Taking My Shop on the Road

Last weekend I participated in the With Heart Handmade Market, a new craft fair in my town.

A group of young women hosted the fair, and although the rain put a bit of a damper on its first year, I had a great time meeting some of my favorite local crafters and interacting with lots of new faces who are now sporting my items!

A few pictures from my booth. I tried to get creative with a few antiques and repurposed items.

Printer tray held bias tape earrings and button bobbies.

Fruit basket held rosette pins.

Antique muffin tin held cab earrings.

And an antique loaf pan held stacked hair pins.

Brooches on a cake plate.

Rosette pendant necklaces on an antique tool box.

And, of course, lots of old white plates.

Thank you to everyone who offered such great advice and help!

Inspiration Workshop: The Perfect Bathroom

Each week, Gussy Sews hosts the Inspiration Workshop. Maggie provides us with a prompt and asks us to share what it means to us.

This Week: The Perfect Bathroom

This was easy.

My perfect bathroom consists of one thing.

A bathtub.

But not those giant tubs that people just look at and hardly ever use. Not those tubs that take forever to fill and you can't reach the nozzle to warm it up because you're too far away.

No, I like a cozy tub.

pictures can be found here

Pomegranates [+ winner]

1.

The winner of the Life By Hand giveaway is Grace from Grace Loves the Beatles!

2.

Yesterday's grocery trip was an adventure in produce! We got peaches, apples, bananas, grapes, strawberries, cantaloupe, mangoes, lemons, limes, and...

a pomegranate.

[now to figure out how to eat it]

Finding God

I have found that God is often in the little things. In the delicate things. In the things we sometimes overlook. In the challenges that make us stronger.

I have found God in many, many things and people and situations.

Where have you found God?

***

A few months ago I wrote about my experience volunteering at Room at the Inn, a local church-turned homeless shelter during the coldest winter months. I had always been afraid of the homeless and avoided them at all costs. I didn't want to look them in the eye for fear they might talk to me. I did not want to talk to them.

My time at Room at the Inn change me. Rather, God used this time to change my heart. I formed relationships with the people I met I met and saw them as just that, people. God's people.

Last week I found God walking home from dinner. Coming out of the restaurant, I usually take a left to go home (the quickest way). But instead, that evening, I walked right and then down a busy street in our college town.

 

I immediently saw a man I recognized from the shelter. He was sitting against a building asking for money. He asked me. I said I didn't have any and kept walking.

 

But something stired in me and I turned back around. I remembered how God brought about a love and compassion for the homeless in my community, and now he was calling me to go back.

 

"I'm not sure if you remember me, but my husband and I met you at the methodist church this winter. We played cards together."

He remembered right away. We shook hands and re-introduced ourselves.

 

I found God last week in Michael.

 

We talked for a while. I asked him how he was feeling and if he was finding places to stay.

 

He said he had already eaten so I promised to take him to dinner next time we met.

 

I smiled the whole (longer) way home, amazed that, yet again, God gave me the courage and the push to reach out to His people.

**

Where have you found God?

Praying for Each Other

Each Monday I will be posting prayer requests so that we can hold one another up and pray for each other throughout the week.

You can e-mail your prayers requests to me at iamalongfortheride[@]gmail[.]com. Feel free to e-mail today and I can add them. If you e-mail me throughout the week, I will post them next Monday.

Val: Pray for me and fiance to reunited quickly. Some serious family issues have seperated us and threatened to put our wedding on hold. I need alot prayers for him to be returned to my side quickly. Im worried about him and miss him so much!

Jill: My dad died last Monday afternoon.  Last week was full of funeral arrangements and care and travel for the burial and this week is working to get my mom into assisted living, which was part of the plan originally, because she was recently diganosted with Alzheimers.  All this while taking care of my family and working full time.  God is good, and such a provider, and my dad was a Christian so we are sure of his presence with Jesus, but loss is hard.  Please pray for us as we continue to adjust to life without Dad and my mother's adjustment to her new living situation.

A concerned friend: My prayer request is for a dear friend. She recently became engaged to a seemingly great man. However, there are some oddities about the whole situation that just make me nervous. She seems happy, but also hesitant to be honest about it all. I would appreciate your prayers for guidance and wisdom for us all.

Sue: I don't have a prayer request for myself, but for another family.  Their 16 YO daughter had a heart transplant a few weeks ago and after many complications, she passed away two days ago.  This family, especially the mom, has been dealing with an emotional roller coaster for weeks and is now left with this.  I just want prayers to go out for her strength and being able to deal with what must be crushing disappointment. 

Melody: Yes...I would love for you to pray for me. The Pastor and the whole congregation called up my daughters, son in law, my husband and I and they prayed for my daughters...THIS Wednesday they leave for Africa on a 2 week mission trip. I would love prayers for their safety and that they will have an amazing experience too! :)

Deb: My husband and I are trying to decide if we should have another child and would LOVE prayer for wisdom in that decision. 

Terri: Please pray for my son and his wife expecting their first baby in July.  She is experiencing pain and is having trouble sleeping.  Pray for a safe delivery and healthy baby.

Tomorrow is the beginning of a new series called "Finding God." I'd love it if you came by and linked up!

How Can We Pray For You?

How can we pray for you this week? 

How can we lift up your worries, fears, concerns, struggles to our Father?

Feel free to e-mail me your prayer requests for tomorrow's post.
iamalongfortheride @ gmail . com

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God...
Colossians 1:8-10

Inspiration Workshop: Spend the Day Playing

Each week, Gussy Sews hosts the Inspiration Workshop. Maggie provides us with a prompt and asks us to share what it means to us.

This Week: Spend the Day Playing

Thinking about this prompt made me realize that I don't spend nearly as much time as I should just playing around. Lately, my days have been consumed with work leaving little time for silly, funny playtime.

So let's pretend I had all day today to play. Here's some things I would want to do.

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

What I Didn't Wear

Of course I wore clothes this week, but nothing of note.

Here is what I didn't wear (inspired by my fashion board in Pinterest).

This outfit makes me smile from ear to ear.

 

Where Do We Find God?

I have been thinking about starting another weekly party. I really do love looking at your crafts, and recipes, and other great projects..

But I just have this desire to talk about more.

To talk about real inspiration and the beauty that can only come from the Lord.

I have found that God is often in the little things. In the delicate things. In the things we sometimes overlook. In the challenges that make us stronger.

I have found God in many, many things and people and situations.

Where have you found God?

I would love for you to reflect on your week and write about where you found God.

How God met you in a certain place of struggle or joy.

A time you felt the Lord's presence and peace.

An experience where God gave you the strength and the nudge to go out on a limb.

Starting June 28, I will post a linky each Tuesday so we can share with one another where we have found the Lord in our daily lives. He meets us daily and loves us eternally.

I'll hope you'll join me!

Giveaway: Life By Hand

Hi Friends,

I want you to meet my new friend, Elizabeth. She has a beautiful blog called My Life By Hand. Seriously, it's gorgeous. She also makes adorable hair accessories in her shop, Life By Hand. With my new short hair, I'd like one of each, please!

Reasonably priced, you can pick up a few to spice up your summer wardrobe.

Or you can win a $20 credit! Wouldn't that be fun.

Stop on over to Life by Hand and leave a comment with your favorite headband.

Tweet, FB, blog for extra entries.

Giveaway ends next Monday.

And if you can't wait?! Use code JUNE20 for 20% off your order.



Fresh Fruit Smoothie

2 peaches

2 bananas

7 strawberries

7 ice cubes

2 colorful straws

The most delicious smoothie ever!

Saturday is Crafty Day #44

Happy weekend! Kyle and I went home to Ohio this weekend for a wedding, so although I'm not here crafting with you, I'm here in crafty spirit.

Here are some yummy treats you whipped up last weekend.

Rainbow birthday cake from AliLilly

Berry lemondate popscicles from A Pumpkin and a Princess

Cake cone sundaes from The Seven Year Cottage

Banana chocolate muffins from Will Cook for Smiles

What have you been "cooking" up?

Presto Pesto

That's what I'd call it if I wrote a cookbook.

Lots of basil- about 3/4 cup basil

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic and a tablespoon of sunflower seeds 

(I put in 2 and it was too much, maybe start with 1 and then add a bit more)

1/4 teaspoon salt and some pepper

(I like things peppery)

Throw it all in a food processor and let it go. It took a while for it to get smooth, but it was worth it.