Roosters n Relatives?

Greetings and holykisses,

I don't know how many weeks the "rooster cupboard" was on lay-a-way; ...several!!
But finally, ... it's home in the barn.

Maybe it was the hand-painted roosters?.....
Maybe it was the mustard and black, crackled n peelin paint?...
--I don't know?
Must admit; I wondered what Myguy would think when he first saw it? The poor man heard about it for weeks, and also saw a picture on my phone, so I guess he kinda knew what to expect. And he was cool with it! He did wag his finger at me somewhat over "how" I got it there by myself.*



So here's the rest of it.
I know it's missin the porcelain top. -I'm hoping we still have an extra one in the shed. If it doesn't fit - that's okay too. The vertical board on the bottom door also needs a dab of black paint so it doesn't stand out so much. -- And ya never know; ... in time; the whole thing could turn turquoise/robins egg blue? Just think of all the possibilities?!!! For now; I kinda like it "as is." The shelves and cubbies will be filled with olde crocks, and chicken waterers etc.
Now; if only we could train Olde Percy the guinea to quit pacing around the coop and kickin up so much dust. It's enough to dust the furniture in the house let alone in the barn as well!

Now onto the relatives! I came upon another find this week and I'd like to share them with yall. "Vintage relatives photos"
I found a whole case of them at the thrift shop and I thought some of you might like to use them in your Art and crafts too. Here's the first one, and I'll start adding them under the soul journaling tab above. Feel free to use them however you like! I plan to photocopy them as well to use in my journal pages.

I'd add a few more right now but tonight is our Sisterchicks bible study here, so I better get busy.
Our lesson and homework was all on forgiveness, and I'm anxious to hear everyone's thoughts and what they learned this week. --There's a possum pie chillin for them in the fridge but I still need to rustle up some dinner for Myguy before they all get here!

Have a blessed day everyone,
Holykisses xoxo
Lea

Learning New Things......It's Possible!

Greetings and Holykisses,

I'm smiling, as while I've been piecing together this photo collage, a Sister in Christ has been texting me and God's totally using her to speak His truth into my soul. goosebumps!

Some of you already know that I love to write and love to make things.
Well, last year I discovered putting the two together: Art Journaling. (Thankyou Sherry!)
It has been so much fun and it blows me away how God's word just explodes like a kaleidoscope not only on the pages of my book, but mostly in my heart!!!

While journaling the other day, I did some dreaming.
It took me back to over a year ago when I asked myself a raw question.
If it were possible, .... I would_________. (fill in the blank)
At that particular time, I filled in the blank with how badly I wanted to lose my extra weight.
I was so pained by it.
Then, when I finished, I wrote this verse:

With GOD all things are possible.

From that day on, I began to believe that with God's help, ... that dream of mine could come true. And it did. It wasn't easy, ... but it was possible. With God's help, I lost over 30 pounds.

So recently, while journaling, I found myself dreaming and journaled the same question.
My answer is to learn more about GOD through Art and to better express myself through collage and mixed media. I tell you I'm so excited! I feel like a sponge filled with paints of every color imaginable and God's word is just drenching my very being.
I don't know what will become of this dream.
But He does.
And I know He makes thee
impossible,
possible.

Have a great day!
Holykisses xoxo

Oh Happy Day

Greetings and Holykisses!

When I came in from the garden this morning I looked down where I park my olde shoes and grabbed my camera. I keep seeing this verse from the book of Ruth, and the two paired up like this. Funny sometimes... the many ways that the word of God comes to us isn't it?!!



I had to show you this sweet little gift left beneath the feeder this morning. I think it's from a blue jay. I made sure to pick it up so it didn't blow away before I finished watering. I don't know where it will end up... maybe my soul journal?
Last night I dug up all our taters and then tilled the whole garden again. We didn't get a very good harvest but I can't complain. The garden was under water for days so it's a miracle anything produced at all.

