Sunday, February 24, 2013

.Until they rest in Thee: A how-to. (Unfortunately only on how to paint the quote; I find living it out significantly more difficult.)


"You have made us for yourself,
O Lord,
and our hearts are restless
until they rest in you."
-st. augustine




i've been wanting some simple and truthful words
on the walls by my bed.
i played around with inexpensive ideas on how to do so...
letters cut out of fabric?
large script, framed?

loving the looks of natural wood signs
like this and this...
and empowered by a how-to...
on wood it was.

step one:
pick quote.
st. augustine's quote on resting in God
has been in my head and heart lately.
i need it in my head and heart more...
reminding me.

step two:
pick font you love.


(i can't believe i'm saying this because it's sooo hipster and in right now but:
i've been getting really into 'typography'.
a combo of falling in love with this artist,
being friends with the krolls, mayr, and my bud isaiah,
and researching what i want in a tattoo...)

i tried out a few and settled on:
'living together.

beautiful,
scrawled handwriting-y, but still readable,

step three:
find wood.
i love and am so grateful for these pieces,
they're solid mahogany and i think they're gorgeous...
and most of all i love the fact that aaron and irene gave them to me for free!
they were hand-me-downs from a long-ago deck project
and have been sitting in their garage for like eight years.
thanks guys!!!

step four:
print really big.
i used 250-pt.


step five:
spread out words as desired.
tape in place.



(it probably would be a good idea to measure
and i'm sure some people would draw lines and stuff to make sure the words come out properly spaced
and running straight...
buuuut, i mostly eyeballed it.)

step six:
trace letters heavily with a ball-point pen.
it will leave a light indent on the wood.

step seven:
fill in with paint of choice.


i kept a small lamp on the floor as i worked so i could see the indents clearer.

my initial plan was to use paint and a brush,
but for the sake of ease, i used a sharpie.
it worked great and i think was probably much easier to do details with.

step eight:
continue with steps six and seven
for the better part of a week and a half, if you're me.




(it's so relaxing!
every day i looked forward to coming home and sharpie-ing my quote...
is that weird?)

step nine:
apply wood glue liberally.

i brushed glue between the pieces i wanted together
and clamped them between the legs of my couch and my coffee table to dry,
then glued strips of cardboard and fabric to the back
and let everything dry overnight.

if you have a clamp, use it.
if not, use what you have!
like... harry potter, textbooks, and poetry.





step ten:
enjoy.








(a handy dad from church said he could help me figure out how to hang them up without pulling the plaster down. :-))

2 comments:

joy.meeder said...

LOVE THIS IDEA! You are making me think crafy again :)

cori haughery said...

ah!! i totally know what you mean about finding an satisfaction in sharpie-ing!!! i am getting the urge just thinking about it... i also have that same feeling about pinching erasers...i like i want to bite on them really bad....is THAT weird?! (don't answer that)

Human Needs Global Resources Covenant, 2009

As fellow travelers on this journey, we commit to this covenant before God. Lord, in Your mercy, hear these our prayers:

When confronted with scarcity, need, and inadequacy, may we be nourished by the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. Abundance overflows from Your table, sustaining all who come in faith. Father, help us.

When monotony blurs our vision and dulls our senses, may we encounter others as Christ did, through intentional presence in daily life, submitting as clay to be formed into vessels filled with the Spirit. Christ, guide us.

When wounded by the fractured condition of Your people, may we be united by Your Lordship in faith, hope, and love; seeing, as through the facets of a diamond, the beautiful spectrum of Your light reflected onto Your holy Church joined in praise. Spirit, empower us.

When all Creation groans, afflicted by injustice and driven to despair, may the promise of redemption root us in the hope of Your Kingdom: "Behold, I am making all things new!"

Holy Trinity, send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve You with gladness and singleness of heart.

Amen.