Psalm 23 is a beloved passage of the Bible. It’s interesting that even people who aren’t very familiar with the Bible can hear “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want…”, and many of them will immediately associate those words with the Bible.
This passage of scripture was actually written by a shepherd named David. David was a son of a shepherd writing about The Lord God. Jesus would later confirm this by calling Himself The Good Shepherd. So there’s a lot of “shepherd talk” in Psalm 23. As much as I love anything about sheep, lambs, and shepherds, I didn’t really appreciate the depth of power in the words in this chapter until I started learning more about “shepherd talk”.
If you want to understand this “shepherd talk” and also enjoy some beautiful artwork, I want to recommend a book called “A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23” by W. Phillip Keller. The author breaks down this passage in great detail to help us have a better understanding of the meaning of the words, so that we can better understand how very similar we are to sheep and how very similar God is to a shepherd.
His description of the shepherd and sheep was so comforting to me. He describes David writing this Psalm from the perspective of the sheep. He spoke with a strong sense of pride, devotion, and admiration. It was as though he literally boasted aloud, “Look at who my shepherd is-my owner-my manager! The Lord is!” After all, he knew from firsthand experience that the lot in life of any particular sheep depended on the type of man who owned it.
This realization was very eye opening for me, and it has also been life changing. It has affected my artwork as well. Now, when I paint artwork with sheep, I’m flooded with the reminder that I belong to the Good Shepherd. (John 10:10) With the brush strokes, I think of the gentle care He takes over my life.
For many years, I never really understood the “I shall not want’. I felt like I couldn’t say these words because unfortunately, my list of “wants” was actually a very long list. But after getting a better understanding of the language of a shepherd, I had a new understanding and appreciation. Mr. Keller says these words describe “a sheep utterly satisfied with its owner, perfectly content with its lot in life.”
It’s my prayer that I could become more content with the care of my Good Shepherd and stop craving more. It’s in those moments that my heart & mind get glimpses and reminders that the Good Shepherd laid down HIS life for me; HE diligently pursues me; HE patiently guides me; HE lovingly corrects me: HE sufficiently provides for me…. It is then that in that moment, I remember I am not only alive, but also flourishing under HIS tender care. It’s at that moment I can with a grateful heart say, “I shall not want”. It’s not a “one and done” deal… It’s a process that I have to continually repeat. But as long as I have breath, I know I will need continual reminders of who my Good Shepherd is. So, next time you see one of my paintings of a sheep, just know while painting the sheep, I was working back through this process one more time!
]]>NEW BLOG : Behind the Scenes with Pam and her favorite watercolor supplies
I love school supplies, office supplies AND especially art supplies. Do you?
But, do you ever feel intimidated by all the options and don't even know where to start?
Join me at my art table and let me show you some of my FAVORITE watercolor supplies.
I will show you why I love them, how I use them in my lettering.
It doesn't have to be intimidating... you can even use Crayola Markers to create lettering and art!
Yes! you can do this! Let me show you.....
I’ve been painting and selling my artwork for over 24 years. I sell my original paintings and also a large variety of products we’ve made using my artwork. We have shops across the U.S. carrying products that we’ve made with my artwork. I’ve also licensed some of my designs to manufacturers for Kirklands and Hobby Lobby stores.
Throughout these 24 years, God has used my creativity as a tool to help me process the things happening in my life and as a tool to express my faith. HE can do the same for you! I would love to show you some of the techniques I’ve learned along my journey. I find so much joy in exploring how to give new life and purpose to things like pages from discarded books and other bits and pieces of what might look like trash.
I have a new Mini-workshop I would love for you to try out just in time for Christmas!! Have you ever created your own Christmas ornament? Click here to check it out!!
You can get a taste of what Mixed Media is all about in this Mini- Workshop as part of the Jingle & Mingle craft event! See the photo below of what I will teach you to create!
How can the Mixed Media Painting of the Month Club ( and most of my Workshops! ) help you?!
I will share how I’ve learned to use layers and color to give life and dimension to my paintings. I would love to introduce you to the joy of using your God given creativity plus found objects to create beautiful art. I think you might even begin seeing the world in a brand new way! Once you get started you will see how it helps strengthen & feed your Creativity. You will begin eyeing containers, paper, other bits and pieces normally tossed in the trash, thinking of all the things you might create with them!
Mixed Media is my favorite creative technique! I can show you how we can take old objects that some folks might have discarded at a thrift store, and give them new life and purpose by adding some basic art supplies combined with our own God given creativity and make a beautiful piece of art for your own home or to give to a friend.
Here are some of the goals I want to accomplish with the Mixed Media Club & various Workshops:
- I will guide you in using your own God-given creativity to make beautiful art. Yes! You are creative, you just might need a little help uncovering it or learning how to use it
-Did you know your artwork can tell a story? I will show you how to take simple things like old book pages, scrapbook paper, old sewing patterns, maps, bits of string & yarn, buttons & beads and other objects and use them in your artwork to help tell your story... Maybe it’s a story you will share with the people admiring art, but it is possibly just a story that only your heart knows is hidden beneath the layers.
- I’ve been painting for over 30 years, I would love to share with you some of the tips and techniques that I’ve learned along the way. We will talk about paint brushes, how to choose a color palette, how to use mediums to add dimension to your art.
If you are interested in receiving more information about how YOU can join Mixed Media Painting of the Month Club Click here!
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Read what this has meant to our team member Tammy.
This word brought such comfort to me during a time in my life that should have been such a joyful occasion: the birth of my youngest grandson, Louis. He was born at 25 weeks and weighed only 1 lb. and 10 oz. To say I was scared for his life is an understatement. Just the previous year, my daughter had lost a baby born at 20 weeks. So, we were happy he came a few weeks later and had a better chance of survival but still felt terrified. I had to dwell in my savior’s arms and trust Him no matter what happened. I had to rest in the shadow of the Almighty and know that He was holding Louis.
Now that Louis is 15 months old and growing stronger every day, I continually rest knowing that I am in the shadow of the Almighty.
Dwelling in the shelter of the most high is not temporary. This is a place you are to reside in order to find rest.
-Shared by our team member Tammy.
***He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1
May these products allow you to surround yourself with Beauty & Truth and remind you where to dwell.
]]>Personally, there have been so many times that I have found myself out of sorts emotionally and mentally, only to realize it linked back to my spiritual condition.
Irritability, discouragement, hopelessness, negative thoughts, a bad attitude, worry, anxiety — these are often red flags for me that I am spiritually dehydrated.
That I’ve allowed myself to get out of my soul care routine long enough that my soul is missing the refreshment and refueling that comes from spending time in God’s Word.
As women it is very easy to put everyone’s needs above our own, with every intention of getting around to caring for our needs later …
… only later gets pushed further and further back!
Can you relate? Do you sometimes feel embarrassed to admit it?
I think most of us can relate. It's not always easy to find the time or resources to continue your spiritual journey in a hectic modern world, and we know that life can be VERY difficult!
Our spirit, soul and body are intertwined and what happens to one, affects the other two.
Romans 12:2 reminds us, “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind”
Renewing our mind happens by spending time in God’s Word regularly. This is one of the ways we tend to our own soul and It’s easy to neglect the soul care that we all need on a regular basis.
