Although the charm of all this snow is starting to wear a bit thin- a friend aptly described Kalamazoo as living in a snowglobe- I never tire of the image of a cheerful snowman.  I've mentioned before that my Mom was very (very very very very very) into seasonal decorating and this time of year at our house was filled with snowmen and hearts, cool reds, cobalt blues and deep purples- all against a stark white background- with some buffalo check pajamas thrown in.  She was a stylist before any of us knew they existed.

She'd make long lists of the months paired with their colors, which to her was just so obvious, "don't you know months have colors?"  I have to agree, growing up this way, months very obviously have colors to me.  When I inherited all of her decorating books ten years ago, I was positively thrilled to find one such list tucked in the front of one of them-- an item I will treasure much more than things that are more valuable in dollars.

So this snowman is an idea that has percolated in my head for a while, something to make with Elliot, something to pitch to Wondertime, which I did just before their demise.  My editor liked it and replied- "oh, and look at this cute one by Betz White."  Oops, I guess no ideas are original, are they? 

But mine is made with cotton batting scraps and colorful buttons glued on by an eager 5 year old.  The hat and carrot are made of that newish stiff craft felt, the orange is the self adhesive kind, the black is just glued on.  I think the background would also be cute with wool felt or a tiny cotton print, a la swatch portraits from the Purl Bee.

So, if you have a snow day soon, or mid-winter break, or even just a sunny afternoon (oh Michigan, what has gotten into you, sunny in the winter?) throw one of these guys together.  Then put on your flannel pj's (Mom would've insisted) and admire this cheerful little guy.  Then dream of the colors of spring.  Aaaaaahhh, the colors of spring.