make something monday :: project fail

Yes it's true friends, fail.

And that is so how I have been feeling the past few days too so it shouldn't have come as a surprise to me that my attempt at crafting this week was going to end in a disastrous mess.
It was most likely during one of our middle of the night deliriums that I came up with the idea to take one of Mr. Gough's ugly white tank tops and snip it apart into some gorgeous redone frock to impress you with. Yes, I am most certain now that it was in the middle of the night, in between me using some naughty words while listening to our four month old struggle, again. I blame it on sleep deprivation - but that is what I had planned to do.

And so it was yesterday morning that I set out to spend about thirty minutes of precious alone time to come up with a project to share with you. The old under t-shirt in hand, down to my studio I escaped.

I did snip and sew and even added a cute little doily and buttons to the tank top, but the fact of the matter was that this little frock was originally a Calvin Klein size large white under shirt and the finish piece basically looks like a boat neck tunic for a full sized man. It's HUGE..so sad.

Just about the time I realized that my project was a fail Josie started screaming again. I had used up my precious moments and now the harsh reality of my life at the moment was there reminding me that I had other things to do and needed to leave it and get back to work. Every ounce of deep perfectionism inside of me begged me to come up with a new craft for today's feature. My mind was racing with other projects to throw together - and then it hit me. The Lord spoke to my heart, this failed shirt was a much needed reminder of the real reason behind why I create.

When Chris asked me what I was going to share today with you I told him about the craft I had come up with and how it had turned into a disastrous mess. He laughed and said that I needed to tell you all about it instead of making something different. Then he offered to try on the shirt. We laughed - hard. I considered showing you a photo but used my better judgment. But you're lucky because like I said I haven't slept much.

I have been asked repeatedly about how I manage to find the time to be crafty and blog about my little world with three kids at home, a new baby and all. It is a hard question to answer but I will do my best. The reason I find the time is because it is so desperately important to me. To be able to maintain some amount of me in my life is so critical during this hazy season of sleepless nights and busy days.

Right now if you were to come over to my house I bet you would be shocked at how messy it is. My boys spent the night with Nana and Papa over the weekend and I literally had no clean jammies OR clean pants to send with. Like fifteen loads of laundry need to be done here folks. Today I took my first shower in five days and my baby cried the entire time. I served oatmeal for dinner one night last week in my sweats. It was not hot but Mr. Gough made berry smoothies to go with which was pretty hot to me. My four year old has nightmares and doesn't sleep, my four month old projectile vomits 30 times a day, no exaggeration because I have to count...Chris and I argue, we're tired and dirty, we have no clue how we will make ends meet. My life has the potential of strangling me to death. You can relate?

This is why I so desperately need to create. I want to show up for my life each day and seek out the beauty that is there even if it is hiding it is always there. If I hide it away and wait for the perfect time or place to pour my heart and soul into making things even if it is only five minutes a day then I will miss out on all that God has for me right now. But let's get something straight no one is perfect especially not me. All I am good for is showing up and hoping that amidst the chaos and exhaustion I will also find an outlet to maintain a deep passion for crafting.


So this is a picture of the shirt I made. Hidden underneath a favorite sweater and belt it doesn't look all that bad I guess (the tricky art of making things look good in a photo). It reminds me that make something monday doesn't always have to mean a glossy perfect picture of how to whip up something fabulous on a dime.

It means making something with all that you are, whatever you have to give bring that. Show up and experiment, play around with the crazy idea swirling in your head. No pressure just some time for yourself. Make a cup of tea and put it in your favorite pretty cup. Put on some earrings and make yourself feel beautiful because you are. Make yourself lunch today not just the scraps leftover on your kids plates. Print out some photos that you took and make a display for others to see them. Make time for yourself, even if it is only thirty minutes and it doesn't turn out just the way you planned make some time to do something that fills you up. 

The truth of the matter is while I was making my recycled amazingly fabulous doily man frock I was in absolute heaven and no amount of failed projects can ever take away the feeling of satisfaction that comes from attempting to make something more from what I have been given.

So it is Monday friends lets make it good.

21 comments:

  1. This is the best post. ever. Thank you for being so real...it is a powerful, hopeful reminder to me. No matter what season of life we are in there are so many things that threaten to suck our joy and hope. All weekend I have felt this thought echoing through my mind: choose life or choose death. We have so many choices each day and this was such a wonderful post about choosing life. Love you!

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  2. Rebekah...this post was beautiful. It's such a awful feeling when everything seems to be coming apart at the seams (sewing pun intended)- know you are loved, prayed for and a blessing to all of your friends and family.

    PS- I'm pregnant & HUGE and could totally rock your style tank top...you may have inspired me to make one for W's party (as long as I get everything in this house bleached first) while my parents are here to help watch him :)

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  3. Phew. Thanks for sharing this Rebekah! I was wondering how you always managed to come up with a craft every week with THREE kids and a house when I can't seem to do anything crafty with just ONE! :) I so appreciate your honesty--we've all been there as mamas! It's taken 18 months but I think I am finally just learning the importance (necessity!!!) of having some time along, just me, doing something I love. I'm a much better mother, wife and friend for it! Thanks again for sharing!

