Sneak Peek Friday - Book Spine Poetry Hop!

I had the pleasure of guest-posting about "Book Spine Poetry" 

for my friend Jennifer at Studio JRU last Friday -

Today is the reveal of everyone's (who are playing) work!  

I am so looking forward to seeing what friends have put together...

Here's my new one:

I simply ran the Photoshop Action called Lomo-fi - free download found at Daniel Box's Tumblr blog (plus quite a few more)

My poem reads:

Leaving Home

Walking a Sacred Path

The Path to Serenity

Daring to Draw Near

The River of Life 

To see what others have created - click here and let's go the the Sneak Peek!

Why don't you try one too!?

Remember this:

"Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of travelling."

▼

  Margaret Lee Runbeck

Remember this:

Photo Source

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

August 28, 2012

A peek into my day:

Looking for rectangles for a Beyond Layers challenge - and looking for them from old picture files on the computer...


I took these last fall,  when sweet tweener was having her pictures taken...it was such a good opportunity to snag some great texture...and shapes (as it turns out).

I loved the peeling paint, the crumbling stones in this old alley - and then I noticed the sign on the boxes stacked on the other side of the doors ->...
so many questions remained unanswered when I think of what that sign might mean!

 
Here are some vertical styled rectangles...and a horizontal one above and rectanglish crumbled stones around the bottom...and of course sweet tweener...I can't wait for her pictures this year!

























Outside my window...it was cloudy - and so cool for the dog days of summer here in Texas!  I love the rain we've been having lately!

I am thinking...about this school year - 6th grade already!  And so very Tween...

I am thankful...that she shares so much of her heart with me...I am honored...and for fat hummingbirds visiting our feeder every morning...

In the kitchen...just made another batch of laundry soap (recipe here).

I am wearing...a black T with little ruffles across the yoke and a "carpenter" style smokey blue long skirt.

I am creating...an image gallery on my Wordpress site!  I finally figured it out! (Keep checking back to see the progress).

We are going...to visit David over Labor Day weekend; it will be interesting I am sure...

I am wondering...what will happen with the elections this year - illegal immigration, the health care bill, and the ever extending Federal government's reach...

I am reading...the Audiblox manual (a program for correction of all sorts of learning disabilities).

I am hoping...that the Audiblox program will also help Gary's slight TIA issues...

I am looking forward to...field trips, Texas State Fair, and an upcoming "stitching retreat" with the smocking guild!

From the learning room... from an article here...

Are geniuses really only better stewards then the rest of us? 

What would happen if every Christian used the 4 hours daily spent in front of the television a day (more than 126 hours a month!) or the near hour a day the average American surfs the internet and spent two of those hours developing their skill in a particular domain (woodworking, quantum physics, photography) and one hour more on the spiritual disciplines that lead into a deeper relationship with God, (prayer, memorization, Bible meditation, fasting) – only repurposing three hours a day from the five we spend on passive entertainment

Around the house...I finally have all the paper off of the refrigerator and proper "mini" magnetic whiteboards installed inside the kitchen cabinet doors.

A favorite quote for today...

I carry your heart with me; (I carry it in my heart); I am never without it; (anywhere I go you go, my dear)...E. E. Cummings

 One of my favorite things...white T's trimmed in lace...

A few plans for the rest of the week...going to the Birds, Beasts, and Beauty art exhibit on Thursday afternoon...

A Scripture to meditate on from this morning: 

Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon Your people!  Selah...Psalm 3:8

Lectio Divina:
We read the passage slowly: lectio
We meditate on the Word or phrase: meditatio 

A life of beauty is to be like a psalm, and a psalm needs many selahs. Our selahs will allow us to consider and reconsider what is most important. Our selahs will allow us to be refreshed, to receive and take God to heart, soaking in his love. The Voice of the Lord for Elul 4

We talk with God: Oratio
We are silent: Contemplatio - (Selah)

Joining with the Simple Woman's Daybook community here
and
Kim Klassen's Beyond Layers here

Yes!

Photo Credit

Remember this:

Photo Credit

Yes - even if you don't know where this road of life is taking you, or what's around the next bend even, just keep going, and you WILL move into deeper and greater maturity...

Sneak Peek Friday - Book Spine Poetry

I have the honor of guest posting at my friend Jennifer’s blog today.  Won’t you join me there for a little fun with books and poetry?

Click here or on the "In the Studio" button above to go see what all the fun is about!

