Adore HIM Creations

Praying in Color April 2012

Another month of transformation!   I am finding that keeping my right hand occupied while praying has revolutionized my prayer life.  My prayer time before was more about a dialogue - me talking to God- lifting up  family, friends and issues.  There wasn't a time for HIM to speak to me.  Or I would fall asleep, or think about a thousand other things while I was praying.

This is different.  Prayer is not something that I have been good at. I would tell people that I will pray for you, but found that after I said that it never entered my mind again, until I would see them and then feel guilty that I hadn't prayed for them!   This is a tool to help me keep my word, and actually pray for the person/issue! It is a way to concentrate, to re-frame my life, to have it flow through me to the page.

At our workshop "Living Life as Prayer" with Connie, she talked about the reasons we don't pray:

1.  the distractions of life

2.  the fight of my will

Living a life of Thanksliving ( yes, I didn't spell it wrong) is a new way of living life and complements my prayer life.  My Thanksliving book is set up the left page is my list of my 1000 gifts ( Ann Voskamp) and the right is my praying.   God wants more than 10 minutes a day, He wants me to see the cross and live a life of redemption, to not turn from Him daily through my life interruptions.   To live a life of mental dialogue with God all day and quiet time with him where the Holy spirit is allowed to indwell in me and speak to me through my hand to the page. 

The first picture is what I began with back in January.   The second is how I started with using watercolors to color the leaves at the beginning of April.  Then God gave me this verse

John 17:15,17  "....protect them from the evil one. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."

I decided to print that and add to my page. This month I just wrote names/words and then said that verse over the person.  It was very powerful!

 

I want to encourage you to try new ways of prayer, to allow yourself to be transformed by new tools that can draw you closer to God.  Don't reject my work because you say- "she is a good artist, she is so creative and I AM NOT."   You are creative, God created you and gave you the gift of creativity, use it in your way to come closer to HIM.   He will meet you wherever you are!

May God bless you this week and draw you closer to HIM.

 

Technique Tuesday- how to print on tags

I know it is Wednesday, but so many questions on how to print from your computer onto the tags for the spiral bound journals, decided to post today.

Tags:  #8 size heavy duty

 

May God continue to move through you as you step out in faith to artjournal a bible study, book study or a bible verse!

 

Watching Wednesday- Living Life as Prayer workshop

Well, I have so much to share today.

Last weekend at my home studio we had a Guest artist Connie Denninger who led 8 women in a special workshop titled " Living Life as Prayer".  It was a spirit time and great opportunity to look at the ways we can actually make every moment of our lives prayer to God.

Connie demonstrated lots of techniques to use in our prayer time, so keep a record of time spent in prayer, who we are praying for and responses to prayer.  It was such a good workshop, and I am working on putting it together as an online class so stay tuned.

Here are pictures of the books Connie brought and recommended.

 

 

 

 

Some of the participants.



Preparing our prayer journals.

  Thanks Connie for your honest sharing from your heart and for helping us to understand how to live a life as prayer.

Check out Connie's blog Vintage Grace here. Connie is available for Christian retreat speaking engagements.  She is an avid Pinterest user, here is her Pinterest address Connie Denninger Pinterest link. 

My new friend Paula Parkison was able to attend from FL, and it was wonderful to spend 4 days crafting with her.  She makes wonderful Scripture Snippets and we created a Etsy site for her on Friday. Here is the link for her Etsy site and for her blog  Remember the Promise.

Here is a picture of her Scripture Snippets, small custom made scrapbooks full of Bible verses, embellishments and lots of prayer!  If you are looking for a great gift for Mother's day, graduation, anniversary present, you can have one custom made for you if you go to her Etsy site.

 

Technique Tuesday

 Thanks to all my internet friends for your support and questions. I love sharing what God is doing in my life and all my techniques.

I have had a couple of questions on my videos, so today's video is answering one of those questions.

Q:  How do you use the ARC system to create tags for spiral bound books?

The ARC system can be ordered online from Staples or in their stores.  At $39.99 is is a good price and good to use to create scrapbooks. The only negative I have is you can't use think cardstock ( like chipboard) in the punch.  But great news it punches so that you can add to already existing spiral bound books.

I use #8 Tags and order them Express Tags #8 heavy duty, with no strings here.  They are a good vendor and ship quickly.

Enjoy!

Next video will be how to print on tags on your computer/printer.

 

Technique Tuesday- Psalms faithart journal & video

So today I am going to demo how I create a faithart bible study.

