Feb. 28: Clothesline Hanging Artwork Display

Twine and clothespins, an easy way to display artwork, photos, postcards, really anything made of paper. I got the twine at Home Depot and found the mini clothespins at Michaels.

Feb. 28: Lent Day 7

Simple Prayers

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:7-8

Feb. 27: Letter Line Stitching

It is just about a new month (I can't believe February is just about over already), and so I figured time for a new something to hang on the front door. Why not a big C, stitched out of little lines.

I first printed the C and traced it with pencil onto the piece of fabric (which is a piece of an old curtain). Then I just went at it, stitching lines within the outline of the C. A project that is easy to pick up and put down, working when you just have a little time.

Feb. 27: Lent Day 6

Holiness

"Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy."

Leviticus 19:2

Feb. 26: Lent Day 5

Trustworthy Promises

Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind.

Genesis 9:14-15

Feb. 26: The Creator: Daffodils

See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

Matthew 6:28-30

Daffodils are already blooming, wow!

Feb. 25: Lent Day 4

Letting Go and Acceptance

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector bu the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

Luke 5: 27,28

Feb. 24: Lent Day 3

Freedom

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:6

Feb. 23: Lent Mixed Media Collages

I cannot believe Lent is already here, even was yesterday; it is funny how time can seemingly pass so slowly and yet so quickly at the same time. In the past I have observed (or not observed) Lent in various ways from giving up soda to going to the gym regularly to giving up TV. However, last year Lent seemed the most real to me, by real I mean really connecting to God more closely. Around the time of Lent I had a lot of big questions for God about life, purpose, disappointment, change and His promise to give us more than we can imagine, and I (and we, J and I) spent a more focused time of prayer around these things during Lent. I learned a lot about God and our relationship with him and found some answers during that time and after to those questions I was asking. 

This year as I think about Lent, I long for that reconnecting closely with God during this season again. While I am half committed to giving up bagels, (hey, they are always there and free to me in both coffee shops and I am pretty sure I have gained a few bagel pounds in the last month) I desire a more meaningful endeavor as well. Creativity and art have long been a way I feel connected to God, and through them I feel able to express my love for God, my understanding of Him, my hope in Him, my desires, questions, fears, as well as His grace, love, gifts. So, I have decided to create a mixed media collage each day of Lent. I chose a book of daily scripture reflections for Lent to structure my scripture choices, thoughts, and creativity (see below for more info. on the book). I took over a sunny corner of our guest room and laid out lots of materials to work with. 

My plan is to each day read the scripture and reflection from the book, reflect, pray, and create while continuing to reflect, meditate, listen, and pray. On the back of each collage I will jot a few lines of things I thought or people I prayed for, just so I can look back and trace my thinking or see how God has answered those prayers. I will share each collage with you and hope that they will bring blessing to you. I welcome you to join me in this creative celebration of Lent and connecting with God in your own creative way, in whatever media, however often. If you do, leave a comment, I would love to see your creations and what God is doing in your life.

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The book I chose:

Lord, Open My Heart: Daily Scriptural Reflections for Lent By Julie Davis

Why I chose it:

It was a dollar on my Kindle (I wanted something immediately), it was the format I was looking for, scripture and short reflection for each day of Lent. 

Qualifier:

I have yet to decide if I recommend it and there is a good possibility there is a better book out there. However, I believe all scripture is from God and believe He will teach me through this book. 

A little from the introduction:

"Lent is about restoring our proper perspective toward God."

"These daily scripture reflections lead the reader to a deeper appreciation of the sacrifice of Jesus and the meaning of our redemption."

I could use those things, always : )

Note:

She quotes scripture from the New American Bible; I will quote from the New International Version (NIV); you may see both/either on the collages.

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Day 1: Perspective and Transformation

Your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 

Matthew 6:18

Day 2: Listen and Hold

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. 

Deuteronomy 30: 19,20

Feb. 22: Another Apron

I think I am officially obsessed with making aprons. But in my own defense, they are easy to make, can be re-purposed from many different fabrics, and it is fun to wear something homemade. And, now I have one for just about everyday of the week, not quite (I will have to keep working on that). This apron I made out of a piece of head scarf fabric I got while in Jordan (actually this week, last year).

Feb. 21: Word Embroidery

but the greatest of these is love

1 Corinthians 13:13

Now, to decided to keep for myself or give as a gift, what a dilemma, maybe I will just have to make another.

Feb. 20: Driftwood, Sea Glass, and Beach Stones Mobile

The sunny, blue skies beckoned me outside for a walk this afternoon. While wandering the streets of Eastport and pausing down by the water, I collected a handful of treasures and a few pieces of driftwood.

I immediately had the idea to make a mobile out of my findings and spent the afternoon (between loads of laundry) piecing it together.

To start, I used my Dremel to drill holes in the larger pieces of sea glass and beach stone and wrapped the smaller pieces in silver wire.

I attached the pieces together using twine and brown thread, balancing and re-balancing as I added.

It hangs nicely from an empty hook on the living room rafters, a welcome reminder of our love of the water and the beauty of our new hometown.

Treasures from afternoon walk.

Drilling a hole in larger pieces of glass and stones.

Pieces with holes drilled.

Sadly I broke this drill bit and piece of glass and gave the table a good scratch.

Wire wrapped smaller pieces.

Putting pieces together is quite a balancing act.

My favorite little section.

Completed mobile.

Feb. 19: The Creator: Red-Bellied Woodpecker

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky. ”So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:20,21

This Red-Bellied Woodpecker has been visiting our bird feeder on a regular basis lately. It has been cool to see him so close; his food of choice is peanuts.

Feb. 18: Credit Card / Gift Card Wallet

A while ago I saw a posting of this little wallet on Pinterest and thought it was a great idea. There are often times when I don't want to carry a purse but need to bring just a few things, like a licence, credit card, or couple of bucks. This little wallet holds just that and fits nicely into a pocket. I followed the tutorial found here, http://www.houseofdesignblog.com/2011/09/diy-credit-cardbusiness-card-holder/.

I made a second one for a friend's birthday; what a great way to give a gift card, cash gift or just some little notes. I stamped a little birthday note and made a coupon for a cup of tea and tucked them into the pockets for a sweet little birthday day surprise.

Feb. 17: Pillow Case Apron with Handkerchief Pocket

I could not resist making myself a new apron with the goodies I got at Good Will yesterday; and I am equally excited to wear it to work this afternoon. Oh how I do love a fun new apron!

The main piece is a pillow case, and the pocket piece is a handkerchief. I used scraps from a previous project to make the waist ties and some old buttons just for fun. Below is my attempt to explain how it was made.

Pillow Case and Handkerchief Apron

Materials:
- pillow case
- handkerchief
- fabric for waist ties - about 90" long and 3" wide
- buttons
- thread
- sewing machine

Steps:
Cut fabric for the waist ties; I like mine to be long so I can wrap it around and tie in the front (this makes me feel skinny). Therefore I made mine about 90" long and 3" wide (of course you can change the length or width if you would like). Since I was using fabric scraps for this part, I had to sew together several pieces to get a piece 90" long.

Fold waist tie fabric in half and stitch with a 1/4 inch seem allowance along the length to form a tube. Tube will be inside out.

Turn tube right side out. Use safety pin or similar tool; attach pin to one side of tube near one end. Then insert pin into the end of the tube where it was attached and push and work it through the length of the tube. When the safety pin comes out the other end continue to pull fabric through until tube is turned right side out.

Iron tube flat and fold ends of tube over twice and stitch to finish off.

Pin pocket to pillow case. Fold handkerchief in half and pin into place on pillow case; I put the pocket in the center. Be careful just to pin to one side of the pillow case, not through both sides.

Sew pocket to pillow case. Stitch along sides and bottom of handkerchief to attach to pillow case. Do not sew along top, pocket needs an opening. I also stitched up the center of the pocket so that it is actually two smaller pockets. Be careful to sew just to one side of the pillow case.

Sew pillow case closed. Turn pillow case inside out, pocket will be on the inside. Stitch the length of the open side of the pillow case, leaving about a 2" opening to turn.

Turn pillow case right side out and top stitch along sides and bottom, make sure to close opening left from turning in step 7.

Pin waist ties to pillow case. Find center of pillow case and center of ties, match up and pin ties to top of pillow case.

Attach waist ties to pillow case. Top stitch with 1/4" seem allowance along the top length of the waist ties, when you get to where the waist ties overlap the pillow case, this will attach the ties to the pillow case. Also top stitch with a 1/4" seem allowance along the bottom length of the waist ties, again sewing ties to pillow case.

Hand stitch on buttons just for fun.

A few ideas to make this project even easier: 

- don't include a pocket, really how often do you use a pocket on an apron? Although, I do find it extremely useful when wearing it to work and especially if my pants have no pockets, oh yes there are days I wear good old sweat pants to the coffee shop.

- don't add the buttons, they are just for looks after all.

- use ribbon for the waist ties; then you would not have to make and turn the fabric tube (which I will admit is a pain in the butt and in my opinion the hardest part), just attach the ribbon to pillow case as you would the fabric tube.