Thursday, June 27

In my church two girls graduated grade 8 this week (and then my sister just finished high school). So to celebrate, I spent some good portions of today making cards and special treats for them. I chose to make the cards using calligraphy which required a search and destroy mission to FIND the fountain pens, but it was all worth it in the end I think. Perhaps this time around I’ll actually stick with it long enough to use the ink instead of it drying up in the pen…

And then the treats! Little graduation cap chocolate things. Someone gave me one when I graduated, so we thought we could spread the love with the simple things. And they’re pretty yummy too! (My apologies for the horrible photo quality)

In other news … halfway through Son of the Shadows and Ink Exchange in my double series reading spree. Juliet Marillier still wins, but I’m also biased so …..

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Friday, June 14

I started my third trilogy today. Completely by accident. I blame cover artists who refuse to put “book one” or “_____ trillogy” on the cover. Like … come on. 3 in 4 days is ridiculous.

To release my pent up frustration etc. I made 6 books today! They’re all the same and they were pretty simple to make. They are all just a single signature sewn into the cover, but it’s useful that way. I’m going to use them to hold memory verses and Greek vocab etc. to help with learning this summer. They turned out pretty nice, no?

Wednesday, May 29

Today was … bootcamp, book making, and fellowship. While I enjoyed fellowhsip the most, I feel like you might enjoy bookmaking more.

A while ago a friend asked me to turn a paper back Bible into a pink hardcover for her. I obliged and it actually turned out pretty nice. Her friend then saw it and wanted one TOO. So … the first mentioned friend designed the covers, but I rebound everything. Apologies because you cannot see the headbands and the endpaper fastenings and stuff … but you get the general idea? It’s kind of fun to do the transformation actually … and it only took an hour today! I surprised even myself. So without further ado …

THE PURPLE HAND-BOUND BIBLE

Saturday, May 11

Today was the day I FINALLY finished all my cross stitch pieces for church! I’ve been working on these for two weeks … and I’m really glad I got them done because I was getting to the point where I just did not want to see another piece of thread for a good month. I hate deadlines …. when I get tired of working on things that is. I’m also exhausted and need to sleep, but this was just exciting :]

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Monday, May 6

Today is the day … I decided to start learning Greek! Not normal Greek, New Testament Greek. Why you ask? Because I want to, and then I can study my Bible deeper myself. So far … I can write the letters …. not very good. Well I copied from a chart once, but my dad said I needed to learn how to write them properly so that I don’t spend 5 hours writing one word…He’s probably right. This chart took a while.

But look how pretty it is! I’m so excited…

In addition to that fantastic alphabet I started teaching myself, I worked on some cross stitch things for church … I’ll talk more about those when I actually FINISH. However, what is more exciting is that I started working on my tan! 😀 I’m not working at camp this summer … So I won’t be outside all day every day soaking up Vitamin D and getting all golden brown, so now I have to actually plan it into my day … which is weird. But it’s also kind of nice

I’m starting to finally get into the swing of not having a lot to do. It’s starting to get easier to fill my days with things, and I find that filling the time with things that I want to do is really satisfying once the day is over. I know that I’ve accomplished things, and its wonderfully relaxing. Hopefully it will last!

Wednesday, May 1

So I know I said that I was only going to be talking about one thing a day … but there were TWO things I did today that were pretty cool (for me at least?).

NUMBER 1

I finished my Dog and Cat Cross Stitch! This is actually a huge deal. I love doing cross stitching and embroidery things, and I have since about second grade. The thing is … for a couple years there I got a TON of kits and things for latch hook rugs, cross stitching, and embroidery. These last few breaks I’ve had from school I’ve decided that its time to finish them all. I’ve finished the pillowcases I’ve had forever, a cat picture (which is adorable) and today I finished this cat and dog one!

This is not just an accomplishment for the fact that I actually finished something, but that I had to do about 50 french knots and so now I can actually DO them (I’ve always just asked my mom to do them before this…). So I basically just sat in front of the tv and cross stitched all day until I was done. And then I started the next one. If I ever actually finish it … I’m sure I’ll post about it!

It’s a bigger picture…because I finally charged my camera battery and stopped cheating and using my phone…

Yup. It’s adorable.

NUMBER 2

My sisters are still in high school and thus in school (the poor dears) but their music night was tonight! I love music, having been a band geek myself. The extra bonus here is that they go to the school of the arts (aka their school has “majors” like in university. think Glee for bands, choir, art, drama, and dance). Anyway, it was a wonderful concert, and I enjoyed every moment. It made me THAT much more excited for my own high school concert I’m going to in two weeks.

I particularly love it when a group does a song a sang or played once. It brings back so many good memories, and just makes my heart happy. I’m so thankful for the opportunities I got in high school … and now I just really REALLY wish my university had a band! I’m sure I’ll get over it in a day or two …

Tuesday, April 30

Today was kind of excited because I was able to finish a project that I’ve spent at LEAST half the semester waiting to do.

Around Easter there was this WONDERFUL can of chocolate eggs, and I just really really REALLY wanted the jar/can/container….it was just adorable :3 However, the bottom part was basically printed onto the metal so it was impossible to rip off and have a nice metal can.

So I did what every good DIY wanna be does. I did it myself and turned it into a lovely …. can. I don’t really feel like being an excessive DIY person, but I did take some process pictures. I’m really bad with planning in advance for my projects, I just go for it and design while I’m working. Something will inspire me at some point in the process, and everything just flows from there. It is a horrible method. If you are an aspiring artist don’t do that. Think your projects through.

Anyhow …. this is what it started as….

a lovely (but un-useful) container

Step One: cover up that RIDICULOUS printed bottom half. I chose to use some string/twine and a long piece of grey paper left over from a project I did this semester.

 
string on the paper….

and on the can! (and a piece wrapped around the neck…)

Step Two: I covered up the bottom because (sadly) that was where the nutrition label was and I didn’t particularly want that on my can, even if it WAS on the bottom…

much better

Step Three: Adding a bow so there is a pretty feature. I first tried tying the string and the ribbon together, but it was a massive build up of stuff, didn’t lay properly, and I just REALLY wanted to use one of those pearl things once I found them…

 
How I made the bow … did not know how to explain that first step in words -_-

See? Just look at how nice that pearl looks…

Step Four: Cover up that label on the top of the can. This actually was harder than I thought it would be since I was using a fast drying glue gun instead of take-forever-and-maybe-not-even-stick white glue…but it turned out alright!

 
Starting out and not knowing what I was getting into …. and then finished! (with another pearl OF COURSE)

And that was it! Here are some finished product shots … and how it’s being used now.

  
Ended up looking way nicer than I had planned … the flowers in it are actually taped onto pens…so its a pen holder!