My bible study that I began, is a project that may take me a long time as there are 150 psalms. I am not holding myself to any time frame when it "must" be done, just enjoying the journey.  I am learning a lot and here are my bible study reference links.

Christ in the Psalms- book

ScriptureStudies- online

I have learned so much about the Psalms.

This is from the intro:

"The Church's full format of prayer includes, among many other components, the weekly recitation of the entire Book of Psalms.  Indeed, "among" is scarcely an adequate preposition in this case because of the very special place psalmody hold in the Christian life of prayer. From the very beginning of her history, when the Church of God turns to Him in love and dovotion, the words of the Psalter form the expressions that spontaneously, as by an impulse of nature, rise from her heart and take shape in her mouth. The psalms find their truest context in the heart and on the lips of the Church. Those whose lips constantly move with the syllables of the Psalter give living expression to the deepest being of the Church."

When we pray the Psalms, we are faced with a particular challenge not usually found in other prayers. This challenge arises from the Psalter's diversity of voices, or faces. 

"Conversation" is especially a trait of the Psalms, where we discover, not only ourselves speaking to God about Christ, but also Christ speaking to His Father about us and so on.  The voices will vary, not only from psalm to psalm but also during the course of a single psalm. "

You will see my book as I have completed faithart journaling  for Psalm 1-3. I hope you enjoy and will love to hear comments or questions. I would love to have any of you join me in this bible study!

 

Psalms study- faithart journaling

I wanted to share my update on my faithart journaling of the Psalms.  I was able to study and complete Psalm 1 and 2. I am using two sources.  One is the book "Christ in the Psalms"  by Patrick Henry Reardon and the other is an online source that is excellent and free .  Scripture Studies- Psalms

Here are some pictures and I will make a video tomorrow for Technique Tuesday and tell you more about my faithart journey!

Enjoy the pictures.  I am loving the study and learning so much. I have loved the Psalms for years, and thought I knew what they were saying, but now realize that first you must identify whose voice is speaking and to whom. 

The tool I used to solve the problem of adding the entire Psalm to each faithart page was to make a tag. Then I had to figure out how to add it.  My daughter was so clever to help me use the tools I have ( and forget to use- but just had to have!).  It is a puncher from Staples -ARC . It is used to create your own wire bound journals.  I bought it thinking I could use it for my faithart journals, but, it doesn't cut through thick pages, so, didn't work the way I thought it would. However, it is perfect for punching the side of a tag to add to a wire bound art journal book!

 

Technique Tuesday- new faithart journal and video!

I made a video about the challenge of white pages when journaling. I show you how I use spray inks and do the positive and negative for each stencil. I am creating a faithart journal that I will be using as I walk through the book  "Christ in the Psalms "( Patrick Henry Reardon).

 

 

You can get  the book here at Amazon.   I purchased this book when I attended a weekend seminar about praying, and am loving reading it. I am learning so much, and as the Psalms were the first place I began to read in the Bible, it was the perfect book for me.

Here is a review of  I totally agree with.

"In a time when many Christian traditions are opting to negate the Christological nature of the Pslams, Fr. Patrick argues persuasively that the Psalms are the backbone to a proper understanding of the human condition, the heart of God, and the nature of Christ's incarnation. Following the traditional exegetical method of understanding the Old Testament in light of the resurrection, Fr. Patrick illuminates the psalter in a manner both academic and devotional. Apart of Lewis's book on the psalms, there is really not much else out there of this quality in both regards.

No previous knowledge of Greek or Hebrew is needed. It is not an intimidating read at all and it is the type of book that you will want to read over and over through the seasons. Very highly recommended!"   Matt

"This book is a great way to begin to identify those Psalms (which are many) in which the Messiah is either directly speaking, is spoken of, or is inferred. It also points out many practical applications of the Psalms to the life of the church." Meadowhaven

I am slowing reading, absorbing and taking notes. I am such a project person, that I immediately wanted to do a complete faithart journal of all 150 psalms!.  Then it hit me - it  would take me so long, so I  pushed that thought away and stopped pursuing the journal idea. ( of course it was God's prompting, not my idea)

 Last week I was talking to my friend Connie, she mentioned a study she is doing about the names of Jesus and her comment " it may take me the rest of my life to finish it"  really hit home with me. So what if it takes me years to complete this. It is not the finished project  but the journey and the heart change in me that is the most important. So, I begin.

