Lipstick to Crayons » Christian Topics

Diplaying Quilts as Artwork, Creating Heirlooms

lipsticktocrayons — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:17:55 +0000

I’ve shared with you that one of my prized possessions is a quilt made by Campus Quilts from the baby clothes of my three children. And now, Campus Quilts is in the process of creating another quilt for me that will honor my late father’s memory. I wrote about that here and I will enthusiastically share pictures as soon as it arrives.

My dilemma, however, has been how to display these treasures. I want everyone who enters my home to see them! Well, my problem was solved when I found Chuck Pederson and Generation to Generation Heirlooms. Chuck handcrafts a Website full of products that are certain to become family heirlooms, including children’s toys, quilt ladders and quilt racks. Here is the gorgeous 7.5-foot quilt ladder he made for me:

As you can see, I am proudly displaying my baby-clothes quilt on the rack and will soon be adding my father’s memorial quilt above that. It fits perfectly in the corner of my room, with an angled design at the top so it leans securely against the wall.

Chuck makes all of his products by hand with the utmost care and attention to detail. The solid construction of this quilt ladder is amazing, and the silky-smooth finish on it is absolutely beautiful. Due to the size of this ladder, Chuck constructs it to fold in the middle for shipping and some minor assembly is required when it arrives. Just so you know, I intended to add that project to my husband’s “honey do” list, but the instructions Chuck sent were so simple and easy to follow that I completed it all by myself using the tools he suggested: A screwdriver and wood glue. (He pre-drills the holes for the dowels, good man that he is).

You can purchase any of Chuck’s heirloom treasures on his Website (quilt racks, children’s toys and quilt project hangars) and he will ship them to you. Prices range from $100 for a Toddler Town Car, $300 for a handcrafted Rocking Horse, $100 for a traditional floor quilt rack and $125 for the 7.5-foot ladder (plus shipping). All of the toys from Generation to Generation Heirlooms would make perfect Christmas presents for children. And unlike the latest toy made of hard, molded plastic and running on batteries, these toys are certain to last through the generations, becoming family heirlooms as Chuck intended.

If you live in/near California, you can see the items in person at the following craft shows:

October 21, 22 & 23 – Independence Hall Quilters Quilt Show, Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys, CA

November 12-13 – Tuleburg Quilt Guild Quilt Show, Scottish Rite Masonic Center, Stockton, CA

Chuck’s other tentative shows for 2012 are listed here.

Please visit Generation to Generation Heirlooms to check out Chuck’s products. You won’t be disappointed.

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Give the Gift of Touch

lipsticktocrayons — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 11:50:38 +0000

I told you about ISOTONER’S new smarTouch gloves two months ago here. Now you can help ISOTONER Give the Gift of Touch to families in need this winter. For every tweet about smarTouch gloves using #GiftOfTouch (hashtag), ISOTONER will donate a pair of gloves to Matthew 25: Ministries – up to 10,000 total. Matthew 25: Ministries is an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Their mission is to provide nutritional food to the hungry, clean water to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, shelter to the homeless, medical care to the ill, and humanitarian supplies to prisoners. Visit www.smartouchgloves.com for more details on the “tweet for a cause” campaign and to view tweets live.

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Watch This Video. Then Change the Way You Do Christmas

lipsticktocrayons — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 19:45:50 +0000

My church is heavily invovled in Advent Conspiracy. I wrote about this last year here.

Now here’s the video. Watch it. Share it. Think about it. But don’t think too long before acting on it.

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Christian Jewelry Made Incredibly Stylish – and Custom Pieces, too!

lipsticktocrayons — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 20:57:32 +0000

I have a new piece of jewelry that gets more attention and compliments when I wear it than my favorite piece of David Yurman. It’s a beautiful cross on a simple leather cord by kpWired Designs.

kpWired Designs is co-owned by Kim Plank and Maggie Robinson. Kim started the company about five years ago and began by beading different pieces for friends and family. Then she began using wire to create unique designs. As the demand grew, Kim knew she needed help if she wanted the business grow so Maggie joined in the most awesome madness. Together, they create designs that are made from lead-free solder wire, all hand-crafted, with each piece being unique. Many of the designs have a Christian or faith theme, such as this one:

Other designs simply are simply infused with a simplicity that is beautiful, such as this one:

And the prices are extremely reasonable, ranging from about $20 on the low end to the most expensive piece that includes swarovski crystals priced at $50. Kim and Maggie also design rings, bracelets and earrings, and they will do a custom piece for anyone who asks — also within those price ranges. I’ve asked Kim to work on a custom necklace for a group of my friends and she thinks it will cost about $25 for the solder wire design on a leather cord.

