new blog!

well, found and treasured, our time has come to an end... i think

i can be so dang indecisive. but for now: crafty lovin' jennyigloo

just because

:)

hearts & crafts

Last week, I crocheted seventy something hearts for our passing of the torch ceremony. It was a special event and I wish i had more pictures of it... The hearts were a big success except for the fact that they kept unravelling. I didn't have enough time to weave in those edges :)

And thennn, I experienced a monumental day of crafting when I gave DIY bokeh a shot. I'm so excited about it! Goodness. I could take pictures of lights all day.

Oh and I finally got around to setting my dear friend Sara a card which I decided to glam up with some sparkly hearts. Nothing is better than sparkles and hearts combined :)

Anyway, I love hearts...

Happy week before spring break!

vulnerability

To me, it is a road that is intriguing and enchanting. It’s mysterious. It draws you in. It is a choice without any promises. It’s all or nothing. It’s blind trust. It might be something wonderful. It might end in heartache. It is following your heart and hoping for the best, ignoring all logic because logic undermines all of your wishful thinking.

How can you be vulnerable and protect your heart at the same time? How do you know when to trust and when to keep yourself miles and miles away from something? Vulnerability is often deceitful and you can never be quite sure if it’s the right kind of vulnerability or the wrong kind. “This time will be different I swear,” a voice in the back of your head tells you. You have nothing left to lose. It’ll be okay, right? But then, what happens when it isn't really okay? Because the little voice that said “this time will be different” wasn’t the right voice. All the other voices sigh and say, “I told you so.” There are too many voices to listen to. The voice of reason. The voice of emotions. The voice of your head, the voice of your heart, the voice of God... Vulnerability is an excuse we make for our individual choices. (at least I do that a lot)

Owning my feelings is something I struggle with. I would like to become more accepting of life... the good and the bad. Because there is much to be thankful for :)

This is my roomie Steph, holding one of the 50 hearts I am working on crocheting :)

summer girl

With all of this rain, I am anxiously awaiting the beautiful, warm summer that is to come. Last summer was so wonderful and I think this one will be, too. I've got some plans:

mr and mrs globetrot. wow, they are perfect.

First, I am going on a Mediterranean cruise! Ahhhh. We are going to visit so many beautiful places. I'm so happy to be going somewhere across the sea. I plan to take many pictures and spontaneously run into my Kostas. No big deal.

beauchamping's etsy

I also plan to go on some U.S. road trips too. Portland? Yes. Los Angeles? Yes. And some smaller trips to the beach and the redwoods. Maybe I am limiting myself by staying on the west coast. Good thing I love it so much :)

Peach-Berry Iced Tea from Whole Foods

Drinking iced tea in my backyard will be a regular thing.

kristie van noort

Ooh and I want to take a ceramics class. So much. I might have to wait till I graduate, but it sounds so fun. It could be my future!

And how about some music festivals?

Other plans include laying in the sun all the time, finding an ocean or lake, hanging out with my family, and getting lost in all of the half-read books I still have to finish. Until then, I will try to appreciate the rain. It's not so bad. It smells good... It makes everything look green. It sounds great against my window :)

march resolutions

1. Crafting. Lately, I am making cards and trying to figure out the whole block-cursive lettering thing inspired by my roommate Steph. I also invested in some more Martha Stewart glitter products :)

2. Yoga. I don't know when this will begin but I think I have an opportunity to attend some cheap hot yoga classes.

3. The gym. I always love it once I get there, so I want to make it a more regular thing. Now that the weather is sunshiney and beautiful, I also would like to go for walks. Oh and, that fantastic 30 day shred video is sitting right on my shelf!

4. Church. A couple of weeks ago, I wandered into a little church downtown. And it is so great.

5. Prayer. The winter season always reminds me of my good friend Jesus... in a harsh way. Things in my life are changing and it is wonderful. But I have to stay far away from my tendencies toward self-sufficiency. I want to learn what it really means that Jesus love me. And I need to understand how that is enough.

ps. I have taken up collaging. Not artsy, intricate collaging. Just cheesy and inspiring collaging. A month ago, I would have rolled my eyes at all of this but it is what I need lately. Jesus and other heart remedies.

(my March-themed poster)

snail mail

Some things are good for my soul, and letter writing is one of them. I like to write letters to Alissa who lives a few hours away. Sometimes I write to Chelsea who moved across the continent to Florida. I try to write to my best friend Sara who lives an hour away, but we always end up seeing each other first and discussing everything that was in the letters. And sometimes I send mail across campus, or to my dearest Steph who lives in the same room as me. Letters are always a good idea, and what I love even more is receiving them back :) aahhh, warm fuzzies all around. I keep them in this jar:

I sent this card and mini-card to Alissa because a) we are wonderful pen pals, b) everything bunny-related must be sent her way, and c) I needed an outlet. I gathered some paper that I bought two Valentine's Days ago, my doily cutter (which never gets used, ever), and a flower I crocheted (the only thing I know how to crochet). Being even the slightest bit crafty allows me to put my focus toward something fun and lighthearted rather than dwelling on something I can't control.

Philippians 4:7 has been guiding me all week. Thank goodness.

And I will continue posting mail-related snippets 'cause I love them so :)

timshel

Today marks the beginning of my new consistent blogging habits. I want to document the beautiful things I see and I want to create things more often. I can do anything I want, practical or not. I can take a ceramics class. I can go to design school for a year. I can make use of my lonely boxes of paint and glitter and spill my heart out in an art journal. These are all small things, but they serve as an outlet and fill me with life. And what has been holding me back? The future. It sounds silly. The question, "how will any of this matter?" never goes away...

Lately, everything feels brand new. It's as though I had been living under water until now, knowing there was something above the surface but accepting that it was not for me (pretend i am the Little Mermaid). Suddenly, I have legs and I can finally open my eyes to the great world out there. I've embraced the depths of the sea quite fully. I have considered depth to be reality and shallow water to be meaningless. The deeper under water, the better, even if my heart was continually aching. But I have been learning that freedom is out on the land. Here, I can breathe... I can meet people I would have never met before. It is limitless and refreshing, perhaps less complex and mysterious than the ocean. On land, there is nowhere to hide and vulnerability is unavoidable. Heartache still exists, but it is not the center.



One thing I know is that uncertainty never goes away. I don't like this, but it is okay. And why not do what seems exciting and meaningful right now? I don't know what this looks like for me. Currently, I think it has something to do with friends and letter-writing and crafts. We'll see :)