What I made for her. What I made for me.

This is what I made Avia this year for Christmas, minus the headband I already shared because her brother opened early for her. She loves unicorns. I embroidered this shirt for. She said, "I love it even if the unicorn does look kind of fat."

I think the chub is cute myself. The rainbow hair was fun to sew. I wish it showed up better in the picture. Need a new camera.

She got her ears pierced earlier this year. Cute girly fabric + embroidery hoop = perfectly cute earring holder. 

I just finished my Christmas present to myself. I didn't start it until after Christmas but that is beside the point.  

My friend gave me this hoodie years ago. It came to her from some mystery source. Less of a mystery. More that I do not remember. She gave it to me because she didn't like it. I never like it either because there was a big pimp, gold-toothed, skull on the front. You read that right. Complete with the feathered hat and all. 

I was going to get rid of it but I've always liked its fit and feel. I decided to up-cycle it. I was going to include a before picture but I didn't really want to put pimp skull on my page. 

It was a fun project, good practice, and a little shameless self-promotion never hurt anyone...maybe...I think...hope. 

Avia called it my uniform hoodie for my company. The husband said it is very "me" which it is and I hope that is a good thing. I call it warm.

The Girl in the Lane Shop

Words From My Wonderful Snow Day

Coffee 

Prayers

Socks

Kiddos

Books

Movies

Tea

Soup

Naps

Painting

 Mittens

Friends

Snowballs

Sledding

Laughing

Cold faces

Fire

Popcorn

Chocolate

Lap cats

Goodnight kisses

Evening stitches

I know it is early in our relationship but I like you 2014.

The Girl in the Lane Shop

New Year

I have been thinking about new year's resolutions and came to the conclusion that I don't really have any. I have goals but they are nothing new. I guess I hesitate to make new year's resolutions because I want to stay open to what God has in mind for me this year. I hesitate to say, "I will do this thing by such and such a date" because maybe that is not what I am supposed to do. Too often I have done what I am not supposed to do and maybe this year can be different. 

As I mentioned, I do have goals and I know I need to be intentional about my actions or no progress will ever happen. The thing is I need those actions to come from daily openness to what God wants me to do. Only when I am intentional about doing what He intends for me to do can I find any achievement. I guess my new year's resolution is and always will be taking the next little baby step He shows me.  

One way or another there will be pretty and colorful creations to come. I have so many ideas. One of my goals is having some sort of success with my art before December 31st, 2014. What does success look like? That is a hard one. Consistent sales would be nice of course. Really though success would not be worrying about it. Success is the joy found in creating what He wants me to make. Life is short. Money comes and money goes. I just want to make the images He brings to my brain. It is how I was created to worship.

Do not get me wrong, I am broken. I do the wrong thing and I do worry as well. I will keep on creating even if all I can do is draw with a stick in the sand. I love to make and if I can live off of that someday I would be pleased as punch but I will create even if I cannot make a dime off of it. My point is I don't want to worry about how I will make the dimes. I just want to make the art.

The Girl in the Lane Shop

First treasury

I created my first ever Etsy treasury. I've also started a list of my favorite shops and blogs. Give them a look.

Alright now back to work on my own creations. 

The Girl in the Lane Shop

The caged bird handkerchief

I finished this sweet little hankie on Christmas day. The full quote is "When the caged bird sings is she caged? When art flourishes in prison was the artist ever in that prison?" I found it in Calvin Miller's Into the Depths of God. It is a fantastic book. I do not believe it is his quote but I am having a hard time finding where it came from. If you know, please inform me.

There is freedom in creating. I love how this quote captures this truth. I find great encouragement in these simple words. When there is little in my world I can control, I can always be free as I make something beautiful.

The Girl in the Lane Shop

Merry Christmas!

Born that man no more may die,

Born to raise the sons of Earth,

Born to give them second birth.

Hark! The herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn King!"

I always enjoy thinking about those first holy moments after Jesus was born, when it was just the three of them. If you have children of your own or have ever been in the room when a baby is just born you have experienced the love and awe that fills the room. I cannot image how rich that feeling was in the tiny stable.

 Last year Avia drew this nativity. It was the inspiration for mine. I will always love it and not just because she drew it. Sometimes it takes the perfect wisdom of a child to capture the true perspective of the greatest act of humility ever. Our God, who is bigger than the universe, became a tiny baby so that He could save us even though we are weak, broken, and little.

A very Merry Christmas from me and mine.

The Girl in the Lane Shop

A peek at my journal

December, t'is the season for secrets and lies. I cannot share with you what I have been working on because... reasons. I thought I would take the opportunity to share a few sketches with you instead.

I have kept a journal/sketchbook fairly consistently since I was a little girl. It is my own world in there so consider yourself lucky to be welcomed in.

I am not sure what I will do with this butterfly
 but I cannot wait to figure it out.

Sketches from when I was working on my green and pink deer.

 This is based off of 1 Corinthians 15: 35-58. 

I would be more than happy to further clarify for you just ask.

This is the beginning of another tattoo idea but that is a ways off yet.

Oh snap that looks familiar. ; )

Doodle doodle

 Also, this happened this morning. 

Calvin will not leave the presents alone. 

He tried to stand on this I guess and got his foot stuck. 

Caught red handed...or red box footed in this case.

P.S. His foot is fine and was easily freed.

The Girl in the Lane Shop