Some Bible Bling

I like to make thing beautiful, as I'm sure many of you do, and my Bible goes without exception. I want to make it a home for me to go to, to learn, be challenged, seek comfort, and find grace. I originally got my little pocket black NLT Bible because I liked the simplicity of it. There aren't any commentaries, except the small foot notes for alternate translations, or any other frills.

I soon made a small band, that all my Bibles have, to go around the outside to hold in all my bookmarks, or flyaway notes. My original band has sense been replaced from over use and much stuffing, but the original message remain the same, "Start Fresh," my reminder that I can always start anew with Jesus, no shame needed when I come before Him.

After awhile I got tired of just stuffing things in the back empty pages and decided to create a pocket in the back out of some velum, magazine paper, and a photo I had taken of our spring yard, and ta-da a nice neat place to keep my notes and things!

I also keep a page of notebook paper with a Brene Brown quote that I love and record scripture behind it that matches up with it. I attached it to some of the blank white pages in the back.

I also find the presented too portion in the front to be somewhat awkward when I bought it for my self so I redid the page with a photograph I took of my favorite flower.

Lastly I like to decorate with my bookmarks. I can never have enough book marks, in my Bible the one ribbon that is provided never seems to be enough. Each bookmark carries a little reminder of what I have learned and carries me forward. The dove is the model I used in my Freedom painting, for example.

I just wanted to sharewith you a little look into my world. Do you decorate your Bible or journal space? I would love to hear how you do.

 

Adventures with Graphing Paper

This summer I have been a little addicted to trying out new fonts and looking up typography on pintrest. I like the slow process of training my hand to try something new, or flying my pen across the page for a flowy free look. I think what I like most about it though is making the ordinary beautiful and bring about more visual meaning to my words.

Generation Word Bible Study ~ notes 7/23/13

I noticed as I searched many images on pintrest that many people practice on graphing paper. Before I always thought of graphing paper was for math classes, like finding the length of a side in geometry, or finding the slope in trig. So I tried it out by printing off an online template... and loved it! There are so many less restrictions than that of college-ruled notebook paper that I was using. I found it so much easier to experiment.

Ever sense trying it I have been eyeing a graphing paper notebook, and trying to deside if it would be a frivolous expense. Would I really use it enough to make it worth it? I often have the problem of I start a notebook and am excited about it, and then only fill half the pages. Well I finally caved, when I was out school supply shopping at OfficeMax, (office supply stores can be a dangerous place for me, all the beautiful new school supplies...), and I just couldn't resist.

I have enjoyed the notebook so far and have found it helpful to keep notes from church and Bible study in. Thinking about the font choices and meandering my pen over the letters many times seems to keep my mind focused and free of clutter. I also find I go back and read my notes now as well (which I never have before) because I think they are beautiful. Though in the moment of note taking there are many mispelled words and my dyslexia comes out of hiding. I try to just accept spelling mistakes and enjoy what I have.

"Who's That Tapping at the Window.."

Yesterday and today we have had a little friend tapping at our windows and doors. A very small female goldfinch. She seems determined to get our attention to let her in the house. This morning she sat in our lilac bushes up against the living room windows, looking in at us and gently flying toward the window every few minutes for about twenty minutes. Then yesterday she was busy tapping on our front door, windows along the the front, and then at the basement windows. I will try and snap a little photo of her soon for you to see.

My first thought was the little song and game I played at my Kodaly level 1 training this week, Who's that Tapping at the Window, Who's that tapping at the Door.  for the game two children go and hind and sing a response back while two others try and guess who is hiding without looking around the room. A fun game I have played in college before as well, sometimes having had almost every class together for three years still had trouble guessing as we marveled at masking our voices.

But now as the day closes I am starting to wonder what the tapping call may mean besides the cute little tune that automatically plays in my head. What is knocking at my door and my window, who is calling my name. Change is blowing my way. As I am writing the old familiar verses pop in my mind.

"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
Matthew 7:7-8

Wedding Gifts

8x10" © 2013

I just wanted to share a project I am working on right now. Here are the pair of whooping cranes for one of the three weddings I have this summer. I thought the whopping cranes would be great gifts as they mate for life. This painting is just in its beginning stages... much more to come. The colors are a close match to the couples' chosen wedding colors for the most part and I will include a bible verse from each couples wedding on the front as well.

I have also included pictures of the cards I have made for their weddings and wedding showers. I have been having fun recently making these fun little flower cards for several occasions. They are low stress but do take quite a while to color in. I have been reading Henry David Thoreau quotes and wanted to include one as I have been thinking about them a lot, with so many ringing true in my ears and heart.

A little Chickadee

8x10" ©2013

This piece has been a new challenge for me. I have been starting to feel a little bogged down with my common settings of bird in flight or resting on a bare branch, and I have felt like I needed something new to keep me moving forward to grow and trust God to lead the way. I fell in love with this little photo on Pinterest of a chickadee clinging upside down to these flowers and thought it might just be the new model God has intended to teach me through.

I often feel as though each bird I paint and each painting have something new to teach me, and so far this last month as I have been working on these intricate flower pedals, the learning curve has been up!  It has taken longer as perfectionist tendencies are up trying to make each detail exact, and needing time to tell myself to breath it will get there, you haven't done this before, it is okay! 

I also liked the idea of the bird hanging upside down as it relates to the upside-down world we live in. As I have shown this work to others and found that they feel uncomfortable with the positioning of the bird and are often tempted to turn it. Making another great connection of how uncomfortable growth can be to us and those around us as it happens. But mostly bringing out the longing our world to be set straight again. 

I am still learning and working...

"And now, just as. You accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots go down into him, and let your lives be built on him."

Colossians 2:6-7