Leaving hibernation

The most recent season of my life has been really hard.

Major emotional ups and downs. 

There has been a lot of heaviness at work and in my personal life.

Not to mention, Winter is just plain gloomy - cold and windy.

We didn't even get one great snow day... 

My Winter was spent bundled up, doing puzzles and going to sleep early. 

I've just had no energy or motivation.  

Well it was time to snap out of it.

I had to embrace the fact that I am not in control of everything. 

There are many places in my life where fear can take over. 

I learned that fear can either lead to anxiety or it can be embraced.

When the Spirit moves through that place of fear, faith is a gift that is received.

Faith increases when you step out in fear. 

It was time to create.

I always feel the most life when I participate in the creation of things. 

I hadn't done anything crafty in such a long time. 

So I decided to do some crocheting and embroidering. 

My first crocheted baby blanket!

Crocheted cowl scarf

There was also a quilt that I had not finished. I have been working on it for years.

I decided to tackle that project too. 

However, I had no desire to quilt. 

So I finished the top and decided to make a duvet cover, eliminating the need to quilt it. 

A few snaps later and viola!

I have also really loved hanging out with the special little ones in my life. 

Our godson Mihretu is so much fun to be with.

I went to his house to help make Valentine's Day cards. 

Aren't they cute?

We had one weekend of nice weather so we took our nephew to Shelby Park.

On an almost warm day we took another hike through the park. 

I am so looking forward to walks when it warms up.

And now it is time to begin the garden. 

Oh Spring...less than two weeks away and Daylight Savings starts on Sunday. 

That means more sunlight and warmer weather on the horizon. 

Feeling like I am turning a corner away from the Winter gloom. 

Can not wait!

Paint Chip Art

I love using paint chips for art. Every time I go into Home Depot, Lowes, or Walmart, I grab as many color swatches as I can without looking too suspicious. The best kinds are the ones that are only one color per sheet. You can do so much more with them. 

I love geometric shapes and these colors!

I incorporated pen and ink with this piece of art that I put in my office. 

Here are some other ideas from Pinterest:

You can use any type of punch for these ones, they have used hearts and butterflies. Here are some instructions. 

Bookmarks! Where I found it

Some really cool, geometric art..no instructions found.

Another great idea,make a mobile! 

Make a calendar!

Really cool stationary! I found it from an Etsy site, but they no longer sell this stationary.

I love this necklace too!

Enjoy!

I am a Hobbyist

I recently discovered that I don't know how to not do. 

I enjoy making things.

I love the feeling I get when I finish a project.

I am always trying new crafty ideas.

Could this be one meaning of being made in the image of a Creator? 

Hobby: a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.

Some current hobbies:
1. Gardening (or rather learning how to garden)
2. Quilting
3. Scrap booking
4. Card making
5. Crocheting
6. Cooking
7. Embroidering
8. Jewelry making
9. Pen and inking
10. Painting

My 'craft' room is always a mess.

Jo Ann's and Hobby Lobby gift cards are always a winner.

I like the challenge when people ask me, can you fix this? or can you make this?

Many people have said that I am very crafty, but I think I just enjoy following instructions and problem solving. If there is such a thing as a left-brained creative, that is me.

 I don't really know what I am doing half the time but if I can make it systematic I love it. 

Quilts involve math, charts and precise measurements.

All of my drawings are full of lines and details.

Gardening has been an experiment in scheduling and charting. 

So to all the list making, control loving, organized, type A, administrative people out there, you can craft too!

Take a Saturday and conquer one of your Pinterest pins.

 If you mess up, try it again. If you hated it, try a different craft. 

And then take Sunday and learn to rest and not do. 

I would say I am working on it, but then that wouldn't be resting, right? ;) 

Christmas Creations

I have really struggled to make some diy posts after writing about Africa but I have accepted that I am where I am for this season. And I will continue to write about what brings me joy while I am in this stage of my life. 

Naturally my posts will shift as I become pregnant, possibly move overseas, enter into new seasons, but until then I will share yummy recipes and diy crafts.

So with that said, here are some gifts Michael and I created for Christmas:

1. A laptop case for Timothy, made out of a cool plaid skirt, some grey felt, and quilt batting.

I even added a pocket in the front for the charger. I really liked how it turned out!

2. Michael made a box for Evan's art supplies.

It has a little drawer in the top for brushes. 

Here they are at Christmas, Evan with his box and Michael with his sweet wine rack that Evan made. I love handy/crafty/creative men! (Oh and their new pj pants) 

3. I made a pen and ink piece of art for Sami and Jonathan. Michael created this beautiful frame.

The verse in the middle says:

"By wisdom a house is built,

and through understanding

it is established;

through knowledge its rooms are filled

with rare and beautiful treasures"

-Proverbs 24:3-4

I love lots of details and lines! I am really happy with it. 

