Tag Love- The Value of a Life

Friendship Renewed --A hybrid card-

     I was so excited with this project. I LOVE to make tags, and this was a breeze.

    The quote is from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and I paraphrased it.

Adding the ink details was  great fun.

NEXT:

Off to make ATCs!!!

Credit: Tempus Fugit Glory Days

                                                                      Denim&Daisies Blog Train kit

Why the Name Change?

I love color and I love LIFE!!! Neither are perfect. An Art Prof. once told me that "Contrast is beautiful." I remember that most,  of all formal instruction received! Contrasts of joy and pain, rest and activity, bold and gentle... The season my family has been walking through the past four years has been one of darkness. Yet it has forced me to search for the light, to search more closely for beauty. I am finding it in the overlooked spaces of our lives.I would not want to have missed this season and its lessons for anything... I do not want a life that is bleached from its colors, its contrasts! So, when the phrase came to me, I knew it was meant for my Art. LIFE UNBLEACHED!!!

Be who you were created to be

Our son is sensitive, passionate, artistic, musical. His very name means A song - A river of song. Carman Jordan. We didn't know when we named him how prophetic the name was. We didn't even connect the two names together. Dad picked one, I picked the other. A few years back we were impressed of the Lord that it was no accident, that the boys destiny was to be a river of song that flowed from the Throne. He has begun to write, and his songs are blunt, honest and worshipful. He has struggled for a long time with hearing a different tune than others, and often accused of being "quite different". He is still learning to find the balance between fitting in and being himself. It pains me to see him try so hard to fit in, and only realize that he can't do that and be true to himself.
I found this photo he had altered and the caption is his. I wanted to keep it, and I put it in this page. It has a broad message, more than meets the eye-Learning to love yourself and be free to accept others.
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Gal 5:13-14

More Hybrid, and A Handmade Mini Ringbound book

More Walking Through the Dark

Today was a difficult one in several ways.To explain, I have to be pretty transparent... ugh.
Here goes: My DH has a kidney stone that is very painful. He was laid off last year and then the position dissolved, leaving us without health insurance. The meds just to help the condition are $159.00, and a visit to the Urologist is 350.00 just to get in the door. I hate seeing him in pain. Working aggravates the condition, but after 3 days off, what's the man to do? Then we got the news that our case is still being played around with- one would think that wouldn't be possible at the U.S. Supreme Court level. WRONG!! All the families involved are about to come out of their skins, and the husbands are discussing risking imprisonment to get the truth revealed. We need a revolution. Not likely. LOL.
To top it off, uninformed fellow believers have criticized us for our circumstances, without asking for the details to help them understand. No way did I ever think I would be living this ordeal. After a college education, starting a Christian school in a foreign country and raising two great kids- never did I think I would be walking this path at this age. Fighting for the basic rights that most Americans don't even realize they have, they are so natural to them. But not to us...
Have you ever imagined that you were blind?
I have tried many times to identify with those who are blind by taking just a few steps with my eyes closed. After a couple of steps I am totally disoriented. It is so unnatural for us to walk without looking where we are going, yet that is precisely what Paul says we Christians must do. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7)
So today I created this page- another page related to what my Dh and I call our Walk through the Dark. We have no one we are allowed to speak with about this, so we cannot obtain much counsel. We are forced to go directly to our Source.
Habakkuk said:
2: 4"Behold, as for the (A)proud one,
His soul is not right within him;
But the righteous will live by his faith.



Those who have been harassing, stealing and assailing us are full of pride. We have been humbled by a call to walk this path of utter dependence. To know Him as HE IS, not just by what Man says He is. To take all of our imposed limits off of Him. To allow Him to be Who HE wishes to be in our lives. Many believers never enter into this. Most weeks, I haven't sensed His presence during this dark season. I cannot go by what I feel, or even my past experiences with Him. I have to walk this thing out one step at a time, He is giving only light for one step. I have to TRUST that HE is there. And some day, soon, I hope, will once again show me His face...

UPDATE: His kidney stone dissolved- ones that large ususally don't- and he has a new job!!!! yea!!! Thank You, Lord!!
[credits: Starving Artist Designs Like Seriously paper, CreationFrenchGirl Storm paper, Ami Collofello Charming Alpha]

Hybrid Time

I am on the Hybrid Team for Stuff to Scrap, and made this folded book as a project for the team this month. I used a digital kit, printed out some of the elements and papers, and put this together- thus the term hybrid.



