WOYWW: Bargain Books

My desk today is filled with books I bought in a warehouse sale of Books for Less - all kinds of books for just 10 pesos each (that's 0.135 British Pounds for my UK friends).  At first I went and bought 50 books and then I went again and bought 56 more books!  These are just a few of my finds. There is also a bottle of cranberry juice which that Fat Flush Plan recommends.  Hope springs eternal!

I bought a white pigment ink Signo pen and I've been having fun using it as you can see in these illustrations in my prayer journal which I'm sharing for Word Art Wednesday.

I love the verses in the bible which have encouraged me during tough times.  Although I haven't managed to remain tranquil all the time, these words remind me to strive to grow in my faith.

Julia, who hosts What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday has the list of desks from all over the world, on show every week on Wednesdays. Lots to see, so little time!  Thank you so much for visiting!  Be blessed!

WOYWW: Singapore

I just got back from a short trip to Singapore.  And although I collect a lot less brochures when I travel now, I still came home with a few.  Even the paper bag from TWG didn't escape me.

Staying in a spic and span hotel room made us want to clean up our bedside windows which used to be piled high with books.

So I had to make room for the books...

While in Singapore, we visited the Singapore Art Museum (free on Friday nights).  Here is a piece painted right on the walls...

and some paintings by children...

Pretty good, huh?

And for Word Art Wednesday,

...some words from Pope Francis' "Evangelii Gaudium" The Joy of the Gospel:

"The primary reason for evangelizing is the love of Jesus which we have received, the experience of salvation which urges us to ever greater love of him. What kind of love would not feel the need to speak of the beloved, to point him out, to make him known? If we do not feel an intense desire to share this love, we need to pray insistently that he will once more touch our hearts...The best incentive for sharing the Gospel comes from contemplating it with love, lingering over its pages and reading it with the heart. If we approach it in this way, its beauty will amaze and constantly excite us.

For more desks to visit, my dear blog friends, drop by Julia's and be amazed about what's on desks from around the world.  Thank you for dropping by!

WOYWW: Gifts

There is a pile of small Belgian tapestries on my desk today.  A friend of mine gave them to me because they belonged to his mother and she is now gone and he said they were just stuffed into a closet.  Of course, I was delighted that he passed them on to me (even if I don't know what I'll do with them yet).  He said, "I trust your creativity."  What would you do with them?

On one side of my desk is this bible timeline which goes together with a bible study program called The Great Adventure.  Someone asked to borrow it and that's why it's there.  

And did you notice that cellphone cover?  I bought a new one yesterday and of course I did not throw out the old one.  I think I can take it apart and cover it with fabric or scrapbook paper to make a new cover.

I have been busy cleaning and organizing the attic and haven't been too creative.  Good thing I draw in my prayer journal everyday...

Happy What's on Your Workdesk and Word Art Wednesday, dear blog friends!  I really appreciate your visits!  Be blessed!

WOYWW: Colors

It's that time of the week again and here is my desk for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday.  My mini sewing box, a colorful woven "anahaw" fan...

some lovely teacup gift cards designed by my brother, Robert...

and for Word Art Wednesday, some illustrations from my prayer journal.  Yes, Julia, I do make the illustrations on facing pages have similar colors because I like how the whole spread looks with matching color schemes.

Thank you for dropping by!

WOYWW: Dark and Stormy

I took this picture in the dark, without seeing what I was taking a picture of.  There was a typhoon today and no electricity.  My desk is in an alcove under a stairway and since it was dark and stormy outside, the light didn't reach my desk. So I just focused in the direction of my desk and voila! The camera flash revealed my desk for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday. (My desk is filled with memorabilia from my days as a runner.  Here is my reflection on running the race.)

Sometimes life is like that.  Stormy and dark and hard to see where it's taking us.  But when I focus on God, even if I don't see Him, even if it feels like He's nowhere to be found, I experience the truths of His Word bringing light and comfort, peace beyond understanding, and even joy. Just as God's word says in Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."  Indeed, blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. John 20:29  I'm sharing this drawing from my prayer journal in Word Art Wednesday.

It is now 11:30 in the evening and the electricity has finally come back.  Just like life, all things are passing and during the dark and stormy times, we can say, this too shall pass.  

Thank you for dropping by. Blessings to all of you!

WOYWW: Recorded

My son is going to study in UC Berkeley and I'm cleaning out the attic because he decided to have some garage sales in the past few weekends.  I found some old Betamax and VHS tapes which I want to get transferred to DVDs...

and some old pictures of mine - my life recorded in these.

Most of the events we record are the happy ones but this verse I illustrated for my prayer journal says "my tears are stored in God's flask," "recorded in his book."

I drew this when my mother was very sick and she has since passed away.  Whatever challenges life brings, whatever tears I shed, I can remember that God is with me and he knows what I am going through and together with the psalmist, I can proclaim, "In the shadow of your wings I take refuge.

Sharing this with my blog friends in What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday and Word Art Wednesday.  Blessings to all of you!

WOYWW: Yes, You Can

I've been practicing some face drawing and in case you say you can't draw, here is a quote I recently came across - "If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." - Vincent Van Gogh

I got some lovely ATCs in the mail from Neet and Fairythoughts.  Thank you!

A metal tin that I will add to the pile of tins that I want to alter (maybe when I retire!) and a 'santol' fruit that I picked up on my morning walk...

Today I'm sharing 2 illustrations to show you how I often make illustrations on the two facing pages of my prayer journal have matching color schemes.

As I write each word, and draw and paint, I reflect on the Word for the day.  Thank you, Lord for the words of eternal life.  Thank you for abundant life.

Sharing today in What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday and Word Art Wednesday.  Thank you for visiting!

WOYWW: My Prayer Desk

I did not think you would want another peek at my tidy desk so I am showing you what my prayer desk looks like every morning.  This is the desk beside my bed and I keep my bible, prayer journal and basic art materials for my morning quiet time here.  There is the iPad where I read the daily reflections in the Evangelizo and Laudate apps.  

As I reflect on the verse for the day, I make illustrations which I often share in Word Art Wednesday.  Let my heart be as the rich soil and let the seeds of God's word go deep down and grow and bear fruit. 

I started trading ATCs again in ATCs for All and here are some of the beautiful cards I received from there, as well as from trades for the What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday Anniversary!  It's wonderful to receive these beauties in the mail!

Thank your for your visits, my dear blog friends!

WOYWW Wow and WAW Rescue

 

Wow, this is the tidiest my desk has been for WOYWW in a long time.  All there you can see are the gorgeous ATCs I received from the awesome WOYWW sewing sisters, Annie and Jo (also known as Wipso and Twiglet)...

I had to tidy up because just the other day, I made a big mess from an attempt to rescue a ruined bag by peeling off the outer layer of a faux leather trim that was already peeling off (experimenting what it would look like)...

Here it is after I finished peeling it all off.  Not bad, what do you think?  Any ideas about the next step?

And for Word Art Wednesday (WAW), a prayer journal illustration, also about rescuing...

Random.org picked a winner for my ATC giveaway last week and it is Carole Robb Bisson! Send me your address, Carole!  Have a blessed week everyone!

WOYWW: Truffles Take Over

My desk has been taken over by Truffles and she is exploring the mess I've made while finishing some ATCs.  It seems the only flat place left to sit is on top of my computer!

She's found dried flowers from Mother's Day way up on the shelves...

She looks like she's the boss, doesn't she?

I've decided to have a little giveaway today for one of my ATCs.  Just leave me a comment for a chance to win!

Here's a page from my prayer journal...

Thank you for dropping by and don't forget to visit other desks joining What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday and Word Art Wednesday!