Obviously, the pieces are affordable (half the price of sterling, in fact, and they won’t tarnish), and 10 percent of the profits go to single Moms in the St. Louis area. (Kim and Maggie’s company mission is to create beautiful, unique and fun priced designs in the hopes that along their journey they can help struggling, single moms in St. Louis). That’s as beautiful as their creations, in my opinion.

So, if you’d like to order a piece from kpWired Designs, you can shop by viewing the photos on their Facebook page and then email them to place your order at kpwireddesigns@gmail.com. Or, if you live in the St. Louis area, you can email them to book a show or a personal appointment to view the items in person or discuss a custom piece.

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May is National Foster Care Month

lipsticktocrayons — Sun, 23 May 2010 21:17:07 +0000

Did you know it would take less than 1 percent of the U.S. population to provide a family for every child in foster care?

May is National Foster Care Month and there has never been a greater need to bring attention to children waiting for forever homes. More than 463,000 children are currently in foster care and 123,000 children are waiting to be adopted.

Children in foster care are loving children. They are children like Shaquane and Edlina and Albert. Every child deserves to have a home with caring and supportive parents.

Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on the thousands of children and youth in the U.S. foster care system. The National Adoption Campaign in partnership with the Children’s Bureau, AdoptUsKids, and the Ad Council raises awareness about the urgent needs of these young people and encourages citizens from every walk of life to get involved.

Together, We Can Make a Difference.

Through the dedication of advocates, child welfare professionals, elected officials and support groups around the country, the total number of children waiting for a safe and permanent family has decreased from more than a half million to 463,000 between 2003 and the end of 2008. These numbers tell us that, together, we can make a difference for children in foster care.

But there is still so much work to be done, as there are more than 123,000 children waiting to be adopted.

For more information about National Foster Care Month, go here. Or watch this video. “Children in Foster Care’. Find out how to get involved here. And join us May 27 at 2 p.m. EST on Twitter for an #AdoptUsKids one hour chat to get the message out about National Foster Care Month. You can also visit the Facebook page.

I’m a member of Global Influence and we’re trying to spread the word about Foster Care and Adoption. Help us spread the message this month to reach all Americans and teach them about the love and joy that foster care adoption can bring to your life. Visit www.adoptuskids.org to learn more about fostering and adopting.

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Christians and Pro-life Advocates CAN Advertise During the Superbowl

lipsticktocrayons — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:52:54 +0000

Apparently, not many people are bothered by all the beer commercials during the Superbowl. But don’t talk about God or be Pro Life.

According to a press release by Focus on the Family, an international Christian organization located in Colorado Springs and led by Dr. James Dobson, college football star Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam, will appear in a commercial paid for by the organization during the Superbowl. The mother and son will share a personal story centered on the theme “Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life.”

So what’s got the media buzzing and the feminists outraged? Apparently, Pam Tebow was overseas when she was pregnant with Tim and contracted a disease. She was advised to abort, but because of her faith, chose to carry the child to term. And look at what the world would have missed if she hadn’t done so — one of the most celebrated college football stars ever. So, will the story shared in the ad deliver anti-abortion messages? Not directly. According to CBS, the ad doesn’t encourage or discourage any action, it simply shares the story and allows the viewer to draw his/her own conclusion. CBS is, thus far, standing by the decision to run the ad. Wow. The First Amendment applies to conservative, Christian viewpoints, too. Whodathunkit?

What do you think?

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Stop – I want to get off!

lipsticktocrayons — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:41:19 +0000

Remember when you could ask for “do-overs” and when you could demand that the merry-go-round be stopped so you could get off? Well, my family has had a challenging (to say the least) week and I DO NOT want a do-over, but I would like to step off this insane ride for a few moments to catch my breath.

