WOYWW: Christmas Presents!

GRATEFUL!   This word was on my mind as I celebrated my birthday on December 24 and Christmas day.  I am so grateful for blessings too many to count.

On my desk for WOYWW, the weekly show and tell link party I have joined all through out 2012, are Christmas and birthday presents that I have yet to put away.  Here is a special pop-up birthday card from my son that I thought you would enjoy...

The year is coming to a close, and next Wednesday it will already be 2013!   It's a good time to look back on this year's blessings and the challenges we have survived.  I am grateful!

My dear blog friends and visitors, may the blessings of the Christmas season be yours all through out the coming year!

Emmanuel, God With Us

Two years ago, I made this set of twenty five Artist Trading Cards for each day of December until Christmas.  It was a sort of Advent calendar based on the tradition of the Jesse tree.  Each ATC has a symbol (like Jesse tree symbols) for a bible character and story which can be read and reflected on for the day and the ATC put in it's place until the whole picture comes together on Christmas Day.

The Bible characters and stories and their symbols for each ATC, from top to bottom row, left to right,

Day 2. - God, Creation, Gen 1:1-2:3 - Tree 
Day 3. - Adam and Eve, The First Sin, Gen 2:4-3:24 - Tree with Fruit or Apple
Day 4. - Noah, The Flood, Gen 6:11-22, 7:17-8:12, 20-9:17 - Rainbow and dove
Day 5. - Abraham, The Promise, Gen 12:1-7, 15:1-6 - Field of Stars
Day 24. - Magi, Worship, Matt 2:1-12 - Star

Day 19. - Habakkuk, Waiting, Hab 1:1-2:1, 3:16-19 - Stone Watchtower
Day 7. - Jacob, Assurance of the Promise, Gen 27:41- 28:22 - Ladder
Day 22. - Mary, The Hope for a Future, Luke 1:26-38 - Mary
Day 20. - Nehemiah, Return and Rebuilding, Neh 1:1-2:8, 6:15-16, 13:10-22 - City Wall
Day 14. - Samuel, The Beginning of the Kingdom, 1 Sam 3:1-21, 7:1-8:22, 9:15-10:9 - Crown

Day 12. - Joshua, The Fall of Jericho, Josh 1:1-11, 6:1-20 - Ram's Horn Trumpet
Day 21. - John the Baptist, Repentance, Luke 1:57-80, 3:1-207:18-30 - Scallop Shell
Day 17. - Hezekiah, Faithfulness and Deliverance, 2 Kng 18:1-19:19, 32-37 - An Empty Tent
Day 25. - Jesus, Birth of the Messiah, Luke 2:1-20 - Jesus
Day 23. - Joseph, Trust, Matt 1:19-25 - Carpenter's Hammer

Day 6. - Isaac Offering of Isaac, Gen 22:1-19 - Ram
Day 9. - Moses God's Leadership, Exod 2:1-4:20 - Burning Bush
Day 8. - Joseph God's Providence, Gen 37, 39:1-50:21 - Coat
Day 18. - Jeremiah The Exile, Jer 1:4-10, 2:4-13, 7:1-15, 8:22-9:1-11 - Tears
Day 10. - Israelites Passover and Exodus, Exod 12:1-14:31 - Lamb

Day 1. - Introduction of the Jesse Tree, Isa 11:1-10 1 Sam 16:1-13 - Stump
Day 11. - God, Giving the Torah at Sinai, Exod 19:1-20:20 - Tablets of the Torah
Day 13. - Gideon, Unlikely Heroes, Judg 2:6-23, 6:1-6, 11-8:28 - Clay Water Pitcher
Day 16. - Elijah, The Threat of False Gods, 1 Kng 17:1-16, 18:17-46 - Stone Altar
Day 15. - David, A Shepherd for the People, 1 Sam 16:1-23-17:58, 2 Sam 5:1-5, 7:1-17 - Shepherd's Crook

We, too, have our own faith stories and are part of His story - Emmanuel, God with us.  Wishing all of you, my dear blog friends and visitors from PPF, Studio Sneak Peek, Faith Filled Friday and Inspire Me Monday, a very blessed Christmas season!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Christmas Blessings!

This last Wednesday before Christmas, I wish all of you, my dear blog friends and fellow WOYWWers,  a blessed Christmas!   

My desk is so busy and cluttered.  Is it like my mind, which is sometimes filled with all the things I still need to do before Christmas?  When I get too busy, let me remember what this illustration from my prayer journal says (sharing in Word Art Wednesday, too)...