By regularly spending time investing in our own soul — through prayer, worship and being transformed by renewing our minds — we find true Hope, Peace and Joy that this world can not offer.
This is the exact reason that I feel so passionate about our Lemonade Creative Hearts Scripture Journaling Membership.
This membership is perfect for Christian women:
So, if this sounds like something you’re ready to dive into, I hope you’ll prayerfully consider joining us!
New members have been rolling in, and I hope that you’ll be one of them!
Pam
]]>The design for June's Encouragement Kit is based off of the extremely popular hymn called "It Is Well". The words were penned by Horatio Spafford, while the somber music was written by Philip Bliss.
The story behind the words of the hymn is utterly heartbreaking.
Spafford sent his wife and four daughters on a European trip for some rest and relaxation, while he planned to join them days after. The ship that his family was on was struck by another vessel and sank within minutes. Only his wife survived.
Spafford immediately left to be with her, and the words of this hymn is said to have been written as he approached the area of the ocean thought to be where the ship carrying his daughters had sunk.
Instead of focusing on what he lost, Spafford focused more on where hope can be found. His heart turned to the faithfulness of God in the midst of loss and the work of Jesus to rescue sinners. “This hymn does not diminish or gloss over pain and tragedy, but rather proclaims that God is present in them and greater than them.”
When asking Pam about the story behind this design, this is what she had to say, “There have been countless times in my life when the storms of life felt as if they would leave me lifeless and hopeless. I’m sure you can say the same. But in His goodness, the Holy Spirit has faithfully brought reminders from God’s Word and stories like that of this beloved hymn to my remembrance. The writer says, “thou hast taught me to say: It is well, it is well with my soul”. I am in agreement! He IS teaching me!! It’s not our natural response to turn to God… it is learned. It is a choice. “The central basis of Chrisitan assurance is not how much our hearts are set on God, but how unshakably His heart is set on us.” A quote from Timothy Keller. It is in continually reminding ourselves of these truths before & during the storms, that our heart is being trained and taught. And when the storms do come crashing in, our hearts can more naturally say: “it is well, it is well with my soul”.”
You will find this design on several products in the June Encouragement Kits, including an *exclusive* 6x6 Metal Decorative Tile. Just like with all of our encouragement kits, each product is carefully selected to create a beautiful display for your home and to be a reminder of Truth and Hope. We pray that they will bring you & others hope each time you see the design and read their words.
Piper, B. (n.d.). Behind The Song: Horatio Spafford & Philip Bliss, “It is Well with My Soul”. American Songwriter. Retrieved May 11, 2023, from https://americansongwriter.com/it-is-well-with-my-soul-behind-the-song-horatio-spafford-philip-bliss/]]>Personally, there have been so many times that I have found myself out of sorts emotionally and mentally, only to realize it linked back to my spiritual condition.
The scripture lettering that I do in my journals helps me ZERO in on the verse, helping me write it on my heart. But many times it doesn’t end with the finished lettering, it goes a step further and becomes a prayer.
]]>“I wish I was creative. I don’t have a creative bone in my body” or
“I can’t even draw a straight line” or
“I didn’t know that verse was in the Bible” or
“I wish I knew my Bible better...”
So, I would like to tell you that I am teaching women how they really do have creativity inside of them... planted by the Creator Himself! By teaching you how to work with your own handwriting with very simple steps to enhance it... Teaching you that the discipline of practice applied to lettering and journaling Bible Verses can actually help you memorize the verses.
I’m always looking forward to showing you how to use color and different styles of lettering to break down Bible Verses in order to understand them and remember them better. I’m always excited to teach you how to turn your lettered verses into prayers for a prayer journal and how to decorate the lettering to frame for home decor & to give as gifts, too!
Every month I put together a multi-lesson course/workshop with videos and traceables that help ladies learn these new skills to apply to Scripture Journaling called Lemonade Creative Hearts. So if this sounds like something that would interest you, I would love to have you join our Creative Hearts Community.
I would LOVE for you to join me for our newest Lettering Workshop, which will be held June 12 - 14.
To get more information about the Beginning Lettering & Scripture Journaling Workshop, please click here. We have several purchase options for you and are happy to answer any questions you might have! Won't you join us!?
I recently realized that I had unknowingly used parts of Psalm 16 in several different designs I had created. This realization caused me to look a little closer at the chapter to see what was it about that chapter that kept drawing me back to it.
Comfort. Reassurance. Hope. Security. Counsel.
Line by line pointed me to the reassurance that…
HE IS the safe place I long for.
HE sees me.
HE IS at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
HE IS behind me.
HE IS before me.
HE IS within me.
HE IS with me…there is NO where I can go or wander that
HE cannot reach me.
HE IS the good I seek after.
HE IS my inheritance….my Beautiful Inheritance.
HE IS the blessing my wayward heart needs.
HE IS my portion. I will never be left out or skipped over or neglected.
HE IS The counsel my wandering heart longs for.
HE IS The Instructor my fearful mind needs.
HE IS the One to make known to me the next step I need to take.
HE IS the source of JOY the broken parts of my heart longs to be with.
HE IS the source of Gladness my weary heart craves.
HE IS the Place Pleasures are forevermore kept.
Now I see why the precious words found in this chapter keep drawing me back over and over again. There’s so much comfort and peace found in their reminders, and much needed conviction too. As I am prone to seek blessings from people and places, yet HE is The Blessing, and everything else is a Bonus! Thank you Jesus for being The Blessing and for the added Bonuses along the way!
As a follower of Christ.....HE IS our Blessing and our Portion!!! Do you have a pretty cup you could set out somewhere as a sweet reminder for your heart... HE IS your Cup of Blessing. Reminding myself of this causes me to just take a deep breath and sigh....Thank You Jesus!
I hope you will join me in praying that The Holy Spirit will help each of us see powerful words in a new and more intimate way! Here are a few ideas to apply the verse to your life:
1. Offer up a prayer of thanksgiving & praise for the beautiful gift of Blessing that we have in Christ.
2. Ask for help to keep our eyes on Him.
3. Prompt us when we are shifting our focus away, as in seeking our blessings from other people, things, status, etc...
4. If you've gotten into a place of forgetting that Christ completes you, HE is your inheritance, your gift, your blessing, confess and repent… JOY & HOPE will immediately follow! P.S. I need to do this daily… sometimes a minute by minute thing. My mind and heart quickly forget!
May you be filled with the Blessings of Christ - Pam Coxwell
My Cup of Blessing- Psalm 16 is the new theme for our May Encouragement Kit. We would love to send you monthly refills of encouragement with beautiful art and Truth filled reminders of Hope…and we always include enough for you to share with the others along your path!
You can learn more about here: https://fromtheheartart.com/pages/lemonade-reminders
I’m teaching how to create a floral alphabet using this same theme in our Lemonade Creative Hearts Group. If you would like to learn how to use your creativity as a tool for stress relief, scripture memory and to renew your mind, we would love to have you join us! https://fromtheheartart.com/blogs/news/guide
]]>How to Tell a Story with Simple Media
You can use simple things like an old book, scrap paper, old patterns, maps, buttons, embellishments, and so many other craft things to tell a story in your art work. The best part is that whether the people admiring the art are aware or not, the story your heart knows about your piece is a beautiful one. I have been painting and creating for over 30 years and I love to recreate art in this way.
