by Amy | Oct 3, 2013 | Blog
I love the library. I love the smell of it, the look of it, the sound of it. Most of the time when I’m there I pick up an audio book or something non-fiction. I’m a constant learner, you see. Sometimes I think it’d be nice to just go to a section and look around for a type of book, instead of looking up a specific title in the catalog. You know, for those days you just want something on dinosaurs, but you don’t know what. Okay. Maybe I’m the only one that has those kinds of days.
Anyway…at the very least you may find this interesting. I think it’s information worth knowing and I spent a bit of time making it pretty for you. So here goes.
This…is the Dewey Decimal System. It’s how books are organized. It’s those little numbers on the spine of all non-fiction books. Big surprise, those numbers actually mean something. Yes, I realize we might not actually need to know this stuff. But one can never have too much random knowledge in their head. And nowadays this kind of stuff is very hipster and trendy. If you’re into that.
The decimal system is divided into three numbers, then sometimes, a few more numbers after the decimal point. As you can see by the graphic.
The first number is a main, umbrella category. You’ll see what all these categories are in the table below.
The second number breaks things down a little more. This is a division number. It gives a little more specifics to the main category.
The third number is the section. A little more specific.
After that, if the book is even more specific there will be a decimal point and some more numbers. These classify the book even further. If there are more than one books on the same niche topic they will then be sorted by author’s last name. In the example above, I’ve pulled a book on knitting.
{Art | Decorative Arts | Textile Arts | Knitting}
This little graphic breaks down every division. If you want even more specifics check this out. I’ve got this image saved to my phone for reference. Here are a couple decimals I like best:
640’s–this includes home improvement and cooking…so I obviously spend a lot of time there
740’s–this is the craft section
000’s–this is the computer section…and I am still attempting to shine up my web design skills
810’s–American lit…hence the Edgar Allen Poe. It is October, after all.
If you aren’t into books, maybe you’ll be into this precious kitten that was left in a book depository. The library staff kept him and named him Dewey. As in Dewey Decimal. You have to be crazy if you don’t think that’s cute.
And if you are still craving more Dewey. Watch this ridiculous homemade rap on it. It’s long. But the first 2 minutes will give you the idea.
Amy
by Amy | Oct 2, 2013 | Blog, Crafts, The Art of Projects
If you follow the Facebook page, you saw that yesterday I was working on a couple new chalkboards. A while back a friend gave me a couple old window panes that she didn’t need. It’s been months and finally I’ve converted them into something useful. I plan to use them in photo sessions, but when they aren’t in use there, one will be hanging on the gallery wall.
Nearly a year ago I showed you guys how to make your own custom chalkboard paint. Today I thought we’d revisit that technique. Since last time I forgot to take photos and the tutorial was really lacking.
Here’s what you need:
Paint in the color you’d like your chalk board
Unsanded grout
Water
Something to mix in
Something to mix with
Something to chalk board
A paint brush
Here’s what you need to do.
Start by priming your surface. In my case, I primed window glass. But you can use basically anything that can hold paint. I prime with basic acrylic or latex paint.
After you’ve let that dry completely, mix up your chalkboard paint. I mixed mine in an empty baked beans can. It was handy, free, and disposable.
Mix together, 2 TBS unsanded grout and a few drops of water. Just enough water to make a really thick, but smooth paste. If yours is looking thin because of too much water, add a little more grout. Then mix in 1/2 cup of your paint. Paint an even coat all over your surface and let it dry.
Once that’s dry, season your new chalkboard by rubbing the side of a piece of chalk over the whole surface and gently wiping it off. Because of this, your color will not be as vibrant as it was in the jar. Keep that in mind when you choose a color.
Now you are ready to write on your new board.
I used this graphic I made for a little inspiration. But, let’s face it, everything looks cool written on a chalkboard.
Hope this one helps you more than the last tutorial. See you tomorrow,
Amy
by Amy | Oct 1, 2013 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
It’s no secret that I love high-schoolers. Especially the girls. But not in a creepy way. They are living such an exciting time in their lives and there is still so much more to come. The energy, beauty and possibility found in soon-to-be graduates is infectious. Which is why I love senior portrait sessions.
Meet Gretchen. She was my first senior session of the year. I know you will like her as much as I do.
This year for teens involved in the youth group that I volunteer with I offered a special discount. For every Bible verse they could quote to me {up to 5, excluding “Jesus wept” and John 3:16} I’d knock $10 off their session cost. Gretchen nailed all five. Throughout the rest of the post I’ll be writing the verses she chose to quote to me.
