Ode to a Butterfly- Poetry from the Past

Ode to a Butterfly

by Rose Shelor

fly on wings of burnished bronze,

fly swift and beautiful,

bedewed with colors of the burning dawn,

flutter wings, so fragile now,

and soar among the trees.

Your wings were made by the King

who made the dawn His praise,

your wings He painted for His glory

and your joy.

So, fly,

Fly on wings of burnished bronze.

flutter on wings so full of grace,

the pattern drawn ike silken lace,

upon your wings He drew,

a different pattern for you,

so that you are like no one,

your wings were made by Him

to be all your own,

so, soar,

and in His arms of grace,

lay your head and rest.

I wrote this poem when I was about ten years old in a creative writing class with my favorite childhood teacher, Miss Katharine Parrish. She gave me so much freedom with writing and encouraged my class to write to glorify God. This week I went through a lot of my old folders of poetry and paintings. It was really neat to get to go through them and trying to remember what exactly I was thinking at that time.

Refresh

Seeking refreshment has been a big part of the past month. Being constantly tired has also become a big part of my life.

I've started reading Refresh:an experimental eBook by Hayley Morgan and Jessi Connolly and The No-Brainer Wardrobe by Hayley Morgan. Hayley blogs at The Tiny Twig and Jessi blogs at Naptime Diaries. Hayley and Jessi start with the basis of finding our refreshment in Christ and focusing our lives around Him.

Focusing on finding contentment in the place and stage that Jesus has called us to. Not rushing the difficult moments for the grass-is-greener-later-on mentality. Abiding in Christ.

But, thankfully, Hayley and Jessi are both very realistic women. They recognize that finding patience and pep every day isn't reality. We need to find our first Well of Life in Jesus and learn to use refreshment in practical ways: cleaning a messy closet, taking a nap (my favorite), and refresh daily rhythms, among others.

So this blog post won't be about crafts, because I haven't done a lot of sewing and haven't knit in months. This blog post is about what my life has been like since I got home from school. Living life, gardening, attempting to learn volleyball, nannying two precious little people, cooking, baking, and unpacking. And me trying to find refreshment in all of it. 

Taking my sisters to piano lessons:

Reading in light-filled windows with flowers:

Planting flowers in the garden boxes:

Playing with my two favorite little people, Coen and Norah (nannying kids, not mine): (Their amazingly creative and sweet mom, Ash blogs at love. lulu) 

Admiring the hydrangeas in my mom's garden:

Sewing a baby tunic:

So this summer, instead of waiting around for blog-worthy moments, I'm going to simply blog about my life and my journey to find refreshment in Christ during tiring, always-ready-to-nap days.

Have a lovely day!

Toddler Dress with Peter Pan Collar

The sewing-baby-clothes bug has really gotten me. I decided to make a toddler dress out of fabric in my stash with a Peter Pan collar. I was always nervous about collars and zippers, and especially both in the same pattern. On a child's scale, however, they aren't so intimidating, and so I'm willing to try new techniques. 

I also used a serger for the majority of the sewing so that the edges won't fray in the wash. It is amazing how well a serger can churn over all the gathers and layers without a glitch where my sewing machine would have made a fuss. 

I found a free sewing tutorial and pattern on Small Dream Factory for a toddler's dress with the Peter Pan collar (http://smalldreamfactory.blogspot.com/2012/09/toddler-dress-with-peter-pan-collar.html).

I wanted the dress to have a gathered skirt instead of just an A-line, so I mimicked this dress (http://vanillaandlace.storenvy.com/products/442850-mini-lucy-p).

I used a contrasting, pale pink bias tape to finish the armholes and still have to attach the collar. I'm still uncertain whether I want the green collar or if I need to go find a solid green or purple to make it more cohesive. I'm planning to tie the collar color together by having a small edging on the skirt in the same fabric as the collar. Should I stick with the pale green and white floral collar that I have now or should I hunt for a solid? Thank you!

Happy Crafting!

Twirly Baby Skirt

It has been way too long! Crafting and blogging basically went out the window during the second semester of college, aside from an occasional apron or a few knitted rows, but it's summer and so my crafting has begun again. 

I found this lovely vintage-bicycle fabric in Jo-Ann Fabrics a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it. I wasn't sure what it would be. A dress or skirt for me was the original plan. But when I pulled it out today, it just seemed like the perfect little twirly skirt for a baby girl. 

I followed the instructions on two different blogs, Made (danamadeit.com) and Pink Suede Shoe. I wanted something the size of a six month old, but a didn't want to make it too bunchy with having it double-layered and reversible, like the version on the Pink Suede Shoe. So, I pieced together the two versions and have a cute little twirly skirt with vintage bicycles and birds on it. I think it will work well with a pink top and a pair of bloomers. 

Instead of hemming the edge, I used a pale pink bias tape to edge the skirt and I decorated the edge with a white grosgrain ribbon.

The links to the two tutorials I used are: http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-a-simple-skirt.html

and

http://pinksuedeshoe.com/2010/06/04/twirly-skirt-tutorial/.

Happy Crafting!

Crafting Alphabet: F is for Fingerless Mitts

I have been knitting these fingerless mitts on and off for a few months now. I still only have most of one done, but I am going to blame that on working and being a college student. When they are finished, they should go well with many of my brown and beige clothing, or work well as a gift. It will depend who it ends up being for when I actually finish them. The great thing about this pattern is that they could easily work for a man or a woman because of the regular stitches (nothing lacy) and the stretchy fabric.

The pictures make the mitts look orange-ish, but they are really a soft bunny brown. 

What have you been working on? Please leave a comment! Happy Knitting!

Crafting Alphabet: E for Ear Warmers

During the fall semester, I had found a tutorial for ear warmers that was decorated with simple, felt flowers. Here is the link to the tutorial on DeliaCreates: Ear Warmers!

I made these two ear warmers for my sisters for Christmas. 

Below is a knit ear warmer with cables and ribs made with kettle dyed Wool of the Andes from Knit Picks. Sadly, this is a discontinued line, though one of my favorites.

Keep your ears warm and Happy New Year!

Vitamin D

I haven't actually been crafting that much these last few weeks. Finals and papers kind of prohibit that. I am studying outside, though, and soaking up some Vitamin D. It is 75 degrees here in Greenville! I can't remember having a December this warm. I could really enjoy having a seventy degree winter, but we've already had several cold weeks. 

I'm sitting underneath this stunning old magnolia that grows outside my dorm, studying chemistry, or rather, taking a study break. 

Below is the view from my window. The porch roof of my dormitory collects rainwater, which means that many of the little birds come to drink and splash around. 

Here is a dried hydrangea from my grandmother's garden.

This is a pair of hand warmers I knit this fall from the remaining yarn from the In Threes Baby Cardigan in that lovely blue and beige variegated. The yarn was purchased at the yarn shop, Unwind, in Rhode Island. 

What's the weather like in your town? What are you making? Please leave a comment below! Merry Christmas!