Hope this encourages you to find a book that you can dig into and create your own faithart journal.

Stay tuned for follow up stories and pictures!

Testimony Thursday

So long since I posted my testimony and so much to share!

My friend Connie has been such a gift and inspiration to me. God brought us together last year, when I was published in a online Scrapbooking site.  She was on a trip to Chicago at the time when one of her art friends said check out this woman online. She lives near you. Connie emailed me and we talked on the phone while she was waiting in the airport to come back to Northern VA.  We connected via our faith and then through art. She has given so much support, love and spiritual mentoring to me over the past year. She named me as her resident artist for her church  Prince of Peace.  I have attended many of her Keep the Faith events and have been blessed by the women of her church who are interested in faithart.

One of Connies' gifts is mentoring and teaching- basically sharing her faith walk. She has kept a blessing journal for over 6 months ( from the book 1000 gifts) and for the past 2 years has kept a journal of her faith walk.  She practices praying in color (  Praying in Color ), which is where I got the inspiration to begin my praying in color journal in Jan of this year. ( see pictures and posts here). 

Connie will be teaching "Living Life as Prayer" here at the studio on April 28 and we have 4 seats left. Here is the Download AHC 2012 Guest Series Denninger v3.  You won't want to miss this!

God has given me this platform ( my blog) to spread His word and His creativity!  Another new friend from this blog is Paula Parkison.  She found me last month and we have been corresponding and I am so happy that she is coming from FL to the studio in 2 weeks for the Living Life as Prayer workshop.  Paula's story is fascinating, please check her blog   and read her faith journey!  She is a widow and a former pastors wife ( as is Connie). She has such talent in expressing faith in beautiful scripture snippets and other craft items. 

Today we received a huge box from Paula and I wept when I saw the gifts she sent us.  She custom made a name frame for each of my daughters and how did she know their color schemes???   She is amazing and the detail and love is so evident!  God has blessed me with her friendship and our love of God drew us together!

I shared my one little word for 2012 in Jan here.   I set some goals for myself and have been "steadfast" in doing them.  One of my goals was my weight. I have been struggling for the past few years with weight. I did not grow up with weight issues, weight became an issue for me when I became hypothyroid  about 12 years ago.  I  have lost 22 lbs on my "simple diet" plan . God has given me the strength to lean on Him instead of food, to exercise daily and taken away my cravings for food! This is a new habit of health I am trying to live. 

I started keeping my 1000 gifts book and praying in color journal and have kept up with it consistently- being steadfast!

God is watching over my children and blessing them and  I will be receiving a wonderful gift of a 2nd grandchild in October.

Life is good because of my relationship with Jesus and being steadfast in my habits.

My prayer  for my friends and family in April is found in John 17:15,17 

".... protect them from the evil one.  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." 

Workshop Schedule 2012

For complete schedule and workshop information, please see the page (found on the right column under features).  New classes and dates have been added.

Praying in Color- examples

Wanted to share my daughter Natalya's progress on her Praying in Color journal. She has the same format as I do, 1000 gifts on the left and her praying in color on the right.

She uses a combination of stencils and mostly drawing shapes and using colored pencils. 

" I take my gifts for granted, so it has been a blessing to have them on paper and to remember them and how they affect my life."

Natalya does her gifts list each day and colors a little bit each day.

 

Praying in Color March 2012

Another month of praying in color!

This month I have noticed a new sense of peace as I pray in color, and a more intimate time with Jesus. I find that when my hand is busy coloring, writing, doodling, my mind is more open to God and He can speak to me. Unlike in the past my praying was more monologue to Him.  I find I am spending intentional time in the presence of God praying for the people I care about.  Praying in color is a new prayer form and gives God an invitation and a new door to penetrate the locked cells of my heart and mind.   Adopting a new way of praying may require you to suspend your current beliefs about prayer, or maybe you are really wanting to pray more and just don't know how to do it.

Are you counting your 1000 gifts in 2012?  I use the left side of my book to write 3 gifts per day. It really helps me focus on HIM and not my petty complaints, or frustrations. In fact, some days there are more than 3 gifts that I can see are from HIM.

So how is your prayer life?

Reminder: Adore HIM Creations is having a day of learning how to live life as prayer 4/28/12. Here is the Download AHC 2012 Guest Series Denninger v3 if you can make it!  We have a few seats open and would love to have you spend the day with us.

