Loved ~ Wood Burning

A design and handmade wood burning for my grandma... her favorite Bible verse, John 3:16 and what

a powerful one it is. The gorgeous wood frame was made by my husband of Wisp Woods. 

Love teaming up with him on projects! He's been making the most beautiful wooden bookmarks lately. 

You can check out a few HERE. Kaelyn and I want to keep all of them! :)

Have a wonderful day, and remember how much you are loved. ♥

A Sweet Logo Design

I haven't been so good about getting new designs posted. This was a really fun logo to create. The business owners were awesome to work with and had a good idea of what they wanted. What made this job even sweeter was getting the actual product to try! It is so awesome to actually see my design on an actual product but then to try out the item... oh my goodness! We made avocado pudding with the honey and it was amazing! Kaelyn doesn't like avocados but she loved this dessert. The recipe will definitely be shared in one of our Enduring Health newsletters (can sign up at the bottom of the page) and possibly eventually on the Enduring Health blog.

Thank you Brad and Crystal! I wish your business great success!

Golden Sunshine Birthday

I can't believe it has almost been a month since we celebrated Kaelyn's golden birthday! She is our little sunshine so it worked great for her golden theme. She loves to see what I come up with for decorations and of course she's excited for the food/dessert too. I made a wild rice dish and a couple cupcake experiments. Her golden ones were chocolate chip pumpkin with a unique frosting, no lemon. (unique, but tasty and good!) The recipe will most likely be shared in one of the first two Enduring Health Journey newsletters. If you are interested in receiving healthy recipes, uplifting inspiration, and tips for healthier living please sign up at the bottom of the page on my new website HERE. I will try to have the first newsletter out the end of this month and it will only be coming out quarterly so I won't be flooding your inbox. :) The recipes shared in the newsletter may or may not be put on the Enduring Health Blog. Kaelyn is so excited to help in sharing healthier lifestyle tips and allergy friendly meal plans.

She had a great birthday and was so happy for all those who could make it. The weather isn't always the best when we plan to celebrate so we are thankful for those who are determined to make it and have safe travels. Several people went out of their way to make her day extra special. Thank you! It was a golden birthday she won't soon forget. :)

Grand Opening THIS Weekend!

Hello! Sorry for the blog silence. So much has been going on, but I have to share some exciting news. If you haven't already heard, Unglued is opening a bigger and permanent location in Sioux Falls SD! Their pop up shop in November and December went so well that they decided to run two locations full time, in Fargo, ND and now SD! Yay! This will be a great spot to find unique handmade gifts for family and friends all year round and they also offer several fun workshops. Be sure to check out Unglued on facebook for more updates and information on future workshops as well as the fun they have planned for their Grand Opening!

In other news, our daughter decided to take a creative venture selling her artwork. Her dad and her made the stand last fall and she decided to get it out last weekend.

How has it gone? She loves it and wants to be open 6 days a week! She's enjoying telling people she has a job.

She's been doing pretty good with it too. She even thinks I should serve her food out at the stand because she doesn't want to miss a customer. Maybe when she is bigger she will run a creative business like Unglued... will be fun to see what she comes up with! :)

And a sidenote~ thank you to those who have mentioned they like reading my health/food posts. I promise I will eventually get back to sharing a lot more on those topics. I currently have about a month left on my strict Candida cleanse/detox. So excited about the health improvements I have seen so far and I look forward to seeing even more and then sharing my journey with you!

Have a wonderful weekend! God Bless!

You are so loved! {NEW Art}

{You Are So Loved Art Print}

The giving of flowers primarily shows an act of love. Valentines day and funerals come to mind when I think of moments when flowers are often given, although any time can be special, whether a particular reason or not. It is a caring gesture from one to another.

Love one another. God's greatest commands. If only people of this world followed that one command. Just think how life would be so different. Sometimes it is hard to love others... difference of opinions, jealousy, hurtful words and actions. Someone's negativity can greatly affect us and cause us to react. What reaction do we generally lean towards showing? Is it kindness in return after we have been hurt or is it revenge or even shutting out the other person so we aren't hurt again? I wish I could say I respond in love and kindness just as my heavenly father would and wants us to. But often times it isn't. I am trying to become better at this. I've been slowly reading my way through the New Testament in the Bible. I love how God has given us a life's manual. When we take the time to read His book, learn from His teachings and show it through our own actions life becomes better and full of new meaning. At least that is what I find to be true. Life and situations around me are viewed so differently... better now that the Word is such an important part of my life.

My pencil drawing/charcoal painting, You Are So Loved, was inspired by Him. He blesses the earth with such beauty. It is truly amazing how a simple seed can be planted and it grows into something so beautiful and then can be given to another through a loving action or simply enjoyed where it grows. To me the book of John is one of God's greatest love letters to us. Jesus healing others, comforting others even though he knows what lies ahead for himself. He only did good yet was extremely mistreated. He showed love but was not loved in return. Yet he still died on the cross for each one of us to take away our sins. We are so not worthy of such a sacrifice. When it sinks into our mind of what He did for us because He loves us so much you can't help but want to become a better person and follow His word.

Last weekend we took our daughter to see the new movie Cinderella. It doesn't have quite as a happy feel as the older animated one but it does a great job in showing kindness even when one may not "deserve" it. The big part that stuck out at me was towards the end when Cinderella was leaving the wicked step mother with the prince and Cinderella turned and looked at her and said, "I forgive you." Powerful. For everything Cinderella had put up with you would think she would have reacted with revenge, but she reacted in love. Such a great lesson for young and old alike. ♥

God Loves You print {& other artwork with wood}

{God Loves You Customizable Art Print}

I haven't done an art post for awhile so figured I'd share a few projects that have been going on recently. Above is a new design I created and made available in the shop last month. A name can be added to the bottom of the cross for a special personalized gift; works great for Christenings, baptismal birthdays, baby showers...

I have had so much fun experimenting with wood burning! I worked on the "You are a wonderfully made child of God" piece during the last art group day. It has since been completed and given to a very special girl for her birthday this past Sunday. :)

{special request to bring out the graphics}

The project below has been keeping my husband from Wisp Woods very busy. The finished pieces are going to be awesome but they are quite complicated to make with so many parts, large size and different colors. I'm trying to help out with the staining. I hope the customer loves the final works!

So that's a glimpse of a few of the recent wood projects going on around here.

Shop Unglued for last minute Christmas gifts!

My sister-in-law said it perfectly, "I've been running around with my hair on fire." Ha! Surely feels that way! So much to still be done... David finished up with finals last week so we were able to get out and do more Christmas shopping this past Saturday. Yes, we are those people that wait til the last minute. Turned out to be beautiful temps in the 50's which is crazy for SD in December! (Weather drastically changed yesterday though ~ rain + ice + wind + snow = no electricity, not so fun! Some are still out, luckily ours came back at 1am.) Anyway, while in Sioux Falls, we were finally able to make it to Unglued's pop up shop. So fun! Here's a couple quick snaps...

They did such an awesome job at putting this together so quickly! Seriously, amazing. So many fun and unique gifts. We got some fun stuff! The store was constantly buzzing with people while we were there too. Unglued has also been keeping their artists/crafters busy with restocking so there will be plenty of awesome creative gifts to choose from through Christmas Eve... so hurry and get in your last minute shopping before they are gone!

Off I go before the fire consumes me entirely. :)

Shop Unglued Now for Creative Gifts! { two locations! }

Unglued is open today in Sioux Falls, South Dakota! They will only be open at this location through Christmas Eve so be sure to stop by the shop as soon as possible to find unique holiday gifts for your family and friends.

If you are unable to make it to Unglued's pop-up shop in Sioux Falls, check out their year round location in Fargo, ND. David and I were able to getaway a couple months ago to check out their Fargo shop and take part in one of their fun events. We had a blast! Here are just a few photos from our shop visit...

