Throbbing. Even after taking my shoes off a half hour ago.
It all began about a month ago, with a simple block of wood. The idea really had been churning around in my head long before that, dancing with my love of elephants. A few years before, a doe resting with a fawn accompanied by a moose overlooking them was the last design the Lord gave me favor to complete.
I mapped out the body of the pachyderm, staying within my boundaries. I cut out the boxes of the paper map and glued it to the rectangular block of wood. Facing my fears, I stood before the scroll saw (after I was given a brief lesson, and practiced with a trial piece) and flipped the switch. “RWAWR!” Its teeth swished up and down. I felt my shoulders begin to stiffen, my breaths shorten, and I blinked more as I tried to focus on the line I needed to follow. The block rumbled at times between my hands, but I only needed to press down firmly to guide it, making sure my fingers remained far from the path of the teeth.
From there, I had fun with a dremel tool, carving out where I would have the feet and the trunk and so forth. Two inch and a half inch closet rods made up the ears and the hip of the elephant. This was an amazing idea…but I lost “sight” of the elephant. I fell into a funk. During the work day at our church dear friends would pass me, making eye contact, pats on the shoulder, passing little bits of wisdom, which kept me going. My hubby even introduced me to wood puddy 🙂
Then came the day right before the race. I had so many plans of staining and wood burning….yet, it wasn’t going to happen. I just didn’t see the stain working the way I thought it would as I studied it. So, I my friends showed me how to spray paint for the first time….. (I don’t remember when the last time I did) 😉 It looked OK…….however….I sat and studied how I wanted my car to look. Then lots of cutting and taping. And taping. Even MORE taping. Then spraying….shwish….shwish….a sweeping motion, is what it’s supposed to be. However, I was leaving a bunch of puddles.
After much waiting and greasing my wheels with dry powder, sanding the axles, the un-taping revealed……….sigh – it was, pretty. Yet, it needed….help. So, with my sticky pink paint fingers, I sat and studied and thought. A quick trip to the craft closet helped me complete the look.
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, For I am with you.” Is the Bible verse I have to remember every moment of every day…not because I live in fear…but because too often I hide from the things that will bring me strength.
If you would like more information on participating in making a Derby Car, you may contact me at 2L2phant@midco.net
What do you think of Rasp-berry?
March 15, 2014
2l2phant
2l2phant 