At the Cross

Stay calmly conscious of Me today.

 

 

I will not allow circumstances to overwhelm you, as long as you look to Me.  I will help you cope with whatever the moment presents.  Collaborating with Me brings blessings that far outweigh all your troubles.

 

2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

 

Have a blessed day!

 

xo-

Lara

 

Pattern Paradise

Pattern Paradise

 

 

I have been painting all kinds of patterns to make some mail art and fun, patterned art journals.

 

This is just a sample of some of the patterns.

 

Check back in the coming weeks to see the fun projects I create with all this pattern paradise!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Expect miracles, laugh often, and always color outside the lines.

 

xo-

Lara

 

Cross Art

 

I was talking with my pastor the other day about a new ministry we were starting and I noticed that the wall behind his desk was VERY bare.  It needed a piece of art to fill the space.

 

This is how the cross was born.

 

 

First I took several scrap boards and stained them with six different stains.  Then I cut them into pieces to fit on the 1 x 6 background boards.  This cross is fairly large.  5' x 3'.  So, there was a lot of staining and piecing of boards.

 

 

I also tried a stain resist to add his favorite Scripture.

 

 

After the boards all fit together well...I went back and used wood glue and my nail gun to secure it all.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Expect miracles, laugh often, and always color outside the lines.

 

xo-

Lara

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mail Art

Happy Birthday Mom and Amy!

 

My mother and sister-in-law share the same birthday.  While I got to enjoy lunch with my mother today; my sister-in-law lives across the country.  So...her birthday greeting had to travel a few miles!

 

 

I made her a little leather cuff to wear.

 

This is my mother's gift.  She spends A LOT of time sewing and quilting.  So...it was only appropriate to cover the canvas with a vintage pattern.  Then I drew a few flowers and added a few doodles.  She will hang it in her quilting room with her little collection of my art! 

 

I'll have to take a picture of my mini gallery! 

 

Thanks for stopping by to help me celebrate my family today!

 

Expect miracles, laugh often, and always color outside the lines!

 

xo-

Lara

 



 

At the Cross

Philippians 2:4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

 

Have a blessed day!

 

xo-

Lara

Feather pendants

Remember the new stamp I carved?

 

 

 

Well...here is a look at two Boho pieces I created using the impression!

 

 

These are clay pendants, stained to look like leather, and hand-painted to add detail.  The necklaces were created using Sari ribbons, vintage lace, and fabric scraps.

 

You can find these beauties listed on Etsy!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Expect miracles, laugh often, and always color outside the lines!

 

xo-

Lara

New Heart Pendants

I have been dying to create something!  I have been cleaning and organizing for a week straight...seriously!

I didn't stop cleaning to create...because I knew I wouldn't finish cleaning! ;-)

 

On Sunday evening...after I was done cleaning for the day...I sat at my table and made these.

 

 

I have been wanting to make some new heart pendants.  I just wasn't sure what I wanted them to look like...the one with the necklace is finished.  The other two still need a few layers of "awesomeness" to highlight the textures and to seal the clay.

 

The little cross can be worn in front or in back.

 

You can find these guys listed on Etsy later this weekend.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Expect miracles, laugh often, and always color outside the lines!

 

xo-

Lara

Preparing Treasures for ART

I have been back in my garage...building shelves and cutting pallets and side-of-the-road treasures to make my second round of mixed-media houses.  This group will be a little larger than the last set of houses.  The first set of houses...you can see them here...were made from deck spindles that were on the side of the road.  This set of houses started from 4x4 and 2x4 posts that were scraps. 

 

 

You can see all of the "charm" these beauties have already!

 

 

This is the first coat process. 

 

Most of my pieces, even the small pendants get a coat of spray paint.

 

 

 

I can't wait to show you how these beauties turn out as summer unfolds!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Expect miracles, laugh often, and always color outside the lines!

 

xo-

Lara

 

 

 

 

 



Getting Treasures Organzied

 

I just couldn't take a picture of my garage BEFORE the organizing! My mother and daughter would have been horrified!  So...just trust me when I tell you, it took ALL last week to get it together!

 

I built this shelf...and two others to get everything settled nicely into a "creative" spot!

 

These are all of my flea market/garage sale/dumpster-dive/side-of-the-street finds!

 

I take these unwanted and unloved treasures and make them new!  You will see several of these beauties come to life this summer!

 

I know...too much of a tease!  Be thankful this is the only picture I took!  There are "treasures" galore in this garage!  Just ask my mother...(hee hee)  She reminds me often that I have too much "junk"!  Although, I will tell you...I took her with me the other day to a sale...and she swiped an AWESOME "junky" desk out from under me!  I guess I'm going to have to watch her more closely!  ;-) 

 

Thanks for stopping by! 

 

Expect miracles, laugh often. and always color outside the lines!

 

xo-

Lara

 

 

At the Cross

 

It's summer!

 

As a teacher you LOVE those words!  It is a time of relaxing, renewing, and for me...

MAKING ART!

 

I've taken a bit of a break from blogging for the past two weeks.

 

I had to get some SERIOUS cleaning and organizing done...so that I could get down to business with my creative process for the summer!

 

More to come about that tomorrow!

 

I was reading my devotion the other day...I LOVED what it had to say:

 

"Seek My face, and you will find fulfillment of your deepest longings.  My world is filled with beautiful things; they are meant to be pointers to Me, reminder of My abiding presence."

Jesus Calling - Sarah Young

 

Psalm 19:1-4

 The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
 Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
 They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

 

I LOVE the reminder of God's art.  He doesn't need words...just a breathe-taking sunset, He doesn't need words...just a field of wildflowers...He doesn't need words...just a scenic drive through the mountains...He doesn't need words...just an ocean crashing waves at your feet!

Our God IS an awesome God!

 

Have a blessed day!

 

xo-

Lara