Jesus answered, I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” John 1:1
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8
by Amy | Oct 1, 2013 | Blog, Context, Devotional, The Art of Faith
Sometimes there isn’t a whole lot to say. Sometimes a profound and mind-blowing thought will just wander its way into your head. There’s no solving it, or changing it, or unthinking it.
Last night I had one of those thoughts.
It came to me while doing our nightly Bible study. There was no specific passage that brought it on, but I’ll leave some scripture at the end here to back it up.
It was a thought about life. And how miraculous the human life really is.
As humans we all have a start date, but no end date. Sure, it’s true that we will die one day. Our bodies will wear out and we will cease to exist here. But we, as mortals will never be snuffed out. Our death is only the beginning of the rest of our existence. You see, mortals are built to last an eternity. Not our bodies…no, but our souls…yes.
An eternity. That’s a never ending time frame.
So it blows my mind to think that the core of my very being had it’s start on December 28, 1986 {okay, 9 months before that even}, but my soul will never have an end date attached to it. There is no expiration date. We live on a timeline that only moves forward, on a line that goes on forever. It’s not something that we earn, or choose. It’s our design. It is this fact {yes, it’s a fact} that separates us from every other creature on earth.
Let’s move one step further. Now realizing that our souls are a very miraculous thing {that could not have been thrown together by any happy accident}, think about conception. What a miracle it is that as a woman carries a baby, not only is that being soon to be an independent being, but she is also carrying a vessel with an eternal capacity. Amazing.
What an amazing privilege to be a person. To be mortal. To be human.
So what does this knowledge mean for us? We will live on after we pass from this life. And our choices here in this world will dictate how our eternity is spent. So while we are here living the beginning of our days we must be conscious that our actions, our decisions, and our time effect more than just today or tomorrow. They will change our timelines and point our forever toward light or darkness.
Having the privilege of this knowledge changes the way we view others. This never-ending timeline business is not just for you and me. It’s true for the guy who cut you off on the road, and the lady who paid for her latte in pennies, and the best of this world, and the worst of this world. It’s true for the born, it’s true for the barely conceived, it’s true of the dying, it’s true of the unreached. Doesn’t that give you new eyes as you look upon each other? Shouldn’t this realization cause us to love each other more deeply, and swallow our pride/anxiety/fear long enough to encourage one another toward an eternity of joy?
I think so.
But like I said it’s just a thought.
Amy
PS…here are a couple verses that back up the whole “humans are eternal” thing. These are all linked to chapters or passages so that you can read them in context. There are many more verses that support the fact that humans are made for eternal life. This are just a sampling.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 {Commentary on this one here.}
Matthew 18:8
Matthew 25:46
John 3:16
1 Corinthians 15:51-58
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Titus 3:71
John 5:11-15
by Amy | Sep 29, 2013 | Blog, The Art of Design
A while back I bought a bag of coffee that was one of those cozy fall flavors, like vanilla-pumkin-hazlenut or something. I really bought it because the bag was so darn pretty. The flavor was technically named “Fall In Love.” On the bag there was a heart shaped formed with maple leaves.
And I did fall in love. I drank the coffee. It was good. But really that bag was pretty enough to hang on the wall. So I made something for us, inspired by my coffee bag, to hang up.
It is sized to print at 8.5×11″. So no resizing needed. You could definitely trim the white space off to make it an 8×10″ piece instead. Either way, it’s pretty cute.
Here is the link.
If you like this, even if you aren’t actually going to print it…please share it with your friends!
Now, go get some coffee…and don’t forget, tonight is the season 3 premier of Revenge! {Golly I love that show.}
Amy
by Amy | Sep 27, 2013 | Blog, The Art of Projects, the house
Here’s the thing. Derek is going to be leaving for a few days for a little work exercise. And you all know what I like to do when Derek’s gone…right? If not, look at this. Or this. Or this.
Another thing you may know about me is that I have a deep felt hatred for old carpet. Especially carpet in bad carpet in ugly colors. Especially old carpet that is hiding hardwood treasures.
