Funny Little Tree

Why did I buy a red sparkly kid's purse with a mini white boa at an after-Valentine's Day sale? Well, here's the answer--a cute little tree. I used a mini paper mache cone and wrapped the boa around it, gluing it as I went and the boa was the perfect size for the cone. It was meant to be. What am I going to do with it? Hmmm, that remains to be seen but many of the things I've made are in Limbo Land right now. They've either been rejects that I didn't feel were good enough to sell or I tried to sell them and they didn't get bought. As for now, here at the end of Oct. and the beginning of Nov., I have a little feather Christmas tree on my TV and I like it.

Psalm 91:4--"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."

Feather Tree

I saw a lovely feather tree in JoAnn Fabric the other day and thought I would make one. This one doesn't look a thing like it but was SO easy to make. The key word is "boa" so all you crafters can take a hint. I made two and took them to S'More Couture to use as displays for jewelry--stick a pin in and hang said jewelry--and it worked. I'll have to take pictures of the corner of the shop I helped decorate yesterday afternoon after church. It turned out pretty well. I'm putting one in my Etsy shop as well.

Love Banner

Here's another banner for Christmas--LOVE--the essence of Christmas. What a gift--eternity through Jesus Christ.
John 3:16--""For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Joy Banner

We can't have enough joy. Our world needs it so much. True joy is complex in that it comes from within regardless of outward circumstances. Have you ever seen someone with a smile on her face ALL the time? There is a checker at WalMart who is continually smiling and I try to get in her line because I need to see someone who actually looks like they are enjoying life and you know standing in a check out booth all day has got to be grueling. I've never seen her without that smile. You can bet you won't catch me with a smile all the time and shame on me

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God gives us a sense of inner joy IF we seek him. With that joy comes a special strength as well.

Nehemiah 8:10--"The joy of the Lord is your strength."

Snowflakes and Roses

It's been a while since I posted but it's been a crazy week. Our church had a full weekend of Lay Renewal Services that involved my participation from Fri. afternoon through Sunday evening. Then I had to play for a funeral on Mon. of a dear friend who lost his battle with leukemia but is now living the eternal life as promised by God for those who know Christ. Today I'm cooking for a person who was scheduled but forgot. I've now cooked for three Wednesdays straight and need a break

I haven't had much time for creating. I made these little snowflakes and roses ornaments a while ago and added the labels yesterday so I have these to show today. I've been working on more little handmade flowers for my granddaughters and the shop and I'm decorating a corner of the shop on Sunday--all white. I'll take a picture when it's done--so I'm collecting and creating white things to display. Must go and create for an hour before I start cooking. TTFN--Ta Ta For Now if you're not a Pooh Bear Fan.

Song of Solomon 2:1--" I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys."

In poetic and descriptive words, the author, King Solomon, writes a song of his love for his bride.

Fiber Art Journal

I started work on this journal yesterday and finished it this morning. It's called "Follow Your Heart" and it's to go into a silent auction sponsored by the shop, S'More Couture, where I sell my other artsy things. I cleared almost as much money last month as I did all last year. It was a good month! I bought a stack of Hallmark Bride's Books at Big Lots (love that place for cheap artsy stuff) for $2.00 each. Usually I aim for $1.00 but these are so cute with each page colored blue and decorated. The end papers are brown and blue with a pocket in the back--perfect. I decorated the whole cover with fabric and embroidered on a beautiful cut-work piece I bought quite a while back and saved--well--just for this, I guess.

I added ribbons with buttons and I hope someone bids on it. It would be really bad if I sold it for $5.00 since I spent about 3 hours on it--a drop in the bucket for anyone who does any art projects. Have you noticed, most artists and musicians don't get paid enough for the time they spend on their works--the story of my life. However, God gifted me with musical ability and artistic ability and I can't live without either. My life is centered on both. It's nice to make a little profit. I chose a scripture to accompany this journal but forgot to add it. I'll have to go back to the shop and glue it in the back. Here it is:

Deuteronomy 6:6--"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts."

Pony Tails

I've been making ponytail roses for a few little girls I know--no, not these "girls," my granddaughters. I took the stuff with me last week when visiting one of them and didn't have time to make one. Her brother and she took up my time, ohhh, too bad:+)

She wears her hair like this sometimes--sooo, cute!

Matthew 7:11--"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

Standing Out

It's interesting how some things just stand out more than others. I went to my kitchen window where I have one of my little collections of found bird feathers and look what caught my eye.

I didn't miss picking these two beauties up. It's funny how they stand out in a crowd. Even the Bible gives scripture comparing birds--which makes me wonder why some people stand out and others blend in. Feathers do not make the bird.

Job 39:13--""The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but they cannot compare with the pinions and feathers of the stork."

Three More Pumpkins

A pink and white Autumn--mmmm--my favorite. I had some pink and maroon leaves, purple flowers, pink roses and beads, put them all together in this arrangement. I love it! I can't sell this one--it's mine.

Even though I love pink and white, I do like the traditional colors of Fall as well. I've made two more. This could be addictive. I searched the scriptures for those with pumpkins and, you know, these weren't available in that part of the world so there is no mention of them. Melons are mentioned and so are vegetables. I've included a vegetable scripture for today.

Proverbs 15:17--"Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred."

RePurposed Vintage Purse

I was about to give away a 100% wool sweater with pearlized buttons when I thought, "There's got to be something I can make from this. I hate to just give it away." Thirty minutes later, Voila, a purse. I'm going to carry it today and will probably have to line it so it won't stretch to high heaven but I think it turned out cute.

Maybe tomorrow I'll make a flower from some of the back to add to this. Hmmm....think, think, think. Stay tuned.

2 Corinthians 5:17--"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Fall Glorious Fall

I made this little artificial 9" pumpkin for a friend today. She wanted something to go with her Fall flower arrangement we bought last week. I had seen some similar to this in the current Somerset Life magazine. Mine don't look as beautiful but I think it's pretty.

I'm going to work on a white one with pink, maroon and brown this afternoon, maybe. Happy Fall.

Friends Small Journal

Here's another small journal for the shop. I used the following scripture inside:

1 Samuel 20:42--"Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord."

I've used tatted lace (my favorite), tiny shell buttons, a selvege from some sheer fabric, a strip of an old kitchen towel, pink cording, and silk ribbons bedecked with a clear glass button, beads and a teensy curtain ring. I love the graphic. The background is from Shabby Cottage Studio.