Monday, July 28, 2008

Old Into New

Ezekiel 36:26--"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."

I love making old things new. The little hearts started as an old quilt, ratty and torn and worthless. I gave it new life in the form of hearts--embellishments for this wreath that's hanging on my front door. The quilt now has a purpose--decorating my house. I keep it handy in case another idea jumps out of it. Isn't it amazing that God can do the same thing with my heart--give it a new purpose, a new life? I just have to be "handy" for God to use me.

I used a grapevine wreath I created myself from grapevine hanging on my fence (another thing made new), silk flowers, old ribbon and ivy found at garage sales for pennies and hot glue. I burned myself badly using this stuff. It's been a while since I used a glue gun. I'll be more careful from now on. God's making new skin as we speak.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

More of Deena's Book of Joy






This was mega fun. Continue looking at the completed book in the next entry.

Psalm 118:24--"This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Journal for Deena Completed





Friday, July 25, 2008

The Joy of Books

Joshua 1:8--"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

My mother was a reader. She loved mysteries. She always spoiled the plot in movies and tv shows because she would figure the ending and tell us "who done it." She also read the Bible and imparted knowledge from it to us. She would refer to scripture when she was teaching us how to live life. I'm grateful that she used God's Book to guide her life and ours. I had a great mother. Monitarily we were not prosperous in today's standard of living but we were rich in other ways that are more important. All of us are successful and I attribute that to being careful to follow God's Word. Thanks Mom.

Deena is an avid reader. Many times she will post the current book she is reading and encourage others to read it too. This card is part of a book I'm making for her and will deliver today. Tomorrow I'll post the finished product. I used an old poem, half paper and half transparency, scrapbook paper, sticker, silk flower, gel pen, a vintage image and stain.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

The Joy of Mail

1 Corinthians 16:19-20--"The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand."

Don't you love getting mail, especially if written in "real" handwriting? In Bible times, few people knew how to read and write and usually, only the men. Even the writers of the Bible sometimes had scribes write their letters for them. In this passage Paul lets it be known that the statements he's sending are personal and written by him. Letters were sent to the early churches as encouragement and many times were written to give spiritual instruction. We're far removed from being personal in our day and age and it's a warm feeling to receive something personal in the mail besides bills.

This card is part of a book I'm doing for Deena. Check out her on-line shop of primitive artisans at The Primitive Gathering.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Singing a Song

Job 35:9-12--"Men cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful. But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, who teaches more to us than to the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?'

This is the response of Elihu to the words of Job as he is trying to understand why he is so miserable. What is your take on this scripture? Leave a comment and I'll come back and give you my understanding of it.

I used an old book cover with a lovely marbled look and a natural patina. I adjusted the size of an old album page, added a bird, old music that says, " singing a song", stain, flowers from
Shabby Cottage Studio, other ephemera, old shell buttons, dried baby's breath, old frayed ribbon, sheer ribbon and velvet ribbon. I'm putting it on Etsy today.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

God Clothes the Grass With Flowers

Matthew 6:28-30-- "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"

I'd read this passage many times until one day I saw something there that gave me a mental picture--grass clothed with flowers. These are the words of Jesus. They are beautifully graphic and poetic and I had missed it. That's why it is important to read the Bible every day. When I am tuned in to its message to me that day, I learn new things. I'm very grateful for the natural "clothing" God has provided for me just outside my door.

This card is part of a book I'm making for Deena.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Heather's Fruit of the Spirit Book Part Two

Kindness: I love the pink, the transparencies and the tulips. Heather has made this book to suit me to a T.
Goodness: She and I were on the same page exactly when we made this page of the Fruits. I love the picture, the glittery details, the pink tiny rick-rack, the cute little tag and the fancy G.
Faithfulness: I like how she used the letter F and am fascinated by the foil trim. She sent some to me in a little bag with some other goodies so I can't wait to try it.
Gentleness: Again, Heather and I were thinking alike. I especially love this picture; I have it stashed somewhere in my picture collection, too. I like the pink gingham print, the scripture and the little silk flowers. I also like her postmark stamp.
Self-Control: This is the last but not the least of the Fruits of the Spirit. It's interesting how this scripture mirrors the Galatians scripture of the Fruits. I like the scrolly banner, the pink picot ribbon and I love pears. I think it's unique how she used the folded green ribbon pinned with an old safety pin.

This swap was pure pleasure because of the participant. Thank you Heather.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Heather's Fruit of the Spirit Book

Heather's Fruit of the Spirit Book : Cover--I especially love the silk ribbons, old buttons and dangly crystal.
Love: I especially love the scripture, pink paper, roses and beautiful button attached to embroidery thread which is attached to the stem of the pansy.
Joy: I especially love the pink paper and the flowery tag and flowery J.
Peace: I especially love the scripture, butterfly, P transparency and beige background paper.
Patience: There's nothing about patience I like, but these pages I love. I especially love birds, nests and how Heather used a crumbled flower with text (do you buy these or make them?) and divided it between the top and bottom, and the flowery P under the transparency.

Heather and I swapped books on the same subject--Fruits of the Spirit, as found in the Bible: Galatians 5:22-23. These are the first five of 10 pages I'm showing on my blog. Tomorrow I'll post the other five. She posted a few of my pages on her blog.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Grandchildren Are A Crown

Proverbs 17:6--"Children's children are a crown to the aged."

Well, I hate to think of myself as aged, but I do have 11 grandchildren and one due next month. So, I guess I qualifiy. I have seven grandsons and if you haven't noticed, they are very different from granddaughters (in most cases). For instance, we used to raise rabbits to eat. I know, I know, that's gross for some of you, but on a pastor's salary, one can't be too choosy. Anyway, my husband was butchering one of the rabbits and my son, now a doctor, came running to me to show me that the heart of the butchered animal in his hands and it was still beating. Now, that was cool and I'm not squeemish, praise God, but this is what interests many little boys. [ My daughter will probably contest this because she's a tomboy and raised with two older brothers, she didn't have a choice.] Boys are usually fascinated with nature: bugs, flies, snakes, spiders, fish, dogs, trees, mud--and the list goes on. Many little girls won't have anything to do with those. About the crown, grandchildren ARE different from your children. Have a couple and you'll understand the "crown" analogy.

This card is part of a Little Book I'm constructing for Deena, who has six grandsons. They are the joy of her life. I used wallpaper, a copy of a vintage image, magazine cut-outs, and stain.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Through Sickness and In Health


Matthew 25:36--"I was sick and you looked after me."

This lovely couple belong to a friend of mine who commissioned me to do this work. I've done others of her and her family but this one is a little different. A few years back this lovely woman had a massive stroke. Her husband has stood by her side ministering to her and her needs. He's the epitome of selflessness. So many people would run away or put their spouse in a home, but she was only in her 40's when the disaster struck. Her mind is keen, but everythings else needs help. What would I do? I hope I'd be like Jesus was talking of here--when we minister to others, we minister to him.

This is made on an old book cover. I used a copy of their wedding picture (My copier was way off that day and only the faces made it out clear. Everything else I repainted), old lace, ribbons, sheer fabric, faux pearls, lace trim, sparkled dried baby's breath, copied flower prints, lace trim, two matching old plastic buttons with flowers, sticker that says: "Praise the Lord," gel medium into which I etched a design and highlighted with gold paint.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Joy With Friends

Proverbs 17:17--"A friend loves at all times."

We Americans love to socialize. We go all out for birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, you name it. We even make up holidays so we can get together with friends and have fun. We laugh, eat, share stories and even make up some. We gather with the ones we love to enjoy the fellowship. What happens, though, when that person has a crisis, is sick, is in financial trouble, has changed their live-style? What happens when we don't see eye-to-eye, when we have hurt in the relationship, when we've been wronged by that friend? How many of us actually love our friends "at all times?" Guilty!.....Guilty?

This card is part of a collection I'm putting into a book for my friend, Deena. Read her story at http://deenasstory.blogspot.com/. I used a playing card for the base and added scrapbook paper, book binding materials, old lace, a copy of an old photo, text, a brass charm, gel medium and wrote with an archival pen.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Sing to the Lord

2 Samuel 22:50--" Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name."

That's why we have hymns--to praise the Lord. I'm a Christian, yet I don't like the Christian Music Channel. Weird? Maybe. I'm not that fond of rock music, especially if I can't understand the words. What good is it to testify for the Lord if you can't hear the words? It's also very repetitive--the same music, the same words--over and again. I guess I like a little more "meat" to my music. As a musician, I'm in tune to the musical content, both words and music. When I listen, I really LISTEN! We were taught to be aware of all the construction that goes into a piece and if a song has only three chords, it's pretty boring. If is has only one line of lyrics--the same is true. Are my prayers and songs to the Lord boring? For instance, before every meal my husband and I pray--at home and out in public. This morning we prayed and I didn't even remember doing so. Now, I was really tuned in, wasn't I? I had to pray again and mean it. I fear our songs to the Lord are the same as my prayer this morning.

This card is being sent to a member of one of my online art groups The Vintage Dragonfly in a lottery we have bi-weekly. I love it, but I'm partial.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Joy is a Gallant Husband

Proverbs 31: 2--"Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value."
Proverbs 31: 28--"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."
Ephesians 5:25--"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. v. 28--Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself."
Colossians 3:19--"Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them."
1 Peter 3:7--"Husbands...be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect.

This seems basic, doesn't it. However, all husbands are not equal. It's the rare find to see a man with these qualities as related to his wife. I have one of these men. He didn't used to be this way, though. This is going to sound very harsh, but hear me out, please. He didn't have confidence in me; he was extremely jealous. He didn't praise me enough; I thrive on verbal encouragement. He didn't have a "give-my-life-for-you" love; he didn't love himself. He was never harsh; he was always kind, but manipulative. He didn't respect me. Wow, he sounds like a tyrant, doesn't he? Turn this around and you'll also find a picture of me in my younger years. I treated him like my mother treated my Dad. No respect. Respect and commitment are key words in a relationship. Both come with prayer and sacrifice. When I started praying for the Lord to help me have respect for him as his servant, then my attitude changed and so did his. When I treated him differently, he did the same for me. It took years of communication for us to do this, but each of us entered this relationship with a commitment for life. Forty years later, this year, we have a totally loving relationship. Rarely do we argue. I've found respect for myself and him and he has done the same. What a difference when we each do what the Lord expects. There is none equal to my husband!---He would say the same about me.

This card is part of a book I'm making for Deena. Deena moderates a group called
The Primitive Gathering, a group of artists who love working in the older arts or making things look old. She has a prince of a husband who has cared for her like a soldier these past few months of chemo and weeks of radiation treatments. He's also a good cook. Now that's gallant! I used a playing card as the base and added copied photos, other ephemera, rusty dry wall mesh, cut-out letters, ribbon, a button, scrapbook paper and stain.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Joy Is Faith

Nehemiah 8:15--"This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

This scripture was written to document the celebration of the Israelites when, after many years of captivity, God's word was finally read to them. They were so humbled that they began weeping. Nehemiah encouraged them to rejoice, eat and drink and serve others. He acknowledged that the day was sacred and for them to not grieve but have joy. You know, that's easy enough for Nehemiah, a man of God, but what about those people who have been steeped in sin for years on end--those whose lives have been burdened by guilt--those whose relationships have been destroyed--those who only knew God by suggestion and not lifestyle. They were awed at what God intended for them and they were willing to change. I've been grieved by God's word on occasion. I've been convicted by what the Bible says I should be doing. How long has that been for you? Years? Months? Days? I think I need to read this whole passage of scripture today and be joyful in the Lord.

This little card goes into a book I'm making for Deena. I used copied vintage photos, scrapbook paper, metallic ink, paint, glitter glue and a brass charm.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Little Book of Joy

. I've started another Little Book. This time it's for my friend, Deena. I showed her the book I made for Heather at The Patchwork Heart and she really liked it. I asked her if she wanted me to make her a little book. She said yes. "OK, what will the theme be?" She responded, "Joy."
Deena's had a rough go of it lately. She's in radiation treatments now and she needs a little--well, maybe a lot of joy. So for the next whatever block of time it takes, I will be posting the pages of her book. I told her I'd do so and she can keep track of its progression.
Deena: "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy."--Job 8:21.

This is the cover for the "Little Book of Joy." I found this picture in a magazine, and since I'm not selling this book, I felt it was ok to use it. Deena finds joy in the simple things of life and I thought this picture might point that direction. I added other ephemera and stain on scrapbook paper. You'll see a lot of blues and browns in this book.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Opened Hand

Psalm 145:16--"You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing."

