The Mystery of Glory

I used to struggle with sorrow. In my youthful naiveté, it seemed the world just should be happy—or joyful. That it wasn’t I knew, but nevertheless I clung to the belief that it should not be as it was, i.e., often a sad place.

But at some point in time—or at some level—I came to embrace the Season of Lent in a way I enter into no other liturgical season of the year. Though it is a time of penance, prayer and fasting—things not usually associated with happiness and joy—I look forward to these weeks every year as the best, so much so that I often experience a letdown at Easter. Instead of rejoicing with the rest of the Church triumphant for six weeks after Lent, I spend six weeks reminiscing over the loss of the closeness I felt to Jesus when I was carrying a cross of sacrifice.

My question now is how do we as poor weak humans share in His Glory? This Easter Season, I am resolved—with the help of the Holy Spirit—to pray the Glorious Mysteries every day and meditate on these mysteries: The Resurrection; The Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven; The Descent of the Holy Spirit; The Assumption of Mary and The Coronation of Mary. If I am graced with understanding on even one of these great mysteries I will count myself blessed indeed, for truly when I contemplate them, they amaze, overwhelm, awe and confound my feeble human capabilities—which is probably as it should be.

Nevertheless, if it be God’s Will, I desire this Easter Season to be as spiritually fruitful as has been the Lent which has just past.

We should be joyful.

There is much sorrow.

I want to believe in the Glory and the Power forever ... so I do. But I know I don’t begin to understand it ... or Him. Glory mystifies me.

Oh Lord I believe. Help my unbelief. ~Mark 9:24

New Birth is in the air!

Chirp!
(That's 'good day' in sparrow language).

c.1848

Today I'd like to focus on all the New Birth that this season brings us.

The new birth of baby birds.

The new birth of baby animals.

The new birth of flowers blooming.

and

The New Birth that Jesus Christ gives us with His death and resurrection.

c. 1899

 “Everyone wants to understand painting.

Why is there no attempt

to understand the song of the birds?"

...Pablo Picasso

Rubber stamp image courtesy of VivaLasVegaStamps.

Check out Stampo's wonderful website, listed on the right.

 

“I like pigs. 

Dogs look up to us. 

 Cats look down on us. 

 Pigs treat us as equals.” 

~Winston Churchill

c.1906

wildflowers

"Endless repetition, in and out of season, has spoiled for us

the freshness, the naivete, the simple romantic charm of the Gospels.

We hear them read far too often and far too badly....

When one returns to the Greek,

it is like going into a garden of lilies

out of some narrow and dark house."

....Oscar Wilde, from De Profundis

Here's a sweet bear paper doll, with her baby bears:

 'For God loved you so much 

that He gave His very own Son

 so that when you believe in Him

you won't perish but have eternal life.'

paraphrase of John chapter 3, verse 16, Bible

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures

 from the shelter of compassion and pity,

 you will have men who will deal likewise

with their fellow men."
— St. Francis of Assisi

Let me close with:

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

Easter chicks galore!

Hi!
First of all, don't you just love the word 'galore'? We just don't use it enough.
So, today we will have paper dolls 'galore', chick coloring pages 'galore', and darling chick photos and vintage clip 'galore'!

Since I know you have that big ol' box of crayons out from yesterday, here is a fun Easter Chick coloring page for you!

and another:

Here is a rubber stamped card from Peddler's Pack:

Okay, okay, I know these wonderful eggs will not become cute little chicks,
but the card was so pretty I had to add it!

So, here are some more chicks:

and another vintage postcard:

“Our theories of the eternal

are as valuable as are those

of a chick which has not broken

its way through its shell

might form of the outside world.”

 - Budha

Here is a fun little paperdoll by Lucinda Darbin, courtesy of OrigamiBears.

Be sure and make some extra outfits!



And we can't leave out Betsy McCall, now can we?

"We can see a thousand miracles around us every day.

What is more supernatural than an egg yolk

Turning into a chicken?”

- S. Parkes Cadman

Here is a tip for making your own Easter egg stands:

Cut a toilet paper cardboard core into 1 inch cylinders.

Have fun decorating with stickers, scraps of fancy paper, lace and ribbons!

Now, how easy is that?

Here is a darling little cupcake recipe from McCormick's seasonings:

Chick Cupcakes

Hatch a batch of these cupcakes this Easter with your little kitchen helpers.

Makes 12 (1 cupcake) servings.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

1 container (16 ounces) vanilla frosting

McCormick® Assorted Food Colors and Egg Dye

2 cups flaked coconut

12 unfrosted cupcakes

12 plain donut holes

12 pieces candy corn or 6 orange jelly beans, halved lengthwise

Miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Tint frosting yellow, using 18 drops yellow food color. Place coconut in resealable plastic bag. Add 12 drops yellow food color to coconut in bag; shake until coconut is evenly tinted.