The Healing Journey:

I saw this on "Tumblr" and thought it was such a good image that defines the journey of healing emotions and trauma - or even just living life! I hope you enjoy it too!

Remember this:

Blog Hop Networking Party! {Plus a birthday surprise}

This is what I've been working on this week - we won't be able to go back to Iowa for the party, 

except in Spirit...

Photo Book - Present for Poppa Murry's 85th Birthday 

(SHHH, don't tell him, it's a surprise!)

Click here to view the photo book- click the "view" button

And I'm joining in this new blog hop:

Are you ready to network??

Are you prepared to make some new bloggy friends??

Well, here's your chance!

RULES:

Link up to the homepage of your blog.

….follow Host and Co-Hosts {pretty please}
Feel free to follow by Facebook, Twitter, or whatever works best for you!

….hop // network // have fun!

If you'd like to post this linky on your blog, grab the code HERE.

The more, the merrier!

Simple Woman's Daybook

Today is a different input to "Simple Woman's Daybook" - a list of simple things that are important to me - every day...
Processed with Pioneer Woman’s “Old West” action (adjusted to be less yellow) and one layer of Kim Klassen’s “Reverie” set at colorburn – love the vintage dreamy effect!

There are so many favorite everyday moments!
Each small event, each hour, each little happening
- these are what builds a life -

(Read the rest of this post here)

Painting with Light - Sneak Peek Friday

Using a technique of "painting with light" in Photoshop to try to produce a halo effect...I can "see" using this on photos of sweet tweener!

Sorting,

Sewing,

Contemplating,

Deciding,

Reading,

Creating,

Gathering,

Preparing,

Nurturing,

Adorning...

All these things are working within and without this week...

May your weekend be full of the blessings of He who watches over you...

Joining with Jennifer and other creatives here at Studio JRU this week...

Simpl Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

August 7th, 2012

A peek into my day...it's all about the tweener - someday she may be embarrassed about the "bedhead"!

Bed head, 3Ds, "chillaxin'" in the recliner, and fancy knee high tennis shoes - it's a tweener life!

Outside my window... it is dawn - I love how the sky lightens gradually, a slow revelation of the beauty of nature...


In the kitchen...Made an incredible mixed melon salsa - a flavor burst in the mouth!  Who knew onions and serrano peppers complemented melons?  And sweet tweener's mint collection came into play, too.

I am wearing...a white sundress to stay cool in!

I am creating...headbands, bracelets, and chokers out of leftover t-shirt knit from working on sweet tweener's T-Shirt quilt.  It is a tweener world.

I am going...to take sweet tweener to the last free summer movie at the Weatherford theater - Madagascar 2 -

I am pondering...how to make today's scripture reading into art...I can sort of "see" it, but I'm wondering...

From the learning room...Setting the schedule for the coming school year - only 3 weeks of summer left!

Around the house...sewing projects, cleaning out the school closet, planning the fall garden.

I am thankful...35 years of marriage {how did the years add up so fast!?} to the same steady, loyal man...

Our photos already have a vintage, faded look without ANY processing!  But on this one I did add Pioneer Woman's "soft and faded" action, because it really added an overall softness...

A favorite quote for today...

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.                                                      Robert Frost

One of my favorite things...compliments from sweet tweener on what I have cooked.

A few plans for the rest of the week...a birthday party overnight at sweet tweener's friend's house, another get together with another friend later in the week, swimming?

A Scripture to meditate on from this morning: 

"Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land." Isaiah 32:2

Lectio Divina:
We read the passage slowly: lectio
We meditate on the Word or phrase: meditatio 

We talk with God: oratio
We are silent: contemplatio

Joining with the Simple Woman's Daybook community here
and
Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday here

Whatever - subway art for tweeners

We don't allow sweet tweener to use the word "Whatever" at the house...

It is often used (when we hear it in media) to convey disrespect...

however, of course we use a "valley-girl accent" and goof around with the word

 - alot...

It is good practice for her, to be able to bridle her tongue, but....

she is still a tweener - and since it is her Poppa who is more strict than me and, well, God just dropped this in my heart during quiet times one morning to bless her with....

 

More "whatever" verses to come:  1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17; Colossians 3:23

You can order a digital or paper print from the etsy shop.

Linking with Jennifer and other creatives at Studio JRU here ☺.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

July 31, 2012

A peek at my day:  Some flowers I bought on clearance after Mother's Day - and photographed for playing in photoshop later - and these lazy days of summer are perfect for staying cool and enhancing photoshop skills:

Processed with Kim's "sunkissed" texture and a new brush for Beyond Layers students...

Outside my window...The heat is really decimating the landscape, yet this morning (rather late) I heard the "chuck-wills-widow" calling - the early morning hours, just before the heat becomes rather unbearable, are a perfect time to be outside...

I am thinking...about a conversation the good Dr. Mungadze and I had yesterday about a client...

I am thankful...for this promise of Scripture:

¹⁰ “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
¹¹ So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.   (Isaiah 55:10-11, NASB)

In the kitchen...another pan of "Texas Sheet Cake" - recipe courtesy of The Pioneer Woman...

I am wearing...a white cotton shirt and a white skort

I am creating...an online gallery format for either this blog or the website - which one?

I am going...to the pool with sweet tweener later...

I am wondering...if I will be accepted into the "Faith Artists" group here in our area...{fingers crossed?}

I am reading..."Fit in Fabulous in 15 Minutes" - it looks promising and I think I can handle the routines!

I am looking forward to...guest posting soon for a friend - so excited!

Around the house...Continuing to work on sweet tweener's T-shirt quilt + chokers and bracelets made out of the rest of the shirts...ideas found on pinterest here...

I am pondering...35 years of marriage coming up - how can that be?  I feel so young - like I am 35 years old, not married for that long!

One of my favorite things... when my DH comes home from work...

A few plans for the rest of the week: Staying cool, staying cool, staying cool, etc.....

A Scripture to meditate on from this morning:  I wrote all about it here...

Joining with the Simple Woman's Daybook community here
and
Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday here

Beyond Layers "Instagram-ish" week images

 
Something borrowed image: I am borrowing this book "The Original Sanctuary" from my best friend because it sort of reminds me of, well, the sanctuary of the altar of the Lord in His temple *sigh* - and the swallow that builds her nest there....so I am revisiting "Book Spine" poetry as a way to feature my borrowed item..I simply processed this with Daniel Box's "Early Bird" action - with a layer mask to take down some of the brightness over the dove...
 

Water image:  Clark Garden's in Mineral Wells - processed with Kim's texture "Red" at softlight blend mode+a texture to add a distressed aged edge that I found on Flickr (here) and applied at multiply blend mode...

I'm linking this creation up at Beyond Layers...

Sneak Peek - Recent work and a show

Fronts and backs, ready for words

I still find nests, eggs, and birds so charming - and I am thinking about the fall edition of the Finding Sanctuary e-course...with a few minor changes, including a sub-title change (stay tuned ☺)...I was inspired by some of what the Lord is speaking to me to make some little (recycled CD) clocks reflecting that there is a time to gather, a time to build, a time to nest (think "rest") and these make us ready when it is time to fly...are you hearing the Spirit speak to you already?

Placing the words at the hours

Ready for the mechanism...

Others feel this affinity to swallows and sparrows, the smallest and humblest of our feathered friends...I can't help but notice blogs with names like "Sparrow Song" and "The Feathered Nest", or just go to Etsy.com and you can find shops like "Swallow and Twig", "Swallow Comes Spring", "Sparrow Hills", "Sparrow and Bellflower" - and there are so many, many more...










Of course Pinterest has so many images of sparrows and swallows (I've got two "Finding Sanctuary" boards here and here) -

And then there is Flickr (just type in swallow or sparrow in the search window)....

Hey, what's Jack Sparrow doing in my sparrow search!?!?

So many ideas for the word picture in Psalm 84:3 - of being a swallow building her nest at the altar of the Lord!

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.

My table display at the show and luncheon the other weekend - it was great fun and I made great new friends while selling a little art...(see the clocks near the front?  And I made a few nest necklaces, too, in the very front.)   I don't do very much jewelry, but I do keep "seeing" ideas for it...so I will carefully move forward in that as the Lord leads...

now waiting for a new resting place and available at the shop here

And now, it is time to "gather, build, nest and fly"...{smiling}

Linking up with Jennifer and other creatives at Sneak Peek Friday at StudioJRU

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

July 25, 2012

A peek outside my window:

Playing with photoshop again, trying to get an image to look more painted rather than a photo...

my sweet dh took this picture earlier this spring - looks like the bushes need trimming!

 (mouse over to see the before)

I used "Canvas Magic" from Kim's collection on this image, along with several adjustment layers...play, play, play!

Another image - I am amazed at how photoshop can be used to take a really bad photo and transform it - doesn't that sound like what the Holy Spirit does in our lives!  I am happier with this picture than with the one above...I think I am getting the hang of the procedure for painterly effects, but I definitely need more practice, too!

I used Kim's "Fall in" texture along with several adjustment layers + the kanji brush and Haiku font for the wording.

I am thinking... about how we learn so much better by example rather than by lecture...by being invited to "walk along beside" a person and gaining access to their lives - witnessing the moments strung together and how those moments are embraced or missed...how honest vulnerability is more impacting than something like "do x, y, z for a closer walk with God"...

I am thankful... for sweet tweener's sweet disposition, for the telephone, for airconditioning!

In the kitchen...I made this recipe last night with a pile of tomatoes from the garden and dh loved it (so did I) - Fresh tomato spaghetti sauce. 

I am wearing... A black tank and wind shorts (it is hot in Texas!)

I am creating... a T-shirt quilt out of sweet tweener's old shirts + headbands and bracelets out of the remaining T-shirt scraps...I am enjoying being back in the sewing mode again!

I am going... to the free movies with sweet tweener later this morning...

I am reading... (actually just finished) a book on creativity by a pastor - an interesting thought from here is that we are responsible to use our creativity just as any of the other gifts He has implanted in us.  The book: CREATE: Stop Making Excuses and Start Making Stuff, by Stephen Altrogge.  He covers all types of creativity and offers us all a holy kick in the pants (really!).

From the learning room...Science summer camp online - ROBOTS!  I am so impressed with sweet tweener as after just one lesson she is now putting together her own robots...
 
I am pondering...  a question a friend and I were discussing this week - how the church presents worship and the differences...how some churches worship with freedom yet order...it is intimate with gifts flowing and no different than what one does at home in their private times with the Lord, and then how some churches worship with a different...what?  Goal?  To lead others into worship or instruct/teach the "how"?  It seems less vulnerable, less risky?  Especially in a corporate setting?  Still listening to what He is saying...

One of my favorite things... the charm of clotheslines.

Instead of a scripture meditation, this is from an old children's book we (sweet tweener and I) found this week.  I love these words from God's heart - it is worth reading all the way through as it sums up beautifully the entire Bible(!):

You're looking for answers?

Then here's what to do:

Just turn to the Bible to find what is true,

And listen to everything I say to you.

You won't find a picture of Me in a book.

There isn't one person who knows how I look.

But don't be upset that you can't see My face.

You can look at My work in this beautiful place.

I've been alive since before time began; 

I made the whole world by My very own plan.

I'm as tall as the heavens; I'm as wide as the sea.

But even your hairs are all counted by me.

My voice can be gentle and silent and still,

And also like thunder that roars through the hills.

I sing with the waves and the whistling breeze.

And joining my song are the hills and the trees.

I'm strong as a fortress, a rock, and a shield.

But as gentle as rain falling softly on fields.

When you are unhappy that makes Me feel sad.

I'm filled with great joy when I make your heart glad.

My anger comes slowly and fades like the night.

There's no darkness in Me, just goodness and light.

I live in the world and in heaven above.

I live in the hearts of My people who love.

For I AM the Maker of heaven and earth.

I spoke, and My Word brought all life into birth.

I AM like a mother who comforts your fears

And tenderly wipes away all of your tears.

I AM like a father who wants to provide, 

 to care for your needs and to stay by your side.

I AM the Creator, the first and the last,

I'm God of the present, the future, the past.

I AM the good shepherd, who cares for each lamb.

I AM the Almighty, I AM WHO I AM.

I'll love you forever, whatever you do,

For nothing can separate My love from you.

I've loved everything that I made from the start.

My world and My people I hold in My heart.

Kathleen Long Bostrom

Joining with the Simple Woman's Daybook community here 

Beyond Layers here

and Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday here

A Sneak Peek at more Custom Work

A peek at what I have been mostly working on for artistic endeavors... 

I think I will do some blue colorways for boys' rooms

A wonderful customer had great ideas for more subway art, and agreed that I could offer prints through the shop - I should have these listed over the weekend...and  there is one more I am working on...just wanted to link up with:

Jennifer at StudioJRU and other wonderful creatives here...

Have a great weekend!

A Basket of Plums - TT

Our plum tree was laden this year! (In May)...playing in Texture Tuesday - 2 different textures...

I used a levels adjustment layer and a layer mask over the cherries

KK's "Be Still" at multiply

KK's "Sunkissed" at softlight (it brought out the yellow tones of the plums in a beautiful way 

and gave a sunny glow to the negative space of the picture.

 

Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday here