More masterpieces...

Sharing the latest masterpieces from Sea Kettle Studios. 

I know I'm bias, but I think these young artists just keep getting better!

"Thou hast kept the best in store"

I thank Thee, Lord, that Thou hast kept
The best in store;

We have enough, yet not too much

To long for more:

A yearning for a deeper peace

Not known before.

-Adelaide Proctor

746. my week off; to rest and plan and craft and gear up for the kiddos on Tuesday...

747. scraps and threads from Grandma

748. small group time

749. Brian's wisdom

750. crocheting and catching up with Maria

751. coffee with Lianna and apple grog

752. peace in the midst of Dr. appointments

753. painting for Kimmie

754. my husband's dreams and potential

755. neck rubs

756. my long walk around the neighborhood

757. church volleyball and the evening service

758. seeing God use my pain to comfort

759. friends who stop by, just because..

760.  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He rescues those whose spirits are crushed." Psalm 34:18

 

Longings After God

(a weekly sabbath puritan prayer)

_________________________________________________________________

Longings after God

My dear Lord, I can but tell Thee that Thou knowest

I long for nothing but Thyself,

nothing but holiness, nothing but union with Thy will.

Thou hast given me these desires,

and thou alone canst give me the thing desired.

My soul longs for communion with Thee,

for mortification of indwelling corruption,

especially spiritual pride.

How precious it is to have a tender sense and clear apprehension

of the mystery of godliness, of true holiness! 

What a blessedness to be like Thee as much as it is possible 

for a creature to be like its creator!

Lord, give me more of Thy likeness;

enlarge my soul to contain fullness of holiness; 

engage me to live more for Thee.

Help me to be less pleased with my spiritual experiences,

and when I feel at ease after sweet communings,

teach me it is far too little I know and do.

Blessed Lord, let me climb up near to Thee,

and love, and long, and plead, and wrestle with Thee,

and pant for deliverance from the body of sin,

for my heart is wandering and lifeless,

and my soul mourns to think it should ever lose sight of its beloved.

Wrap my life in divine love,

and keep me ever desiring Thee, 

always humble and resigned to Thy will, 

more fixed on Thyself, 

that I may be more fitted for doing and-suffering.

Transformation

Just another "lots of little" transformation...

I love breaking up a big bouquet and filling little vases to spread around Sea Kettle. These lovely flowers were a birthday gift from my sister-in-law. They are so bright and lively!

This Moment

This Moment:  A moment that I'm pausing to remember and savor...

 {this moment} - A Friday ritual 

Joining with SouleMama:

Sea Kettle Studios - Friend Edition

All children are artists. 

The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. 

-Pablo Picasso 

The majority of adults I know are very self-conscious about their artistic ability.  You have no idea how many times I've heard the phrase, "I can't even draw a stick figure".  Far too many people give up on art when they get out of school, and often long before that. 

I've been so proud of a couple of my close friends who have stepped way out of their comfort zone and asked me to help them learn to paint.  

Jess is a very creative person.  She has always loved art, but has never tried to paint before.  She came to me with a great idea to paint a series of four paintings of different types of coffee drinks. She came over to Sea Kettle Studios recently and we worked through her first canvas.  Jess did a fantastic job with her first painting and I can't wait to see how the next three turn out! It was such a pleasure to see her loosen up, be courageous and gain a lot of confidence in the process.  

May she inspire you to go out and try your first "painting" or whatever else it is that you always wanted to try, but haven't had the courage to do...

   

One of my creative Inspirations and "Knit for Kids"

Meet my creative, beautiful, generous Grandma. 

Did I ever mention how much of a creative inspiration she's been to me?  

Some of my favorite childhood memories are craft weekends at Grandma's.  She delighted in preparing wonderful arts and crafts for her grandchildren.  We made candles, clay creations, quilts and bird houses made out of Grandpa's home-grown gourds. I credit these early craft days as some of the first times that I really started loving the arts and when I realized that I might actually be good at it.  

Grandma is also a wonderful sewer, crocheter, cross-stitcher (check this out!) and  knitter. She's been knitting for her grandchildren since our births. Growing up, birthdays and Christmas' were often enhanced by a lovingly handmade scarf, blanket or sweater from Grandma. 

As the grandchildren have nearly grown up, she's been looking for other kids to knit for. She recently found a wonderful program called "Knit for Kids". This program provides a simple crochet and knitting pattern for creating sweaters in different sizes to send to World Vision. World Vision then distributes them to needy kids in the U.S. and around the world.  Grandma has been busily knitting away on these special sweaters and has inspired me to do the same.  I think this a great way for us crafters to serve others in our community and the world.

Check out my first sweater for "Knit for Kids". 

(I started with a size 2.)

If you're interested in knitting for "Knit for Kids", go to the website above and print out the pattern.  It's nice and easy for beginners like me...

Grandma, thanks for your inspiration to slow down, to make things,

and to bring beauty and warmth to those around me.