2. Spread top of each cupcake with tinted frosting. Press opposite sides of each cupcake into tinted coconut. Spread donut holes with remaining frosting. Press a donut hole into top of each cupcake to form the chick’s head.

3. Press coconut on top of the head for feathers. Insert a candy corn or jelly bean half into the face for the beak. Use the chocolate chips for the eyes.

Test Kitchen Tip: For ease in frosting donut holes, first insert small wooden skewer into donut. Use skewer as a handle when frosting donut. Invert frosted donut onto cupcake then remove skewer.

Copyright © 2008 McCormick & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | www.mccormick.com

And for a final too cute end:

Hope today's blog has made you smile at least twice!

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

http://www.myinkspired.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

A Vintage Easter

Good day!

 a stamped card colored with glaze pens

Today I am in an Easter mood. Not the chicks and eggs and candy sort of Easter, but an Easter with the belief that Jesus Christ died for our sins on the cross, and was buried in a borrowed tomb, and that 3 days later he rose from that grave in a new body - resurrected. With His resurrection we are assured that He had conquered death, and could offer us eternal life with Him in heaven.

There is solemnity.
There is deep grief.
There is sorrow.
BUT there is also joy,
there is hope,
there is confidence.

c.1905

'Restored'

"Whenever I lose my sight of the Cross,

Black clouds surround me and I feel almost lost,

Although on Calvary my soul was set free,

I forget that Jesus really did that for me.

Sometimes I wrap myself up in myself,

And try to live my life without my Lord's help,

And again those clouds appear and nothing goes right.

Life stops when I let Jesus out of my sight.

Don't you know what Jesus wants of you

Is everything you've got my friend,

For you to give it all to Him,

And that is where your true life begins.

And when I resolve to live day by day,

I communicate with God and He leads the way.

The skies are blue and Jeus smiles down on me,

As I walk reminded of the price He paid for me."

c.1903

  

"For God so loved the world that He didn't send a committee."

- church bulletin humor

c.1905

"Peace on the outside comes from

Knowing God within."

I know these say Christmas Bells, but I like Easter Bells!!

c.1896

c.1897

Don't forget, you can print these wonderful antique song sheet covers, and cut out.

Take your Mod Podge glue and a wood plaque (available at all craft/hobby stores)

and decoupage the cover onto it.

What a beautiful and unique wall hanging!

After decoupaging, you can add some silk flowers to a corner or two for added beauty.

These vintage prints also lend themselves very naturally to collage/altered art.

Take a coffee table, or end table. A chest, or?

Decoupage on a group, overlapping the edges. Add some vintage lace in while you are decoupaging. This produces a stunning, gorgeous piece of art furniture that is functional.

Be sure to use the clear acrylic spray to finish it, after all is very dry.

This will prevent the tackiness from the Mod Podge.

I like to use Krylon products, they always produce good results.

 c.1890

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son

so that anyone who believes in Him will not die, but receive eternal life."

from the Gospel of John, chapter 3 verse 16

c.1917

"We may give without loving,

but we cannot love without giving."

- Bernard Meltzer

This is a lovely photo from Ireland:

Glansevern Hall Gardens circa 1840

"There is no death, only a change of worlds."

- Chief Seattle, North American Native

"Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection,

not in books alone, but in every leaf of springtime."

- Martin Luther, theologian and reformist

I do hope you enjoyed this little stroll through

my vintage Easter, my present Easter, and my future Easter.

sincerely,

inkspired

http://www.inspired.etsy.com/

http://www.myinkspired.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

Bunny bibs, vintage art and paperdolls

Tomorrow is April Fool's Day. Are you prepared?



Here is a little joke to play on co-workers. This idea is from my mom-in-law, who can have the greatest sense of humor!

Faux Chocolate Candy:

Take clean cotton balls.
Dip in melted chocolate chips with a 2-tine fork, or with a skewer.
(you can easily melt chips in microwave, stirring well, but don't over heat!) 
Place on wire rack over wax paper to set.
Place on plate and chill well.
Offer to friends and co-workers. Keep a straight face.
caution: make sure the person receiving has a good sense of humor!

original one of a kind bottlecap by inkspired

you can find more of my art at:

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

Indoors or out, no one relaxes in March,

that month of wind and taxes,

the wind will presently disappear,

the taxes last us all the year.

~Ogden Nash

Here is a little Joan Walsh Anglund paper doll to get your mind off taxes!

She is all ready for those darling Easter Baskets!

