Beth Stone Studio

Quotables: John Flavel

2012-02-22T07:00:00.002-05:00

O the depth of the evil of sin! If ever you will see how
great and horrid an evil sin is, measure it in your thoughts,
either by the infinite holiness and excellency of God, who is
wrong'd by it; or by the infinite sufferings of Christ, who
died to satisfy for it; and then you will have deeper
apprehensions of the evil of sin.

- John Flavel, The Whole Works of the
Reverend Mr. John Flavel, v. I

Happy Presidents' Day!

2012-02-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

They don't make 'em like they used to...

Happy President's Day.

Prints and greeting cards of these original collages featuring quotes by two of our greatest presidents are available in my Etsy shop.

Quotables: Lesslie Newbigin

2012-02-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

To make the improving of our own character our central aim
is hardly the highest kind of goodness. True goodness forgets
itself and goes out to do the right thing for no other reason
than that it is right.

- Lesslie Newbigin, Christian Freedom in the
Modern World

Quotables: Martin Luther

2012-02-08T07:00:00.002-05:00

{photo source}

Happy Birthday to my Favorite Person...

Love you. 

The Weekend Gallery of Miscellany

2012-02-04T09:00:00.001-05:00

I haven't done one of these posts in quite a while, so without further ado, I present this week's Gallery:

1. Hello. My name is Beth, and I'm a fontaholic.

Are you one too? I have - no joke - 1,574 fonts installed on my laptop. While I love them all, I find it a bit overwhelming trying to find the perfect font for a project, especially when I'm forced to scroll through a tiny little menu in MSWord with nearly illegible samples of each one. Not to mention the fact that my version of Photoshop doesn't even SHOW the samples in its menu...

Several years ago I spent hours typing out my own master list - the title in the corresponding font.

Pain. In. The. Neck.

My old list is outdated - I've acquired many more fonts and lost some of the originals in various computer crashes and upgrades - and I have been dreading trying to update it.... So, I was terribly excited to find this handy free download, which allows you to print a sample page of all of your fonts with one click of the button. Fantastic. You can also use the freeware to organize all of your fonts into type categories (handwritten, sans serif, calligraphy, etc.), but I'll save that project for another day.

At any rate, my new list is coming in handy, and I'm really glad I didn't have to type out all 1,574 font names manually...

2. In Which I Was Cheered Up by a Little Birdie From Home.

Since we're away from home for only four months, we found a furnished house to rent. While it was nice not to have to pack much, I do miss feeling like I'm in my own space with my own artwork on the walls.

Therefore, I was delighted to find this (not so) little number on my doorstep the other day! My Mom was kind enough to send me this awesome bird cage inspiration board I've been hunting ever since I passed it up at T.J. Maxx last year...

I'm enjoying its addition to my temporary "studio" space. Next to it is a "star" I created out of one of those old fashioned folding rulers - another item that has been on my wish list. I found it for a great price at the Williamsburg Antique Mall last weekend. Let me tell you, if you like antiquing, this is the place to go... aisles and aisles... Happy day.

3. In Which My Opinions Regarding Garbage Disguised as Miniature Cabbages Were Altered...

First of all, let me tell you that I have purchased, cooked, and consumed (at least half of) three cartons of Brussels sprouts in the last three weeks. While this may not strike you as remarkable enough to feature in this illustrious gallery, I should probably tell you that up until this point in my life at the ripe ol' age of 31, I have, to the best of my knowledge, unwillingly consumed only three individual Brussels sprouts in the course of my life - each of which was followed by poorly-disguised gagging noises and much wrinkling of the nose.

Little balls of garbage, that's what I thought of the wretched things. While I'm not normally that picky of an eater, this was just the one vegetable I couldn't handle. Ironically, I even really WANTED to like them - I mean, hey, they look like cabbages you'd find in a garden tended by mice in a Beatrix Potter book. But no dice, I could never eat one without nearly dispatching it back to the dish from whence it came... until now.

My friend, Carrie (who formerly shared my distaste for the things), recently posted a recipe on her blog that her sister had given her. This recipe changed her opinion of the vegetable, and now, it has changed mine. When Brussels sprouts are prepared like this, I can't get enough of them... Here's the link to the recipe on Carrie's blog if you'd like to try it yourself. I used Craisins rather than apples in mine and loved the sweet little zing it gave the recipe. Here's a picture to give you an idea.... (incidentally, this dish is delicious paired with bratwursts, fried onions, and sauerkraut).

