Lent

I sift through the "tupperware" cabinet in my kitchen.
It is the first on my list of 40 bags in 40 days.
There are containers without matching lids.
There are lids without matching containers.
There are sippy cups without the lids and plastic bowls that have been marred by the microwave.
It is full, overflowing, and filled with things I don't know what to do with...
I am overwhlemed by the abundance and things that we take for granted.
Half of it will go in the garbage.

It is a perfect time to clear my house, clear my soul, and make more room for God.

My kids decided this morning they were giving up candy for Lent this year.

I've been mulling  over what I would give up all day.

Nothing felt like a a big sacrifice.

Until I sat down to write this post.

God laid it on my heart.

I will be giving up blogging until Easter.

AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!!!

I love to blog.

I love to read blogs.

I hope you won't forget me.

I have so much I want to share with you already...

but since I am learning to obey, it only seems fitting.

Inspired by Sara's post, I must say, it's time to quiet my noisy soul.  :)

I will miss you all.

See you in the beginning of April.

Many Blessings to you! 

What's up? (a long and random post:)

I had a moment of panic last week when I announced I was closing my etsy shop.
It has been a nice source of income this year and so I got a little nervous...
but I am obeying and trusting that the Lord has something else in store for me.

A few of you wrote to ask what I would be doing now.
Ha!   I don't have any big plans.  I am actually looking forward to simplifying my life again.
You know Lent starts on Wednesday and I am already in the mindset of new beginnings.
Cleaning out my house, my body, my spirit...

Speaking of cleaning out, I have done pretty well on my no-sugar committment. 
I am so much more aware of how sugar affects my moods, my energy, my work-outs.
I am still staying away from it all for the most part, but I allow myself a little treat every now and then.
For me, it's all about moderation.

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I found this on pinterest here.

I want it really big on one of my walls.
I don't know who created it, but I would love to paint one myself in a different color.
I spend a lot of time dreaming of a bigger house, a newer house, a house with land, or a house on the beach.  When all along we live in a lovely house that perfectly suits us.
God is so good and I need this as a daily reminder!

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Look what I found at Goodwill last week.

I've been searching for months...I've been wanting the set for so long.

Now I'm on the hunt for the rest of the series...

Does anyone else love Little House on the Prairie?

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Working on a couple of custom Family Rules...

Aren't all the colors pretty?

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I picked up this ink pad for the kids last week and showed them our Ed Emberley book.

They have really enjoyed it.

They especially like cutting paper up small and making little books.

I'm thinking this would be a great birthday gift for a kid party too...

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I made curtains for our kitchen window.

They are sort of crooked and wonky but I think I love them anyway.

I got the material from IKEA and I meant to take a close-up...it's really cute.

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This child/pre-teen has boundless energy.  His newest passion is fishing.

I love this process of "growing up".  I love watching to see what his passions are...how they have developed over the years and what comes and goes.  I have a feeling this is one he will carry through with him his whole life.  What a blessing it is to witness...

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The last of the Valentine Day roses...

Isn't it beautiful?

It looks like soft velvet in intricate folds.

So, what have you been up to?
Have a blessed Monday...and Happy President's Day!! 

Etsy Shop Closing (for now)

I've been mulling this over for awhile now...and
It's time for me to close my etsy shop (at least for a long while)

So....
I'm having a closing out sale.
Everything is 25% off.  When the 8 x 10 prints are sold out, they will be gone from the shop.
There are a few pillows, wood pieces, and checkbooks left as well.

I don't know exactly what new path I am heading on...
It's scary and exciting at the same time.
God has something else in store for me...it may just be having more time to devote to my family, or it may be something else?  But I trust it is the right thing to do.  (I will still be blogging :)

Please use code 25SALE when you check out.

Oh, and have a blessed weekend!

Children's Artwork Based on Famous Art (Van Gogh)

I've been hard at work as we near our Pre-school art show.
I have forgotten to show you some of the projects...so I will be sure to do that this week (for those of you who like to do art with your children, these are great for all ages!)

This four year old class was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's very famous Starry Night.

