Emily's Coptic Bound Journal

Over this past year God has mercifully revealed His grace to me.  This has happened because He has graciously chosen to soften my disgusting heart, he has revealed the truths of his promises in his word, and also through the "picking up" and "using" several people-- these earthly vessels called humans-- in my life as tools to deliver His grace, forgiveness, wisdom, etc...

A friend of mine just celebrated a birthday.  I am thankful that God has blessed me with such awesome friends.  Emily has been an encouragement and a source of great support and wisdom and counsel over this past year.  Happy Birthday Emily!



I found a book on book-making and I thought it looked like a fun and creative outlet.  I made my first journal a few years back, and I have been making them occasionally ever since. 

This journal is bound with metallic embroidery floss, the same thread that I used for her name on the front cover. 

Its sewn using a Coptic binding stitch with paired needles... this is actually the first time I've done this binding correctly!  (Hooray for reading directions! ... I knew I should have been reading more carefully all this time) 

Instead of book board I used grunge paper which kept the cover a bit more flexible (but still very durable) and pretty thin.  

There are 9 signatures; they are all lined with the exception of the very first page which contains the Philippians 4.8-9 scripture.   

I tried my first attempt at making a slipcover for the journal.   I learned a bunch and have a few revisions for future attempts at a slip cover.  

Frozen Birthday Party

Ok!  So I finished up London's Frozen themed birthday.  We were originally planning on doing a party just at the house like all the parties we've done before... but then we suggested having cake outside the theater, then going and actually watching the Frozen movie with all of her buddies!  She was very excited (imagine lots of squealing)!  This idea was genius because it cut out a lot of stress and planning on my end. 

For the cake we just purchased a cake from Vons, it was a "snowboarding" theme, and I asked them to leave off the snowboarder, and when we picked it up I quickly added "Frozen" figures.  I got the figures at Walmart from a "busy book" that they sell (comes in Frozen, Princess, Disney fairies, etc...)

I decided to focus mainly on the favors since that'd be the thing going home with all her friends.   So here are my Anna/Elsa flip dolls:

Anna / Elsa flip doll

Anna / Elsa Flip Doll

 

This was the most enjoyable birthday party for me.  I literally had no stress and I got to enjoy celebrating with my kiddos!   London and the 5 other girls that joined her also had so much fun watching the movie and dancing outside the theaters... and inside the theaters... I apologize to anyone who may have been in our theater and had a live musical performance from 6 preschoolers! 

One thing I would have done differently (courtesy of my sister's creativity):  Purchase a bag of the "fun sized" m&ms and then make and attach little tags that said, "London is celebrating her 5th birthday.  We apologize in advance for any extra noise.  Enjoy your movie and a little treat from London!"  then pass out the m&ms to the movie theater goers who were in the same theater as us in the seats surrounding us.