What's on my Workdesk Wednesday: A Lot!

So, it's Wednesday once again (whaaaat? already?) and there goes my plan to post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  Here is my desk today, with a lot going on for our What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday link party.  Some new craft books and ATCs that I stuck on a sheet to scan (I plan to make a post about them but who knows how THAT plan will go)...

And behind the mug of water, the unfinished ATCs from the same set...

And here is my reflection guide for our "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity," an "international ecumenical observance" which we observe from January 18 to today.  This year's theme is "We will all be changed by the victory of Our Lord Jesus Christ" 1 Corinthians 15:51-58.  

Change doesn't happen overnight and we often have to be patient (the hairdryer shows I haven't been patient in waiting for the paint to dry on it's own)...

Here is a page from my prayer journal, illustrating David and Goliath...

and a quote from the daily devotional, The Word Among Us, "The giant of division seems entrenched and formidable.  We may feel powerless against him... But don't forget: This battle is the Lord's, not ours to win... We need to carefully select the smooth stones he has placed at out disposal... One that flies straight to the mark is love, choosing to think the best of each other.  Love deeply respects the other, listens to the other, and is open to learning from the other... If we can just learn to look upon each other with love, we will go a long way toward the unity we all long for." 

And I think about the WOYWW bloggers who accept one another even if we all have different beliefs and ways of doing things.  We don't insist on our own way, or judge others who don't do things the way we do it.  We learn from one another and appreciate one another.  We encourage one another to be the best we can be.  Now that's what I call unity.

p.s. There's still time to join the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software giveaway.

My Journal Pages

Deciding this year to make my prayer journal an art journal has been a blessing for me. The time spent drawing and painting has been added time to reflect on the verses from the bible and what they mean to me.  


But it is a challenge as well to find the time to do it.  Sometimes I don't get to finish the page in the morning and have go back to it after I get back from work.  Sometimes I have to continue the following day adding  whatever I want in the previous days' pages.  But it is a good challenge because I get to do art everyday!


Here are some illustrations from my prayer journal, with verses from the first book of Samuel.  In this book, Hannah prayed for a son and she waited a long time before her prayer was answered.  When she finally had a son (Samuel) this is what she said...

Together, with Hannah, "My heart exults in the Lord.  I rejoice in my victory". 1 Samuel 2:1

When Samuel was a boy, he heard his name being called and although he did not recognize the Lord's voice, he obeyed what Eli the priest told him to say...

Although there have been times when I have been certain of God's direction for me, I'm sure there have been many times when the Lord has called me and I didn't recognize his voice.  But I continue to try to listen and grow in recognizing his voice.  I continue to say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening". 1 Samuel 3:9

I will link up with Paint Party Friday, Brag on God Friday, Studio Sneak Peek, Show and Tell Saturday, Just Journals and Sunday Sketches.  

And if you are interest in digital scrapbooking, you still have time to join my giveaway for the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software.   Happy creating!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Bookpaper ATCs

Hello, dear blog friends!  Here is a shot of my workdesk this Wednesday morning...

It's been a while since I made some Artist Trading Cards so I decided to make some after seeing Sarah's My Monthly Mojo post.  I'm using a bookpaper background, gessoed in parts, colored with whatever I can get my hands on and then I will layer them with paper scraps.

That's it for today (finally, a short WOYWW post!) and for more desks, drop by Julia who has THE WOYWW list!  Happy desk peeking!

My Prayer Journal 2012

For 2012, I have started a new prayer journal, and I try to put a little bit of art into each page, to help me remember the bible verse I meditated on.  Here are a few parts of the pages I have made so far...

After the Christmas holidays, I'm trying to get back into posting more regularly so I'm linking this up with Paint Party Friday, Brag on God Friday, Studio Sneak Peek, Show and Tell Saturday and Sunday Sketches.  

If you are interested in trying out digital scrapbooking, you still have time to join my giveaway for the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software.   Blessings to all of you!

What's on your Workdesk Wednesday: Paper Lanterns

The Christmas season officially ended (in the Catholic church) last Sunday and we have taken our Christmas decorations down.   Every Christmas, since we started visiting the local jail regularly, I have received a paper lantern from the inmates.  I thought of making a post about these wonderful lanterns and that is why they are piled on top of my desk today...

They are made from old telephone directories, cut, folded or rolled, and pasted together.  Aren't they amazing?

Here is my box of my favorite Pigma Micron Pens.  I have been using them for my prayer art journal.  I have managed to keep up with it until now (I'm chuffed and giving myself a pat on the back)!

Here's a peek at one of the pages inside...

For a peek at more desks, go visit the very amusing Julia at the Stamping Ground.  You will learn things like new uses for a shoe horn (to fit your new craft supplies into your shelves, LOL!).