4. I made a quilted picture book for my nephew Liam. 

The cover says "Who loves Liam?" and then I added 8 pages that say "Mommy loves Liam", "Aunt Merrill loves Liam", "Abi loves Liam", etc. 

I was going to create a diy blog with instructions on how to make it, but I decided there is no reason to reinvent the wheel. Here is Susan Weinroth's blog. She has great instructions. Her blog is actually the blog I stumbled across that led me to start quilting 2 years ago. 

What new crafty creations have you made recently? 

Rwanda Part 1

When many people think of Rwanda, genocide, war torn country, danger, etc. all come to mind. I want to change that image for you!

Rwanda is a country filled with hope, forgiveness, restoration and redemption. Not to mention it is one of the most beautiful and clean countries I have been to. It is called "Land of a Thousand Hills" and that name could not be more appropriate.

We spent our first day at the Genocide Memorial in Kigali. If you have ever been to the Holocaust museum you will understand the overwhelming feeling of complete terror and a feeling of reverence at the same time. It was very impacting to experience the history of Rwanda and to then go to an orphanage filled with joy.

I am glad one of our team members took the time to write down some of the facts from the museum. You can follow Elise's journey on her blog.
There was a part of the museum called the Children's Hall. The plaque above the entrance read:
In memory of our beautiful and beloved children who should have been our future

There were countless pictures of children with their age, favorite food, favorite subject and the way they were killed...
"Ariane Umuton. Age 4. Stabbed in her eyes and head."
"Irene Umuton and Uwamwezi. Age 6 and 7. They were sisters and Daddy's girls. Killed by a grenade thrown in their shower."
"Aulore Kireizi. Age 2. Burnt alive at the Gleondo Chapel."
"Fillette Uwase. Age 2. Smashed against the wall."
"Thierry Isimive. 9 months. Killed by a machete in his mother's arms." 

It was utterly heartbreaking. And hard to really comprehend. But remember, Rwanda is now a country of redemption and forgiveness and you can actually feel that there.

After the museum, we went immediately to Kimisagara Orphanage. 

There I met Anthony. Him and 3 other men are running this orphanage of 90 kids. It sits on top of a huge hill that overlooks the city.

This is Anthony. He is amazing! He now devotes his life to raising up and caring for Rwanda's next generation. 

We found that at every orphanage we went to, the children pick you. The second we arrived I had two children on my side holding my hand. And they did not want me to let go. They craved touch and affection.

 This orphanage, of all of them on our trip, really stuck with Michael and me. It is probably because their need was so tangible and I could see myself really doing something to help them. They don't have enough beds, food or funding. We are praying to see what the next step might look like with Kimisagra.Our team was able to bring $450 worth of food. And yes, the men of the group and all the children carried 50 pound bags of rice up that hill! It was quite impressive!

Can I just say I LOVED having such a crafty team! We were learning how to make friendship bracelets on our bus ride so we could teach some of the older girls how to make them. I now have five on my wrist for each orphanage/ministry that we visited.

We then drove 3 hours to the town of Gisenyi where we stopped by Imbabazi Orphanage. Hands down the most beautiful orphanage in the world. It is currently a flower plantation and the grounds are breathtaking! It was founded by a American women named Roz Carr who fled during the genocide and then moved back to take in orphaned children from the genocide. There are only older children there and they are slowly phasing the children out once they hit 18. We had a blast! It was a genuine girl party! We made tie necklaces, played cards, sang songs, had a major dance off and laughed and laughed. It was really amazing to experience just being girls, our team mixed with the 30 girls there. We had so much fun.

We danced so much! It was awesome!

 All of us were crying laughing because we had NO clue how to play this card game. They were making fun of us because we kept doing the wrong thing and we were laughing because we could not figure it out but it was so much fun!

We were able to leave a brand new sewing machine and lots of burlap for the older girls so they can make bags to sell. They plan on using the money to buy lunches for the children when they are at school. 

We then had a tour of the grounds where we found some puppies! 

I don't have any pictures of what happened next but somehow all us white folk were pulled into a Rwandan choir in the gardens where they were shooting a music video. We had no clue what was going on and what we were supposed to be doing but me just lip synced and smiled as we swayed with all the lavender dressed people. Only on a Visiting Orphans trip....

 Here are some pictures of the grounds. It was hard to capture the beauty in a photograph.

The Director's house. The cutest cottage covered in vines. 

The gardens in front of the cottage. 

I mean really?!? We were in paradise. It was unbelievable. 

Now off to Noel Orphanage....