need for new.

new to my book list:


not new, but new to my iPod:
If It's Love by Train
The Man Who Can't Be Moved by The Script
I Never Told You by Colbie Caillat

new to my antique collection:

A hand-made something or other that I'm making a pillow case out of for my room that I got from the Lexington Antique Mall, along with a couple of items from antique stores in the area.


new obsession:
CARDIGANS
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=&id=013201&catId=CLOTHES-SWEATERS-CARDIGANS&pushId=CLOTHES-SWEATERS-CARDIGANS&popId=CLOTHES-SWEATERS&sortProperties=&navCount=5&navAction=jump&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=041&colorName=NAVY&isSubcategory=&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=&id=013141&catId=CLOTHES-SWEATERS-CARDIGANS&pushId=CLOTHES-SWEATERS-CARDIGANS&popId=CLOTHES-SWEATERS&sortProperties=&navCount=5&navAction=jump&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=011&colorName=IVORY&isSubcategory=&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=

new skill to acquire:
COOKING:my first attempt at an omelet (this morning)--failure.


just new:

I actually let a dog kiss me. This is completely out of character for me! But, only because it was from sweet, not as little anymore, Trigger.

new on my to-do list:
1. Study for Macroeconomics final.
2. Pack for St. Simons!
3. Read The Carrie Diaries.
4. Do something artsy!

Hope newness is brought to your life today!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become NEW." 2 Corinthians 5:17.

All you need is one.

I came across this quote yesterday:

"At this moment there are 6,824,700,000 people in the world. Some are running scared. Some are coming home. Some tell lies to make it through the day. Others are just now facing the truth. Some are evil men, at war with good. And some are good, struggling with evil. Six billion people in the world. Six billion souls. And sometimes -- all you need is one."

So true...there are billions of souls in this world--billions--and sometimes, the only thing we need is one. Sometimes, there's just that one person that can make everything the way it should be...for that very moment, all is right in your world.

I guess I might be found somewhere between running scared and just now facing the truth. Maybe I'm running scared of the truth? I'm not sure. Sometimes I find myself wondering if I'm good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, etc...what qualifies enough, in the first place? I think these unrealistic, societal standards are what most see as true, and that's why we're running scared. The truth is scary, but the truth is--those standards aren't true.

The truth is, we are created in God's image--we are beautiful. We are smart enough--intelligent, all in our own ways. And the only thing keeping us from being good enough, is ourselves. We hold ourselves back from achieving greatness. But, don't sell yourself short. You are destined for greatness.

Needless to say, believing these things--believing you are destined for greatness--is much easier when that one soul who makes everything right in your world is there helping you to believe, helping you to see what they see in you. And, while it may be hard for me to believe that I am destined for greatness right now, I do believe that someday, no matter how distant it may seem now, someday my soul will meet it's match. Someday, all will be right in my world. But, until then, I'll just believe--believe in the greater good, believe in myself, and believe that I am enough.

"She carries memories around like souvenirs down in her pockets. She should have let some go by now but can't seem to drop it. Says forgiveness ain't nothing but a lifeless tire on the shoulder of her soul--that never rolls. For as much as she stumbled she's runnin'. For as much as she runs she's still here. Always hoping to find something quicker than heaven, to make the damage of her days disappear--just like Guinevere. She don't hold onto nothin' new for very long. Yeah she writes you in as just one more tale and then you're gone. 'Cause she once fell hard 'cause she dropped her guard and no one gets to stay, it's just too late."

I guess for now, I'm just running...and somehow, at the same time, still here.

Scatterbrained

Currently reading:
Montana Sky by Nora Roberts
(Almost finished--need suggestions for a new book!)

Currently listening to:
Light Outside by Wakey! Wakey!
Poison & Wine by The Civil Wars
Almost Everything by Wakey! Wakey!
Timshel by Mumford & Sons
(Possibly similar to a One Tree Hill soundtrack.)

Counting down the hours until:


Newest love:

Little Trigger (better known as Lucas Scott.)

Wishlist:
-Noir Furniture Burlap Bed
http://www.noirfurniturela.com/GBED110.html
or
-Anthropologie Italian Campaign Canopy Bed
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=56501&catId=HOME-BEDROOMOUTFITS3&pushId=HOME-BEDROOMOUTFITS3&popId=HOME-BEDROOMOUTFITS&navCount=60&navAction=jump&color=one&isProduct=true

-Urban Outfitters Waterfall Ruffle Cutrain
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=80&startValue=1&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=16809253&parentid=A_NEWARRIVALS&sortProperties=+subCategoryPosition,&navCount=49&navAction=jump&color=&pushId=A_NEWARRIVALS&popId=APARTMENT&prepushId=&selectedProductSize=

-Anthropologie Dock Glow Chandelier
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=960079&catId=HOME-BEDROOMOUTFITS3&pushId=HOME-BEDROOMOUTFITS3&popId=HOME-BEDROOMOUTFITS&navCount=60&navAction=jump&color=012&isProduct=true

-Michael Kors Acrylic, Midsize Watch, White/Rose Gold
http://www.michaelkors.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod8400012&parentId=cat7502&masterId=cat145&cmCat=cat000000cat101cat145cat7502&index=39&tid=V1

Just wishful thinking!

