Monday, December 31, 2007



Happy 2008!

Monday is my day to post and it so happens this year, I am privileged to welcome the new year....

Happy New Year
I wish you a Happy New Year
filled with peace, love and light
and keeping God always near

I wish you a Happy New Year
filled with laughter, smiles,
happiness, and cheer

I wish you a Happy New Year
online friends and family
You all have been dear

I wish you a Happy New Year
2008 is on it's way
and 2007 is soon to disappear

I wish you a Happy New Year
Good luck with your new goals
I pray you persevere


Dani

Thursday, December 27, 2007

A Little About Me

For those of you who don't know a whole lot about me, I felt like I should share a little about myself. For some reason, it's laid on my heart that it might help somebody else. So here goes. I was married for 17 years to a very abusive alcoholic. Stayed in there thinking that divorce was a sin and should try to make it work for the sake of the kids. But now I know I was hurting them by exposing them to the life we were living. You see, I honestly believe that when you marry someone outside of God's will, he doesn't have to bless it. But out of everything bad, God brings good. And my 2 kids (now not "kids" at all, but will always be my kids) were all the good I ever needed. Three years later I married the most wonderful man in the world-God sent- no doubt about it. My very best friend in the whole world, and truly my soul mate. We've been married for almost 17 years. Now, Satan has tried to attack my family with everything. And I do mean everything. Drugs, alcohol, gambling addiction, divorce, prescription drug abuse, abusive Pastors and churches, "friends" who lied and slandered our name and did unrepairable damage, you name it. But you know, how true it is that if God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it. My testimony is: I'M STILL STANDING!!!!

I have 4 beautiful grandkids. And right now we're down to only 2 dogs-Tip the Jack Russell and Sydney the Heeler. Our other dogs have since gone on before us. And yes, I believe there will be animals in heaven-how else will Jesus come back on a white horse? Our horses left about 2 years ago, after our priorities changed and the grandkids came along. Of course the fact that we weren't getting any younger played a big part too. We still have, and it'll always be "2 Much Farm". The name came when we started out with two acres (which were heavily wooded and we cleared most of it by hand), two horses and we were always saying, "this is just tooo much!!" I really think this is just a preview of what heaven will be like. It might not seem like much to others, but I really do love our little farm.

My husband is a drummer and I'm a keyboard player for a band, "Street Corner Crusade". We don't really call us a "Christian Band", but a band who's members are "Christians". We don't consider our music to be Christian nor secular, but music that brings a good message. A message of love, which is what Jesus said is the most important gift of all. And we feel led to share this message with others. Although we haven't played a gig since the Sonlight Festival in July, the ministry has taken different spin. Jackie is playing with the Ambush Band, and the outreach has taken us in another direction. We don't understand why, and we questioned it in the beginning, but everytime we're "out in the world" and we share what God has laid on our hearts with others, we know that this is where God intended for us to be.....at this time. We also DJ together.

Let's see-what else? Oh yeah, I love candles, my home, country primitive decorating, flowers and plants, chinese food and pizza (not when eaten together!), all styles of music from bluegrass to blues to soul to southern rock. I love my Momma-she's a great lady-my wonderful Aunt Evelyn who practically raised me (thanks Evelyn), my 2 brothers and my sister, all my neices and nephews. And of course my husband, my kids and grandkids,and my 2 dogs. I still love my horses-wherever they might be. I love REAL people, like Joyce Meyer and Darlene Bishop who don't claim to be perfect and will admit they have weaknesses and make mistakes just like me while we're here on earth "just passing through" to a better place. But while I'm here, the Lord has truly blessed me with a wonderful life and a wonderful family to share it with. Even though it seems like I complain all the time, I really do have so much to be thanking Him for. So, Jesus, if you're reading this-THANKS SO MUCH. I'm really not worthy. Sometimes I'm very out spoken and brutally honest. Some say it's a blessing. Some say it's a curse. I truly never mean to hurt anybody's feelings or make anybody mad. But I would rather somebody be that way to me than to lie to me.

Well, that's it in a nutshell. You wouldn't have the time to read the WHOLE story. After all, it's been 53 years in the making. Bottom line: I love Jesus and give Him all the glory for the accomplishments and failures (because I've learned and grown sooooooo much) in my life.

If some of this hits home to you and you're not quite sure what to do. Do what I did. Let Jesus handle it. Trust me. He can do a WHOLE lot better job. If you're reading this and don't know Him. Ask HIM to be your friend. He's the best you'll ever have.

Thanks to all my friends here at GTPF. And, oh yeah, thanks Baby, for being there for us these past 17 years.


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Tuesday, December 25, 2007

True Christmas Love

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This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10

May you discover the true beauty of the season and have the merriest Christmas ever!

Blessings,
Lea

Monday, December 24, 2007

New Years Eve





In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.


Wishing you and yours a wonderful peaceful Christmas, with love,

Dani

Friday, December 21, 2007

My First Love!

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When I was little, I can remember asking my Mother and Grandmother to teach me how to embroider. They took an old raggedy dresser scarf that was stained and torn, wrote my name on it in simple letters, and gave me a threaded needle and showed me how to make a simple back stitch. I finished my name, and I thought I was just the greatest because I now knew how to embroider!

I wish I still had that little scrap I completed that day. I would frame it and give it a special place in my home -- only because of the special memories it gave me to hold on to forever and always.

I guess that is why I just love the simple stitcheries with sayings on them. I can just envision children living during the turn of the century times learning to make their stitches even and perfect on all kinds of old linens -- dish cloths, doilies, dresser scarves, etc. Over the past few years, I have stitched literally hundreds of these myself. I think I became obsessed with them! And most are done on dresser scarves, doilies, etc., that already have some type of vintage embroidery already done on them.

The Lord told the parents of the Isrealite homes to be sure that they taught their children the ways and words of God. They were to "Write it upon their hearts" and "Write it upon their walls" so they would not be forgotten. (Deut. 6:9) Well, I have taken Scripture verses, hymns, little poems and rhymes and have made these stitcheries so He would never be forgotten.

In the next few weeks, I plan on listing many of these stitcheries on Ebay. I really hate to part with any of them. They became a part of me as I was stitching them!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Merry Christmas Ya'll

I'm so excited about my very first post here at GTPF.....and have no idea what to post!! I'm very thankful for friends in this group that make me feel so loved and welcomed....and have helped me tremendously through inspiration and guidance and teaching me how to blog!! As I was sitting here wondering and praying what to post today, a dear friend of mine sent me a email and I thought, "Thank you God. This is exactly what I want to say". So, I'm passing this along to each of you. Thanks Brenda Jackson....hope you won't mind if I stole this :)



CORINTHIANS 13
CHRISTMAS VERSION
(paraphrased)

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
Strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,
But do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies,
Preparing gourmet meals
And arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime,
But do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home
And give all that I have to charity,
But do not show love to my family, It profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes,
Attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata,
But do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated
Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way,
But is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return,
But rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things,
Hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost,
Golf clubs will rust ... But giving the gift of love will endure.
You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.


Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Christmas Tree Love to all!

Christmas tree 2007

What a beautiful BLESSING to us!

Many thanks Linda for your kind words! I am so fortunate to have found this beautiful inspiring group of friends to be in my life.

You give a new meaning to "BELIEVE" as I always say I "DO BELIEVE" to anyone who asks me and I always offer it but, this saying today is in a whole new light for me.

DO I really believe in myself? That is a whole new question and thanks for opening my eyes to it. I wonder! I wander, I do!, in my thoughts and dreams of more and different. I need to settle in to who I am and be happy with me. The saying" Bloom where you are planted" , I really do need to believe in that saying as well.

Thanks for all the many smiles, you give to me, this whole group, here as well as our other blogs, sites, ebay groups, everywhere we meet. Even in our thoughts of each other is a smile and thanks for all you have given to me in this short time we have known each other.

I am truely Blessed to have my friends and family that do care about me and I should care about myself. I have received so many Christmas cards from friends that I only hear from once yearly and I do not keep in constant contact with. I guess many of us do in the December Holiday Season. I am blessed to have them all in my life and even remember my name. I shall make an effort from now on for many more communications of friendship and love shared among all.
I do love my Prim Sisters! That makes me feel so special! Bless all of you!
Smiles, Cyndi :-)





Tuesday, December 18, 2007

This banner is just a sneek preview of what I am working on to list in the New Year. At the moment, I am taking a little respit to prepare for the coming Holidays. I have a few new designs for auction templates which will be released right after the 1st of January, and I am working on some website designs as well. In the meantime, my "old faithfuls" are still available through my Ebay Store as are all of my graphics, banners, certificates, and stitchery patterns.

"Thank You" to everyone who supported me in this new path this year. If anyone would have ever told me a year and a half ago that I'd be doing this kind of work full time, I wouldn't have believed it! "Our God Is An Awesome God"!!! He can use our skills in ways we've never dreamed if we just hand it all over to Him.