It just goes to show you that, when completely disguised as bacon and fried onions, anything becomes edible.

Thanks, Carrie.

That's all I've got!

Have a lovely weekend...

Quotables: Martin Luther

2012-02-01T07:00:00.004-05:00

There is, however, very much to be said for my opinion; in
the first place this--that no violence ought to be done to the
words of God, neither by man, nor by angel, but that, as far as
possible, they ought to be kept to their simplest meaning, and
not to be taken, unless the circumstances manifestly compel us
to do so, out of their grammatical and proper signification,
that we may not give our adversaries any opportunity of evading
the teaching of the whole Scriptures.

The Babylonian Captivity of the Church

- Martin Luther (1483-1546),

Hey, hey, we're the monkeys...

2012-01-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

I've been in hat-making mode as of late... so much so that I've developed a slight case of tendinitis in my hands! Now that I've finished up a few projects, I think a little rest is in order...

My latest project: another sock monkey hat for yet another little niece, due any day now...

and this little monkey will be ready to keep her head warm!

I used this pattern, which I bought off Ravelry.

I slightly modified the flower from the original pattern. I made it smaller than called for, and I placed it on the top like the pompom, rather than on the front brim... I liked it better that way.

If you'd like to "friend" me on Ravelry, here's my profile.

And now, back to painting...

Quotables: A. W. Tozer

2012-01-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

Unsaintly saints are the tragedy of Christianity. People of
the world usually pass through the circle of disciples to reach
Christ, and if they find those disciples severe and sharp-
tongued they can hardly be blamed if they sigh and turn away
from Him... The low state of religion in our day is largely due
to the lack of public confidence in religious people.

- A. W. Tozer, Of God and Men

In Which I Address the Entrepreneurial, Geek-ish Sort.

2012-01-19T11:33:00.000-05:00

Do you do art & craft shows or run a small business of any kind? Have you ever missed out on sales because you had no way to accept credit / debit cards, or found yourself in a pickle when your friend owes you money for the pizza you just split, yet he or she is out of cash?

Fret no more. My cousin just introduced me to the coolest little gadget....

It's called Square Up, and it looks like this:

This little joker plugs into the earphone jack of your ipad or smart phone, and it acts as a scanner for credit / debit cards! You simply sign up for an account at the Square Up website, install the software on your iwhatever, plug this doohicky in, and start zipping away. You can even have it calculate and include sales tax automatically. The funds are deposited nightly into your bank account.

The nice part is - you can get the attachment for free when you create an account. They'll mail it to you - no shipping charges or anything. You are charged a very small percentage on each transaction (which happens whenever you accept a payment via credit card, Paypal, etc. anyway).

I'm really excited about doing future art shows with this thing... I've lost a bunch of sales because people don't always carry cash or checks with them - just cards. But no more.... and best of all, there's no expensive, bulky equipment to rent or buy (which is nice if you only do occasional shows, like me). You also don't have to worry about having electricity available for your tent. SO convenient! If you run any kind of small business, this is a great thing to have...

Now, the disclaimers:

1) I am not being paid or otherwise compensated to advertise this thing. Square Up has no idea I'm doing this post, nor do they probably care. I just think it's cool and handy, and I'm sure other entrepreneurial types will as well.

2) Although this allows you to accept credit card payments, I do not endorse using credit cards. They're an easy way to get in way over your head in debt, quickly. If you can't pay off your balance EVERY SINGLE MONTH, then you need to go all Dave Ramsey on those things and CHOP THEM UP. You might want to do it anyway, since research shows that people tend to overspend when they're paying with plastic rather than cold, hard cash. If you decide to chop your cards up, then fortunately, I will still be accepting cash and checks for any orders you place in my shop (and would prefer those since I don't have to pay the percentage for the transaction). Anyway, be responsible. You'll thank me later.

The List that Never Ends: # 491-500

2012-01-16T16:14:00.000-05:00

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Thanking God today....

# 491. ... for new friends.

# 492. ... and for old friends.

# 493. ... for a fun day in one of my favorite places in the world: Williamsburg, VA.

# 494. ... for lotion and lip balm for dry skin and lips.

# 495. ... that even in a new place surrounded by new people, you can find other believers and have something instantly in common.

