As I step into a new phase of my life…life after 50 I can’t help but reflect on how God has blessed me with a new life. Much of my childhood and years following were painful experiences that all lead up to the day that I asked Jesus to take over. Within several years I not only had a whole new life with mostly joyful experiences, but I’d grown so much spiritually and within my character that I’m an entirely different person. And although my physical problems continue (studies show that this is common with traumatic childhoods) I am able to know that God is with me and enlightening me in every trial, bringing me closer to Him and refining my perspective. Where’s the paradise? It’s here within, in living all the ups and downs, seeing more of the beauty of life than the ugliness, even when both are present. I’ve been transformed into a person with a positive perspective, someone with compassion, empathy, great appreciation and gratefulness to God for my life and everything that makes it what it is today. Yes, two days into being 50 and I think this is good, I’m where I had dreamed I would be when I was young and dreaming of who I would turn out to be when I’m “old”. LOL! I only feel older physically, but the wisdom of those years is a gift. An amazing birthday present from God, and I rejoice and praise Him!

Today I’m with my other gift from God, my incredible husband, the man that God put on this earth so we could be in-love all the days of our lives together. Mark has brought me to Hawaii (The Big Island) to celebrate my birthday where we’ve been able to relax, feel warm enough to wear shorts (!), and have seen and experienced being surrounded by The Creator’s truly amazingly beautiful wonders. We are both very hard working people and so having this time of rest and play has been a time of greatly needed refreshment!

I have many photographs of sea, sand, flora, birds, etc. that I’m looking forward to sharing with you. Today we’re heading out to spend the day kayaking to a snorkling area and picnicing on the beach. So here a just few photos for now…

Our view from the condo in Kona, Hawaii. I wake up each day and open the glass doors to let the sound and breeze from the sea engulf us! It never seems real, it’s so beautiful! I feel like I’m living in a postcard! LOL!

It’s this floral arrangement incredible? It’s a birthday gift from my wonderful brother and sister in-law! Many of these flowers are also growing in the gardens and around town! They are so exotic and never cease to amaze me with their beauty!

Mark and I watching the sunset.

The Love of my life, Mark.

Me, Hawaiian style!

Banana tree. We’ve been eating “Apple Bananas” everyday. They taste stronger than normal bananas and have a light pink core. I love them!

Sea turtle resting on the shore. Ah, I think I’m going to go join him now! Aloha!

Recently, Jessica and I went to Boston for a special invite only wholesale show. It was our first Layers of Color show booth (table) and our first teaching experience. We had a marvelous time meeting many wonderful people and learning the ropes of trade shows and teaching. The response to Layers of Color was overwhelming leaving us exhausted, but happy as Meadow Larks in the springtime!

Sharing some highlights of the show with you…

Laura teaching class  of 30 on House Shadow Box Cards

House Shadow Box Card using Backyard Birds, Flowering Gems and Butterfly Collector art stamp sets. Our wonderful contributors were VersaFine Inks & Finger Daubers by Tsukineko and Copic Markers.

We were honored to be among many top craft suppliers including BoBunny, Hero Arts and Tim Holtz. We met some lovely ladies from Magenta, Adorn It!, Copic, and Canvas Corp too. I wished I’d had more time to meet them all, it’s such a friendly industry. However we did get a chance to make many new friends who are retailers on the US east coast and we were successful in selling our art stamp line to many of them. Layers of Color is now in over 65 stores in the US and Canada! Praise the Lord for a very rewarding experience!

Jessica did a beautiful job decorating our table! It was colorful, unique and feminine, the best qualities of Layers of Color! We had binders filled with gorgeous designer samples, some of which were on the table, and we offered Seattle Starbucks chocolate covered espresso beans for a touch of sweetness!

Jessica at the show booth just days after her 24th birthday! It’s very special to share the business with my eldest daughter! She had so many talents and skills and is a joy to be with.

Some details of the table…The beautiful birdhouse is made by Kristine Breach and the Door Gem in the foreground is the fun project that we offered at the Make-n-Take featuring Architectural Blocks art stamp set.

The Make-n-Take was a blast as women had so much fun making them that we had many giggles at our table! Our wonderful contributing suppliers were Marvy Uchida punches (the 2″ hole), Tsukineko VersaFine inks and Finger Daubers, and EK Success edge punches (the bottom). Layers of Color Architectural Blocks are repeated throughout on paper splashed with Tsukineko Memento reinkers to make this a quick, easy, pretty and rewarding project.

More booth details, including these huge tissue paper flowers and leaves that Jessica made. The butterfly is from the Flutterescent art stamp set.

Jessie also decorated our pens and holder with tissue paper flowers, crepe paper and Flowering Gems art stamp set.

One last detail showing the tissue paper flowers and Nature Walk stamps on the chair backs that Jessica decorated spur of the moment for the show. A beautiful touch that added that special quality to the booth!

Thanks for visiting and sharing in our wonderful experiences!

May God bless your week with layers of color,

As a believer and an artist…

I used to seek out other like-minded people to learn about sharing my Christian faith through my art. For years I didn’t find anyone who shared my interest and so I prayed often, asking God to point me in the right direction and to assist me in learning more about how I could worship Him with the talents He gave me. Then one art project at a time God showed my heart and hands how to express my faith through my art. And one new friendship at a time He encouraged me and showed me that I’m not alone. So, on Friday’s I’ll be posting here about my passion for sharing faith through artwork in hopes that I can encourage and inspire you while glorifying God with the gifts He’s given me.

“In Christ I am a New Creation” Created with II Corinthians 5:17 on my heart.
By Laura Kirste Campbell

The following are excerpts…

God is the original Creator and He made us in His image. As artists we have a special place in God’s heart. The bible itself is a work of art. And it mentions many artists, even by name. There are musicians, writers and visual artists all adding beauty and joy to people’s lives. Scripture shows us how the arts can be extremely powerful. They can awaken us to truth and can change lives (1 Samuel 10:6), especially when produced with the anointing power of the Holy Spirit (1 cor. 2:4). We Christian artists can’t do what we do apart from the One who gifted us.

The arts move people because the arts speak to the heart. They excel at identifying with people’s pain and ministering the truth of God’s Word with sensitivity. Through our art we can encourage others with God’s word (Psalm 119:103). Art history confirms that paintings and sculptures have evangelistic powers of reaching hearts with visual stories of biblical history. As people long for God, we as artists can help point seekers to Him. Psalm 40:3 says that when we worship, it causes many others to turn to Christ. If we use our talent to create art to worship God instead of aiming to raise up ourselves, our art is glorifying God and pleasing to Him.

Our art can be more than an expression of celebration about Christmas, Easter, baptism, birthdays, and anniversaries. It can also celebrate God’s faithfulness, our loving relationship with Him, and answer to prayer (Phil. 4: 4-9). What better way to celebrate than to let the arts run free with creativity aimed at honoring God! Express what’s in your heart about God with your artful gifts.

We need to strive to become all that God sees in us, be all that He wants us to be. We must be as passionate about our godly character as we are about our craft or our art. (1 Tim 1:5) As church artists, godly character, our walk with Christ, our spiritual growth are all a vital part of creating the kind of ministry experience in which God releases the power of His Holy Spirit. We need to be known not only for our talent, but for our walk with Christ. We’re not just artists, we’re ministers too.

“Look at the Birds” Inspired by Matthew 6:26. By Linda Lucas

We’re in a golden era in church history when God is calling thousands of artists to use their gifts for Him as never before! God is raising up a global community of Christian artists who are fully devoted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in their lives. If that desire is in your heart, follow Him. What an honor and privilege to glorify God with our art and our lives!

(I give credit for the above ideas and excerpts to Rory Noland and his book, The Heart of the Artist, published by Zondervan, 1999.)

Next time you begin to work with your craft, take a moment to pray with heartfelt sincerity asking God to move through your mind and use your hands to create art that glorifies Him. Read your bible then create art with a passion and desire to express your loving relationship with Jesus Christ. Come share how God is showing up in your art! May all the praises and glory go to Him, Our Creator!

Your Creative Sister in Christ,

Wishing you all a very Happy Mother’s Day!

May your day be filled with love and joy!

And may your children rise up

and call you blessed!

(Proverbs 31:28)

Children are a gift from God.

Needle Felting

My friend, Heather visited last week and creatively enhanced my life, (as she often does). She taught me how to needle felt. Wow, what fun I having with this textural craft! I’ve always loved embroidery and working with yarn. Needle felting is like painting with yarn! And it’s also affordable, versatile and easy!

Needle Felting on a Purchased Sweater

I started with a simple knitted sweater from a thrift store. I bought a needle felting tool, mat & stencil, (“Applique Mold”) (Clover) and wool roving from my local craft shop.

Raised Flower Center

I stuck pieces of wool roving into the mold, placed it on top of the sweater with the mat underneath. Then I stabbed the wool with the needle tool until it was flat. I stabbed yarn for the stems freehand (without a mold). It’s that simple! It’s like sewing without thread. Mixing the various colors is one of the fun parts of this technique.

Needle Felted Flowers Made With Wool Roving

Multi-colored Needle Felted Rose

Pansies and roses are Heather’s favorite flowers, so I put them in my first needle felting project in honor of my teacher. It’s not at all finished, but I wore it to church anyway. I’ve seen ATCs made with needle felting, too. And I understand needle felting can be done on other fabrics, like denim!

I hope this inspired you to try your hand at needle felting!

Have a colorful day!