ABUNDANCE & GRACE in NOVEMBER

Final...almost, needs a few more touches and a signature.... I hope you all enjoy the process .... and I hate to even mention it, but ask that you please respect the copyright of these ... as they are in the gallery and as prints if you are needing one....just contact me through my website to the left ...thanks!! These all all more vibrant in person!! I have been studying Psalms 51 and it seems to be affecting my art ....I didn't realize how much what you read affects what comes out of you .... so I'll be reading more!! God SPEAKS ..... loud and clear all the way from New Zealand!!! A total stranger to me ... but not to God .... called me out of the blue to just BLESS me!! She talked for over an hour about sooo many interesting things and it ALL was BALM and INSPIRATION to my soul .... a GIFT from the Lord ... He just blows my socks off sometimes with those special connections. Anyway, besides "GRACE" that visited me ... the WORD .... "ABUNDANCE" comes to mind this month. And I've done (or He has!) an abundance of art pieces to share with you. All of these are what is called "Pulled Art" ...From Mystele's class ... where you put on or lay on paint colors of your choice, randomly until it begins to tell a story in the shapes .... all so much fun .... BUT THE ONE CALLED "FORGIVEN" is the one that no way did I do alone .... it is one of those things that you "know" He orchestrated using your eyes and hands to complete .... I am awed by what came out of it and it is Psalms 51 ... which is about David's guilt ...(and ours), the idols that get us into trouble, that break our hearts and how to deal with it .... THEN the others are pulled out of more fun happenstance ..."SNOW QUEEN" has Psalms 100:1,2,3 on the hills ... and THEN "EMBRACE" has a thought that came from the Blog " A Splendid Adventure" by sweet Mary on a post called "Serendipity" on 11-11-10. Taken from Romans 12:2, if you want to read it.... And there is the cardboard "HEART" with collage and a scripture from Psm 51:6 as well, just fun ....and an ABUNDANCE of it this week!!! ENJOY.... I know it is long, but I'll be busy for a couple of weeks with THANKSGIVING ....got LOTS to be Thankful for!!! Love and Blessings from my heart to yours ....may you be comforted and loved by HIS EMBRACE!

Good Mornin' Sunshine!

Good Morning Everyone! Well, it is morning as I write this and the sun is coming up through my window and I hear the birds singing outside....even though we have a real November nip in the air! I wish I could get up as chipper as this every morning!! ....but I am a nite person and usually sleep rather late! But not today...it is really beautiful outside this morning! I don't have anything special to write about except that I love life, my art, my kids and grand kids all around me, my friends and family and my precious little church I have gone to for four years now. I have honestly never experienced such a precious place as my little church. You would have to be there time and again to understand why. Anyway! ... here is a fun collage I did last week ...on gessoed cereal box cardboard, something I save for the kids to do art on...and one of my very favorite substrates to work on with collage....and with all the grandkids living next door for a while I have an unlimited supply of empty cereal boxes to prep!! Honey Nut Cheerios being the favorite! The background words are from Psalm 51 ... where David's heart is broken with his own sin ... a great Psalm for beginning again and laying it at His feet. I love that He can't begin anew in us until our heart is contrite and broken from our own weight of sin and we give it to Him asking for help and forgiveness. What I love is our broken hearts are the ONLY acceptable sacrifice to Him. Like a Mama that has her stinker child crying in her lap with big tears of sorrow....doesn't every parent welcome a child's sorrow over his bad behavior! I love how it mentions rebuilding the walls .... our walls to our soul.... fixing our house so to speak. I love His words... love them! Enjoy my little house collage ... it was fun play! I forgot to mention that I tried a doodle they call a tangle....and I decided to call mine "Prayer Doodles"...a free form shape you add design and doodles in with no plan....just a relaxing doodle that gave me a special time to think and pray for certain people including myself, I need it too! Blessings and have a great week. Thanksgiving is soon you know....

NEW POSTCARD....