Print this out on both sturdy cardstock (for the doll) and glossy paper (for the outfits). Spend some time with your daughter. Help her cut out the dresses. Show her how to make outfits for the new paperdoll using tracing paper and plain typing paper, magazine clippings and colored pencils.  Decorate a big envelope with her to store the doll and all her outfits and accessories.  Make a simple little cardstock stand so she can stand.

Why not make a little Easter scene with the doll, accessories, some colored eggs in stands placed all amongst paper grass?

Here is another Joan Walsh Anglund paper doll for you to have fun with:

Wouldn't these hats look cute with little silk flowers glued to them?

You can print this out and include it in a Spring card!

Simply mail in a larger envelope, so nothing gets bent.

Or, roll up gently and place in a mailing cylinder.

“Springtime is the land awakening.

The March winds are the morning yawn.”

- Lewis Grizzard

c.1917

c. early 1900's

c.1918

“Spring has returned. 

The Earth is like a child that knows poems.” 

~Rainer Maria Rilke

This is a photo of a vintage, handsewn bunny bib.
Let's make our own!

Simple bunny bib:
~ Blow up this photo as large as you want, or just free-hand draw a bib shape on butcher paper.
~ With a pencil and butcher paper, practice drawing on the bunny face and ear details.
~ You can also use tracing paper over the image to get it as close as you wish to the original. I encourage you to personalize it however with your own drawings!
~ Still unsure of your talents? There are tons of iron-on designs out there. I find books regularly on sale at Michael's or other craft stores. Look at your favorite fabric store and you should find iron-on books there too!
~ Transfer design onto bib fabric. A transfer pencil (found at craft/hobby stores)  works great for this.

...choose fabric that is soft, washable and absorbs well. Flannel is a great backing choice.

tip: Why not use a dollar store white towel? Or a colored towel?!?

Okay, now you decide if you want to machine embroider on the details, hand embroider the details, or use fabric paint to do the face.

For Single Layer Bib:
if embroidering:
...don't cut out bib yet. Play with the stitches on your sewing machine for satin stitch binding and other decorative stitches available on your machine. This is a great time to play with some designs that you have never used! When ready to finish, stitch a tight satin stitch all around the outside. Then cut out, being careful to not cut into satin stitches.
..........alternate: use seam binding to finish edges.

if hand stitching:
...don't cut bib out yet. Leave enough fabric around bunny bib to fit inside an embroidery hoop. When finished embroidering the face details, you can remove from hoop. Cut out bib and use a simple binding stitch (sometimes called a buttonhole stitch) to finish all raw edges.

if hand painting face:
...using a hoop or desired painting surface, follow lines with paint. Remember this is a bib, so don't use too much dimensional paint. Baby's face will need wiping, and this is not so pleasant with paint sticking up or a stiff fabric!
...finish with any of the suggestions used above.

tip: Did you know you can purchase a paint add-in that will allow any acrylic paint to be turned into a washable paint? Check out your paint or fabric painting section. It's great stuff! Comes in bottles that look just like a paint bottle.

For double layer bib:
Simply add a layer to all the types of finishing mentioned above. Face details go only onto the front fabric of the bib. When stitching the edges for a final time, be sure your second layer is being caught up in the stitch. If you pin the layers together this will stop them from shifting too much. After stitching all around the edges, check to make sure your layers are sewn together smoothly.

...advanced: right sides together, sew along edge, leaving small openings for ties at neck. Turn inside out. Hand stitch in ties, closing all raw edges. Press.

How to fasten:
1.  I like the seam binding or sturdy ribbon method used for the ties. You can add these while you are finishing up the edges. Make sure they are washable.
I understand there is some concern that these ties could be a hazard to baby.

Hellloooo!!! ...Common sense - don't leave a bib tied around baby's neck if you are not actively feeding him/her!  Baby doesn't need to sleep in a bib. Baby doesn't need to play in a playpen with a bib. Baby doesn't need a bib in the car seat either!

2.  You can use sewn on velcro dots. Be sure however that these are not going to touch and irritate a baby's sensitive skin by rubbing on it.

3.  Make a button hole and sewn on button. Caution: could be a choking hazard if baby likes to remove things and chew things off (button).

I hope you enjoy your bunny bib. These would be great in a baby's first Easter Basket. You can fold one up and pop into a padded envelope to easily mail it. And of course - perfect baby shower gift anytime!

additional fun:
Wouldn't these look cute embroidered onto washcloths? Make a set of 2,3 or 4 and give with the bib, or just by themselves!

“The day the Lord created hope

was probably the same day he created Spring.” 

 ~Bern Williams

Have a bunny-rrific, paperdoll playing, smiley kind of day!

for sale by ellie58, etsy

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

http://www.myinkspired.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com