Technology!

Yes, yes. My computer is down and I don't have access to my pictures so I can't finish what I had planned for the next few days:( It won't be fixed until after Christmas so I can't even hook up my new printer. Oh, well, there are much worse things in life. I'm just on hold for a while. Merry Christmas to you and yours. Be safe and God bless you.

Three More Freebie Cards

This little card was sent in 1929.

This is a beautiful card from 1932.

This is another colorful card from 1937.

Maybe you can use these in your art or craft projects or even copy them to use for Christmas cards or clip art. Help yourself.

2 Corinthians 9:7--"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

This is a good lesson to remember at Christmastime. Merry Christmas shopping.

New Journal and Two Free Postcards

Cover of "Languages Journal."
This is one of my two commissions I received in the last two weeks. The other one I posted yesterday. This is not my style because there are few pictures from which I can gain inspiration. This little girl for whom this journal was made loves all kinds of languages and knows how to speak a little of ten and she's only 9 years old. She has loved looking at the journals I bring in the shop and her mother ordered this one for her for Christmas. I've included two more photos below.

German word for study.

Here are multiple tabs that include some flags from other countries that are also dispersed throughout the book along with foreign postage stamps and other vignettes.

The scripture I chose for this journal is from 1 Corinthians 14:9-11--"Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me."

Below you'll find two postcards from 1918.

Enjoy using these if you wish, however, please do not copy the photos of my journal but feel free to use any ideas you wish. A link back here would be appreciated.

A Couple of Christmas Cards for You

This is one of the commissions on which I have been working. It's for an 11-year-old girl, the daughter of the shop owner where I sell my art stuff. I used a number of pictures of horses and women with horses and other little doo-dads related to the theme. There are about 25 vignettes along with the tabs on the side.

Genesis 1:25--"And God made..., the livestock according to their kinds,.... And God saw that it was good."

The date is omitted on this postcard but it has an old green 1 cent stamp so it's pretty much an antique but it is still in great shape.

This old postcard was dated 1931. The sentiment remains.

Playing Catch-Up

This a 1929 vintage Christmas card. Take it if you want.

This card was sent in 1931. It still has it's wonderful texture. It's yours.

This is a 1930 vintage Christmas card. Please use it if you can.

We got back from celebrating our granddaughter's two-year birthday and we had a great time visiting and loving on our newest grandson as well. I can't believe she's two and he's 3 months now. Our daughter-in-law is expecting her 7th child the end of Jan. or first of Feb. and we'll probably be going to help them through the first five days or more--just depends on my husband's work status. I'm finishing up two more commissions and then I can shop! Whoa! I'm late and the weather is horrible. That's what I get for procrastinating.

Proverbs 6:9-11--"How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man."

I don't really feel like a sluggard for I have been very busy with my art stuff, but I'm afraid that the "scarcity" stuff will hit me hard this late in the season. I'm praying that I can still find what the kids want.

New Ezine coming in March

Take a look on my sidebar. I've included Romantic Living Magazine that will be coming out in March. It looks wonderful; see what you think.

A Sweet Blanket and a Freebie Card

I saw these little mini blankets in the shop where I sell my art works and crafts and thought I'd make one. I don't know whether this is "the newest thing" in baby stuff, but it looked easy to make and actually was. I used an old hankie and a new piece of super plush fabric, sewed them together and made little crosses in the middle to quilt it together. This is a great shower gift for the new mother--very sweet.

Here's an old postcard for you. I love the look of this artist's work. There seems to be a rash of it around this time period. I don't know this artist; do you? This vintage card was sent in 1929 and I hope you can use it. Regardless, enjoy.

The night Jesus was born there probably wasn't anything much in which to wrap his shivering body. The custom was to use strips of linen cloth, holding the baby tightly as if still in the womb. This was for warmth and comfort. Today we have every imaginable kind of wrapping but we still are seeking warmth and comfort from things--from food to luxuries. We are a needy people but what we truly need is God in the form of Jesus to fill the "God hole" in our hearts. Warm up with Him today.

Luke 2:6--"While they were there (Bethlehem), the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

Meet The Boys

I started working on these guys about 5:00 a.m. and finished about 9:30 a.m. All that needs to be done now is the drill pressing (my husband does that) and adding the cords for hanging. I made some like these about 10 years ago--sure doesn't seem that long. Time flies when you're having fun. Click on the picture to see the personality of each. Though I draw the same style face, each is his own little being.

A Card for You and Something in the Making

Here's an old Christmas card from my stash belonging to my husband's family. The vintage is 1931 but the art is "Dickens-style." I hope you can use it.

My husband makes bows and his saying is "God puts a new adventure in every stick." Well, there's something in these sticks--maybe not bows but check back as they are transformed today (if God allows.) Have a good one. Psalm 118:24--"This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Deck the Halls

"Deck the halls with boughs of holly. Fa,la,la,la,laaa,la,la,la,laa." This is the inside of a Christmas envelope from 1932. The envelope was way more intricate than the card. I don't know how useful this would be to you since my photography is so poor, but it's interesting none the less and you're welcome to it.