# 496. ... for some "down time" with Josh after a very stressful couple of years and lots of time apart.

Every time we've been in Williamsburg (3 times together),
we've taken pictures in the stocks showing how many years we've been married. So this was for 8 years....

# 497. ... for GPS - wow, what a lifesaver in a new place.

# 498. ... for projects that keep hands busy and heads warm...

# 499. ... for Raleigh Tavern Bakery gingerbread and hot cider on a chilly day.

# 500. ... for 500 blessings and counting...

Linking up at:

A Very Thingish Sort of Thing...

2012-01-11T15:27:00.005-05:00

My Needle Felted Pooh Doll
Watch the tutorial videos here:
Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

I just learned a Thing from a reader that I had to share with you.... however, once posted, it may turn out to be like one of those sorts of Things that Winnie the Pooh describes in A. A. Milne's classic children's book:

"When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it."

But I guess I'll risk it.

I, at any rate, think it's very Thingish.

Anyway, one of my readers had watched the tutorial series on making your own needle felted Pooh that I posted a while back, and she was kind enough to take the time to write a little note to thank me for the videos and to share some very interesting facts with me about the original stuffed animals that inspired the beloved children's books by A.A. Milne.

Like me, you may not have been aware (until now) that the original toys that belonged to the REAL Christopher Robin Milne are on permanent display at the New York Public Library. My reader, whose friend had been hired by Milne's publisher to do some conservation and cleaning work on the toys, got to "meet" Pooh in person and even give him a little squeeze before he went to his new home at the library. How cool is that?

But do you want to know what my favorite "fact" was about the real toys? My reader's friend discovered that Pooh had one loose limb when she was doing the conservation work.... Guess which one it was???

Illustration by E. H. Shepard
{image source}

Doesn't that just make you smile? It reminds me of this passage from The Velveteen Rabbit written by Margery Williams and illustrated by William Nicholson:

“What is REAL?" asked the Velveteen Rabbit one day... "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When [someone] loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.

"Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand... once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always.”

*******

So, if that's the case, I guess Pooh is a real Bear after all.

Hope you're having a lovely week....

The List that Never Ends: # 481-490

2012-01-09T11:34:00.000-05:00

Thanking God today...

# 481. ... for providing a great furnished house for us to rent while we're in VA for the next few months. It has everything we needed/wanted, nice landlords, and is budget-friendly - totally hassle-free compared to the other options we were considering. Yay.

# 482. ... for books by G. K. Chesterton, specifically Orthodoxy at the moment. The way he thinks/writes makes me chuckle out loud while reading.

# 483. ... for orders every day since I reopened my shop...AFTER Christmas! (...and thank you for that as well, dear readers...)

# 484. ... for the chance to see what it's like to live pretty close to the beach - a first for me.

# 485. ... for opportunities to see and experience new things and places.

# 486. ... that one of Josh's sisters and her family live nearby, so we're not totally unconnected in this new place.

# 487. ... for a new Keurig coffee maker - oh so good...

# 488. ... for a bunch of opportunities over the holidays to spend time with friends and family before leaving.

# 489. ... that my Mom's dog wasn't lost or dog-napped, just hiding in the woodpile....

# 490. ... for a New Year and 4 new lives in Christ (three of my nephews and once niece)...

Care to join in with your own list?

Visit Ann's blog....

Happy Monday.

New Year, New Digs

2012-01-05T15:34:00.001-05:00

Well, happy 2012. I didn't fall off the face of the earth, despite what you may have been thinking. We've just had a terribly busy few weeks! In addition to all of the festivities surrounding Christmas and New Year's, we've moved! (Just temporarily.) I am writing this from our new home-away-from-home in Chesapeake, VA.

Because it's only a temporary move, I didn't bring ALL of my art and craft supplies with me, so I won't be doing any custom work or commissions until after May 1st. Instead, I'll be focusing on a few projects that I've had on my mind for a while...

However, my Etsy shop is reopened for business as of today, so be sure to stop by and check it out - you may find a little something on which to spend that Christmas money that's burning a hole in your pocket!

I haven't had a chance to get out and explore the area much yet, but I'll be sharing some photos with you when I do.

In the meantime, I hope 2012 is off to a great start for you and full of new adventures.... it has been for me so far!

