I was born into a time when my Momma Aleene’s business was just starting too boom. When she started in the 1940’s, little did she know that it would take 10 years to hit “the big time”.

In the January 5, 1953 issue of Life Magazine, the headlines read “The American and His Economy”. One of the feature articles is “Money-Makers of a New Era - Despite taxes, they take risks and profit from own businesses”. I am proud to say that one of the six businesses (and the only women-owned business) featured in this article was Aleene’s. You may recognize this household name through Aleene’s Tacky Glue – you know, the glue in the gold bottle. My mother, Aleene Jackson, was a pioneer of the craft industry which actually didn’t even start to take hold until she launched her Craftmaker’s Caravan event the late 1960’s.

When she was featured in this 1953 issue, she was 28 years old with 3 children under the age of six. Four years prior, she had lost $1,200 in a mail order business set up to sell corsage supplies but a year later she came across some Formosan wood fiber, found it ideal for making artificial flowers and bought $12 worth. She started selling the materials from which housewives and hobbyists were making artificial flowers. (Remember, you couldn’t run to Michaels to buy silk flowers at the time because it would take another 20-years before Michaels first store started from a converted Ben Franklin store.)

From that initial $12 investment, in 1952, Aleene’s Fibre and Floral Supply Co. , grossed almost $1 million and employed most of the family at the time. When I asked Mom about how she did it, there was no long detailed marketing and promotion plan, she simply said “I just saw the creative opportunity and just did it.” She wasn’t swayed by the “economy or taxes” news of the time. She was a woman who was purely fearless.

As we head into this crafting revival, I pray that I have the wisdom, creative insight, and fearlessness of my Momma Aleene.

In the beginning…a lifetime of creativity!

The Crafting Revival