Friday, September 26, 2014

Chicken Wire Memo Board

On September 8, the crapiversary of Jack's death, Tim and I were both feeling weepy.

We tried to work a little bit from home and ended up grabbing a sandwich at Potbelly.

I asked him if he could help me with a quick project that I just hadn't gotten around to. We took a huge (32"x40") empty thrift store frame ($1.50) and attached chicken wire from Home Depot to the back with a staple gun. It was so nice to have two people to hold the wire down so that it wouldn't spring up and attack. That stuff freaks me out a little. The whole process took about 10 minutes!

I'd painted the frame in the spring using CeCe Caldwell's chalk paint in Seattle Mist. Using tiny clothes pins, I hooked photos and mementos on the board. It hangs in the kitchen where our much smaller bulletin board used to be.














 

 So easy, and I love having these sweet faces looking at me!

25 comments:

  1. I love it!!!!!

    I am not crafty at all and really admire those who are!

    HUGS!!!

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  2. I don't know whether I am more impressed by the project itself or by the fact that you and Tim could work on it TOGETHER. That wouldn't have ended well at my house.

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  3. I just finished your book. As I read, my husband asked why I kept closing the book and stopping. He asked if it was a bad read. I said that it was just the opposite, it was a great read but a hard one. I guess A part of me wished for a different story even though I knew what was coming. I'm so sorry for your loss, your strength to share though will be a blessing to many (including myself). Thank you.

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  4. Even a non-crafty person like me is drawn to this project...thanks for sharing!

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  5. I too am impressed by the teamwork. And wow, I remember that photo of Jack with his long wavy locks--the one in the baseball cap. What a cutie. After finishing your book this morning, he and Margaret (Jake and Molly!) and you are all very much on my minds. Thanks for sharing a peek of your family, home and good project.

    love,
    jbhat

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  6. I love it and may have to try to make one myself. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  7. I love it and may have to try to make one myself. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  8. This is a brilliant idea! And those sweet faces are beautiful!

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  9. This is a great craft - I could probably even do this!

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  10. I loved looking at the sweet faces too. I was wondering what the chicken wire was for, as I thought the green wall was actually the backing. But I saw how it worked in the closeup shots. What a great idea!

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  11. It's a lovely bulletin board! ...and I just finished "Rare Bird" this weekend...it's a sad and yet terrific read. Thank you for sharing Jack's sweet life with all of us and making us realize how precious and tenuous life is. My thoughts and prayers will be with you, Margaret and Tim forever.

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  12. Love that idea. It turned out beautiful with those little faces looking back at you.

    I've been "in the weeds" making two jewelry holders that involve a stick and 6 nails each. No paint. Maybe twelve minutes, total? And yet.

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  13. I love it! I also just finished 'Rare Bird' last week. Terrific writing. The first night I was crying so hard and guess what was outside my kitchen window the next morning---the Blue Jay...and a cardinal. It has been a long time since I've seen the Blue Jay and he was back with a friend the following day. I always think of your son when I see them and I swear they show up whenever I'm feeling particularly down or worried.

    Best of luck, NoVa Mom Jen

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  14. I read your book this week and haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I'm so sorry for your loss. I recommended it on my blog today and I hope many people will read your story and be impacted by it. Thank you for sharing your experiences and testimony.

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  15. You've done the impossible! You've made the most un-crafty, un-creative person in the world want to take on a craft project! If there's a way to make this seemingly easy project a Pinterest fail, you can be sure I'll do it. Wish me luck!

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  16. There are truly no end to your talents :)

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  17. Looks really good! I would love seeing my family and friends looking back at me too! It looks easy to change up the photos too - when new ones come along!

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  18. I was in the depth of a very deep despair today (not related to the loss of a person to death but it's amazing how bad it can get even without that -- I tremble to think how much worse despair can get when a very dear one is lost) -- but I turned to your blog briefly and the first thing I notice is "Be still and know that I am God." Just for a moment, a small cup of relief washed over me. So thank you. I think that is my absolute favorite verse in the whole Bible. It exquisitely simple -- it is stripped bare of all "extra" language. And it offers no explanations. There is only god. There is nothing else.

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  19. I love it! I have something similar that I bought from Martha Stewart years ago. It's not framed but it is on the wall above my desk loaded with family photos.

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