Isn't that a wonderful thought? God wants to satisfy us. I'm having trouble grasping that thought, though, for too many times I've been dissatisfied. Am I expecting too much? Have I been given too much that I don't appreciate what I have? The psalmist failed to mention that we need to be thankful for the gifts God has given. It's important to be thankful. God has given me so much--why do I still have a hole that's unfilled? This post has been very difficult for me to write. I've erased more than typed. It has caused me to think. I've been expecting people to fill the hole for me instead of God. God, fill the hole in my soul.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Fruits of the Spirit Part Two

Page Five: Kindness
Page Six: Goodness
Page Seven: Faithfulness
Page Eight: Gentleness
Page Nine: Self-Control

I'm finished with this Little Book. It was really fun to do and I can't wait to start another one. I'm sending this to Heather of The Patchwork Heart and she's sending me one she made for me. I'll post hers when I receive it. I'm living with this one for a couple of days before I send it because I like to look at my art for a while. Sometimes I see where I can add or subtract or rearrange things before it wings its way to the owner. Of course, I like to take pictures of my art to share with you.
My friend, Deena, needs more prayers. She had some small tumors laser removed from her brain--something she hadn't planned. She's undergoing radiation for a little cancer left in her spine; now she has another round to her brain. I'm still praying for God to heal her so she can enjoy her life, her husband, her children and her grandchildren for many years to come.

1 Thessalonians 5:16--"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Does He hear us? Yes. Deuteronomy4:7--"The Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him."

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Fruit of the Spirit Little Book Part 1

Front of Book: Fruit of the Spirit
Page One: Love
Page 2: Joy
Page 3: Peace
Page 4: Patience

Tomorrow I'll post the last 5 pages of this Little Book. It took me all day to put this together with all the embellishments. It was a good day, though, having that big block of time that I haven't had for a long time to make art. The Lord was so good to allow us time with our daughter and her family. We had a great time playing with little 1 1/2 year old Hannah. She does love to swing. They left yesterday and we had dinner guests last night so I've been pretty busy the last few days.

Psalm 103:5--"[God] satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Self-Control

2 Timothy 1:7--"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

Even though I love to play the piano, it took many years of self-discipline to be able to do what I do. Many people think that a person with a musical ability doesn't have to practice--God just gave them a gift. In some cases that is true but most people are not natural musicians. Most people who play instruments or sing well have to practice and that takes self-control. Many times, as I sat at the keyboard, I wished I were somewhere else. It took me hours of practice a day, when I was seriously studying music, to prepare for a recital or a performance. Dancing is the same. I've been watching "So You Think You Can Dance." These young adults are not there just because they THINK they can dance. They know they can and have been preparing for years. It's so obvious to see the true dancers when compared to the "think-I-cans" in the try-outs. The true dancers are the ones who have spent years on the dance floor. The world today needs more self-controlled Christians who know they can't do anything without the help of the Spirit.

This card is the last of the "Fruits of the Spirit" that will be put into a book for Heather of
The Patchwork Heart in a trade we're doing. I altered the original Degas painting making this dancer independent.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Gentleness

1 Peter 3:4--"It should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

Whoa! Let me read that again!---a gentle and quiet spirit are of great worth to the Lord. Is that what you read, too? Oh, me. I have a lot of work to do.

This card is part of a set of Fruits of the Spirit that I'm swapping with Heather of
The Patchwork Heart. I'll add more danglies as I finish the back and put the book together.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Faithfulness

Habakkuk 2:4--"The righteous will live by his (her) faith."

Nothing is concrete. Things and people are constantly changing. There is only one who promises that He will not change and that someone is God. It takes faith, hope in the unseen, to believe that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. The ungodly have trouble with this concept. Is this hard for you to believe? Then ask God to increase your faith.

This little card goes to Heather of The Patchwork Heart in a collection of Fruits of the Spirit. I will embellish it further as the "fruits" are completed.




Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Goodness

Psalm 37:3--"Trust in the Lord and do good."

I believe that says it all.

This card is part of a collection of Fruits of the Spirit going as an exchange to Heather of
The Patchwork Heart.