Ann~Margaret

Artist ~ Writer ~ Photographer

 

Art, Bible Journaling, Holly Gerth’s New Book, and a Few Other Things Making My Heart SMILE! ~ and, a Video!

*I started this post the other week, and the video was done a few days ago, too.  Ah, well, sometimes things get busy so I’m just happy to finally be sharing both with you!  

As I sit out here in my favorite big cozy chair all nestled in amongst the trees with a sweet breeze blowing, I am filled with so much excitement to think that before long the Fedex guy will deliver something I am so excited about.  Just the other day I was thinking that I wanted to make sure to start using my bible alongside my other inspirational books each morning.  I realized I have kind of gotten in the habit of just using the other books.  Many of them have verses in them from the Bible  to go along with the message so I suppose I always feel I am actually getting a dose of reading from  it.  But, it was just on my heart to really start using my bible more.  Two days later I see a post by Stephanie Ackerman sharing about the creativity she is doing in a journaling bible…how she found out about an amazing group focused on this very thing ~ the Journaling Bible Community…and, I am instantly engaged and begin hopping to the Facebook group and then, the blog of the lady that began it.  Her name is Shanna Noel, and she has started one of the most amazing groups on Facebook.  Women are coming together, sharing their hearts, colorful creations, stories, encouragement, and so much more…and, it’s all centered around the bible!  *You do not have to have this journaling bible to join in the fun…many are using notebooks, journals, the bible they already have, or another choice to journal their thoughts, art, and favorite verses.

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I grew up watching my mom use her bible all the time.  I watched her lovingly write in it…adding in thoughts and messages to go along with favorite verses or sweet remembrances that she knew she would reference over and over again.  I was amazed at how she used this book…how she gave it so much attention…how it was what she would pull out to really share hope and faith with us, helping us to learn that these would be some of the most valuable tools to have in life.  And, while some people may think it is odd or just not appropriate to write in the bible, well, I am thankful that I have a mama that did not let that stand in the way of recording her heart and thoughts in the most special book.  And, the other day when I was thinking that I wanted to use mine more…well, I thought about how much she has used hers…how the edges are worn in spots, how there are sentiments, notes, clippings, beautiful bookmarks, even photos tucked securely on some of the most special pages to her.  And, I thought…I want my bible to be just like that.  I sometimes have this little strange habit of not wanting to “mess something up”, and I realized that using my bible more in this way…allowing it to hold sweet details of my life, thoughts, joys, fears…anything on my heart…would be just the way to help me to ease out of that way a bit (a little something I am always working on).  *My sweet friend, Lori, has a beautiful giveaway that you still have time to participate in…it includes one of these special journaling bibles!  Hurry, hurry, go add your name in…she’ll draw a winner on Saturday!  🙂

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And, then, yes, that’s when I read about bible journaling.  Oh, my goodness, can it be any more perfect for me and my love for all things artsy!  I think not!  So, while I could have used my bible that I have I decided to order the journaling one so I will have more room to add in more notes, thoughts, and artistic creations.  I began this post on the day my journaling bible arrived so fast forward a few days.  The bible arrived, and it is so pretty.  Although it’s a pretty black leather cover, I plan to add something colorful and special to the front somehow…not quite sure just yet what that shall be.  This is the first page I have started…I’ll add paints and details to it to make it colorful and full of my heart.  I just love how it has the area on each side so I can record my thoughts, favorite verses, ideas, artistic touches, and so much more!  I like to just open it up and let my eyes land on a starting verse and go from there.  I’ve always been like this…I kind of feel that it is God sending me the most perfect message for that moment.  *This highlighted excerpt is from Holly Gerth’s new devoltional  “What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days“. In the video I tell you about her Facebook page where she is doing a study of this book, and you can join along.

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If you’ve been following my blog you know I will sometimes share a “vlog” {video on a blog} with you.  It’s been oh, so long since I’ve done that, and I’ve been itching to start them back up.  Just as before, these videos are my “fly by the seat of my pants” little visits with you.  Yep, that means that I am not going to stress over making sure the background is always perfect, that Cooper is not adding in his thoughts (barking!), or other little things that might make it a bit “creative”.  Nope, I want them to be spur of the moment..really “spur of my heart” ~ whimsical moments of me just having something I want to share with you and taking a few minutes to do so.  So, just as you will see/hear in the video below, there is the background noise of the tv because I truly just had a moment of thinking of things on my heart to share with you and stopped to do it!  No planning, no preparing…just pausing in front of my laptop as I passed by to chat with you!  I want my videos to feel as though we are hanging out at my kitchen table sharing a cuppa tea!  


*You may also visit my channel on Youtube to see other videos I have shared!  🙂  Thanks so much for taking time to have a “cuppa tea with me”!

As for the 30 paintings in 30 days hosted by Leslie Saeta…well, I’m working on that… kinda ~ in my own way…I’ll start today.  Last week was busy with some things popping up with the house and such and normal life stuff so I got a bit behind, and you will hear in the video that I’ve been gone quite a bit so I’ve been doing lots of catch up on a ton of things.  Here’s a new little piece of art I’m working on!

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And, of course, this cute lil guy is my sweet studio partner that keeps me giggling and on my toes!  Be sure to become a friend of his page, Cooper the Westie, if you haven’t already!  He loves sharing his shenanigans with you there!

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We hope you have a day filled with a sweet dose of SUNSHINE!

Hugs!

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Copyright 2014 Ann-Margaret, Artist~Writer~Photographer/Ann-Margaret’s Visions
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Ann~Margaret

Artist ~ Writer ~ Photographer