I accepted a guest ct/One kit call for Starving Artist Designs- and I love this kit!! I plan to use it in my next altered book- called Imagine. Can you believe I found a used book in the for sale bin at the Public library called Imagine? I did!!!
I am itching to get at that one!! For now, here is the project with Like Seriously?
PocketfuLL of Dreams holds several tags that tell of dreams. Dimensional embellishments,transparency images, ribbons and ink are the finishing touches

I just bought a new set of watercolors!!!!! I will be breaking them in on the altered book...so come back and take a look, or better yet, make yourself a follower, not just a drop in! :) I will be giving some future art projects away, and you may miss it!!

HYbrid HERE I come!!!

So, it has a name! I have a habit of falling into things and not knowing they are already established and popular. Like bookmaking. I started that, and then learned there was a whole community of artists who are "into" it. I guess it is just intuitive. So my art will join up with my digital supplies. How interesting. Of course, some kits do not lend themselves to that, but others seem made for it.
Can't wait to get to it in the morning!! Yea!! I will be sure to put it up here- as always...

Wheeeeeeew! No more Dusty Blog!

Time to blow the dust off this blog and start anew! I have been learning so much and am on 5 teams for designers/sites. And to my amazement, I actually was on LOTW several times, and LOTM (Layout of the week/Month) in several places, and Gallery Stand Out too! In such a short time. Who knew?!!
Four months spent in DigiScrap Land have been wonderful, but I miss the tactile pleasure of working in paper, paint and ink! So, more art to come!!!

Wooo Hoooooo!

Just after this previous post, I learned I've won my first award
for Digi Scrapping/Faith booking!!!! This tells me I am on the right track! Thank You, Lord. Just when I think you are silent, You show up.
This absolutely was the most difficult challenge ever, due to the topic. Not an easy one to illustrate properly. I am very grateful. And encouraged. OH, here's the little award and page:

NEW things ventured, New things gained:

Not much posted here as of late. I have been busy at my other site.

I am called to illustrate and reflect Scripture in my art. I have struggled
with various mediums, trying to produce the effect that I see in my soul's eye.
Until now, with digital art, I have not been able to achieve it. I am beginning to see
that combining my art with digital technology is the path to really get the impact
that I so much want the art to embody.
So I have been with the digital community for the past 2 months, learning alot, mastering a bit. My digital scrapbook pages are samples of just some of what I have in my soul's storehouse.
I really love what is called Faithbooking- here are samples:
[click on image to enlarge and view hidden messages]





CLICK to ENLARGE AND READ HIDDEN MESSAGE!


Simplicity- where id it go?
Our lives have purpose, and yet we sometimes get so busy that all we know is "busy", and not purpose.



This one reflects the struggle of a believer persecuted for his faith, dogpaddling through the darkness of despair and bewilderment; trying to make sense of the circumstances his Loving Father has permitted. The true faith is demonstrated in this time, which we are not told if circumstances changed, but the heart still trusted and praised His name. That is success.
I am beginning to design my own Faithbooking kits using photography, watercolor and acrylic painting skills. I know it will take some time before the first kit is completed, but It will be worth it!
Here's a recent yet unedited photo I'm going to use in a Faithbooking kit called "The heART of God"

I am trusting Him to guide and create through me!

a new medium

First, THANK YOU to all artists who contributed to the Show Forth His Praises event. We sent forth some light and Honor to the King, and like the widow's mite, it was received. Thank you all again. Look for a new one in the middle of summer.



Always trying something new- Boredom Alleviation 101!

I have been an artist all my life. It is not what I do, it is who i am.
It is a joy and a hassle. My creative free spirit sometimes collides with my order-loving administrative leader side. That's always "interesting". In this new "medium" of digital composition, I have found a happy middle ground. I will share a page or two here:

Showing Forth His Praises

I am submitting my first digi scrap page,a part of Faith Sisters Scripture Challenge. God has manifested Himself in this way to us through the past 3 years of fighting for our rights against the government specifically our right to receive a grant to buy a home. We have been without a home during this battle.
The passage of the 23 Psalm has been with me since I memorized it in our Bible class in public school. [Yes, I am that old... and that blessed to have had that] But until this season of walking through the dark, it never dawned upon me to pray it literally. Every time I remember to pray, " Lord, restore our souls", He does.