Wishing You and Yours....

2011-12-23T16:28:00.000-05:00

...a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2012

from...

*******

I will be taking a little break from blogging while I celebrate Christmas and ring in the new year with family and friends. Likewise, my Etsy shop will be on vacation mode until sometime in early January...

In the meantime, I wish you and your family a very happy holiday,

and hope that you take time in the midst of all the hustle and bustle to remember the TRUE

Reason for the Season...

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.... For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

- Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7

Jesus - the best Christmas Gift....

*******

See you next year!

The List that Never Ends: # 471-480

2011-12-19T15:13:00.000-05:00

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

- Luke 1: 46-55

Thanking God...

471. ... for the official end of Josh's first year of PA school <insert big sigh of relief and exhaustion here>

472. ... for milestones and white coats...

473. ... for getting to move Josh back home out of his tiny "school" apartment... yay for living under the same roof all the time again!

474. ... for a good friend who came down to help us move Josh out of said apartment...

475. ... for a thoughtful husband who remembered to send roses for our anniversary in spite of being in the middle of the worst finals week of his life...

476. ... for an answered prayer in the form of a great deal on a house to rent for four months (with no hassle) for Josh's first rotations in VA.

477. ... for a couple of weeks to relax, spend time with friends and family, and celebrate our Savior's birth before we have to leave...

478. ... for being DONE with my Christmas shopping, with one week to spare! Yay!

479. ... for little previews of how it will be when "every knee will bow" to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords....

480. ... for the ultimate Christmas Gift in the form of God's own Son Jesus, born to die for you and for me...

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.... For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

- Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7

Wishing you and your family a

Merry Christmas

and a happy 2012...

Linking up at:

2011-12-14T12:58:00.000-05:00

Today I had the honor of doing an "Artist Interview" over at Robin's "My Creative Peace" blog.

If you'd like to read it, here's the link. Thanks for stopping by!

Have a lovely day...

Quotables: G. K. Chesterton

2011-12-14T06:00:00.001-05:00

"Art, like morality, consists of drawing the line somewhere."

- G. K. Chesterton

Eight Years and the List that Never Ends # 461-470

2011-12-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

Eight years ago today, this is what Josh and I were doing.....

I'd do it again today.

Thanking God for....

# 461. ... eight years with my best friend.

# 462. ... for a husband who is faithful, a hard worker, a servant, and a leader.

# 463. ... for a lot of good times that made us laugh....

# 464. ... and some difficult times that made us grow.

# 465. ... for encouraging and supportive families who have emphasized the value of a healthy marriage.

# 466. ... for our little fuzzball Harvey who provides us with endless entertainment and fodder for stories that we make up about him to amuse ourselves... :o)

# 467. ... for opened doors and God's provision over the last few years as we've faced unemployment, the illness/caretaking/death of a close friend, changing careers, going back to school, Josh being away from home a lot, and even more changes looming on the horizon...

# 468. ... that my Mamaw's health issue cleared up on its own, she didn't need surgery, and she's home recovering now... thank you for praying!

# 469. ... for the institution of marriage itself - for the comfort, security, and joy it is to have someone committed to you for life and who loves you in spite of yourself...

# 470. ... for the deeper meaning behind the symbol - Jesus' love and sacrifice for the Church, and her

submission to and love for Him.

Happy Anniversary to us, Josh!

I love you....

Linking up today at:

The Weekend Gallery of Miscellany

2011-12-10T08:00:00.110-05:00

1. Eight. Josh's and my 8th wedding anniversary is coming up on Monday! We'll probably be celebrating it next weekend since he will be right in the middle of his finals on Monday... In the meantime, I'll be sharing a few thoughts on marriage here on the blog, so be sure to stop by on Monday for a special anniversary-themed post!

See us getting married in the background?
Note to all engaged couples.... get married during a month when there is nothing else going on!
December is CRAZY and will be for the rest of your life! :o)

2. Christmas progress report. My house is all decorated, and as of today, I am well on my way to having my shopping finished. We've decided to simplify this year.... Let me tell you why: just between my family and my husband's family, we have 40 people that we've been shopping for every year... 40! Throw in a few extra friends and those random "white elephant" party gifts, and that makes for an insane amount of Christmas shopping....(not to mention money!)