" 'Tis the season to be jolly, fa,la,la,la,laaa,la,la,la,laa." "Deck your neck with jolly Santa (Snowman)" was the case this week at my house. I had a commission to make 8 adult-sized necklaces like the childrens' ones I made last week but with a cord instead of beaded elastic. Seems I got a bit carried away. I've never had so much fun as when I found glitter glue. Wheee, that's a blast. The Santa images are from Shabby Cottage Studio.

"Don we now our gay apparel. Fa,la,laa,la,la,laa,laa,laa,laaaa." I used both colored dot and white dot dominoes and glitter-glued the dots. They turned out very sparkly. "Troll the ancient yuletide carol, fa,la,la,la,laaa,la,la,la,laa." How do you "troll and what is it?

Happy Lord's Day anyway, everyone.

Loving Thoughts and A Christmas Candle Card

1 Chronicles 28:9--"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever."

I think that's pretty plain.

I made this little journal from an old ad and added buttons, velvet rick-rack, ribbon, lace from an old hankie and a rhinestone pin found in an old button box.

Here's another Christmas card for your art or other avenues of creativity. (Click on picture and right click on enlargement>click "save picture as" and add it to one of your files.) Have a good day.

Freebie Card and Wonderfully Made

I hope you can use this card from 1918. It's amazing the good shape it is in being that old. The graphics are very clear and my "sincere good wishes to you" still resides today.

Fleur de lis journal cover number one.

Fleur de lis journal cover number two.

Have you ever had to recreate something? I think it took almost twice as long to do the second journal for I tried to recreate every page just as the first. (I've explained the problem in a previous post.) I thought it would be easier but it wasn't. Though each journal is slightly different, each is wonderful in it's own right. Maybe that's why God created us each differently--it's just easier that way. Even identical twins are different in some way or another. You know, each of these journals is very special to me because I put time and effort into the making of each. How much more special am I to God? He made me unique and valuable and gave me a purpose in life. I am so grateful for what He continues to do in my life. He's given me more than I deserve.

Psalm 139:14--"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Two Freebie Postcards

Well, this isn't a Christmas card, but the wishes are still extended to you. I hope you find a use for this in your art. The vintage is 1921.

Isn't this adorable? I love it. I hope you can use this in your artwork or something else--my gift to you. It was sent in 1934.

This week, the first of December, has already proved to be very busy. I have two commissions to complete--5 children's necklaces and 3 adult necklaces with a Christmas theme and 20 Santa sticks. I finished the children's necklaces and my friend loved them and now wants 4 more adult necklaces by Sunday! Wow, I need to work even harder. My Santa sticks aren't due until the 15th so, Whewww! I have some time there. The shop owner that sells my art projects had a problem--she put my Fleur de lis journal on hold for a customer, who didn't show up or call after more than a week, and wound up selling it to another customer. The next day the original customer called and said she'll be by to pick it up Friday (tomorrow.) She asked me if I could duplicate the original journal. Fortunately, I took a picture of every page I decorated, but I told her that each was a one of a kind and I wouldn't be able to reconstruct it exactly--I don't have another fleur de lis napkin or a green glass button--things like that. I finished the covers and 10 pages and they are close. Hopefully, it will work--a lot of time goes into a reconstruction, even more than the original because I have to find everything again. Soooo, I'd better get busy and get to work--or just wiggle my nose and it would appear--and that' not going to happen. Only one can do that.

Psalm 148:5--"for He commanded and they were created."

Santa Claus

Is believing in Santa Claus wrong? My children grew up believing there was one and we did too. Both my husband's and my family didn't discourage this belief. Where did they go wrong? Were we incorrect in assuming that this belief was ok? What's wrong in thinking that there is a person big enough to give us our desires, to satisfy our deepest longings--someone in whom we can confide and trust. Did you ever notice the correlation between Santa and God? Maybe I'm stretching it a bit, but I see it. My children believe that they must be honest with their children and not allow them to believe in a myth. They want them to know that what is under the tree (and the tree belief is another story) is from them. Actually, honesty would have solved a lot of our problems when we were raising our children. My Mom and Dad gave us money to buy for our children because we just didn't have any extra. Those gifts were the "Santa" gifts and ours paled in comparison. How come Santa got to give the good gifts and not us? Why did we have to give the socks and jeans when Santa gave them toys? Oh, well, the questions abound and my kids have made their own decisions and all is well with the world. Just thought I'd vent.

Anyway, here is a freebie 1934 Santa postcard from my family collection. Hope you like it. Who started the Santa kick, anyway?

Happiness is a Freebie

Free 1913 postcard from my personal collection of family cards. Use as you wish and Merry Christmas.

Psalm 68:3--"But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful."

"The pursuit of happiness" is a US Constitutional right along with life and liberty, however, true happiness comes from God. Many are sorrowful at holiday times due to life's losses. How do they do it without the joy of the Lord? Even in sorrow a Christian is joyful because his Lord loves him enough to share His goodness and mercy with him. Find true joy this Christmas through a deeper knowledge of the Almighty God and his son, Jesus Christ.

Through the next 24 days, I plan to share some postcards and Christmas cards. These come from my personal collection, from my husband's grandparents and great aunts and uncles. I hope you enjoy them and feel free to use them as you wish. Use them in your art, copy onto card stock and use as personal cards or just put the copy on a little easel to display throughout the season. Click on the photo>double click on the enlargement>save as picture to your file. Enjoy the holy-days.