We’ve had three deaths in our extended family since Jan. 2, my computer was eaten alive by a trojan virus and our furnace quit working on the same day the temperatures hit the teens and the windchill took the mercury below zero!

Now let’s back up the truck and I’ll give you more details.

My husband’s uncle died on Jan. 2 from injuries he received in a horrible car accident just after Christmas. He lived in Kentucky, so my husband and his parents made the eight-hour drive from St. Louis to Kentucky late Monday night, returning on Wednesday. It was particularly hard on my mother-in-law, who is close to all of her siblings.

My great uncle also died on Jan. 2 after being ill for some time. He lived in the St. Louis area, so I was able to attend his wake Tuesday night (Jan. 5), but only after arranging carpools for my older children and only with my toddler in tow. It was a challenge, but I’m glad I went for my Mom, who is very sad, and to see lots of family that I seldom see.

On the same day as the wake, my brother’s father-in-law died after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. I knew this man before I even knew his daughter, who became my sister-in-law, because he had been my boss at my first teenage job at the Florissant (MO) K-Mart. He was a kind man who my brother had come to love and who was loved dearly by his daughters. His wake and funeral this weekend will be very sad and it will be hard to watch his widow, my brother and sister-in-law and their boys grieve the loss.

Certainly less important, but significantly disruptive, has been the destruction of my computer by a trojan virus. (Remember, I’m a freelance writer/communications professional who MAKES A LIVING AT HOME WITH A FUNCTIONAL COMPUTER). This happened Dec. 30 and my poor husband has spent countless hours attempting to salvage it (amid all this other craziness), but we finally gave up. It is my intention to save the money to buy a Macintosh — I AM DONE WITH PC’S. But, as a Band-aid (and after more than one three-hour conversation with Microsoft support professionals on the other side of the globe) we’ve purchased a new computer. Now, I’m waiting for my dear husband to get home from work and “make it so.” In other words, I want him to restore all the crap off the back-up external hard drive, and set up all the other systems and processes I need to work. I am tired of working on a slow laptop that doesn’t like me to answer work emails, open attachments, save anything to the hard drive, open more than two Internet windows, blog, update my site, etc. So, if you’ve noticed a lack of writing here, or a slowing of contests/giveaways, etc., please know that I hope to be back up to speed SOON!

In fact, I should have been back up and running YESTERDAY but the supplier from which we ordered my new computer failed to deliver it yesterday as was promised. We were told it was “backordered” and they could not tell us when it woudl arrive. Unacceptable. We canceled the order and began shopping elsewhere. While doing that, we noticed it suddenly felt very cold in our house. “No honey — that’s not ME being ICY because I’m mad about my computer not arriving. It really is cold in here.” Hhrummpf! Like I could be enough of a witch to lower the temperature of the house!

Anyway, that’s when we discovered that the furnace wasn’t working. Guess what? Heating and air conditioning dudes are really busy when it gets super cold outside and the weather guys are predicting six inches of snow! To spare you boring details — our furnace is “temporarily” fixed while we wait for a part to be ordered that is due next Tuesday. No guarantees it will keep heating the house until then. Just a “let’s hope so” from the furnace dude.

Surprisingly, I haven’t had a complete tantrum yet. I’ve had a few “almost tantrums,” but no complete tantrums. My Beth Moore Bible Study is helping — this week’s lesson was on waiting/patience, neither of which are my strong suits and both upon which I needed desperately to focus. I was reminded that God’s in control, not me. And THAT gives me some peace. So, I’ll stay on the merry-go-round of life and be grateful for it.

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Mean Girls

On Christmas, I Always Wonder if She Knew

lipsticktocrayons — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:27:45 +0000

We all know what a mother’s worst fear is — I don’t even like to say it or type it. So on Christmas, I always find myself wondering — did Mary know?

I admit, I probably didn’t form this question in my mind without the help of the song by Mark Lowry, “Mary, Did You Know?” It’s one of my favorite Christmas songs.

