Craftiness & Clementine Crates

I love Clementine crates. I love the oranges of course, but I love the little weathered wooden fruit crates that contain them maybe even more. Now clementines come in equally lovely but not quite as cool, little cardboard fruit boxes. After saving Clementine crates for years & years I finally turned them into something bedsides paper & toys & stuff catch alls. My original idea was to break them down & turn them into words on the wall surrounding family pictures on a wall in our living room saying "you are my sunshine" & but that was just too big so I changed it to "LOVE" which was much more doable space wise. Well my husband then decided to confess to me that he didn't ever like words on the walls (ridiculous, I know!) but there went that.

My creativity didn't give up though! So, I've always loved starburst mirrors, there was even one I almost ordered on one of those daily deal sales on Antique Warehouse, but even on sale it was just too much. It was gorgeous though. A giant golden sun, but there is a cheapness in me for household items that I can't shake. I feel the same way about carpets & wall art lol. Anyway, I got a large round mirror off Craigslist & it hangs above our couch. It was okay but the frame was not my favorite & I cringed at its blah-ness in the living room most days. In fact, I almost resold it on Craigslist, butthen inspiration struck and our ugly round mirror became a clementine crate starburst mirror!!!

The project was daunting lol & it saddened & worried me to take apart all those treasured crates worrying the project wouldn't pan out, but little by little with my hobo tools I did it. Hopefully my husband never reads this but I literally used a large kitchen knife to pry out the staples & then to pry off the stuck on glue too. The pliers just didn't cut it. Well, quite a few cuts ensued, but I did try to do 2 to 4 pieces each day. Bandaged fingers and all. Dut dut duh dah!!!! :)

Here it is. I love it & my husband even says he loves it too. Score!

Add caption

Blogs & another Mother's Heart-wrenching Grace

So very often I read a few of my favorite blogs & think this is great! I could do this....I could write this. I read a blog though today that I hope & pray I never ever have to write or even come close to writing. I pray for & follow a lot of sick kids on a Facebook, and sadly & heartbreakingly, there are far too many there & everywhere, and if  I could Like & pray for every one of  their sweet pages, I would! Well, there is a beautifully written, heart on the sleeve blog I came across from at first a link shared by a friend to pray for this sweet boy Ben Sauer & his family. Ben is 5 years old & is dying of cancer. His mothers strength & grace as she is watching her little boy die before her, brings me to tears  every time. She is stronger than I could ever hope or pray to be in her position & it's awe-inspiring & almost takes my breathe away.

She would tell you though it isn't her strength & isn't her grace that carries her through, it's God's. I'm singing "A Mighty Fortress is our God."in my head as I write.  Her testimony is beyond amazing. So, Ben Sauer's mom, I wish I wasn't writing this now for your sake & your sweet little boy's, as I know when you write your blog you probably feel the same, but for my sake & all the others your words & testimony have graced, thank you for writing. You are one of truest examples of God's strength & ever present grace in times of  heart wrenching anguish, that I have ever been privileged & honored to read.

I will weep again with you far too soon when I read the post that is inevitably to come in the next few days, and on that sad, sad day, I just know, as always & by God's grace, you again will be an example to us all. My heart & prayers are with Ben & you & your whole family.

In loving honor of the blog:
BENSAUER.BLOGSPOT.COM