In my haste to find an inexpensive and unique gift for Chris' birthday, I was struck with an idea. As a photographer, he loves to see his photos on canvas. I obviously cannot afford canvases for all the photos I would love to display, so I headed to trusty Hobby Lobby with an idea and no clue how to make it reality. This is what I ended up with:
In reality, this was a super simple project. Here's how to do it:
Tools:
Pre-cut unfinished wood blocks in varying sizes
Black spray paint (craft enamel)
MOD PODGE!!! Are you surprised?
Sponge brush
Photos printed and cut to match the flat surface of the block
Sanding block
Steps:
1- Give the blocks a good even coat of spray paint. I did not cover the center completely, focusing mostly on the edges that will be visible. Thrifty, you know?
2- After paint is nice and dry, do a little touch up if you need to. Then, apply the photo to its appropriate sized block with Mod Podge. Once you have the photo placed, start applying Mod Podge over the photo in a cross hatch pattern, giving the photo a nice texture.
3- Let the Mod Podge dry before doing a second coat if needed. I really wanted a canvas texture, so I did a few coats then set them aside to dry for an afternoon.
4- You cannot really tell in this photo, but I used the sanding block to chip off some of the black paint. This gave the blocks a little antique feel.
Finished product. He flipped over them! I want to go back and make some two more of each size. I am thinking that you could make these into a little table stand by drilling a small hole and inserting a wooden dowel? I will try it next time!
I sort of just dreamed this idea up one day when staring at a pile of mail that I had no place for.
I had some left over burlap and thought- hey...why not? I had no plan, no measurements, and no clue how to embroider.
But, in case you want to make this cute bag, I will do my best to fill you in on how it came to be!
Tools-
24x12 piece of burlap
Iron on backing- to make material stiff
1/4 yard fabric
3 complementary colors of embroidery floss
Embroidery needle
Straight pins
Iron
Because my burlap was creased, I ironed it flat. Then I folded over the edges along the length of the burlap and ironed it to stay put. Those folded edges will be the sides of the bag. After all the ironing, I folded the entire piece in half to mark where I wanted my letters.
I cut a 4x8 square of fabric and a 4x8 square of the iron-on webbing and fused them together with the hot iron. Then I freehand cut out letters. I attached the letters with straight pins to the front of the bag.
With the straight pins in place, I did a simple back stitch to start my embroidery. Then, I just stitched around the edges of each letter. I didn't guess at how to stitch...I used this.
It is actually a children's book about embroidery. You can find similar info online!
Once all of the letters were sewn on, I took all of the pins out and re-threaded my needle with another color floss to do the side stitching.
I pinned the folded lengths of burlap together now that the letters were done, and stitched large X's up the side. I stitched in a dark blue first, skipping a space between X's to allow for a contrasting color.
Then I followed that by stitching lighter blue X's in the empty spaces and removed the pins.
I hated the top. It looked so raggedy where it was cut. So, I cut a length of fabric that would span the top. I pinned it so that it folded over the top and stitched it.
I attached ribbon to each corner at the top by poking the ribbon through both sides of burlap and knotting it in the back.
Done! Easy peasy. I actually did most of this watching Lost on the couch!
Please send me photos if you make this! I would love to post them here!!
You know, I try to hold myself together. I do the best I can to be the best I can be for everyone. I put on a brave face, I smile, I act like a loony bird....because it is what I want to feel in my heart. And sometimes I do. 90% of the time this comes easily because I really feel GOOD. Tonight, after opening a rotten piece of mail, my little bubble of safety popped right in my face and I lost it again. Standing in the kitchen, holding Maddy and this letter, I hung my head and cried. Like really cried. I am so tired. So tired of juggling money, so tired of collection agencies and bill collectors. So SICK AND TIRED of wondering if I can buy groceries or pay the electric bill.
Maddy held onto my shirt so tight in that moment, looking at me and saying "oh"- her new favorite phrase. Then, she reached her tiny baby hand up and lifted my freaking chin so that I would look at her. I did. I saw her toothy grin, her wild hair, and her blue eyes. I remembered a year ago, when Chris came home in defeat, letting us know that he had been laid off, looking into a much smaller face. I remember feeling hopeless, and thinking how unfair it was to lay off a man a day after his premature infant comes home from the hospital. Why was this happening to us? What would we do?
Now, here we are a year later, and I thought I was past the panic and fear. Even though, after another pay cut, I knew it would only get harder, I felt hopeful...not even 2 days ago! How fragile and fickle is my heart!!?? Seriously? How can this flip flopping be honorable to God? I don't know. I know that I sometimes want to be in a different place, to have a different story to tell. I fear that I am failing at faith. That I am throwing my hands up in God's face, asking if He really knows what He is doing.
I don't have words enough to explain this. But, I know my heart. I know that through this hurt and fear, I can grow. I know that tomorrow, God will make His mercies new and known to me in even greater ways. I know, regardless of everything else, that tomorrow He will still love me and shed His grace on my life like a plush and wonderful blanket. I know that He hurts when I hurt and that He can see all things.
I know that when I kiss my husband goodnight, I will cry again. I will tell him I am so sorry that this is our life, that he has to literally work his tail off AND go to school, and be my rock and be Maddy's hero. I know that it is a heavy load to bear. I know that he wouldn't want to be anywhere but here...and that is why he is so much better than I am.
So, to keep you from being depressed, I want you to know that in my walk of faith, one that is almost 20 years old...I have always been able to love God wide open and with complete abandon. I have always gotten the RELATIONSHIP down. I tend to fail, however, in the surrender. That is what I must do. Release my hands from the strings of my own life, and truly let Him be in control.
On April 26, 2004, a much younger and very single Eryn wrote the following blog entry when faced with a similar turmoil:
i sit at God's feet and wait (not so patiently) for some kind of clue, some hint. i listen to his breath become one with my heartbeat, and i find peace. He never reveals to me what i do not need, and never a moment before i need it. so i stay, seated, wiggling my toes, blinking my eyes to keep from daydreaming, and wait for his lead. trusting him has never been my forte. i am too determined to figure it out on my own, to do it on my own. it is so hard for me to grasp the fact that God really has this incredible plan for my life. i can screw up and fall down millions upon millions of times, and He still holds my best in his hand, waiting until he can hand it over to me. i love the fact that he is probably always smiling at me. maybe hes thinking "if only she would just stop for one moment, and let me handle this. if she would look only at me, keep me in the center of her private picture, hold me like a photo in her mind, maybe then, she could see that i am constantly the most spectacular lover of her soul, the blue in her sky, and the chords of her songs. she is silly to feel alone. she is stubborn to think i am not big enough." i can almost picture the wrinkles of concern lining his eyes and forehead. i can almost hear him sighing. and i feel dreadful. My love, the King of Creation, only asks that i trust Him, and again and again, i fail.
oh but to become a child again, and believe without hesitance, trust without second thought. so, i start over yet one more time. remembering that i am destined by my maker for great and wonderful things. remembering that i am only being shaped now, for what is to come soon. knowing fully that i am in safe and perfect hands.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to HIS purpose." Romans 8:28
I think I will end with that. And this photo from 2004...a year in which I learned incredible things about God:
I am ready to learn more. And with hope, delicate as a bird's wing, I will continue to sit at God's feet.
You all know how this tricky life will throw a nice fat curve ball right over the plate just as you have settled in to your routine. BAM! You don't duck fast enough or you mistakenly step into it- and get popped in the eye.
I have a little sting lingering from my latest go 'round with life. After a year of very special challenges, Chris and I had begun to breathe a little again. We were still trying to make it with 40% of our income gone, but had found ways of making it work pretty well. There were still times when the debt collectors called, there were still nights when I didn't sleep a second for worrying over money, and there were still sweet moments that blew us away.
Just last week, we had another change. I won't go into details, but suffice it to say- I am enjoying a new adventure in life as a work-at-home mama. The magazine is still going strong, we have great editorial lined up for next issue. However, in order to be the best magazine we can be, we have had to make significant changes. One of which entails me working from home on a freelance basis. Still the senior editor, I will continue with my normal responsibilities, just on a very part time basis. The good news? I make decent money per hour! The bad news? That money has to last the three months that span a single issue of the magazine. So, we are back at a scary place, standing toe to toe with this new adventure- and I am so totally ready!
I have always said that I love a risk. Well, I am taking one now. Deciding to take this opportunity and make it work for me, I have committed anew to the following things:
Dusting off my novel and putting it back into my daily routine. Scariest of all, this one gives me nervous butterflies in my tummy.
Building my freelance portfolio. Helping local businesses with their creative copywriting needs.
Writing things I never had time for before- like this here blog you like to read!
Being an attentive and thoughtful wife, mother, daughter, and friend.
Crafting! I have so many ideas, so many crafts that sit idly in my closet waiting to be completed.
The Eryn from a 9 months ago would have buckled under this pressure. She would have found 15 negative things to say about herself and her life. She would look at the empty bank account and the stack of bills and curse her bad luck. She would cry, cower behind disingenuous smiles, and pray bitter, hardened prayers.
This Eryn, this Philippians 4:8 Eryn, (or as Cleve would say- Phil. 4:6-8!!!!) is facing this new challenge head on. With a little pluck and a lot of that Roush toughness, I plan to ROCK this new adventure. I plan to PLAY with my daughter whenever I please. I hope to make time to sit and TALK to my beloved mother and sister. I plan to make good money, doing what I love, for no more than 15 hours a week! And, I plan to open my heart, even though it is still a little jumpy, and let God do a new work in me. He makes ALL things good, He creates ALL things anew, and He uses ALL circumstances to shout His glory and fame throughout my life. Oh the freedom.
If you've followed me this past year, if you have read even half of the story of Maddy's birth and the following months and what they brought with them, you know that this is a HUGE step for me. You know the despair and fear I have fought. I invite you to hold me accountable, to keep me in check. But mostly, I invite you to bolster yourself with courage. For you all know your own troubles, your own nagging worries, and your own personal nightmares. Take courage, take the risk, and acknowledge the blessings that come your way. I hope you will fill your heart with encouraging dialogue and with the knowledge of Scripture. Then take on a piece of this world!
At the lake last week, Chris and I admired these precious goslings. I thought, "That mother must be so scared to have her babies so near to the road. How awful to not understand your surroundings, to stand in constant watch and guard, and to only be able to honk from afar if one wanders too close to a passing car."
Then I realized, this is just life. We live it everyday...walking in a parallel line with the unknown, wondering when our paths will cross and everything will change. I take heart in knowing that my little life is at least secure in God's faithful hands.
Here are just some pics of some of the yummy food we eat! Food never looks as good in pictures...but seriously, I could LIVE on this stuff!
This is Chris' domain but I man the veggies sometimes. Here are breasts and thighs, corn, and cherry tomatoes. YUM! Did you know that the healthy nutrient, Lycopene, is only accessible in tomatoes when they are cooked? You can get it fresh in Watermelon, though!
Ready for eating! So yummy!
My favorite new beverage on one of my favorite books! This drink is sparkling water, a tablespoon of pomegranate concentrate, and a dash of lime juice. The book is Between, Georgia by Joshlyn Jackson. Both great for a summer treat!
This is my breakfast. Three egg whites, fresh sliced grape tomatoes, chopped onion, fresh spinach, fresh mushrooms, Kroger Zesty blend, and a sprinkling of mozzarella. Protein every morning has CHANGED my life! Find more info on the foods that keep me going here.
I am sitting here in what is basically - the dark. My living room is all shadows and TV reflection as Tammy and Bobby watch Everybody Loves Raymond. I am so tired! Like beat my head against a wall to stop being awake- TIRED! But...sitting proudly aboard that tiredness is contentment- carrying a brightly colored banner- showing off, in fact. It was a long way up, but contentment has officially risen to number one on my emotional countdown.
My life is SO far from perfect...even so far from the life I want to be living...and yet, I am content. And each day, I work for that contentment. I choose to look at the world, not as hinging on every single thing, but on a grander scale- one in which I am a mere player and not the starring role.
I could get so bogged down in the money that still isn't there, even a year later. I could bury myself beneath my worries and fears of being a bad mom, a poor wife, and a failure to the kingdom. I could even swim in the tears I have shed over this past year.
Still, in Philippians 4, Paul begs, "6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
And, I think, even with all the troubles that lay heavy on my heart, isn't there also inconceivable joy? Do I not also have friends and family who love and stand by my little family with ceaseless prayer and petition on our behalf? Can I not pray and petition, also? Rather than moping and self-pity, can I find the LOVELY in my life every day and rejoice in that? Can I take my tiny picture and put it against the big one and accept that no matter the size of my troubles, someone else is currently suffering more?
Well, UH YEAH! I can do all of that. It is ridiculous to think otherwise. And everyday, as I purposefully choose peace and contentment, I will have more time to be a fun mom, a devoted wife, and a more observant servant in this world. WIN...and WIN!
I hope that you feel peace- not in the absence of trouble, but within the mire. I hope that we all step back from observing our own lives as less than perfect, and view that imperfection as God's ability to save us regardless!
Now, I will close with a reminder that when something breaks in our lives, a dam lets loose and its waters breach your heart, that is when God can reveal His love and grace in ways not felt before. A perfect example- a year into this awful, make me shake in my boots, financial situation- we are still surviving. We don't have much, we can't afford to give much, but we are still here, against all odds. And this little girl will never remember the days when her mommy and daddy struggled so. She will only remember the laughter. And of course, the love.
I am a full time mom to a precious bird and wife to an amazing and inspiring man. I am a part-time magazine editor. I love words, laughing until my ribs hurt, and coffee. This is a place for me to muse, learn, and hopefully inspire.
10 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house.
11 The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.
From Psalm 45.
