GIVEAWAY! YEAH!!!

We have some followers!!!

We are so excited! Seeing that I am making a post directly involved with following this blog...
SO we are going to be doing our very first giveaway! I know, I know it's hard to tell what we have when we haven't posted any pictures or details about the items. But we are going to let YOU the winner choose 1 of 2 different items. You could win a Custom knitted hat - for any size person (baby, child, adult) I think I will do the basic but let you choose the color, if you want flowers, pom-pom, tassel or ribbon on it. OR you could win a Poetic Image...custom or one that we will post.
The deal is we have to have 50 followers before we do our giveaway. IF you refer someone make sure they leave a comment on THIS post. You ask why...that means that you get your name into the hat for EVERYONE you refer!

So here is a recap...

~WE need 50 followers before we do the giveaway.
~If you are a follower you get an entry for the giveaway. If your not a follower BECOME one.
~If you refer someone and THEY remember to post a comment YOU get an extra entry.
~If you make a purchase BEFORE hand then YOU get an extra entry. (Of course you will take notice that you see nothing up YET...but don't worry day by day something will get added or if you have something in mind that you would like we might be able to work it out...just e-mail and we shall see)
Hopefully this makes sense...sorry we cannot ship internationally at this moment but if you reside in the United States of America then we will.

True Beauty - by Rick Rapp

True Beauty
© 2006 by Rick Rapp

I hear her say acceptable things
about herself, at least things the world
in all its stereotypical ways finds
acceptable to say about yourself as a
young woman...but when I look
deeper I see the happiness she feels
with herself, her current self, the
beautiful and intelligent woman that
she knows she is, yet pressured
deeply by the world to conform
to standards outside of God’s definition.
Why do we do this to her? She is
amazing! She knows it! But we
do not let her express it, live it.
Be free young woman!
Be the beauty, the strength that you are!

Young Woman Seeking - by Rick Rapp

Young Woman Seeking

© 2006 Rick Rapp

A young woman walks along
a path through meadows and
trees speaking to her in images
and voices that are her life,
her friends, her loved ones.

Onward she walks towards independence
that is not so independent from the God
who guides her, nor the love for
and from the man who is waiting
around a bend not too far ahead.

Despite her hope, her confident pace,
one notices in her a longing for
a certain companion who is familiar
with this path so unfamiliar to her,
this path wide enough for two.

For as this young woman presses on
towards a faithful, spiritual, and romantic
future...husband...home...and children
she longs for her mother to be
by her side, loving her, listening to her.

She longs for the intimacy of a mother
who recognizes the woman her daughter
has become, and cherishes the time
spent together in friendship unique
to the mother and daughter bond.

The young woman prays as she walks
and the familiar voices around her
echo her words...”Oh Father, please
give this woman the mother she needs,
and the patience for your will, your time!”

And tears of frustration give way to those
of peace as a God-given smile crosses
her face...

Haight & Ashbury Revisited - by Rick Rapp

Haight and Ashbury Revisited

© 2005 Rick Rapp

Riding the 7 to Haight and Ashbury
with lost and silent souls,
neglecting themselves, neglecting their
desperate search for themselves
in the multi-faceted reflections
of their crystals and cannibas dreams.

Ozfest and earth energy are
sterile topics of a one-sided discussion
from a lost sheep to one that’s been
devoured by conceptual wolves time and again,
and bleeds indifferent confusion
into the storm drains of Haight and Ashbury.

A revolution was born here
that indeed changed the world
yet, here too it dies behind
the listless faces that smile
without joy. Ideals of inabsolute
truth crushed by separation from
the absolute truth of Love...
the Love that formed truth.

Rain, Wind, Soul - by Rick Rapp

Rain, Wind, Soul

© 2009 Rick Rapp

-A response to Acts 27:22 (used as a sermon illustration) – “But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.”

Gentle winds
give way to harsh gusts
and dark clouds
block the sun
as rain begins to fall
on the shell of one’s existence.

The storm alters
the plans of men,
alters my plans
of peaceful sunsets
and green grass naps
as the wind rips through
my protective shell.

The hurricane rages
pushing our ship, our shell
against its limits, its rocks
and we cry out for the smooth waters
that we think our God promised…
cry out for healing, for provision, for rescue
without seeking
to understand the storm.

But when we pause
as rain pelts our face
and dissolves what remains of the shell
maybe we can just make out a voice
in the wind
calling to our spirit
seeking out our courage
seeking out our humility
seeking out our soul’s reality.

And when the clouds clear
the sun shines brilliantly
on the decimated shell,
the decimated lifestyle,
in pieces on the ground
surrounding a beautiful joy, a profound wisdom
emanating from
our storm-washed hearts,
our storm-taught mind,
our God-cleansed eyes.

Personalized Poetry

One of the great joys I've found in writing poetry and short stories is to help others with putting thoughts and images into a written word. If you would like a piece of poetry or a short story written for yourself, a loved one, or any other special recipient I would be happy to work with you. In the past I have written pieces based off of a certain thought, picture, bible verse, or sermon topic. At the bottom of this post I've included links to some writing samples for you to look over. So here's the basics:

1 page Personalized Poem = $15.00

Personalized Poem imposed on purchaser's image = $20.00

Personalized Poem imposed on Crafted Together's image = $25.00

Personalized Short Story (up to 1000 words) = $25.00

Agreement to not copy, distribute, or publish the writing without the signed, written consent of the author.

Purchase price paid up-front with 2 revisions included.

Revisions based on feedback of purchaser.

To order a personalized poem or short story, or to ask any questions please email me at rwrapp@dmu.edu with your questions or the details of what you would like written along with a deadline of when you need it completed. I will reply with initial thoughts and payment instructions. Once I take on the project I promise to complete the piece with enough time to allow for revisions. Now here's some samples I hope you enjoy!

A piece entitled 'True Beauty' written for a friend struggling with self-image.

A piece entitled 'Young Woman Seeking' written for a friend wanting to reconcile with her mother before her wedding.

'Haight & Ashbury Revisited' written based on an experience riding a cable car with some truly unique individuals in the district of San Francisco where the Hippie movement was born.

'Rain, Wind, Soul' written at a pastor's request to serve as a sermon illustration for Acts 27:22.

Visions of God - Rick's 2005 book of poetry

Back in 2004 I went through the difficult experience of divorce from my first wife. I was confronted with the mistakes that I made maritally, spiritually, and internally. During this time I returned to writing poetry, an outlet that was given up during the first marriage. At the encouragement of friends I compiled the pieces into a book of poetry entitled, 'Visions of God; Expressions of a Modern Prodigal'. The thoughts shared in this book are relevant to any person, male or female going through some life challenges, but especially for men struggling with divorce or marital challenges. Sections focus on the feeling of brokenness, healing, maturing, & reconnecting with God, and regaining the ability to love and trust in women.

'Visions of God' is available online for $14.95 through the publisher's website, as well as amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. We recommend using the publisher's website to purchase this book:

http://www.publishamerica.net/product8834.html.

Thank you so much for considering purchasing this book! It is our sincere hope and prayer that you can find the message, comfort, and healing God has for you in the book, or even just the words you weren't able to find to express what was on your heart. God Bless!
~ Rick

GIVEAWAY! YEAH!!!

We have a follower!!!

We are so excited! Seeing that I am making a post directly involved with following this blog...
SO we are going to be doing our very first giveaway! I know, I know it's hard to tell what we have when we haven't posted any pictures or details about the items. But we are going to let YOU the winner choose 1 of 2 different items. You could win a Custom knitted hat - for any size person (baby, child, adult) I think I will do the basic but let you choose the color, if you want flowers, pom-pom, tassel or ribbon on it. OR you could win a Poetic Image...custom or one that we will post.
The deal is we have to have 50 followers before we do our giveaway. IF you refer someone make sure they leave a comment on THIS post. You ask why...that means that you get your name into the hat for EVERYONE you refer!

So here is a recap...

~WE need 50 followers before we do the giveaway.
~If you are a follower you get an entry for the giveaway. If your not a follower BECOME one.
~If you refer someone and THEY remember to post a comment YOU get an extra entry.
~If you make a purchase BEFORE hand then YOU get an extra entry. (Of course you will take notice that you see nothing up YET...but don't worry day by day something will get added or if you have something in mind that you would like we might be able to work it out...just e-mail and we shall see)
Hopefully this makes sense...sorry we cannot ship internationally at this moment but if you reside in the United States of America then we will.

And so it begins...

Crafted Together...that is.

Over 4 years ago Rick & I were matched on this site . (Just a plug for how great it is...if you are single and ready to meet that person and the people that you know are just not that person TRY it!) We were matched because of our strengths and weaknesses that we had. It has truly been a wild yet fun ride. Since we have gotten married; Rick has graduated with his undergrad & got into Des Moines University, I have moved more times then I care to admit to and together we have a wonderful 16 month old (by the time I am done with this post he will be that old).
We decided that we really wanted people to have a way to get unique items for yourself or to give as gifts. In the next little bit you will see multiple post with pictures about what kind of things we will be selling.
For instance...I was Created to Create. I love to Create different things...such as knitting (hats, bags, mittens, little flowers, baby blankets, etc.) looking through a camera lens (meaning I love to take pictures...nature, people, animals, etc.) paper (making cards) fabric (doing ribbon boards for photos & notes) & I dabble in some other various crafts...
Rick (when he is not being an excellent husband, father, medical student, etc) he writes poetry from different inspirations (such as from photos, from people, from a Bible verse, etc.) Let's just say that when we were not yet married...I got TONS of different poems and such. He also dabbles in photography.
We like to combine our handiwork and do something we call Poetic Images...where we take a poem of Rick's and Rick places it on a photo that I have taken. It is GREAT!
So this is our new project, in the next little bit of time (maybe days) you will see new post with pictures of the items (please do not reuse the item unless you have permission), we also love to do custom work...meaning a specific colorway (for knitting, ribbon boards, etc.) Poetry writings or Poetic Images. (Also if you are local and you would like to do a photography session we could arrange that as well.) Please contact us via e-mail (photoktrapp@gmail.com) or leaving us a comment with a way to get back to you.

Thanks so much!
Katrina