2011 Year in Review -Pink Saturday

Year in Review, 2011...part of my life creating: photography, gardening, baking, crochet, knitting, quilting and rubberstamping.  My love for color, deisgn, and a variety of mediums to enjoy.  Thank you for joining me this year as I blogged a little, finding time to blog and even get to these hobbies is harder and harder...but I HAVE to do it, or I won't, know what I mean.  My house work has suffered greatly this year, and my exercise life....so I must make a few changes to fit these in for the 2012.  I have enjoyed visiting your blogs for inspiration, I am so amazed at all the creative talent out there, thank you for sharing.

Please stop over to our hostess sweet Beverly and check out all the other linked blogs.
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

I have also enjoyed reading several books this year, my list inclues the following and I would recommend any of them wholeheartedly.  Most of the books I have are reference type books on my hobbies, also I am addicted to great magazines {artful blogger, where women creat/cook, Victoria, Romantic Homes, Hobby Farm, Country Living UK edition, Herb, and so many more}.

1.  We Shall See God-Alcorn

2.  Expecting to See Jesus-Lotz

3.  One Thousant Gifts-Voskamp

4.  Kisses From Katie-Davis

5.  Journey with the Messiah-Belk

These 5 books may be some of the best I have ever read and I may read them again.

I try to stay positive on my blog, so I have one place where I can escape to just for me.  I've actually had a very trying year with many, many very difficult challeges {in my mind anyway, although I may need to consider that I am a wimp and re-evaluate...I certainly have enough food to eat, clothes to wear and nice place to lay my head}.  I am thankful to my heavenly Father that I can have these wonderful creative outlets.  Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year, may He bless each one of you abundantly and may we WAKE up and live for Him.  Hugs, Michelle

In Everything Give Thanks-1 Thess. 5:18

Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, see God.

Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God.

God is Good and he is coming back!

Tag Art-Stamped and Crocheted

Tag Art is so much fun to create.  I've made up these Birthday tags combining stamping, embossing and crochet flowers accented with lace and edged with some scallop cuts and a little "bling bling".  The backs are left blank for a personalized message.  All the girls in my family will be getting one with their b-day present this year.  I have some for sale in my esty shop for anyone interested.

I did some flowers with cotton and then switched to wool, it was so much easier to work with.  If you would be interested in seeing a tutorial in how I made these, let me know, if enough people are interested I'll see what I can come up with.  Hugs, Michelle

Praise God-Serving one anohter

surfing...one blog to another, I found this lovely write up from:  http://knittybitties.blogspot.com/
A list of all the ways you can serve 'one another' from the bible::
· Fellowship w/one another
· Love one another
· Members of one another
· Devoted to one another
· Outdo one another in showing honor
· Rejoice with one another
· Weep with one another
· Same mind toward one another
· Don’t judge one another
· Accept one another
· Counsel one another
· Greet one another
· Wait for one another
· Care of one another
· Serve one another
· Bear one another’s burdens
· Be kind to one another
· Forgive one another
· Submit to one another
· Bearing with one another
· Encourage one another
· Build up one another
· Stir up one another
· Be hospitable to one another
· Minister gifts to one another
· Minister with humility to one another
· Speak no evil against one another
· Not grumble against one another


Isn't that good? Isn't it convicting? It's clear that Jesus thought it was very important for us to serve one another! And the great things is you don't even have to go looking for service opportunities. Every day, if you cross the path of another person, you have an opportunity to serve.
 
Warms the year to read these, doesn't it.  Hugs, Michelle
These cards are listed in my etsy shop for anyone interested.

Mary Did You Know?

From Advent book-Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church
Mary Did You Know?
Mary, did you know, that your baby boy will one day walk on water?  Did you know, that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?  Did you know, that your baby boy has come to make you new?  This child that you've delivered will soon deliver you.
Luke 1:30-35 "But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be calld the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, His kingdom will never end.' How will this be, Mary asked the angel, since I am a virgin?  The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you."
Wow! How does one's feeble mind comprehend that?  yet if you read on to verse 38, Mary's response was "I am the Lord's servant.  May it be to me as you have said."  Mary did not hesitate, she knew her God and she trusted Him to carry out His plan.  She was willing to risk her reputation and even her life.  Did Mary know that her act of obedience would change the world forever?
God has not called us all to be "Mary's," but He has called us all to be obedient and to trust His leading in our own lives.
Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for loving us so much that you gave up our only Son for us.  I pray for strength and courage to listen and obey your calling on my life.  may Your name be glorified in heaven and on earth.  Amen.