This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols, but the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ." (Frank McKibben)

A blessed and joyful Christmas!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Back to a Mess

Ribbons, tape, scissors - I've been gift wrapping!  But I've also been trading ATCs at ATCs for ALL so my desk is also filled with ATCs I'm trying to finish.  Here is one of them...

Last weekend, I printed out some copies of a Madonna and Child to sell in a charity event and this one printed out in portrait orientation on landscape paper so her halo is cropped.  Anyone interested in a cropped print?  Let me know in your comment!

And for those of you who enjoy it, here is a page from my prayer journal...

This Advent season, we can reflect on the mystery of God's love for us.  As the beautiful song Emmanuel says "What are we that you have loved us so well?"

Look up the WOYWW list and take a peek at other desks and look for more paintings at Paint Party Friday!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: New Shelves

You would think my desk would be a mess since Christmas is coming and there are gifts to wrap, right?  Well, I've been busy tidying up since I got some new shelves for the left side of my desk (there used to be a wall with a memo board there).

A tidy desk with a pile of ATCs! (Those of you who visited last week know where the mess is!)

And here are my latest "art materials" saved from being thrown into the trash bin, including foil from chocolates from Mongolia (brought home from my brother Robert, who is known as the Sketching Backpacker).  After washing them, I glued them on paper so they would be ready to use in a collage.

Last Sunday was the start of the Advent season, a time of waiting and preparation for Christmas, a time of reflection and hope, of drawing nearer to God...

For more desks to enjoy, look up the WOYWW list!

Paint Party Friday: Artist Trading Cards

Last Saturday, my sister Patsy and I had a paint party (otherwise called a workshop)!  We introduced some ladies to the fun of making Artist Trading Cards (ATCs).  Here are some of the cards I started then (they aren't finished)...

We cut our faces from magazines and painted over the faces.  Do you recognize which one was Jennifer Lopez?

From a page of my daily prayer journal, an illustration for Matthew 11:28, for those of you who are starting to feel the busyness of the coming Christmas season.

Join other artists in Paint Party Friday!

(JLo is on the upper right)

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: ATCs

My sister Patsy is celebrating her birthday today!  Happy Birthday, Patsy!  Patsy and I held an ATC workshop last Saturday and it's put me in the mood to make and trade more ATCs!  On the top of my desk picture are the cards I started during the workshop (we painted over magazine photos).  This space is practically the ONLY working space left on my desk so I took over the bathroom counter when my husband was out, hoping I would be done by the time he got back.  

The whole counter was filled with ATCs in the making when he got back and I said "Oh, you caught me!"  Hubby: "With what?"  Me: "Making a mess!"  Hubby (not surprised): "You're always making a mess!" Ha, ha!

And for those of you who enjoy the pages from my prayer journal, here is a prayer that the Lord will hear our prayers.  If you're in a difficult season of your life and it's taking some time for your prayers to be answered, you might enjoy the beautiful song I posted last Monday.  

For more desks to take a peek at, hop on over to The Stamping Ground.  I will also link up to Word Art Wednesday! 

Inspire Me Monday: Mercies in Disguise

I heard a beautiful song yesterday as we celebrated Christ the King Sunday and I wanted to share it with you.  It is a wonderful reminder to trust the Lord through the trials of life.

It reminded me of my own journey through the dark valley and the wondrous work of the Lord in my life.  I'm sharing this in Inspire Me Monday and Random Journal Day.

Blessings to you, my dear blog friends!  

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: ATCs

Happy Wednesday, or whatever day you happen to drop by!

I managed to get some ATCs done and Mr Random Number Generator picked out Carolyn Phillips to win one of them.  And since I would love an ATC from JoZart and she offered to swap, she gets one, too.  Please send me your addresses, ladies, and I will get an ATC to you!

Have I shown you this little doll I bought in Seoul?  Isn't she so cute?  I want to make something like her.

Here's a bit of encouragement from my prayer journal for those challenging times in life...

See how I drew a crown on her head?  The daughter of the King knows her Father will always take care of her and so she is confident and unafraid.  This is how I want to be!  Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who celebrate this wonderful celebration!

For more desks, visit Julia and for more words of encouragement, visit Word Art Wednesday! Or why not join Paint Party Friday?

Paint Party Friday: Madonna

Happy Paint Party Friday, my dear blog friends! Here's a Studio Sneak Peek at my latest Madonna painting.   She is one of my favorite subjects in my art because she is an example to me in the way she said "Yes" to God.  Have a Faith Filled Friday!

