Artist Proof

 

We received a lovely gift for Christmas this year

 from our "middle" daughter. 

An original etching from Laura- the art teacher.

So I am learning about the terms.

 Etching- "An art etching is a printmaking technique where an image is "etched" into a metal plate using acid, creating grooves that hold ink which is then transferred onto paper when pressed, resulting in a printed artwork with the etched design; essentially, it's a method of creating prints by chemically "carving" a design into a metal plate."

OK, that sounds complicated and time consuming. 

So my delight in the gift of this project just went up a bit.

Then another term- Artist Proof.

"An artist's proof (AP) is a print that an artist makes to assess the quality of a print, or to make final adjustments before producing a limited edition."

OK, now that little AP at the bottom is kinda wow.

Laura said it was an intensive process 

and she learned ALOT.

A simple design- a beautiful gift.

Think this needs a frame.

Worship into the Week- December 2024

 Been slowing working through

 the readings of Advent and Christmas.

Time to do some great reflection without 

being hurried.

That is one of the things I am seeking to practice-

Living Unhurried.

One of the ways to step into UNHURRIED 

is to move beyond a calendar framework.

There are so many lectionary readings for this season of the year. 

I thought about picking and choosing,

 but when I took off the deadline that changed my process.

Finishing the Worship into the Week layouts

 right into 2025 was just right.

This year we are doing a Year in the Psalms 

at Visual Faith® Ministry and there were a lot of Psalm readings.

I even found a perfect Sally Beck image

 from the Christmas card she sent.

Pulled out the vintage Christmas stamps. 

 Found a 5 cent stamp from Canada.

Wonder what year that was?

Also added a Christmas stamp from 1963.

I still love using just magazine for the base layer for this journal.

This page is a cityscape turned upside down. 

Becomes very graphic.

So there is December 2024 Worship into the Week

Unhurried fashion.

Supplies:

VCY Worship Graphics

vcy-graphics-only-december-2024

Chalk highlights   Vintage stamps

Gel pens      Colored pencils

Magazine cutouts     Washi tape

Calendar Journaling- December 2024

 

A bit behind in posting and wanted to catch up

with sharing. Seems like things get a bit crowded 

into the end of the month of December. 

But, even if it is a bit later,

 it is good to conclude the end of Advent

 into the Christmas year.

 Then to cap it with Epiphany season.

So into 2025 I move-

 with devotional time, looking for words of grace,

and opportunities for connection with holy interruptions 

and divine appointments.

 

They Found the Studio

 

For better or worse.

There is alot going on when the #dengrandloves

 are in the house.

Moms, dads and Papa were taking turns 

with the groups outside on the new Razor Shuffles.

Gigi is cleaning up a meal 

and starting to prep for the next feeding.

On one particular day someone said,

"Where is Jonah?"

Then shortly after, "Where is Hadley?"

At the current ages, they kind of come and go in and out.

More challenging to get the head count

 for current numbers and where they are stationed.

Hard to look at the shoe and coat count to tell who is where.

As I walked downstairs to investigate I heard giggling.

In the studio.

My studio.

The room that somehow they have not found

 in the past ten years.

In the beginning, it just wasn't child safe with scissors, 

too many tiny things, and too much to keep out of reach.

We simply redirected them and got out another activity.

Then Jonah got to spend some extra time with Gigi last year 

with mom starting a part-time ministry position.

He learned about the punches and 

the paper packs that were "OK" to use.

He loves the "use whatever you want from this cart" motto.

He knows where the glue sticks are kept.

He was the perfect teacher for cousin Hadley.

I peeked in.

Quite busy. Lots of chatter.

"You guys doing OK?"

"Yes, we are playing office."

"You need any help?"

"No, Gigi, we got this."

So, I closed the door and left for half an hour.

Returned on a cycle about every half hour.

They were there for almost 3 hours.

(this photo was taken the next day after the mail person 

stuffed our mail in the front of the box)

Every few minutes we spotted Jonah dashing out

 of the house and running to the mailbox in his socks.

"What are you doing, Jonah?"

"Getting the letters to the mailbox, what do you think?"

 

Save your odd envelopes and gather some 

random pieces of paper in envelope packets. 

You can even just cut up junk mail. 

They will love it. It is the great recycle. 

Then stock up on Dollar Store glue sticks.

Add some child friendly scissors

 and a few paper punches.

You might get a block of time for some 

new year's sorting and organizing.

2024 wrap up

Lynn Canyon Park- Vancouver, British Columbia

Connie with sister-in-law Lois.

Some things just didn't get to the blog this year.

But, wanted to post a couple highlights.

 Our trip to Canada in September was a beautiful trip.

Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver

Beautiful Stanley Park in Vancouver

L to Right- John, brother David, David's wife Kathy,

 sister Lois and Connie

Van Deussen Gardens

 

Siblings-Time just hanging out telling stories.

We ended our trip with a train trip 

through the Canadian Rockies. 

Vancouver to Edmonton

Just stunning wildness and beauty.

A very fun experience. 

As this year comes to a close we give thanks 

for God's goodness in the care and recovery

 of son in law Daniel. 

I haven't written much of this story here, 

but it the central part of our lives for 2024 since Aug 10.

Lord, if it be your will continue 

to restore all senses to Daniel. 

Give them the strength to go through

 the changes and adaptations.

Bring Dan  and Jess closer together

 in their life walk and closer to you.

In all of the events, people and challenges of 2024,

 we give you thanks and praise 

for walking with us on this journey.

Bless our family in 2025.

 

Soul-Tending Reading 2024

The Soul-Tending Reading List for 2024

His Unfolding Grace- Peterson

Sacred Rest- Cheryl Wunderlich

The Living Reminder- Henri Nouwen

How the Light Shines Through- Lakes

A Passion for the Impossible - 

The Life of Lilias Trotter- Rockness

Reflections on the Psalms- C.S. Lewis

Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Grace- VanBuskirk

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry- Comer

Jesus, Be in Me- Hornsby

An Unhurried Leader- Failing

Called 2Be- Guse

Restless Devices- Wong

New Morning Mercies- Tripp

These books made it on the reading stack this year.

I read them.

I have a stack this big that did not even get cracked open.

But, they were on the stack.

Good intentions are just that.

I am thankful for the arrangement of life

 that makes reading important. 

At this stage in life I am allowed

 to tote a book around all the time.

But, I rarely get big swatches of reading time, 

so this is what happens with snippets of reading.

SO..  if you think you don't have time for reading...

give it a try. 

Piece together 10 minutes here and there.

Here is the page that has the last 12 years of reading stacks.

soul-tending-reading-2012.html

Gordon is 8

 

Birthday Breakfast for Gordon.

(The Shark)

Family Birthday outing with cousins, 

Aunt Sara and Papa and Gigi.

We went to see Mufasa.

Then time for make your own pizza.

Gift opening included a remote control car,

and a megaphone.

This is a fun new game.

We learned about this Bruder set. German made.

Lots of details.

Can see why Gordon sees this 

special toy as really cool.

• Bruder uses high-grade plastics used in real automobiles.
• They are manufactured in Germany to ensure quality.
• European Union countries have stricter guidelines for factories.

Sister Hadley thinks it is pretty cool too.

Shark cupcakes for the win 

for a very fun gathering for the 

birthday celebration of Gordon.

May the Lord bless your next year with good health

 and growth in grace and kindness.