Notice the first summer squash and the little onion on top? We have lots of onions but this one... shhhhh is gonna get chopped up and added in our sloppy joes tonight. Don't tell Myguy. He likes the flavor but if he even thinks he sees an onion flake.... well; you get the picture.
We had another ruckus here last night. It was late and Myguy and I were out on the back porch listening to a whippoorwil, when from the henhouse came a loud shriek! We both looked at each other and then more disturbed clucking began. We ran inside to grab our shoes, and I went for a flashlite and he went for the shotgun. I knew I'd shut the little trap door in the coop earlier that goes to their outdoor pen so I figured it was a snake. (Wrong.) Myguy was greeted by another Pepe LaPEW. He slammed the door and yelled SKUNK! How the thing got in there is beyond me. --I ran for cover. --But not Myguy... he regrouped and charged. lol He's really gotta be kin to Daniel Boone. Before I got back on the porch I heard KAPOW! I hollered, "Did ya git him?" Myguy: "I think so."
He left it in there til morning and then chunked it over the fence into the woods.
He said it was a really little one. But even the little ones have a big stink don't they.

Today I held my breath and went in the building to see if I could figure out how it got in but found nothing. I'd let the chickens all out yesterday to free range and at dusk when they went back to roost I walked inside and closed their trap door and shut the big door behind me. I shudder to think the thing might have been in there already. ? surely not???
So we're back to working on the "new" chicken coop.
No more motorcycle riding every night until it's done.
Myguy said hopefully this weekend it'll be finished.
The new pen has a trench dug around the perimeter and these panels are concreted right into the ditches. If anything tries to dig under now, it's sure to be disappointed. And hopefully the wire top will be as much of a deterrent. Ha Ha varmits!
Even more exciting than the ruckus at the chicken coop was my bible study today.
It was just "one of those days." You know how God will give you these awesome revelations.... words jump out at you... and things seem to come together more than they did the day before.-- I almost felt guilty for all the time that I stayed right here. How appropriate that the lesson brought my adversary to my attention. Because satan doesn't want us to be in the word. he want's to keep us from it and will use whatever means he can to keep us distracted. So we must

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" 1 Peter 5:8

As I sit here writing... I look at my table in this photo and it also takes me to the story of Martha and Mary. The Martha in me sees my house when this picture was taken and thinks how she oughta be sweeping the floor, and tidying up. Her to do list swirls in her head. "She really should be mulching tomatoes. There is a whole haystack that needs to be pitchforked into the bed of her truck. She even thinks about tossing out her coffee cup because it's just gotten too stained. It bugs her. Lots of little things just bug her.

....Then there's the Mary in me who wants to stay at the table. She wants to pour another cup of coffee in that blessed cup, and just feast on the word! Today, that's what I did. I even grabbed a slab of zucchini bread to go with it. ;)

"but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10: 42

Moving forward, I know some of you crafters like to alter cans so I thought you might like to see one I made to hold my offerings. Even if I find a penny on the ground... it's going into this can. From there... it will go where God tells me. Maybe the offering plate... or maybe to someone. He knows.
Had to add this picture of yet another blessing this week.
Looking through some of my Angel Mother's things; I came across her overalls. I remember her wearing them alot. Then it dawned on me that since I've lost weight; maybe... just maybe they'd fit me? They fit! These are now my happy little overalls as my friend Blaine called em.

Funny the little things that can just bless your heart isn't it?
These are now my most favorite britches. lol
This was taken just yesterday and I've already washed them so I can wear them again tomorrow. ;D


I've been taking my camera with me every time I go into the garden lately. With all the baby birds and flowers blooming now ... I don't want to miss something!
The lil sparrows have grown alot in just 3 days time. And they're scared of me now. If I get too close they disappear into the box.
As I walked past the mailbox I was soooo happy.
When I showed you the picture the other day, I thought there were only three babies. But all four eggs did indeed hatch! And look at the guinea feather! I didn't notice that the other day either. I guess bluebirds love polka dots as much as I do.
Lastly, I'll show you what it looks like when my creative juices start flowing. Right after my bible study time, verses were coming to me and words so I grabbed my soul journal.

Even my ephemera book had perfect words for my time with God this morning.
I couldn't find my paper scissors so I did a no no and used my "fabric only" scissors. Then I remembered the cute lil stampin up scissors tucked in a drawer. Those things are wonderful!

