Altered Art Opportunity! Daily Window Handbags

Daily Window Handbags are a wonderful way to share your art, family, faith with others simply by the nature of the bags design. Paula has designed her handbags, book bags, backpacks and planners with a clear window for you to display your art work, pictures even scripture verses if you want.

I jumped at the opportunity to alter a couple of hand bags with my artwork and I also loved the idea that I could share my heart and the message of salvation simply by putting my artwork on display in the window of handbags! Here are the two bags that I altered

'The Fragrance of Life" is from 2 Corinthians 2:14-16:14

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?

"The Pear" is using Galatians 5:21b-23

I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

These are wonderful bags not only for the message you can share but for all practical purposes as well. Durable and fashionable too! I hope you will head over and check out the Gallery of Inspiration and Hand Crafted Card Gallery you will find both my bags and cards art there!

Girl Time Tidbit #3

Well, I have promised a project to do together to enhance your Girl Time so here it is: "The Cozy Candle Lamp Shade." In our Girl Time spot on the table is a candle that we like to burn for its scent and also that warm and cozy glow that it gives to the room. My daughter and I thought that it would be fun to have a paper shade to go on our lamp to change with the seasons.

Our version here is used over a wine goblet and a very sweet size to have on your Girl Time Table! Here is how to make one for yourself:

This project is to be used

ONLY WITH A TEA LIGHT CANDLE!!!!

1. Take a wine goblet (I have found inexpensive ones at the dollar store) and place your tea light candle inside at the bottom, trim the wick to 1/4 in so the flame is not too high.


2. Now you are going to print out the pattern found on the website below. This website http://www.warner-criv.com/tools/lampbuilder.aspx allows you to put in your goblet dimensions and it will calculate and draw up a pattern for you according to your goblet size. If you would like a round shade like ours make sure to put in 1 side. I think this is a great little gadget! Thanks Warner Stained Glass!
   
3. Cut out your pattern, trace and cut shade out. Then decorate to your liking. You can simply use beautiful papers(as we did), or get really fancy and add lace and trims, buttons, even some antique costume jewelry for a little bling! Use your imagination and make it to match your decor. Or follow our example, made with two kinds of patterned color paper in pink and ivory and a heart graphic cut from some old wall paper.


4. Using double stick tape or glue, adhere edges together and place the shade on the goblet. The top of the shade should be slightly smaller so that your shade will not slip over the goblet but just rest on top. To light the tea light make sure you remove the paper shade first and then light the candle.

Now you will have that cozy warm feeling when you spend your Girl Time together. I hope that you will enjoy each other as you do this project. My daughter decorated this lamp shade-didn't she do a great job!

It is Good to be Queen- Cupcake

This is my entry for the Layers of Color Challenge this week and the theme was cake! I use my computer to download free images or print off images that I have purchased and my ink was out. Well you know what they say? "Necessity is the Mother of invention"(did Einstien say that?) anyway so I was forced to really get artsy! This was a glorious adventure- I love using oil pastels and really getting my hands and fingers into my art so the cupcake is an original design that is reduced(I got off one copy before my printer started talking at me). I also used my watercolor pencils another favorite for the background and my Layers of Color Beaded Frames set ribbon, German scrap, paperflower, and an old poem from a child's poem book.

Ta Da! Enjoy.

The Joy of Being a Girl

This past week has been an amazing journey-a real testament to the Lord! The Lord place in my heart the idea for a class about purity and teaching my girls character about 9 yrs. ago. So, with my oldest daughter, I taught a class at church called Girls Going for GOD. This experience laid the foundation for me to give the class I just taught this week called The Joy of Being a Girl-Growing in Character as a Daughter of the King! Little did I know of the blessings in store for me! We had 16 girls 5 teen helpers and 4 Queens(all of them grew up in the Great Depression) along with my team of 3. My teen helpers each had a group and lead discussion time. Our Queens shared their life stories, pearls of wisdom and God's love with us. ALL the girls loved this. Then of course we crafted something that went along with my teaching time and the lesson for the day. I spoke on: Being God's treasure, Wisdom, Character, Obedience and Purity in mind, heart, and spirit.

The word that keeps coming to my lips is DELIGHT! I cannot even put into words all the blessings that I received from this group. What amazes me is the amount of work that went into a class like this. My team was tireless and talented- I could not have pulled it off without them. The best part was having confidence to know the jobs would be fulfilled and that I could really count on them. For that I am grateful, it freed me up to do what I love, to teach and do art and crafts with the girls! Phew! was I tired but my spirit was always filled to overflowing at the end of the day. Isn't it always like that with the work of the Lord. He never promised us it would be easy but He did say the burdens would be light and our paths and purposes would be straight! AND when we follow Him we are blessed beyond measure!

The last day we had a wonderful luncheon and one of the 9 yr. olds spontaneously got up and asked if she could play a song on the piano for us. It threw me a bit and I almost didn't allow her to do it. I didn't want to squelch her desire or talent so I said she could. She bravely walked up and sat down and share her gift of music with us. I couldn't believe it, the song was just perfect for the occasion-I loved it as did all the other ladies in the room. What a treat!

We had also wanted the girls to take away a physical reminder of our time together so I made them pearl charms for purity and a key charm for obedience. So as part of our program I presented them each with a charm. Then I prayed over them and opened it up for whoever felt comfortable praying. Little by little moms shared and then...these sweet tender-hearted girls started to pray for us in thanksgiving and praise for being able to take this class and for their own moms and teachers, even my own daughter prayed for me! It just took my breath away and of course made me tear up as only a mother will do! See what I mean?! Total DELIGHT!

