Pinterest has a strange magic over the mind. When I look at something on Pinterest, I think to myself, "I could
definitely do that!" I've discovered so many crafts, and projects, and pursuits just perusing Pinterest. When it came to planning my wedding, I knew I wanted it to be filled with the personal touches that speak of a true gift of self. So I've been crafting for seven months. The end result was better than I could have imagined, so I wanted to share some of the images with you. This post will really just turn into a huge thank-you note, as I had so much help from so many loving people.
Fabric Flowers: When I envisioned a rustic themed wedding, I knew I wanted low-lying centerpieces on a wood block. (I was going to worry about the wood later.) And I knew that I wanted the warmth and texture of fabrics. So I designed some fabric flowers. By looking through the discard bins of fabric stores, I built up a fun supply of different patterns and textures. Cutting two different shapes through yards of fabric, I folded a few sides together and sewed together the petals for a full-flower effect. Now, this is tedious work! And I knew I couldn't do it alone. My sister, Angela, helped as well as my sister, Theresa. Every hand-stitched flower, a work of love! My mom, however, won the roost, as she produced hundred of flowers, blending texture and exploring patterns, whipping them up as though it were nothing. She truly was magnificent! We even had enough for the flower girls to use them going down the center aisle during the Nuptial Mass!
Wood Centerpieces: Rob came to the rescue in the wood for the centerpieces. His friend, Bill and his dad, Bill, have an incredible workshop at the back of the house. Rob had helped them cut down a walnut tree, so we visited the Quayles to see if they could help us out with the wood centerpieces. They came through in a big way! Fifteen thick slabs, sanded and ready to finish were delivered into our hands. We used some Wood Juice to help stabilize the wood, as it had been outside for a time, and then finished it off with two coats of clear polyurethane. The Wood Juice brought out the deep, dark color of walnut and brought a richness to the wood. Truly beautiful!
Place mats: Since we were the first wedding to use St. Philomena's Banquet Room for a Wedding Reception, and I know my Father David well, I wanted to create a place mat that could go underneath the wood centerpieces and catch any unintended debris. My dear friend, Gina, had given me a large swath of burlap as a gift toward decorating the reception, and my mom selflessly gave me a full week of her time before the wedding. Once again, she whipped up the place mats in no time at all. My brother Tony, and his girlfriend, Maria, helped to fray the edges of the place mats, adding to the rustic look.
Burlap Canvases: Painting has always been a favorite past-time for me, though I do not excel. I have have found that burlap canvases are most forgiving, and you can get away with edging out the idea of a painting and your mind fills in the rest from the texture. I'd had a design meeting with my friend, Nicole Blackburn, and she recommended the 12x12 size, where I could also cover the back with a piece of scrapbook paper very easily. This allowed me to also exercise my creative writing sensibilities and provide a description card for each.
Toggles: The wooden toggles that I offered as party favors to our guests were so much work, but extremely fulfilling to be able to offer my time for my guests in advance of their coming. I took the images that I had painted on the burlap canvases, created 2x2 jpegs, and printed 200 copies all together. Then with a 1 inch hole punch, I punched a circle into each one. With laser cut discs with an existing hole I purchased from Etsy (can't do everything!) I mod podged them to the surface. After the first layer, I poked the hole through the image to make way for a string. Followed by another coat of mod-podge, the string itself, and a layer of finishing spray.
Flowers: The real flowers, I left in the capable hands of Gina McKenna. She employed my friends and family and together made some stunning bouquets.
Finishing Touches: Finishing touches were completed by an army of lovely people! My sisters, Angela, Ruth Ann & Theresa, my mom, the McKeevers and McKeever Murphys, Kristin, Taryn, Angela Grunkemeyer, and Jenny Witt and Justine Bator.
Ambiance: What is a dinner party without the perfect ambiance. My brother Joe, has flawless taste in music and generously DJ'd the wedding for us! What a gift!
Family Atmosphere: This was truly achieved by the loving service of Angela Grunkemeyer and Jenny Witt, dear friends. They attended to me and to the kitchen, which included all of our guests, bringing thoughtful details I hadn't even thought of, warmth and generous hospitality to all. All of the crafts in the world could not replace these two angels.
Description Cards
Alligator
The first time Rob & I met was at an Advent Party, hosted
by our bridesmaid, Taryn. Taryn likes to ask very deep and meaningful
questions. Her favorite is, "If you could be anything without
restrictions, what would it be and why?" My answer, classically, is that I
would dominate the world. Not necessarily in a chief of operations kind of way,
but in the sense of being in control of people's destinies. In essence, I would
be what I am, a writer, only my thoughts and scribbles would be efficacious.
Rob's answer took a great deal more time to explain, in his well thought out
and gripping way of speaking. He would be an alligator and to summarize his
long-winded response, it is because they are efficient and cunning predators,
who can survive on very little, but who take advantage of opportunities when
they arise. Knowing this about Rob made the beginning of our relationship very
easy, while Taryn was doing some magic in the background to bring us together,
Rob was waiting for his opportunity to arise. When I made it apparent I was
looking for a relationship, Rob stepped right up and took initiative. I’ve
learned so much from my Alligator, and look forward to a lifetime of growing in
patience, and true enjoyment the present moment, which is now filled with all of
you wonderful people.
Fox
The
Little Prince by
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
It was then that the fox appeared.
"Who are you?" asked the little
prince, and added, "You are very pretty to look at."
"I am a fox," the fox said.
"Come and play with me," proposed the
little prince. "I am so unhappy."
"I cannot play with you," the fox
said. "I am not tamed."
"Ah! Please excuse me," said the
little prince. But, after some thought, he added: "What does that
mean--'tame'?"
"It is an act too often neglected," said
the fox. “It means to establish ties."
"'To establish ties'?"
"Just that," said the fox. "To
me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred
thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part,
have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred
thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me,
you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world
. . ."
"I am beginning to understand," said
the little prince. "There is a flower . . . I think that she has tamed me
. . ."
"My life is very monotonous," the fox
said. "I hunt chickens; men hunt me. All the chickens are just alike, and
all the men are just alike. And, in consequence, I am a little bored. But if
you tame me, it will be as if the sun came to shine on my life. I shall know
the sound of a step that will be different from all the others. Other steps
send me hurrying back underneath the ground. Yours will call me, like music,
out of my burrow. And then look: you see the grain-fields down yonder? I do not
eat bread. Wheat is of no use to me. The wheat fields have nothing to say to
me. And that is sad. But you have hair that is the color of gold. Think how
wonderful that will be when you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden,
will bring me back the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the wind
in the wheat . . ."
The fox gazed at the little prince, for a long
time. "Please--tame me!" he said.
"I want to, very much," the little
prince replied. "What must I do, to tame you?" asked the little
prince.
"You must be very patient," replied
the fox. "First you will sit down at a little distance from me--like
that--in the grass. I shall look at you out of the corner of my eye, and you
will say nothing. Words are the source of misunderstandings. But you will sit a
little closer to me, every day . . ."
Bringing up Rob
I was terrified as a first time mother but Rob was an easy to
care for baby and child. He was a calm toddler/child, not your typical
active, rough boy! He entertained himself with his imagination and toys!
He often laid on the floor and wheeled his cars back and forth. He
did, however, like his super heroes, cars & trucks and gaming! Rob
was also cautious and protective of his siblings, especially when Kimmy was
being teased by my family. He stayed home much of the time and always had
at least one friend. Always a rule follower....ask Aunt Cindy - she once
offered Rob a cookie before dinner and said she would not tell his mom and he
declined! Rob always seemed to know right from wrong and was honest in
all he did. He kept ME in line. Rob held to his beliefs and principles
even if it caused him to be bullied by kids or not win the game.
Linda
Bringing up Mary
Mary was a
delightful baby, especially after the rigors of Angela and Joe! She was
perpetually cheerful, especially when interacting with her siblings or the
gaggle of little people who made up our rosary group in Idaho. She made a happy
growling sound when excited. She loved the dog (Violet), music, and playing in
the kitchen with whatever she could pull out of the drawers. She liked sitting
in the “very back,” looking backwards in our station wagon. She loved the swing set in our back yard, and
playing in the sheets that were drying on our clothes line. I loved staying at
home with my children, watching them play in the yard, going on walks downtown,
and teaching them.
In Iowa, she
became a big sister to Tony when she was three, and Theresa came along when she
was eight. She loved them both to pieces. She determinedly kept pace with her
older siblings as well. Being the middle child, she could hold her own among
others, and I think she sometimes got into physical fights on the
playground! It’s all or nothing with
Mary. Nothing by halves for her. She was
sometimes tempestuous, and I never knew quite why.
She started
school at Sacred Heart School in Boone, Iowa. She joined Angela and Joe on the
swim team in first grade, and soon after started little league softball. She
loved softball and kept that up through high school, where she earned the
nickname “Bloody Mary,” acquired by her skill at stealing the bases.
Mary was always
an avid reader, starting with all the Narnia books. She got lost in the
Limberlost, went through heartaches with Jane Austen, and went on adventures
with the hobbits. During her homeschooling
years, she worked very hard on literature, history, and Latin. I enjoyed
teaching Mary and Tony at home, sharing what excites me, and hopefully finding
what excites them. She enjoyed the solitude and freedom better than the
restrictions of school. But she also appreciated her friends all the more. She
joined the Vision homeschool basketball team, which provided friendships and
formation.
Mary’s
adventures included going away to Starbase Leadership Camp and the Belin-Blank
Summer Institute. She suffered from homesickness when away, which made my heart
ache. But she succeeded in going away to
college at Franciscan University of Steubenville, which included a semester in
Austria and traveling around Europe. She
attended the first Eagle Eye Institute camp, and has continued as a disciple of
the Community of St. John.
She continues
to be a loving daughter and friend, sharing deeply her faith and life.
-Suellen
The Lady of Shalott (1832)
By Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Part I
On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;
And thro' the field the road runs by
To many-tower'd
Camelot;
The yellow-leaved waterlily
The green-sheathed daffodilly
Tremble in the water chilly
Round about Shalott.
Willows whiten, aspens shiver.
The sunbeam showers break and quiver
In the stream that runneth ever
By the island in the river
Flowing down to
Camelot.
Four gray walls, and four gray towers
Overlook a space of flowers,
And the silent isle imbowers
The Lady of Shalott.
Underneath the bearded barley,
The reaper, reaping late and early,
Hears her ever chanting cheerly,
Like an angel, singing clearly,
O'er the stream of
Camelot.
Piling the sheaves in furrows airy,
Beneath the moon, the reaper weary
Listening whispers, ' 'Tis the fairy,
Lady of Shalott.'
The little isle is all inrail'd
With a rose-fence, and overtrail'd
With roses: by the marge unhail'd
The shallop flitteth silken sail'd,
Skimming down to
Camelot.
A pearl garland winds her head:
She leaneth on a velvet bed,
Full royally apparelled,
The Lady of Shalott.
Part III
A bow-shot from her bower-eaves,
He rode between the barley-sheaves,
The sun came dazzling thro' the leaves,
And flam'd upon the brazen greaves
Of bold Sir Lancelot.
A red-cross knight for ever kneel'd
To a lady in his shield,
That sparkled on the yellow field,
Beside remote Shalott.
The gemmy bridle glitter'd free,
Like to some branch of stars we see
Hung in the golden Galaxy.
The bridle bells rang merrily
As he rode down from
Camelot:
And from his blazon'd baldric slung
A mighty silver bugle hung,
And as he rode his armour rung,
Beside remote Shalott.
All in the blue unclouded weather
Thick-jewell'd shone the saddle-leather,
The helmet and the helmet-feather
Burn'd like one burning flame together,
As he rode down from
Camelot.
As often thro' the purple night,
Below the starry clusters bright,
Some bearded meteor, trailing light,
Moves over green
Shalott.
His broad clear brow in sunlight glow'd;
On burnish'd hooves his war-horse trode;
From underneath his helmet flow'd
His coal-black curls as on he rode,
As he rode down from
Camelot.
From the bank and from the river
He flash'd into the crystal mirror,
'Tirra lirra, tirra lirra:'
Sang Sir Lancelot.
Song of Songs 8:5
Who is this coming up from the desert,
leaning upon her lover?
Desert
by Mary
My heart
drawn into the desert
Into
waves of sand
Searching
for a wounded treasure
In
this foreign land
Yet my
steps are not alone
And my
road is not lonely
Though
I wander through the desert
Your
hand leads me
My
road lingers in the barrens
I
stumble on
Hope
draws me through the rock sand snares
Do I
dare to run?
Yet my
steps are not alone
And my
road is not lonely
Though
I wander through the desert
Your
hand leads me
Your
love feeds me in the desert
Words
issued from Your mouth
At Your
voice wastelands turn to waters
Through
the joy of Your Plan
Yet my
steps are not alone
And my
road is not lonely
Though
I wander through the desert
Your
hand leads me
My
Beloved rules the desert
I lean
on His arm
Strength,
comfort and protection
No
harm befalls me here
Now my
steps are not alone
And my
road is not lonely
Though
I wander through the desert
Your
hand leads me
Taryn’s
Candlelight
Rob
and I met at our friend, Taryn’s, Advent party, surrounded by incomparable
touches of beauty. A spirit of true hospitality, where it is selfless, warm and
welcoming to each guest is something that is an art in itself. Not only did
Taryn exude this spirit of hospitality, but she filled her home with thoughtful
touches, which shed light on all her guests.
Having
taken the time to decoupage Advent hymns, and scenes to wood, including the O
Antiphons, I know that I was mesmerized by the beauty of it. The whole evening
was shrouded in the mantle of Our Lady of Guadalupe as she was the pinnacle
centerpiece of the evening. Not only this, but the dining room was solely lit
by candlelight. The warm flicker of the light as it played about the room
throughout the evening was truly whimsical.
When I tried on my wedding dress and saw the sparkle, it reminded me of
the candlelight present the night we met, something soft and warm.
The
true gift was the party favor that Taryn crafted, wood toggles with the O
Antiphons decoupaged to the surface, encircled in red ribbon. We spent some
time looking at each one as a group and talking about the O Antiphons together
that evening and our toggles came home with us. The time and effort it took
Taryn put into the whole evening was truly remarkable. Through meeting on that
night, Taryn created an atmosphere of connection whereby Rob and I had a strong
foot forward on our relationship, which led to this joyous day that we are
honored to celebrate with you.
Moth
& Mantis
My favorite book is “A Girl of the
Limberlost” by Gene Stratton-Porter, wherein a yellow emperor plays a prominent
part in drawing Philip Ammon back to the Limberlost to pursue Elnora, the
heroine. -Mary
A Girl
of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter
From out of the night, in at the wide
front entrance to the pavilion, there swept in slow wavering flight a large
yellow moth and fluttered toward the centre cluster of glaring electric lights.
Philip Ammon and Eidth Car saw it at the same instant.
“Why, isn’t that--?” she began
excitedly.
“It’s a Yellow Emperor! This is
fate!” cried Philip, “The last one Elnora needs for her collection. I must have
it! Excuse me!”
He ran toward the light. “Hats!
Handkerchiefs! Fans! Anything!” he panted. “Everyone hold up something and stop
that! It’s a moth; I’ve got to catch it!”
“It’s yellow! He wants it for
Edith!” ran in a murmur around the hall. The girl’s face flushed, while she bit
her lips in vexation.
Instantly every one began holding up
something to keep the moth from flying back into the night. One fan held
straight before it served, and the moth gently settled on it.
“Hold steady!” cried Philip. “Don’t
move for your life!” He rushed toward the moth, made a quick sweep and held it
up between his fingers. “All right!” he called.
Mantis
by Rob
My favorite insect is the praying
mantis. The name comes from the pose of its forearms held patiently together as
if in prayer (not in fact for the act of preying on other insects, though you
could take it as a sly double meaning). Like the alligator it is also makes a
living by being supremely patient. I had to keep myself for a long time,
waiting to find the right kind of girl.; my patience has now paid off. Masters
of blending in, the mantis adapts to its surrounding without actually being a
part of it. Free to move when the time is right, when it does it will make
quite a statement!
