Crafty Teacher Gifts

Even though I home school, the greatest majority of my friends and neighbors have children in traditional school.  Many of those friends are kind enough to occasionally support me financially by placing custom orders for teacher gifts and smaller gifts for birthday or holiday parties.  With the end of the school year upon us, I'm happy to be working on some projects for a few of my friends.  Take a look at my recent orders -- enjoy!

Personalized Teacher Shelf Sitter
{hand painted}

Teacher Shelf Sitter
{hand painted}

Shelf Sitter

Small Ornament / Magnet
{hand painted}

Small Ornament / Shelf Sitter / Magnet
{hand painted}

Small Ornament / Shelf Sitter / Magnet
{hand painted}

Key hook

I also have a few frames and name boards that I'll be finishing soon.  I will post them as well.

Have a wonderul weekend, my friends!

Blessings,

1 Corinthians 13

The very first scripture Katherine ever memorized was
1 Corinthians 13. 

The whole chapter. 

Not only did she memorize it, but she fully understands the importantce of those 13 verses that make up the entire chapter. 

To hear her recite 1 Corinthians 13 brings tears to my eyes; she speaks with her heart and I can see in her face her willingness to learn to love like Jesus wants us to love.  I believe we should all live having this piece of scripture hidden away in our hearts.  1 Corinthians 13 means something real to my daughter; it is alive within her.

When we were browsing at our church's craft market earlier in October, we were both beyond excited to find that a new friend and fellow church member had a booth showcasing her amazing creative talent as a photographer and artist.  And boy did she have something special on display:

My photography skills stink and this photo does not do the artwork justice.  Hannah B. made this set of 1 Corinthians 13 canvases and there was no way we could leave without them!  In fact, the original set was the same color as the walls of Katherine's bedroom, so she custom made these for her.  The background of each canvas is pages from the Bible with the lettering hand painted over layered paint.  They are lovely and are going to be perfect in Kat's room.  {Hannah delivered them to us after church today and Katherine is currently pulling stuff off of her walls and rearranging her artwork to showcase her new Faith * Hope * Love canvases!}

Get to know Hannah B. at her blog Everything Sunny Always.  You can click on her silly blog button at the top right of my home page and it will take you directly to her site.  Hannah is also working on creating an Etsy shop, which is still in it's early stages.  But when she gets it up and running, you need to check it out because she has some wonderful talent that she will be showcasing.  Her photography is even more beautiful than her art pieces -- and she's available for booking!

The really special thing about Hannah B. is not her talent.  It's her trust in God and her willingness to be obedient to His will.  Hannah B. is a young woman with an amazing story of faith.  If you head over to her blog, you will be blessed, I promise.  I know she has blessed me tremendously in the very short time I've made her aquaintance.

I wish each and every one of you a week filled with faith, hope and love!

Blessings,

Season's Greetings!

Happy Holidays!

Okay, I know it seems a little bit early to start with the holiday cheer, but the way the last few years have flown by, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before I know it.  Last Christmas snuck up on me and had me in a state of  shock, panic and total exhaustion.  I am determined for that NOT to happen again!

I want to be able to live in the moment

this holiday season.

I look forward to spending another Thanksgiving with my family in the hill country, a tradition we have carried for all eleven years of Katherine’s life {and a few before she came along!}.  I love this special time with the people who have my heart,  just hanging out and spending time together.

This Christmas I am going to focus more on celebrating the greatest gift ever given – the humble birth of my Savior, Jesus. 

For the last few years, our family has watched The Nativity Story on Christmas Eve,  and I always enjoy reading the book The Handmaid and The Carpenter  by Elizabeth Berg.  

This year I will add The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare {one of my all time favorite books} as a story to read with Katherine. 

But before I can relax, I will make my list

and check it twice – then be done with it!

I am already starting to gather supplies for what will be the homemade presents I will be giving this year.  Here is a sneak peek of a few projects in the works:

I am also starting to put together my list of baking supplies that I will need for those special treats I will give to my friends and neighbors – it is just one way I can let them know how much they mean to me and how grateful I am to have them in my life.  Of course, my little helper elf has always enjoyed delivering the Christmas goodies, so she, too, will have to plan her delivery route ahead of time.

Are you already planning for your Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays?  Do you have any special traditions during the holidays?  I’d love for you to share them with me here on the blog so others may be inspired to start a tradition, too.

Blessings,