Before below and the after is above....the lines under the truck are actually petal lines of a gerbera daisy from one of her textures....it just gave that dry August ground interest! I took this photo for an AD campaign .... maybe .... and then started fooling around with it digitally. In DJ Pettit's Class (listed in my favorites under Gentle Whispering Hues) we learned how to do layers and photo manipulations. We also learned how to use photos of different texture to add texture to our photos and use or manipulate them in an artistic way. On this photo I used three of her new FREE textures she so graciously shared with us. Really I was just wasting time playing and the more I played I began to like what was transpiring ...I thought it looked like those old forties or fifties photo postcards that have that super enhanced saturation that make them look almost surreal, but colorful. Anyway, I've decided to use it for a card or postcard to advertise the Fall Collection at the shop. (But I will wait until I see if I won the competition I entered!) I guess wasting time can be productive!! Don't tell your kids or husband that...teehee. Honestly, we all need to play ..... enjoy the present moment ... and relax. BLESSINGS!! TODAY, THE 31st, WE JUST FOUND OUT WE WERE ONE OF THREE WINNERS ON THE PRODUCT DECOR IDEAS FOR THE ROUND TOP COLLECTION!!!!! WE GOT A BIG PRIZE!!!! WOOHOO!

THE BIRD DOG FINISHED....and school headbands for Pilar

The picture above is a little off on the color...it is richer colors in person. My favorite part is the trees in the far left upper corner....and the fun stockings on the big blue bird...life is not sooo serious! Goofey, I know, but it was fun... I finally finished "The Bird Dog" as a result of Mystele's "Story Telling Basics" Class....as discussed in the previous post with the first posts a few weeks ago on the discovery of the the BIRD DOG in the painting....which gave it a story....it may be my story of life right now. As I look at it, it has A LOT going on.... which is how my life is right now. I am always too involved with projects and so many things in different areas of life. I also live in a beautiful place with lots of birds and flowers and trees and solitude if you want it....and I love it.... HOWEVER, the Bird Dog is ever lurking to disturb my peace and rob me of my joy in Christ or try anyway. I know the Lord uses it to make me stronger and more dependent on Him. The Bird Dog itself is not evil because he hunts innocent birds....and the bird dog who lurks in our lives may not be a dog, but a person or circumstances and they are used by evil to upset the flow of peace in our lives. BUT .... he is small in comparison to our Keeper (Christ) who will be with me always!! The painting was fun and I got lost in it which I love to do. Time becomes unimportant when I'm painting or playing with paint. It is soo soothing for me. The next thing is I made two headbands for Pilar, age 9 who has beautiful black thick heavy hair and she is letting her bangs grow out and it is driving her crazy hanging in her eyes constantly. SOOO I made these two thicker stronger but funky headbands that stretch for her upcoming school days. She is also really into being fashionable (new) and she is artsy and loves hair stuff, but it never works for her thick hair..... hopefully these will. They aren't in her beautiful black hair yet, but propped on my knee to get a photo. The pink one is crocheted with chain of 62 and a needle # 10 ...then five rows, then sewn together and flowers added. The red check is wide bias tape with elastic sewn in the middle pulling slightly to gather, then joined in the back to fit child's head. The felt flowers are sewn with random design and then stacked and sewn on headband. I hope they fit well and stay in her hair. I had a thought of putting a long line of hot glue along the area that touches the hair(after it is dry of course!) to hold to her hair in better....??? what do you think?... not sure about that part... anyway...ENJOY and BIG BLESSINGS to YOU!! Keep a watch for the bird dogs... in your life.

NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY!!!

Here is the new POSTER for the FALL COLLECTION .... it is all displayed .... hard work that brought back memories of having the store on the square in Round Top!! Probably one of my favorite memories.... working until the wee hours in the morning decorating with no interruptions .... allowing the creativity to flow!!! NOW if I could just paint pictures all night and still function as a person, I would be the happiest of persons!! Anyway, this is JUST a poster and to catch up on at least having a recent post on my blog.... I am doing some art, but nothing is finished and I need to get pictures.... It was fun designing this poster!....I may frame each poster I make and put them in my office....it is art too!! Will be back soon.....the new TALL sign is almost done...getting the 16 foot posts this week and the sign maker said next week it will be done....then I'll look more professional and you'll see the sign from town!!! I HOPE!!! BLESSINGS!! ....An extra note.... I have added two favorite blogs for you....two very rich real people who put themselves out there to benefit others "I Can Fly" and "Jo and Ted Stone. blogspot" . I love them both! They share their losses in the most Glorious (because it glorifies God) real way.... which leaves you rich with a special care that is available to us all. Thank you both for your "Lion Hearts". BLESSINGS AGAIN AND AGAIN!!! sherry

ANOTHER FELT CUPCAKE PIN CUSHION....

