Hope

It's a been a long time, too long, since I've created my weekly scripture piece.
I grabbed a stack of magazines and papers yesterday and just started cutting free form letters.
I'm happy where He took me with it...:)

I just sent it to the printers and 8 x 10 prints are available in the shop.
Remember today (Friday, August 12th) is the last day for the BOGO print sale.

We are ending the week with "Meet-the-Teachers" and trying to get the kids back on a normal bedtime for school on Monday.
We are going to pack the weekend with fun!

New Scripture Piece and Pillow Q and A

I'm happy that I have a new scripture piece to share this week.

I needed to paint and this song has been playing from my ipod all week and I had to make it :)

Of course the watermark will not be printed on the copies.:)

8 x 10 available here

11 x 14 available here

I have some exciting news too.

Some of you ordered prints and/or checkbooks this week and asked if I would consider giving 25% to Davis.

The answer is YES!!, and so...for the rest of the month I will donate 25% of every purchase from my shop to Davis.  :)  Thank you for asking and putting that thought into my heart!

I've had lots of questions about "Pillows for Davis" and I thought I would try to answer them all here for you if you were wondering...

Q:   If I order a pillow, how long will it take to get to me?

A:  Right now, it's looking like 2-3 weeks.

I'm working hard, but I want every pillow to be well made with love.  They take quite a bit of time, and I want everyone to be happy with their orders.  So I appreciate your patience in advance.

Q:  Do I have to use the scripture in your etsy listing?

A:  No, you can pick any scripture or quote that you would like!

Q:  Will you ship outside of the U.S?

A:  Yes, that is not a problem.

Q:  I'd like to order a pillow as a gift.  Will you ship it to the receiver?

A:  Of course!  Please just provide me with their mailing address.

Q:  I'd like to order a print and a pillow.  Do I have to wait 2-3 weeks for the print as well?

A:  No!  Prints are ready to ship, so please just let me know and I will get your print(s) out to you within a couple of days.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

We are still working on our summer fun list...I'll be back soon to share it!

Have Faith

Shabby/Rainbow/Messy Circle/Have Faith/Whimsical/Colorful pillow available here...:)

Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
-James 1: 3


                                                                     

Gift Sets for Coffee (or tea) Lovers

I had a lot of fun making these gift sets.   They would be nice for Mother's Day but I am making them as teacher appreciation gifts this year...because our teachers rock!  :)

The sets come with three items:  a quilted mug rug, a coordinating coffee cozy, and a 4 1/2" x 5 1/2" greeting card featuring my print "Start Your Morning with God".  If you really love the person, you could throw in a portable coffee cup and a small bag of coffee...:)

Set one available here:

Set two available here:

Set three available here:

 Set four available here:

Ok, now I'm off to drink my second cup of coffee this morning.  It is rainy and dreary and I have a little boy who wants to play cars...:)
Happy Wednesday!
xo

Whatever

whatever is true,

 whatever is noble,

 whatever is right,

 whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

 whatever is admirable

if anything is excellent

 or praiseworthy,

think about such things.

phillipians 4:8

Happy March everyone!  Spring is coming...:) 

xo,

Chrissie

A Mother's Love for Her First-Born

I have given birth to four children in the last ten years.  I love all of them in very different ways.  I love them all with a fierce protection.  If I think about it too long and too hard, I would collapse from the intensity of the emotions that I feel for them.  As my first born is entering his "tween" phase, I feel as if I am beginning this parenting thing all over again.

 (Logan at age 4, welcoming his little brother into the world)

In so many ways, your first born is the guinea pig.  They get all of it...your time, your attention, your worry, your doting.  Logan has scrapbooks made for him all the way up until his 5th birthday...the others are lucky if they got a photo album of any kind. 

I was so immature when I had him, and in many ways I grew up with him.  My parenting style was anything but consistent when he was little.  He has learned with me as I have learned.  I've made many mistakes (haven't we all?), but he is turning out to be a pretty good kid.  ;)

(This summer, Logan age 10)

How is it that the little boy who could not leave my side is trying to decide which middle school to attend?  The little boy who was obsessed with Thomas the Train is now obsessed with baseball and gasp!, entertaining the thought of dating?   In so many ways, he is still a little boy, and yet, I see tiny glimpses of the man he is about to become.  I feel like I am treading on thin ice some days.  Do I push him harder?  Do I let him fall and learn on his own?  Someone recently told me it was time to start letting him go a little, and I thought Now?  No, now is the time for guidance.  Now is the time to be his cheerleader.  Now is the time to let him know that he has to work hard for his character, work hard for integrity, work hard for the grades, work hard if he wants to be grand.

I've learned with him (and not all of my kids work this way) to set the standards high.  If the standards are low, that is what he will deliver.  If the standards are high, than he will try.  And in the end, that is what I really want from him.  Not perfection, but that he tried his hardest.

(Christmas, 6 years ago)

There will be plenty of time for letting go later.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

I am thankful that I have this child in my life...and pray for daily guidance in the ways to rear him.

I hope you are all having a blessed week,

Chrissie

Fly Free

Hello Friends!