Over the past few years, I've grown to dread Christmas because it meant spending hours beating my brains out in the midst of ~~your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore~~ the crowds at the shopping malls trying to pick out meaningful, appropriate, and budget-friendly gifts for 40+ people. With our upcoming short-term move to VA, as well as the fact that we're on a shoestring budget with Josh being in school, we decided that enough was enough. Rather than shopping or trying to make something for each person individually this year, we're giving one gift to each family - hopefully something that they can all enjoy together. That brings our shopping list down to about 14 gifts, which is definitely more doable and MUCH less stressful. I'm actually looking forward to the holiday this year, which is more than I can say about last year...

{photo source}

I was really convicted by this post from Ann when she shared it last December. Her family hasn't exchanged Christmas gifts at all for the last 10 years. Instead, they "give Jesus birthday gifts" - by sending money to help families purchase things like livestock, wells/water-purification systems, mosquito nets, seeds, etc. After all, it is Jesus' birthday (or the day we've chosen to observe it, at least), not ours. I'd love for our families to start doing this in the future.... in the meantime, I can at least take some of the money I'm saving through simplifying our gift giving and use it to help some less fortunate people instead.... I think that's a great way to celebrate Jesus' birthday....

3. So happy together..... One week from today, we will be heading to Josh's white coat ceremony, then moving all of his stuff home from his "crash pad" in Knoxville. Yay! While this year has gone by pretty quickly (all things considered), it has still been tough having him gone so much during the week. I am definitely looking forward to living under the same roof all the time again. I have developed a new respect for the spouses of our servicemen who are deployed for months at a time (like my cousin, whose Marine husband has been deployed for the past several months)... I guess it's been a good "practice run" for me, since there's a possibility of Josh being sent to some remote location once he gets out of school....

4. Looking for some Christmas gifts? There's still time to order something special from my Etsy shop! I have prints in various sizes, handmade jewelry, and even a few originals available.... Please stop by - you're sure to find something for just about anyone on your list!

{photo source}

5. Happy Birthday today to my friend Carrie over at Carrie's Busy Nothings! Carrie and I have been friends for a long time, and we still keep in touch - mostly through our blogs and facebook these days. She's hitting the big 3-0 today, so stop by her blog and wish her a happy day... While you're there, check out her fun posts on topics ranging from home decor and craft projects to book reviews and personal finance. And if you're looking for a fun children's book to give to one of the special kids in your life, check out the children's book that Carrie's husband Peter wrote, Mashed Potatoes.

...and a little link love....

Handcrafted Gifts from Christian Freedom International - This ministry helps persecuted Christians around the world earn an income by selling their handcrafts online. They have some really neat items that would make great Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you're supporting a great cause! (Find more links like this up at the bottom of #2 in today's gallery of miscellany...)
Freeset USA - along the same lines, this organization helps women in India escape the sex trafficking trade by training them to make these beautiful bags. So check them out for more Christmas gift ideas, and help another great cause at the same time...
10 Reasons Why the New NIV Is Bad for Women - this is a great article on both why God's Word doesn't need "fixing," and the importance of keeping gender roles in a biblical perspective.
Underpainting Technique from Scott E. Bartner - if you are an oil painter and interested in the technique of underpainting in portraiture, then you might find this article interesting. I certainly did.
Craft Gawker - have you seen this yet? It's a lot like Pinterest, but it's just for crafts! I may have a new addiction...
A Beautiful Picture of God's Care Found in Creation - this is touching... what a great reminder of how God cares for us...

That's all I've got! Have a wonderful weekend.....

It's that most wonderful time of the year again...

2011-12-09T06:00:00.007-05:00

Last year I did a horrible job preparing for Christmas. I'm pretty sure I started AND finished my shopping on the 24th. Yes, that's right, of December.

Utter Craziness.

This year, I'm determined to have everything done BEFORE Josh finishes up his finals, which means I have until next weekend to get it done.

Today, I am hoping to finish up my shopping (which I already started online last week),

and as for my decorations.....

well, I'll show you!

