Reader's Fave

I recently interviewed Heather Smith-Gillson for our 36th installment of Reader's Fave, a casual interview with someone who shares their favorite book. Heather is the owner of local thrift shop Sirendipity.

Heather wanted to share "Handmade Greeting Cards" by author Maureen Crawford. "I want to make greeting cards for everyone," said Heather. "Whether for kids [or] adults, it was a way to start selling them, to make them available. A lady came into the shop and wanted a card, so I made her a card right there. I want to make Christmas cards this year. I don't buy cards. I make them".

About 20 years ago, Heather delved into greeting cards. "My adopted sister gave me a birthday card," she said. "It was the coolest thing. It took me a couple of years to get good at making cards. It was right after I became a bouncer, and I wanted to make a card for someone."

Referring to "Handmade Greeting Cards," Heather said, "It's a repeat read for me. I re-read it last night! I first read it about five-ish years ago or so. I love being inspired by other crafters. Whether it's origami, bubble tech, embossing, or rubber stamping. I like dynamic creations with color, depth, and shape. If it's whimsy, I'm all over it."

The library provided the avenue for Heather . "The library was my sanctuary," she said. "Once I realized what I could find on the shelves, I realized I could do anything. I find it more important than a church. It has limitless information and you can grow as a person. There are friends on every shelf without anyone calling me names."

Heather remembers a strong influence from when she was young. "My dad worked in the oil rigs in Arizona and we lived in Michigan," she said. "Whenever he came home, he'd read books to me and he'd do the voices. He'd read to me for hours and hours and all the time doing the voices. He was my favorite parent because he'd read to me. My mom died when I was eight years old. The last thing she told me was, 'Don't stop singing.'" Anyone who knows Heather knows that she hasn't.

"No one else encouraged anything I did," she said. "My siblings didn't like me, but my grandparents had a lot of books in their house, which was great. I'd hide in the library after getting into trouble; it was a safe place. Other kids would go outside for recess or whatever, and I'd go-to the library."

Heather went on to share why she likes books like "Handmade Greeting Cards."She said, "It's a perfect way to relive the art of sharing by making these greeting cards yourself. You can do it cheaper and it's just more fun." With her hands-on, craft-type interests, this book fits that niche.

Besides books such as "Handmade Greeting Cards," Heather finds books of fiction her go to. "If it's not a made-up story, I don't care," she said. "I have no interest in it. I could pick a book by Isaac Asimov if I wanted to share about a fiction book."

May you wonderful Wahkiakum readers inspire or encourage someone else to be a reader as well.