Friday, November 27, 2009

exhale


a poem. by me.

accompanied by a picture. by me aswell.


i watched a star die tonight
as it breathed it’s fiery last
with gaseous inhale grown so bright
exhale, condense, pass


a hole in the shade of night
with a stitch mended too soon
diamond soul that payed so bright
a tribute to her moon


who in blindness could ever fathom
how vast and heavy mortality lies
but true beauty is more beautiful than beauty imagined
though we witness its death with open eyes



This tree was drawn for this dear friend for the wonderful website she is creating in preparation for a wonderful journey.

I guess I'm not much of a blogger. Although life is moving full speed ahead and many changes are in the making, I just haven't felt the push to sit down and tell about them. But last weekend my dear friend Bree celebrated her 19th. It was a mad dance party to say the least. 


We the mad tea party (alice, march hare, mad hatter)

And thanksgiving was lovely. Spent with friends and food and talking about this place for hours. More confirmation that that is where God has me to be next march through the next march after that. I am blessed because God is so good. 

Monday, November 16, 2009

Monday, November 2, 2009

through the years

Halloween has come and gone and left behind it good memories. I was looking through old pictures and found a few of Alli, Zach, and I all dressed up.



Jason (left), Princess (center), Jason (right)


Present (left), Fairy Girl? (center), Pirate (right)


Black Cat (left), Cubicle (center), 80's Chick (right)


It's looking at pictures like this that make me so happy for these two. I don't really know what I would do without them. They are one of God's biggest blessings in my life. 


And it's looking at pictures like these that make me cry a little bit.


then:





and now:


Friday, October 30, 2009

hello again




Oh man. I have been so neglectful of this poor blog. I have been crafting more than usual, I just haven't gotten a chance to post about it yet. Allison and I have begun planning christmas early this year so I've stayed busy shopping, planning, collaborating, and... making ornaments ^_^. So far I have made two and as soon as I have pictures I will post them. 


But tomorrow is halloween/harvestday/reformationday/whateverwhocaresanyway. What it really comes down to is candy and tricker-treating. And meeting new people and dancing. So in light of that, here is what I drawed for our halloween neighborhood bbq flyers. 



Tonight is dressing up and dancing and it is so good because I haven't been to a dance party in a long time.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

encouraged by these

  1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
    When sorrows like sea billows roll;
    Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
    It is well, it is well, with my soul.
    • Refrain:
      It is well, with my soul,
      It is well, it is well, with my soul.
  2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
    Let this blest assurance control,
    That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
    And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
  3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
    My sin, not in part but the whole,
    Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
    Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
  4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
    If Jordan above me shall roll,
    No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
    Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
  5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
    The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
    Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
    Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
  6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
    The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
    The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
    Even so, it is well with my soul.

~ Horatio G. Spafford

Saturday, October 10, 2009




I am so glad
God gave me Luke


Wednesday, October 7, 2009

clad in slippers


Some lovely parts of today... time-lapse videos, new anthropologie catalog, and dabbling with watercolor and ink. Somehow, they are all connected.










And to top it off is the continuation of lovely fall weather here in southern california. Three cheers for socks turned inside out and moccasin slippers worn all day.

dust

I do not have time now for a lengthy post (though one is due), but I did want to share this video. I find it eerily beautiful - this unending process of birth to dust and birth and dust again. God is awesome and good even in these natural processes of degeneration that are a result of sin. I am reminded of my own frailty and fleetingness. I stand in awe that God sent his son to interrupt this continued cycle of death. He has given me new life that runs so much deeper than the physical corrosion of sin. 


 Love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for



    "All flesh is like grass

   and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,
   and the flower falls,

but the word of the Lord remains forever."   


And this word is the good news that was preached to you.



1 Peter 1:22a-25

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Because

I need to hear it each and every day


...


My soul, why do you not at rest? 
Do you not know the storm that tosses you is more treacherous than the one you fear?
Oh, treacherous soul! That will not rest when you are eternally safe
That tempts me to believe the lies you whisper.
Your standing is firm and you cry, “quicksand!”
You are loved eternally yet you cry, “unloved!”
You are stubborn, you are blind, and worst yet
You do no believe your savior loves you.
And best yet,
He loves you steadfastly still.
May your cry of “quicksand” be deafened by his louder cry of “I uphold you with my righteous right hand!”
May your cry of “unloved!” be drowned by his louder cry of “loved eternally”
And when you do not believe, touch his scars you earned and know that he is good.
My soul, oh my soul, why are you at turmoil with in me?
Do you not know, you have a righteous Savior who sought you when you were lost
And saved you when you were dead. 
Nevermore to sink in the mire of this world
Nevermore to be despised
His love has cured your disease
Now trust that he is good.
He died to posses you.
He died to love you.
That is how good he is. 
Oh my soul, stand in awe of your God
And rest in him.


...


Saturday, September 26, 2009

center of gravity


I borrowed this lovejoy from the library yesterday (i love the library). It is a translated japanese craft book and it has the most lovely crochet projects. After I figured out how to read the diagrams (and had a few trials and errors) I managed to complete this wonderful pincushion:











It feels good to have started and completed something (in the same day). I am hoping the cuteness of this pin cushion will be the extra push I need to learn how to sew for real. Then I will actually be able to use it. 