I don't have pictures of the process, but I basically broke it down into 4 steps.

1.  Show the children the painting and talk about it.  We looked at the shapes, the colors, the overall feel of it.

2.  Using black construction paper and a white crayon, they drew some basic shapes.  Most of them did the moon, circles in the sky, the "mountain", swirls in the sky.  Some even did the houses.

3.  Using oil pastels, they started with one shape at a time, and drew tiny broken lines to immulate the brush strokes.  Some children did not want to do that and used the oil pastels to color in the shapes.

4.  After they were done, their teacher found some paint at Michaels with glitter and stars in it, and they were allowed to paint in some of the shapes if they wanted to.

Here are a few examples of how they turned out:

Aren't they great?  :)

Happy Valentines Day

Ava had asked me to put hearts on this dress for her for Valentines Day a couple of weeks ago.
We remembered last night at 7 pm.  It didn't take that long and it made her happy, so I'm glad I did it.

Of course I had imagined she would wear it with her black mary jane's and a cute bow or headband.

She had other accessories in mind.  :)
I can't believe she is only five.

Have a Happy Valentines Day Friends!

Etsy Update

Good Monday morning Friends!
I hope the weekend was good to you.  :)
I meant to post these last week with the new checkbook covers but ran out of time.


This angel was made from pieces of scrap wood and she measures 10" x 16".
She has one of my favorite scriptures on her dress, Proverbs 31:25.
She is meant to be a shelf sitter.
You can find her here.

                      

I'm letting go of the original "God gives us rainbows to remind us of hope" collage in it's original lavender frame.
I love this piece;)  You can find it here.

I have two new "beYOUtiful" signs as well in the shop.
I intended to make many more as it has become a very popular item in the shop, but I ran out of time.
I will be making more in different colors soon.

This house was also made from pieces of scrap wood.
It is painted and has many elements of collage and mixed-media as well.
You can find it here.

I am up early due to a busy day.
Errands, gym, grocery store, art with Pre-K, a doctor appointment...
You may find me asleep tonite by 8 pm!

Have a wonderful Monday!  ;)

Valentines Day Shirt

Jackson had pink day at school yesterday.  We didn't have anything pink for him, so I thought we'd embellish a shirt he's about to outgrow.  I thought it would also make a great Valentines Day shirt.

When I first started blogging a few years ago freezer paper shirts were all the rage!  I thought I'd give you a quick tutorial just in case you are a newbie and have never seen them;)

Step 1:  Print out on your computer whatever you want your shirt to say.  Make sure it will fit on your shirt.

Step 2:  Take a piece of freezer paper (shiny, plastic coated side down) and lay it over your print.  Trace your letters with a sharpie.

Step 3:  Carefully cut out the letters.  Make sure you save the little parts from the A's, R's, and B.

Step 4:  Position your template on the t-shirt and iron it on.  Use the little pieces to fill in your A's, R's, and B.

Step 5:  It would be easier with a pouncer, but I couldn't find one, so a stiff brush will do.  Just lay the paint on your letters and let it dry.  You can use fabric paint, but I just used acrylic craft paint.

Step 6:  Peel the freezer paper off and there you go!

Step 7:  Take a picture of your little Heart Breaker :)

I was just looking in my February archives, and I came across this picture of my daughter at the same age showing off the Valentine shirt I made her:

And then this one from last year...

Pooh!  They grow so fast!

Spend Wisely...Checkbook covers

The first  checkbook I ever made was for myself.  I had just started reading Dave Ramsey's stuff, and I was "gazelle-intense" at the time.  It took us almost two years to pay off our debt, but we did it.  Now we are trying to fill up our emergency fund. 

Anyway, I made the checkbook cover with the words "Spend Wisely" on it to remind myself the plan that we were/are on.  When people saw them they started asking for them and they have become one of my most popular etsy items.

I finally finished this batch...I used some beautiful new fabrics and some that have been popular in the past.

I like knowing that in some small way I can create something that helps people stay true to their financial goals.  Because we all know, it's hard!

You can find them here.
I hope you are having a lovely Wednesday Friends!  ;)