A Visit to the Flower Shop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worked on a fall centerpiece for a class I will be teaching at Art More Place in November.  It's always nice visiting with my special friend Ivonne at the Enchanted Florist Shop.  I work there during the holidays and can't wait to get started. :)

 

I started working in a flower shop when I was in my 20's as a clerk and then before I knew it I became a floral designer.  Every state that I have lived in I have found a little flower shop to call home.

 

The colors are a little off in the pic they are orange mini roses with fall colored mums and of course a bow :)

 

 

 

Got a Crafting Question????

Hey I'd like to know if you have any questions for me that might help you and others to know about crafting that you would like answers to.  email me at justinejd@cfl.rr.com

Please help me serve you! I promise to read every email that comes in.

Last night was the Trust Canvas Class with Adore Him Creations it was a fun night. 

As I sit there watching everyone they are quiet and a little distant.  By the end of class we are crying, hugging, smiling and enjoying everyone's creations.  In just a few hours we learn so much about ourselves and each other.  Best of all we learn where we are in our walk with trusting God.

When we trust God there is peace in your soul that is like no other.  You are filled with joy and happiness.  There is no room for fear. 

I am honored to be a part of this faithart revolution and that God has chosen me to help other woman to know they are not alone and loved.  

You are all welcome to join the Advent Study - Pause, Ponder and Prepare  find out more here  starting November 1 with the launch of the Christian Art Community His Kingdom Come.


Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).

Keeping It in the Family

I don't know about you but I NEED to be creative if I don't I am unhappy.  There is something about taking an image from my head and seeing it come to life.

It's really crazy the smell of a glue gun this time of year reminds me of the good old days crafting with my Dad.  I enjoyed selling at craft shows with him.  It was time together that we truly enjoyed.  It was cute to see him get excited when I taught him a painting technique.

I wonder if that is why I have been a little emotional the last few days thinking of my Dad.  He has been gone for almost 3yrs.  He was the glue that held my family together and I didn't even realize it.

I'm blessed that I have wonderful memories of him and crafts that he made for the kids and me. 

He came to visit me in the April before he passed and bought this for me for my birthday.

That July I went to visit him in NY I made this cake for him and his wife.

This was the last time I was able to spend time with him.  I am thankful for that. 

Thanks for sharing these special moments with me.  My dad is part of the reason I am the crafter that I am today.  I do this to honor him. :)  I hope to pass it along to my children.  There is something special about sitting around a table with my children while we all work on a craft project. 

Fall Website Special Great Deal

It would be my pleasure to help fellow crafters to set up a website to sell their handmade items.

I could have you up and running in now time.  This is a great deal just for you!

Head over to www.mrsdscraftcottage.com to sign up!!

Throw Back Thursday - Glass Vase Candy Arrangement

Just by using a few crafting pics and ribbon you can create a cute little candy arrangement.

I just filled the container with candy corn and then stuck the picks in.  You can cut the stems with wire cutters to make different heights.

Joey was ready to dive into some candy :)  he was proud of Mommy's work.

I had the kids make some apple pies from paper plates and tissue paper they had a blast.  Then we displayed our creations proudly.  :)  Happy Fall Ya'll

Pause, Ponder and Prepare Advent Devotional

I was recently asked to help with a project for the Pause, Ponder, and Prepare Advent Devotional.  Diane and Bernice are getting ready to share with you all.

See my Advent Journal here,  I'm the one that made the simple journal version and can't wait to start the study :)  Your welcome to join!


See more pics of my journal here

I am also going to try and post some crafts to go along with the devotional my thought is to make a different ornament each day to add to my Christmas Tree this year.  If you would like to receive the emails with instructions and ideas of the ornaments that I make you can sign up on my website.

It's All About The Crafts, About the Craft...

I'm 48 years old and the one thing that has always stayed consistent in my life is the love of crafting.  I tell you if we had computers, youtube, etc... when I was a child I would be a master crafter in a lot of areas :)

The crazy thing is most of my life I was around people that didn't understand the creative side of me, I felt judged and unsupported.  I think most of my life the phrase, "starving artist" always scared me.

Being creative does sometimes drive me nuts, my brain goes in 20 different directions with all the ideas and desires I have to design.

But I tell you there is no greater moment then when someone looks at something I created and it brings a huge genuine smile to their face.  :)  If I can make someone smile and feel all warm and fuzzy inside like I feel when I am creating it the I have done my job.

Using the gifts and talents that God has given me makes my heart shine and is the best feeling in the world.

In the last few years I have realized that it's okay to me.  It's okay to be a crafter and an artist.

I am on a quest to learn new techniques and mediums and guess who is coming on the quest with me......YOU!

 Hugs J :)

Living in One Room Bad or Good?

We are blessed to have a water cooler in our home.  We drink lots of water there is no soda or ice tea in the house.  This week we ran out of water and Joey (my 6 yr old son) asked to get a drink of water I told him to get it from the faucet, he said, "what's a faucet".  Oh my!!  I brought him over to show him and he said I'm not drinking that water.  Talk about spoiled.  Although I have to say FL water is not the best tasting from the faucet at all.

When I was visiting GA we walked through a park that had a log cabin, pictured below.  This was an original settlers cabin moved to the park and restored.  The cabin sits beside a stream.  As I opened the door and pictured a family of 5 living in a one room cabin.  That is all they had.  Everything was done in the one room.  To think how spoiled we are today.

As we hiked along the trail by the stream I kept thinking about how much harder life was way back when.  Their water came from the stream.  Families and communities had to depend on each other to make it through.

I think about how things were made by hand and learning how to craft was pasted down from generation to generation.  I love to learn how things were made....hhhmmm I think a trip to Williamsburg, VA might be needed next summer. :)

 I think I need to have this discussion with my children and do a little craft.  I found this cute
 log cabin craft from DLTK's  site,

Turkey Feather are flying :)

 I'm still thinking of fall.  This turkey measures 4 x 3.5 and can be made into a magnet or a pin.

I love when God gives me the vision of crafts and I just let him take the lead.  You just never know what he is going to produce.  Most of my life I have let others lead me and worried about what they thought.  When the only one that truly matters is God and what he thinks about what I am doing.

My Father alone determines my mission no one else can talk me our of it.  He gives me the vision.

I think one of my favorite things to watch are children creating.  Even when the artwork isn't perfect it is something they made with their own imagination.  When I use to go into the classroom to do crafts with my children and they would ask for help I would tell them just do your best.  It would be awesome to see the uniqueness of every project.

Don't ever be afraid to express yourself creatively.  Always use your gifts to help others. :)

Watercolors and Turkeys

Finally was able to do a little crafting today after a few days of getting sidetracked by life. :)  I love being in my happy place.  I have been inspired lately with watercolors.  I love the way the paint does it's own thing.

I have been wanting to start entering craft challenges and this is my first one.
I used two of Paper Smooches free digital stamps to make this turkey card.  I used watercolor paints for the turkey and sign.   I love the way it came out simple yet cute :)

I look forward to using more of Paper Smooches products.

How to Make 3d Pumpkin Cards

Finished up some 3d pumpkin cards.  I know I should be working on Christmas stuff but when I'm in the season it's hard to not want to work on fall crafts. :)

I cut out pumpkin shapes from card stock 6 different style papers.

Then fold them each in half and glue one of each design together.

 Trim where needed and brush a little brown ink along the sides.

You can cut out a paper stem or I used 5 small strands a jute and hot glued them together.  It looks more like a real stem :)  Glued them to the top

Cut out some vines and a leaf then glue them on with a bow.  You can write directly on the pumpkin or add a tag.

Who knew you had to be an engineer to make a needle

Wow there are more than 100 steps for making needles and thousands of types of needles.

Here are 11 major steps to making needles:

1.  selection of wire
2.  swagging - cold forging the wire
3.  shank marking
4.  die pressing & punching
5.  milling
6.  barb grinding & soft pointing
7.  hardening
8.  chemical deburring
9.  straightening
10. plating
11. final pointing & polishing

When you stop to think about how things are made it's pretty cool and to think that is only 11 steps of the 100.

Came across this on FB not sure were the original post came from.  A great way to keep you stitches even when hand stitching.

Are You Letting Your Light Shine? And The Advent Study.