Here is the finished page and  below it you can see how it started.  This month I used a lot of red- mostly colored pencils and added red watercolor on top.  There are a lot of people I am praying for who are really sick and dying of cancer, so I guess the red color reminds me of Jesus blood He shed on the cross for me.

Captivating Book study and art journaling videos

My art journal is finished. Watch my process and the finished book from start to finish. Ever wonder how to do a art journal based on a book?  This will tell you my process and you can see my completed faithart journal.  Took 2 videos. Here is part 1 of 2

 

 

Part 2 of Captivating

 

 

Our Northern VA group has finished meeting, but the rest of the group is still working on their books. I hope to create videos of their books soon.

Thanks Pattie Ann for prompting us on this God Journey!

 

Guest Artist Series 2012- Living Life as Prayer

If you are in the area, please join us April 28 9-5 pm for a great workshop by guest artist Connie Denninger.

Download AHC 2012 Guest Series Denninger v3  for the flyer. Here is the info

Living Life as Prayer

Adore HIM Creations is pleased to invite you to the 2nd workshop in the 2012 Guest Artist Series! 

Connie Denninger is a Woman of Faith on a Journey. She is a Home Economist educator who loves to bring beauty to the sacred space of home– where we learn to live Full Eye to God's Faithfulness. She encourages others to live as Families in Faith at Prince of Peace Church in Springfield, VA.  She is an Indiana farm girl moved to the Washington, D.C. suburbs. Her and her husband John are in parish ministry and have been blessed to have lived in Northern VA for over 20 years. Connie and John have been married nearly 30 years and have 3 adult daughters- all Lutheran educators. They have recently added 2 sons-in-laws to their family. Connie enjoys walking beside women in their spiritual journeys and bringing together tools to document the story of God's faithfulness in our lives. Her blog is constancedenninger.blogspot.com and she is active on Pinterest.

Looking for encouragement to live life as prayer? Join Connie as she shares her personal experiences, Bible References and tools to help us all live life as prayer.

Visual prayers give you a path to see God’s faithfulness in your life. This journey of grace builds faith in His promises for your future, and a written legacy of hope.

Connie will demonstrate many tool box options that you can adopt for your life of prayer.

 

•  To SEE God’s Handiwork – charting HIS story in our life
•  To SEE and understand – The mystery of belief and trust
• To SEE with a grateful heart – Living EUCHARISTEO

 

This workshop does not require any art skills or experiences.

Please bring your Bible. All materials and tools will be provided including a gourmet lunch.

April 28, 2012  

 9:00 am to 5:00 pm $50

Gourmet lunch included

Limited to 12 participants 

50% deposit due  by 4/1/12

 To register email diane@adorehimcreations.com

 

 

 

 

 

For Such a Time as This

I was a guest vendor at the event "For Such a Time as This" at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church this past Saturday. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear about a young woman ( Katie Stam Miss America 2009) tell her testimony. I learned a lot about Miss America as a scholarship program.

Here is a picture of our vendor booth, and this even was confirmation that  I am only going to do Church events as my faithart is welcomed and loved here.

Prayer Planks, mini marvels and my special canvases were the big sellers. 

I want to share one of my recent God moments.

On Friday I was preparing for the show and felt led to make some smaller faithart for Saturday. One of my best sellers last year was a piece entitled Sing, Sing, Sing from the song that I love by Chris Tomlin.  I wanted to make another praise piece to share. Connie from Prince of Peace gave me a few of her hymnals that they are not using and we have been using them for craft projects. So I found the hymn Holy, Holy, Holy and copied it on heavy copy paper and collaged it to 8x10 canvas ( I made 4 at a time).  I then did my stencil/texture technique around the edges and then added a home made stencil I have from a picture of a woman with raised hands worshiping God.  I added her in the middle over the music and felt it needed something more. I looked through my stencil file and realized that I had the same praise woman in a smaller size so added that to the right and as I was finishing up the reverse addition on the left , my eyes read the words underneath and God spoke to me. The last stanza of the hymn  "God in three person, blessed Trinity".  I looked up at the title "Holy, Holy Holy and realized that God had given me the idea and had guided my hands to create this.  I felt so loved my Him and blessed at the same time. 

Here is a not so good picture of one of them, as it was late when I finished Friday night and didn't have the proper light to take a picture.  This is from the event.

They were a sell out in the first 30 minutes!

I shared the story with each buyer so that they knew that God was blessing them with the picture in their home....

 

I also designed a special prayer plank for a gift for Katie and here is a picture of her receiving it  with Katie. My daughter Vera is the manufacturer of the prayer planks, so thanks Vera!

Check out more pictures  of the event and some beautiful craft decoration ideas from Connie's blog , called Vintage Grace.

 

Praying in color for February 2012

I finished my Feb page and it is amazing what God has done in my life as I take the time to stop and spend time with him.

I talked about Praying in Color back in January 2012 here.  This is a year project that I am doing combining 2 faithart techniques. On the left side of my book, I am keeping track of my 1000 Gifts from Anne Voskamp  here.  It is a pleasure and a sweet time to spend thinking about my day and jotting down the gifts he has given me that day ( 3 per day). You can use Ann's prompts, which I did in Jan but in Feb I just gave thanks for all the events/people/things that happened to me each day and wrote them down.

So here is my finished February page- it is on the right side of my large journal. This month I colored it all in the first few days and then added all the black words and doodling each day. 

It is my praying in color page. I color with inexpensive colored pencils and doodle my prayers and it is amazing what happens to my brain.  The bible verse " Be still and know that I am God" is one that has been elusive for me, but I find that I am actually still in my brain when I am coloring or doodling and God is able to be with me and speak to me. Unlike when I pray- it is all a vertical litany of lifting this person up or telling Him what I would like him to do.

Have you tried doodling/praying in color?  The book "Praying in Color" is a great place to start. 

I am showing you my blank March pages, it is so interesting to see the blank picture and then when it is done I am reminded of how much time I spent with God and what I was praying for and about.

 

Captivating Book study

Chapter 3-5

Chapter 3 is about the deepest question we all have as women.

I used a scrapbooking paper, stencils and distress ink and made a small booklet with the question mark that flips and covers some of my journaling. The next piece is a envelope that I stamped and decorated and then inserted journaling ( things I wanted to keep private) inside.                                                                                                       The next page is Chapter 4 how our hearts are wounded. I used a transparency, and stamped wounded on it with stazon ink. I used tulle to cradle my metal heart. I cut a heart from a soda can, embossed it and then added alcohol inks. I punched  holes into it and added black ink around the holes.  Underneath is a white page that I collaged a gavel and stamped verdict. Depicting how we make a decision and choice about the state of our heart.

 

I love these next 2 pages for Chapter 5.  I think a picture of my heart is that on one side the devil whispers and pulls me with all the negative things I am scared of- unlovable, fat, ugly, worthless, etc.  And there is another side that pulls me- Jesus whispering into my heart all the truth- my life is a symphony, he heals my heart, he hears my cries, etc.

So I took a heart shaped cutout, painted it red, attached them together and added to a plastic transparency. I used black paint on the left side, with white gesso and a stencil and then wrote the words on the gesso. On the right side I used gold and a stencil to depict Jesus' words.

 

 

Chapter 6 is about healing the wound. We are advised to renounce the lies we have believed, grieve the wounds, forgive as a choice, heal my broken heart and release my captivity to strongholds.

I used 2 scrapbook papers, and cut out the design and inserted a prayer inside.

Makoto Fujimura- inspiration

Makoto Fujimura is a renowned Christian artist working from New York's art scene.  He has begun  a monumental project- illustrating the 4 Holy Gospels.

The Four Holy Gospels is an exquisitely designed and produced edition of the four canonical Gospels in the English Standard Version, published in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Version (KJV) Bible in 1611.

 

“[H]aving Mako’s art, which is non-representational, next to the words of scripture invites the reader to take the words of scripture and sort of see what they see in the art and how that connects with the words that they’re reading, because the words are transcendent. And the art, in a lot of ways, reflects that transcendence.”

– Alissa Wilkinson

I love the first comment from Valerie Dillon- Art Gallery owner

".... there is  a line in the contemporary art world...  this is the line....you can paint AND you can worship...  but don't do them together.. and if you step over that line you are in essence....  setting yourself up for Crucifixion...."

Makoto Fujimura - The Art of "The Four Holy Gospels" from Crossway on Vimeo.

 He is able to take his craft, his experience, his creativity and his FAITH and say " this is who I am" in his art.

May I be so blessed by God to take my craft, experience, creativity and faith and create faithart at Adore HIM Creations.

 

 

Captivating Book study

More to share, this study is very good, and it helps to have a group of women who meet with me weekly to discuss, share and do art journaling together!

we all have beauty to unveil. I used a stencil and traced the lines on a piece of scrapbooking paper, then cut each out. I used the stencil to spray on the white paper also. Then I attached each of the pieces on top of the sprayed ones and made them so each would flip open. I put all my journaling underneath. See the next picture for  a few of the pieces opened up.