I am posting some pictures, but not of the girls to protect them, but of our crafts and the thank-you art I made for my helpers Enjoy! 1. The top of the box decoration 2. Yummy craft supplies 3. My sweet daughter's box 4. Thank you gift for my team mates 5. over sized bookmarks for teen thank yous!

In My Garden

My goodness...I have been having a very successful season with my roses this year and I thought you might enjoy seeing this years blessing. Boy, do I love roses! There is something about them. Maybe it is the old fashioned nature of this flower or that it is considered by many to be the queen of all flowers! It is the sweet luscious scent some would argue, I would say, "Yes!" It is for all of those reasons that I love the rose.

This flower also represents life to me and I would like to share my thoughts with you on this. Life is filled with beauty and things that are pleasing to our senses! It is easy to be caught up in the sweet aroma of a rose, isn't it? To many the smell of a rose will take them captive and fill their mind's eye with lovely memories of places and people, and of love. It can represent friendship and congratulations. It often fills our churches and places of worship during weddings and funerals. It's oils have been used for centuries to beautify many a Lady and Queens.

However, there is also a dark side to the rose. If you have been pricked by it's thorns you know what I am talking about. Life too is thorny. We get prick and poked all the time and sometimes we even...bleed. There are seasons in life where we feel like we are bleeding sometimes physically, other times emotionally, even sometimes spiritually. The thorns of a rose are a caution, slow down, please handle me with care. I have felt the need at times to be 'handled with care'.

My roses are a great reminder that in order to enjoy the sweetness of life and all its loveliness we also have to be willing to take the thorns, to get pricked and poked on this journey. But most importantly, my roses remind me of a scripture from the Word of God:

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?

Look What I Just Got-Precious!

I am a bit late in posting this I actually received this at the beginning of the week. This is a personal swap I did with a wonderful gal named Sally S. Visit her blog at: Lydia's Lineage you will not be sorry. I can't even tell you what a blessing this was! I was filled with such joy at this token of friendship Sally! It just took my breath away. Isn't this just lovely? I love the worn blue hankie, buttons, strips of material and ribbon! All things I just love, but then take a look at this old fashioned image, it is so tender, a picture of true friendship and sisterhood in Christ. I am so honored! You made my week. It has been a busy one so even to take a moment and gaze upon this lovely piece of artwork really gave me a relaxing moment of reflection. Thank you dear Sally...I can't wait for our other swap too. Many kind thoughts of you, Heather

Exciting News!

I just can't wait! I am bursting at the seams! I have been asked to be a designer on the mixed media team for Layers of Color, isn't that something?! This means that I get the privilege of inspiring all of you with ideas to spark your own creativity using the wonderful designer stamps created by one of my favorite gal pals Laura Kirste Campbell. I get to saddle up next to her lovely daughter Jessica, and also great artists Karen Owen, Denise Lynn,, go visit their blogs these gals do amazing work! I feel so fortunate to be included with these gals to participate in this great adventure!What an honor! I hope you all will be looking forward to tips and techniques that we will share using the Layer of Color signature stamps sets. Thanks Laura and Jessica! I'd be on your team any day!!!

A Wonderful Surprise!

I have been having a new experience- I have been PRIORITIZING! I know-stand back... this is a feat for me because I feel like I am not always very good at it. All that to say, that I received a wonderful surprise in the mail last week and I am just now getting it up on my blog.

I participated in a wonderful swap hosted by The Vintage Dragonfly "For the Birds"and I got this lovely above from Margo, you can visit her blog Dining Room Studio and see what I gave her if you would like, thanks again Margo for posting mine!

Getting this in the mail was such a treat, because I have had other things taking center stage. Do you ever have times when you move from one thing to the next thing without a breather? That has been me lately and it is not a pace I am use to- it was starting to wear me out! However... I am getting an amazing amount of art, chores, activities done, and THAT is a blessing! Enjoy Margo's lovely artwork!

Selling Sea Shells

I love the ocean, absolutely love it! If you read my story on my website you will see what I mean. I live in the Pacific Northwest and less than a mile from salt water. Growing up I lived right on the beachfront, what a life!

Many summer days were spent pondering my girlish thoughts among the clams, oysters, and seaweed in stinky blackened muddy sand. Many of my friends would get a boat before they got a car and the fishing village we called home is still a commercial fishing port. Many of the families in this community are still fishing in the family boats that head to Alaska in the summer months. My brother did this too. The fisherman's heritage is strong here.

I find a great sense of God at the beach! It brings me such inner peace and reminds me of the Almighty power of the Lord I serve. The force of waves and wind married with the smallest creatures and beautiful diversity! Ah I never tire of it!

Here is a bit of art to represent my love of the beach. This is painted raw canvas with Layers of Color Sea Life stamp, ephemera shell images decoupaged to the canvas, I also added pearlized powder for a little underwater glitz!

Summer is A-Coming!

Can you smell the summer season coming? It smells to me like dirt and fertilizer and flowers and herbs too. Speaking of herbs June is a wonderful time to plant lavender and I have just the kit to inspire you mothers and daughters to get your hands dirty! Go to my website The Patchwork Heart, Co. and featured this month is my The Loveliness of Lavender Kit! It has all you need to start your own lavender plant, as well as, make a luscious silk lavender sachet together. What a wonderful way to kick off summer fun than to work side by side doing this project together!