Hope

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit," Romans 15:13. Only the God of Hope can fill us with hope. This hope does not come from the world. When the world crumbles around us, we can be secure in the hope we have in our eternal future.

This art is based on a playing card, 2 1/2" x 3 1/2," on which I painted, adhered a vintage image, ribbons, lace, book scrim, German fraktur text and a hand-made copper label (http://www.painterlyartworks.com/) held on by waxed thread.

Hovering

Detail of "Hovering."

Detail work on "Hovering."

"Hovering" before quilting.

Finished piece: "Hovering"

Genesis 1:1-2: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." This scripture evokes a deep sense of awe inside me. Whenever I read this I marvel at the power of God. Whenever I doubt, I need to re-read this chapter and allow God's marvelous creative ability to fill my soul.

I used black cotton fabric as the base of this 6" square fiber art piece. I added pulled yarn, fabric, metallic and cottons threads, a copy of moon from http://www.nasa.gov/. I covered it with tulle and machine and hand quilted with coordinating thread.

Harmony

"Live in harmony with one another," Romans 12:16. This photo reminded me of a girl's summer camp, a dormatory situation or a womens' shelter. The dynamics of women or girls living together can be pretty rough. Woman tend to make little clubs and isolate others or have bad days and make it miserable for those around them. We all have our "crazy notions" where we do things a certain way and everyone is supposed to be o.k. with that. Let's face it. Sometimes we are just hard to live with. This scripture reminds me not to be dissonant with others but to make harmony with them.

The base of this art is a playing card on which I painted, adhered a vintage image and other ephemera, book binding, old text, an irridescent glass button and lace. I etched in gel medium and highlighted it with gold paint.

Lean Not

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding," Proverbs 3:5.
A bit macabre maybe, but this art is a manifestation of this verse of scripture.

This piece was based on a playing card on which I adhered a vintage image, a copy from an old anatomy book, ephemera, book binding, plastic netting and I etched in gel medium and highlighted with gold paint.

My son has started a blog--commonname.blogspot--about his journey as a Christian artist. I need to send him this card. He could attest to its meaning.

Love One Another

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another," John 13:35-36. This seems simple enough. Three little words that pack a big punch. You know, there are just some people I don't like, let alone love. I'm sure they must think the same of me since I don't have much to do with them. Now, is that any way a Christian should act? Jesus was speaking to the disciples and about the disciples. Did they not love each other? If they were like me at all, they probably needed Jesus to say that to them. I need the reminder.

This art was based on a playing card, 2 1/2" x 3 1/2," on which I adhered a vintage image and other ephemera, text, book binding, ribbon and lace. I painted the edges, etched in gel medium and highlighted it with gold paint. A charm (thank you, L.) hangs on gold thread put through a whole in the top segment.

Don't Fall

1 Corinthians 10:12--"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall."
I'm so smug sometimes to think that I'm strong. It's when I'm overconfident that I would never do such a thing, I do it. I'm depending on self and not the Lord for my strength. It's only in His power that I can do what He wants me to do. I've fallen before and I'll fall again. It's just not fun to hurt. So I pick myself back up and ask for forgiveness and start again.

This piece is based on an old book cover measuring 5 1/2" x 8 1/4" on which I've adhered a vintage image and other ephemera, etched in gel medium and highlighted with gold paint. I used yarn for the rope and glitter glue for the bird.

Shining Light

Proverbs 4:18--"But the path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day." This is the weekly challenge verse from Art in the Word Yahoo Group. Our lives in Christ begin with our first acknowledging Him as our Savior and Lord. As we grow older, our rightness with God also is to grow. If you don't feel closer to Christ as you age, you need to examine your relationship with Him. Relationships need nurturing and the same goes with ours with Christ. Examine your relationship today and grow in Christ. Be that "light" for someone else.

This fiber art card measures 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" and is based on muslin over which I put clipped yarn and tulle and then quilted with coordinating thread.

At The Gate

Proverbs 31:31--"Let her works bring her praise at the city gate." This passage is part of the chapter in Proverbs commonly called "The Virtuous Woman." May it be my goal that all the works I do are praiseworthy. I've just got to remember who I'm trying to please and it's not the world.

This artwork is based on a playing card on which I adhered a vintage image, a wood gate, a cardboard heart and etched in gel medium highlighted with gold paint.

My pastor seems to be fine. His problem last week was probably a virus. The Lord has surely cared for him even though the going has been rough. I'm still praying for him and his family as they are still waiting for his wound to heal (It's been over two months since the last surgery.)

Land and Sea

Genesis 1:9 and 10--"And God said, 'Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.' And it was so. God called the dry ground 'land,' and the gathered waters he called 'seas.' And God saw that it was good." I wonder if God had fun when He created the heavens and the earth. I surely had fun creating this fiber art piece.

This art measures 9 1/2" square without the border. It's base is an old handkerchief on which I laid assorted silk cloth, yarn and rope stands. I quilted it with color-coordinated thread.

Looking Up

Genesis 2:9--"And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food." This is a wonderful time of year. The trees that had enough rain last Summer and warm days and cool nights this Autumn are beginning to turn colors. I love to see the vast array of Fall hues line the streets. Even the most accomplished artist cannot paint scenery the way God can. You just can't help "looking up."

This fiber art piece was created on muslin. I clipped yarn to make the trees and clouds and then quilted it by adding coordinating thread. I used irridescent thread for the "rays." It measures 2 1/2" x 3 1/2."

At The Cross

This gruesome picture can't even begin to portray the actual event of Mary at the cross of her dear son. John 19:25 says that she was there: "Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother." She was close enough that Jesus saw her there (John 19:26.) He thought about her future well-being as he assigned one of his disciples to care for her after his death (John 19:26-27.) I can't begin to imagine the pain of this moment. For a mother to witness her son's death is beyond my comprehension. We owe a great respect for this woman of women, the one God chose to birth and raise His Son.

This piece of art has a playing card as the base onto which I adhered a vintage image and other altered ephemera. I etched in gel medium, painted with gold and overpainted with red. This was the result of the challenge scripture (above) from my Yahoo Group, Art in the Word.

Who Am I?

Psalm 8:3 and 4 (my paraphrase): "When I consider your heavens and the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have put in place, who am I that you even think of me. It's beyond me to think that you could care for me." The heavens are so vast and the heavenly bodies so unbelieveably beautiful--and yet, God cares more for us than any other thing He created. I'm so honored and humbled.

The base of this art is a playing card measuring 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" on which I painted, adhered a vintage image, etched in gel medium, dry brushed with gold and added waxed lined thread.

Dreams and Visions

"I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old ones will dream dreams. Your young ones will see visions." Joel 2:28. Are you too busy to dream? Do you have a vision for your life? The Israelites had again strayed from the Lord. They had followed their own destiny and entered into sin--again. When they finally came to their senses, they confessed their sin and turned back to God. God, in His infinite mercy, forgave them and blessed them. This was one of the promises he gave them. Turn to God and He will give you the vision He wants you to have.

This art was based on a playing card. I adhered a vintage image transfered on muslin, an image on paper and other ephemera. I etched in gel medium, then dry brushed with gold.

My pastor is back in the hospital and we don't know what is going on yet. He had two heart surgeries this past summer and has stomach pain now. If you pray, please do so. The thought came to me this morning as I was reading the Bible that maybe our church's prayers are not being heard because of our individual sins. Every member needs to confess sin and do what is right, turn back to the Lord. Maybe then we will receive positive answers to our prayers.

Be Still

"Be still, and know that I am God," Psalm 46:10. It's a simple statement but, oh, so hard to follow. In the world in which we live, noise and busyness command our lives to the degree that it makes it difficult to find any stillness anywhere. In order to hear God speak, we need to be close to him, because sometimes His voice is the "still, small voice." Find your "still" place today and know God better.

The base of this art is a playing card on which I adhered an old handkerchief remnant, trim, lace edging, a vintage image, buttons and other ephemera.

Worship

Psalm 99:5--"Our Lord and our God, we praise you and kneel down to worship you, the God of holiness!" God is the only one who deserves our worship. There is no one and nothing else on earth that deserving. Praise. Kneel. Worship.

The base of this art is a playing card on which I painted, adhered a vintage image, etched in gel medium and highlighted with gold. I added a little color to the image with water color pencils and an archival pen.

I'm back to my art for a while. My family left today after a three-day stay. It was fun playing with grandchildren, but I missed making my art cards. Ahh--a day of rest and card making.