Set Up

Setting up my crafts/art work/photography for the craft show at Triad High School in Troy. Trying to get everything together in one place is quite a chore. This is the first big show I have done since moving here from Maryland.
Having a difficult time finding craft/art shows in the area. I had just gotten myself known in MD within the craft show circuit when I picked up and moved. Feels like I'm starting all over again.
Anyway, I am excited about the show and meeting new people

Excited

Here it is Wednesday night again and time to get together with God's family to study His Word. Bill is such a great teacher and I always leave with another little tid-bit to share with those back in MD whom I study with via snail mail. Our greatest desire should be to be One with our Lord and to be content in every situation. "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice." While that is not always easy to do, God wants us to have faith enough be believe that everything in our life is directed by Him and He will not forsake us in our time of trouble.
Well, I'm off to get fed and will be back later.

Frustration

Another show this weekend. So very glad it's going to be inside out of the wind and weather. While craft shows so far have not been very productive, I have been able to get commissioned work via word of mouth.
I'll tell you right now, working angles in a painting is not my forte. I'm getting better. It only took me 3 hours to do one corner porch with steps. Where is my husband when I need him? By the time I finished the steps, I was so frustrated that I was ready to throw the ruler and compass out the window. Well, now that I have the drawing down, I can start to paint.

Here Comes The Wind

Does the wind ever stop blowing here in Hamel? Did a craft show yesterday at DK's but the wind made it impossible to relax. I have lost glassware during a heavy wind and didn't want that to happen again. One poor person had to keep chasing their canopy as the wind would send it airborne, while another had to chase after their flower arrangements. People were scurrying after their crafts most of the day. We said, "no more." We packed up and headed home and decided that tomorrow we would rather be in church than go through that ordeal again. So while we love doing shows, we are only going to look for indoor shows from now on.

 

Lets try this again. I think this is the one I posted.

more drawings

 
 

I wanted to try my hand at painting one of the drawings. So here it is. Not too bad. Need to work on color some more. I am not giving up. Do you recognize who it is? I was pretty close this time. Next time, even closer.

Terrific Performance

Went to hear the Collinsville Chorale last night and it was wonderful. Cindi and Dave did a great job on their solo's. It's amazing how the director can get such a terrific performace in just a few short weeks of practice. Maybe I can get my sister here a little before Christmas to hear the next performance at Holy Cross on December 16th.

Before and After Drawings

 
 

I started with a book on portraits about a month ago. Yes, I did some drawings before that but had no books to study on how. So this is the improvement over the last month. I still have a ways to go to get them to look like their photo, but I am pleased with what I have accomplished so far. I take my sketchbook everywhere I go now. I draw people all day long. People going to the post office, going into the store, parking their car. Many of the drawings are from snapshots I take along the way. Just be careful when I'm around with my camera because you might see yourself on one of my canvas'.

Ok, so I have been slow getting my blog up to date. Well, hope everyone enjoys today's posts. Some days, I feel like I'm going around in circles. Do I paint? Do I draw? Do I scrapbook? Do I write in my blog? Maybe, I should do housework! That's no fun though. Maybe, I'll just read today.

My Art Work

 
 
 

Here are three of my latest paintings. Right now, I am trying to learn how to draw and paint portraits. I am making progress and when my wonderful husband gets his camera out, I will post a before and after picture on my blog. I still have a ways to go, but am not giving up. In fact, I can now at least see a resemblance to the person I'm trying to capture.

Where Is The Church?

I wrote this back in 2004 when I became very saddened the way the church was going. If you didn't get along with your spouse, you get another one. What did it matter? My grandchildren were growning up in the a society of 'throw aways'. If you didn't like the face God gave you, just get another one. If you get pregnant and didn't want it, just abort it. What has happened to us?

I look around and all I see
Are people scurrying around from place to place.
I see the Pastors who lead the flock, changing partners
for all the world to see.
there is no remorse,there is no sorrow,
After all.........didn't God allow divorce?

I look around and all I see
Are people who have lost their way.
No more is marriage a sacred union.
But has become a union of what feels good.
After all..........didn't God expect us to be happy?

I look around and all I see
Are church leaders climbing over each other.
Their 'ministry' has become the backbone of their existence.
Backbiting, jealousy, and fear have become their way of life.
After all.........wasn't it God who chose our leaders?

I look around and all I see
Are people who fear to come out from behind the curtain.
Their comfort is all that matters.
To give up that comfort means to delve into something new.
It's better to stay put than to travel a new route.
After all........doesn't my existence depend on how I feel?

I look around an all I see
Is a church without a swinging door.
We sit on what we learn, never to share our hurts and dreams,
Never to share the gospel news.
For to give to others means to forget about ourselves.
After all..........Aren't we supposed to love ourselves?

I look around and all I see
Is a building made of brick and mortar.
A people who care more about appearances,
Pastors who forget their marriage vows.
A watered down doctrine of what is right and wrong.
After all..........didn't God give us free will?

I look around and all I see
Is a people drifting with no place to go.
They hang on by a small thread, hoping things will turn out right.
Hoping to hear what God has to say,
But hearing instead what the leaders believe.
After all............we don't want to embarrass anyone, do we?

I look around and all I see
Is a church with no direction.
It blows whichever way the wind blows.
Afraid to take a stand, afraid to stand tall.
Afraid of repercussions, afraid of what the people may think.
We must be careful so as not to take sides.
After all............God really doesn't care as long as we do good!

So where has the church gone?
It has dissolved within itself.
The gospel is preached as a good book, not as a God's Book.
The people have hidden themselves among their works, hoping that will satisfy.
The Pastors have forgotten the Call on their life.
Thereby, forfeiting their integrity.
After all............what does it matter if our hearts are hardened?

A friend of mine called and asked if she could use this material at a seminar this past summer. Her concern as well as mine was the fact that so many Pastors were divorcing their spouse for no other reason than "we don't get along anymore." How sad that even they can't get it together enough to lead their flock. How does a divorced Pastor counsel a couple on the verge of divorce?