royalforest

Elsie's Lyrebird

2012-01-16T09:44:00.002-05:00

My daughter Elsie (age 6) made a lyrebird of her own! I totally love it.

Lyrebird Wall Hanging

2012-01-06T09:14:00.007-05:00

My Lyrebird design, printed at Spoonflower, made into a stitched fabric wall hanging. The background came out too purple, I had wanted a navy blue. But other than that I'm happy with it. The lyrebird is an Austrailian native bird, known for it's ability to mimic sounds, and for the male bird's magnificent tail. This one is the "Superb Lyrebird" Menura novaehollandiae.

Psalm 40:3

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;  Many will see and fear  

And will trust in the LORD.

Heidi's First Sewing Project

2012-01-05T10:50:00.004-05:00

This is Heidi's first sewing project. She is 4. You should know this about Heidi. We bought one of those infrared box heaters for our attic (playroom/sewing room), and Heidi named it. Peter the Heater.

Esther: Part 1

2011-12-22T09:55:00.033-05:00

I snapped this photo of my friend Rachel's daughter Esther when they were visiting this summer, and I'm getting ready make an oil painting of it. To me this image is irresistable - the hat, her sly look, the bright colors - I have to paint it. So I've never done this before, but I'm taking photos of each step of the process and I'm going to post them here.

1) The original

2) Cropped to fit a long narrow canvas, which seemed to suit this compostion

3) Black and white

4) In photoshop, removing some of the unnecessary elements, the cross, the cup, the table in the background

5) Changed to outlines in photoshop so I can print what I'm going to sketch. This makes it so much easier!

6) Added my grid

7) My actual rough sketch on the canvas. It's pretty light.

8) In photoshop, I removed the stripes from the shirt, changed it to green, and manipulated the background color. I also adjusted the shadows and highlights. All this could be done when I'm in the painting process, looking at the orginal, but I prefer to get it right in photoshop, print it out, then just paint what I see.

Next step - PAINT! Stay tuned for more.

Lyrebird

2011-12-19T16:50:00.006-05:00

What Can Man

2011-12-09T14:24:00.005-05:00

Dogs Playing Poker

2011-11-30T13:04:00.007-05:00

I think I finished a painting! This one has been in the works for maybe over half a year...It was my first commissioned painting, so I had nothing to do with the subject matter. I will say that it's harder to paint that way, because you don't share the passion for the subject in the same way that your client does. However, it was still fun and challenging to paint all these different animals. By the way, this is not a copy of one of the C.M. Coolidge paintings. I only borrowed the concept - and one of the dogs. All the dogs are my originals except for the little English bulldog which I adapted from his painting, "A Friend in Need".

Walking Tour of Spiders in the Woods

2011-11-28T16:30:00.004-05:00

This (or something pretty close to it) is going to be the cover for the album I'm working on. This is a really difficult process. It is hard to step out and do something you've never done before, even when you really want to. Sometimes there is nothing and no one to encourage you, other times encouragement comes freely. It is a shaky and uncertain venture. I have to keep forcing myself to move ahead, though I hear voices saying it's pointless, why am I even trying to accomplish this...

A Song with Heidi

2011-10-12T08:46:00.004-04:00

Heidi wanted to record this song that she likes with me. It's "One Thing Remains". I love to hear little munchkin voices singing worship.

Watery Burn

2011-09-26T20:38:00.002-04:00

Eggplant Man

2011-08-27T20:42:00.001-04:00

Every once in a while, you find an eggplant that just has to be.....put out there, you know?

Laundry Room Door

2011-08-08T22:35:00.006-04:00

A while ago my mom and I painted a peacock on the glass panels of an old door that we installed going from our dining room to a powder room. Jason and I remodeled our kitchen this year, and we had a door just like it going into the laundry room, which is always a mess. Since our kitchen now looks nice, I got tired of looking at the laundry room through it and painted the door. Then I scraped half of it off with a razor blade and painted it again. I think I like it now? Not sure yet. The peacock was so much easier because I ripped the design off of a tshirt. I made this one up myself, wanting to keep the same style but a different picture. So here it is...for now.

More Dresses

2011-07-09T20:22:00.005-04:00

My sewing room is about to be occupied as living quarters for my brother's family in moving transition, so I got really motivated the other night to finish up some unfinished projects. Heidi is in Elephant Dress, which is for sale as a sewing kit at Mamma Made Designs. Elsie is in a dress that was a collaboration between me and Rachel Galloway. This is the only good photo I got, in between the bug-bite scratching and nose picking.

