Tuesday, October 26, 2010

behind the scenes: be still

one of my true joys of owning & operating life verse design has been getting to know my treasured customers and their stories. each story of what my art means to you (or more like how GOD'S WORD has touched your life) touches me, so keep the stories coming.

last week, one of my favorite customers (actually a couple from arizona) requested a custom piece utilizing john's photography. i am always more than thrilled to do custom work, as i know it touches the client in a deeply personal way.

they chose the verse from psalm "be still and know that I am God."

a few years ago God called them out west to minister to the navajo people. they went from a fast paced suburbia life (sounds just like mine) out to a land where people literally stop to take in nature, just to enjoy it!

in john's own words:
"We came to Navajoland in the belief we were going to save Navajos. Instead, God used the Navajo to save us. The book won't be about how we helped the Navajo, but how the Navajo, their lives, their culture showed us God."


their words brought both tears to my eyes and conviction to my heart. the power of slowing down to just be, enjoy life, take in the wonder of nature, love people, listen with no agenda, and truly meditate on God, not to check off my to-do list or my little christian act of the day.

they have started a ministry center to help meet the needs of their friends. please check it out here to learn more about the beautiful navajo people and their hearts in ministry. please support them also!

i truly hope we get to someday meet so that i can take in this way of life even more.

grace & peace,
julie
p.s. funny story of the image: john said this ledge has a 700 foot vertical drop & that when he came across her just sitting & throwing stones over the edge, he got a bit freaked out, crawled out to her ON HIS BELLY, & she casually said, "i come here to think & it is very relaxing," so he slithered back to let her be. ha!

Monday, October 18, 2010

autumn portraits: LOVE



i have officially decided that autumn is my favorite season.

how i love exploring nature with the kids.

how i love the colors, smells, the crisp air, cozy clothing!

just had to share :)

SHOP REMINDER: now thru the end of october,
i am running a special in my shop:
buy any item & receive 1 FREE 4x6 matted Scripture
sepia toned image of your choice.
(good for sepia Scriptures only—limit 1 per customer)

great for stocking up for the upcoming holidays!

grace & peace,
julie

Monday, October 11, 2010

MORE! new contemporary art

here is the rest of my NEW contemporary designs (for now :)

i have more ideas in my head, but i need to gear up for my arts & crafts & holiday season of selling.

all art is now available in my shop.

get your holiday lists ready for some unique inspirational gifts
your loved ones will appreciate forever.

here is one example of how it looks framed.

grace & peace,
julie

Thursday, October 7, 2010

2010 FALL ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW SCHEDULE

Mark your calendars now for my fall arts & crafts fair schedule! i have greatly limited my shows this year, due to family obligations, but the shows i have chosen to participate are some of the best in the Chicago area:

BATAVIA MOTHER'S CLUB ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW
Saturday, October 16 from 9-3
Rotolo Middle School 1501 Raddant Road Batavia, IL
click HERE for more information

FRIEND'S LOCAL HOME PARTY
Friday, October 22 from 3-9
downtown Downers Grove, IL
email me if you are interested in the location

FROST & FRIENDS HOLIDAY SHOPPING EVENT
Friday, November 5 from 5-10 & Saturday, November 6 from 9-2
The Radisson Hotel 200 S. Bell School Road (near E. State & I-90) Rockford, IL 61108
click HERE for more information

MARMION FAMILY CHRISTMAS CRAFT SHOW
Saturday, November 27 from 9-4 and Sunday, November 28 from 10-2
Marmion Academy 1000 Butterfield Road Aurora, IL 60502
click HERE for more information

GINGERBREAD JUNCTION ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR
Saturday, December 4 from 9-3
Hill Middle School 1836 Brookdale Road Naperville, IL 60563
click HERE for more information

hope to see all of you locals there! please preview my shop & have your christmas list ready! i am so excited to debut my new line of contemporary art there!

grace & peace,
julie

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

i made it through

pumpkin poos turned 3 last week & started preschool today.

i was a crying mess.

my baby girl, off to school. all of the sudden, the time again has flown.

she qualified for preschool even after missing the september 1 age cut off, due to her speech and language "impairment". i realize i am much more protective of her than my other 2, as i know she cannot verbally communicate her needs or desires to others as a normal child can. (ok, now i am sitting here crying again).

it's been a long road and i just long for the day when we can have a real, heart to heart conversation, so i can know what goes on in that little sweet mind of hers and that i can understand everything she is trying to tell me.


her teacher said she did great & helped put my worries at rest.

this is just one more instance when God is stretching me with her life, forcing me to trust Him more and give it all to Him.

oh, i had to show the above pic, as i thought it is so funny that the backpack is almost as big as her! (but the little play backpacks don't hold squat, so i had to go with this one!)

here is the birthday invitation i created for her apple orchard "party"!
love it.

hope your fall has been great & i will soon enough post my arts & craft fair schedule for the rest of the year!

grace & peace,
julie