So think about it. Angels told Mary she would give birth to a child who would impact the world. And she experienced the miracle of a virgin birth. But the text of the Bible doesn’t indicate that she was told “You will give birth to this baby. And you will love Him like any other mother loves her baby. You’ll watch Him learn to walk, and you’ll comfort Him when He’s scared, and care for Him when He’s sick. You will raise Him and love Him more and more everyday and watch Him become a man. But not long after His 30th birthday, He will give His life for the rest of humanity, cleansing the rest of us. And those who choose to believe in Him will be restored our to Heavenly Father through His sacrifice.”

I don’t think she knew. But as a Jew, she’d been taught about the prophesies, so I think she may have suspected, especially near the end.

We, on the other hand, have the privilege of knowing what that virgin birth meant to mankind. We have all the evidence we need. As we celebrate Christ’s birththis year, let us not forget what His birth, and then death and resurrection, meant for us all. Consider the words of the song:

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding is the Great I Am.

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It’s So Cute I Had to Share

lipsticktocrayons — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:45:51 +0000

My two-year-old has been taking a toddler dance class (tap and ballet) at the Wildwood Family YMCA.

She is the youngest in the class, because the kiddos were technically supposed to be 2-years-old when it started in September, and she wasn’t 2 until late October. Thus, I enrolled her knowing it might not work. But each week as I’ve peeked into the class, she was participating right along with her slightly older peers — although I don’t think she follows directions as well as some of the others. However, in the past few months, the class has been preparing for a little Christmas program, so Miss Tammy has been inviting the Moms into class to watch in hopes of giving the girls a little experience performing before a group. My toddler refused to even stand on the line with her peers (much less dance) every single time I came in to watch. She either sat in my lap OR ran out of the class. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I attended what was a much bigger “recital” than I had anticipated yesterday. Check out the video AND slideshow! I’m one proud Mommy!

I’ve mentioned before on this blog that I LOVE the YMCA — especially MY Wildwood YMCA. Did you know the YMCA doesn’t turn people away for inability to pay? This generosity is accomplished through their partner campaign, and all the money donated via the campaign stays in the community through which it was donated, helping friends and neighbors who have fallen on hard times enjoy amazing programs like this dance program for toddlers. So, if you live in Wildwood and would like to contribute to the Wildwood Family YMCA, click here. If you’d like to donate to a local YMCA in your area, go here and enter your zip code to find one close to you.

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Family Holiday Getaway in Branson, MO

lipsticktocrayons — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:07:27 +0000

We just returned from our first, hopefully annual Family Holiday Getaway to Branson, MO. We had such a great time that I wanted to share it with you right away in case you want to try to get there yourself this holiday season.

I haven’t been to Branson since I was about 10 years old, so I didn’t know what to expect, short of all the stories I’d heard about the traffic and the cheesy shows. The traffic was real, and there were plenty of “cheesy shows” from which to choose, but we a memorable family experience that I will always cherish.

We were fortunate enough to be the guests of the Chateau on the Lake, and I can’t say enough about the property. This was one of the finest hotels I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting, and it’s location– off the main strip in Branson, atop an Ozark hill, overlooking Table Rock Lake — was one of the pluses.

Here are just some of the things I loved about the Chateau:

Our check-in was seamless and was our first glimpse of the Chateau’s commitment to service. Everyone went out of their way to help our family get situated. Our luggage was delivered to our room within five minutes of our arrival, and the Bellhop who delivered it also gave us a rundown of the offerings on the property, as well as some tips and suggestions for enjoying Branson and avoiding the traffic. (That came in very handy when we realized we’d forgotten not one, but TWO pieces of luggage at home — our toddler’s suitcase and my vanity bag. Another story altogether.)

The inside of the hotel was even more impressive than the outside, decorated in beautiful holiday splendor. The exterior donned the expected Christmas lights, but also a full-size sleigh, which was perfect for posing my kids in for pictures. Inside, Santa hung from a rope in the middle of the hotel’s 11 stories of rooms overlooking the lobby. The middle of the atrium-inspired main floor included a life-sized nativity scene at the corner of the indoor waterway, three enormous, extravagant gingerbread houses, two bird cages, larger-than-life wooden soldiers, decked-out Christmas trees and lights galore. The photo opportunities were endless, much to my teenager’s dismay.

