FUN DAY FUN STUFF....

"A" was for their last name, and "G" was her maiden name....wish I had pics of each letter with all the different children....maybe later! This was a joy to do for them!!! A picture for the author page.... An old page piece from a book.. AND now the fun day with a grand daughter!! The old fifties case was a dirty blue color and we got to work to make it something new!! The first pictures are of a small "ABC" book I made for a special new baby in our circle of friends! There was a "tree letter" for each letter with different pictures of children or a horse etc painted on them....then a blank page opposite for the new parents to add their story each day....the cover paper was a manipulated antique page from an old book....and inside a little collage from another antique book....I used my "Zutter" for the first time to cut the pages and align them....can't wait to do more personalized little books with my art!! THEN here is a series of an afternoon project with my grand daughter before she moved. She needed a bag for hair stuff etc....so we went to the garage and found this old makeup suitcase from the fifties and we mixed a color of purple she so desired and we printed, quickly, some photos and began to arrange it the way she wanted....It was all HER design and with her favorite Kitty, Sunny! ....and all her cousins, grandparents and family! Her favorite things this year while living next door were the birthday parties, cooking, spending time with family, friends and the cat!! So here is her finished suitcase!!! It was another "special day" to remember for us two!! My first grand child!!! Enjoy doing something with one of your family or a friend today!!! Blessings to you!!! sherry

DWELL IN YOUR HOUSE....

I have started the downsizing process of going through things to eventually move to our "new spot in life" ....and I found this older spontaneously done piece I did in Mystele's class. I LOVE what it says..."Stay awhile ..... find the music of your heart .... find your gift ...... arise to the occasion ..... Dwell in your house(in yourself) .... it's yours!" I see the car with it's bags packed and stacked on top ..... basically, life is a fast trip, with us always searching ..... then I see the eyes are like windows .... to your own house so to speak .... then I see .... the arrow pointing to the Cross ..... once there, you will find your heart, no matter where you are .... and HE will never fail you or forsake you!! I may print this bigger .... to remind me of HIS never ending love, care and promise!! Have a GREAT week .... Blessings!!!! sherry .... we close on our next house the 11th ....and it won't be our last ....I may do a before and after series over the year of moving and change .....keep watch!!! The creative processes "hopefully" never cease!!

"ABIDE IN ME"

Melissa and our Carrie.... Our daughter-in-law is beautiful, even when she sticks out her tongue!..... Karen (Janel and Carrie's Mom)....where were you when I needed you!? Corie and Janel..... happy faces..... Grace seriously looking for the right scriptures.... Amy's hands working her artistic talent ...... Amy 's end result of going a step further with her bird's nest ....... These look like bees!!..... Now the "LOVELY" results of each one........plus the first one at the top! Janel, Melissa and Amy with their necklaces...... Corie, Grace and Carrie with their creations...... These cloth pouches for their necklace charm were made with ideas I gleaned from Deryn, and other artists I have gleaned from on the super creative blogs I find.... and in books........ The bird's I purchased from a collage artist recently .... sorry I can't remember each person I have gleaned from..... I'll try to add them.... but all you have to do is go to Deryn's blog and start clicking on the blogs that she recommends.... beautiful blogs to inspire your creativity ... I got a piece of jewelry from Deryn in one of her sewn pouches.... which gave me the idea....of adding sparkles and the netting..... Just Wal Mart fabrics, twigs from my peach tree, purchased birds and nest paper, brite cut felt pieces (vintage from Great Grandma's bag) and the little piece of crochet..... then I printed and added a scripture I picked for the girls..... because they are so valued by the Lord .... and lastly a ribbon with brite felt sewn on the ends for a little punch. These were fun, fun...... my grand- daughter, Olivia and daughter, Kellie helped me design them while she was here from out of state...... my other JOYS!! We had the pleasure of hosting a small retreat group of young women this last week. They are the Bible Study group of my my awesome daughter-in-law, Carrie, the beautiful one with her tongue sticking out ..... a joy! They had personal study, prayer time, great food and some fun time as well!! My email friend Deryn Mentock gave me the "blessing" of letting us use the tutorial I bought from her of the "bird nest charm" to do with the group of girls, so here are the photos, Deryn .... Thank You!!! They each picked their "nest eggs" .... and then after twisting the wire and adding beads they searched for the scripture or words they wanted to add to the leaves ....each one with their own "heart reasons". As I photographed each one, I came across one that said "Abide in Me" ...... and I thought about what a bright future this country, their children and friends have because of "THEM ABIDING IN GOD'S LOVE". Just to watch their faces and experience their faithfulness to a God that will never fail them. They think and prepare their lives with "Eternal Purposes" and results that can't help but make a Nation have Hope for the Future ...... Wow,..... we know they have not had the perfect life without great hurts or disappointments, but we see where they have turned ...... to direct their lives and in whose hands.....they put it all..... the Living Word. Dick and I .... being older relished the fellowship, faithfulness and friendship we saw, not only with each other but their personal relationship with the Lord. I don't know what their study was on(to see what they studied, see Carrie's comment below, click comments), but I know when I saw the words of Christ to us on one of the necklaces that said..."abide in Me" .....John 15:9 and John 15:5 ..... "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love." and "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." ...... I knew I had evidenced it in them and it gave us joy and hope for the future of our grandchildren and beyond! Thanks girls for blessing us with your presence!!! Come back, ANYTIME..... OH!!!! I MUST thank and praise some husbands and Dad's who took care of things and the children so these awesome women could get a break!!! THANK YOU..... YOU AWESOME BOYS!!!!!

A FINISHED PIECE....?

I love my head band ..... HOPE ....there is always HOPE! I found this great quote and decided I needed to WEAR IT...."The Lord has an incredible destiny for you..." I'll take that!! A FINISH ...? The last post was called "a start" ..... I'm still not sure about this so called "Self-Portrait" .... it may never be finished .... so many things wouldn't work .... certain colors on top of the dried medium ....too slick for paint to stick ... etc .... so I've definately learned a lot! .....BUT MOSTLY, about myself!!! This piece revealed things about my life..... like it is very cluttered, and complex....which I know I am... not necessarily a good thing. I discovered that who I am begins with my Mother, the heart of the family and a Father who was a hard worker, and provided for us all, even later if we needed it. He also went to war to fight for our country and I'm proud of that...as did my husband. The baby bracelet with my maiden name encircles my Father and Mother...representing my natural birth. The vase is blooming as children do, then the strong thick branches are my strong personality and stuborness.....but there is greenery.... or growth....with eventually a flower or two....working thru the growth to finally bloom through difficulties that arose in my life.... we all have them, but the flower finally comes. I love birds and lots of details in life ... maybe too many details .... guess what.... I talk a lot! No surprise. The two whimsical portraits on the left are my favorites.... the top one was a drawing by a special little boy at age seven. It is the way he sees me. I like the way he sees me. The bottom one was altered with the computer, ... I would love it on a business card. The portrait on the right is a one line (sort of) drawing that doesn't focus on the age, wrinkles, grey hair or sallow skin and no reading glasses. I decided to ignore THOSE details!! I couldn't get my hair dark enough with the pencils I was using.... anyway, the Psalm 139 help me to realize that I was formed and known about when I was in my Mother's womb. And that I don't have to be perfect to be HIS child.... but that He knows me and loves me and has worked in my life to help me become who I really am..... it begins as a child....as seen in the lower left in the pieces that show the importance of children to Jesus. Matthew 18:1-5 was a crucial teaching for me,...read on further....6,7,...etc.... showing me that He actually protected me in many situations growing up. When I found Romans 8:16 and decided to add it to all the other elements, I teared up because I had actually put elements that told who I was... and now who I am in my spirit... His Child ... inspite of struggles ....He began the work in me, and I know it and am so thankful for His persistence and patience , His grace and mercy, and finally His gift of love. I know ... it's all about ME ... but it is a self portrait ... with a lot of details that came out....a story. It will stay in my studio.....it was just for me.