Preparing for Easter

These few days leading up to Easter have left me feeling in a very fragile and vulnerable state.  I remember feeling this way last year too...the weight of my sins feeling heavy in my soul...the remembrance of my Father who forgives me and loves me unconditionally...the thought of Jesus on the cross...trying to instill in my kids the true meaning of Easter while still enjoying the bunnies and candy and excitement of it all...

It can get overwhelming, all these feelings.  But if nothing else I believe it all prepares me for the celebration of Easter...

 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

John 2:19 ESV

 I have been faithfully doing my spring cleaning and 40 bags in 40 days challenge.  I took photos of the process, but then decided that I didn't really need to show you the pictures. ha!  I will tell you this...I had more than 40 bags!  I kind of pride myself on keeping our house basically clutter-free...over the last couple of years I have been more concious and aware of what I buy...really contemplating my wants vs. my needs...trying to teach our children the same...and yet my garage is FULL, full of all the things that we no longer want or need, and I realize I have a long way to go in regards to being more concious in that aspect...

I am guilty of wanting more...a bigger house, a newer couch, more land, more fashionable clothes...the list goes on and on...and while I don't think there is anything inherently wrong at all with having nice things, I must learn to be happy and content with what we DO have.  Which is a lot in the grand scheme of things...  I just haven't quite mastered that balance yet.



And so I surrender to our Father, that He will accept me as I try to be the best wife and mother and daughter that I can be.  That I learn to give more and more, that I learn to give unselfishly, that I try to stay true to the simple lifestyle that best fits myself and my family.  I surrender to all the mistakes that I have made, make now, and will make in the future.  I surrender to the fact that He loves me no matter what.  What a gift He has given us, and it takes a whole lot of heart, a whole lot of faith, to accept that gift.  It can bring me to my knees.

Mothers Day Print

I made this print for all the Momma's out there... 
because Momma's should be a soft place to land...:)

Available as an 8 x 10 here

Mirror Commission

I wanted to share with you a project I've been working on.  I was commissioned to make this mosaic mirror for a girl who is turning 12.  The family belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  When girls turn 12 in the church they graduate from primary (junior sunday school) and enter the young women personal progress program. They spend the next 6 years learning, goal setting and serving others in an effort to develop 8 core values:  faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works, integrity, and virtue.  The mirror will be a gift to her as she enters this phase of her life.

                       

Sorry about the so-so photos, it is so hard to photograph mirrors! 

I think this is an amazing program, and I was so honored to create this gift for her!

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I made one for her older sister a few years ago.  This is what hers looked like:

We don't have a program like this at our church, but I am so inspired by it.  What a beautiful way for a young girl to enter her womanhood.

Have a blessed Tuesday!

xo,

Chrissie

New Product

I wanted to have these out in time for Mothers Day...they are quilted list makers.  I had so much fun sewing them.
Each one has a quilted cover, and then on the inside they come complete with a small legal pad and a brand new black ink pen.
I think they are so cute and functional...:)  I am a total list maker.  I write down EVERYTHING!  So I love these!
The ones shown are ready to go...they have "write it down" either on the front or inside...
I have a stack of about 12 ready to sew though...but I'm wondering if I should put some scripture on some of them? Any in particular?  Would you be so kind as to leave me some feedback?  I'd love to have them done in a couple of days...:)

available here

            

available here

available here

available here

I also have a pile of new checkbooks covers to list...I'll let you know when they are ready.:)

Blessings,

Chrissie

Fun-filled Saturday

We had a super fun morning at our neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt on the lake.

I love all these shots.  :)  It was a colorful, fun, child filled event!

"Two eggs, Momma!  Like me!"

  Couldn't resist the colors...

  Neither could she...:)

He was tooooooo excited!

Our neighborhood crew:

Momma and Papa Duck:

I'm linking up here:

Hope you are having a fun weekend too :)

xo,

Chrissie



Blog land loves

Given my recent convinction, I have no business getting a pinterest account. 

But I "applied" for one anyway, who knew there was a waiting list?  There is just too much inspiration not to revel in it all.  Here are some of my recent favorites...

source

 source

 source

 source unknown

 source unknown

source unknown

Another reason I need pinterest:  so I can give credit where credit is due.  If you know where those last three images are from, will you kindly let me know?

But the real reason I, (and all of us I think) blog; the real inspiration:

Because we can help bring this little boy home to his family...

Please go here if you haven't already...

You will be glad you did!

Coil pot tutorial

I know I've mentioned it before, but if you have kids that like arts and crafts, you must buy them some Crayola air-dry clay.  I buy the big tub at Michaels with my 40% off coupon, and it's only $6.  You can use it to make anything you would make with real clay.  Of course it doesn't go in the kiln, so you can't glaze it.  But it air dries in about two days, and then you can paint it with acrylics, watercolors, or tempera paint.

I thought I'd give you a tutorial on how to make coil pots.  This is a great project for kids about 5 and up.  You will need air dry clay, a plastic knife, and a small bowl of water.

Step 1:

Start by getting a handful of clay and flatten it out.  You can use a rolling pin if you want, but we just use our hands.  Use a dull pencil to write your child's name and date on it.

Step 2:
We used a plastic lid to cut out a perfect circle for the base.  Then turn the base over so the name will be on the bottom of the pot.

Step 3:
Use small balls of clay and make coils.  Show the kids how to use both hands to roll them out.  My kids call them snakes :)

Step 4:
Use your plastic knife to "score" all the way around the base.  You are just quickly making little marks all the way around the edge.

Step 5:
Now "score" your coil all the way down.

Step 6:
Dip your finger in the water and run it on both pieces of "scored clay".  Scoring both sides and adding a little water acts as a kind of glue to keep them together.  Start laying your coil down and gently press it down as you go.

Step 10:
Now just keep adding coils in the same manner until it as big as you want it. 
This can be a calm, quiet, meditative motion for the kids.  I sat there and helped in the beginning, and then they got into a nice rhythym.

 Put them someplace safe and let them dry for a couple of days.

Get out your paints and let them decorate them as they desire.
The kids really got a sense of satisfaction out of this project.
They ask to play with the clay almost every day!

But first we have some new things to try! 

Easter bunnies and snails are next on the list...:)

Have fun creating!

xo,

Chrissie