Old World Birds Dress

2011-07-01T09:57:00.003-04:00

Here is my Old Worlds Bird dress on Elsie. Size 5. I can't help being inspired by my Slovak heritage. I've always loved their artwork and traditional dress. Coming soon, this will be available as a sewing kit at Mamma Made designs.

Our Kitchen is Finally Done!

2011-06-04T14:39:00.029-04:00

We started remodeling back in November 2010 and our kitchen is finally finished. Here are the before through the after photos with all the messy details in between.

Starting with the old...

Winged Lion

2011-05-26T15:33:00.003-04:00

I've entered this in the "Imaginary Animals" Spoonflower contest this week. If you like this and you have nothing better to do with your next three minutes, you could vote for me!

Living Creature

2011-05-10T15:07:00.002-04:00

Conga!

2011-04-09T15:04:00.004-04:00

I made this fruit hat to wear at the Danielson concert in Washington DC next weekend. I will be leading a conga line for "People's Partay", because I felt bad that nobody went for it in Pittsburgh.

Psalm 103 excerpt

2011-04-07T21:26:00.003-04:00

Who pardons all of your iniquities

Who heals all the diseases within you

Who redeems your life from the pit

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion

The Lord is gracious

Slow to anger abounding in lovingkindness

He has not dealt with us according to our sins

Nor rewards us according to them

For as high as the heavens are above the earth

So great is his lovingkindness toward those who fear his name

As far as the east is from the west so far

So far he removed our transgressions from us

Just as a father has compassion on his son

So the Lord has compassion on those who fear him

For he himself knows our frame

Oh he is mindful that we are but dust

But the lovingkindness of the lord is from everlasting to everlasting

octopus guitar house

2011-03-31T15:15:00.000-04:00

Uncle Ralph and Boots

2011-03-07T08:14:00.003-05:00

I just finished this portrait of my wonderful Uncle Ralph when he was young, sitting with his dog Boots. Uncle Ralph passed away this year, and I'm giving this painting to his widow, my beloved Aunt Rita.

Oil on Canvas
16x20

Many Sparrows

2011-02-22T18:44:00.000-05:00

Many Sparrows

I have numbered the very hairs of your head

Therefore, do not fear, do not fear

You are worth more than many sparrows

You will find many troubles here in this world

Take heart, do not fear, do not fear

I have already overcome it

I myself will go out before you and stay

With you, do not fear, do not fear

I won't abandon or forsake you

Peace I leave with you

My own peace is what I give

Not like the world has

Not how the world lives

Not what the world gives

You are worth more than many sparrows

Not Waiting

2011-01-25T12:53:00.001-05:00

"And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?"

Luke 13:16

Sewing Kits Now Available

2011-01-04T21:44:00.004-05:00

Wahoo! Some of Rachel's and my sewing kits are now available to buy at Mamma Made Designs. Get them while they're hot.

Hearts and Hummingbirds

2011-01-01T15:44:00.002-05:00

Here is Elsie in "Hearts and Hummingbirds dress" which will soon be available as a sewing kit at Mamma Made Designs.

Fishing

2010-12-09T12:14:00.003-05:00

Here's the last painting I completed for my class, which is over now. I'm going to have a gallery show at the BC3 campus in two years, which seems like a lot of time, but I need to complete about 20 paintings between now and then, which means I have to really push to get about 1 painting done per month. It takes me about 9-12 hours to do one painting, and I don't get much time to work, so it will be tough. But it's good to have a goal to work towards, otherwise I probably wouldn't do anything at all...

Fishing

36x24

Oil

Gift

2010-12-05T20:27:00.004-05:00

This beautiful Ovation guitar was given to me this morning by some friends. GIVEN to me!!!

I am blown away.

Thank you.

Remodeling

2010-11-29T18:15:00.003-05:00

Yesterday....

And today. Aaaghk!

Two Poppies

2010-11-18T13:34:00.002-05:00

Here's the third painting I've completed for my painting class. It's the first time I've painted with a knife. It was kind of fun, but difficult. I guess it takes a lot of practice to get good at.

Oranges and Elsie

2010-10-28T13:59:00.004-04:00

Here's the second painting I've completed in my painting class at BC3. This is taken from the a photo I took when Elsie was 1 or 2. It was probably the only time she ever sat still. That red and pink outfit wasn't working for my color scheme, so I got rid of it. But it's okay to do that when you have an artistic license. I really do have one. My teacher gave them out to all of the students. :)

"Oranges and Elsie"

Oil on canvas

30" x 40"

Elsie's 2nd Sewing Project

2010-10-21T18:50:00.002-04:00

Elsie did just about everything here. She designed the artwork, I drew it on the dress, and she sewed it on all by herself. She somehow got mustard on it during the project, but luckily it came off in the wash.