Time for Change

I'm changing up this blog a bit.
I want it to be more focused on art and how faith inspires it.
So from now on, my journal-ing will be in another format.
I am starting my Life Blog: View from My Window here at Blogger.
It will be up the end of this week. Thanks for stopping by, come check out the view in a few days!

A Castle in My Past, King in My Future

A castle in my past! What an interesting discovery, especially for One of such a vivid imagination.
A few years ago, while researching my family heritage, I learned that on my father's side, we were Lords of the Manor at Perevil Castle in Derbyshire. This brings images and sights and sounds of that age to life. The Lord's role revolved around his Oath of Fealty to his immediate supervisor, often the King himself. An oath of fealty, from the Latin fidelitas (faithfulness), is a pledge of allegiance of one person to another. Typically the oath is made upon a religious object such as a Bible or saint's relic, thus binding the oath-taker before God, thus had to swear the oath. He was expected to fight and provide soldiers and arms from his manor. During his abscence, his role was filled by his wife, Lady of the manor. (That would be me!!:) This was a great responsibility, and lives depended upon a Lord's credibility, integrity and character. For sure, there were many Lords of that day that were corrupt, as we have in present times corrupt leaders. But those who were good, are well known and gladly remembered.
What became of the place my ancestors defended? Sadly, it does not reflect the image above. Records tell that the castle was neglected. There barely exists a remnant of what once was. A few stones hint at the original glory, vestiges only. The keep, or the stronghouse, once a place of watchful defense, still stands. But it stands without purpose- there is nothing to defend.

What would my ancestors say? They were once charged with the care and defense of this place. But those who came behind them did not practice diligence. The call was forsaken, the oath and stewardship abandoned and the destiny lost. Instead of being a home, a fortress, a source of shelter and protection , it is a tourist stop. There are no grand halls or banquet rooms to view. No arsenal, no gardens. Just the remnant.

Question is, couldn't it be rebuilt? Is this it's final destiny? Or has it's destiny been aborted. Is it outdated and dead?
Had I the resources, I might approach the owners and inquire of it. What an undertaking to rebuild this ancient ruin. What stories still lie dormant within her? Couldn't her tower be strengthened? Why not?! Others have rebuilt. My thoughts turn to a castle of another sort.
Here are the words of a wise man, many generations ago:
"Is it time for yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate? now, ...Consider your ways. You have sown much, but harvest little; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to pu into a purse with holes. You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why? Because of My house which lied desolate while each of you runs to his own house."
These are the words of Haggai, chapter 1:4-9 (excerpts)
The house spoken of here also belonged to the King, and was entrusted to His servants. They were not diligent to see it restored. They had faced opposition and became indifferent.

The call still sounds.
The oath is extended to those who will hear. The King awaits our response. The house He speaks of is not made of stones. It is made of hearts, devoted, united, and willing to defend the name of the King, to be a place where He lives. Take a moment to ponder your own domain. What has He offered you? Have your accepted it? Have you tended to it and increased it, or is it neglected and found wanting? The great thing about this King is that He is eternal.
The King is in my future. King Jesus IS my future.
He is constant, and more steadfast than any castle keep or strong house. He is a high tower. He calls to each of us, and the awesome invitation to belong to Him is ours. THERE is the real magic, mystery, and glory. It is declared that the glory of His latter house will be greater than its former. For me, I will examine, inspect the walls, the boundaries and foundations of my heart's house. I will rebuild what has been breached. I will extend the hand of friendship and hope to any who want to rebuild. I love the King of Kings.
He was in my past, He is in my present, and He will be in my future.

Ode to the King!

For Christmas this year, I gave my parents this handmade book. It contains a few of the hymns that have influenced my life. As the book developed, it became obvious that I would have to choose a stopping point as there are too many hymns that are precious to me. Their melodies and the truth of their lyrics seem to "play" in my heart and mind when I need them the most. I'm thankful to the Father for His servants who shared this expression of faith with the world.

All honor goes to the King.

All artwork sole property of the artist. Please email me for permission to use images. Thank you. All rights reserved.