 

This next page talks about how I am convinced that I need to take matters into my own hands all the time. I need to give Him the time and space for His plans not mine.

Women are victims of the curse and we either are dominating or desolate or alternate between the two. I used a stencil of a tree on the 12 x 12 scrapbooking paper, and then copied pictures of my mother, grandmother ( on both sides and my great grandmother. Added them to my family "tree". the flap on the side hides my journaling.

Back of that page is the wall I have around my heart. I used the brick embossing plate on brown paper and then journaled and added around a picture of me.

I wanted to show my heart as it indulges and keeps me in chains with clothes. food, reading, dogs, etc. I drew a large heart, collaged it, and added crackling paste and glued silver chains on it.  The background is spray inks and tapes and stamps. the inside of the heart is how God sees my heart, I used glue and large glass glitter.

 

Well that gets you up to Chapter 3!  Next week I will reveal more of my art journal faithart book.

 

Captivating Book study

Wow, I have been so busy forgot to update you all on the study. We meet each week on Sunday and either do a new chapter in the book and journal or just create our own journal pages.

Here are my newest pages. If you have any questions on techniques or products leave me a comment and I will be happy to respond quickly!~

Eve was the crown of creation. I used stencils to represent the garden flowers and found a drawing on the internet of a woman's body and printed it on vellum paper and stamped the words on the vellum.

God longs for me !  I used the song music O the Deep Deep love of Jesus as a collage paper, added gesso texture with a stencil, chipboard letters and a small folder with stamps for journaling.

 This page is about Gods relationship with us.  He has made women to be  inviting, tender, merciful, devoted, inviting,  and fiercely protective.  I used a 12 x12 double sided paper and folded the side to match the width of my book. drew the circle with a stencil and then used the flap for my journaling notes.

The back of this page is about Genesis 2:18- "It is not good for the man to be alone, I shall make him an ezer kenedo ( helpmeet)". 

Praying in Color

My children are learning this technique and I wanted to share their journals with you also.

Natalya has committed to doing the 1000 gifts and praying in color also. It really showcases her extraordinary doodling skills and her special heart for God.

 

 

Next is Deanna, she decided to stick with a blue color scheme.

 

Vera is last but not least. She is working in a small moleskin journal.

 

Walk with HIM Wednesdays

I have been faithful this month in my journaling project. This is the post where I talk about this new project and I am thankful to say that I completed the month of January. It is a dual project- that combines counting 1000 gifts in 2012 and praying in color.

First I have to to talk about my book. For the first time in my art life I purchased a large size ( 15 1/2 x 11) and it is made from handmade papers from India. I found it at Hobby Lobby and used my 40% off coupon. It was an extravagant purchase for me. I wanted to honor God with my time and use the best paper as a gift to him. So the plan was to follow Ann Voskamps "1000 Gifts" project and list my gifts on the left side of the page spread and then do my praying in color, or tangle prayers on the right side. This page was completed using a stencil as the base for the design and then I used inexpensive colored pencils.

Here is the picture of the original  design.

Each night I prayed and doodled, journaled, colored. Amazingly, I felt closer to him and was able to listen as my hand was preoccupied and I was focusing on Him.

Have you read " Praying in Color" ?  If not, I highly recommend the  book. 

It talks about how we try to "be still and listen to God", but our bodies get in our way. "If I permit my body to move-even just the movement of my hand, fingers, and arm with pen and marker- then my bones and muscles are content. I can be calm and relaxed enough to find inner stillness and to pay attention.  In general, it's not my body that needs to be stilled; its my mind."  page 44  Praying in color is a new prayer form that gives God an invitation and a new door to penetrate into the locked cells of my heart and mind. 

If you are looking for a way to energize your prayer life, or a different way to pray, then come along with me and try this!

Each month I will be sharing my pages and how it is going.  My goal is to do a page a month for the entire year.

 

 

Watching Wednesday

Great day in the studio last Saturday. A new student Donna came and we had so much fun.

Here are their beautiful faithart canvas projects.  Donna made hers for a co-worker who has cancer and is getting hospice care and Rusty made one for her sister. Love the colors, textures and the love put into each one. Both used the music "Amazing Grace" as their collage papers underneath the texturizing.

Hebrews 11:1 " Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

Psalm 149:3 "...praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with tambourine and harp."