The first year Josh and I got married, I bought two evergreen wreaths from the tree lot and probably blew about $30 on them. At the end of the season, I pulled all of the ~~greenery~~ brownery out of the wire forms, and I have been reusing the forms every year to make my own. They're really simple to do, and it's saved us a ton of money on wreaths since you can usually get free cuttings from the tree farms. Our tree farm was kind enough to oblige us with some branches again this year, and I found the berries, the holly, and whatever those spikey red things are all growing in the woods around the house. Pop on a wired ribbon bow, and you have an economical, natural, and pretty decoration for the front door!

So come on in...

Since our front door is glass, I hung this berry wreath (from Michael's several years ago) on the inside at the same height - that way, the backs of both wreaths are hidden, and you get a little bonus color peeking through from both sides.

I have a little cabinet right next to our front door that holds all of our "Harvey" stuff.
His cabinet got decorated with some pinecones.

You can see how impressed he was...

Incidentally, in case you're wondering if we actually drank that much wine (as the jar of corks might indicate), the answer is, No, we didn't drink any of it. Someone gave me a bunch of corks to use for craft projects, and I haven't gotten around to doing anything with them yet, other than filling up random jars.

So welcome to our dining room. This apple/boxwood tree has been a family tradition for as long as I can remember. I think my Mom got the idea on a visit to Colonial Williamsburg, which is a-maaa-zing at Christmastime. I love it and have kept the tradition going in my own home.

Some more greenery and berries and Christmas-y dishes for our plate rack...
Please excuse the Santa Clause.... I'm not big on Santas, but this tray was part of my childhood, and I feel a little nostalgic about it.

Continuing with the Williamsburg theme, I always go for candles in the windows. I'm sure at one point in my life I would have loved flashing colored lights plastered all over the yard, but not now. No sir-ree, give me plain white lights on my tree and one single candle in each window or give me death.

See my little village in the background? I'm not sure where my yard guy has been lately.... things are looking a bit overgrown back there.

Moving on to the kitchen....

I added a little reminder and a quick sketch to my fridge...

...and in the hallway is my Christmas village, another childhood favorite...

A little peek into the living room...
Harvey didn't get the whole photo shoot thing.

Here's our tree, which we had so much fun picking out at a great little tree farm we found with friends...

It didn't go down without putting up a good fight.

And then, of course, it got covered with all of our special ornaments...

See Harvey running around in front of our house? :o)
Which, apparently, is located in Paris....

A Nativity ornament I made with my nephews in one of our art classes, a special hand-painted ornament from my friend Sarah, a Moravian star that was a favor at our wedding (Yes, I made them myself....yes, there were about 350 of them...yes, I have about 50 of the leftovers on my tree now....and yes, I can still make them in my sleep... :o)), and a little pewter chair that was a souvenir from our honeymoon, which was in - you guessed it - Williamsburg, VA.

A bulldog ornament for Josh, since he had a bulldog named "Beth" before he ever met me (he named her after the Little Women character - how could I not fall for him???), a little army man that belonged to my Dad when he was a kid and which my Papaw dug up about 7 years ago in the spot where Dad's sandbox used to be, a crystal snowflake ornament (with one branch broken off) that my Mom felt obligated to buy when I bumped into the rack at the store and about 10 of these things shattered all over the place... the store people were very nice about it since apparently these things had been shattering if people just breathed on them or spoke with too nasal-y of a voice in the general vicinity of the display, but my Mom still felt like she had to buy one.... just looking at this ornament still makes my eye start to twitch; also an "Our First Christmas" ornament (one of two identical ornaments we received as wedding gifts, both of which are on our tree), and a pewter Nativity an old Sunday school teacher gave me. You can also see the top of a beaded ornament that my great aunt made... I have a ton of these things on our tree, and I love them, because they were always on my family's trees growing up.... but Josh thinks they're hideous. We have reached a compromise - I am allowed to hang Aunt Julie's ornaments, and he is allowed to hang the Scooby Doo and Shaggy ornament with the missing arm. Give and take, that's how we roll.

Hi there! Are you bored yet? Also, Josh likes to fish.

Some little "Russian doll" ornaments I got on a mission trip to the Ukraine; another Moravian star; some handmade ornaments from family members, and finally, yes, that giant star is sporting the Mona Lisa with my face Photoshopped onto it. Here's the story.... Josh and I were going to do our own "family photos" one year, and I was setting up the camera/tripod to get the lighting and such adjusted. I sat down and snapped a practice shot of myself to make sure I liked the setup. Unfortunately, I was still getting ready, and I had hot rollers in my hair. That photo wound up being the only one where I had a "normal" looking facial expression, but I didn't know what to do with the curlers.... Not being a whiz at Photoshop at that time, I made a few attempts to switch my face out with the weird faces in the normal-hair photos. Needless to say, they flopped, so I started fooling around and this is what I wound up with.... I e-mailed it to a friend as a joke, and she presented me with this ornament when Christmas rolled around....