This year I have been introduced to faithart with Diane Marra of Adore Him Creations

I am proud to have her as a dear friend and teacher.  I am learning new techniques with my fellow students that have now become friends.

What is faithart you ask?
Adore HIM Creations is a ministry that teaches, inspires, provides tools and creates one of a kind faithart designed to bring Him glory and honor.  Come along with Adore HIM Creations on a journey of creative discovery, to experience and perceive the word of God in our everyday lives.  You will be transformed by the renewing of your mind! Inviting God into this new creative journey is an act of obedience. He will accompany you along the way, guiding your every step towards the Truth, the Truth that sets you free. Learning to listen to the Holy spirit  as we color, paint, journal and use shapes, colors and textures to express His presence in our lives. This is how we transform our everyday lives into a creative life that honors God.


While away in Big Canoe, GA last week with one of my fellow faithart friends we couldn't help ourselves but to journal.  We had limited supplies but we had a blast.  I think it was one of the best parts of the time away we were up till 1am. :)

Here are a few samples

If you are interested in doing an online study check out The Advent Study it starts the end of October.

The Advent Study
Diane has prepared the study.  Each day there will be a short piece to read, a prayer and questions to ponder.   You can use this in any way you wish.  You can write in your journal, you can make an altered book, you can do art journaling.  You choose your response to this study.  Learn More

The History of the Sewing Needle

I thought it would be interesting to research the history of the sewing needle just to see how it all started and how it relates to art.

I love to hand stitch there is something calming about it.  My mind wonders, I find myself in a peaceful state of mind.

I just finished my first Christmas stocking.  I was fun and I intend to make some more :)  They will be for sale on my Etsy.

Bone Sewing Needle

• History dates back to 28000 B.C. The earliest known sewing needle is developed in Aurignacia. Hand crafted and made of bones, the needle has a split head instead of an eye.
• The early needles were hand-made out of bone, over 17000 years ago by Western Europeans and Central Asians. It was used for sewing skins and furs.
• 17500 B.C – The first needles with eyes emerge.
• 7000 B.C – Copper needles are produced in Armenia.
• 2500 B.C – Bronze needles are born.
• 1195 B.C – Secret of hardening iron reaches Europe from India.
• 500 B.C – The drawing plate is used for producing wire.
• 60 A.D – Phrygier is credited with discovering embroidery.
• 1200 A.D – The needle is advertised for the first time in China.
• 1496 – Leonardo da Vinci constructs a machine to point sewing needles.
• 1615 – Aachen shows the way by making needles from fine, pure steel.
• 1730 – Stephan Beissel founds a needle factory in Aachen, Germany.
• 1755 – First ever patent is awarded for a needle with an eye.
• 1790 – Thomas Saint applies for a patent for a machine to sew shoes.
• 1811 – Abel & Michael Morall are the first to construct a device for the pressing of eyes.
• 1845 – Elias Howe & Singer invent the sewing machine.

http://www.sewingmantra.com/index.php/needles/history-of-sewing-needles/

So excited can't wait to design - Hello Spoonflower

So this morning I view a sewing video and it mentions Spoonflower.com why did my friends not tell me of this.  I feel a new avenue coming on.  :)

Spoonflower.com we are going to become good friends.  I love to design and can't wait to dive in.  And they have challenges :)

 Love design? Try your hand at creating!

Upload your designs and print custom fabric, wallpaper and gift wrap.
Registration is free, fast and easy!

All your designs are private unless you make them public.
We never sell, print, or share your designs without your permission.

There is no minimum order or set-up fee required. Order a test swatch of your design on any of our materials for just $5.

Get an instant preview of your design in several different repeats.

Choose from a selection of high-quality synthetic and natural fiber fabrics including organic cotton and silk, PVC-free wallpaper and matte or satin gift wrap.

We're based in Durham, North Carolina, but we ship all over the world.
Welcome to Spoonflower and happy designing!

Who can pass up free printables :)

I truly like to try and keep September "apply month" but when I hear about FREE printable I have to share.

Living Lucurto has a blog hop full of free Halloween printable  

As for me and my apples....I will have to find a apple recipe or craft to work on today :)  meanwhile I think this chart from William-Sonoma will help me choose my apples wisely.