Busy Baking in the Studio

Look at these lovely paper confections I have been cooking up! This is what I have been baking up in the studio, as I get ready to start baking a delicious sweet for the LOC cake decorating party. This is sure to be an inspiring event. There will be 22 paper craft artists and card makers contributing their best recipes! I hope you will come and check out the blog hop and feast your eyes on all kinds of wonderful calorie free cakes and cupcakes.

Here is a bit of a peek to see what I am doing. Are you curious?

Livre de Oiseaux~Book of Birds

First pg.

Some of you may be visiting from Masterpiece Monday Welcome! I am glad you stopped by, let me know that you visited and leave a comment, I enjoy visiting with those who love the Lord, art, books and nature or any combination of those. Some of you have been curious from other posts to know what my "Bird Book"is. Here is a peak at my Altered Mixed Media Book, Livre de Oiseaux. I haven't finished it yet, it is a work in progress and something I find great joy in creating.

I was inspired by a book my friend Laura of LOC showed me called Nature Inspired by Tracie Lyn Huskamp. This book has great techniques and ideas to walk you through creating your own mixed media book. If you are an altered art fan then you will enjoy this book! My book is filled with artwork as well as poetry, bible verses and other sayings that inspire me to think beyond myself.

Become Radiant

This page features a verse from Isaiah 60:1 & 5a It reads:

Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. Then you shall see and become radiant and your heart shall swell with joy.

I Love the imagery. I think the birds do this every morning, don't you! To become radiant... it is only with the glory of the Lord that I could ever hope to be this way.

I have been building this book for some time but recently have come back to it and I have found great pleasure in it's creation, I almost can't stop making pages for it. I intend on using my own bird sketches for another 2 page layout but haven't decided on a color scheme just yet.

For the cover, I am using an old rummage sale book. I have taken out the insides so that I can use the cover and spine. And because I am so cheap, I use canvas drop cloths from the hardware store for the substructure. Then I start building the pages.

The Mockingbird details

The Skylarks details

I am a collector. My friend Laura and I call each other little squirrels, because of our gathering instincts. I tell you what, it is hard for me to throw out stuff I know I will use on projects like this. So consequently, I have drawers and baskets, pockets and piles of treasure all around my studio. I tell myself it is one of my best character qualities...hey, not everyone can turn trinkets and trash into soulful treasures from the heart, right?(I say that humbly)

This page is called Mrs. Robin

To be continued....Thanks for visiting.

Making a Memorization Book

Here is a Patchwork Heart Version of the Memorization Book. Feel free to download your copy and directions here. I pray that you will hide God's word in your heart so that you will live the heartfelt life of Christ. Live it, by learning it!

2011 Surprises

I am honored to have been published in Christian Paper Craft Magazine. This is an e-zine that I submitted to last fall. How fun to find out today that I am the first listed under the Autumn and Thanksgiving catagory. I submitted a piece called Fluttering Fall. The colors remind me of the richness of fall. It features LOC Butterfly Collector stamps. Sewing techniques, beads, material scraps, lace trim and other found items that seemed to marry nicely with this piece.

Christianity and Art-Books

Books are my favorite treasure! If I found a treasure chest full of books I would be the richest girl in the world, truly!

Lately, I have been filling my mind with words by authors who have written on Art and Christianity. Two of my loves! Imagine my delight when I found them together in several books. Two books that I devoured due to their subject matter are entitled Art for God's Sake by Philip Graham Ryken and Art and the Bible by Francis A. Schaeffer . If you are looking to devote your artwork to the expression of worship and testimony of the Lord then these are" must reads"!

Here are some brief thoughts on these two books. I enjoy sharing the things of my heart:

In Art for God's Sake Ryken takes us on a biblical journey back to the Old Testament and the building of the Tabernacle as directed by God. This takes us to the roots of art and how it is ordained by God for His Glory. Throughout history the relationship of the Christian faith and art has been misunderstood. I believe that currently there is a rediscovery of the arts and the Christian artist! This short little book is the perfect "primer" into such a subject. I believe the author is teaching Christians that there is hope for the Christian artist, that art can be used to express devotion, adoration, and worship of our Divine Creator in a fallen world. How exciting!

Art and the Bible talks about the Lordship of Christ over, even the arts. Shaffer also give us a biblical formula for critiquing and looking at art with a subjective and objective eye. This is really useful especially when looking at abstract artwork today.

If you are interested these are available through The Patchwork Heart, Co. Library Bookstore .

Christianity and Art

Simple Transformation

I have had the delightful privileged of being on an art discussion panel with 3 other very accomplished artists in my community, at an event called Celebration of the Arts, held at my church. What a pleasure to listen, learn and share with them. Here is some of what I have come to know about my art and how it is interwoven with my faith.

Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are (transformed) much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 ~The Message Bible

Parentheses mine

In the art piece, Simple Transformation, I have used a mixed media style to represent my own fibrous existence- layered, tattered and textured, plain as it is. This piece represents my own transformation into a creature created by God. The beauty and freedom of a butterfly reflects the qualities that God sees in me. It is with the ever presence of the Holy Spirit that I am able to emerge each day and reflect the iridescence of my own winged-spirit and give my praises back to the King of Glory.

One of the great responsibilities God bestowed to the the butterfly is pollination. In a symbolic way as a Christian, I am like the butterfly. I am called to drink in the nectar of God's word and His grace and then spread that essence to others through my own life, by my actions, my words, through grace and with love. I freely fly and give to others, for this is what I am called to do. This is why I was transformed and broken from my cocoon of sin and shame. I am to take this pollen of truth to others. Regardless of the type of flower. Regardless of where you come from, what your background is, how you have gotten to this point in time. Here, let me share with you what you need to emerge from your cocoon of sin and live transform into the creature God created you to be.

I have come to learn that for me, my art and my faith are inter-dependent. For without one I would not have the other. Alone they are ineffective. Together I can use this gift to spread the love and Gospel of Jesus and to bring beauty to a world in desperate need of knowing the Savior.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2 NIV