The Color Purple

The shades of purple, lavender, and lilac seem to be everywhere!

It is amazing how light affects color. Lavenders turn to blue or lilac turns to pink.

Sometimes pansies look purple. In another light they can look blue.

All these shades of purple and lavender inspire me to adorn similiar colors in the Spring.

I am also motivated to use the same shades in making a card for a wedding shower. The bride who is receiving this attached to her gift has also been stirred by these lovely shades of Spring. The colors she has chosen for her wedding? Purple and green.

Was William Shakespeare born on this day?

"My heart unto yours is knit so that but one heart we can make of it..."
-A Midsummer Night's Dream".
This lovely quote was written by William Shakespeare.

Today is the day that it is said William Shakespeare was born. No one really knows for sure. Historians do know he was christened on April 26, 1564. At that time babies were usually christened one or two days after being born therefore April 23 has been chosen as the day of his birth. So much of our everyday English language has been influenced by him and many of us are not even aware of it. How many of us have heard or said, "love is blind", "what's mine is yours","forgive and forget","Friends, Romans, countrymen", "It was Greek to me", "neither a borrower nor lender be" (ha -everyone would do well to remember that at this time), "parting is such sweet sorrow". Those are just a few examples. There are many quotes we say, as well as beautiful descriptive language that Shakespeare penned. Google "William Shakespeare's quotes" if you'd like to see more.

Earth Day

The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

Who may ascend to the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Psalm 24:1-6

Thank you, Lord for the ability to sow and reap good things from the earth. Thank you for an earth (like us) that can be renewed everyday.

Hope

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation subjected to frustation, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:18-25

(photo by J.J.)

Make Your Own Wrapping Paper

When I wrap a gift I search for paper that matches the card I have made. The other day it occurred to me that I could make my own wrapping paper. Why have I not thought of this before? Just take plain white paper (I used paper from a big flip chart I had left over from AWANA and Sunday School) Or even use newspaper (you'll see that gesso covers it all) Find a flat area--the kitchen table, the floor, the basement. Lay down wax paper to protect the surface. Next lay the paper you want to paint. Apply gesso mixed with a little water with a brush. Cover generously. Let dry overnight or for a few hours. Flip your paper and apply gesso and water to the other side of the paper. Let dry again.
Now comes the fun--Apply two colors of acylic paint one at a time. (I used gloss acrylic paint for a shine) Apply your darker color first. Cover the paper completely. Dry. Then apply your lighter color in streaks.
Before the lighter streaks dry, use the same color of lighter acrylic to stencil a pattern across your paper. The pattern will look as if it comes and goes.
Let your paper dry flat or hang to dry. Use the same paint for your card or cut some of the paper to use as the background for your card.