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Be Thou My Vision has been a favorite hymn of mine since the group GLAD did the Acapella Project back in 1988. It was my senior year in high School, and all the kids in my youth group were loving this album—that’s saying something for this band to make hymns so popular for teenagers!

Actually, all the hymns in the Acapella Projects became favorites because of this group’s amazing job singing them. (You can hear “Be Thou My Vision” by clicking on the link)

Anyway, when I saw this crazy-looking woodpecker’s image online, I knew it belonged with this hymn—the 3rd verse in particular:

High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all

The woodpecker has a victorious stance, even regal looking with that red crown on his head. And he is looking up, like he is climbing up to reach heaven’s joy.

When I was little I thought the phrase in the song “High King of heaven” was “Hiking up heaven”. And I thought you would have to hike up to get there by foot—haha!

May we all keep our vision on the great High King who won our victory and may we find heaven’s joy no matter what befalls us in this life, by keeping our eyes on the King.

When people see my geodes, they often ask me how I make them,

or what are they made of.

Next I add a little paint at the bottom to make the color darkest here.

Then I add the big “crystals”.

So I thought I would explain how I make one.

I always start by priming a 4” disc—in this case it is a papermache disc that is very wood-like.

Then II build up the base by adding some light Golden molding paste. I build the edges up high and taper it down to the center.

The light molding paste helps to keep the weight down—although the end result has some good weight to it from everything that I add to it.

And a lot of gel medium to glue them down! I also add some embossing powder and glaze around the bigger stones and heat-set that in place. Then come tiny beads, and possibly glitter, and Ranger Stickles which is like glitter glue but more awesome :)

Making 4 at a time cuts the time it takes per piece down by about an hour!

Now I add lighter colored crystals and more beads and Sticklers and another are of embossing glaze and powder to build up almost to the edge. At the top of the edge I add clear crystal beads since this is where a natural geode has it’s lightest crystals, and the darker in the center.

And then The Big Finale, which is quite time consuming. The edges and the back. I use a sand medium at first, and then add a mix of glitter, embossing powder and embossing glaze to get the color I want so it looks like a rock. I heat set that until the glazing powder is…well…glazed, and all the other things are set into the geode. The texture is awesome!

A real geode—one of the examples I used for my hand made ones.

And the end results?

Floating hearts,

Fluid hearts

Pouring out our hearts

--for others in acts of love!

What a great way to spend Valentines Day 💖

Ephesians 4: 1-3

“In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master,

I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!

—on the road God called you to travel.

I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands.

I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere.

And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts,

but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.”

Meet The Blessing Girl. 

She is a sweet girl, 

Gratitude fills her 

as the very face of God 

shines down on her.  

Imagine that! 

Initially, I made her as a gift for a special friend on her 70th birthday!

The new painting is a remake since I had an error in the reference verse of the original (That makes it even more valuable, right?) 

This original was done before I knew much about alcohol ink. I made it on Yupo Paper and painted the girl on delipaper and collaged it on top of the background.  

Now I know  you can prime a regular canvas with acrylic paint, and drop the alcohol ink right on top of that, since it is non-porous!   I used matte medium over the top of the alcohol inks and painted normally over the background with acrylic To add the girl And a few flowers.  

And now the version 2 of The Blessing Girl has been born! I love how vibrant the colors turned out.  

Numbers 6: 24-26

“The Lord bless you and keep you; 

the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 

the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. ”’

Beautiful, right? 

This version 2 of The Blessing Girl is available as a 5x7 card or an 8.5x11 print!

One of my earlier alcohol ink paintings was this scene in the woods with a pond behind the trees, and that sun... the sun breaking through  the trees for the start of  a new day. 

"Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you, 

and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard."

Isaiah 58:8 NIV

May your light break forth as you carry on through the day!