And no, you'll never know what I'm smiling about either....
:o)

OK, so enough with the ornament tour already... back to the big stuff....

Here's my big homemade wreath. I added a little gold bling to this one to match the ribbons and mantle greenery, but other than that, it's got the same natural elements as the wreath on the front door.

And speaking of natural elements, look what I found in one of the free cuttings from the tree farm...

This tiny bird's nest was tucked into one of the branches I picked up! I carefully pulled it loose when we got home, sprayed it with some clear acrylic sealer, and added it to my little nest collection in my studio.... Since I didn't have any tiny eggs lying around, I took a little egg-shaped pebble I found at the beach and used my rubber alphabet stamps to write a little message - "hope"... It reminds me of that Emily Dickinson poem that begins with, "Hope is the thing with feathers..."

But back to Christmas-y things...
(although hope is certainly Christmas-y).

My monster bookshelf got some more greenery and my Nativity set....

... as well as my little spinning angel candle thingy and a gorgeous bowl made for my birthday by my uber-talented brother....

"Bowl?" you say...

Oh, you mean this giant bread dough bowl! Isn't it gorgeous? It's made out of poplar, and I absolutely love it....

I had it filled with little pumpkins, gourds, and Indian corn for the fall, and now it's sporting some greenery, pinecones, berries, and Christmas balls.... I can totally see it with some mossy bits, smooth stones, and a birds' nest in the spring, and maybe filled with sand and seashells in the summer.... The possibilities are endless. Love, love, love it.

It's normally on my dining room table, but it temporarily moved to the monster bookshelf to make room for the apple tree.

My coffee table got some berries and bling...

My mirror got a tiny Nativity set I carved when I was probably in Junior High.

I made our stockings the first year we were married.... The plaid on the top of the red stocking was left over from the trim on my bridesmaids' dresses.

Even my little studio got decked out a little bit, in spite of the fact that I keep mostly "perpetual spring"-like decorations in there (like the nest collection).

So there you have it!

I hope you've enjoyed this little Christmas tour of our home....

I will be linking up this post over at The Inspired Room's Christmas Home Tours on December 12th, and again over at the Nesting Place's Christmas Tour of Homes on December 15th.

If you need some more Christmas gift ideas, please visit my Etsy Shop...

...and in all the hustle and bustle, remember the true Reason for the season....

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
- Luke 2:8-14

...Thanks for stopping by, and from our home to yours....

Have a Merry Christmas!

Linking up at:

The Inspired Room

Nesting Place

Quotables: Corrie ten Boom

2011-12-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

"Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart."

- Corrie ten Boom, Tramp for the Lord

The List that Never Ends: #451-460

2011-12-05T15:12:00.002-05:00

Today I went to the mailbox and was pleasantly surprised to find two handwritten thank you notes inside. One note was from a friend whose baby shower I recently attended, and one was from my cousin for a gift for his upcoming wedding. Their promptness in sending out cards impressed me.

I then realized that they were some of the few thank you notes I had received in a long time. For whatever reason, it seems like most gifts or other gestures go largely unnoticed and unacknowledged these days.

Maybe it's a symptom of living in a digital age...

{photo source}

Maybe it's because our culture has embraced informality over formality. Or maybe we've been spoiled by growing up in a country blessed with widespread abundance, and we've developed a sense of entitlement to that abundance.

Whatever the reason, the practice of gratitude and simple, common courtesy is becoming a lost art...

Sadly, this trend carries over into our attitude towards God and His gifts to us too. If I am miffed because someone doesn't take a moment to write a note or call to acknowledge something that I spent my time and money to buy or make for them, what must God feel when He has given us so much, and we fail to acknowledge His blessings....or even have the audacity to believe that we earned those things through our own merits or hard work? Ouch.

{photo source}

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful;

but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

- Romans 1:21

Taking time to acknowledge gifts from others and especially from God is not only healthy, but it also keeps us from taking one of the first steps in that downward spiral that Paul describes in Romans 1.

