again now.

Years and years ago, my maternal grandmother,Bert collected the magazine, The New Yorker. She really had an eye for all things art. I often wonder what prompted her to start saving the covers, and if she by chance "knew" what she was going to do with them all along. But, however it all begain, what she did end up doing with them is wallpaper-ing them to one entire wall in her kitchen. She lined them up in rows and rows and each cover magically created a "focal point" in a room that usually sees nothing but bacon grease on the walls. It was just so unexpected, so ahead of it's time. Genius, I tell ya.

My fascination with this project of hers I think came about because my own mom was fascinated by this idea of her mom's. One house we lived in, my mom did the same thing, but in a bathroom. It was way cool too, but not nearly as awesome as that kitchen wall. So, I don't know, for some reason this has stuck with me, and for years I've dreampt of doing the same thing. Maybe in an office or craft room, or study; I just think it would be, again so unexpected. Art.

Well, you'd think if I really wanted to do this project all on my own I'd possibly start collecting the magazine myself, right? Nope. Trust me I've thought about it, many times, but just never pulled the plug and purchased the subscription. It's a weekly magazine and I could just never justify the money on a "maybe one day I'll have a kitchen all of my own to maybe figure out how I too, could wallpaper my wall."

Fast forward to a month ago or so... I was perusing Craigslist. I like to look at the "free stuff" section, just to see if by chance I could score something worth more than nothing. And I saw this ad that said, "100 New Yorker Magazines...FREE" I cliked on it and even called the guy. My concern was that when you get this magazine as a subscription, the mailing label usually comes glued to the front of the cover and would essentially ruin the cover for this project of mine. So that was the first question I asked, "Do the magazines have mailing labels glued to the front of the covers?" I patiently waited for him to go and look and when he came back to the phone he said that they did. "BUMMER MAN!!" Oh well.

Now, this is when the story gets interesting to me... Just "because," and I really have no idea why, but I decided to forward the Craigslist ad on to my Aunt Vickie. I guess I figured she could "relate" as it was her mom who had originated this project to begin with and I figured I'd just share with her how close I was to getting the covers for myself!! Well, she emails me back after receiving a copy of the ad, and informs me that she just so happens to have about "10 YEARS WORTH OF THE MAGAZINES just LAYING AROUND IN A BOX IN HER BASEMENT!!" Blink. Blink Blink. "Say whaaaat..?"

Within a week, I had the box in hand and now have 10 years worth of The New Yorker Magazine all for my very own. Now all I need is a wall (or 3) and some wallpaper paste!

My Christmas definitely came early this year... Thank you Aunt Vickie!!