Burlap Runner

Recently in a certain catalog, I saw images of burlap and fun uses of type.

It gave me an idea for my MOPS group craft: Burlap table runners.

First, I printed out large letters in a few different fonts.

Then I slid the paper under the burlap. I wanted to make sure that the letters shown through because...

... I was going to take a Sharpie permanent marker and gently rub it against the burlap to make it look like an old potato or coffee sack.

From far away, it had a neat effect. I had to play around with the pressure of my Sharpie, but I found a groove.

One of the runners looked like this:

I also tried one with lots of words covering the entire runner. That one was especially fun.

It was like a big puzzle. Whenever I found an open space, I tried to find a word that would fit or simply used some other graphics elements to fill the space: a star or asterisk for example.

I wish I could tell you that burlap is washable.

It's not machine washable, but you can spot clean it.

The best part is that this project is relatively inexpensive.

Burlap runs $3 a yard. Most places have coupons to get it half off.

These runners were 14" wide by 72" long.

Two yards of burlap made 3 runners with a little extra burlap for fun.

Hope my MOPS friends will enjoy the craft!

Morning

I have been married to Dan Dykstra for a decade now. I like to say "decade" because it sounds so much more mature than "ten years". It's like the tenure of marriage and makes me feel very experienced, like when a certain six year old tells me "I'm six AND A HALF."

Even though we've known each other all this time, I was not prepared for the new ways I would get to know Dan this summer. It started when my husband took a sabbatical from work. He was home a lot. He began brewing coffee every morning and inviting me to join him under the pergola for some joe.

I can't say that I jumped at the chance to join him for coffee. I'm kind of a fidgety person. When someone asks me to "sit and visit", I'd rather they asked me to help them paint their entire house with a one-haired paintbrush. Really.

So when Dan invited me to coffee, it took a while for me to realize that he's offering something simple and precious and I better take him up on it.

It started with coffee.

Then we started reading the Bible.

We didn't buy a book on how to read the Bible.

We just read the Bible.

Sometimes we'd have fantastic conversations about God and other times we'd roll our eyes at the long run-on sentences, grasping very little.

But it didn't matter because we were in it together.

Sometimes we'd talk. Sometimes it would lead to prayer.

And some mornings we'd sleep in because the outside air made us drowsy.

I love these mornings because they're simple and real and connect me with Dan and God.

This simple act of getting up together and talking, drinking, reading, praying and laughing was one of the most meaningful times we have spent together.

I don't know why I'm speaking in the past tense.

Well, maybe I do.

We' ve had a few curve balls that want to change our morning routine. The kids have had some sickness. Most recently Dan had a day which I will heretofore refer to as "the day that came from the bad place"; some health problems caused him to have an onset of seizures. I'm always sad for him when he has seizures. It produces a sleepy, foggy Dan for a few days. He's "there" but he's not. So I miss him. He's my best friend.

Today I will let him rest and visit with his parents. I won't discuss high minded things with him. I won't talk about home improvements or bills or Morgan's school work. I'll just be his companion. When his body adjusts from his recent episodes, we'll ease back into our gentle morning routine. With coffee. And laughter.

Eve and Blogging

From the moment I started my new blog, I told myself that I would never blog out of guilt. I'd only blog when I felt like it... or when my 1 year old allowed it.

Apparently Eve thought I needed some blog fodder.

She's getting more independent these days.

She can feed herself.

And entertain herself.

"Look at Mommy," I said to her.

"No," she said.

Then she gave me her new fake smile.

Adorable.

She's not a bit contrite.

I'll blog again. When the Eve lets me. :)