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

Live Laugh and Love

This is what I have been creating for our women's retreat. I was inspired after a bout of migraines. It was nice to feel better and be able to really live out these 3 little words. Live Laugh and Love. I hope that you will do them with abandon this week!

I use wallpaper samples along with old text pages from old books. I use black ink and Layer of Color Stamps, and of course the peace de resistance: gold glitter!

These are little favors to give to each woman when she arrives. Our crafts and activities will both incorporate these design ideas and color scheme. Look out ladies we are going to live laugh and love a ton at this retreat!

Girls Gone Thread Wild project #2

Prayer for a Cure

I had the greatest time this week. I love it when an inspiration finally becomes the tangible! Often when I create I see it in my mind's eye, I like this process and I am given many good ideas
this way. However, it does have a downfall, sometimes it is hard to get away from this idea too.

I have had the materials for this project from Monica Magness for a while but I sat ruminating on these "other images" for a few months, needless to say life got in the way and I wasn't able to get to my idea right away.

This really turned out to be a blessing! Because what I had in mind was completely different than what I ended up with! Gotta love that! This 10in. x 10in. block has a totally different color scheme, less complicated design, just enough detail. Frankly, I like this creation much better than the original inspiration!

Detail of tag with glitter

This not only has material but also paper decoupaged to it, a paper tag, ribbon, scraps of lace, and buttons, a safety pin, stamped material(wings and crown) glitter, beads and trim.

I also discovered another thing... I have been missing my sewing machine! Boy was it fun to get my stitches and threads out and start playing. Different materials and textures! I really like velvet and canvas together, who knew?

One of my Favorite Treasures-Books!

Books are one of my favorite things, aren't you thankful that you were given the gift of literacy? Another treasured kind of book is an altered book, they fascinate me! I have always had within me the spirit of exploration. As a girl I loved to wander the forests of my girlhood home and find special places just for me. Altered books fill this requirement for my soul. I love all the pockets and tags and flaps. They just beckon to me to explore and find the treasure within it's cover. I think I would have been a great pirate!

If you don't know by now, one of my dearest friends is our LOC challenge hostess Laura. Our first artistic project together was an altered book for each other. We used the letters of our names to guide our pages. This is an example of what Laura gave me.

Incidentally, she made this for me and gave it to me for my 40th birthday. What a gift, it still makes me tear up to think about opening this package I got in the mail. No one had ever made something so special for me, ever! A true treasure, just like our friendship! I know this isn't my art work but Laura's(I got permission to post this way) however, I thought it only fair to show her book since she used mine for the challenge inspiration!

So I guess in a round about way you eventually see my work and hers, just not in the conventional way-which is just how we like it!

Layers of Color Challenge- Metal

Here is this weeks entry for the Layers of Color challenge-Metal. Awesome challenge! I enjoyed this one, especially since I wanted to make a Baptism gift for V. I am really excited to give this gift because I hope that it will be a true Ebenezer in this gals life, that's why I made it. I used upholstery tacks for the metal requirement. On the pink fiber is a LOC Cross charm I made from shrink plastic. I added a bible verse around the

edge of the piece along with gold metallic picot trim to add just a bit of shine. I also used LOC Fleur Heart stamp with glimmer paints to add texture to one side.

To remind her to live transformed. I love the imagery of the butterfly. I like to use it to represent the life of the believer and our journey with Christ.

As it says in:

Romans 12:2

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.

It has been a delight to see the Lord transform this wandering soul into a child of God. I have watched her shed her old wings of life to become a new creation in Christ Jesus. What a joy it is to welcome another child of God into the Kingdom of Heaven...can you hear the angels rejoicing?

To Summer's End-Coquilles Marines

While on vacation I spent a considerable amount of time relaxing and sketching, which I don't do very often. I don't consider myself a classically trained artist so drawing and sketching are something I have to work at. However, I don't mind when there is ocean waves lulling, the smell of salt and sand in the air, warm sun and cool winds tangling my hair... Ahhhh La Mer! I'm on vacation.

I just got back from our annual summer vacation to Cannon Beach Oregon, such a beautiful place, filled with charm, beauty, lots of artwork and sand! There was all kinds of ocean inspiration about us. I just had to sketch something. Usally I sketch and journal vinettes of our daily outings and family time. This year I did something a bit different...

Here are my sketches in my art journal, not bad. My younger daughter bought some watercolor paints with her spending money and we spent a couple days painting and sketching the shells we purchased locally. I have wished that I could find the kind of shells I sketched but I am afraid that would be an international adventure all its own, hmmmm maybe someday.

Layers of Color Challenge- Roses

Here is my entry for this weeks Layers of Color challenge. I know this isn't the traditional way to use roses but I thought that I would try something different. I was too excited to use this thriftstore find! It only cost me $2.00, a real steal! It already had this wonderful gold and cream patina to it. My kind of treasure!
I used some old hardware and of course added one of my signature roses to it in antique
brown-blue. I am using this treasure box to house all my ATC's. I used the fleur heart stamp and pearl boarders from LOC too, I think they add a wonderful textured detail to the edges.

Ode to My Lavender

I created this sweet lavender fairy tussie mussie to watch over my harvested lavender while I was away I'm hoping she will do a good job although she does have a bit of an impish grin on her face...I wonder what she is thinking?

"ladies fair, I bring to you lavender with spikes of blue;

sweeter plant was never found

growing on our English ground."
Caryl Battersby

"And lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom shall be,

ere-while, in arid bundles bound

to lurk admist the labours of her loom,

and crown her kerchiefs witl mickle rare perfume."
William Shenstone The School Mistress 1742

"There’s flowers for you;Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram;

The marigold, that goes to bed wi’ the sun,And with him rises weeping;

thes are flower Of middle summer,

and I thek they are given To men of middle age."

William Shakespeare The Winter’s Tale

Parading Prideful Peacock

Here is my last entry for a few weeks for Layers of Color Challenge:Exotic Birds. I will be vacationing with family at the Oregon Coast. My absolute favorite place to relax with my family.

The Peacock has been a symbol of pride and vanity, but I thought he was the perfect subject for the Exotic Bird theme this week. The Bible has lots to say about pride for example:

Proverbs 1:11-3

1 The LORD abhors dishonest scales,

but accurate weights are his delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,

but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity

Genius and virtue are to be more often found clothed in gray than in peacock bright.

~Van Wyck Brooks

Be back soon!

Patience

Here is my entry in the Salt Challenge this week. I recently did a personal swap with a friend and we did a Fruit of the Spirit books out of ATC's. I thought it would fit nicely with this challenge theme. Each page was an attribute of the Fruit of the Spirit. Each page had a verse from the Bible on that quality. I chose for the patience page this verse:

Colossians 1:10-12

10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

I am constantly checking myself on this one. I tend to have a shorter supply of this and it is a part of my character that I constantly work on. The Lord continues to teach me so much in this area, and having four children certainly helped in the efforts for me to see the light :o)! But I so love this verse! I love how patience is coupled with endurance, what a happy marriage that is. To me patience is the internal and endurance is the eternal.

Father in Heaven... I hope and pray that I live a life worthy of You, Lord and that it may please You in every way. That I bear good fruit and grow in the knowledge of You. That I will be stregthened in all power according to Your glorious might so that I may have great endurance and patience! Amen

Fruit of the Spirit - A Swap

I did a personal swap with my friend Sally S. She came up with this great idea of doing a Fruit of the Spirit book-I was totally on board with this idea! In the Bible there are nine attributes that come from having the Fruit of the Spirit, they are: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. We each created a page with the attribute and then references a verse from the bible to go with that character quality. Great idea Sally!

So, how many of us don't need more of these attributes in our lives? I know I do, especially in the areas of Patience, Faithfulness, and Self-Control! Listen to me it sounds as if I have the others all figured out doesn't it?...don't get me wrong, there are plenty of days that I run out of these too. It seems as if these others are qualities that come easier to me, you know the ones I don't have to work so hard at :o)! But alas, I'm a fallen soul and I will always come up short. So, the Lord's grace means so much to me, you see, I don't really deserve it and I get it anyway! Incredible.

This is just part of this wonderful little treasure that I received. I wanted to share Sally's work with you because I think it is so beautiful and what she created very much represents me! She captured the feel of the things that I love with great detail and care. The wonderful thing, is that Sally and I have not met face to face and have known each other for only a short time. That is the Lord, isn't He good! I hope you will visit Sally's site Lydia's Lineage. She is so insightful and filled with the love of our Lord. After your visit you will feel blessed. May your heart be filled to overflowing with the Fruit of the Spirit Sally! ~Keep looking Heavenward, Heather

Strawberry Fields Forever!

I couldn't resist! Here is my entry for the Layers of Color Challenge: Berries! This is a door knob hanger. I have used Dover images, pretty paper, a transparency, velvet ribbon, antique lace and lace medallion, buttons and even a couple berry pics- too cute. I used a stamp for the letter 's' as well. I also made this 3-D and added a bible verse to the back from:

Psalm 67:5-7

May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.
6 Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.
7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

Lady Liberty -The Real Miss America!

I was asked by Theresa W. at Cottage Violets to enter her blog contest and write why I love America in honor of the 4th of July, Check it out! I also felt it appropriate to share what I wrote and show you what I did for the Stamp Something, Layers of Color Challenge, Salt and Faith Sisters.

I have had the opportunity to travel abroad to the Middle East and other countries. I have to say that being born in America is such a privilege! Prior to my trip I often took this freedom for granted. I really didn't think about it much except on the 4th of July holiday.

My perspective has changed. Today, I see my freedom in new light: I have the freedom, as a woman in this country, to worship God, live and work for what I believe, raise my family, home-school my children and speak my mind and heart without fear...I am grateful for this freedom. I praise the Lord for it! It was never so much appreciated until I came back and placed my feet on American soil, my homeland. For those who fight for MY freedom and OUR country there are not enough words...I am truly grateful for your sacrifice. I am grateful that you love this country, our freedom, enough to sacrifice your life so that I might keep mine AND my freedom. The only other person that did that for me was JESUS. I am eternally grateful, thank you!

This is such a small token but it is from my heart, as a symbol of my gratitude for living in America where Lady Liberty smiles! Background is the music My Country T'is of Thee, I used: paper, Layers of Color Fleur Heart stamp set, old photo ephemera, and a foil star.

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!

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.