This whole hating carpet thing really didn’t set in until we moved into our house here in PraCan. In nearly every room we found bad, ugly, dusty, smelly carpet. So I started ripping it out. The stairs, the living room, the office, the bedroom. Gone, gone, gone, gone. Then, there was only one lonely room left with bad carpet: the Guest Room. Which is a bummer, because I love to entertain…and I feel like a big jerk when I shove a weekend visitor in the only ugly room in the house. I feel terrible letting them shut the door before bed, only to sequester themselves in a room that has a weird smell coming from the floor.
Take a look. This is the last time that you will see blue carpet in this house.
Derek actually hasn’t left yet. I had him help me move the furniture out. I meant to wait until he was gone to start ripping…but I couldn’t. It’s like opening a present when you see that natural, aged wood pop through. He’s on the couch next to me now, taking in the premier of Parks and Rec…meanwhile, upstairs, the floor looks like this.
It only took a few minutes. And I couldn’t resist. Now, all that stands between me and a dazzling floor are a few staples, some tack strip and a couple coats of polyurethane.
Look for a B&A coming soon. As in next week soon. I’ve got a bestie coming!!! And she’ll need an amazing room to relax in.
Amy
by Amy | Sep 25, 2013 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
You know the phrase, “All because 2 people fell in love…” I’m sure you’ve seen it on picture frames, wall decals, signage above a gallery wall of family photos. A few weeks ago I had the great privilege of photographing one of the most beautiful weddings I’ve ever attended. It was like walking into an issue of Wedding by Martha. One thing that stuck out to me during my day with this lovely couple was a sign that read:
“All because 2 3 people fell in love.”
That’s the truth. This wedding is the story of how Erika, Elly, and Matt officially became a family. It’s not simply the story of two adults getting married, it’s the story of a family being formed.
Just look at this beautiful family, and prepare to be amazed. This day was Erika’s vision and she carried it out in amazing, affordable, DIY fashion. Every detail of their big day was thoughtful and beautifully carried out. (more…)
by Amy | Sep 24, 2013 | Blog, The Art of Faith
Remember high school? Well, to be honest, some of you are probably still in high school. That’s okay. This will apply to you soon enough. Because as all of us HS alum can attest to, the years after graduation go faster than free hot dogs at a baseball game.
{Then: looking awkward, doing something weird.}
{Now: Looking awkward, doing something weird.}
{In high school your name probably flowed right into another. That other was your best friend, your slumber-party companion, your cram-for-test partner, your secret keeper. Your names went together because you were together. At the end of my high school years I was Amy-and-Krissy. And that was fine. Krissy and I were different on a lot of levels but somehow, we became nearly inseparable senior year. I could probably count the weekends she didn’t sleep over on one hand. .
Anyway, one day you’ll be sequestering yourselves in the family room with a fire in the fireplace, pop corn, and hot cocoa on a bitterly cold January night. And the next day you’ll wake up and realize that you have been friends for more than half of the years you’ve been alive. You have literally spent more time knowing each other than not. On that day, you’ll start to feel old. But it’s okay, because I’m slowly learning that it’s better to feel old alongside friends who truly know your soul inside and out, than young alongside people you can’t be genuine with.
I can hardly remember a time when I wasn’t able to speak totally candidly to her. Whether it was about a ridiculous dating situation circa 2004 over Taco Bell, or finding a definition of “success” circa 5 days ago. But the best and greatest thing about this friendship is that even though we have plenty of nostalgic ammo and could reminisce for days, our conversations always seem to stay current. Our visits are always refreshing and invigorating. When we part ways again {because we always have to eventually} I go back to my routine feeling realigned and challenged. The good kind of challenge. I think it’s beautiful and rare to find a friendship that can whether puberty, college, marriage and multiple moves. And I think the key to finding this type of friendship is to surround yourself with people who have qualities you admire. Eventually one of those relationships will click, and you’ll find yourself, like I do, having a hard time remembering when it didn’t exist.
If you think for a minute, I bet you can name-ties that you know. I can: Susi and Lyn; Ann and Terri; Warren and Lauren. You might even be lucky enough to pair yourself off with a few different names. What I’m getting at is this: Life will often call us to part ways from our pairing. And because this friendship is so stable and so easy to pick back up it is easy to neglect it. Don’t do that. Let’s not take our greatest friends for granted. Who haven’t you called in a while? Shoot them a text, give them a ring. God has called us to be creatures of fellowship. Take time to nurture the blessing of friendship.
So raise a glass {of whatever you are drinking at 3:30 in the afternoon} and remember the great friends you have in this life. God has called us to a life of fellowship, and we should never take our greatest relationships for granted.
Amy
