Frosty Autumn Glory

You know those few days of the year when it is just so BREATHTAKINGLY beautiful outside that you can't help but sing praises to the Creator of such Beauty? Today is one of those days. We had our first heavy frost of the year and the sun was hitting the Fall trees just right. So gorgeous.

Week 14 Inspirational Prompt from the Art in the Word Yahoo Group

Deuteronomy 32:2 (New International Version)

2 Let my teaching fall like rain
and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
like abundant rain on tender plants.

As I was searching and praying for a verse for this week, I came
across this wonderful verse from Deuternonomy.
Here in Ohio we have had a LOT of rain and in California they are in
desperate need of rain. This verse reminds us that the Word of God
is more important than the rain. Without it, we become parched and
if we get too dry, the fires (tribulations) will quickly consume us.
However, if we read His word, His teachings will fall on our parched
souls, making us fertile ground to bear fruit for His Kingdom.
May the reading of God's Word bless you this coming week
Lennea

Now for sale in my Etsy shop! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7638356

Christmas is coming!!!!

Oh yes it is! For artists and crafters we have to start thinking about Christmas months in advance. Here's a sneak preview of some vintage silvery soldered ornaments that I will be selling in my ETSY shop and a local boutique starting Nov. 1st. Each ornament will be $25.oo and there will be a very limited number made. If you would like to preorder an ornament just e-mail me at onceuponacottage@yahoo.com

These ornaments for 2007 are the first in my Christmas box series. This year's theme is White Christmas. I will create a new theme for the Christmas box series every year.

Each ornament is created with my own collage of acrylics, vintage glitter, vintage victorian photo, vintage lace, and may include a tiny bottle brush tree, antique buttons and other baubles. No two ornaments are the same! These box collages are then sealed with handcut glass and hand soldered to create a beautiful silver box. I have added chandelier crystals to dangle from each ornament. A Christmas heirloom to be enjoyed for generations!

The ULTIMATE BLOGGING AWARD!!!!!!!

The AMAZING, TALENTED and VERY FUNNY Jan Thomason http://polkadotbarn.blogspot.com/ has presented me with the FIRST EVER CREATIVE SNIT AWARD!!!!!!!!

Unlike many other blogging awards, THIS award requires much thoughtful deliberation and strict adherence to the following CREATIVE SNIT AWARD criteria.

THis award shall be presented only to worthy artists who have shown evidence of being in a creative snit.

To help with the selection, we need a common frame of reference. I found this definition of snit:

snit
noun
a state of agitated irritation; "he was in a snit"

However, I think a CREATIVE SNIT requires a somewhat different defintion:

creative snit
noun
a state of creative chaos, creative frustration, or a state of obsessive creativity: "she was in a creative snit"

Therefore, worthy recipients of this prestigious award should demonstrate one or more of the following criteria:

1) photos of their chaotic creative studio spaces (see my blog for example)
2) reports of staying up till the wee hours of the morning while consuming large amounts of coffee and or chocolate in order to finish a swap or prepare for a show
3) documented frustration over the creative process
4) evidence of a large quantity of art created over a small period of time
5) photos of the recipient at vendor night at any art retreat ( it goes without saying that ALL attendees at such events are either in or will soon be in a creative snit)
AND FINALLY

6) ( created especially for Jan) witnessing the recipient in a SNIT at a CREATIVE EVENT!

(note: Jan is a lovely, kind and generous person, who would not normally qualify for this award - However after traveling several hours on a plane to Art & Soul, she arrived at the hotel in the wee hours of the morning only to discover that THEY HAD GIVEN HER ROOM AWAY! And didn't have any rooms available! Now, if that's not cause for being in a SNIT, I don't know what is!)

I am quite honored to be the FIRST EVER recipient of this most prestigious award. Thank you Jan!!!

AND now, I award the following AMAZING and TALENTED artists with the INAUGURAL CREATIVE SNIT AWARD!!!!!!!

Jan Thomason http://polkadotbarn.blogspot.com/ for being in a SNIT at a CREATIVE RETREAT and for creating the CREATIVE SNIT AWARD!

