"Everyone Should Enjoy Jesus"

The last two weeks the majority of my time and attention have been devoted to several projects I've been working on for WWU's Campus Ministries.  Last year, as the Prayer Ministry Coordinator, I enjoyed many opportunities to brainstorm and implement creative plans and events to encourage relationships between students and God through prayer (and a few artistic projects on the side).  This summer the campus chaplain asked if I might have any illuminating ideas to "Bring Jesus to Life" during a certain worship service.  After spending a few weeks thinking, praying, and talking some possibilities over with my creative son, we came up with the thought of painting a piece of Plexiglas to look like Jesus.  I devoted a bit of time to research online and talked with a patient employee from Home Depot's paint department and a paint store owner in town, among others, to learn what kind of paint to use on Plexiglas.  (Anything oil-based will melt it!)  I began by drawing a life-size picture of Jesus on a 4x6 sheet of paper with thick lines.  After sanding one side of the Plexiglas to encourage the paint to adhere, I put it down over the drawing of Jesus and painted around the lines using thick black acrylic paint.  The Plexiglas will be mounted in a wooden frame and illuminated from behind.

At one point, as many painters experience, my right shoulder was feeling as though it were on fire and my attitude wasn't quite as joyful as one would hope during such a project.  At the time I was also text/chatting with a friend and told her this.  She replied, "That's not good.  Everyone should enjoy Jesus" in a teasing kind of manner.  You know, once she said that I realized how frankly sucky my thought process had been and immediately turned my attitude into one of praise and worship.

This morning during my devotions in Zechariah I was reminded of the WHY we should do the things we do, whether it be work, art, music, blogging, eating or drinking.  What is the WHY I do things?  Verses 6-8 of chapter 7 say this in The Message Bible; 

"God-of-the-Angel-Armies gave me this Message for them, for all the people and for the priests: "When you held days of fasting every fifth and seventh month all these seventy years, were you doing it for Me? And when you held feasts, was that for Me? Hardly. You're interested in religion, I'm interested in people."

God is interested in people. In relationship. Relationship with you and me.  He wants us to enjoy Him and to encourage others to know Him that they may also enjoy Him. That's the WHY.  He's the WHY. I hope you make time to enjoy Jesus today. :)

Dry Spell

The last two weeks have been full of activity yet almost void of personal creativity.  I've had the most difficult time getting back into creating mode.  Visits from friends and family as well as a few trips to the mountains have kept me occupied.  I did try to sketch one evening last week and it was taking too much forced effort and I was antsy.  (I'm about to go back to that sketch this evening...) 

We spent a few days in Joseph, Oregon, this week.  In Joseph one can find a wonderful gallery, "Kelly's Gallery on Main," with incredibly lovely artwork that makes me drool with artist envy.  By *truly* the grace of God (and Kelly) much of my pottery is for sale there.  The above plate is one such piece.

I have several projects to keep me creating the next few weeks, and some exciting new ideas for pottery for Kelly's. Wish me luck and I'll post pictures as the projects come to fruition.  In the mean time- I'm getting back to my sketching journal.

Dinner Invitation

 

How about a creative dinner invitation? Please take into consideration this may not be the best plan for inviting just anyone (like your pastor) to dinner, but if you have a friend with a warped sense of humor like I have- it might be fun? 

Divinely Created

Yesterday, we took a drive up and over (and around and over and down and....) the Blue Mountains closest to town.  I don't think we drove more than 70 miles yet we saw everything from farmland to rolling hills to mountain meadows and deep forest.  I am ever in awe of creation- it inspires me- to paint, to photograph, to draw, to somehow try to capture the alluring beauty I find there.  From the textures of rock, pine, and lush fern against a soft sky, to the analogous greens of conifers, crimson paintbrush and deep blues as the heavens open in showers, it's all so wondrous, this creation.  The only sounds that may be heard are of a small brook, of the wind blowing through the tree tops, or it may just be quiet. So quiet, in fact, that it's healing.  It's no wonder I have such a difficult time hearing God when I'm away from nature.  I live in a framed box with insufficient views, next to a paved path where noisy vehicles come and go from their own framed boxes.  It's the days like yesterday that I realize how much I miss nature when I'm away for long.  Nothing I can manufacture will ever come close to the gifts God created for us to enjoy.

A few photos from our drive, above.  It was one of those days I just had to exclaim, "YAY GOD!"

Creatively Consuming Politics

I had every intention of voting, really.  I had placed my ballot next to the computer to look up each candidate and research their beliefs and political outlooks. I think voting is important but I also believe being educated about the person you're voting for is absolutely necessary, otherwise you're making an uneducated guess and possibly voting someone into a position of power to make choices you may not agree with.  (I know, you're wondering where on earth I'm going with this political spiel.)  As I was clearing the table of a few stray bills and notes I came across the voting envelopes.  One was a bright pink, as you may recall- especially if you weren't quite as negligent as I- in getting your ballot in on time.  That's when it occurred to me, what better to do with an unused voting ballot and envelope than to recycle and make lovely handmade paper?!  I gathered some of the lavender pieces I had clipped yesterday morning for a fragrant and aesthetic addition.

To make your own hand-made paper you'll need the following:

Blender

Unused voters ballot and envelope (or any other colorful paper scraps)

1/4 of a soft paper towel

Water

Old frame

Old pantyhose to stretch over frame

Large basin

Lavender or other flower or herb of your choice

A spoon or two of liquid starch (if you plan to write on your paper, the starch will keep the ink from running)

Tear up paper and paper towel to fill blender 1/2 full.  Fill blender with water about 3/4 full.  Add pieces of flower/herbs and starch.  Blend until completely pulpy.  Stir in (don't blend) several small blooms and leaves.  Pour this mixture over the pantyhose-covered frame that you've placed at the bottom of the large basin.  Cover evenly.  Gently press excess water from paper and set aside to dry.  After a few hours cover the paper (still over the frame) with a dry paper towel and turn over onto a flat surface.  It's almost done- just allow it time to dry.

After only three days of scraping and painting in the sun and heat, (including yesterday with its glorious temperature of 101 degrees), teetering on a ladder and feeling a bit like Michelangelo must have at times, the painting of the pergola is complete!  Have you ever started a project that you thought surely you would have finished by the end of the day?  This was one of those projects.  I had NO IDEA how long it would take me or what kind of physical condition I would be in after!  Ah well, it's done and now all that is left to do in this area is to hang the swing, which has also been painted to match the pergola and awaits a chain to be fastened and suspended in it's new spot at the edge of the pergola and patio.  Hooray!!  

And now, off to work on my next creative project....

Creative Landscaping 2

Almost finished with the back yard circle.  The bucket, behind the potted tree on the right, sits where we will plant a tree - possibly a maple. (?)  My husband has a good eye for landscaping and placement to make things aesthetically pleasing.  He deserves much of the credit here.  I spent most of yesterday painting about 1/2 of our pergola which sits above the patio off the back door.  I've got to get back out and take advantage of the partial shade it's in this morning and get it done - today.  I'll share photos of the *completed* projects tomorrow!