Here is number five .... these are addicting to do ..... on this one I tried to duplicate a zinnia type flower..... I never knew how much fun and pretty felt can be. I always thought of it as more of a children's craft material. So now I'm hunting more colors etc ..... and a place to purchase embroidery floss .... not much around here accept in Brenham, Texas at Stitch Haven ..... a wonderful fabric and quilt shop! I hate to keep mentioning my feet, but I am having so much pain and problems with one foot that I am forced to sit a lot ...... not good!!! BUT I can sew my pincushions ..... I MUST create!! The A/C is broken at church where the Girl's Club meets, so we sat in the cool Sanctuary and sewed a blanket stitched heart pincushion...... for each girl to have of their own. They have been soooo much fun! The Mom's are learning things too and continue to come .... as they are requesting "one for me too"! So I have a lot of girls, big and small. What a wonderful world we have for a few hours with all the girls!! I'll post pictures towards the end..... we start the mermaid doll outfit next week ...... BLESSINGS!!!!

But .... Where Will Wisdom Be Found?

As some of you have probably already figured out .... I have this obsessive / compulsive side of me. Especially when it comes to something I enjoy or want to create ..... or buy! Well, when I get something to create in my head and it doesn't leave me alone .... I obsess over it and if it involves money ..... I spend too much money looking at what to buy to use ..... because as I shop I am creating in my mind and thinking of all the possibilities of that little thing or things I need to buy! Then I spend too much, then I can't sleep, laying awake at night thinking how I'm getting all this stuff..... WIRE and "GEMSTONES" that are coming and I will HAVE to create and sell to justify it!!!! I was sick on a Sunday afternoon several weeks ago and a little down...... and I just prayed and ask God to please help me with this obsession I was having over making jewelry, shopping and buying gemstones ......and I just kept saying...."Why ?? Lord....Why jewelry?!?.... It has to have a worthy purpose...... Please help me understand ..... help me to know what to do? ... what is it? .... please. I reached down and grabbed an old Bible that I bought to cut words out of for collage and it flipped open to Matthew 4, specifically "The temptation of Christ", especially verse four....and then the comfort that comes after resisting temptation in verse 11. I was "WOWED' BY WHAT I READ....so I decided to sit up and read more!!! As I adjusted my position the Bible flipped over to JOB 28 .... a book I would NEVER CHOOSE to read ..... but as I read it ..... I wasn't only WOWED..... I was AMAZED ..... I mean REALLY amazed....!!!! TO THIS DAY!!! .....because..... in that chapter it talked about silver, gold, copper, stones, sapphires, flint rock (jasper), gold of Ophir, precious onyx, glass, jewels of fine gold, coral, crystal, pearls, the topaz of Ethiopia .... and then the question in verse 12, ....""But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?" The answer was there .... in 23 ....it says "God understands the way to it, and He knows it's place ...... and none of these things can compare to it......and then finally in verse 28 ....... it has the answer. You don't even have to know the history of JOB .... to get what God is trying to tell us (specifically me) in this chapter 28 in the Book of Job. For me it was ..... don't let your obsession and compulsion take you over .... because it is not true wisdom .....enjoy what "I" (God)have created , use your creativity, but never forget where it comes from ... and that it can never be compared to the real wisdom from and of God. Knowing that God is sovereign and active in our lives and alive and well and with us in everything we consider ..... considering Him ..... who He is .... and why He is .... and accepting and believing it....IS WISE..... that should be the focus in everything I do. I've been debating for the last few weeks whether this is too much to write about ..... but I really must because, it spoke to me so strongly and I hope it has something for you. Through Him only does anything have purpose...... I just couldn't get over that I had asked ..... why .... and I got the answer He sent me!! Even details about the gems of the earth!!! .... where in the whole Bible would you find anything about the gemstones!?? He knew exactly where it was and for me to find it!! An accident?....I don't think so! Be careful what you pray for.....now each piece of jewelry I create will have a completely different feel to it as I create it!! WOO HOO !!!! As some of my friends say! If I was going to give the jewelry line a name it would be ..."JOB 28 JEWELRY "...... So here it is........ This is the first jewelry I have ever created, the wire wrapping and chain and link making and twisting is my favorite part. Now I am waiting for the jewels to come in the mail and a little more studying and practice! ..... I will describe the stones on each (Carnelian, aquamarine, pearls, crystal, glass,mother of pearl, etc..) if you just ask me to.....I love Deryn Mentock's jewelry designing techniques, who has inspired me, and a book or two by some jewelry artists I found on her blog .... where I saw the twisted link design. Deryn has a ton of great information on her blog for books and advice. Check her blog and enjoy her beautiful art! I have been inspired by so many other artists this year to stretch myself and do different kinds of art ......but giving Him the glory! THANKS TO YOU ALL!! YOU TOO GOD! ...... then there is a whole "other" teaching on how the gems have come through fire to become so beautiful.....