Riley in Whale Dress

2010-10-01T14:18:00.006-04:00

This is my friend Melody's daughter Riley, posing for me in the Whale Dress at Succop Conservancy. What a cute-head!

Octopus

2010-09-16T12:45:00.003-04:00

I'm taking an intro to painting class on Wednesday nights at Butler County Community College. This is the first painting I've completed.

The original photo.

Julane in Elephant Dress (Will Work For Oreos)

2010-07-31T15:19:00.005-04:00

Today I took scads of photos of my beautiful niece Julane in the Elephant dress, hoping to get some good shots for my upcoming sewing kit. Here are my favorites from the shoot. Her mommy promised her oreos if she cooperated and let me tell you, it worked! She was a perfect model. She filled out the dress so perfectly, and I think the chartreuse color (thank you Kelly!) looked really wonderful with her super light hair and blue eyes.

Elephant Dress

2010-07-30T14:13:00.005-04:00

Here is my spoonflower elephant dress! Now to get some great pictures taken and put together my sewing kit. I timed the process and the whole project should take 2.5 - 3 hrs, including the cutting. I couldn't find a zipper anywhere near the color of this fabric. I don't even know what to call this color. Anyway, I just used a cream color and I think I hid it pretty well. I used this method of installing a zipper using a glue stick and it turned out really well. It's the first time I didn't have a nasty pucker at the bottom. I am slowly learning to be a patient seamstress! Things turn out so much better when you take your time and really try to do things right.

Sewing Projects

2010-07-25T14:31:00.004-04:00

Some photos of me in a dress I made for myself out of giant blue houndstooth blanket material, and Heidi in the new whale dress. Elsie told her that she looked really cute in it and Heidi said "I know". Wouldn't it be great if grown women talked that way when you gave them a compliment? Elsie's skirt in the bike picture was also homemade, by Rachel.

Finished Whale Dress

2010-07-24T11:55:00.002-04:00

Here's my spoonflower whale dress.

Finally

2010-07-20T11:15:00.005-04:00

I got my 2 dress patterns printed from Spoonflower finally. I am ready to go! Only one problem. I thought for some reason that the fabric was 58" wide, and not 56" inches. So part of the insides of my bodice pieces got cut off. But that's okay, if something had to get cut off, those would be the best pieces for it to happen to. I got some plain fabric that I can use for the insides, and next time I have these printed, they will be adjusted to fit the 56" width!

Anxiety Bucket

2010-07-19T20:57:00.003-04:00

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. - Phillipians 4:6

When I was growing up we had this orange plastic tub that my family called "the puke bucket", that my mom would put by the side of our bed when we were sick. It was such a great friend, you know, it took the worst we had to give and came back for more.

The challenge with the verse above is that you have to do something with anxiety. You can't just stop feeling things, you have to deal with them somehow. I need an anxiety bucket that Jesus can take away and wash out for me.

Genus

2010-07-01T19:34:00.006-04:00

This is in the Spoonflower contest of the week. It's a fabric design for a cheater quilt. If you would like to vote for my design, please click here. Note that there are alot of designs on each contest page, you have to scroll down to see them all.

Must Have Big Twirl

2010-06-30T15:48:00.005-04:00

So Elsie has a closet full of dresses that do not make her happy to wear. Not because they are not pretty but because they do not twirl big enough. A super-twirling froggy dress by Mamma-Made had set the bar 2 years ago and she just can't seem to go back.

The other day I made this dress out of some scrap material I had upstairs. It's the first time I made a garment without following an official pattern, so it was kind of an experiment. The bodice was from a size 5 pattern I have, and it turned out to be way too big all over, but she doesn't care. I made the circle skirt by just figuring it out, and the bow was because she likes bows. It turned out okay but I really need help with zippers. Look at the way it puckers at the bottom. I can never seem to get them nice and flat.

Serge of Joy

2010-06-30T15:41:00.004-04:00

Ha ha. Check this out. My wonderful sister-in-law gave me a new friend for my sewing machine the other day! Yahoo! A neat thing is that the morning of the day she asked me if I wanted it, I had prayed that God would show me in some tangible way that he saw me and loved me. Then Cecilia offers me a serger, when she didn't even know that I really wanted one and had begun to look around for one. I didn't even know she had one. Cool, huh?