I’m Not Creative Enough!
So many people want to decorate their home with something beautiful but they have no clue where to start. They don’t know how to use their creativity or need a little help uncovering it. Did you know I have a Mixed Media Painting of the Month Club that will help guide you in using your own God-given creativity to make beautiful artwork?
Can the Mixed Media Painting of the Month Membership Really Help Me?
Mixed Media is my favorite creative technique! In this membership I will share how to use layers and color along with your God-given creativity to create beautiful art with objects that you can find around your house or at your local thrift store. Once you get started you will see how my Mixed Media of the Month Club helps strengthen and feed your creativity. I love the Mixed Media Painting of the Month club for people wanting to explore their creativity or exercise their creative senses.
Join the Mixed Media Monthly Membership!
If you’re ready to tell a story with your artwork and uncover your God-given creativity then I’d love for you to join me in the Mixed Media Painting of the Month Club! I can’t wait to show you how to take simple things and use them in your artwork to tell your story. You ARE creative, and I will help you uncover that creativity and show you how to use it! I can’t wait for you to join me in this journey through my Mixed Media Membership!
]]>1 - To Rediscover or Deepen Your Understanding of Scripture
Hand-lettering scripture allows you to ponder over what you’ve read while you write and memorize Bible verses. This intentionality helps you to deepen your understanding, or even see things you already knew in a new way.
2 - To Relieve Stress
In a world where we are surrounded by busyness, hand-lettering scripture allows us to pause. This creative practice allows us to receive a rejuvenated spirit using the power of His Word.
3 - To Connect to God’s Word
Hand-lettering Scripture allows a consistent connection to our faith in a fun and creative way. This helps us to remember and apply Bible verses to our daily lives.
4 - To Have a Creative Outlet
You can use your God-given creativity to connect with prayer, worship, and The Word. Hand-lettering allows you to use color and letter to explore your journey in faith creatively.
Join my Lemonade Creative Hearts Membership
My Lemonade Creative Hearts membership provides a fun, welcoming community for Christian women working to uncover their God-Given creative gifts to grow closer to Him through scripture study, Bible journaling, and the art of hand-lettering. This community allows you to connect with your creativity at any level (from beginner to expert) through the practice of hand lettering. Are you ready to take the next step and join this amazing community of Christian women? Come see for yourself how Lemonade Creative Hearts can help you dive deeper into scripture and renew your mind for the day ahead!
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You see, last month, we wanted to fill the kit with comforting reminders that the Lord is our Shepherd.
Now, this new refill is bringing fresh reassuring reminders that the story continues! Not only is He our Shepherd… HE is also our Savior! The work of the Cross is finished AND the Grave is empty! We have SO much to celebrate! What a beautiful story of grace He has written on each of our lives.
I hope you enjoy the different pieces of Cross artwork in your Kit. There is something special about this Encouragement Kit. It’s a “Continuation Kit”! And I would love to explain!
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You see, last month, we wanted to fill the kit with comforting reminders that the Lord is our Shepherd.
Now, this new refill is bringing fresh reassuring reminders that the story continues! Not only is He our Shepherd… HE is also our Savior! The work of the Cross is finished AND the Grave is empty! We have SO much to celebrate! What a beautiful story of grace He has written on each of our lives.
I hope you enjoy the different pieces of Cross artwork in your Kit. There is something special about this Encouragement Kit. It’s a “Continuation Kit”! Let me explain.
The Lord has been stirring in my heart the word Continuation. Often in life we start things that don’t finish quite like we expected them to finish. Instead, they become a continuation of the next thing that the Lord is beginning. It’s often hard for my mind to grasp this and my tendency is to struggle against it. But often, what’s happening right now in my life is actually just building a foundation for the next thing.
I quite often have to ask myself things like…
“Do I really believe that my Father is in control?”
“Do I really believe that nothing can happen without His notice?”
“Do I really believe that ALL things are HIS servants and must eventually bow to HIS authority?”
“Do I really believe that HIS plan is good and perfect?”
These questions help ground me and recenter my focus on Him, which in turn helps my perspective.
And instead of dreading a finish that didn’t go according to my plan…
Or anticipating what else might go wrong…
I can think about CONTINUATION! It’s not the end. Watch for the Continuation.
I can instead wait with anticipation of what good things HE has ahead and rest in knowing all things can be used for good. Just as HE used a gruesome Cross to accomplish His plan. The Empty Grave was a beautiful continuation of a cruel cross!
So with that in mind, I just wanted you to know that this month’s ENCOURAGEMENT KIT is not only a continuation of the Psalm 23 theme from last month, it is ALSO a building block for next month’s theme! We’ve designed the contents of this month’s Kit as a “Spring Decor Starter Bundle” as a way to help you decorate with scripture-based Spring decor now, that you can CONTINUE to build on with the contents of next month’s Encouragement Kit. We designed next month’s Kit as a continuation of this month’s to make a nice tiered-tray display, a vignette in a den or living room, or even a centerpiece for your dining room table. One theme is a CONTINUATION of the other… reminders of the CONTINUATION from Shepherd to Savior to Empty Grave. So whether you use them for your own home or as gifts for others, I pray they plant beautiful seeds of Truth and Hope into your heart and all who come in contact with them!
SO much to celebrate!
In anticipation of the CONTINUATION of HIS good plan unfolding, Pam
What do an old Accounting Principles book, a vintage receipt book from the 1930s, and a disintegrating hymnal have in common?
They are all tools that I will use, along with some art supplies, to demonstrate how we can create beautiful art and use our artwork to tell a story.
We have had such amazing response with our previous workshops, that we've decided to host one for Spring! And it's almost here!
For a very long time I’ve felt a calling to guide women in how to use their God-given creativity in beautiful and rewarding ways!
Discover the joy and beauty of mixed media painting. Using various techniques, you will learn how to incorporate the delicate, aged pages from vintage receipt books, hymnals, and accounting textbooks to weave a unique story throughout your own one-of-a-kind art piece.
We will also learn to use fibers, tiny sparkle beads, and other found objects to add depth and character to your piece. I will guide you step-by-step as you give the old books pages new life and purpose as you use them in your artwork.
This Workshop is perfect for all skill levels. You will not only leave with the skills to create your own beautiful piece of art, but I believe you will also have a new outlook on old & typically discarded items and have fresh ideas bubbling forth on how you might be able to incorporate them into creative pieces to not only have beautiful art, but to also help tell a unique story.
I would love to invite you to join me in my studio so that I can share with you one of my very favorite creative techniques called Mixed Media. In this online workshop, I will show you how we can take old objects, that some folks might have discarded at a thrift store, and give them new life and purpose. By adding some basic art supplies, combined with our own God given creativity, we will make a beautiful piece of art for your own home or to give to a friend!
I look forward to seeing you at our March Mixed Media Workshop! Join us March 20-22! Click the link above or any pictures above for more information! We are going to have a wonderful, creative time!
Are you a Lemonade Creative Hearts Member? Check your email! You get a complimentary pass to this Workshop.
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Why Bible Journaling?
There are many verses in the Bible where God instructs us to “write down” his words or record an event that demonstrated his faithfulness. Here are three reasons why you might want to start Bible Journaling as a daily practice:
What Supplies Do I Need to Start Bible Journaling?
