Showing posts with label my favorite things. Show all posts
 

I just love books and how God uses them to change me. I have to admit I'm not always great at finishing them, but I have great expectations!

 Here is a collection of books I'd like to read this coming year:
A. The Green Ember by SD Smith (comes highly recommended by the Read-Aloud Revival's Sarah Makenzie). This one is to read with the girls.

B. Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles that Can Radically Change your Family by Paul David Tripp (author of my favorite marriage book)




F. New Morning Mercies:  A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp (actually, I already bought this one and started! It's solid.)



I. John Adams by David McCulough (because I'm terrible at history)

Have you read any of these and do you recommend them?

 Any good fiction recommendations to round out my list? I love books that take me away from the pace of my real life. It seems to help my anxiety. I read two classic Anthony Trollope novels (think very slow-cooker novel pace) this past year and enjoyed them. You can get some of them free for the Kindle on Amazon (and you don't need a Kindle to read them--you can download the Kindle app)! Or . . . just check your local library. 

 If you're looking for a can't-put-this-book-down read, my friend, Sydney Betts, has written two novels set in Native American culture and they are FABULOUS, a breath of fresh air in the world of Christian fiction! She's working on publishing the third now, and I can't wait to read it. You can find them here.



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on my Christmas wish list: books!

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 I'm wrapping up my final blog posts of the year and getting ready to take December off from blogging and being a little business owner! 

 I'm a little obsessed with art (if you haven't guessed). As soon as we bought our current home, I planned out what I would put on the walls. If I go to your house and you have blank walls, I will probably secretly plan out art to fill your space.

 I spend a lot of time admiring other people's art on Etsy and Instagram and collecting my favorites, so I thought I'd share with you the artists whose work I admire. 

 Taste in art is such a personal thing. I favor lots of bold color, florals, animals, and birds. I also love artists with a similar heart as mine who love to combine the Word and their unique creativity.

 Here they are with links at the bottom for where you can find their art. Most offer prints of their original work, which makes them more affordable! 
favorite wall art prints and paintings

1. Carolyn Gavin Shop She specializing in a vintage-looking color palette of florals and cute little elephants.

2. PRINTSPIRING Beautiful watercolored floral and birds (she recently went through the whole alphabet). She sells only printables, so for $5 and the cost of printing, you can get some beautiful art on your walls! If you sign up for her mailing list, you can get a free print (and if you're like me, you love free stuff!).

3. Jaime Rovenstine Jaime does quirky and bold abstract painting with lots of pink (she also takes commissions). Most of her work is originals, but she sells a few prints (cheaper).

4. GraceLaced Shop Ruth Simmons is a talented painter (and mom to six boys!) with a heart for Scripture and the Gospel. She has a gift for communicating the Gospel both in words and art. 

5. Yao Cheng Design Her watercolors are just stunning (I favor the abstracts and bold florals). I got my sister a few of her prints a few years ago and they just make a room!

6. Wendy Brightbill, A Girl and Her Brush Shop I'm a big fan of Wendy's bright abstracts. She started painting while recovering from a traumatic brain injury and is so talented. Her calendar is a great deal (basically 12 prints for $25).

7. TushTush. I love her paintings of people and use of colors. 
  
8. Quiet Boy Studio. Patrick Laurent is another artist with a heart for illustrating Scripture in fun ways. I love his prints for kids. He also makes fun movie quote prints.

Of course, quality art is an investment in an artist's talents and giftings, but if you're looking for some simple and beautiful art that just happens to be FREE to download, I've compiled my favorites for you too (details below the image).
free art prints

A. "but first, coffee" minimal print

 B. Psalm 138: 1 Bible verse floral print (comes in four different color palettes!)

 C. You are deeply loved print from Emily at Jones Design Company

 D. Do your little bitof good (Desmond Tutu quote) print

 E. Love your story art print (by me along with a few others HERE!)

 F.  Jeremiah 17:7-8 hand-lettered print from Laura Rennie Interiors + Sincerely Amy Designs

 G. "They broke bread in their homes" (Acts quote) print from the Mountainview Cottage

 H. Pretty butterfly print

 I. Give thanks in all circumstances print from Ashlee Proffitt

 Need another idea for a cost-saving gift? Why not print my free printable Bible verse coloring pages and make a coloring book for your favorite colorer (along with some fun colored pencils or markers)? My shop also carries mini coloring pages on some of the newer sets! 

free Bible verse art coloring pages

See, all that time on Pinterest wasn't wasted, was it? I hope those are helpful to you!




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Artists I admire + my favorite free art you can gift this Christmas

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If we sat down for coffee, these are the things that would probably trickle out in conversation, the things that make my heart happy, in no particular order and by no means exhaustive. 

 Homeschool and learning (or relearning)
Okay, I'll admit it. For all my complaining, I actually love homeschool. I love being part of my kids' learning and learning myself. We definitely have bad days and even bad weeks, but we have settled into a nice rythym together. We are loving our Sonlight curriculum, which is all reading-based.

Maybe it's me who has adjusted the most--bringing my expectations down to a reasonable level, growing in patience and love, and asking for God's grace for when all falls apart.

