Repurpose, Recycle and Mixed Media

My friend, Karen, invited me to speak at
Oasis Missions of Love.

I wanted to bring a little inspiration,
a challenge, and some encouragement
to the ladies participating in the Oasis' program.

I spoke about taking broken and forgotten things, 

  tattered and abandoned things,

  cast-off things, 

  one woman's trash things and  to see beyond...to

Re-purpose,

re-cycle,

re-invent,

 

 re-create.

I assured them that God loves to do that recycle thing, too.
  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world  to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the  weak things of the world to confound  the things which are mighty;   And base things of the world, and things 
which are despised, hath God chosen, 
yea, and things which are not, 
to bring to nought things that are:
1 Corinthians 1: 27-28 
Pretty Cool !!!

I also showed them some mixed  media art pieces that
I had been working on.

  They were intrigued and excited
and wanted to give it a try.

A few weeks later I took all my supplies to the Oasis
I spread them out, gave them a little demo and

released them to paint, daub,

 sponge, glue, stencil,

 cut, tear, stamp, write, and...

And then a few weeks after that, I received
a package in the mailbox.

"Hmmm?!? What is this?" Imagine my surprise
when I opened it and found a
heartwarming note from Karen

along with greeting cards

 made from their art work.

They have been selling them and the proceeds go to Oasis Missions of Love. Blessed to be a blessing! Thanks for stopping by.

Lion of Judah Worship Flag - Silk Painting Demo

LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH!!! 

 

 

I wanted to share this time lapse video of me 

painting this silk flag. 

It is probably on of my best selling flags.

The Lion of Judah is passionate for Israel.

To see more of my silk flags

CLICK HERE

Then one of the elders said to me, 

“Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, 

the Root of David, has triumphed.

Revelation 5:5

Vintage Scarves and A Wonderful Surprise (Reminder)

Several weeks ago I went to an auction and purchased
2 boxes of vintage, retro scarves for my Etsy shop.
Tonight I was sorting thru the 50 to 75 scarves/sashes.
And at the bottom of the last box,
I caught a glimpse of a familiar OLD friend.

 I warn you now that this post is a bit lengthy but stay with me if you can.
In the middles 80's I had a shop in Rotan, Texas.

The oil boom had busted and Joe was laid off.
We were in a tight place, waiting on his severance package.
We had no groceries and the water bill was past due and it was the last day
I sat at my sewing machine and I prayed.

I asked My Heavenly Father for inspiration.
For an idea of something that I could make and sell that day.
Something that I could make with the resources I had on hand.

 I piddled on with whatever project it was that I was

mindlessly working on. I looked toward the rear of my work area
and there, in a stack, were 3 old quilts.

I had salvaged them from a house that Joe and I had torn down in East Texas.
They were nothing special - worn and raggedy,
neglected and left behind in the old house.
As I looked at them there was a nudge in my heart. Make a collar.  What? A collar? Hmmm! I've never seen anything like that. I dug thru my pattern boxes and found a pattern for a dress with a round yoke. "Hmm,I think that might just work." I cut out the pattern pieces and taped the shoulders together,  so there wouldn't be a seam on the shoulders.  I laid the pattern on a pretty section of the quilt and started cutting.  I had lace trim that looked like crochet and I had satin ribbon.

 I had just pinned the lace and ribbon to the edge of the collar when a friend came in. She always wanted to know what I was painting, sewing, or making. (***I made all this stuff!)

I stood her in front of the mirror and put the collar around her neck. She oohed and ahhed and asked the price and  if she could take it (unfinished) with her to the beauty shop. About half an hour later she called me and asked if there was anyway that I could make 2 more before closing time.  WooHoo! Thank you, God! Absolutely! Cut, cut, pin, pin, stitch, stitch.  And at the end of the day the water bill paid  and groceries were on the table!

 That creation was the beginning of a fun ride. When Joe's severance check arrived we took a chance  a bought a 1" ad in the back of Country Living Magazine.  That proved to be a very good step.  A friend designed me a label. Gotta have a label!

 There are a lot of 15's in this story.  We bought A LOT of old quilts for $10-15.00 each.  I could get 15 collars out of a quilt and sold  the collars $15.00 for each . Over the next 2 years thru the ads and craft shows we sold 1,000's of collars. 

 I actually had lost track of how many. What a wonderful surprise  and a sweet reminder that God is always faithful beyond our wildest expectations.  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen,  nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man,  the things which God hath prepared  for them that love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly  above all that we ask or think,  according to the power that works in us, 
  to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations,  forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21   Thanks for stopping by!

Barn In Spring Watercolor

Joe and I went to Gatesville recently.
We thought we were lost and had to turn around.
When we made the turn I spotted beautiful barn.

"Stop! Stop!", I shout as I grab my camera.
He loves it when I do that.
Obviously, I have taken a little liberty. There are
no bluebonnets blooming in December and the trees were
bare branches. There was no snow. It is Texas. Mostly dry grass.
But in the studio the bluebonnets bloom and the trees leaf out.
Yesterday we made another trip down that way
and it snowed and it also rained.

The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure,
the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season,
and to bless all the work of thine hand: Deut. 28:12

I think we will paint this in class.
To purchase click HERE

Finished! Children's Book Illustrations!

I am so excited! 

I have just put the finishing touches

on an illustration commission.

It has been a fun, watercolor project.

 31 pages of Texas fun for a children's book.

My friend, Mary wrote the book. I can't wait

to see the finished book.

Still thinking about a word for 2013!

Glad you stop by!