I'm giving away one of my artist trading cards.  Please let me know in a comment  in my previous post if you would like a chance to join my giveaway! I will pick a winner by November 20.

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Signs of Christmas

It's that time of the week again and here is my desk showing my attempt at getting some Christmas gifts wrapped.  All throughout the year, I buy presents and put them away somewhere and sometimes I can't find them so I have decided to start wrapping early (or at least to try).

I'm using kraft paper, recycled bond paper and ribbon I bought on sale last week, together with all sorts of other craft materials.  These are some I haven't found a place for yet...

My latest Madonna is done and although the picture doesn't show it, her halo, veil and dress and the flowers have bits of gold that my daughter says makes a big difference in how it looks...

And here are some flowers made by an inmate in the jail we visit every Friday.  They are woven out of paper covered in cellophane.  Aren't they amazing?

Julia, who hosts the WOYWW link party says "Reciprocal visits are polite" and I am so sorry to say, I haven't been polite.  The internet connection inside my room is (again) not working so it's been challenging to go visiting.  The week just seems to go by so quickly.  My sister Patsy gives out an ATC to make up for not visiting and I've decided to give one out this week as well.  Let me know if you want an ATC from me and I'll pick a name from my visitors this week.  And as always, I will also try to visit back.  Hope springs eternal!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Madonnas

Happy WOYWW, my dear blog friends!  This is the tidiest part of my desk and I haven't even shown you the floor (Robin once commented that we should have "Floor Time Fridays"!)

Here is another Madonna and Child that I worked on while we were at the beach this weekend...

and last month's issue of The Word Among Us, a devotional I use.  This issue features "The Year of Faith" which is on October 11, 2012 to November 24, 2013.

"Pope Benedict XVI opened his announcement of The Year of Faith by telling us that the "door of faith is always open for us' (Porta Fidei, 1).  It is a door that we can pass through every day, deepening our relationship with the Lord and with all our brothers and sisters in the Lord."- The Word Among Us.  May we pass through this open door!

And lastly, a page from my prayer journal...

Take a peek at more desks joining What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Women Works in Progress

Happy WOYWW, my dear blog friends!  Here is my desk today.  As you can see, I decided to put my Paint Pods in a cardboard tray.  I can take them out when I am painting and slide them under the desk to keep them.

While tidying up, I found some half finished ATCs.  I am getting ready for a trip to the beach for the long weekend and deciding what to bring along.  Perhaps I will finish these ATCs.  I know, I know, what a thing to bring to the beach, huh?

My Madonna WIP is sporting a new halo...

And what about you?  What have you been up to?  Join in the fun of showing off your mess, I mean, desk!  Here's the WOYWW list!

Orange Day!

It's Orange Day every 25th of the month.  Please wear orange if you would like to participate in the UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, raising awareness about the issue of violence against women and girls.  I'm wearing orange today!

Linking up my orange painting with Paint Party Friday.

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Paint Pods

I am trying out some new paints on my WIP Madonna.  One day in the hardware store, my sister Patsy saw a bunch of "Paint Pods" (sample colors) on sale for ₱20 ( £ 0.31 or $0.48) each.  Of course we couldn't resist buying a whole bunch.  But since I don't have space for them, they are still in a bag on the floor beside my desk...

Join us at WOYWW and take a peek at what's up in crafter's desks from around the world or better yet, show us yours!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Back to Normal

For WOYWW this week, gone is the spotless desk and it's back to normal after my trip to Korea last week (and this is after I already tried to tidy it up).  Today's prayer journal page in progress is about the Fruit of the Spirit.  As I drew and colored, I reflected in the ways I have grown in these areas and in the many other ways I still need to grow...

Here are some cheap paint brushes from Korea...

and as promised, I had Mr. Random pick a winner for my giveaway and he picked...

Gill , who said... "I love the first one - 'seek and ye shall find'" and so I will be sending her this painting as soon as I get her address...

In case you are interested, here are some photos from Korea (with apologies to Julia for my long post)...

It happened to be the Korean Traditional Performing Arts Festival and there were a lot of performances and exhibits.  Here is a booth where you could paint some masks...

and here is a Korean felting artist in her studio in Bukchon...

I went to the artsy "Free Market"near the Hongik University where artists and crafters display and sell their original works on Saturday afternoons from March to November.

From October 1 to 7, it was also the Hi Seoul Festival 2012, "a spectacular assortment of outdoor performances by Korean and overseas street art groups."

Happy WOYWW, dear blog friends!