And why not join my giveaway for the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking software.  It's great for all sorts of projects and since no one has joined yet, you could be the sure winner, LOL!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Happy New Year!

Hello, my dear blog friends!  I hope you enjoyed your holidays and are all set for a wonderful 2012!   My desk today is deceptively spic-and-span.  I not only used the push back method, but the more drastic push out (to the floor)...

I have started a new prayer journal.  My sister Patsy says making art in her prayer journal has helped her to remember the verses she has meditated on so I decided to follow in her footsteps...

I am using a journal I received from Sarah for the WOYWW Pay It Forward last year.  Thanks, Sarah!  Have you visited Sarah?  She has a Mojo Monthly feature in her blog that has wonderful projects and artist interviews.

That's it for now and you might want to take a peek at more desks joining What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday!  Happy New Year, everyone!

Happy New Year and the Winner is...

Here's to a wonderful new year filled with abundant blessings!

And the winner of my giveaway is number...

Congratulations, Lisa Isabella Russo!  Please send me your address and I will send you "Wonderfully Made Eve".

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Awesome Christmas Blessings!

If you didn't get to visit me before Christmas day, I wish you a wonderful and blessed Christmas season.  After all, just like Theresa said, Christmas isn't just one day.  It's a whole season.  And if the days before Christmas were so busy and full, perhaps for the rest of the season we can remember that "Jesus is the reason for the season".

On my desk for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday is a whole jumble of Christmas goodies.  I will have to do some reorganizing to fit my new stuff in!  An artist's box...

...scrapbook paper, clear stamps, a travel watercolor set, distressing kit, Prismacolor pencils portrait set, gel medium...

and of course, you wouldn't have missed the awesome new laptop, still in it's box...wow, jackpot!!!

 

For a peek at more desks, go visit Julia.  And I leave you with a lovely reminder...

So remember while December
Brings the only Christmas Day,
In the year let there be Christmas
In the things you do and say;
Wouldn't life be worth the living
Wouldn't dreams be coming true
If we kept the Christmas spirit
All the whole year through?
-unknown

May the blessings of this wonderful season be yours throughout the coming new year!

You are Wonderfully Made! A Giveaway

The Giveaway has ended.

Thank you very much for joining.

Watch out for the winner!

Just because I appreciate each and everyone who drops by and visits me, I made two paintings inspired by the verse from Psalm 139:13-14, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful."  Yes, I think each one of you is wonderfully made! 

Would like a chance to win one of these original paintings (6" x 9" mixed media pieces on watercolor paper)?  

 Wonderfully Made in Purple

Wonderfully Made Eve

1. For one entry, simply leave a comment on this post telling me which painting you prefer.

2. If you are a follower of my blog and would like a second entry, please leave a second comment on this post telling me you are a follower.

3. For a third entry, make a post about the giveaway or put it in your sidebar with a link to this post and leave me a separate comment telling me you did this.

I will be using the random number generator, so please make sure you leave me a comment for each entry you make.  I will pick a winner on my birthday, December 24.  

And, for those of you who are interested to try out digital scrapbooking, watch out for another giveaway I will be having soon (as soon as I finish up the post) for a digital scrapbooking software.

Hugs and thank yous to all my wonderfully made blog friends and visitors!  I'm linking up to Paint Party Friday, Studio Sneak Peek and Show and Tell Saturday.

Christmas Greetings and a Giveaway Reminder

I didn't have anything new to show you for today but I didn't want to miss the opportunity of greeting my dear blog friends from Paint Party Friday, Studio Sneak Peek, Show and Tell Saturday and Brag on God Friday,  a very joyful and blessed Christmas season!  You have been an encouragement to me this past year and I just want to thank you and wish you all a wonderful holiday season.  My painting is an ATC I made some time ago but since it is a Madonna and Child, I thought I would share with you.  After all, in the midst of all the busyness of the season, Christmas is really all about the birthday celebrant, Jesus Christ.  

Today I celebrated my birthday (December 24) in the Quezon City Jail.  It is my way of celebrating Jesus' birthday too.  Jesus said, "But when you give a feast, invite the poor..." (Luke 14:13)  and "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40).

Most of the inmates here are innocent but are waiting for their hearings.  They cannot afford bail.  Sometimes even their families don't visit them anymore and they are so happy to have us come to visit them.  Sometimes, when we are so comfortable, when we have everything we need, we easily forget people like these.  But what joy there is in bringing joy to the poor, the sick, the aged, the lonely, those in prison.  And how inspiring to see their faith in the midst of their trials.  May this Christmas season be a time of love, hope, generosity and joy for all of us.

And, a reminder that if you haven't yet, there's still time to join my giveaway for a chance to win my original art!  Just leave a comment on my giveaway post.