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Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
(John 11:23)
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ART MEMORIES - STORYTELLING
 Close-up of the gold metallic thread I used to create a shiny texture surface effect to play off the dense woven green fabric. I layered tons of machine zig zag stitches to put focus on the vertical emphasis. _________________________________ EXPLORING (process of becoming): I started with a cardstock pattern paper size 4x6 as my substrate. I played with the collage composition to see how I wanted to work with the varying fabric weights of my remnants. The centered green fabric with multiple metallic gold stitches was a leftover from a fun afternoon of creative exploration. It's the heaviest item to stitch down so I decided to make that my center focal point for the background. Over that layer, I stitched my most fragile paper remnant, from my Gelli printing done on copy paper. I loved the softness of the greens and the white edges, created from hand tearing the paper bits. I wanted to use this light, soft green layer of paper as a transitional pathway leading toward the batik fabric remnants that were sewn down next, making up the foreground. In the bottom corners are some bits of heavy recycled canvas fabric painted over with a glaze of brown acrylic paint. The stem was made using that same recycled canvas. I loved the feel of the heavy canvas sewn down over the background remnants. It served well as an anchor providing an overall feeling of stability to the sewn collage mini art quilt.  I layered torn strips of batik fabrics in plum and brown tones to represent the thin soil, sand, and rocks that did not have anything growing - except that one stem that pushed through the dry soil to grow upwards. I decided to use a cotton thread in the color yellow ochre to signify the golden rays of light that had traveled over the barren land, through the stem and hovered over the bud ready to keep moving upward and outward. What will be its fruit? What will be its flower? Only God knows those details. I choose to focus on the blessing that it's never too late to grow (resurrect) - when God is in control. |
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A Tip For Sewing with Gold Metallic Threads?  Metallic threads are gorgeous but a huge pain to work with. Either the thread breaks while machine sewing, or makes a bird's nest under the fabric, which jams up my machine. This causes me to have to troubleshoot the machine hoping and praying that I can fix the problems myself. Or worst, at times, it causes me to get the machine professionally repaired - $$. I even tried hand sewing with gold metallic threads but the thread twisted on me while I worked on the project and created knots causing me to stop my hand stitching. I would then have to cut the knot, thread the needle, and begin sewing again, just to have the same situation repeat itself. So for many years, I gave up on using these beautiful shimmery metallic threads. Until recently I found a way to work with it! I don't know if I read this tip, or heard it on a podcast, or Youtube video but THE TIP WORKED! Here is how to machine sew successfully with metallic threads. You have to "buddy up" the thread with another thread that is well-behaved (any cotton, polyester, or cotton blend will do). You must make sure the eye of your needle can manage well by having two threads threaded together. My machine serves as a Serger too so I am able to sew multiple spools of threads through my needle. I loved the results. I used a similar color thread in cotton to marry well with the golden metallic. I soon found myself playing, partnering various color threads together. I played and played until I had to stop my creative exploration to start making dinner for the hubby. Try that tip and let me know how it works for you. This not only allows you to bring in a reflective thread that bounces the light through your artwork but it also creates a lovely texture to feel. _____________________________________ ENJOYING (spiritual wellness): What I've learned through my creative exploration, and mark-making, inspired by the Word (John 11:23) is that growth (resurrection) can happen in unlikely places and that God is 100% in control. The seeds that I try so hard to control, to grow where I want them and under the conditions I desire are always over the Father's ruling. Sometimes God shows me favor, grace and even mercy and growth occurs where I expect it. But more times than not, I am learning to wait patiently for the Lord to direct the growth in pathways that are favorable to his ways, his will. What's amazing is that God works even as we sleep. He desires for us to rest our mind, body, and soul and have faithful hope in our waiting that his ways are best. What I "see" as barren soil is just a seed at rest until Jesus says to rise again. I am in the midst of returning back to blogging after being away for a full week. My health concerns with my fibroids lead me to seek a medical procedure that took place last Monday. The recovery was not as I had planned it. I planned for a week of non reupholstery work and no machine sewing because of the discomfort I was advised that would be part of the recovery process. Well, in my mind I heard "no reupholstery, but I can still work on reading books, setting up my online shop, and computer stuff to continue the growth of my creative business". Boy, was I wrong? I had forgotten that I'm a lightweight when it comes to meds and let's just say, I DID A LOT OF SLEEPING and when I was awake, MY MIND WAS NOT MY OWN. Retaining information was difficult and again, did I mention that I did a lot of sleeping. It wasn't until yesterday, Sunday, that I finally went a day without meds and I'm now getting my personality back :) I created this DAY 5 mini art quilt the day before I went to the hospital but I just never got around to posting it. Let's just say I'm doing the 100 DAY PROJECT in my own unique way. The John 11:23 scripture is one of my favorites, which I journaled about on January 17, 2023. In the word, we learn that Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave because he wanted to provide a new way for people to experience the sovereignty of God (full control of all things). At that time many of Jesus's followers had been listening to the teachings of Jesus. They heard how God made all things and ruled over land, sea, and all animals and plants. There was nothing that was not under the control of God. Even life and death. Jesus used the rising of Lazarus as an object lesson. People could now learn by seeing the sovereignty of God. We all know the story, how it was many days after his death and even his own sisters told Jesus to not even bother that the body was not smelling good and it was too late. Martha had faith and she knew Jesus could perform miracles. But her expectation of when, and at what time the miracle would come was of her own choosing. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (v. 21) Here is where Jesus teaches that we are to have faith in the process of waiting for the things we hope for. We must believe in Jesus and that he is who he says he is - our sovereign God. "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (v. 25-26) I take this Word as a seed to grow as wide and as tall as Father God allows it to grow in me, through me, and in spite of me. Let's face it, I need to grow in my patience but I know God can grow things in unexpected places, even in a heart that is resting during recovery from a fibroid procedure that went from just day surgery to require to stay overnight at the hospital. Instead of one or two days of recovery, to a full week of resting. Guess what, I'm so much better for it, and yes, I'm growing and when God allows so will my creative business. Online Shop under construction to open with inventory this week. ~ Blessings, Sandra Reflect & Pray_________________________________ JOURNAL: What are you waiting for God to do or provide on your behalf? How can you wait by faith? PRAYER: For You, Father, I wait. Grant me Your strength and faithful hope in my waiting. _______(CHANGEMAKERS)_______ |
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