Cathy Neyer/ CrazyRedhead

I think creativity took root in my soul the first time I spotted the little  tube of red glitter at the Five and Dime when I was 9 years old!  I had to have it.  That Christmas, I glittered everything from empty toilet paper rolls to the dog’s collar!  As years went by and I had more money,  I found a mail order place called Lee Ward and got lost for hours making sequin and pin ornament gifts for everyone on my list.  Shortly after I was married, we had an apartment that needed decorating, so I ordered a Christmas centerpiece from Lee Ward for the dining room table.  To my shock, it came in a box containing a sheet of styrofoam, ribbon, berries and green stems and an instruction page!  I had only one choice...not too bad a chore.  It actually looked good for a long time.


Years later, when I was a PTA mom, one of the gals asked me if I could put together some Christmas broom door decorations if we went shopping.  The PTA had a budget, so off we went to a wholesale supply house and I’ve not been the same since!


   From there, I created cornhusk wreaths, felt snowmen, scarecrows, ghosts, and baby chick door decorations. I sold them at church bazaars and beauty salons.  


   One day, a friend of mine taught me the secret to making beautiful bows and introduced me to a hot glue gun!!!  I was in real trouble!     I started making bigger wreaths, mini trees, swags and centerpieces.


   This went on for years, until a friend of mine gave me a 4x4x4” velvet covered music box for Christmas.  She said when she saw it, she knew I had to have it.  I’m not sure why...I never had a music box in my life.  Now I know why; it was my destiny!  I thought it was gorgeous!  After 2 weeks of winding it and studying it, I decided that I could make this my new craft and took it apart.  Miles later (no internet yet!), I had found all the components to re-create the music boxes, as you see them.  Looking back, the original wasn’t elaborate at all, just pretty ribbon, with 2 floral picks glued on top; but it was the inspiration for who I am today...Cathy,The Music Box Lady!