I haven't started the writing part yet but hope to finish these two pages this evening. So if you're interested... check under the soul journal tab later and I'll try to start adding more pictures.
Thanks for journeying with me!
I hope yall have a wonderful day!
Holykisses xoxo
Lea

~My Shabby Olde Soul Journal~

Greetings and holykisses,

Some of you asked about my soul journal; so....I thought I'd share some of my pages. Keep in mind I'm no artist and I think I've only really finished two pages so far. To me; so long as there is space to journal... or doodle; .... then it's not done. I'm finding as I journey along, that "my" soul journal really does tell a story of things that God is teaching me along the way. If you're interested in beginning one of your own; at the end of this post I'll share the link that my friend Sherry of he{art} gave me that got me started.

In the page above, I used an outline of myself and was thinking alot about how people are measured or valued by the world. The world's standards and God's are so different. -- Man looks at the outward appearance, but thankfully God looks at our heart.


This page is one of my favorites.
I like to use vintage sewing patterns in my layers; they really give an aged look.

On this page, God had me in the word ABIDE.
Picking up my bible, the word "abide" just kept jumping off the page at me.
"And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming." 1 John 2:28
On these two pages, I was following the prompts to close my eyes and doodle.
Then, looking at the lines, you start drawing from there, and .... I dunno... it's just fun!
These two pages have alot of in between layers and journaling. I painted over and over to hide what was written. The rickrack label was a "gift" from my friend Irene. RickROCK Irene!!!!
There's a lot of room for more journaling.

This spread started out my royal mess.
I'd written in my other journal on a really "off" day.
Have you ever had one of those days that you wrote and when you re-read it all later, your jaw dropped to the floor? Yeah... one of those days.

I was in a MOOD.
No.... a BAD mood.
I wrote alot of UGLY, and couldn't just leave it there.
So I tore the pages out of my beautiful italian leather bound journal- which made me sick in the first place, and then glued them down into my soul journal instead. Oh don't go tryin to figure out what I was writing about coz you'll never ever know. I'd written alot... and these are pieces and pages that don't even go together.

After gluing them down way out of order...
I then happily covered it all up with gesso.
And more journaling....
And paint...
more journaling... gesso, paint... -- you get thee idea.


I glued more stuff down... more paint... and I'm tellin ya.... my soul was SO refreshed!
It's kinda cool coz through the whole process, alot of prayin went on.
Okay; and....
Some serious repentance.


What started out a battle in my mind....
Well; let's just say, God is good at fixin our messes.
And with Him...
sweet victory.
Even the muddy water looked pretty after all that.
This page is when God started showing the coolest things about His light!
Some of the layers were kinda deep... other things... light-hearted.
Remember I told you that I like to splatter paint?
This is why.
I learned at Sarah's site one of my favorite things about soul journaling: is to just drop color onto your book and close it up!!! Whoda thought? But once I started doing it, ... I loved it! I also love to get my brush wet and flick paint all over. It's messy and wonderful! Gotta wear an olde apron that's for sure!
Here are some splatters I really liked. Yellow, pink, and blue: together.
This page was done using a picture of our church sign. I actually just got a start on it here. In my heart, it goes along with the book 1000 Gifts I'm reading, and also how God's teaching me about His light. I think I'm gonna use my white gelly roll pen and write a verse in the dark edge around the sign. For starters anyhow!
The other side of this page goes right along with my scripture memory verse at the LPM blog.
I need to use that gelly roll pen to doodle a vine at the edge of the green next to this photo... -- And who knows what scriptures will come to me in the days to come and end up on these pages?
I think this picture was taken the same day as the one I made for my banner. Anyhow, I copied it off and used it on two other pages.
I'm finding that I like to use the positive and the negative of a picture. I haven't journaled anything on these yet.... but I know on the right side I'll write a prayer to go along with the words: "upright in mind and heart." I know sometimes my mind and heart can be the very opposite of upright. But He's refining us day by day right?
Staring into my background here.... I'm anxious to start journaling.
Remember the colored balls my friend Sherry sent me that I blogged about?.....
They ended up in my soul journal too. ;)
At the soul journaling site, you'll see a picture of Sarah's hands in a cute heart.
She was my inspiration one day to photograph my own.
And I've started a new page using them.
I've decided to use them to "soul" journal my blessings, having been inspired by Ann Voscamp's book 1000 Gifts. -- I now have a background...to "build on."
I can't tell you how much fun I've been having doing this... and you know what is really amazing?
I find that while I'm soul journaling... I spend even more time in the Word. The two go so hand in hand for me.
So if you're inspired, and want to know how I started
Visit Sarah Whitmire and have a look at her prompts.
I'm so happy my friend Sherry introduced me to this.
It's one of my favorite things to do now!
It's definitely good for my soul.

Holykisses xoxo
Lea

Discovering Hidden Layers

Greetings and Holykisses,

I have so much to share today and wasn't sure quite where to begin?!!
The last few days have just been so good! And the coolest part, ... is how so many things have been coming together!!! Since I can't share it all in a day, I thought I'd show yall how God seems to be showing me new things through two totally different avenues: happenings in my craft room, and truths from His word through my bible studies.


A friend of mine recently introduced me to Soul Journaling. I shared a page here at the Shed of my armor page from my journal and how God's been showing me to put my armor on daily and to know and remember that He's my strength.

Back to the soul journaling.... - I've been following a list of prompts so I can learn new techniques in the artwork. But at the same time, I'm finding God leading me in this whole new direction! The spiritual lessons He's been giving me through it has been so incredible! Uncovering spiritual truths, ..... having scriptures flood my mind, and finding God's truths while creating in my craft room has been- well it may sound weird but.. an absolute blast!
What I love about the Soul Journaling is discovering my hidden layers.
When soul journaling, I've been starting with two pages and then cover them with torn book pages, or other ephemera. Then, in ink, magic marker, pen... whatever... you journal! You just write...... So far I have followed the prompts but.... from there......... is where the "heart stuff" is happening. You know the verse: "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Jeremiah 33:3 Well.... that's what I'm going to be praying for the whole rest of my Soul journaling. "Show me God!!" Because He will!

Like many of you; I have many journals. I've always, always loved to write.
I was the little girl in grade school who loved to go into class early and write on the chalkboard.
I loved to doodle... and still do! I'm a happy doodler! Even my journals are doodled upon. I guess that's the part in me where God wired me to be creative.

This Soul Journaling has become so much more though.
For one: it's safe. How? Because of the layers!! How many times in the past, have you wrote your heart out, and then later worried... "someone might read your journal?" I think often times, it's our own shortcomings we'd just as soon kept hidden. But what I'm learning with this new style of Soul Journaling is that uncovering my soul, and laying it all out there.... before God (and He already knows it all anyways).... and then moving forward by covering it with the next steps is like soul therapy! lol I love it! I tell ya, it's .... sometimes eye opening and God's really used it to help me to see areas in my life that I've needed some restoration and healing.

Another blessing I've recently discovered is a radio program I've come to really enjoy.
It's called Midday Connection and although I can't seem to find it in my area; I use Itunes and download the podcasts to my Ipod. This way, everyday when I take my walk, I can listen while the Corgis and I walk around the pastures.

By enjoying these free Podcasts, I found my next bible study! Perfect timing too coz
I'd recently finished my No Other god's book, and really didn't have an idea what to do next?
One day while walking and listening, to Midday Connection I was blessed to hear Becky Harling discussing her book Rewriting Your Emotional Script.


It is now my newest "read" and study.
Somehow, for me; it's also perfectly enhancing my Soul Journaling!
The book shows how the Beatitudes can help us rewrite our emotional scripts, layer by layer throughout our journey.
And my soul journal is also uncovering negative layers. I pray and journal what comes to me, and the artwork goes on top: Layer by layer by layer. When I soul journal, I can write about past hurts, disappointments, failings, sins,... --everything. For me, it has become an open confession. Then; with layers, and color, and more layers, God has been helping me see them for what they are; some are true, and some are false!!-- Lies of the enemy! And then, He helps me replace those past things, with His promises, Truths and WORD instead. I've been so enjoying it! I can hardly wait for the pages to dry, so I can turn the page, and begin again! -- Speaking of which; it's a new day!

Holykisses! xoxo
Lea