Sonlight readers are the best--we LOVED this one

journaling about our history lesson (first grade)

notetaking about Roman history

four-year-old math

This Caddie
We got ours from the Target dollar bins for $3 and it's been the best thing for keeping all our supplies into one place. Michael's has this fancier one.


The book of Galatians.
We are studying through this book with our community group, and it's been such an encouragement. I've been reading it through over and over trying to understand what Paul was trying to drive home to the "foolish Galatians." We can stand before God on the merits of His Son and nothing else.
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
This book
I mentioned that I just finished Elyse Fitzpatrick's "Good News For Weary Women: Escaping the Bondage of To-do Lists, Steps, and Bad Advice."  I found myself saying "Amen" over and over again. These are the kinds of truth I want on a slow drip into my bloodstream.


Here are two snippets:
"Many women don't understand the freedom that has been purchased for us, and we often get tangled up in legalism or moralism. We don't know what it would look like for obedience to be motivated by gratitude." Elyse Fitzpatrick
 "What is our highest calling as women? Our highest calling is to believe. It consists of believing, resting, and rejoicing in the work that has been done for us by the Savior." Elyse Fitzpatrick
Can you imagine if we actually believed and lived these truths? 

Elephant and Piggie in Spanish
We've been using these for homeschool Spanish class and they're perfect for introducing simple vocabulary in conversation. The kids are able to follow the stories because of the expressive illustrations. We get them from our local library's Spanish section.

*
This Song
"Out of Hiding" by Steffany Gretzinger and Amanda Cook. I found it while I was preparing to teach about the story of the Prodigal son.


I might even love this Spanish cover even better:


I'm compiling a Worship playlist on YouTube if you want to listen in and sing along.

 These crayons
My mother-in-law finds us fun art supplies to try out. She just got the girls these Color Appeal Crayons. The paper unwraps when the crayon gets low.


Drawing with our new crayons from the Draw 50 Animals book by Lee Ames.
(This one is challenging for my little ones, but I enjoy it. I can walk them through the steps.)

These kids
I love seeing them grow and change. They bring out my need for Jesus EVERY DAY, and isn't that a blessing?

My sister got us these Mama Beat and Man Cub raglan shirts.  You can find them HERE!

watching the snow


Calligraphy inspiration
I got out my sketchbook a few nights ago and sketched letters from a book about the history of calligraphy. I loved trying out the illuminated capitals and flowers and decorations from really old illuminated manuscripts. You'll see some of this inspiration in new Scripture cards coming soon to my shop!




New artwork
I'm working on new printable Scripture card sets for the Etsy shop right now. Here's a little peak:

This print & blog post
I don't have a printable for you to this week, but I'm sending you over to Emily at Jones Design Company, who made this beautiful Gospel printable. I couldn't have said it better myself! Sometimes I wonder if I ever really knew the Gospel before now. I know I did, but it feels new again.

Image Source: Jones Design Company
So, there you go--my current favorites. What are yours? Leave a comment below and I'd love to check them out!

 

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A few of my favorite things this February

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 Here are all the links to my favorite gift ideas this year (listed from top to bottom and left to right):

 Lineage of Grace Series by Francine Rivers. I loved reading this series about women of the Bible. The stories definitely stayed with me. Mary's story is a must-read.

Noonday Raindrop Earrings Gold. Noonday's mission is to "create economic opportunity for the vulnerable. We partner with artisans in the developing world, empowering them to grow sustainable businesses."

 MercyINK "Give Your Life Away" T-shirt. These are super-soft and go towards Lauren's (a local friend and fellow print shop owner and blogger) foreign adoption and cause-of-the-month.

 ESV Journaling Bible. I didn't know such a thing existed until just recently. There's a single column on the side of this Bible for doodling and note-taking. 

 Saksaum Chelsie Fresh Bag. SakSaum is a ministry based in Cambodia "dedicated to the rescue, restoration, transformation and rehabilitation of vulnerable and exploited women and men." They make great bags! I got one to use for the new baby's diaper bag. 

 AD 30 by Ted Dekker. I haven't read this one yet, but it's on my list! Looks amazing, and if you haven't been introduced to Ted Dekker, here's your chance.

Ashlee Proffitt "Joy comes in the morning" Travel Mug. Ashlee is a friend, church planter's wife, and great example of a mom and business owner. She also creates beautiful art prints.

Imani Wazia Necklace. Another organization that does great things for women in Uganda. I own a few of these necklaces and love them.

Yao Cheng Watercolor Flowers Print. I got her prints for my sister in previous years and they're beautiful!

Gold Heart Ring. Can't get enough of hearts!

The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst. Super message for any woman that's blessing me a lot right now. 

Rocketdog Slippers. I just wore my last Rocketdog slippers out, so it's time for a new pair. I love these.

Lisa Leonard Initial Necklace. I love all her jewelry actually. She has an awesome story too!

Printable Scripture Cards by me! Give a set (or both) away to encourage the ladies in your life!

Happy gifting!


Favorite Christmas gift ideas for her: 2014

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