Sometimes if you see a beautifully journaled Bible you might think you need a ton of fancy supplies to get started. But the reality is that you too can create some beautiful journal entries with a few basic supplies. All you really need is a Bible, paper, and a writing utensil (this could be anything from mechanical pencils to fun pen packs)!
I Love Bible Journaling but I Can’t Hand Letter
Hand lettering is what most people get hung up on when it comes to Bible Journaling. What if I told you that you could take a word written in cursive and turn it into a beautifully hand lettered word? Well you can! In my Bible Journaling for Beginner’s Quick Start Guide I provide a step-by-step tutorial on how to hand letter in three easy steps. There are even practice pages so that you can practice for yourself. Did I mention this guide is completely free? You have to check it out!
Download my FREE Bible Journaling Quick Start Guide
Whether you’re just getting started with Bible Journaling or are looking for some inspiration my Bible Journaling for Beginner’s Quick Start Guide is beneficial no matter where you find yourself in your Bible Journaling journey. This free guide will give you a better understanding of your why for getting started. It will also show you a variety of supplies you can use to journal with. My favorite part of this guide is the free practice pages I mentioned earlier that are included to help you improve your hand lettering techniques. Just head here on my website and enter your email to get the free guide for yourself! I hope you’re able to use your creativity and this guide as a tool for prayer, worship, and scripture memory to strengthen your faith journey and reduce stress.
]]>Precious friend, I am reminding myself that no matter the season I find myself in, I can find rest, comfort and even happiness in the precious promises from Psalm 23. A sweet sigh of relief washes over me when I read the words, “Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me ALL the days of my life”.
HE is The Good Shepherd.
I am His beloved sheep and HE is my beloved Shepherd. I pray you can find comfort, rest and reassurance from this Psalm. And that you can find JOY in knowing that His sheep, no matter the season, have the secret of happy life, death and eternity.
]]>Not only is this verse the inspiration for one of my lamb paintings, it is also the inspiration for our March Encouragement Kit. We’ve made products featuring the lamb artwork with this precious verse as reminders for our hearts. I pray we can all surround ourselves with these powerful words of Truth. For me personally, these truth-filled words are a promise that I’m clinging to tightly!
I have a soft spot in my heart for sheep. I save pictures of them on my phone; I follow Instagram accounts about sheep; I love stories about sheep; I create paintings of sheep… I relate to sheep. I’m all too familiar with many of their characteristics. I all too often have shared their tendency to follow blindly. I am well acquainted with being stubborn, vulnerable, needy and easily stuck. And, I too, am in great need of a shepherd. Does this sound like you too?
The entire chapter of Psalm 23 is probably one of the best known chapters of the Bible, and for good reason! It addresses every season of our life and includes the secrets to happiness!
I would like to share a quote from the Believer’s Bible Commentary.
J.R. Littlepond’s outline is hard to improve upon:
The secret of a happy life - every need supplied.
- The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. -
The secret of a happy death - every fear removed.
- Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for You are with me. -
The secret of a happy eternity - every desire fulfilled.
- Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. -
“Surely if He is really mine, and I am His, then I have everything in Him!”
“Escorted through all of life by God’s goodness and mercy, we reach the Father’s house at last, our eternal dwelling place.”
Precious friend, I am reminding myself that no matter the season I find myself in, I can find rest, comfort and even happiness in the precious promises from Psalm 23. A sweet sigh of relief washes over me when I read the words, “Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me ALL the days of my life”.
HE is The Good Shepherd.
I am His beloved sheep and HE is my beloved Shepherd. I pray you can find comfort, rest and reassurance from this Psalm. And that you can find JOY in knowing that His sheep, no matter the season, have the secret of happy life, death and eternity.
One of our best sellers, our flour sack towels, is the most asked about of the classic products here at From the Heart Art. We are often asked...
I am here to give you three creative ways to use our beautiful flour sack towels!
Decoratively, Intentionally & Dutifully!
]]>I am here to give you three creative ways to use our beautiful flour sack towels!
The first is... DECORATIVELY!
Whether you're simply refreshing your home decor for a new season, or you're gearing up for the Christmas holidays! Our flour sack towels are the perfect addition to your decor, either stylized in a wooden tray or hanging in a bathroom.
We have so many designs to choose from that are good for any style home decor, from bright floral to Southern-themed to joyful fruit!
All of our towels are 28 x 29-inches, soft-white 100% cotton and made in the USA from Indian fabric. It is a soft, low-lint, hemmed, medium weight towel. All of our towels come tied with a color-coordinating ribbon to give it a special touch!
Another way to use our flour sack towels is... INTENTIONALLY!
Use them for what they were created for! A towel! Like I said earlier, you could hang in a bathroom to dry off your hands or keep one in the kitchen to wipe up messes and spills. They are very durable and can be washed in the washing machine too!
Plus, the eye-catching original designs on each of our towels are enough to make you stop to take a closer look. And get a wonderful scriptural reminder to refresh your day!
A final way to use our flour sack towels is... DUTIFULLY!
Sometimes in the fast pace of life, we forget what our purpose is! And it does not take much effort or much time to share the good news of our Good Father.
So the next time you're baking bread for a friend (and yes, you can use our flour sack towels to cover the rising dough! We have done it!) Just remember you are being a wonderful servant of God by serving others. Or if you are in need of a gift idea, we've got you covered! What a beautiful way to share the truth and love of God with our towels! Most have a verse or phrase from a hymn on them and they make great gifts!
The best news... all flour sack towels are 20% off right now! So now that you know HOW to use them, you should put these ideas into practice and get some for yourself! Or gift someone those scriptural reminders to brighten their day! We would love to help you pick one out, but I'm sure you will find one out of all of our designs!
]]>I have been blessed to share beauty with truth-filled words of encouragement through my artwork for more than twenty years. But in all honesty, this monthly Encouragement Kit — Lemonade Reminders — was born out of a stress-filled big batch of lemons!
The Kit became the beautiful result of a big stack of misprinted calendar art pages + a LOT of prayer + a calling to encourage women with scripture reminders + an open heart to try something new!
]]>I have been blessed to share beauty with truth-filled words of encouragement through my artwork for more than twenty years. But in all honesty, this monthly Encouragement Kit — Lemonade Reminders — was born out of a stress-filled big batch of lemons!
The Kit became the beautiful result of a big stack of misprinted calendar art pages + a LOT of prayer + a calling to encourage women with scripture reminders + an open heart to try something new!
It wasn’t until we shipped out our first batch of 2021 Words Worth Remembering calendars that we realized there was an error. It was a humbling experience, and often painful, but we worked through it and made it right.
Through prayer and the wisdom of God, I overcame a hard situation, gained the opportunity to re-evaluate some ways of doing things, and came up with the idea for Lemonade Reminders. It is a monthly reminder for me, that God truly DOES use ALL things for our good and His glory!
Like most people, I encounter continuous obstacles and challenges. Many of them don’t have an instant resolution or relief, and some days it feels like the struggle will never end. This monthly kit is meant to bring a fresh refill of hope and encouragement to women like me and you. Beautiful artwork with reminders of Scripture Truth to surround ourselves with; wearable and shareable Reminders.
Friend, we cannot pour from an empty cup! We are each surrounded by people who need encouragement. We must BE encouraged in order to SHARE encouragement. We always include enough for you to surround yourself with and then have some to share with the people along your path. Equipping you to plant Seeds of Encouragement everywhere you go! And that’s why we keep making these Kits!
“Not Shaken” just might be my favorite theme to date! We always use our yearly Words Worth Remembering calendar as the theme for each month’s design and verse. The day that I had set aside to work on the artwork for the February shirt, I “just happened” to read a daily devotional that just “happened” to include the verse Isaiah 54:10 which speaks of this very theme! My heart did a few jumping jacks in praise to the Lord. He truly does care about all the little details!
Both of these verses reminded me of a statement someone from Victorious Christian Living made to me. It was a long time ago, but it greatly impacted my perspective on my life circumstances that it has stuck with me.
This statement gave me the visual of a river stream with a large rock firmly in its center. Sometimes the water is rushing violently, and at other times it is peaceful and calm, but the rock always remains in the same position.
Personally, life circumstances around me are almost always shaking violently. However, absolutely NOTHING can SHAKE me loose from my POSITION, which is firmly in HIS grip or from my Identity, who I am IN Him. I am HIS redeemed daughter, safe and secure, saved by grace.
And as stated in Isaiah 54:10, “MY covenant of peace WILL NOT be shaken, says your compassionate Lord”. Because HE and HIS promises are UNshakable, as a follower of Christ, I am safe and secure and UNshakable. In scripture, the right hand speaks of: Power, Safety, Honor, Pleasure, Favor, Support.
Throughout the six years at Bluebelle we have been able to service hundreds of our local friends and customers, and also gain many new followers from across the country that found us while shopping at this local mercantile!
But... Change can be hard! Even a “good” change can feel hard because of the uncertainty of what’s ahead. I have a peace in the midst of the uncertainty. A peace that the world does not give. I can sense the Lord redirecting my attention and burning it deeper into my heart to continue moving in the direction of teaching women how to use their creativity to strengthen their faith, to tell their story and as a form of stress relief. Pray for me to hear clearly and to have the courage to obey each step!
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I’m so thankful for the patient man I call my husband! We did so well that we quickly moved to a larger space, then moved again, before finally landing in our current large space in the front of the store!
Throughout the six years at Bluebelle we have been able to service hundreds of our local friends and customers, and also gain many new followers from across the country that found us while shopping at this local mercantile!
I’m so thankful for Carla and the Bluebelle staff for all they do to make Bluebelle a wonderful place to shop! It has been such a blessing to me and From the Heart Art.
So why move?
It was definitely a hard decision to make! It has taken me a year to get to the point where I could actually pull the trigger and say we are going to close our space. Bluebelle has a special place in my heart!
Since 2020, it feels like our business has been in a constant state of re-assessing, re-adjusting, and pivoting; and then repeating the process all over again. Constantly looking for ways to streamline, downsize, and be more efficient has become a daily necessity in order to continue to serve our customers. All while trying to stay ahead of the rising costs of our supplies so that we can continue to pay our amazing team and have a profit. In all honesty, some days it’s mind-boggling and very overwhelming. It has become a vehicle to drive me to the foot of the cross and desperately dependant on the Lord for guidance for each decision… which is a good thing!
Since it has become harder and harder for us to keep up with our retail spaces we made the decision to close the space at the Auburn Mall, and will be closing our space at Bluebelle at the end of January 2023. We are holding a LARGE “Moving Sale” at the Bluebelle store through the end of January! I invite you to go visit our space and take advantage of 55% off the majority of products in our space! It will be worth the drive!
I am excited to let you know that Bluebelle is planning to partner with us to continue offering a small selection of our products in their store. I would love to have a retail partner in the Opelika/Auburn area to give our local friends a place to shop. Until then, if you are local to the Opelika/Auburn area, please order online because you can always choose “local pickup” if you are within driving distance of our warehouse.
Change can be hard! Even a “good” change can feel hard because of the uncertainty of what’s ahead. I have a peace in the midst of the uncertainty. A peace that the world does not give. I can sense the Lord redirecting my attention and burning it deeper into my heart to continue moving in the direction of teaching women how to use their creativity to strengthen their faith, to tell their story and as a form of stress relief. Pray for me to hear clearly and to have the courage to obey each step!
I appreciate you more than words could ever express! Many blessings to you!
]]>When I asked Pam about this design, she recalled painting the bird first, then searching for a hymn to go with it. The black and white bird resembles a black-capped chickadee, which is in fact a songbird.
She then researched the backstory of this particular hymn and after reading about it, just soaked in the fact that suffering and sorrow is not new! People have been walking through it since the Garden. There have been countless people who God has worked through in the midst of great sorrow as they used words and songs to process their pain and write of His faithfulness in the midst of their storm... and there are countless more people who have come after them and are continuing to receive the blessing of their honesty and obedience. God continues to use their stories for our good and His glory! This gives tremendous HOPE!
Just like the bird keeps singing with hopes of his future days, and just like Bridgers wrote in his hymn, we can keep singing knowing Jesus is always with us! In all of life's ebb and flows!
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The design for January's Encouragement Kit is based off of the hymn called "Keeps Me Singing As I Go" by Luther Bridgers. It was first published in 1910 when Luther Bridgers was working as an ordained minister of the gospel of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Bridgers penned several hymns, but this one is said to be his most famous.
The story of the composition of the hymn is disputed. One version says that while Bridgers was preaching the gospel at a conference in Kentucky, he learned of the deaths of his wife and three children in a fire that destoroyed his father in law's house.
It is said that with tears in his eyes he expressed his faith in the Lord by penning the words of this hymn. The Lord kept him singing even during this unspeakable sorrow.
When I asked Pam about this design, she recalled painting the bird first, then searching for a hymn to go with it. The black and white bird resembles a black-capped chickadee, which is in fact a songbird.
She then researched the backstory of this particular hymn and after reading about it, just soaked in the fact that suffering and sorrow is not new. People have been walking through it since the Garden. There have been countless people who God has worked through in the midst of great sorrow as they used words and songs to process their pain and write of His faithfulness in the midst of their storm... and there are countless people who have come after them who are continuing to receive the blessing of their honesty and obedience. God continues to use their stories for our good and His glory!
Just like the bird keeps singing with hopes of his future days, and just like Bridgers wrote in his hymn, we can keep singing knowing Jesus is always with us! In all of life's ebb and flows!
We have put this design on all of the products in the January Encouragement Kits, including an *exclusive* 15 ounce ceramic mug. Just like with all of our encouragement kits, we want you to use the products in the kits not only for their intended purpose, but to share encouragement with others. There are multiples of some products in the kits so that you can spread seeds of Truth with others!
If you are interested in receiving (or gifting!) monthly refills of encouragement, we would love to have you join our Lemonade Reminders family. We offer several options for our Encouragement Kits, but all are filled with God's Word, Truth and Love that we encourage you to share. You can see all of our options on our website here!
Albert, S. (n.d.). He keeps me singing hymn story and lyrics – lyrics, videos and stories behind hymns. Lyrics, Videos And Stories Behind Hymns. Retrieved December 27, 2022, from https://christianmusicandhymns.com/2019/09/he-keeps-me-singing-hymn-story-and.html
]]>I can remember anticipating the yearly arrival of TV programs like “The Charlie Brown Christmas Special”, “Frosty the Snowman”, and “The Grinch”. These beloved cartoons were a precursor to something even more exciting.