I wanted to share with a little custom mosaic dragonfly I made for someone.  It is a small piece but I love the iridescent glass in the wings.

After a crazy few weeks, things are finally starting to settle down around here.

I think some of you may relate to this.  Do you ever feel like you are just juggling too many balls?  Sometimes life gives you a magical rythym that allows you to do many things at once.  And sometimes it all becomes so overwhelming that you slowly start dropping balls until they have all hit the floor.
Sometimes I just need to remind myself what is really important.
Sometimes prayer, exercise, and taking care of my family and the house is all I can handle in one day.
Sometimes I get lucky and I can fit in some creative time.  I need to learn to balance these days better, and at the same time, not beat myself up when I can't be Superwoman.

(She) will have no fear of bad news; (her) heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.  (Her) heart is secure, (she) will have no fear; in the end (she) will look triumph on (her) foes.
Psalm I I 2: 7-8

Have a great weekend!
Remember to take a deep breath and savor where you're at. 
xoxo,
Chrissie

You HAVE to read this...

I've had lots of conversations about child-rearing lately with friends. It seems like as mothers we are concerned about one major issue:
making sure that our children our successful.
That's a great thing, right? We want our children to do well in school, to do well in sports, to achieve great things. We want them to get into a good college, find a high-paying job, make a difference in the world. We want them to be considered smart, attractive, intelligent people.

If you are like me and work hard to help your children achieve these goals, please read this book.
I had no idea that I NEEDED this book until I picked it up.

A person can be successful without coming close to being truly great. And wouldn't we all rather aim our children toward true greatness?
"We're going to invest 20 years of our lives and spend tons of money preparing our kids for the future. Why not prepare them for a life that dwarfs the goals of those who are merely successful? Why not groom our children for true greatness?"

We are talking about raising our children to be authentically kind and generous. Children who will become adults that want to serve others.

We need to raise kids who know how to make a life, not just a living.

Oh, and if you are anything like me, you will need some guidance on how to raise children to love God and love others. Because I need a lot of help on that. So if you read this book be expected to make a lot of harsh realizations about yourself. Because I got hit with lots of things. And now I am working on becoming a better person myself.

This book is meant to change you for the better.

...and that's all I've got for now. :)

Happy Easter!

Have a wonderful Easter holiday, friends!

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

John 11:25-26

Color

I have a feeling I'm not the only one feeling the grays today. The dreary weather is dragging on, and I think we all need a little sunshine! I thought this print I made a couple of years ago might bring a little smile to your face:) There is never a shortage of color online, is there? Here are some of my favorite images right now that might bring you some color inspiration too:

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I hope some of that brings you the promise of Spring! I've got two home from school sick today, so I'm hoping maybe I'll get a little quilting done while they are resting. Hopefully I'll have something to show you soon:)

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 42:5-6

Breaking Free

I started a Beth Moore study once and didn't finish it. But taking one (and finishing it) was on my list this year of things I really wanted to do.
I don't think it's a coincedence that this is the one they were offering at church this time: Breaking Free.
I struggled to get to the first meeting this week on Monday morning. It was raining. I had a long weekend and wanted to go home and rest. The house was a mess... yadda yadda. I had plenty of excuses not to go. But I went. And I'm sooooooo glad I did!

Our group leader asked us how many of us almost didn't come? I wasn't the only one. I guess Satan tries as hard as he can to keep us from Jesus. I never thought of it that way.

I've been a little disoriented lately without work. I haven't had any orders since Christmas and I asked God to show me what was next for me. I think He is telling me it is time to be with Him right now.

So I've committed to this bible study. There is 30-45 minutes of homework a day, and it is not light-hearted stuff my friends. It is deep. It is life-altering. It is a study that asks you to give God your heart and your trust, and requires you to probe yourself.

Would you say a little prayer for me? I am going into unknown territory and to tell you the truth, it's a little scary.

Have any of you taken this course before? Will you tell me about your experience?

xoxo

Chrissie

Confessions

Sometimes a little confession feels good. I need to learn to Let Go, and Let God.

~GOD'S PROMISE~
Until now you have asked nothing in My name.

Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

-John 16:24

The Power of the Written Word

I looooove this photo. It is a picture of my grandmother, holding my father when he was a baby. I believe they were in Philadelphia? 1947...
It has been two years this weekend that my father passed away. Sigh...
I was very pregnant when this picture was taken. And very happy.

Along with the photographs my most treasured items from my Dad are letters, poems, and cards he wrote to me. He was a very talented (and published) writer, and he always put a lot of thought into what he wrote.
When I was 10 years old someone at our elementary school read us the book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I really loved that book, and I went home and wrote and illustrated my own version over the weekend. I showed my Dad, and the next day he brought me home a copy from the book store. Inside he inscribed it...

Isn't it special? Because of this, I try to always inscribe books that I buy my children.

The power of the written word was passed down to me by my father. I love reading. I love writing. I love typography. I love seeing people's handwriting and I treasure handwritten notes and cards.

I am missing my Dad so much this weekend, but I am so grateful that I have these things to remember him by!:)

"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." Matthew 5:4