{Ashley (the redhead above) owns the shop along with her husband}

 It is so fun seeing our handmade items in an actual shop! Like a dream come true. :)

{Love necklace holder built my husband from Wisp Woods, how perfect that a bicycle necklace is hanging from it!}

The whole Unglued crew has done such an amazing job at putting the shop together and running everything smoothly. So many fun, creative treasures!

Hopefully soon we can make it to their Sioux Falls shop! Can't wait to check it out!

Lately { Art & Snow }

Here is a glimpse of just a few things going on around here...

{drawing in progress ~ hoping to get this finished at the next painting group day}

A custom request came in for this prayer and I thought it was pretty cute, so changed up the colors and made it into an art block for my Godson's baptismal birthday. It was a fun project!

Loving my extended work space! Unglued is opening a pop-up shop on November 20 in Sioux Falls SD! I can't wait to check it out. I am sure it will be just as amazing as their Fargo shop which is filled with lots of amazing and unique handmade gifts! More info to come.

In other news, the weather has changed significantly. A few flakes came this past Sunday,

more came Monday. This photo was taken before K headed to school Monday morning. School was dismissed at noon since it started getting nasty out and we had blizzard conditions. What kid doesn't like a snow day especially when friends get to come over? :)

 Little B didn't want to leave and instead of putting on his snow gear, put on David's shoes. Such a cutie!

While I was waiting for K to get done with Holy COW yesterday, I was watching the most beautiful snowflakes fall on our vehicle. When I arrived home I had to try to capture the detail.

Aren't snowflakes amazing!?! The intricate details in each one... love it! God did so good! :)

Fargo Street Fair!

Fargo, ND Street Fair is going on now through the 19th! If you are near the area be sure to check it out!

Last week I was busy restocking art for Unglued who will be at the Street Fair and have their shop open on Broadway. They have such a wide range of unique handmade items and they also have such fun events going on regularly. Check out their site to see what all is happening: ungluedmarket.com

{image from last year's fair via HERE}

Inspirational Horse Block

Last month I completed my horse drawing and made an art block out of it for a special graduate.

In a very subtle text I put this quote: 

"God made the horse from the breath of the wind, the beauty of the earth and the soul of an angel.

May they forever run with our hearts." ~Bonnie Piper

You can read the words easier in person; my quickly taken photos give you the idea.

These two photos show the protective clear finish I put on. I like giving blocks a fun painted texture. 

It adds another dimension.

Here's another look at the drawing when it was in progress...

I always think its fun to see drawings come alive.

Eventually I will get more of the horse blocks created. It's a fun project!

A Fairy Party

Instead of spending much time on a special cake this year for Kaelyn's party I spent it on the invitation. 

From a designers standpoint that is by far the most fun. :)

Kaelyn was busy months ago working on fairy pictures for the walls. We added fairy balloons, fairy figurines (which she already had), fairy coloring/sticker books, and wands. Fairy success!

I made allergy friendly/gluten free chocolate cupcakes. Recipe is found HERE from The Renegade Kitchen. I made a couple tweaks, I doubled the batch, used half the coconut sugar and added a little stevia, plus added in a sprinkle of Enjoy Life chocolate chips. I then made the healthiest frosting recipe I could find... coconut, recipe also from The Renegade. I cut out the agave/coconut syrup part and I didn't have full fat coconut milk on hand so had to use light which made for a runnier frosting but worked fine. I can't give my input on taste since I was unable to try them at this time, but birthday girl gave them two thumbs up and wanted to eat them all, so they passed the test. :)

 There was lots of play time...

Kaelyn thought it would be fun to have help on her Valentine's box.

Last year we went with mini play doughs for her classmates, this year it was organic suckers which all the kids seem to love the fruit flavors. Kaelyn had her mind made up for how she wanted to make valentines so I didn't have to help at all. {insert happy mom that didn't have much time!}

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Be sure to hug a loved one and let them know how much you care about them today.