I hope your weekend is well. And I hope you are well. Aswell.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

the moral of lines

I was thinking just now about coloring books and how coloring books are so much fun. And I wished I had a really lovely coloring book... you know, for those often times of no inspiration? Well, I looked on amazon (because if it isn't on amazon it probably doesn't exist) and found some lovely coloring books. 


 
Between the Lines
by Sol Lewitt, R. Crumb, and Alexis Rockman

 
Art Masterpieces to Color
by Dover

 
Mexican Folk Art
by Marty Noble

 
Paisley Designs Coloring Book
By Marty Noble

 
A Kaleidoscopia Coloring Book: Abstract Adventure II
by Kendall Bohn

 
Trolls, Elves, and Fairies
by Jan Sovak

 
Victorian Fashions
by Tom Tierney

 
The Victorian House Coloring Book
by Daniel Lewis and Kristin Helberg

 
Forest Animals
by Dianne Gaspas

 
Garden Flowers Coloring Book
by Stefen Bernath

 
Fifty Favorite Birds
by Lisa Bonforte


Now I want to go fly in an airplane and take all of these coloring books with me.

Friday, September 18, 2009

fry fry a hen

Today I decided to try my hand at sewing. Turns out, I hasn't gotten any better since the last time I tried. Oh well. I suppose I must start somewhere. Here is my largely unfortunate yet humbly optimistic flower that seems to say "I'm not much, but at least I'm something." It makes me want to keep trying.
















The "have a little faith in me" lyrics are playing through my head now. Is that weird?

Thursday, September 17, 2009

"you look like you very care"

It has been a short break from the blog, but I am back for a brief post to share with you the latest addition to my portfolio. An elephant parade (drawed for Allison because she does like elephants so very much). All the elephants of a little girl's summery imaginary, each so festive in its own way. To me this is a final taste of the summer days that are so quickly fading into a wonderful fall. I pray that autumn brings with it many new ideas to explore.



goodnight

Monday, September 7, 2009

playdough picnic


Happy Labor day everyone (and by everyone I mean the few people who actually read my blog ^_^). Hope your day has been well. Mine has been.



It began as a struggle. As soon as I woke up my hard heart resented my mom's suggestion to spend some special time with my sister. It was clear proof (if any was needed) that my heart, when left to itself, does not want to love anyone but myself. However, in the midst of struggle, God showed me my heart and then showed me Christ's heart, which never once resented me but in fact died to rescue my cold, hard heart from itself and give me the power to love my sister - even when it  felt impossible. And bless the name of my risen savior whom I asked to give me strength to love my sister, and he did. That blessed my soul today more than almost anything else.


Therefore, with a picture of the cross etched in my mind and the power of the cross etched on my heart, I had a playdough picnic with Madison. It was great fun. 


Menu
Cheeseburgers
Spaghetti Squash
Grapes
Pickles
Cookies
Cupcakes
Orange Soda
Strawberry Yogurt


God is good.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

coconut ice cream

It was a weekend of birthdays. Namely my mother's. Let me tell you, spreading out your birthday over the course of a weekend is the way to do it. Friday night - Granddad visiting from texas and dinner at Grandmother's house. Saturday - lunch at a really cool place called stone brewery and birthday shopping. Sunday afternoon (the "grand finale") - opening presents from the kids and eating leftover oatmeal raisin cookies. When you spread out a birthday, there just isn't for more cake on the last day. But I do believe there will be room for some of this coconut milk ice cream later on.


This is a notebook I made for mom:



Today is also a best friend's birthday. This is for her:



Have a restful Sunday!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

pocket kite

Last night Dad decided to bless me and my mother with a lovely evening out together. We did some shopping at Jimbo's and then had a yummy, healthy dinner at the Jimbo's deli - caprese panini, organic cole slaw, and ginger bear (and some gluten free carrot cake and brownie mousse pie to go, of course). After this was a visit to World Market - one of my most favorite places. Among the many treasures there, I discovered this. A brilliant idea really. The Stow'n'go pocket kite.


Doesn't it just seem that whenever you have a kite to fly, there's no wind to fly it in? And whenever you have the wind, you have no kite to fly? This would be the end of every kite flying woe - kite flying on the go. I want a pink one. 

After world market (where some of this was definitely purchased------------------------->) 
we made our way to Coffee Bean where my sister was working, said hi, ordered two African Sunrise teas, and sat outside enjoying a warm twilight, hot tea, and cold dessert. I was blessed, my mom was blessed, my dad was blessed to bless us - how can God be so kind to a creature like me? He's given me all that I need in his Son, and then, on top of that, he hands me such grace-filled times like last night. Apart from Christ, last night would not have been the blessing it was. Thank you God for being such a good God by giving me your son. Amen. 


More artworks are on the way. I was feeling especially motivated this morning. Stay tuned. 

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

picture this

Yesterday was exciting because I finally hung up all my pictures! For so long I have been collecting and transforming picture frames, and I am finally able to enjoy it all up on my wall. It took longer than I had imagined to choose the nicest arrangement. I am much too fickle when it comes to this kind of thing.


At last I found an arrangement that I was happy with. Then I got down and measured, marked, hammered, and nailed - and only changed me mind twice or thrice. I am most pleased with the result. My wall is completely transformed.



Before painting and picture hanging

The finished product

Happy Tuesday