So, I am continuing to count my blessings.....

Today, I am thanking God....

# 501. ... for giving me wisdom in a difficult situation.

# 502. ... for a fun day cutting Christmas trees with friends...

# 503. ... that there are only two weeks left of Josh's first year of PA school and he won't have to go back and forth to Knoxville during the week anymore after next weekend... yay!

# 504. ... for hospitals, doctors, and medical treatment... (Please pray for my Mamaw - she's currently in the hospital with an obstruction, and we're hoping it won't require surgery. Thank you...)

#505. ... for plans for a simpler, less stressful Christmas.

# 506. ... for the smell of pine trees.

# 507. ... for a beautiful sunset.

# 508. ... for an influx of orders in my Etsy shop over the last few days... (thank you all!)

# 509. ... for the smell of oranges, cloves, and cinnamon simmering on the stove while Christmas carols are playing.

# 510. ... for the ultimate Gift - Jesus, born to die....for you and for me.

Linking up at:

The List that Never Ends: # 491-500

2011-11-28T13:20:00.000-05:00

{Photo Source}

Well, it's been one of those weeks... you know the kind I'm talking about... stress, drama, sin, sadness, burdens, frustration, anger, loss, disappointment, bad news, sorrow, etc.

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed today, and honestly, I just about blew off blogging at all.... The thought of making a "gratitude list" seems annoyingly Pollyanna-ish at the moment... I'm more in the mood to curl up on the couch with some empty calories and numb my brain with a Monk marathon or a good book.

....and yet....

Despite my current feelings, I know that we are commanded to give thanks in ALL circumstances.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

- I Thessalonians 5:18

If Paul and Silas could sing and praise God when they were chained up inside a Macedonian prison, then I can certainly come up with ten things for which to be thankful in my own better-than-chained-up-in-prison circumstances....

...and so, I continue to count.

Today, I am thanking God:

{Photo Source}

# 491. ... that I am not, in fact, locked up in prison or otherwise persecuted for my faith.... a privilege which many of us take for granted here in the United States...

And along those same lines, we need to remember to pray for the thousands of Christians around the world who are not free to worship as they wish. They are being fined, boycotted, imprisoned, tortured, and even killed (along with their families) simply for professing faith in Jesus.

Clicking on the above link will take you to the Voice of the Martyrs website, where you can get informed about the persecuted church and how you can help.

Clicking on this link will take you to a website where you can help persecuted Christians make a living by purchasing their handcrafted products. There are a lot of items that would make great Christmas gifts, and you would be supporting a great cause.

# 492. ... for a day nationally designated to the giving of thanks.

# 493. ... for the life and memory of our family friend, Charlie, who passed away a few days ago. (Please keep his family in your prayers...)

# 494. ... that God promises to be a very present help in trouble.

# 495. ... for the new life and the new marriage we celebrated at two different showers this past weekend.

# 496. ... for the smell of woodsmoke.

# 497. ... for some unseasonably warm days.

# 498. ... for pumpkin-related foods.

# 499. ... for Friday (or Saturday) night Thai.

# 500. ... for 500 blessings and counting...

Linking up at:

Wishing You and Yours....

2011-11-23T19:30:00.001-05:00

... a very

Happy Thanksgiving.

O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Psalm 95:1-7a

The List that Never Ends: # 481-490

2011-11-21T10:51:00.000-05:00

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100

...and so, I continue to count...

Today, I am thanking God...

# 481. ... for another year with my Mom.

Happy Birthday!

# 482. ... for a Thanksgiving break for Josh starting tonight!

# 483. ... for a possible lead on an apartment in Virginia....

# 484. ... for a game of marbles with my nephew and niece Saturday, and the fun memories it brought back of playing marbles with my brother when we were kids...

# 485. ... for the book I'm reading right now and the wisdom it contains.

# 486. ... for a clean bill of health for Harvey at the vet.

Waiting for the doctor....

# 487. ... for my nephew who trusted Christ this past weekend.

# 488. ... for parents who have consistently lived what they believed and "preached."

#489. ... for faux-fur lined boots that keep my feet toasty warm (which is no small feat!).

#490. ... for the consolation of theology.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving on Thursday....

...and happy giving thanks every day.

Linking up at: