DIY HUGE Dreamcatcher

This is my favorite project that I have done yet, I just finished it yesterday and I am pretty proud of it. The best part it is 100% natural or recycled products. Which means total cost: FREE!

I was originally going to make a small dreamcatcher because I saw people do it with a vintage doily. well I can crochet my own! so I followed a pattern with regular size yarn and it turned out to be a BIG doily. The cost of the yarn was free because my grandma just gave me some of her yarn that she wasn't going to use. (recycled) but it was very white. I remembered my mom teaching me about a method called "tea dying." so I tried it. I didn't do it right which I'm glad I didn't because it gave it more of a tye-dye effect and I like how it turned out. (probably the only thing I bought about $3.00)

After that I rinsed it out and let it dry outside. Then I got out my collection of sticks. (which people think I'm weird because I collect pinecones/sticks/rocks/shells.) and started tying them with thick twine to form a sort of "circle."

 Then I took some stronger yarn because I am pulling tight, and just wrapped it all the way around the sticks.

Then I added some twine on top for it to hang. and then I started on my collection of rocks/shells/feathers. Some shells have a natural hole in them, but for those that didn't I used that tool to poke holes and for the rocks I used a leather pieces to wrap them. (recycled from my mom)

 I have been collecting these things literally since I was 5 years old. My earliest memory was going to Grandpa Houskeeper's trailer and he sent us out to find Geodes. He would cut them in half and show us the crystals inside. I have kept that since I was very young. He passed when I was about 8.
The shells I have collected when I travel places, like Hawaii and California. My dad also has given me some whenever he goes to the beach. Some are even nasty ones from lake mead.

This crystal my mom gave me when I was very young.

 The triangle rock is one I found hiking when I was in jr. high. It is supposedly a lava rock. I don't remember where I found it but my guess is by Stewart Falls. That is where I found a shell fossil but I am making that into a necklace.

 The rest of the stuff is from Cody. When he worked at the Tropicana casino, they were taking down the old chandeliers. Cody knowing me, snuck a few crystal hangings and are now going to good use. The feathers are from Cody's first turkey that he slaughtered. (cody's motto: I was into bow and arrows before it became the trend) It was hard to keep Rosco from eating all the feathers before I got them up. It took me probably about 2 and a half weeks to finish.

END RESULT

Sweet Dreams

My Testimony

          In my patriarchal blessing it tells me that I will be a teacher in Zion and I must share my words as often as possible. What better way than blogging it? How I became to know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was the True church was not in a way that most do. I was raised LDS by loving parents. When I was young I despised church and didn't feel I belonged. I saw people do things that Christ would not approve of and then became angry towards the church. I didn't want to do anything with it.
         I moved to Las Vegas Sin City to get as opposite as possible. I tried to do things my way and was always unhappy. It wasn't until baby Zion was born that I decided I really needed to figure out life so I could teach this young being how to live life happily. Cody and I tried going back to church in 2009 and had failed attempts. We just didn't fit in the culture and couldn't find anyone to relate to. We did keep trying and got missionary lessons because Cody was not a member. I can't even count how many missionaries we fed and got all the lessons from.
         Until one  patient Elder that Cody could really relate to and we got the missionary lessons for the last time. Cody quit smoking and got baptized.

Thanks Elder Burton

      So Cody got his act together and I needed to follow. I talked to my bishop and he made it seem so far away to get to the temple. I came home crying and upset. I diligently went back to him even though it was very hard and I did what he asked me to do. He asked me to pray and read my scriptures to find the answer and I did read and pray. Everyday! I was waiting for some angel to come down and tell me that it was True. I was getting nothing. It was discouraging. I prayed for the last time and I asked "Is the church True?"

My answer:  You already KNOW!

I already knew and have always known thanks to my parents who aren't perfect but taught me right. 

We got sealed in the Timpanogas temple to my two beautiful babies on Nov. 5 2011. 

 

Mortality is designed for pitfalls and trials. Some people say that God won't give us what we can't handle, but I think we all have trials and those who get through them are those that have God. 

I didn't get a testimony of Joseph Smith until after I believed in the church therefore, I believe in Joseph Smith. I know the book of mormon is True. I know there is a living prophet on the earth today.

 I know that my family will be sealed together for all time and eternity through the power of God's plan for us.