Love in the Form of Art.

So, I like to do massive creative art projects that take up the whole kitchen table/living room floor/where ever I decide to begin working...
I always make things for my husband Ryan. 
He, however, consistently reminds me that "Your art projects are more for YOU than for ME..." 

And, he is right. 

I so look forward to Christmas, his birthday and our wedding anniversary just so that I can concoct something new and exciting.

I have yet to blog about any of these fine works of art, so here they are... for your viewing & copying pleasure.

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

Shortly after we started "officially" dating, I knew we were going to get married. Our relationship was very on/off and dragged out so long that once he asked me to be his girlfriend for reals this time, I knew it was inevitable. That's when the art projects began.

I got this idea from a roommate whose boyfriend made her a "message in a bottle" using scrap paper and a mason jar to write her love notes while she was gone all summer. I loved the idea, but went a little more formal with it.

I bought lots of different types of scrapbook paper and cut them into small strips. Each day, I wrote a little note about activities we were involved in, memorable dates, future plans, and overall my feelings for Ryan. I kept these papers with me all the time - at school, work, etc. so that I would always follow through. I compiled them all in a jar I bought at Hobby Lobby, that I then decorated.

Over the course of 8 months, I added in wrist bands from ice skating on one of our favorite dates, movie ticket stubs, and anything else memorable. When he finally asked me to marry him, I gave him the jar as an engagement present? That's not really normal, I know. But he loved it. We stayed up all night reading the papers and laughing until we couldn't breathe at funny memories, quotes and inside jokes. It is such a precious thing to us now. And how fun will it be for our kids to read someday?
                                                       
                                              52 REASONS I LOVE YOU

I got this idea from a friend who sent me a picture of some playing cards with the title on the front "52 Reasons I Love You." I have seen it done where people typed out the reasons and glued them to the cards. That seemed kinda boring, so I did it this way...

ANNIVERSARY YEAR BOOK 

This one was not a messy project. I did the whole thing on Walmart.com. Sounds kinda trashy, but they have a great selection of book styles and options. Most importantly, great prices. 

Throughout the first year of marriage, I kept notes in my phone of funny things Ryan would say. He is one of the funniest people I know. I compiled the most memorable quotes or comments and typed them into the book next to pictures that related in some way or another. I documented little things in our daily lives, holidays, where we lived during that year, vacations we took, new additions to the family, etc. 

I surprised him with it on our anniversary and we again laughed so hard we cried reading all of the quotes and reliving the memories. It will be a keepsake and a tradition for years to come. I plan on making an anniversary year book every year from now on. 

The next one I can't blog about yet because it's currently wrapped under the Christmas tree. I am really really really tempted to unwrap it and take pictures of it so I can share it with all of you, but I will wait a few more weeks! 
Plus, I wouldn't want Ryan to find out about it. Since, ya know, he reads my blogs all the time... right. 

Anyway,  
I hope this motivates whoever is reading this to do fun art projects for your family. 
It really is rewarding! 

- K. H. 

Ball of Yarn: A Simile to Life

Well, technically, it's a ball of really thick pink thread.

Ever since my adorable, crafty mother taught me how to crochet, I've been making baby blankets and burp rags for friends who are soon to pop. I had a 1/2 finished burp rag on the table next to the couch, and thought it would be safe there over night (or maybe I didn't take into thought its need for safety, but I should have). This morning I awoke as usual, and as I was running out the door to work, encountered this in the kitchen: 

It may be hard to see in the picture, but the floor is covered with baby pink thread. Our wonderfully playful kitty, Sully, had the time of his life last night! Seriously, the time of his little kitten life. It's true, cats DO play with balls of string.

The string was completely unraveled with only a teeny, tiny bit left. 

The string started over by the lamp in the living room, where it was raveled around the table legs and lamp cords, then it continued under the couch, over to the kitchen table (this is where the brunt of the mess was). It was wrapped around and around the legs of the table and chairs. Then it made a huge leap over to the opposite side of the living room where it extended under the couch, then over the couch, then around the lamp... then back to the table where the knots got thicker. Then, somehow, the ball itself was up on top of the other couch, wedged between the cushions. How did he do it? I do not know. When I found the mess, I looked around and found him tangled in the mess, laying on his back, paws in the air, gnawing on a piece of thread. 

Now is the part where I relate this back to life. 

As I spent about 2 hours re-raveling the thread into a nice round ball, I'd be twisting and twirling the thread, find a huge knot, and find my way through it. At that point I'd think, "Whew! I'm home-free!" only to follow the trail across the living room and find another huge knot under the couch... then think, "Oh good, this is almost over..." Then I'd follow the line back to the kitchen table where another huge knot was hiding from view. As I tediously re-traced Sully's steps, I realized how all of us have trials we go through, and a lot of times, when we think it's over, it's not. And we can't move on with life until it is...just as I couldn't continue crocheting my cute little blanket until the string was usable again. Luckily the string was all salvageable. I could have had to cut it, or just throw it away and start over. But either way, I would still end up finishing the blanket. Just like with life... sometimes you just have to cut the ties and start over, but you still fair well if you focus on following your dreams. I realized, too, as I was cleaning up this mess that my sweet Sullivan made, that I didn't feel angry. In fact, I found the whole scenario quite entertaining. I thought, "Some people would get rid of a cat over a little thing like this." That, also, is just like life... through trials, I can choose to be mad, or I can choose to think it's hysterical. One thing's for sure, we're keeping Sully.

There's my simile to life.