DIY Project: Dream Catcher

The big project I spent my Saturday working on was....

A dream catcher!

I've been wanting to make one for forever, so I'm happy I finally took the time to complete it and I'm really beyond thrilled with how it turned out.

I've always been very interested in the whole dream catcher theory, so before I share with you my creation, let me give you a bit of background information.

The legend itself comes from Ojibwa elders.  The belief is that dreams travel around before choosing which person to inhibit at night.  They created dream catchers so that the webbing will prevent bad dreams from harming our sleep.  The good dreams travel through the personal beads and feathers that the creator picks out, whereas the bad dreams get tangled in the web.  

I love how the Ojibwa created catchers out of willow to hang over the children's beds.  When the willow dried out and broke, it meant the child had grown up.  

I've always been interested in dreams and decoding what our dreams mean.   I love how dreams take us to another place at night.  It's like we are each writing our own little story, or fantasy world.  It's our second lives, lives which only come out when we are all asleep.  It's here where we do everything we might not be able to do during the day.

I one hundred percent believe that our dreams take on a life of it's own when we are in a sweet slumber.  I also believe our own emotions have more power over us sometimes, and our own karma and everything related to our outside beliefs has the power to take over our dreams.  When we are unbalanced and something is wrong in our psychological mind, we have nightmares.  

I like to think the dream catchers work just a little bit at giving us a calmer night's sleep.  And even if they don't, they sure do look pretty hanging over our bed's, don't they :)

I followed the DIY from this site, and just picked up my own materials from the local craft store near my house.  It was pretty simple to make, and I loved how I could pretty much add anything I wanted to it.  I allowed me to get some creative expression out, for sure.

I chose natural looking feathers and some gorgeous red and blue beads for mine.  I'm already thinking for all the different dream catchers I can make... maybe one with fabric or a necklace one?  How cool would mini ones be for decoration on a wrapped gift?  Ah, the possibilities are endless!

If you decide to make one, let me know!  I'd love to see how yours turns out :)

oh, and Happy March!  

Have a great night everyone! xo

Photograph Wall

i'm in love with taking photographs.

to me, photos can remind you of the amazing places you've been to, people you've met, and the person you've become.

i take one of my cameras EVERYWHERE with me.

you never know when there will be an opportunity to take a picture.

last night, in honor of the friends who are a part of my life and things i've done, i made a 2009 photo heart inspired by these photos:

source  via elsie's blog

with these in mind, i created this:

looking through the photos was a great way to remind myself of the good times i had last year (it feels weird saying that!)

then this morning, while going through some of the scenic shots i've taken, i had an idea.

i've always wanted to hang the gorgeous photos i've taken from places like costa rica and hawaii, i just never knew how to do it.

i didn't want to do the average framed thing so i came up with something else.

and i LOVE the way it came out!!

Both projects were super easy.

For the heart I selected the photos I wanted to use, printed them out in different sizes on photo paper, and taped them together in the shape of a heart. I hung it from the molding on my wall using clear jewelry string.

For the photo wall, i printed all the photos out with the same border on photo paper, and taped the backs to clear jewelry string. I hung it from the molding.

one day, I would love love love to have an etsy shop including some of the photographs i've taken. i love them!

:) xoxo have a great night!


p.s. i promise the music will change soon. i know you're all probably tired of the xmas music and i'll change it in the next couple of days when i get around to it! promise :)