So today I learned to thread it and adjust the tension and yippee, I serged! Thanks God!

Elsie's First Sewing Project

2010-06-23T12:57:00.003-04:00

This is my 4 year old daughter Elsie with her first sewing project, a my little pony embroidery on a pillow. I traced the picture from a coloring book onto the fabric, and she did all the embroidery (and the stuffing). She is very proud of it. She said it's the softest pillow she's ever had. Now she is ready to move on to something else.

New Projects

2010-06-21T14:29:00.003-04:00

These are being printed at Spoonflower on one yard of fabric. Then I'll cut them out and sew them together, then I'll get some photos taken of a cute little 3 year old girl in them (anybody know one of those?) and eventually I'm planning to sell them as ready made sewing kits through Mamma Made Designs. Rachel has already done some really fun stuff with this. Check out her green tent dress and elephant dress. This is so much fun. I could do this all day long.

Installment 2: Taking a stab at some girls' dress designs

2010-06-12T14:35:00.008-04:00

Installment 1: Taking a stab at some girls' dress designs

2010-06-06T23:15:00.002-04:00

Walk

2010-05-16T20:28:00.002-04:00

The Best Thing I've Ever Seen?

2010-05-09T20:33:00.005-04:00

Just please, please please watch this.

Hoot Hoot, Woof Woof

2010-04-20T15:07:00.001-04:00

97

2010-04-18T19:15:00.005-04:00

This is a song snippet that was inspired by my friend Alyssa's painting,

which was inspired by:

Psalm 97:1-6,9

The Lord is king!
Let the earth rejoice!
Let the farthest coastlands be glad.
Dark clouds surround him.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire spreads ahead of him
and burns up all his foes.
His lightning flashes out across the world.
The earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
every nation sees his glory.
For you, O Lord, are supreme over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.

Anna's Dress

2010-04-04T16:24:00.002-04:00

My friend Amy's darling little girl in an outfit I made for her.

Art Noveau Spoonflower Contest

2010-03-18T13:29:00.003-04:00

I didn't have much time to work on this but I wanted to give it a shot so I slapped this sort of sketchy image into the latest Spoonflower contest which is an Art Noveau inspired design with a restricted color palette. A long time ago I took some photos of my beautiful friend Kelly, I wish I could find the originals, but I used a photoshopped version of it as a basis for this design. Kelly recently gave birth to her fifth child (at home, unassisted by anyone other than her husband.. amazing!) and has always been one of the most creative people I know. Here's to you Kelly! If you want to vote in the contest click here. There are some really amazing designs to look at.

Justified

2010-03-07T21:05:00.003-05:00

A Song I wrote for church

Justified

Enter in to the courts of the King

Come in boldly and draw near the throne

Trade your mourning in for a garment of praise

The accuser has been overthrown

I have come to adore

I am walking through the veil of your chamber Lord

Through the blood of the one

Who gave Himself for me I stand before You clean

I am safe in the shadow of His wings

In His love every fear is released

Therefore now there is no condemnation for His own

In His suffering He purchased my peace

Through his blood I am now reconciled

For I cling to the victory of Christ

If the enemies of God were reconciled through His death

How much more will we be saved through His life

You are the Lamb slain before all time

You're the broken Bread, the poured out Wine

I stand before You justified

Though I was dead in sin, I have been made alive

Swatches

2010-02-20T13:14:00.004-05:00

Some samples of fabric designs I've done. I've made a bunch available for sale at Spoonflower

SEEDS

2010-02-17T12:32:00.003-05:00

Overheard

2010-02-07T20:01:00.002-05:00

This is a conversation I just overheard in the hallway.

Elsie: Heidi, put this in your belly button.

Heidi: No, I'm gonna go night-night!

Elsie: Okay, but when you wake up, put it in your belly button.

Heidi: Okay.

ADENDUM:
I just discovered that "it" was a bicycle pump.

Single Eye

2010-02-02T14:26:00.000-05:00

Happy

2010-01-28T12:48:00.004-05:00

Please vote for my design in the spoonflower contest here if you like it!

We're Going to Make a Mess

2010-01-25T11:02:00.007-05:00

One day I got out some watercolors and thought that Elsie and Heidi and I could have some fun painting. I started mindlessly painting some flowers on a piece of paper. Heidi had a lot of fun painting her page black, but Elsie quickly descended into a helpless mass of whiny frustration because she couldn't make flowers like what I was painting.

