String Art Gifting- For some reason, simple words just never get old to me. I know it is a fad that will soon be "so old" and people will be over having their names or inspirational words as art, but for some reason i will not! Creating string art is just truly therapeutic to me also (as is most of the stuff i like to create!) It is so simple and anyone can do it! The best part is just creating what type of background you want the string on. Most of mine (as always) are on some type of old barnwood from the fabulous Nashville Flea Market! Some of these are from boards off of a house over 100 years old! 

Here are just a few that I created this year.
Some are gifts for baby names and some are just for me as inspiration!

Like a Skin

"Like A Skin"- Sara Groves

The butterfly can just look back
Flap those wings and say, oh, yeah
I never have to be a worm again

The snake gets tired of being him
He wriggles from that itchy skin
Leaves it lying where he's been and moves on

I've been longing for something tangible
Some kind of proof that there's been change in me

Feels like I have been waking up
Only to fight with the same old stuff
Change is slow and it fills me with such doubt

Come on, new man, where have you been?
Help me wriggle from this self I'm in
And leave it like a skin upon the ground 


You may wonder, "What do song lyrics and a picture of a tree have to do with health and creativity and living a life of RESTORED JOY?"
I am putting a bit of my personal life up here and sharing some insights that I am learning as I myself seek for the Lord to restore my joy....so just grin and humor me:)
 
A friend opened my eyes to the lyrical world of Sara Groves and I have been consumed for the last week listening to her powerful lyrics that speak nothing but TRUTH and LIFE!  I may share more soon, but for now, this song hit me and while on a prayer walk (one of the best ways I pray) I came across this tree and just smiled.  This tree, along with Sara's examples, show PROOF that there is change happening in this season of life.  

Sometimes I feel that I am not changing. Stuck. Frozen. Numb. Confused. Unmotivated. Lost. I feel that too many things in life are the same: Same job, same weight, same home, same fears, same prayers, same hard situation.....where is this hope and where is this change that I am praying for and trusting that God will come through??????

I want to SEE the change. I want to SEE the movement in the midst of the season that I am in and I too, much like this butterfly, want to look back at my "old self" and flap my wings knowing and FEELING that I am free to move forward!

Where do you turn when you feel stuck? My immediate reaction is to grab the phone, call a parent or a friend. Talk it out with my husband or just try to "plow forward" with my own ideas. I confess, I pray and pray and then if I don't see movement after a while, I start seeking other help. Don't we all? Waiting isn't natural to us anymore and we want to see instant changes, instant gratification and instant results!

So what is a girl and a believer to do in the midst of trial or hard seasons when you feel stagnant, unchanged  and ready to fly? She is to wait and to pray and to have hope in God's word. Hope in the scripture and truth that it holds. Truth that God is always at work and it may be this season or many many more changing of seasons until I visibly can SEE the harvest....but I know it will come. I hope that it will come and I put my steps of trust into that.  Maybe my body isn't ready just yet to release that skin b/c I am not protected enough without it?  God knows what the road looks like ahead and I for sure want my wings as strong as they can be for this next season.

So for now.....I may feel like a worm or that itchy snake......but I cannot wait to fly and be free again.  God, thank you for the waiting. Thank you for making me strong in the trials of this season and for helping my wings get stronger so that I am ready to fly!
I wait.
In my heavenly Father I trust.

Chalk attempts:)

Well, it was down to just me for some signage at Kairos! First ever attempts at Chalkboard art!

Melt Therapy

These crayon runs are SO therapeutic! Loved making these for a friends playroom for her kids! A little pop of color on the walls making it a happy place to play! 

Items at Hazeleyes Salon in Brentwood!

Thanks to my amazing hair stylist Debbie, i have a few fun items up in her store currently!
After she purchased one of the larger items I created, she has been so kind and supportive of my art!
Thanks Debbie! So i made a few items that are up in her salon/booth over in Brentwood! One of them I wanted to keep for myself so badly :) but that is the hard part about creating things that you love.....you get attached!
So here are the items that are up in her shop!

  
"but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint."
-Isaiah 40:31 

Single Bible page/feathered wing.
$50.00

Fun little dry erase board- "All I Want for Christmas" wish list.
My mom used to have a list like this in her kitchen for fun! 




Dry erase board- $15.00

 I love this simple window. I took out the old materials that were in the frames and now it is ready for Christmas Cards, pictures and letters for the Holiday season!

White frame (wire & Corkboard)- $40.00

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." - Isaiah 40:8


Bible Page Flower- $35

 This is by far my favorite and i wanted to keep it so badly....but it deserves to be in someones home! Somewhere they can be reminded of our God, of his strength and his security! 

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find reguge."
-Psalm 91:4 

Large 2 Wings on antique wood frame= $175.00 

Wedding Directional Signs....SUCCESS

 I was truly excited and honored that my wedding coordinator hired me to make some wedding crafts for her new bride! Best of all, it was a wedding at the zoo (so I already felt connected to this bride, whoever she is!)
Making these signs was so fun and I got to use my passion for creating PLUS my power tools....SCORE!

 I got wood supplies from Home Depot, plus paint, plus my tools....One day later- BAM! Fun and personalized wedding directional signs for "Laura and Chris."

I loved making these and now that i am better at them i am so ready to make more! Any brides out there want some signs? More wedding crafts to come, but keep these on your list!

I made 3 separate posts.

FINAL PRODUCT BELOW!

Wall Art

 Classic OLD oval frames are a great find! Gotta hunt for a few more at the Nashville flea market next weekend! Loved this "girly" frame and it sold fast! (which always makes me sad also when I wish i had more to keep for myself:)
I am however making another one of these wall panels with flower/paper (as below.)
This one used music sheets but the other has bible pages. The flower petals are made from toilet paper rolls (cut, bent and painted.)
These both sold, but i am in the process of making more!