Lani Kent http://artistlanikent.blogspot.com/ who may have first coined the term creative snit and I quote" I always get a bit overstimulated and in a creative snit after those events! It really is amazing..all that creativity in one room!"

Chel Hery http://chelise.typepad.com/ who is ALWAYS in a creative snit and graciously writes about if for our amusement

Keesha http://lemoncholys.blogspot.com/ who , DESPITE being very tired and getting sick, still felt compelled to add all the charms from Art and Soul to her necklace! Read about it here https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinu95CLk4ctHOiEYX77Qf2HOy9rW6QN2IdEHZ6Tz_weSXSYPG7QfQyCqMlGfNK9YDHwo1S09IrK1gWi3eooW2f-PypHne420Fjkxl8XOodoLL2seMvTuc5fh_E26FmNYuqNXH_Ig/s1600-h/IMG_0747.JPG

To all CREATIVE SNIT AWARD RECIPIENTS;

Congratulations! You have now earned the right to award other artists with this most prestigious award! There is no limit to the number of artists you award this to and there is no time limit on handing out this award. Just please post the CREATIVE SNIT AWARD button on your blog and refer your recipients to this post for more information.

Healing Rain post

The following post is the Healing Rain video by Michael W. Smith. It is my prayer for the people in the line of fire in San Diego as well as everyone that needs the grace and power of God's healing rain. I pray that you will receive the healing rain from God today - whether it be the literal rain needed to quench the San Diego fires or the spiritual rain that comes from God to quench your spirit.
Blessings,
Lennea

Healing Rain by Michael W. Smith

More Videos

Paper Dress Swap

Heather at http://www.speckled-egg.com/ hosted this wonderful swap. It was a five for five swap and Heather included ribbon and small clothespins to hang our dresses from. I LOVE the dresses I received!

Lennea Poppet

I Created this poppet for the Art in the Word inspirational prompt.

Colossians 3:12"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."That's a pretty tall order , isn't it? It's easy as Christians to get caught up in the law ( as the Pharisees did) and our own self-rigteousness. And there's always people at church, in our family and neighborhoods who try our patience! But God commands us to exhibit all the above qualities. Notice, he doesn't add Clothe yourself with..... WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT! or if the person deserves it! We would all do well to wake up each morning and remember to also put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience just like we put on our shoes!

Directions for making Claudine Helmuth's sitting pretty Poppet People are on Martha Stewart's website along with printable templates. They're very fun and relatively quick to make! I did not enlarge the template when I made this one. I also was jumpy with a headache, excedrin and coffee, couldn't find my tin snips or utility knife and was too impatient to let the ink dry from the printer, so the ink smeared a bit. I know better than to create when I feel like this, but I did anyway. I was in a bit of a creative snit. ( wouldn't that be a GREAT name for a blog??) If I ever make another blog - I think I'll name it Creative Snit!

Where one organizationally challenged woman creates

These photos won't get me into any lovely book on where women create, unless it's titled "Where Real Women Create when there studios aren't staged for a photo shoot". I invited all the women from my Art in the Word Yahoo Group to view my studio after a lively discussion on messy studios. NOTE! IF YOU ARE MY MOTHER, YOU MAY NOT WANT TO VIEW THESE PHOTOS!

Please notice my many attempts at organization- the labeled plastic bins, wire shelving, canvas drawers, magazine folders buried underneath the mess. I'm good at setting the system up, but not good at USING the system!

My favorite pieces in the room are the antique dresser that my Grandpa made and the antique book rack that I picked up along the curb of a shop that was giving it away.

These photos are my BLESSING to you today! May you go back to your own studios feeling better about yourselves!

I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes " HOme is a place for creative Expression, NOT a place to make an IMPRESSION"

Bless the Broken Heart

New mixed media painting.

practice, practice, practice

These are a few pieces I made in Sally Jean's Soldering for Virgins class. I finally got around to adding the jump rings today. I really need to learn to take better photos because the scanner makes every little bump look like a CAVERN! These look a lot smoother in person - really they do! Except for the Christmas one which I wanted to add bumps around. Now I need to get busy and start making some Christmas charms and ornaments.

Art in the Word Inspirational Prompt

From the Art in the Word Yahoo Group weekly prompt.

Proverbs 4 :18
"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
From "Daily Wisdom from the Bible" devotional:
"The lives of those people who are touched by the love of Christ are like guiding lights to others who have yet to find Christ in their lives. They can provide guidance and help, and they shine forth as bright examples of how good life can be. God's light can shine through us if we will only let it. We have the opportunity to show others the difference that Christ can make. When we live life empowered by the light of God, we live as He wished we would."
"Father, please make me a light for my world. Let me shine forth with Your goodness, care, and love. Let all who look to me see Your grace. Help me to reflect the saving light of Christ which You have lovingly given me. Amen."
Let's shine our lights to all those around us this week!

Art of Christmas with Lesley Riley

I made these two "spun cotton" ornaments in Lesley Riley's "Art of Christmas" class at Art & Soul. This is the first time I made dolls like these and I'm hooked. I finally learned how to make a doll armature and wrap it with "spun cotton". The dressing was easy, too and required minimal hand stitching. We only had 7 students in this class, so it was almost like taking a class from Lesley one-on-one. It was so fun and relaxing. Lesley is so nice and approachable. I wish I could join her for Art & Soul in Italy! Anyone want to sponsor my trip to Italy? heehee

House of Secrets

I made this in Tom and Romona's class "House of Secrets" it is a double journal made out of copper and glass. I got to use a torch in this class! I have to get one of those!

Back from Art & Soul

I'm BAAAAAAACK! I had a fantastic time at Art& Soul. Above is several photos of a piece I made in Sally Jean Alexander's class"Le Divine Shrine" Mine is titled "A Unique Doll Show."

Off to Art and Soul!

I will be getting up at 4am tomorrow to catch a plane to Portland Oregon for the Art and Soul Retreat! Only an art retreat could get me out of bed at that time;). I'll be learning new soldering skills from Sally Jean Alexander, how to make lovely Christmas angels from Leslie Riley and lots of metal techniques as I make a metal journal!

We were supposed to alter a paper mache house to display at Art and Soul. Here is what I created ( I'm still in a cream and rust phase!). I made the little doll "Faith" . The other doll is JoAnna's that I have been working on for an art doll RR.

Hope Sees a Star Auction

Hope Sees a Star is an online auction of arts and crafts from many talented artists to support a memorial for Stevie and Brianna - daughters of two wonderful artists who died earlier this year. For more information about this auction which begins Oct. 1st go to http:// www. hopeseesastar.com

I have two items that will be for sale - an altered pocket watch and this antique bobbin angel doll.

Gothic Arch Challenge ~Fall~

This week's Gothic Arch Challenge is Fall. Fall for me is always a mix of devastating beauty and devastating loss.

9 years ago today, Sep. 26th, 1998, my first husband died. God supplied me with all the strength, comfort and peace I needed to continue on and take care of my 2 month old son and 4 and 5 year old daughters. A few years later God would provide a kind, Christian husband and father for us who accepts my children as his own.
Shortly after Ken died, this song came to me. I had never done poetry or songwriting before and haven't since. It's a special praise song, inspired by the Holy Spirit, praising God for holding me in his caring hands. I can't sing it for you( you should all be glad for that!) but here are the words:

In my darkest hour you came

In the midst of all of my pain
I was down on my knees without a prayer

but through my tears of anguish

I felt your presence there.

You are the peace that passes understanding

When I don't know how I'm standing

the light that guides me through the darkest days
You are the love that surrounds me

the power that holds me

You embrace me with such gentle care.

Now I know whatever may come

By the sacrifice of your only son

I can come to you and see your face

You fill me up inside with such amazing grace
YOU FILL ME UP INSIDE WITH SUCH AMAZING GRACE!!!!!!!

Which brings me to the inspirational prompt for week 10 for my Yahoo! Group Art in the Word.
Phillippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Notes from my bible: God's peace is different from the world's peace. True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. Our citizenship in Christ's kingdom is sure, our destiny is set, and we can have vicotry over sin. Let God' peace guard your heart against anxiety.

When Ken died, I received so many comments about how stong I was. I would tell them, that I am NOT strong, but MY FATHER is! AMEN! God comforted me with an overwhelming sense of peace during that time - a time when those who aren't in a relationship with God often are devasted, crushed, anxious and give up hope. For the first time in my life, I truly knew the meaning of "the peace that passes understanding"!

May the reading of God's word bless you with peace this coming week.Lennea

Winter Art doll RR ~ meet HOPE

HOPE is JoAnnA's Gorgeous doll for the PW winter art doll RR. JoAnnA is the most amazing doll artist. I just love this doll - I'm pretty sure she wants to stay with me FOREVER! MUWAHAHAHA! I added a few rusty bits, dyed cheesecloth, old lace, antique button, vintage roses, cream ribbon. She looks great hanging in my living room!

Where does a tea fairy live???

In a tea cup, silly! Paper Whimsy is celebrating it's first year with an Anniversary project. We are to make a place for a PW fairy to live. Since we are quite PROPAH and GENTEEL around here, I created a tea fairy who lives in an antique tea cup. I seem to be using this PW image a lot. I just love this little girl - she's so feminine and looks so sweet and maybe just a little pensive. Now off for a PROPAH cup of chamomile tea...

Gold Gothic Arch Challenge

THis week's Gothic arch challenge is Gold. For more great Gothic Arch art go to http://gothicarches.blogspot.com/

Free to Fly

September...it's a beautiful month, the beginning of Fall. Soon the leaves will put on their spectacular show of color. We're just now starting to see some leaves turn here in Ohio and in the mornings the air is brisk and awakens your senses.

September is also a sad month for so many. I will never forget all the lives lost on Sep. 11th. I lost my husband, Ken, nine years ago in September. A fellow artist is mourning the tragic loss of her sister, and another artist remembering the birthday of her daughter who is now in Heaven.

And yet, in the midst of the sadness, we have the joy of knowing our loved ones are now Free to Fly. And I look forward to a JOYOUS reunion with loved ones I have lost, when I reunite with them again in Heaven.

Fabric Hoop

I've finally gotten up the courage to start playing with fabric. I created this fabric hoop and am pretty happy with how it turned out.

Week 7 Art in the Word Prompt

Psalm 37 :4-6 " Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit Your way to him and He will do this..."

If you would like to be part of a growing Yahoo! Group for Christian visual artists of all mediums, I invite you to join us by clicking on the Yahoo! button to the left.

Art in the Word

My post for the Art in the Word Yahoo! Group. Week 6 inspirational prompt. If you would like to join a small group of Christian artists of all mediums click on the yahoo! widget to join.

Rev. 3:20
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in."
NIV notes: The Laodicean church was complacent and rich. They felt self-satisfied, but they didn't have Christ's presence among them. Christ knocked at the door of their hearts, but they were so busy enjoying worldly pleasures that they didn't notice that He was trying to enter. The pleasures of this world - money, security, material possessions - can be dangerous, because their temporaray satisfaction makes us indifferent to God's offer of lasting satisfaction. If you find yourself feeling indifferent to church, to God or the Bilble, you have begun to shut God out of your life. Leave the door of your heart constantly open to God and you won't need to worry about hearing his knock. Letting him in is our only hope for lasting fulfillment.

Gothic Arch Challenge~Moon

My entry for this week's Gothic Arch Challenge. The theme this week is Moon. View more fantastic links to wonderful Gothic arch art at http://gothicarches.blogspot.com/

Gothic School Arch

A new fun challenge blog may be found at http://gothicarches.blogspot.com/. Each week, a different challenge is posted to create a piece of art in the shape of a Gothic Arch. This week's challenge was school. I took a previous piece I had made, fit it to the Arch template and embellished it a bit more. I plan on making a Gothic Arch book with my pages when I'm done. I've always loved arches, so this should be a lot of fun!

A quote for you.

"There is only one you. God wanted you to be you. Don't you dare change just because you're outnumbered!" - Charles Swindoll

This quote reminds me of how lucky I am to be the mother of my great kids. I learn something from them every day. I have two girls who are teenagers. They are so cool! I wish I had been more like them when I was young. They are goofy, silly and unafraid to look foolish. They care more about their friends and living a Christian life, than being popular. They're not afraid to talk to the "weird" kid in class and stand up for him when he's getting picked on. They're not afraid to say drinking and sex before marriage are wrong. They love life and are passionate about the activities they choose to do. They don't care if everyone else is on the volleyball team - they'll go out for soccer because they love it. Although they're too young to have boyfriends, they "like" boys not based on what they look like, but what they're like on the inside.

It took me so much longer to learn to be happy just being myself. They have some tough years coming up in jr.high and high school. I pray that they can hold onto who they really are and who God has created them to be. To be true to themselves. I pray they don't lose that and take 20 years to find it again.

I pray this too, for whoever may be reading this.

Evangeline Art Doll

I am now working on Cat's doll Evangeline. She is so Sweet! I added a quails egg, text from the 1866 paperback "Evangeline" by Henry Longfellow, a tag, hand dyed rose and cream silk ribbon, a cross charm, antique buttons, vintage pink glass glitter for earrings and antiqued brass wings. This doll round robbin is sooooooo much fun!

Paula's StellaBella leaves Ohio today

The art doll I have been working on for the Paper whimsy art doll RR will be leaving for New Hampshire. I had to add just a few more touches before sending her off. I can't wait to see how she looks when she is all finished! 3 more artists will still work on her before she's done.

Farewell Stellabella!

Shabby Pink Party Hat!

Sally Smith won this custom party hat for her participation in an Art in the Word weekly inspirational prompt. She requested her hat be in pink, rose and cream, so I really let the pink explode! Materials used: paper mache cone, pink acrylics, vintage pink satin ribbon, vintage crotcheted roses, paper scrap, silver glitter and old buttons. This may also be turned upside down and used as a cone for goodies!

If you would like to join a small group of Christian artists from all mediums and of all abilities, with swaps, RR and fun prizes then click on the Yahoo Groups button to join today! We're just getting started so be a member of our inaugural group!

Vintage Paper Dress Swap

http://www.speckled-egg.com/ is one of my favorite online shops for ephemera and unique collage items. They are hosting a vintage paper dress swap. We will get back a garland of 5 handmade paper dresses. How Fun!!! These are the ones I made. THis brought out my shabby chic pink side!

Art in the Word Inspirational Prompt

Week 5 Art in the Word Yahoo! Group Inspirational Prompt
Jeremiah 29:11For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This is one of my favorite verses as I know it is for others. How reassuring to know that God has plans for little ole me! This verse assures us that He didn’t just create the Earth and everything in it and then just sit back and see what happens. He has plans for each and every one of us. AND His desire is to prosper us and do us no harm, to give us hope and a future in Heaven!

Many people forget the verse just before Jer.29:11. “This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.

When I am wondering if God has heard my prayers or am desperate to see some sign of prosperity or hope, I remember Jer:29:10. It took 70 YEARS for the people of Jerusalem to be able to return from exile in Babylon to their beloved homeland of Jerusalem. I must trust that God is working out His plans for me in His own time and in His own way. I often pray that God will not let me get in the way of His plans for me by substituting my own plans for His!

School Days!

Do you hear that??? I'ts QUIET! After 3 months of having 4 kids at home, SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION!!!!( me doing the happy dance!). Even the dog seems more relaxed. I felt the need to create something in honor of this glorious day!

Art doll RR

I'm participating in my first ( but hopefully not last!) art doll round robbin. I was the first artist to get to work on Paula Dion's great doll, Stellabella. I added the wings and stars and will send it on to the next artist to work on. StellaBella will be a Christmas treetopper!

Zne Design Team Challenge

My butterly tag plain and embellished.