A Long Trip...

Yes, we went on a long trip...three weeks....then one week to rest and renew our strength to begin decorating for the Homes Tour I agreed to do on Dec 6th. We drove (instead of flying)on this trip to see the leaves and colors and to just see mid-America....and to take two pieces of heirloom furniture to our daughter from my Mom.....it was a joy to drive especially since the price of gas had gone down. We were on our way going through La., Ala, Miss, Tenn, Kentucky and ending in Ohio to see our missed and new grand children!! It was a beautiful trip...especially when we arrived in the driveway of Olivia, Eli and our new Elena....and our beautiful daughter Kellie (the Queen, as they call her)and her King...Jimmy. It was a fun visit with swimming team, gymnastics, piano and home school, plus I introduced them to collage art and we made a journal and some Christmas ornaments...(an idea I got from Nelda Ream's Blog made with old spools) ....but the MOST FUN was learning a hard lesson with two competitive kids ages almost five and seven.....the fun in losing???....good ole OLD MAID....I grabbed them at the last minute at the store before we left Texas.....and I'm sure I played OLD MAID at least a hundred times....each time a little less CRYING from the loser who ALWAYS wanted to play another game....I never saw so much "hope" for some one to lose!!...I never laughed so hard! If we accomplished anything with our grand kids it was learning to be a good loser....we think! I HATE TO ADMIT...I WAS THE OLD MAID THE MOST....I wonder how that happened!? But they laughed the most when Grand-dad was the Old Maid...especially Eli! I'm thinking of some art along that line....also you will see some photo art pictures I did of Eli and Olivia for their new bathroom, with matching shower curtain....they loved the manipulated photo art and will send me one to do of baby Elena in her bathing suit! Anyway, here are some pictures of them and some of the beautiful barns and trees we saw while we were there. These are only a very few!!!....as I have tons of photos....a lot for new art ideas.....so please no copying the photos....We also visited some friends, Rita and Daryl Ruehle. Daryl's first wife Sue had gone home to be with the Lord in 1992...and then he met his wonderful wife Rita, who was also widowed. Daryl and Sue were our friends in F-100 training in Clovis, N. Mex in 1966 before Viet Nam, when Dick and I were newlyweds! Sue gave me her Grandmother's Christmas Cookie recipe and it has been a family tradition with my grown children, now for 42 years....so this year at the Christmas Home Tour I am honoring Sue and her cookie recipe....We had a wonderful time with Daryl and Rita....Rita shared a fabulous old family photo, quite large that was hand colored....it was inspiring!......Her old family picture is at the top of this blog...first photo!...also they drove us all over that beautiful little town of McCutchenville, Ohio. Thanks you two!!! We hope to get back to see you again!! On our departure from Ohio we took a different route to Texas going West thru Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and home....if it hadn't been Nov. I would have gone straight to Mt Rushmore....but a blizzard was coming the next morning, so we headed for warm Texas. We had perfect dry cool weather the whole trip! It was perfect.....then we stopped in Flower Mound to see our Peyton Marie....our two year old biker and artist....and her precious parents, our son, Scott and his beautiful wife Carrie. I don't do grand kids and travel much on my blog so bear with me....some new art is coming soon, PLUS photos of the Home Tour Decor and happenings.....but not tonite!! Glad to be home....I missed my blogging buddies!!! WOW, IT'S BEEN A MONTH!!!!!