I can remember always spending Christmas Eve with my Memaw and Grandaddy. I can remember being small enough to lay up in the back window of our car with my eyes glued on the night sky as my Daddy drove us to Memaw’s house for our Christmas gathering. I can remember thinking if I strained my eyes hard enough I might see signs of a sleigh and reindeer. I remember the wonder and amazement of the brilliant shining stars in the dark night sky and feeling great hope that Santa would remember we would be at Memaw’s house Christmas morning.
I can remember being a little older and the excitement of the class Christmas parties. Wondering who had drawn my name and hoping the recipient of my gift would be pleased. As much as I loved the Christmas cookies and candy, the parties were just a precursor to what I was really anticipating. Do you remember your class parties?
I can remember lying on my back under the Christmas tree looking up into the lights woven throughout the tall tree. In my early years, it was a silver tree with one of those spotlights… the kind that had a rotating cover changing colors as it rotated. I loved watching the tree change colors with the rotation of the lights. I can remember the first time we had a real Christmas tree… with the lights wrapped around its green branches. I still love the lights on a tree. But as much as I loved those twinkling lights, it was really longing for what would soon be under the tree.
These memories are precious to me. It reminds me of the little girl with a big imagination, full of hope and expectation and belief. Christmas Hope, Expectation and Belief aren’t limited to childhood. They aren’t even limited to our lifetime. Centuries ago people experienced Christmas Hope, Expectation and Belief. They also watched for the signs that their hopes would be fulfilled by a Savior. The dark night sky, the stars lighting the way, the celebrations were precursors to their dreams becoming a reality with the birth of the King of Kings.
As I was thinking about this, I realized another similarity. Right now, all around me, people are waiting. Right now, all around you, there are people waiting. Maybe you're one of them. Anticipation, hope, expectation, are still very much alive right now in our lifetime. There are so many people anticipating their dreams to become a reality. Whether it's longing for a baby, or a new job, or a spouse, or a marriage… watching the “the night sky for a sign of reindeer and a sleigh with gifts” fills their days with wonder and excitement that maybe today is the day.
There are so many people in a hard season of waiting through suffering. Longing for relief, longing for an answer, longing for comfort, longing for an end to the season. The waiting is long and tiring. Maybe that’s you and you feel alone. I pray this Christmas season of waiting will bring you comfort in knowing Emmanuel is WITH you! I pray you can be wrapped in HIS arms of COMFORT. I pray your eyes will be enlightened to see the light twinkling in the dark sky is HOPE. I pray you are reminded that centuries ago, there were people just like you, waiting for relief… and IT came!
IT didn’t come in the way they expected. IT didn’t come in the time they expected.
But HE came! AND HE IS COMING AGAIN.
So whether you are watching the night sky with wonder and excitement or you are in a long season of waiting through suffering… PUT your HOPE in Emmanuel. Hang on to Christmas HOPE. HE won’t let you down!
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Check out how our monthly Zoom Gathering didn’t go as planned, BUT quickly shifted into very impromptu encouraging conversation between the two Pam’s sharing how they try to invest in themselves spiritually during such a busy time of year!
Do have ways that work for you? Please Share your ideas in the comments.
Click here to read more about how YOU can join Lemonade Creative Hearts too.
]]>I’ve been painting and selling my artwork for over 24 years. I sell my original paintings and also a large variety of products we’ve made using my artwork. We have shops across the U.S. carrying products that we’ve made with my artwork. I’ve also licensed some of my designs to manufacturers for Kirklands and Hobby Lobby stores.
Throughout these 24 years, God has used my creativity as a tool to help me process the things happening in my life and as a tool to express my faith. HE can do the same for you! I would love to show you some of the techniques I’ve learned along my journey. I find so much joy in exploring how to give new life and purpose to things like pages from discarded books and other bits and pieces of what might look like trash.
I have a new Mini-workshop I would love for you to try out just in time for Christmas!! Have you ever turned an old cereal box into a beautiful ornament? Click here to check it out!!
You can get a taste of what Mixed Media is all about in this Mini- Workshop! See the photo below of what I will teach you to create!
How can the Mixed Media Painting of the Month Club ( and most of my Workshops! ) help you?!
I will share how I’ve learned to use layers and color to give life and dimension to my paintings. I would love to introduce you to the joy of using your God given creativity plus found objects to create beautiful art. I think you might even begin seeing the world in a brand new way! Once you get started you will see how it helps strengthen & feed your Creativity. You will begin eyeing containers, paper, other bits and pieces normally tossed in the trash, thinking of all the things you might create with them!
Mixed Media is my favorite creative technique! I can show you how we can take old objects that some folks might have discarded at a thrift store, and give them new life and purpose by adding some basic art supplies combined with our own God given creativity and make a beautiful piece of art for your own home or to give to a friend.
Here are some of the goals I want to accomplish with the Mixed Media Club & various Workshops:
- I will guide you in using your own God-given creativity to make beautiful art. Yes! You are creative, you just might need a little help uncovering it or learning how to use it
-Did you know your artwork can tell a story? I will show you how to take simple things like old book pages, scrapbook paper, old sewing patterns, maps, bits of string & yarn, buttons & beads and other objects and use them in your artwork to help tell your story... Maybe it’s a story you will share with the people admiring art, but it is possibly just a story that only your heart knows is hidden beneath the layers.
- I’ve been painting for over 30 years, I would love to share with you some of the tips and techniques that I’ve learned along the way. We will talk about paint brushes, how to choose a color palette, how to use mediums to add dimension to your art.
If you are interested in receiving more information about how YOU can join Mixed Media Painting of the Month Club Click here!
Back in October, we hosted a 3 day workshop where we painted pumpkins for Fall! I was astounded to see how many women joined and participated and ENCOURAGED one another. The community that was created by women using their God Given Creativity to create beautiful artwork was so wonderful, and the sharing of tips and exchange of excitement when another person posted their new painting! Just look at some of the beautiful paintings these ladies created!
That was such a fun workshop and it turned into a small community of women who are now a part of the Founding Members Mixed Media Painting of the Month Club!!
If you are interested in receiving more information about how YOU can join Mixed Media Painting of the Month Club Click here!
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6x6 Loved Bouquet Tile, an Easel, PLUS a Mini Cook Pad
What a great gift bundle! And perfect for the that someone who really portrays the phrase "Kiss the Cook"! Did you know all of our tiles can be used as hot plates? It's true! Our tiles can withstand heat up to 400 degrees, plus they come with care instructions on the back. Visit this set on our website here.
2023 Planner & Pen Set
2023 is approaching fast... are you prepared for the New Year?
We love this beautiful planner with brand new artwork on the cover! Our Lemonade Reminder subscribers can look forward to receiving this in their December box! But we're letting non-subscribers enjoy this useful planning tool for a limited time! Shop this set on our website here.
Flour Sack Towel, 6x6 Tile, Easel & Ornament Set
Look at how beautiful this Wise Men Still Seek Him Design is on all of our beloved classic products! We have three other options of this gift bundle that are also special & meaningful Christmas designs! Shop them all here!
The Winter Cove Gift Box Set
We love our Winter Cove Collection, and we thought you might too, with this specially curated gift set! Shop it here!
Gift Subscriptions
Not ready to commit, but want to see what it's about? We have a One Time Gift-Subscription Purchase Offer now available! We'd love for you to give it a test drive! The perfect gift that will keep on giving even after Christmas is over. Click here for more information.
The theme for this new Lemonade Creative month is very precious to me. I love spending time slowly reflecting on the Christmas story. I love anything that helps redirect my focus back to the Gift of Christ. That means, I love holiday movies, devotionals, scriptures… anything about the True Christmas Story. Oh, and I love nativity scenes too!
I love the season of Advent and the guidance it gives us to redirect our focus to Christ and the idea of waiting.
My family has a tradition that we started when our daughters were tiny. Before opening any gifts, we always sit in a circle with a wooden Nativity Set. My husband will read scripture and the girls would “act out” the story using the wooden figures. There are so many precious memories linked to that old wooden set!
What family holiday traditions do you have? We would love to know!
The From the Heart Team brainstormed holiday shirt designs and we all came to agreement on the design in the one pictured above. Along with the Adonai Manger design, we just wanted to express the True Story of Jesus Christ. We are all guilty of being swept up with gift-giving, house decorating and merrily baking away during the holidays, that the reason of the holiday season slips our mind.
Just like every Encouragement Kit that is shipped out through the year, we hope you will use yours as encouragement to others, especially during this busy & very stressful season. We encourage you to give away the "seeds" of encouragement to share the truth of the holiday season!
We also know that most people are gearing up for a new year, so part of this month's Encouragement Kit is to help relieve some of that anxiety. We have included a monthly planner for you! With pages each month for you to prioritize your goals and to write out a "brain dump", as we like to call it. We just hope that you know we are always thinking of you and praying for you and your needs!
We hope you have enjoyed this years worth of Encouragement Kits. We are so excited and expectant about what's coming for 2023. And we also hope you know that we are so very thankful for you! We love each and every one of you!
]]>"I heard SO many stories giving God glory for helping [customers] overcome adversity, so THANK YOU to the overcomers! Each [person] had a different unique story but the same common theme... determination to give God glory, to count each day as a gift with a grateful heart despite the pain and loss. I needed that reminder each time!"
Overall, I think we all had a good time! We all share common themes with each other that we love God, and we love Miss Pam and her ministry! We are extremely grateful to be able to do what we do and share God's word with others through the beautiful products that we have! So thank you Christmas Village! We hated to say goodbye!
]]>I don't know that I had ever heard of Christmas Village until I started working for Miss Pam in January of this year, and boy was I surprised! If you don't know what Christmas Village is, let me share from a first-timer's perspective. Two floors, rows and rows and rows of vendors selling their homemade goodies! Food, decor, art, gadgets, clothes, jewelry and anything else you could think of. My mind was blown!
We had our own booth to set up and sell our products from! So I put on my retail pants and got to work for 5 days!
I asked my coworkers that also worked the retail show what they're favorite part about Christmas Village was.
Since this was my first time doing the Christmas Village show, I thoroughly enjoyed the holiday spirit, the buzz of everyone shopping and getting giddy about the holidays!
Miss Faith, who is always willing to lend her helping hands for events like these said her favorite part of this show was seeing "all the loyal customers who come year after year and just rave over Pam's artwork. And how much the verses on the designs means to those who buy them."
This was the second time that Miss Tammy worked Christmas Village and she had lots of tips for me! She was most excited about all of the food vendors! There was fancy chocolate dipped apples, all flavors of coffee cakes, and so much peanut brittle!
Grace is our show "veteran" who helps style everything for our set up and displays, so she has been attending Christmas Village for several years. "I love finally matching people's names with their faces. You see people's names on emails and orders and Facebook, but you've never seen their face... it's like meeting a friend for the first time. It's a real person with a real story. Not just a robot on the computer. It makes it that much more special to meet someone and then continue to interact with them."
And of course, Miss Pam, who has been selling her products at Christmas Village for over 20 years has so many favorite parts about attending shows like this. "I heard SO many stories giving God glory for helping [customers] overcome adversity, so THANK YOU to the overcomers! Each [person] had a different unique story but the same common theme... determination to give God glory, to count each day as a gift with a grateful heart despite the pain and loss. I needed that reminder each time!"
Overall, I think we all had a good time! We all share common themes with each other that we love God, and we love Miss Pam and her ministry! We are extremely grateful to be able to do what we do and share God's word with others through the beautiful products that we have! So thank you Christmas Village! We hated to say goodbye!
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We have THREE new designs for Christmas that we are so excited to present to you! These designs are officially launched and you can shop them NOW in our Christmas Collection on our website.
The new designs are Wise Men, Go Tell It On The Mountain and Nativity Snow Globe. These designs will be available in all our classic product options, which includes tiles, flour sack towels, prints and Christmas Cards.
We are even MORE EXCITED to launch our NEW Christmas Ornaments!
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We have THREE new designs for Christmas that we are so excited to present to you! These designs are officially launched and you can shop them NOW in our Christmas Collection on our website.
The new designs are Wise Men, Go Tell It On The Mountain and Nativity Snow Globe. These designs will be available in all our classic product options, which includes tiles, flour sack towels, prints and Christmas Cards.
We are even MORE EXCITED to launch our NEW Christmas Ornaments!
We have two different ornament options! Our circular ornaments are REVERSIBLE, with a different design on each side. These come in three different design combinations. And our square ornaments are beautiful with hand-crafted embellishments on each one! These are only in three different designs, two of which are brand new designs.
We are currently selling tons of our Christmas products, including new designs at Christmas Village at the BJCC in Birmingham. We will also be selling tshirts, calendars, shareables, notecards and plenty of our popular designs on all of our classic products. We are ready to sell our inventory to make room for new products as we gear up for the New Year! Today is the first day of the show, and it will go until Sunday, November 6th. For more information on Christmas Village and how you can come to it, click on this link.
If you are local to the area, we would LOVE to see you and say HI! Craft shows have been such a huge part of From the Heart Art and we are just blessed be able to come to Christmas Village this year!
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We are including several products with our Fullness of Joy Path design since that is our theme design and verse, which will help you decorate for Fall.
But as we prepare to usher in Christmas, we wanted to include extra presents for our subscribers! One of the products is a flour sack towel with one our newest Christmas designs, the Wise Men. We are most excited about the reversible ornament with the Adonai Manger and Names of Jesus on it.
]]>But we realized that November is also the start of the Holiday Season for most people, which is also our busiest season at From the Heart Art. As we are coming to the end of Fall and heading into Winter, we are just consistently praying to God for guidance and to keep us on the right path as a small business.
We are including several products with our Fullness of Joy Path design since that is our theme design and verse, which will help you decorate for Fall.
But as we prepare to usher in Christmas, we wanted to include extra presents for our subscribers! One of the products is a flour sack towel with one our newest Christmas designs, the Wise Men. We are most excited about the reversible ornament with the Adonai Manger and Names of Jesus on it.
Then to follow along with our Lemonade Creative Scripture Lettering Courses, we wanted to have a product that specified who we are in Christ; a Daughter of the King! So Pam created a design for our t-shirt with the reminder of who we are in Christ!
So that is the story behind our November Encouragement Kit, we've just split it up because we wanted to put the final touches on the Fall season, but also start sprinkling in some Holiday cheer for you!
We also have an *exclusive* item coming in our December Encouragement Kits to get you ready for the new year! It begins with a P and ends with an R and is good for planning... Any guesses on what it could be!?
If you are interested in joining this exclusive monthly subscription kit, and getting a refill of encouragement every month, then we would love to have you! Click on the link to get more information, https://fromtheheartart.com/pages/lemonade-reminders.
]]>The best thing about using products like these to decorate is that they are also USEFUL! I've basically created my own little space to enjoy. And this part is my favorite. Now I can pull out a journal, notecards, and our mini shareables. And enjoy some quiet time to do something that is a stress-reliever for me, writing.
Being surrounded in a space with scripture and God's Word makes any daunting task enjoyable. Because I know God is always looking out for me, always there for me, no matter what I am doing. Whether it's on my knees asking for help or asking for help trying to write out a grocery list.
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So I used pieces from our most recent Lemonade Reminders Encouragement kit to decorate a centerpiece for a table. And I just want to show you how easy it is! Using the Blue Pumpkin design cutting board, the Gather Pumpkins 5x7 print, the Cook Menu/Grocery pad and shareables, I've created several "mini" table-scapes.
Simplistic Idea
Above is an extremely easy and simple idea to create a center-piece for a table!
There are pumpkins at every single grocery store these days! So grab some of your favorite colors, grab the wonky looking pumpkins, grab all shapes and sizes so you can use them for table decor. Get your favorite platter or decorative tray (no need to buy one, unless you absolutely want to!) and place the pumpkins however you want.
And make the beautiful Blue Pumpkin cutting board the focal point! Prop it up with something or use a plate/tile stand to keep it upright. [Then just grab it when you need to cut something!] This is all you'll need to keep it simple, yet elegant!
Middle of the Road Option
Or if you like a mid-size amount of decoration, maybe this arrangement above is more your style! Keeping the cutting board as a main piece, I've just added a 5x7 Gather Pumpkins print in a picture frame and one of our Little Shareables in a mini-stand. This gives the decor more colors, more variety of height and makes it a little bigger. Depending on the size of your space, this could be what you'd like!
The Grandest Center-Piece of them All
Or if you're like me and you want EVERYTHING displayed... you have my permission to include it all! My mom tells me all the time I have too much on my table tops and countertops. And that I'll "just have to dust everything all the time". But look how beautiful it is, Debra!
The best thing about using products like these to decorate is that they are also USEFUL! I've basically created my own little space to enjoy. And this part is my favorite. Now I can pull out a journal, notecards, and our mini shareables. And enjoy some quiet time to do something that is a stress-reliever for me, writing.
I love writing. I love writing in my journals, I love writing cards of encouragement and thank you to others. [Who doesn't love getting personal mail? Cause this girl still does!] And our mini shareables have lines on the back of them to include a quick note of thanks or love to someone. I love the thought of giving someone something that will bring a smile to their face. And a lot of our products do that!
But when I need to get back to reality and the always defeating "What's for dinner?" question... I can still enjoy my table-scape and use the exclusive Cook Menu/Grocery pad to make a menu for the week and list off everything I need to buy from the store.
Being surrounded in a space with scripture and God's Word makes any daunting task enjoyable. Because I know God is always looking out for me, always there for me, no matter what I am doing. Whether it's on my knees asking for help or asking for help trying to write out a grocery list.
I am thankful for a God who is always near me, so close that I can call on Him at any time.
Before even starting the artwork for this 2023 calendar, I started asking the Lord what would HE want for us. Since He already knows what 2023 holds for us, I wanted Him to lead me to the verses that He knows we will need to be reminded of in the new year. I kept being drawn to the verses in the book of Psalm and to the time-tested old hymns! I asked the ladies on our Facebook page what did they want to see in the new calendar... I heard critters! So, guess what you will find in this 2023 calendar? Of course, some florals, but also critters with soft faces, sweet eyes and beautiful reminders from Psalms and hymns to point our attention to our Good Father. May He be glorified by the artwork I've created. And may you be encouraged by knowing Him even better in 2023.
Once the “Why” is established I move forward by choosing some color palettes and pulling out all the paints. It gets really messy as the painting begins!
After I’ve completed my paintings, the hard part begins in choosing which ones will stay. I always have more than I need and there are only 12 months, so some have to be put aside to use in other projects.
This little critter didn't make the cut, but one of his brothers did!
The verse selection requires even more prayerful pondering!
I went back through my journals and started making index cards for the verses that I noticed kept showing up in my journals. I finished with stacks of index cards of verses.
It's always so hard to choose only 12! I do this part prayerfully. I really don’t know who will end up with these calendars, nor do I know what they will need or want to be reminded of in 2023. This part also helps me experience a richer relationship with God.
The next step is matching the verses up to the designs. Once that process is complete it’s much easier to finish the calendar layout by assigning each month a design. There will be many proofs and edits before we finally have it ready to send to the printing company.
We kept the same design layout for this year’s calendar, so that at the end of each month you will have an 8x10 art print ready to frame in a standard frame! I love supporting other artists by buying their calendars and I really love the ones that have artwork that can be framed, so I wanted to be sure to do ours that way, too.
We are still taking pre-orders for our 2023 Psalms & Hymns Words Worth Remembering Calendars! We are expecting them to arrive any day now and are so excited! Have you ordered yours yet?
]]>Did you know your artwork can tell a story? I will show you how to take simple things like old book pages, scrapbook paper, old sewing patterns, maps, bits of string & yarn, buttons & beads and other objects and use them in your artwork to help tell your story.
We would love for you to join us for art class, for our Mixed Media Creative Hearts Workshop. Please don't let supplies be an obstacle! We want to help you as best as we can, but really we just want you to know that you can create beautiful art just like this as well! And be proud of it! I can't wait to have you join us!
]]>Want to join me in making a beautiful Fall art project, but don’t want to have to look for all your art supplies? Don’t worry, we’ve made it easy and gathered the supplies for you! We are having a Mixed Media Creative Hearts Workshop October 19th - 21st, and would love for you to join!
I will show you how to take simple things like old book pages, scrapbook paper, old sewing patterns, maps, bits of string & yarn, buttons & beads and other objects and use them in your artwork to help tell your story.
We have put together samplings of everything you need for making this project, and depending on how much you use you should have enough to do even more. So, enjoy using the supplies as you paint this project and if you like them, then buy more of those supplies and the colors you like to continue painting a patch full of Mixed Media Pumpkins! The Design traceable can be used over and over.
Supplies should never be an obstacle. Use your God-given creativity to make substitutions, use what you have on hand, or check out whatever is in the clearance aisle. Most of the items can be purchased through Amazon, Wal-Mart or any local craft stores, such as Michaels or Hobby Lobby.
But the good thing is, you may already have several of these items at your home. So don't stress about buying big bottles of product, knowing that you'll only use a little! I am a firm believer in "using what you have" for mixed media art. Random strands of ribbon, unused bottles of paint, scraps of scrapbook paper, pages from vintage books (such as old cookbooks or hymnals).
Here’s a kit we’ve curated with you in mind: