Pom Pom Problem

I have found a potentially dangerous new craft.

I think pom poms might multiply in my room like tribbles.

Amber will have to keep me in check.

Women's Crafts: Knitting

I have been so blessed to be the Peer Assistant for Vanessa Grubbs' Freshman Seminar: Traditional Women's Crafts.  

Of course they stuck me there!  

The girls have been a joy and the class got off to a great start today.  

We knitted and chatted and giggled over the yarn messes that were being made.  

Restoration Values

Restoration Values

I loved this article I found in American Craft Magazine today.
John Hindman of Red River Restorations handcrafts custom doors, windows and even detailing after the style and quality of older homes.
I really admire the ideas and values behind the business.
Writer Julie K. Hanus states "A culture of cheap and fast has crowded out values like quality, durability, and craftsmanship.  And its those values that Hindman is out to restore, one building at a time."
He explained how people set out to restore homes, and find that the materials they need that no longer exist or are difficult to locate: sash weighted window panes, antique mortise locks hand-mixed paint.  His team works for quality, "Slow, mindful production" and making every inch "special and useful."
Lately, they have been constructing fondly named "bungalitos" as "period perfect mates" to the homes that they restore.  They work as great studio spaces or guest houses.
I love this paragraph:

"Yet more and more people are choosing Hindman's way of doing things, from his company's clients to people across the country who have joined in this shift toward what the inventor Saul Griffith calls "heirloom design," a spirited repudiation of the throw-away principles of consumer culture. Judging from the rebounding DIY ethic and the popularity of books such as Sarah Susanka's Not So Big House, a lot of Americans are recognizing that something's missing in contemporary society. That intangible value goes by a lot of names - quality, authenticity - but readers of this magazine will recognize it by this one: craftsmanship."

Awaiting my Card Case

I am eagerly awaiting my card case that Cam has been working on over the past few weeks. 

Isn't the wood beautiful?  

He remembered me loving it when his dad used it for a project a couple years ago, and was able to find the scraps.

Difficult, but dear

If there is one thing that God has revealed to me through this experience, it is that when life becomes difficult, it becomes dear.  I am forced to either give up or cling to the firm foundation and what truly matters.  I have discarded trivialities and poured my heart into these girls, and God is showering me with blessings.  Seeking to comfort, instruct and serve the incoming freshman has brought sweet, multifaceted joys that I could never have expected.  And my own difficult times showcase my friends' and sisters' tender aid.  

God is good.

And I am rooting deep in this place, and making it my home.  

Working the soil, investing in its people and it's future.  

I have never been prouder to wear my badge or call myself a Brenau woman.

Peace in Pieces

I had a very necessary breakdown today.  

Since Thursday we have been up early and in bed late, preparing. 

 I've tried and tried and tried and cared and cared and after a series of very difficult days, 

the final straw fell and it all hit the fan.  

My alpha gamms lovingly picked up the pieces while I sobbed during one of our thirty minute breaks,

 helping me into my toga, preparing to carry on.  

I slipped away to dry my eyes and caught this moment.  

I was struck.

...and felt God quietly extending a sliver of peace through my small bathroom window.

Icee Pop

I grabbed some icee pops for us to munch on at the house.  

It's just me and three of my sisters right now so we're camping out, talking and knocking out work.

Sneak Peek 2: Dorm Room

 I've been up early and in late with PA training and preparations for Alpha Gamm and the coming semester, so decorating my room has definitely taken the back seat to naps and paperwork.  However, this evening I made myself take a break and work on something creative.  So here's another sneak peak of what I'm up to.  

Sneak Peek: Dorm Room

 Lee Lee and I moved into Alpha Gamm yesterday, and we have the house all to ourselves.  RA's and Peer Assistants (us) are training through Tuesday and then working with the Freshman during their "Freshman Experience" through Sunday.
We're suite mates, and love having our rooms to ourselves.
Cam helped me unpack yesterday and that fine man (who had stayed up until 5:30 that morning re-fininishing floors) carried all the heavy stuff and then sat and de-tangled and organized my jewelry while I tried to set up base.
I eventually took pity on him and left the remainder of the tidying for another day and bought him a very large coffee as a thank you.
What a good egg.
So, my room isn't done yet, but there's a sneak peek for you.  

Take It Away-Karmin

I stumbled across this sweet duo covering Look at Me Now and fell in love with all of their work.  

This couple does a wide variety of creative covers and a lot of nice original work, too. 

They are a terrific crooning, box-slapping team.   

I also love their Carbon Copy.  

Check out all of their work at Karmin Covers.

Textbook Re-Cover

Last night I had a nice long chat with my friend Hannah while sitting at the dining table re-covering and illustrating my textbooks.  

Brown paper, ink and scribbly crayon.  

I love how they turned out.  

DIY Prism Bookmarks

French graphic designer Frédérique designed these nerdy-chic prism bookmarks and made the pdf available to the public.  Print them up on some card stock, cut and fold for a visually interesting way to keep your page this semester.  

I printed mine up last night.  

Check out the Etsy France blog to get the free pdf.  

Paper Bag

Tank Addiction

I'm moving back in on Thursday and am trying to knock out some of my packing today.  As is the usual case for me, I'm lollygagging.  I do best under a looming deadline.  Some would think two days was urgent enough, but I've got a full day tomorrow to putter around and pack.  Going through my clothes, I viewed with mingled pride and bewilderment the mass and spectrum of tanks I've accumulated over the past two years.  I only ever grab them for $2 or less, but I've managed to collect quite the rainbow.