a new direction

My blog will no longer be focusing on just crafting; I will also start to explore being an educator, and more on general life ideas I have. I will continue to talk about crafts and exploring my creative side. I will try to post something creative every week, and I will stick to it, but get ready for some things related to teaching.

Melt crayons instead of melting down

So a few days ago one of my dear friends, Rhonda at http://mcclishphotostudios.wordpress.com/, came over and we renewed our tradition of craft dates, which are the only types of dates if you asked me. Rhonda was really excited to do melted crayon art, and I went with it. I had heard that you could only use Crayola, so after a quick stop at a craft store we were ready to go.
Supplies:
box of crayons (we got the largest we could find)
hot glue gun (with tons of glue sticks)
canvas(es)
hair dryer
Steps:
1) pick your colors ( I stayed in a monochromatic palette, with blues and browns)We learned that you want to not just use dark colors, but have groupings of lighter colors.
2)hot glue the crayons down ( you might want to take the labels off we didn't, but that is us)
3) This is why you should do this with a friend, melt the crayons. To melt the crayons you must angle the canvas and the go over the crayons with a blow dryer. It might take a second to start, but once it does you will have cascading colors. It is so cool to watch.
this is what we ended up with:

(photo credit: McClish Photography)
We thought we would each just do one, and boy were we wrong, this is an addicting craft be forewarned. So go out grab a good friend and watch things melt down.

Travel Map

So a friend of mine posted on her website http://www.emilygracegoodrich.com/#_ (really cool you should check it out) a link to find the map of the places you have been. This is really cool. I have a great project in mind for it. This is my current map:http://www.travbuddy.com/widget_map_confirm.php?id=6415564

2012

I am back to blogging, it has been quit awhile. Since my last post I have 1) turned another year older 2) taken my first finals in college 3) celebrated the birth of Christ with my amazing family 3) painted and baked A LOT 4) spent a good deal of time with people who inspire me 5) watched as the year changed, and 6) spent a good deal of time in reflection.
These are the things I have realized 1) I have an amazing family 2) I have amazing friends 3) I am simply surrounded by truly inspirational people and need to appreciate them more 4) I like being me 5) I need to eat healthier 6) I like exercising

So......... here are my resolutions 1) appreciate my friends, new and old 2) pray more 3) blog once a week 4) live creatively every day 5) always be there with a helping hand 6) eat less sweets 7) be contented 8) keep my head in the clouds and my feet on the ground 9) LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF 2012
I WILL LIVE WELL IN 2012!!!!!!

Make you crazy

So Brett Dennen, one of my favorite musicians by the way, has this song called Make You Crazy this has been one of my favorite songs for years. The message is beautiful and inspiring, the video however is not. The lyrics get at the heart of all the things that hurt about society in a catching tune to boot.


You know it's hard to be yourself,
free yourself, to see yourself
When all around you there are lies just to get you,
Spies just to get you, to buy so they can get you

There are cameras in the sky, lasers in our living rooms
There are wolves watching wearing sheep's costumes

It's enough to make you go crazy (Woah)
It's enough to make you mad
It's enough to make you go crazy (Woah)
And I'm amazed I haven't yet

Isn't it a shame the way we cheat each other, treat each other,
beat each other?
It's a shame the way we use one other, abuse one another,
and screw one another, it's true.

They will lock you up in prison but they won't call it slavery
There are stolen children raised and trained in armies

It's enough to make you go crazy (Woah)
It's enough to make you mad
It's enough to make you go crazy (Woah)
And I'm amazed I haven't yet

Don't hesitate to speak your mind (Speak your mind)
Never hesitate to speak your heart (Speak your heart)
They'll call you crazy when you speak your mind (When you speak your mind)
So never, never hesitate (Never hesitate)
From http://6lyrics.com

'Cause it's enough to make you go crazy (Woah)
It's enough to make you mad
It's enough to make you go crazy (Woah)
And I'm amazed I haven't yet

Femi solo

NA SOL THEM GO LOCK YOU FOR PRISON
NA SOL THEM GO BEAT YOU FOR PRISON
THEM NO CALL IT SLAVERY
IT'S HIM THAT MAKE ME VEX

NA SOL THEM GO LOCK YOU FOR PRISON
NA SOL THEM GO BEAT YOU FOR PRISON
IT'S HIM THAT MAKE ME VEX
IT'S HIM THAT MAKE ME CRAZE

It's enough to make you go crazy (Woah)
It's enough to make you mad
It's enough to make you go crazy (Woah)
And I'd be crazy not to care
Some of this song is a little extreme but the very end gets me, "And I'd be crazy not to care". I am not  sure what this craft will be yet. I am thinking it might involve origami cranes but today this means so much to me because Thursday Hillary Clinton will be visiting Myanmar/Burma, this is an amazing chance for a real change to happen in a country that takes up such a large place in my heart. It might actually make me crazy, but I would rather be crazy and passionate then crazy and uninterested.
I hope you have found those things that make you crazy,
Sarah

Dream........

Time..... If I had more of it I would post more of my projects, but I am in college and don't really know what free time is anymore. I have made a bunch of things. (and baked a lot, who would have thought?) I will try to post some more over thanksgiving break. And try some more ideas out. But about what I have time to share.....

So, I am really getting into the written word. It is so versatile. I prefer art journaling but that isn't always an option given my lack of free time or much space. But getting things written down help processing thoughts, I find. I have spent a lot of time thinking about my future, college kids are supposed to do that I guess, and what my dreams are and the thing that has been in my heart for so long continues to grow. (sorry Mom and Dad). I wrote a train of thought poem about it and I thought I would share it:


Sometimes I wonder if it is in my blood. If every time my heart beats it spreads. 
Through my fingers, down to my toes, around my head. It fills the chambers of my heart. 
Ba Bump Ba Bump 
It grows stronger. My dream grows stronger. 
I am at the edge but not through the threshold.
My heart, the hands on my back, propels me forward. 
Ba Bump One day 
Closer and closer to exploding with fear and with light and joy.
Soon my dreaming heart soon

So at this point I don't really know how I am going to get to the point were I follow my dream, but I know I will.

I hope you find your dream. Even if it rips you to pieces.

the closest to heaven I will ever be (at least while I am alive)

I love Beersheba Springs Tennessee. I know big surprise. It is my favorite place on the earth. When I am there things work. Dreaming the impossible is really just dreaming the what can happen. Nothing is too big to do. You can change the world. When we are at Beersheba we are living in an ideal world. It is a place filled with laughter and peace, where we are connected to nature and one another in a way I can't always find in the real world. We clap for one another at the talent show, and we sing without fear of others hearing us. People support my crazy ideas and do what ever they can to assist me. There are two story people quotes that I like to describe Beersheba, but there are countless others

If there is any secret to this life I live, this is it: the sound of what cannot be seen sings within everything that can. & there is nothing more to it than that.

I promise you not a moment will be lost as long as I have heart & voice to speak & we will walk again together with a thousand others & a thousand more & on & on until there is no one among us who does not know the truth: there is no future without love.

There is no future without love, but there are moments that make loving the world easier.

Love,

the girl who is still being created