I tried to explain to her in as many ways as I could think of, that we were just having fun and it didn't matter if her picture looked like mine. She didn't get it and was completely freaking out. It was freaking me out too. Why is my four year old becoming such a perfectionist? Any time she cuts something out and strays off the line, or makes a coloring mark where she doesn't want it, she completely looses it. What to do? I love art and don't want her getting discouraged all the time.

My mom was an art therapist so I called for her advice. She told me that in some of the workshops she's taught, the first task she gives her (adult) class is to "Make an Ugly Picture". It frees them up from thinking they have to produce something marvelous and gets them to just have fun. That sounded like a pretty good idea.

So one day not long ago, we made some homemade finger paints. I put out a big board for the girls to paint on in the middle of the kitchen. As I was explaining to them what we were going to do, I started to say "..and we're going to make a pretty picture" Oops! I stopped myself and said, "I mean, we're going to make a mess!"

Well, let me tell you, I have never seen Elsie have so much fun with artwork. Both of the girls were squealing with joy, squishing the colors around on the board. Not a whine of frustration did I hear! Now, the finger paint did end up in hair, on pajamas, on the cabinets, but it was worth it. I realized that at these kid's ages, making a mess is the best thing to make.

Raggedy Ann finale

2010-01-18T11:17:00.003-05:00

A dress like my Raggedy - After all these years! Thanks to Spoonflower.

David Trygg

2010-01-17T15:13:00.004-05:00

My Nephew Birthdaying in some overalls I made him out of Rachel's lion fabric. I love this fabric! And this boy!

Like it

2010-01-16T18:43:00.003-05:00

The beginning of something...

Move

2010-01-10T20:59:00.002-05:00

Whale

2010-01-10T19:46:00.002-05:00

A very simple thing becoming very complicated

Stuff I want to do

2010-01-10T18:34:00.001-05:00

Not Resolutions or Even Goals But Just a Bunch of Art/Music Stuff I'd Like to Do This Year….Or Some Year…

• sew my raggedy ann dress

• work on updating the illustrations of my mom's book & republish?

• write more songs to use at church

• work with nikki on children's book illustrations?

• design illustrations for the story of Christ's birth, make into a book of some sort

• practice upright bass

• design more fabrics, sell them

• work with rachel on magazine idea?

• design a house

• make designs and market my t-shirt idea

• write/record more psalms

• learn more about leading corporate worship

• get better at improvisation on guitar

• sing a song such as never has been heard in the heathen world (isa 42:10 amp)

2009

2010-01-03T21:10:00.002-05:00

Love Birds

2010-01-03T18:01:00.002-05:00

Spoonflower design challenge. I think this motif could look cool as a western shirt.

Stick Horses

2009-12-23T11:15:00.002-05:00

Jason and I made these for our kids for Christmas. Shh!

Lowly

2009-12-20T22:00:00.006-05:00

Lowly

How low did you go

Oh, very very lowly

Man born with the beasts

Oh, very very lowly

Son of a King

High and lifted up

But you drank the cup

Of the lowest of the lowly

You gave it up

To be a Man

Like one of us

When did baby stuff get cool?

2009-12-07T14:09:00.001-05:00

Colors are fun

2009-12-06T21:36:00.001-05:00

Flaming Pie Crab

2009-12-04T13:30:00.002-05:00

Last night I dreamed that this guy had trained his crab to run really fast and throw flaming pies at things. The crab took off running at about 60 miles an hour, then when it got within a few feet of the mushroom, it hurled the pie, rolling on its edge at the mushroom, so that the pie stuck in it and caught it on fire.

Red and What Else?

2009-11-25T13:40:00.001-05:00

Fake Quilt Wall Hanging

2009-11-23T09:56:00.003-05:00

Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.

Isaiah 49:16

I Love Ghetto Homemade Halloween Costumes

2009-11-09T11:50:00.004-05:00

I'm a tomato plant, if you can't tell.

Mother Daughter Acrylic...Nearly Done

2009-11-05T14:13:00.002-05:00

She got a little more robust...maybe too robust. I didn't mean for her to be pregnant. But I kind of like it. What do you think?

Pitter Patter

2009-10-29T19:21:00.001-04:00

A great parenthood song by friends Mackenzie and Randy Chester...

There will be a time for tea and coffee
There will be a time for quiet cafes
There will be a time for reading and writing
And dreaming the day away

But now is the time of pitter patter
Now is the time of what's the matter
Let me kiss you, make it better

Now is the time of sweet, soft kisses
Now is the time every mother misses
Over coffee in a quiet cafe

Early to bed, early to rise
Lay down your head, and close your eyes
Life is a dream that soon passes by
You will be grown in the blink of an eye
So please, let me kiss you one more time

Mother Daughter Acrylic

2009-10-29T11:04:00.002-04:00

This looks more like the one I dreamed. I have to look at it for a few days before I know if it's finished.

Fish are Nice

2009-10-28T16:38:00.002-04:00

Some Stuff

2009-10-27T14:02:00.001-04:00

Some stuff I've been hearing from God the past few weeks...maybe somebody else will get something from it too?

be at peace

i am listening to you

i will cause your heart to rest

you have locked me out with the lies of your brain

that you are not good enough to find me

take heed to what you think

treat your mind as a great battleground

take caution where you walk

for what is in your mind

has the power to sway your whole body

if you will listen to me

and hear what i say

i will cause you to rest

be at peace

the enemy wants to destroy you

and separate you from me

but i am greater than your enemy

and i will walk with you through the fire

do not let fear overtake you

or men call you and name you

your name is of me

and of my realm

your name is prize

and you are being fought for

i came for you

i came to win you

i came to steal you away

from your captors

be at peace

for your enemy is a footstool for my feet

i do not see you

as man sees you

i am not like a man

i do not separate your good and bad

and weigh you on a scale

and cut and divide you into portions

to see what is right and holy and just

i do not discard portions of you

and lay you to waste in shame

i am your redeemer

who redeems all of you

my treasure is in your heart

and you will know who it is that comes for you

who comforts you

i will not look at you and say "this is good, i like this part"

and "this is bad, this part is worthless"

instead i hold you in the palm of my hand

and blow into the recesses of your heart

and say you are mine

you are all mine

and you will walk with me forever on my paths

and no shards of you will be wasted

and i will make every broken thing a glory by which i will make myself known

i'm freeing you

i'm freeing you to worship

healing praise will flow from you

bask

i flow freely

i don't have to come to you

you choose to taste me

you step in

your beauty is in your freedom

i've seen you dance when you have no cares

you are not meant or made to be weighed down with care

anxious, worry, distress, these things are not for you

your beauty is letting go

it may seem hard for you to see past

what stands before you

but you have nothing to fear

your beauty is carelessness

your beauty is not separate from you

a thing to attain, no

your beauty is you

a thing to be released

you don't work to get it

it's already there

everything you wish you were

it is there, you already are

your beauty is that place you have known where "nothing matters"

everything was okay, it was okay

just to exist

i take no pleasure in those that would shrink back

i am depending on you to come forth

you will come forth

you will be noticed

you will speak and be heard

challenge yourself to accept my invitation

be bold today

i am offering you what i am

now offer me who you are

yes, be bold with me

assume i want to hear you

assume i want to see you

do not hide from me

take a chance

risk fellowship with me

stop denying me yourself

don't assume i have shut you off

before you even come

i am pleased

that you are moving towards me

trusting that i am good

what is plainly seen

has been hidden from you

because you did not believe

but now, as you believe

with each step closer

your heart comes more alive

you are awakened

i am always wanting

you to move closer

freshness, vitality

you're made to live in this place of freedom

knowing who you are

come and enjoy me

it is an old sinful mindset

it is not my new way for you

you know this

do not open that old door

or listen at its hinges

you are free to be who you are

without fear or shame

i want you to enjoy your life

your life in me

you are created to breathe freely

if it is binding and constricting

and making your heart feel bruised

it is of the enemy

the enemy is a liar

what is the truth

i will tell you what is the truth

you are made for glory

you are made for freedom

seek these things

and your treasure will be pure

i am not a harsh father

i am gentle and humble of heart

i do not break the bruised reed

i refresh the weary

i do not put out a smoldering flame

my wrath is for the wicked

for all who refuse me

i am near to the contrite in heart

i am near to the poor, the weak, the beggar

i will deliver you

this is my word to you

your enemy is shattered

i am coming to you

see and hear

be filled with the joy of the everlasting god

you had been sold to slavery

but now your heart is ransomed

and returned to your king

bow before me and let your heart rest

i'm not angry with you

here is my daughter

given headship, given authority

to rule and reign

here is my daughter, alive

go and be free

that which is in you is purity and wholeness

speak freely

walk without fear

go and believe

go and seek

effect change

heal

make my name yours

i am with you

you are a flowering tree

you have penitence about you

gifts flow and life wells out of you

hope for more

yesterday

you walked among thorns

and briars

that which would attempt

to choke out your life

i am calling you today

to come with me

into a hiding place

designed just for you

where these things do not grow

come to a place

designed just for you

where you will be able to

breathe freely

untouched by assailants

i am asking you to come to me

i am not turning you away

i am calling you here

you have feverishly tried

to do what is right

but your heart wound tight

you still live in fear

i am calling to you

can you hear it? listen

you fear to really lean on me

you keep your footing so you will not fall

but so you have not experienced my care

you have experienced your own

fall on me

will i catch you?

you are not meant to control your life

see the fish, they still live though you do not tend them

though you forget them altogether

i am here to care for you

let's go back to the beginning

i made adam and created eve just for him

from his bones and flesh

and he rejoiced because she was like him

now i rejoice because you are like me

can you bear this?

i see me in you, you are the same kind

i will that you be like me

and you are

if i will that you be like me

will i not care for your life

to guide you and heal you?

to bring you to know truth

you are like me

and if you will come deeper

i will show you

lift up your hands

surrender

i made you this way so you could

bear my glory this way

deep currents of joy are in you

healing waters, freedoms, deliverances

gaieties, laughters, hilarities, blessings

peace, truth, gladness

yes they are there, they are there

they are there

open your heart wider and you will know

stop protecting yourself

i am your protector

i am your king, your shield, your overseer

you are not alone

i watch your every breath

release your care to me

i am in charge of you

the care of life steals the fruit of the word

care for nothing

be delivered from care

yes i want you to enjoy freedom

this is not an option for you

this is not a frivolity

freedom is center stage

the crux of your life

oh, get it

stop thinking you are not obedient enough

to experience my goodness

i'm calling you to a life of freedom

obey me in this

come and taste of the waters of joy

it is imperative

my holy spirit's ministry to you

is peace, is refreshment

this is not a frivolity

this is your life

you see how you have done without it

you are anxious and afraid

i want to heal you

you have to believe it's for you

that i am not holding it back from you

please me

walk towards me

your faith pleases me

keep coming

every day

Car Seat Cover

2009-10-21T08:54:00.005-04:00

Using this pattern I found on Etsy, I made Heidi a new car seat cover out of some of the Raggedy Ann fabric I got from Spoonflower. This was a tough project; sewing through all those fabric and stuffing layers was very arduous.

Fish Tank Dream

2009-10-18T21:37:00.005-04:00

This is not really my style of music but it is so fun to goof around with Garageband!

This song is about a recurring dream I had over many years about a fish aquarium, and the interpretation I received while eating a fish taco with my friend's family. Whoa, I never thought about how ironic that was...

Wovenhand

2009-10-10T12:53:00.004-04:00

I went to a Wovenhand concert last night in Pittsburgh. Very interesting experience. Like being in the bowels of a wooly mammoth?

Concerts make me want to be in a band. Well, I've always wanted to be in a band, but I've never felt that I could just get some people together and make it happen. I believe God is going to have to put it together, the right people, the right place, the right time. I'm not getting any younger, and at age 34 with two small children, it really doesn't look like it's going to be any time soon, but if it's meant to be, and I believe it is, it will happen someday.

Raggedy Ann Fabric

2009-10-08T14:11:00.005-04:00

I got my new fabric which spoonflower graciously gave me in replacement of the scratchy fabric they accidentally printed Jason's Chinese village on. They have really excellent customer service. The print looks really awesome (much better than this photo), and there are no traces of banding anymore, even with the browns in the swatch they printed for me. That is very exciting, for those of us that love brown and could not use it in any large way in a design previously.

Photos

2009-10-06T13:43:00.003-04:00

I took some pictures of my cutie cute heads the other day in my husband's office, which is a small room that juts off the front of our house and has 5 windows, hence excellent light. Here are some of my favorites.

Snow on the Road

2009-10-04T21:46:00.001-04:00

Who would go out on this night?

Snowdrift road devoid of light

You pulled me into the bitter air

Who is driving, why and where?

Ice forms and melts in my hands

Drips from my hair and clings to my neck

I've been outside far too long

My eyes frozen shut long

You cannot see through this storm

This is not cause for alarm

Though you think it's you who drives

I am keeping you alive

Please Vote For My Spoony Flowers

2009-09-24T20:48:00.003-04:00

I'm in a fabric designing contest, there are 7 pages of designs to vote on and I'm on the 6th page, the green one by royal forest....

Click here to vote

Raggedy Ann

2009-09-21T19:38:00.008-04:00

This is my attempt to recreate the pattern on the dress of my beloved old Raggedy Ann doll. I think that the color schemes I have favored my whole life stem from this dress. They just make me happy!