Our rooms overlooked Table Rock Lake and had balconies that we were able to enjoy because of the 60-degree weather that blessed us on Saturday. The rooms also had all the touches that make you feel like you’re on vacation, plus a few extras. There were chocolates on the pillows, oversized, plush towels in the bathrooms, a large flatscreen television with in-room movies available for purchase, and not one, but TWO bags for dirty clothes in the closet. (Sounds like a small detail, but one I really appreciated). The welcome letter was a delight that helped set the tone for our weekend stay. I will include it in its entirety at the end of this post, but here is an excerpt: “We hope God will grant you peace and rest while you are under our roof.” What a nice touch!

As expected, the Chateau on the Lake offers lots of amenities, including:

Award-winning fine dining and casual dining at two restaurants, a deli and a sweet shop/coffee shop (we enjoyed a meal at the Atrium Cafe, and it was top-notch).
Plenty of opportunity for physical activity– a well-equipped fitness center, a hotub and indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, a marina, tennis courts and walking trails.
An in-house kid-friendly theatre, free wireless Internet, a full-service concierge desk, a lobby workstation with a printer, an on-site ATM and a pet-friendly policy.
Special holiday offerings.

While we could’ve kept busy at the Chateau for most of our visit and it was hard to leave its santuary, we were commited to”experience” Branson. To our way of thinking, that included seeing the Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede and visiting Silver Dollar City.

The Dixie Stampede had flipped the switch to its holiday show, so we enjoyed a performance full of Christmas music and tributes to the true reason for the season. If you’re like I was and you are unfamiliar with the show, here are the basics: It’s a dinner show that includes an opening act in the Carriage Room, followed by a dinner in the main theater (served without utensils!) while you watch action-packed horse-riding and stunts designed to get the audience participating. My teen thought it was cheesy (no surprise there); my tween thought it was funny but didn’t like the lack of utensils at dinner; my toddler LOVED it; and my husband and I think it’s something everyone should do once (although we were surrounded by folks who had been there multiple times).

Silver Dollar City was worth the visit simply for its ability to get us into the holiday spirit. The lights and decorations were absolutely beautiful. You really feel as though you’ve walked back in time as you enter the park. Everything — from the food and live demonstrations of traditional crafts such as blacksmithing, glass blowing and candle making to the shows and entertainment — make this destination a perfect place to bring your family. My older kids enjoyed the rides, although they wished there more of them, and my toddler enjoyed the few attractions that were geared for the younger set.

I’m very glad we made this trip for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which was the time our family spent laughing together. Our teen resisted going because she had to miss several swim practices and had no desire to visit “hickville” (her words, not mine). I briefly considered allowing her to stay home with Aunts who offered to keep her. I’m grateful I didn’t do that. By traveling to such a family-oriented, Christian-rooted place as Branson, I was reminded of the importance of time together as a family. The traffic that slowed our progress through town slowed our “pace.” We listened to our toddler sing and were touched when she named her doll after her big sister. We laughed at all the signs for Elvis impersonators. We ate fudge and shared ice cream. We re-enacted skits from Saturday Night Live and shared political humor. And, we had this photo made on the Branson strip! It was a hoot, and just look at how adorable my toddler is with her her hands folded in her lap and her fat little foot sticking out from under her saloon-girl dress.

———–

Note from Chateau on the Lake to Guests:

In ancient times there was a prayer for the Stranger within our gates.

Because this hotel is a human institution to serve people, and not soley a money making organization, we hope that God will grant you peace and rest while you are under the roof.

May this suite and hotel be your “second” home. May those you love be near you in thoughts and dreams. Even though we may not get to know you, we hope that you will be comfortable and happy as if you were in your own home.

The reasons that brought you our way may vary. May the tranquility and the simplicity of the Ozarks add to your joy. When you leave, may your journey be safe.

We are all travelers. From ‘birth till death’ we travel between eternities. May these days be pleasant for you, profitable for society, helpful for those you meet , and a joy to those you know and love you best.