Sunday, March 24, 2013

Courage Craft Night's

 
Hot glue, scissors, and paint are not the typical ingredients one would think of when asked to plan a romantic weekend with their significant other. Surprisingly that is exactly what the artist ordered for Ross and myself this weekend. A little creative therapy!  Ross is a budding artist dabbling in wood burning, painting, and drawing. He is doing amazing work I will add; check it out and let us know what you think via comment. I myself am an avid 'crafter,' who enjoys scrap booking, creating abstract art, and custom stationary.  


Art projects have always been an outlet for Ross and I to cultivate our 'couple energy'. Since we took control of our lives when Ross quit his job, I graduated college, and we eloped Courage Craft Night has become one of our favorite hobbies together! We must not over look the 'newlywed' phase that is already at work on our couple chemistry, but add to that our new found free time and anyone can see how a once a week activity has turned into a family tradition. One that will be frequently featured in our blog during our travels; which is precisely why I wanted to get you excited by showing you some of our creations.

One of our first couple creations together most defiantly took a lot of work and its beauty is experienced seasonally. When it comes alive in the spring and summer so do the smiles of mom and dad Courage because the garden was a present to Renee for mother's day 2012.   

Another work of art that had multiple hands involved started as a patch of wild bamboo that grows  in my father's back yard in Hendersonville, NC. I suggested that my father make something out of the bamboo because people pay good money for such fancy things. If we only knew what we were getting into. For those of you who do not know, bamboo is not very strong, it is hollow, you must let it cure for at least 6 months before using it as building material, and bugs like to live in and eat it.

Unfortunately, we did not have all of that precursor information. The first attempt was a head board my father crafted and did so nicely, while I was away at college. There was only one problem, it was infested with bugs........... After attaching it to our bed Ross began complaining about hearing odd, almost non existent sounds during the night; while I was fast asleep. The complaints went on for about a week. Finally, we took the head board outside, only to find the bamboo shoots full of teeny tiny black bugs! With a few nest like structures!!!YIKES! Needless to say the head board stayed outside after that event, wrapped in plastic wrap until we figured out how to fix it.  

The final product was the purest definition of a 'labor of love' I have ever experienced!Between you and me, the completion of the head board, in some little way, assured me that Ross is 'the one' because he took on this task, with no hesitation and had no complaints when it took an entire weekend. He was so proud to show me the ways in which he carefully took apart the old structure, cleaned, treated, sanded, and stained the bamboo and put it back together. This work of art is still on display in our room today.                                              Below are a few examples of recent art work of ours. Hopefully we have inspired you to go get creative in whatever fashion you deem necessary! Let life be your medium and get messy in the process.     

Wax Drippings

                  
                     Wax Drippings
Wood Burning
Rocket Inspired Diaper Cake




Painted Mural (work in progress)


Saturday, March 23, 2013

Adventures Prior to the 10 Day Count Down



As I sit here to write the first entry in our blog, suddenly my hands clam up and begin to perspire, my heart begins to race a little! I'm excited, I'm nervous, but it is subtle in these last 10 days before we leave the states. I wonder if it will rise like the waves in the ocean as the tide does as our departure nears. Until then...

All the wheels are in motion as they say! We successfully sold 90% of our material possessions between Mrs. Courage's Boutique Sale held in the front room of our house and a garage sale we put together in Black Mountain, North Carolina. We made roughly enough to buy one of our plane tickets to Spain, which cost $618. A lot of work but I would say that is a win for the Courage's! Thank you so much Mom and Dad Courage for your generous contribution to our trip with the proceeds from the yard sale! As well as those fine ladies who supported with their purchases at the boutique sale! You girls are the best!

My last day of work at Whiskey Warehouse, in Charlotte, NC was March 21, 2013. I'm going to miss all of you! Hold down the place while I'm away.         

Family is an amazing thing because you never know when someone will surprise you. For instance, My Aunt Maria and Uncle Ralph own property in Calpe. They have humbled Ross and I with permission to stay in their apartment, they have shared their secrets of the local cuisine, shopping and places to sight see. We hope to see you both in Calpe! I owe special thanks to my mother for the of searching for a family heirloom throughout our journey. Also to my Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Bill Campbell, Ricky and Mona Johnson, Josh Courage, Sarah Dilliuo, Abbey Warnsing, for the extra travel funds, and to everyone who sends their love and support.
Next is finalizing our packing lists and tying up the loose strings required before leaving for our journey because we leave April 2, 2013. Do you think we are crazy? Or not? Either way stay tuned because we can only go up from here!