Antiquing

New found obsession: Antiquing.
I have a few blogs that I stalk on a daily basis, one of them being http://goodbonesgreatpieces.com/blog/. The past 3 recent posts on this blog have been pictures and details from an antique "show" this mother/daughter duo attended in Brimfield, MA. After reading the posts about the show, I was inspired to check some local antique malls in my small college town.
Lately, I've been looking for something to start collecting...something that can carry on into adulthood. From their May 18th post, I fell in love with Fenton Hobnail Milk Glass. It comes in different shapes, sizes, and colors. I like white the best, but found a few other colors I liked also.
I am proud to say that I purchased the first piece of my collection today! At the Gateway Antique Mall on our town square. Here's a picture of it:



A few other pieces that I really loved were:


(Fenton Hobnail Milk Glass--really LOVED the purple one in the back, right corner!)


Fenton Hobnail Milk Glass


Candlewick Glass Bowls


Ruffled Marigold Carnival Bowl (similar to pieces in the goodbonesgreatpieces May 21st post)

It's safe to say, antiquing will become a regular happening in my life!

Father, let my heart be after you.

It's no secret that I'm a sucker for a good love story. I fall for them every time--no matter how unrealistic they may be. A few of my favorites include:

Derek Shepard and Meredith Grey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9Swo1anaCE

"Love is blind." -Shakespeare.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl290nNiJLk

Nathan and Haley:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CqNWQCKlu0

Just some of my favorites I've found over time...but somehow, none of these love stories I've found or people I've loved--none of these love stories outweigh the love I've found in my Creator. They are passionate and flawed, like my love for Him. The difference is, my love isn't returned by an imperfect human. It is returned by a flawless, unwavering, constant Savior. This love is unlike any other. It is unchanging. It is beautiful, strong, unconditional, personal, intimate. How one being could love so many other beings in ways that are personal and specific to each one is so far over my head, I could never grasp it. But I fully accept it. The best description I've found of this indescribable love comes from a song written about eight years ago...

"He is jealous for me. Loves like a hurricane. I am a tree. Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy. When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory. And I realize just how beautiful You are and how great your affections are for me. We are His portion and He is our prize. Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes. If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking. And Heaven meets Earth like a sloppy, wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest. I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about, how He loves us."
(John Mark McMillan)

He is jealous for me. For me? Yes. And for you. He is jealous for and wants us. We are His portion. Is He your prize?

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!"
1 John 3:1

Textile Obsession

This past semester I took my first Textile Design course, & of course, immediately became obsessed. Funny how this all started...my Mom forced me into a Beginning Art class in high school because she said I needed to quit taking so many P.E. classes & become more "well rounded." I thought I'd hate it, but soon proved myself wrong. In short, I was so intrigued in the world of art that I chose Art Marketing as my major in college. I intended to use it for something Fashion related after I graduated--which I still do. But, the specifics of what I want to do are continually changing. After this past semester, I've found a love for dying fabrics, designing patterns for fabrics, & using fabrics to make an ordinary object something more. I've found dying scarves & sewing & embellishing cuff bracelets to be somewhat therapeutic--& even better, becoming a side job.

Above is a picture of a few of the cuffs I've made recently. They're for sale, if anyone is interested, for between $15.00 & $20.00. They each took between 3 & 6 hours to make. Let me know if you'd like to buy one! I'll post pictures of the scarves soon. I currently have 7 that I've made for sale.

Let me know if any of you have any good ideas for textile projects!

Where to start?

It's safe to say this past month has been one for the books. Letting go of friends and finding new ones, second chances, learning who to trust--and who not to, growing up in some aspects of life...all of this combined led to a great deal of learning. I've learned that people aren't always who you think they are, the truth isn't always what you want to hear--or what you want it to be, and that sometimes bad things happen to good people, but good things come from the bad. Also, God has really shown me that what others can mean for evil, He can use for good. I've found that true joy consists of more than just a smile on your face. It comes from a love from the Father that outweighs and overcomes any struggle you can face. It is a passing of fear, a peace that passes all understanding, an unconditional love.
But, in all, these experiences turn out to be something beautiful, something to hold onto, something that brings growth and newness in life. So hold onto them. Hold onto the friends that mean the world to you, the memories that make life worth living, and the love that comes with both. Give second chances freely-but cautiously. Don't take advantage of the people or things that you don't want to live without. Forgive. Forgive those who have hurt you and learn from the experience. And, last but not least, find the beauty in it all--the beauty in the good and the bad, the beauty in the unfailing love of a Heavenly Father, the beauty in the things He's blessed you with...friends, family, life.

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out.” -Art Linkletter.