If there's anyone out there reading this wondering if they will ever "find themselves".... Believe. Believe.

Each one of us is His precious child and He will lead us if we put it all in His hands. Funny, you know? His hands are strong enough to hold it all, but gentle enough to let all the bad stuff slip through, until all that's left is the beautiful person He created us to be...

Love & Peace... *Linda*

Monday, December 17, 2007

Introducing My Farmhouse Blessings Etsy Shop

I am so pleased to announce the opening of my Farmhouse Blessings shop at Etsy!

At Etsy, I'll also be selling my early style stitcheries and my handcrafted primitive dolls like this sweet little Annie.



Just click on her picture to read more about her and see my other handcrafted items at etsy.

Blessings & Peace,
Lea

One In The Spirit!




Merry Christmas! I am Dani, and live in inland Southern California with my husband of 34 years and our two sons, who are 16 and 19. We also have two adorable cats...
I am so blest to be a part of the Glad Tidings group....good fellowship, prayer, and fun. Even though we live in all parts of the US, different ages and places in life, we are one in the Spirit. God has brought us together and this is His work.
We blog on our own also, so please check out the different blogs, mine is Eagles Wings named after one of my favorite scriptures...

Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. (KJV)


I love to do all sorts of crafting, learned from my mother and grandmother how to do embroidery and cross stitching...my paternal grandmother was an avid crafter with castoffs way before it was fashionable. She also searched thrift shops and garage sales for treasures back in the 50s and 60s..I guess I am a lot like her in many ways.
I posted one of my journal or memory jars as they are newest creations...please check my store for more details....I kinda like to think of these as memory preserves!
There is a link at the bottom of the page for the China Lake Shoppe...that's me!

Friday, December 14, 2007

God is soooo Good!



Clicking on this picture will take you to my ebay store!

First, I want to thank everyone in our group who has helped so much in putting together this great, cozy place in this huge thing called cyberspace! You have all become such wonderful friends to me, and I thank the Lord every day for you, your talents, your love, and your prayers! I love you all!!

I've been working in crafts since the 70's, starting with hydrocal painting and ceramics. I loved giving classes, learning new techniques, and gracing my home with the finished product. I've dabbled in china painting, dolls, etc., but my true love has been the primitive and victorian type of crafts. When I moved to Virginia and lived in an old farmhouse on 240 acres, somehow I felt drawn to everything old! I just couldn't bear to throw anything away, no matter how worn and torn it was. I loved making memory arrangements in everything from sifters, colenders, and cigar boxes, to collages using old photos, laces, quilts and dried flowers.

After moving back to Florida, I began a wholesale business which lasted for a few years until I just burned out. Making the same thing over and over and over was hard for me, as I would have rather been creating new and different things.

Now, my time is taken up making angels, creating stitcheries in the old childish fashion on old, embroidered linens and doilies, and finding ways to make use of old quilts and quilt tops.

I love to write, and deepest parts of my soul are best stated in my poetry and my writings. I've tried to find creative ways to share these poems, etc., and enjoy making collages that incorporate them into the finished product. My goal with these is to encourage others as Christ has encouraged me and to take someone by the hand and lead them, even for just a few steps, through the desert periods of their lives.

Thank you so much for taking the time to let me share with you a little of myself, my creations, and my Lord Jesus Christ!


Thursday, December 13, 2007

A new adventure... by Andra's Whimsy Prims

WOW! I can't express to you how excited I am to be starting this adventure with all my wonderful GTPF sisters!! I don't even know where to begin! This is the most amazing group of women... they are all so devoted, to God, to their families, and to each other! Being the "baby" of the group I am always learning something new... and at the same time I feel blessed that God has used me to help them out aswell... who knew?? lol!

My name is Andra.... and i'm a WAHM of 2 busy little boys.... and a devoted wife to my best friend of 10 years..... that doesn't seem like alot except that i'm only 25 lol! We have been married for 4 1/2 years. After much struggle i can honestly say right now our life is blessed..... far from perfect.... but blessed.
I have been making and selling primitives for 5 years... selling locally for 5, on ebay for 4, and on my own site for 9 months.

Here are a few of my favorite creations... and don't forget to check out what i have on ebay right now! From now untill 2008 all combined shipping is $4.60... some of the listings have multiple sets available.

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZandrasQ2awhimsyQ2aprims




Wednesday, December 12, 2007

God Bless You from Miss Pootsie's Primitives

Hello! My name is Penny King of Miss Pootsie's Primitives & Finely Embellished Goods. Glad to meet you.

A little about me? I'm 54 years old & the Mom to three wonderful daughters, and a SIL. I also have the most beautiful granddaughters in the world!!! Jordan is 11, Randi is 8.

I am a born again, Bible believing, forgiven Christian! Jesus Christ is a part of my everyday life. I believe that He is always with me, just as the Bible tells us.

I love many different types of art and crafting. I make dolls, some art dolls, some paperclay sculpted, some Raggedies. I love to paint, watercolor being my favorite medium, but I mostly paint with acrylics on stretched canvas's now.

Glad Tidings Primitives & Folkart is my home-away-from-home. It's my Bible study, my worship service, my prayer meeting, and my favorite place on the internet! The sisters I have grown to know and love there are talented artisans. I have learned so much from all of them. I thank God for their fellowship & friendship.

The following scripture is one of my favorites. It always speaks to me in EXACTLY the way I need to hear it!

Jer 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Thanks for our visit. Come back soon.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Penny

Here are a couple of my recent creations. Clicking on the first picture will take you to my ebay auctions:



Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

frstyfrolk's ByLightOfMoon

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

I love this photo I came across and I know it was meant to be shared. It reminds me of what my Grandmother's Christmas wardrobe might have appeared like. I find myself enchanted with those simpler times well, it seems simpler to me in my hectic life thoughts today but, I am sure I can NOT imagine how hard her life was then really. Getting up to get the chicken eggs and have a hot breakfast, getting the stove going for hot cocoa as she called it (hot chocolate to me) ??

I yearn to re-visit many of her days in my altered art mixed media Primative Style. When I can relax and get involved in my art, it journeys me to a place I desire to stay. I am collecting all kinds of abandoned items to recycle them for another use.
I have old windows, screens, boards, cans, bottles, fibers like yarns, ribbons, fabrics and vintage laces, crochet, etc. I could go on and on.

I shall share them with you as I embellish what is in my head. When I see it, so will you. Smiles,

My first sale was Four Halloween Pumpkins this FALL 2007 to Canada.
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and I have to list my altered art wall cone? tussy mussie?
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

I am working on a new banner for my Blogger site! I am honored to be in Glad Tidings Groups and I BELIEVE!
smiles, cyndi

OH Lord, Thou didst create the earth for man, and gave him the fruits of the earth and of the flocks and herds for his support, and hast said that food is to be santified by prayer. Santify this food to us, and us to Thy service for Jesus' sake. Amen"

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Hi Everyone!
I'm Linda of Linda*Pinda*Designs.

The most important things in the world to me are Faith, Family, & Friends and being a part of this wonderful group of women helps me to center on those priorities and to grow on my journey everyday.

I just love primitives and folkart and have dabbled in creative arts all of my life thanks to my wonderful mom. God led me down a new path this past year and the bulk of my primitive business has been designing graphics and auction templates. This has been challenging and rewarding. Of all the wonderful things that have happened through my work, my prim sisters have been the greatest blessing!

When I'm not designing or primming, I'm busy keeping the homefires burning here in Southern New England. I have a wonderful husband, 6 precious children, and 1 cuter than cute miniature schnauzer, Merry!

Besides primitives, I love to write, take pictures, garden, cook, and share "the good news"!

Please feel free to visit my website: lindapindadesigns.com to learn more about me and see some of my offerings.

Prim Blessings... *Linda*

Meet Lea of Farmhouse*Blessings



To read more About Me and view my current auctions, just click on my photo.

I remember loving to use my hands to make things since I was a young girl. Just give me any little scrap of fabric, a needle & thread and I was one happy girl! I haven't changed much. I'm still passionate about creating things to make my home a pleasant place to be. I truly enjoy sharing my work with others as well.

I must say that I am a bit partial to early style stitcheries & primitives dolls. Here is a sampling of my work ~



I am so thankful & blessed to be part of such a lovely group of talented Christian artists. Take a peek at their work. You won't be disappointed!

Moving Forward!

During the past few months since starting our new group, we have all been working hard on our creations, getting to know each other better, and setting up our own individual blogs, websites, etc. We would love to share with you who we are, what we do, what we like --- but most of all, we want you to know the Christ we so much love and worship. Each day from now on, each one of us will take turns posting something about ourselves, what we are working on, and where you can find out more.
Glad Tidings Primitives and Folkart is an exciting group of gals who love God first, Family second. . . .and the work of their hands are proof of it all!
Thank you for being patient as we organized and planned this all out. We have surprises planned for you, so please check back often!