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  4. I love you and your heart, rebekah. Such powerful words here, sister. I am so proud of you, on many levels! And i am so happy that chris encouraged you to write this post. As your sister-in-law, people have also asked me how you "do it all" and especially how you make time for creating and crafts. I always tell them that creating feeds your soul. It is something you must do! You have written such an eloquent and moving response to that question, and I hope you might include a link to this post somewhere on your blog, on your sidebar or bio page, because I think all of your readers will be encouraged by your ongoing commitment to choose life, as Claire wrote, and by your desire to keep things real! You are revealing Christ in you as you share your journey with such brave transparency. Thank you for all the ways you encourage me in my own journey as a mama, wife, artist, and child of God. xoxo

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  5. this might just be my favorite "make something monday"!

    I echo what the ladies above said, since they said it so well.

    love you.

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  6. I really loved this post Rebekah....thank you for bringing a smile to my face after a very long and hard weekend with a sick family. :)

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  7. I guess this is why God didn't first inspire you to call it Make Something Perfect Monday. I think its quite cute especially under a gray sweater. Its about the journey and I think we all need that reminder.

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  8. I was extremely blessed by this post...one of those days! Thank you for your vulnerability and honesty in the moment...I was challenged and nearly brought to tears. I am so fearful of failure some days...but true freedom is being spirit led and not taking life too seriously! Lots of love!

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  9. Love THIS post and ditto what all others have said above! Thank you for sharing your life and allowing us to laugh and smile along with you!

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  10. thank you for sharing! oh my goodness, i can soooo relate. in fact i just read your post aloud to zach because i was telling him how familiar it all sounded.....! such crazy, full days these days....i too feel like i must create to keep my sanity in the midst of all the chaos and i love showing up to your blog and being inspired so thank you! i know it is not easy but i appreciate you sharing where you are at and continuing to share your talent with us in the midst of a hard season. i think we should hang out one of these days....:)

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  11. Oh sweet Rebecca! You have no idea how much this post means to me and how many times I smiled and nodded while reading it. As s-a-h-m's we must find creative, beautiful moments, just for us, carved out to feed our souls and help us make it through the hard days. Hang in there. Your sweet Josie will get so much easier and you will be rested again someday, promise. In the meantime, thank you so much for keeping it real here and encouraging us all with your beauty, creativity and honesty! I love Kristen's suggestion of somehow making this a permanent fixture on your blog. Your honesty makes you all the more inspiring.

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  12. As everyone else said, I really appreciate your honesty and perspective on you life! And, I know I don't have much info to go on, so forgive me if I'm way off base, but have you seen a dr. about Josie possibly having acid reflux? My daughter had it and after trying two different meds, we found one that made a HUGE difference.

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  13. Thank you for the dose of reality! Sometimes I see projects on people's blogs and think they are all supercrafters all the time. I recently signed up for a sewing class at a local fabric store. It was billed as a beginner's class, and we were making super cute Amy Butler skirts. I got there, gorgeous fabric in hand, visions of myself in the soon-to-be skirt running through my head. And by the end of the class my project was a mess and I was in tears. I'm sorry, but anything with a zipper is not a beginner's project. So frustrating. Glad to know I'm not alone!

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  14. I just read your post, thank you so much for sharing. I agree that to keep sane we have to search our days for the beauty so we don't miss it in the messiness.
    Life IS busy and messy but it is also beautiful and full - even when it's hard. Praying for peace and sleep for you xx

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  15. Hi. My name is Maurietta and I am a friend of Bryna's. Your post touched me deeply. Thank you so much. The craziness of life in our home, with a 3 year old and 10 month old, has driven me to the point of not inviting anyone into our home, cos it is just sooooo chaotic. I'm isolating myself and my kids and all I want to do each day is get out of the house cos it just doesn't feel peaceful. 30 mins out! I'm gonna start practicing that starting today! Create! Maurietta Stewart

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  16. I LOVE what Chrissy said- life is busy and messy but it is also beautiful and full!! Amen to that! Who needs perfection when you have the gift of love and life and family and breath? =) loved this post the most out of everything I've ever read from you!! Thank you so very much!

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  17. This made me smile - we could be neighbors! I have three girls 4 and under, but still make time to be crafty... Honesty is always so refreshing, so thank you.

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  18. I read this and almost cried. I can SO relate to sleepless nights, no showers and failed crafts. I also love that you shared snippets about your marriage. I used to go to your church (when I was in college) and a good friend who still attends showed me your blog... I am totally a fan. Thank you for your heart and for sharing.

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  19. Hey Rebekah! I loved this post!!! It was just what I needed to hear!!! Thank you for sharing and I couldn't agree more to everything you said...keep crafting and writing sister!!!:) Oh...and hope you get some sleep soon! I'll be praying for you...probably sometime around 1am, 3:30am and 5am!!!:)

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  20. I just came upon your blog and am blown away. this post ministered directly to my core today and I'm so grateful that you posted it-albeit nearly two years ago! In fact, I just read this to my husband right now...and cried my eyes out-especially when it came to the tea part. We just moved to Ireland a month ago and have not had our own place since march of last year; right now we are living with my brother and his wife-AND our three kids. it's a tough season, but your post was a great reminder for me and I can relate in more ways than you could imagine with what you've written here. Thank you for being so honest and setting your heart beautifully on a platter for all of us to see. Be blessed today-I'll be following your blog from here on out! (I'm not one for following blogs, but I feel that we would be great friends if I lived in Seattle, so here I am, in Ireland enjoying what you have to say and share.) thank you!

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