  Heather made her OLW canvas and her favorite color is purple, so isn't this beautiful?

Watching Wednesday

Just have to share what was made in the studio last Saturday!

Our small group is doing the one little word and a few women came and made their OLW canvas. Love the work God is doing in their lives through their word and the faithart he creates through their hands.

Doris's word for 2012 is praise.  Love how she used the textured background and the glitter on the letters supports praise!

Ashley is a new student to both the OLW and to the studio. She did a great job of preparing her word thoughts and created love!

 

Penny's word is devotion. She has such a adventurous spirit and is always thinking and trying new techniques! Don't you love her composition?

I am trying to pray about what my word will look like (steadfast) so stay tuned.

What is your one little word for 2012?

Walk with HIM Wednesdays

this will be a new weekly feature on my blog. It is based on the book "one thousand gifts"  by Ann Voskamp. If you haven't been to her site, or read the book, I highly recommend it.

Ann has a challenge with her book and at her blog about the joy dare for 2012.

" Snap a photo or record 3 gifts per day. Count One Thousand gifts in 2012: Discover Joy!"

I am doing that in a different way. My friend Connie  ( check her blog today about hearts and her decorations!) has been keeping her one thousand gifts record for a few months. She is such an inspiration!   I saw how she was doing it about 2 weeks ago and realized that was a good way for me to follow and capture my gifts from God.

I was able to purchase a handmade watercolor book 11 x 15 3/4 at Hobby Lobby with my gift card from my son. I debated on whether I should keep the book after I bought it, I had never worked in such a large size!  However, since I got 40% off the price, I decided to keep it. Once I opened the book I realized that is was a gift to me from God. the handmade papers were so decadent and luscious that I was anxious to work in it.

So, I set it up like Connie's book.  Right page for my Tangle Prayers and left side for journaling my 1000 gifts in 2012.  So far it is a delight to spend time with God each day doodling, praying and contemplating His gifts in my life.

Here are some pictures of the cover and the inside.   I spent about 3 hours filling 12 pages by tracing with a perm marker a stencil for each month. 

Each week I will share my tangle prayer page and you can see the progress! This month I am using colored pencils ( Crayola ones are great and inexpensive). 

I hope you check out the links and  discover your way to spend time with God and counting your gifts!

 

Guest Artist Series 2012

I have been working on this project for a few months and am so happy to announce the Guest Artist series at Adore HIM Creations studio. 

I have met so many wonderful talented artists that allow God to create their art and I wanted to share those experiences with  you!   So mark your calendars for  Saturday Feb 11/2012  9-5.  Sign up quickly as there are only 12 seats available. 

The first guest artist is

 Pattie Ann Hale

Pattie Ann is a fine artist, writer, and teacher with a  focus in worship and prophetic art.      Pattie offers seminars and workshops in which she guides participants in experiencing the   visual language of the Spirit. Her experiential workshops often focus on wholeness and healing.

Pattie is an accomplished teacher, having taught art classes in various mediums and has led  community art classes for children and the elderly .  She has been involved in several    community, national and international art shows, special gift collaborations, and mural  projects for community and ministries. She has had several solo shows in galleries, community centers, and churches, Her art is collected nationally and internationally. Hale is writing a book titled: A Sacred Revolution – The Power of God in the Arts, which will be released in the near future. 

Her website is found at  http://www.pattieannhale.com

 

Arise & Shine

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

 Through an exploration of Isaiah 60, workshop participants will take a multi-sensory journey through the depths of the mind, soul and spirit, progressively identifying and moving out of shadowed areas and further into the light of God and His Radiance. This workshop will be a visual, auditory, and tactile exploration of the glory of God. As we engage the scriptures through music, movement, and the mixed-media project, participants will symbolically and prophetically      experience the transformation of moving out of darkness and into light. Though mixed-media techniques will be obtained, the focus is on the journey. “Out of the heart comes the art… so I want to help your heart shine,” says Pattie Ann Hale.

 The cost of the workshop includes a birch panel, specific fabrics, select papers, and various other collage elements, which will make up the mixed-media project. All materials and tools, including paints, paintbrushes, markers, pencils, adhesives etc. will be provided. The participant does not need to provide anything for this workshop but is welcome to bring additional personal collage materials and supplies if so desired.

Saturday February 11  9:00 to 5:00 pm  

  $100

Class size is limited to 12 students and requires a 50% deposit due by 2/1/12.  

Final payment is due 2/11/12.  A gourmet lunch is included.

 Join us as we experience God's presence in our art!

 

 

To sign up please email me directly at diane@adorehimcreations.com

The next Guest artist will be Connie Denninger.  Save the date of April 28 for "Living a Life of Prayer" with Connie Denninger.

 

endings and beginnings

Today was open studio and we had 4 women here crafting- creating and sharing. What a wonderful way to end 2011.

2011 was the beginning of Adore HIM Creations becoming a real studio, creating art to sell and expanding my artistic horizons. What a blessing it has been to spend my time creating art that brings glory and honor to God. I have been blessed to help others see the creativity God gave them and to help them allow that creativity to soar. Look at this piece from Penny- one of our regular students. Love how she gave expression to the word peace.

   And Denise, my beautiful friend and sister in Christ. She made this piece to hang in her office at work. I am so proud of how she has allowed her artistic talents to become freely expressed. This picture doesn't do this justice, the cross is luminescent and glows.

Tracy and her daughter made this beautiful present for her son and his new wife. A beautiful reminder of Gods' plan for marriage.

 

Are you getting ready to discover your one little word for 2012? If so, check out the One little word page here at my blog for ideas, worksheets and lots more links and info!

Also, stay tuend for new classes in 2012 and a brand new launch of my

"Guest Artist " Series for 2012.

May God bless you and keep you and may you find new ways to creatively express God in your daily life, art and heart.

Happy New Year!

 

Captivating Book study- cover

                          This is a great book Captivating,  so insightful and helpful to refocus me and to provide healing in those areas where my pain is a deterent to my walk with Christ. We are part of a large group on Facebook that is doing an online journaling class led by Patti Hale.

I am leading a small local group here in Northern VA and we meet weekly to discuss the chapters and to work on our art journals. Here are some pictures of my group ( missing Michelle) God is binding us together in a deeper way and we are drawing closer to Him.

 

Here are some pictures of my pages and my cover. I worked for about 3 days on the cover. I had inspiration from Anna ( from Poland) and this is my version.

First I collage a lot of papers onto the cardboard covers. Sprayed with Adirondack inks and Glimmer mist inks.  Added some creme color paint to tone it down, and then sprayed a gloss varnish over it all.

The embellishments:  I wanted to create a "cross" of embellishments that would signify the love of God in my life.  I cut up a old frame and used them on the right and left side, then added wooden cut out designs ( I found at Michaels a long time ago) as the top and bottom of the cross. I used alcohol inks on the plastic letters. I included a pearl heart as the inside of the flower.  Added lost of other metal embellishments and glued them with a hot glue gun. Masked off the rest of the cover and used Glimmer mist spray on the embellishment.  I wanted to stitch on the outside edges, but I used really think cardboard ( the covers from my watercolor pads) so used my Tim Holtz stitching stamp instead.

Here is the back of th e front cover and the inside and outside of the back cover. I am planning on connecting my book with wire bound using my Cinch.

 

Christmas Gifts

Been waiting to post this special project that Jenny, Penny and I made for our small group leader Berna.

It is based on the Create canvas from Jennifer McGuires online class.  Berna is such a wonderful example of a servant leader, so we used the word servant.  We asked the women in our small group to send us a bible verse or note to Berna and then we used that as a background to the hearts. Since she gives her heart to all of us, we gave our hearts back to her!

I typed up the notes/bible verses and printed them onto a separate paper for Berna to read. I stamped it and included it with the gift.

 

Each year I make our small group some special gift from me to each of them. This year I made original tags- 31 of them and let them choose the one that spoke to them.

I had such a good time praying and creating these little works of art.

Merry Christmas!

Watching Wednesday

Last Saturday was the last open studio of 2011.

Robin made this beautiful faithart OLW (one little word) canvas for her son and daughter  for Christmas. Robin is a creative woman who has a strong faith.  I can't wait to hear how her children respond!

And Penny is one of my regular students and I love watching her create. She lets her ideas come to live on paper and on canvas.

Have a Merry Christmas! Stay tuned for lots of new classes in 2012!

Watching Wednesday

Just saw this fantastic video from the Worship Studio. Take a few minutes and watch and you will be able to experience a glimpse of my experience at the Gathering in Sept in NC.

 

This was a life changing experience for me and opened my eyes and heart to new ways to worship God.

 

Here are some pictures of the work produced at our studio on Friday  last week. Another opportunity to enable others to express their God given creativity!