God commands us to care for the orphans....to whom much has been given, much will be demanded {see Luke 12:48).  If you have been given much, might you consider donating to Compassion International, click on icon button on right sidebar.  I have aother sweet little girl from Ugandy this time, her name is Florence, and I can't wait to start writing her and praying for her, I know it sounds silly how you decide to pick one of these precious children , but her name has been a family name in my family for five generations.

Blessings, peace, joy and love to you, Michelle

Twelve days of Textures

http://www.kimklassencafe.com/thecafe/farewell-12-days-of-textures.html
Thank you to Kim for all the lovely 12 days of Textures with gratitude. 

Here's a couple of my Santa's that I've texturized, striving for some vintage looking postcard style.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to each one of you, my special blogging firends.  I've enjoyed posting and reading all your special comments to me this year.  Blessings for a healthy and prosperous New Year, Hugs, Michelle

Pink Saturday-Christmas Finishes

Please stop over to our hostess sweet Beverly and check out all the other linked blogs.


http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Three Wise Women

A few more hand made cards that I made up.

A couple pillow cases for my daughter for Christmas, matches the quilt I gave her birthday, a little "Love" from Amy Butler's fabric line.

Only two days to go and I still want to make a couple more batches of different cookies up, so far I've done about 7 different kinds.  Above are some delicious nutmeg logs.

Merry Kissmisses!

I've unwrapped about four bags of kisses between the kisssmisses and the peanut butter kisses.

I really enjoy baking nad am thankful and honored to bless my family and friend this way at Christmas time.

One pan "Magic" bars. 

This is on my wish list, just in case anyone  is wondering what to get me at the last minute.  This is just one of several ideas, :)

Two days to to and I still have bindings to put on two quilts and two more pillow cases to make and 2 more batches of cookies, guess I'm down the  two's.

Hugs, Michelle

Mary and Joseph on Facebook

A friend had this on FACEBOOK and I just had to share it with you too, hope you enjoy this, very creative.

Quilted Nativity-Stoicking Gardland Paper Art

Quilted Nativity Quilt-36x44", white stitching on red fabric, first time I quilted with wool batting and what a difference it makes when you want to see detail and dimension.  The scene is hard to see from a distance but up close looks very good.

Backing is white on white.

Stocking garland with the new stampin up die from the holiday mini, you can still order up until Jan 3rd out of the holiday catalog, see sidebar icon.

I did various embossing folder textures on all the white pieces and scallop punched the circles, raised them with a pop dot and embossed the letters in gold.

This was fun to make my own decoration, not to just store it right when I put it away.  Hope all your decorating and preparations are going smoothly...Hugs, Michelle

Praise God- What Child Is This?

From the Advent Book of Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church
What Child Is This?
"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones.  For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven."  Matthew 18:10
In Matthew 18:10 we see that our heavenly Father has made special provisions for children by having "their angels in heaven always see..." His face in heaven.  My child, your child your neighbor's child has an angel that is in constant communication with God.  What an incredible thought!
Now, let us begin to make special provisions for our children and I'm not just tlaking about Christmas gifts.  It is not too late.  Let the Lord show you how to teach your child in a way that is meaningful to them.  Make it a purpose in your life.  If you don't have children, there are a bazzillion different ways you could impact a child in a real way.  This could be just to dutifully pray for one child every day.  We don't have to be "child oriented" to make a difference.
So during this time of focus on the infant Christ Child-Emmanuel-dedicate yourself to do for another child; whose angel sees the face of God.  May He bless you in your effort.
Prayer:  Dear Lord, I praise You because You are the Creator of life.  Thank You for the children You have placed in my life.  I ask that You teach me how to love them the way they need to be loved and cared for:  Please show me how to begin making a real difference in the lives of the children You put in my life.  In Jesus' name.  Amen

I am very excited to start praying,sending cards and small gifts to the two little girls I have just sponsored in November, in Equador, Sarah and Ruth.  They are so sweet.  I can't wait to tell them about "their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven".
Please consider sponsoring a child from Compassion International {icon on the right sidebar to click}, there are many countries to choose from, children of various ages and both boys and girls...what a difference you could make this Christmas for them and for You!   :)
Blessings to you, hugs Michelle

Christmas Cards-Hand Stamped

Christmas cards, hand stamped....so much fun creating, I just get lost, time flies.

Just a short post today, off to start some Christmas cookie baking next.  Hugs, Michelle