Tag: Crafting

#CreatedtoCreate

Published on by KateLeave a comment

Happy New Year and all that jazz! It’s been quiet here on the blog with the holiday season joys and fullness. But there’s a lot coming up including a series of posts specifically on cooking during Lent and of course, the Lenten Journals. Big thanks to everyone who downloaded the Advent Journals and used them throughout the season. If you have any feedback for me on those journals, what you liked, didn’t like, wish you had instead, I would love to hear it as I work on the ones for Lent.

In case you didn’t know this about me, I am a crafter. I especially love fiber arts like crochet, cross stitch, and quilting. I have dabbled in making clothes, I have a fascination but with no skills attached to knitting, and a yet to be explored obsession with weaving. There is an underlying desire within me to always be either making something or learning how to make something new. 

I love cooking and making. I make our own bread and yogurt. I make pasta when I can. I make fruit preserves and homemade pies. New recipes inspire me (though not too spicy please!). I decorate sugar cookies for holidays and just because it brings me joy to do so. 

I am a maker, a creator. One of the codes, if you will, that I live my life by is: “Why buy what you can make.”

I know I am not alone in this desire to create, though the “maker community” is larger than you might think. Those belonging to the community are not just artists, designers, or builders. In fact, I would argue that every single person carries the title “creator” even if they do not know it. 

I recently read Every Tool’s a Hammer, a mix up of biography, how-to and inspirational book by Adam Savage. Savage was one of the co-hosts for Discovery Channel’s hit show Mythbusters. In the book, Savage reflects on what it means to him to be a maker, a person who makes [insert pretty much anything]. 

“We’re taking our experiences and filtering it through our words, or our hands, or our voices, or our bodies, and we’re putting something in the culture that didn’t exist before. In fact, we’re not putting what we make into culture, what we make IS the culture. Putting something in the world that didn’t exist before is the broadest definition of making, which means all of us are makers. Creators” (p 44).

Though not speaking from a religious sense, Savage couldn’t be more correct. Consider how the first acts of creation came about. God created the world, the seas, stars, plants, animals, everything. But only humans does He create in His own image (cf. Gen 1:26-27). Humans are told to, “Be fertile and multiply.” Go forth, create! Do as I did. Bring forth new beauty into this beautiful world. This has been the calling of humanity from the beginning of time. 

It is January, the month of resolutions. As I began this year, I was listening to Sarah McKenzie’s podcast The Read Aloud Revival where she highlighted the prolific children’s author and illustrator, Barbara Cooney. One of Cooney’s most well known books is titled, Miss Rumphius. Without giving the story away, I was struck by this one line which I plan to carry forward into this new year:

“You must do something to make the world more beautiful.” 

We are all made in the image of God. Just as God creates, so to we, at our own level, are called to create. In a hashtag, #createdtocreate.

The Mass Box – It’s Official People

Published on by KateLeave a comment

For those of you who have been around the blog for a while you will know that we LOVE our Mass Box subscription. The kids so look forward to the videos, crafts, and now the bonus Superbook DVDs. Recently, the Mass Box has teamed with the Christian Broadcasting Network and every monthly box includes a Superbook DVD. Anyone remember Superbook from growing up? They’ve updated the animation and characters but still encourage your kids to dive into the Bible stories.

I’ve been toying with the idea of branching out into the world of affiliate programs, but don’t want to get caught up in it. Do you know what I mean? So, starting slowly, I’m so pleased to share that I am officially a promoter and affiliate for the Mass Box.

We were one of the first families to try out this subscription box. Back in Lent 2016 Ashley and Raymond (founders of the Mass Box) sought out 100 families to do a trial run and give feedback for their idea. The response was overwhelmingly positive from us and from others, as you may have guessed since they are still going strong! We have loved growing with the Mass Box family. I have seen how attentive they are to the needs of families as they continue to ask for feedback, solicit reviews and ideas and engage in encouraging and supportive conversations with their subscribers.

The Mass Box is, for those who don’t know or need a refresher, is a monthly subscription box that helps prepare the whole family for Sunday Mass. The crafts are best for, in my opinion, ages 4 – 8 or 9, but they can definitely be done younger (with help) or older for craft loving kids. Each week there is a short Youtube video where Ashley and Raymond’s children do the weekly craft, explain the readings and how everything is connected. These videos are completely free for anyone – check them out! In the box comes everything you need to complete the crafts for the month. They also include a weekly magazine that has the directions for the craft, the readings and some activities that relate to the readings (word searches, colorings, Q&A, games, etc.). These magazines are perfect to bring to Mass for busy hands that need something to focus on. And on top of all that, as I mentioned earlier, now they are also including a new Superbook DVD each month.

Every single Sunday has a craft, magazine and video. Plus, because these people are totally legit and this is what sold me on the whole thing in the first place – they also include crafts, videos and magazines for all the Holy Days of Obligation as well!! You can also opt to skip a month or two if you know you are going to be on vacation or for some other reason know you will be missing the opportunity to do the crafts for a period of time.

The makers of the Mass Box have done a really nice job trying to offer a wide variety of options to fit families of all sizes. You can subscribe for the box with craft supplies for 1-4 children. You can also get a box for just a single month to try it out. There is also something called the Mass Box Lite which includes the craft materials for one Sunday, but the magazines for all the Sundays and Holy Days. You can also order just the magazines if the craft element isn’t totally up your alley. You can also opt to skip a month or two if you know you are going to be on vacation or for some other reason know you will be missing the opportunity to do the crafts for a period of time.

If this sounds like something your family needs, or you know a family that would benefit from this kind of preparation for Mass, please click on any of the links here. You will go straight to the Mass Box website and sign up. Click “Subscribe” at the top of the Mass Box homepage for the subscriptions, or click “One Time Shop” for the single order boxes. As an affiliate, I will receive a 10% kickback on any order you make (subscription or one time) when you use the links here.

If you need more evidence of the enthusiasm for the Mass Box, check out this video my kids took while unboxing the August Box.

This month, our favorite craft was using our Mass Box boxes to make sandals. Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs, directing them to take along for the journey nothing but sandals and a walking stick. Our walking sticks have since turned into fairy wands, but the sandals are still intact and used for spreading the Good News.

He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick— no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic (Mk 6:8-9)

As I keep working on my Philippians 2 book, I’m beginning to hope for some more opportunities for this blog. But as all things, finances are part of the equation. My husband and I both appreciate this small way you can support these writing dreams of mine. Daily Graces. kktaliaferro.wordpress.com

 

Too much of a good thing + Big Announcement!

Published on by Kate3 Comments

I think by now most of you know I enjoy crafting. It is something that fills me up, that brings me joy. As a mom, I want my kids to have a love of creation and creativity. I enjoy sharing my projects with them and letting them help pick out colors, materials, etc. I also love to learn new craft skills (see these cookies or my brief stint at crochet pattern design). As a person, I am a learner. Some people thrive under pressure, others in peace and stillness. I thrive in any type of learning environment/learning experience.

The desire to learn this new craft become all consuming. I am slowly pulling my head out of the sand from such a period of time – English paper piecing people, it’s super awesome and I love it! However, like all parents have said to their children, there can be too much of a good thing.

My outburst of energy and excitement for the new thing completely outshines all the other projects and sometimes, responsibilities, that need my attention. For obvious example, it’s been quite a while since I’ve posted here, for which I sincerely apologize.

I love this blog. I love the space to write, a place to share my thoughts, ideas and hopefully my feeble witness to our beautiful faith lived in the everyday ordinariness of my life. As I’ve mentioned before, I am as surprised as anyone that this blog is still even a thing, since my usual habit pattern is to follow the bright shiny new craft/project until another one comes along. That is almost what happened these past few months.

No, I haven’t been English paper piecing this whole time (for those who didn’t click the link, basically it’s a kind of hand sewn quilting method). I was writing, a lot actually. Just not here.

I’m pleased to announce, and hopefully by announcing it here I will find the inspiration, stamina and discipline to finish, that I am in the process of writing a book.

Yikes, I said it. Yes, I am writing a book. 2 if I’m perfectly honest, but one is more of a long term goal versus the immediate project. I’m avoiding saying “trying” because that’s the kind of attitude that has filled up too many craft bins of unfinished “bright shinies” that no longer hold my interest.

So, this book. It’s actually in a rather different direction than what I usually write. The book is tentatively titled In the Person of Christ and is an in-depth look at St. Paul’s Christological hymn in Philippians 2:5-11. The idea springs two places. First, from the popularity of the Lent and Advent Lectio Divina journals. Second, from a blog post I read about a group of monks who have all 150 Psalms memorized so that they are able to say their daily prayers without needing any texts. Amazing, right!?!

From my general and theological reading, and conversations with friends, it has become apparent to me (and this is also apparent to many other Catholics), that our love for God’s Word is quite simply, lacking. We know a few stories, some nice parables, perhaps a miracle or two, but that’s it. The Bible isn’t often an integral part of our daily prayer, and our primary exposure is readings at Mass. There are books upon books, videos upon videos, about the Scriptures. These are fantastic resources, but they can be often large, overwhelming, or simply contain too much information for any fruitful prayer to result.

We should love the Scriptures. We should be able to keep it upon our lips and hold it at the forefront of our thoughts. My book will, I hope, inspire you to pray more deeply with this specific passage as well as see the fruits of having a Scripture passage memorized.

This book is part journal, part guided lectio, part Scripture study and part memorization tools. Here’s how it will work. I am breaking down the hymn into its individual verses. Each chapter begins with the focus verse and a page for guided lectio divina and journaling. This is similar to the lectio divina journals. Then, after praying with the Scripture, I offer a well researched and concise study of the verse. I have spent a great deal of time reading articles and listening to lectures about the Christological hymn. St. Paul packs so much into these few verses, it’s incredible! That is why I wanted to take it slowly, verse by verse, so we can really soak up and allow God’s Word to mould our hearts.

The final piece is memorization. There is something to be said about the things we can rattle off without thinking. How many songs do we know by heart? How many math facts can we say without thinking? What stories and fables from our childhood do we still remember? Our brains have an incredible capacity for information and when we work at it, for memorization. How wonderful would it be if, like those monks, we had a Psalm for when we are worried, or when we are bursting with joy? In this case, by the end of the book you will have memorized 7 of the most powerful verses in the New Testament. The message of these verses quite literally changed the world.

This book is still in progress, but I do have a draft of the first chapter to share with you. I would love to hear your thoughts, feedback, comments, critiques, anything that you think would help make this project a success. (A quick note, I do know that some of the footnotes may not be complete/in the proper format yet. As I said, work in progress) My aggressive timeline is to have a final draft in the hands of an editor before we start up homeschool in mid-August. Click on the link below to see the draft.

In the Person of Christ Chapter 1 Draft

I hope you enjoy this sample. If nothing else, please pray for the success of this book and the people who will read it. It is my deepest wish that through it, they fall more deeply in love with God and His Word.

Daily Graces. kktaliaferro.wordpress.com