Mixing the Arts

The top two are for the shop and the other three go to family members. I worked on these you see here last week.   I have a wedding rehearsal tonight with the wedding tomorrow, practice for a wedding next weekend, a hymn I transposed, extra music for the Lord's Supper Sunday, another wedding in two weeks, VBS music to learn (also in about 2 weeks) and we did a cantata in our service last Sunday.  That's a lot of music in a short time so my time has been taken on preparation and performance.  Sometimes it works like that and it is June--the month for weddings.  Next week we're going visiting friends and family so I have to be ready now.

"..to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."--Titus 2:5
Well, I have some of these things.  Paul would be so proud.

New Commissions

My friend, Amy, gave me an old 30's hat--a great pillbox style with a rolled edge from which I was to make two flowers.  I was JUST able to glean enough fabric for these cuties.  I used the inside grosgrain ribbon on the one on the right with the striped ruffle.  The other one came together using two different pieces from which I cut strips--one a slip and one a gathered piece of lace--both matched perfectly.  I love when things just come together like that.

Graduation Cards

I started with a pack of greeting cards for a $1.00 from Michael's and I added old music and text, a computer generated word on computer-printed background and string.  I used a bit of brown ink for shading on the balloons.  I punched holes on either side of the balloon bottom and threaded it through them and tied a knot.  I then cut a little slit through the bottom corner and pushed the string through with a flat head screwdriver to the inside and taped it.  I added a Bible verse from Jeremiah 29:11--" 'I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future' " and glued it over the exposed thread on the inside.  There you have it--multiple cards and very inexpensive but fun to make.

Spring Colors on Shirts

This purple shirt reminds me of tall Flox, that bright-colored bush that grows wild around here.  And, of course, the green--the perfect Spring green.  These were made for a friend and for her daughter.  My friend liked the green shirt so much that she wants one now.  Yeah, another commission.  Happy weekend.

Ruffles and Flowers on a Tank

I've always wanted to be able to sell what I make and I'm doing that now.  It seems that my ruffled and/or flowery tank tops are hits at the corner shop, S'More Couture.  They surely are fun to make.  Every flower is unique.   I'm not doing a lot of mixed media art but I do get hungry for it occasionally so I make a small journal.  The shop is needing more of those so maybe I can break myself away from the flowers for a few hours--maybe.....

Sweet Flowers

Here are a couple of commissioned flowers for Amy at S'More Couture.  She will put them on flip flops--so sweet and such a great idea.  These are made a little differently than I've done before and take a little less time to make.  Every flower is a tad different depending on the length and width of fabric.  I'm a cut-by-eye person so sometimes I have to trim them up a bit after I make them.  Since these had to be the same diameter, I was a little more careful in cutting.  Each of God's flowers is a little different, too.  Take a look.  Doesn't He do a good job?

I Had To Have A Shirt Too

Well, what's a Red Hat lady without her purple attire?  I had to make myself a shirt, too.  The other one goes to the shop--one of my LG sizes.  I really hate clubs of any kind and I've never been a member of any except a church missions group.  This one, however, is not like other clubs in that we just get together, eat and socialize--no other responsibility.  A cop out, you say?  No, a blessed relief.  Ask any minister's or deacon's wife and she'll tell you that no matter where she goes, she's responsible for something.  Well, we each do bring something to eat but I don't mind that and the non-cooks buy something to bring.  It's fun in a way but I'm not too keen on wearing my red hat in public.  Oh, the price we pay to fit into a group.  Would Jesus be proud of me if he came back while I was in my red hat group?  I think so.  We all have the same religious belief, we pray for each other and we share our family "stories," not gossip.  Everyone needs a little down time.

A Couple More Shirts

I made these shirts last week--a little bigger sizes--put them in the shop and I'm waiting to see if these larger women (sizes 8-10 and 12-14) will buy them.  I'm hopeful.  I love the way they turned out.  The beige is a soft, sheer fabric I bought at JoAnn Fabric a couple weeks ago and it drapes nicely.  I want to make more ruffles; they are so beautiful and dainty.  I wouldn't ever wear these because they are sleeveless and too low.
Preschool was good today; only one more week (yay!)  Going to work on more things today.  Have a good, creative day.

Bottles

 I made the rippled bottle (an old pepper sauce) last week and the pink one this morning.  Both reside at

S'More Couture, a little shop where I sell my creations.  You'll also see behind the bottles other creations that I've made that are awaiting being sold--a large journal, some shirts with flowers and some layered flower hair clips.  I'm glad to have this venue for my creations as my Etsy shop is not selling anything I make.  I've sold every shirt, hair clip, and bottle I've brought in the shop so someone out there likes my stuff and that's good news.

Thankful

This is the house in Franklin, TN where seven of my grandchildren and their other grandparents were rescued last Sunday.  The second story window was where they came out while balancing on the light fixture as they climbed into a boat.  Good Samaritans came with a bass boat and took them to a shelter and their parents picked them up later.  My son and DIL were only a few feet away but a power line was hanging close to the water and they were not able to get directly to them.  Son and DIL picked them up at another point.  I can't begin to imagine witnessing your children and parents climbing into a boat only feet away and not being able to get to them to help.  A lot of prayers went up for that family.  So many are facing this same mess and none of this was covered by the main stream media because two other stories were more important at the time.  When downtown Nashville is flooded and all roads around it as well is not National News then something is wrong somewhere.  I guess "an affluent neighborhood can take care of themselves" was the premise.  People are people and they have heartache, too.  This family didn't have flood insurance; their company didn't offer it because it was considered a "flood-free" area.  Go figure.  Anyway.....I'm very thankful no one was injured here and all are safe and sound in my son's home about a 30 minute drive away.  There doesn't seem to be any repercussions either because the children were playing in and around their flooded pond the next day.  They love water.  Little three year old, Laura, prayed that night, "Thank you, God, for letting us have such a great time at Nana and Papa's house."  Now that's thanking God in all circumstances, isn't it?

Another Praise and Some Pretties

Our pastor is doing well after out-patient heart surgery (amazing that such a thing can be done.)  He should be up and around soon.  God is so good.
This weekend I finished some larger sized tank tops and shirts.  The moms are asking for them when they buy their daughters a top.  I can deal with this and it makes my time working on them worth while. 
Have a great day and to quote my son-in-law's boss, "May the fourth be with you!"

Praise and Petition

Please, praise God with me.  My seven Nashville, TN grandchildren were trapped in their other grandparents home today from about 10:00 - 4:30 with water flooding the downstairs.  They were rescued by boat and reunited with their parents this evening.  Halleluia!  Flooding doesn't hit home until it's your family.  My other TN child and her family had about 12 inches of rain yesterday and their nice, newly planted garden is now in their neighbors yard but they didn't have a tornado or too much wind damage.  Another Halleluia!
Now the petition.  Please, pray that the procedure on our pastor is successful--he has another aneurysm near his heart and will be having out-patient surgery tomorrow morning.  He had two very successful surgeries on his very sick heart a few years ago and I hope this one will be as simple as they say.  God rules and we are his.
Thanks for visiting.  More pictures to come this week.

More Lace and Ruffles

I've got to do somethings with my old lace.  It's been hanging around here for ages so I've combined it with vintage fabric and made roses.  The blue is so luscious.  The choker is part of a vintage piece and I've added roses and pearls with ribbons, fabric and more lace for streamers.   I continued the streamers for the rose decoration on a purchased top.  Looks like clouds and sky to me.