Brown Dress

2009-09-20T12:58:00.003-04:00

Elsie is a photo-taking maestro now! She took this picture of me in a dress I made last week. I really love this pattern and I think I will be reusing it again and again.

spoon flower fabric contest

2009-09-19T17:56:00.002-04:00

For a spoonflower contest, in which the goal is to incorporate spoons and flowers into a fabric design.

Elsie's Picture

2009-09-18T13:33:00.002-04:00

My four year old took this picture of me and my husband this morning. I was pretty impressed!

Landmark

2009-09-14T14:12:00.003-04:00

I'm halfway through my beginner's upright bass book and I just learned a song called "Bile 'Em Cabbage Down". Pretty exciting, right? What does it mean? I don't know, but it sounds like a great one to bust out at parties. "Hey Mary, do you know "Bile 'Em Cabbage Down?" "Of course I do!"

Some of the others in my repertoire:
Rosin Rap
Teeter Totter
Tribal Lament
Pepperoni Pizza
Hot Cross Buns
4th Finger Marathon
Texas Two-String
Hop Scotch
Jumping Jacks
For Pete's Sake
Olympic Challenge
Olympic High Jump
Rolling Along

I will play any of these for your party for the right price

I can't believe this exists.

2009-09-14T13:50:00.002-04:00

bird repeat

2009-09-05T21:25:00.003-04:00

Lady Wisdom

2009-08-30T19:54:00.003-04:00

Prints available here: http://mary2.imagekind.com/RoyalForest

For Anna

2009-08-22T22:49:00.003-04:00

I made this for my dear friend Amy's baby Anna who is due very soon. It is the same dress and bonnet pattern that I used for my neice a couple of years ago.

Fabric Design

2009-08-16T20:52:00.002-04:00

Maybe I shouldn't call these fabric designs, since I rarely ever have them printed on fabric and make anything out of them. Maybe I should call them "potential fabric designs"?

Open

2009-08-02T20:57:00.002-04:00

Psalm 57

2009-07-26T21:05:00.008-04:00

Let your mercy come like spring
To the heart who trusts in you
I will hide beneath your wings
From the evil that pursues
In you my soul takes refuge

I cry out to God most high
For you alone can give me rest
And when the lions prowl outside
You send your love and faithfulness
In you my soul takes refuge

Time to come awake my lyre
Get up off the floor my soul
Give it all it's what you've got
Give it all it's what you've got
To the one who makes you whole
In you my soul takes refuge

They have spread a net for my feet
I was bowed down in distress
They have dug a pit in my path
But they have fallen in themselves

royalforest

Elsie's Lyrebird

Lyrebird Wall Hanging

Heidi's First Sewing Project

Esther: Part 1

Lyrebird

What Can Man

Dogs Playing Poker

Walking Tour of Spiders in the Woods

A Song with Heidi

Watery Burn

Eggplant Man

Laundry Room Door

More Dresses

Old World Birds Dress

Our Kitchen is Finally Done!

Winged Lion

Living Creature

Conga!

Psalm 103 excerpt

octopus guitar house

Uncle Ralph and Boots

Many Sparrows

Not Waiting

Sewing Kits Now Available

Hearts and Hummingbirds

Fishing

Gift

Remodeling

Two Poppies

Oranges and Elsie

Elsie's 2nd Sewing Project

Riley in Whale Dress

Octopus

Julane in Elephant Dress (Will Work For Oreos)

Elephant Dress

Sewing Projects

Finished Whale Dress

Finally

Anxiety Bucket

Genus

Must Have Big Twirl

Serge of Joy

Elsie's First Sewing Project

New Projects

Installment 2: Taking a stab at some girls' dress designs

Installment 1: Taking a stab at some girls' dress designs

Walk

The Best Thing I've Ever Seen?

Hoot Hoot, Woof Woof

97

Anna's Dress

Art Noveau Spoonflower Contest

Justified

Swatches

SEEDS

Overheard

Single Eye

Happy

We're Going to Make a Mess

Raggedy Ann finale

David Trygg

Like it

Move

Whale

Stuff I want to do

2009

Love Birds

Stick Horses

Lowly

When did baby stuff get cool?

Colors are fun

Flaming Pie Crab

Red and What Else?

Fake Quilt Wall Hanging

Recommended Reading

I Love Ghetto Homemade Halloween Costumes

Mother Daughter Acrylic...Nearly Done

Pitter Patter

Mother Daughter Acrylic