Willow Creek Worship

 This past weekend was the HUGE art display at Willow Creek Community Church for their Mother's Day celebration.

Sunshine girl re-enacted her praise pose in front of her 8x10 foot banner!

 The team I had been working with was amazingly creative & detailed & thought through every aspect of the church environment, down to the signage they had me design!

Here is the other 8x10 foot banner!

My friend who modeled as the mommy in this image came to worship, but unfortunately I did not get a picture of her in front of her art!

These prints floated from the ceiling at one of the main entrances.

They were 24x36 mounted on black foam core.

 They beautifully chose reds & pinks to celebrate moms.

 And the rod iron around the church went amazingly well with my art & the scrolls.

 Another large sign; underneath (which you cannot see) is a chocolate fountain with a table full of goodies to dip... my girlfriend said she would come to this church every week if they served chocolate fountains each week! So funny. My kids were VERY happy :)

 These 2 huge pieces were created in Spanish for the Spanish service!

 This was the screen in the main auditorium. Nicole rocked the house, needless to say & Shauna Niequist was a great speaker. Just as I suspected, I cried almost the entire time throughout worship & her message! Notice on the stage they even created backgrounds using my scrolls. {Sunshine girl even noticed that, saying they "took mommy's artwork!"}

 Here is a huge crowd after the service. They are listening to a flash mob choir (so I was told... I could not get any closer).

 I had a great time watching camera phones everywhere snapping images of my art! This mom so sweetly had her daughter pose with Psalm 103!

 Inside an interior gazebo, the Willow crew acquired donated antique furniture for the weekend to create a homey, warm & nostalgic environment. So cool! People were so generous to allow their pieces to be borrowed! Thank YOU!

 I let them borrow my framed art & Demdaco plaques to display also!

 All in all, over 9,000 women were given a 2 pack of postcards of my art. I created postcards in Spanish & in English.

 Here is Mom Chen, posing by her piano hands!

 Here is Pumpkin-Poos posing by her sweet toes.

And, a definite highlight of the weekend was my family & friends who so faithfully attended the service with me. I was so touched by how many people came! Especially my hubby {shown here in his scrubs} who gratefully was put on stand-by at his nursing job so that he could attend with us!

Hope you enjoyed. Thanks for viewing :)

Grace & Peace,
Julie

Fundraiser Participation for Adoptive Parents!

Hello! We are so excited to be partnering with the nonprofit The Sparrow Fund this month, supporting their work in helping adoptive families around the world. We are donating 10% of all our sales this month to The Sparrow Fund along with 58 other businesses.

Over the next 2 days, we have a very special challenge in front of us that I want to share with you. An adoptive mom wanted to do something creative to support this nonprofit and their efforts this month to Build the Nest. And, she posted a blog entry today with that challenge -- for everyone who comments there with their first name, the store name where they shopped, and the total amount spent -- Leah will MATCH dollar for dollar in a donation directly to The Sparrow Fund up to $1,000! So, if you make a purchase in the next 2 days, not only will 10% of your purchase go to The Sparrow Fund, you can make that 110% simply by commenting on her blog! 

Consider being a part of this challenge! Come on over to Life Verse Design and make a purchase. Then, simply go make sure Leah knows you did by commenting on her blog post (CLICK HERE) with your first name, our store name, and the total amount of your purchase with us. We want to make sure that at least $1,000 worth of sales named in those comments so we can get The Sparrow Fund this donation. And, we only have 2 days to do it! 

Grace & Peace,
Julie 

YOU are invited!

The art was all delivered today.

The website is live, featuring my art scrolling through the header.

It is finished!

Ready to be beautifully assembled by the most creative team.

Waiting for all of you to see.

And, I am cordially, joyfully, and humbly inviting all of you to come worship with me this weekend at Willow Creek Community Church in celebration of Mother's Day!

The lobbies will be full of my art on display; from my Demdaco plaques to 2 8x10 foot banners. wohoo! Gifts for all of the women who come! Please see their website for location & service times.

I hope to see you there.

I will be the one beaming with joy. Most likely crying like a baby as Nicole belts out her moving music. Simply taking in all of God's grace in my life.

Grace & Peace,
Julie

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

{art available here}

{art available here} 

 Here are a couple of Mother's Day gift ideas to show your mama how much her love means to you.

When creating this art and thinking through the text, I thought of words that describe my own mom & how her love is truly tender, kind, & given with endless devotion. I could have also added sacrificial, constant, dependable, giving, and encouraging (among other descriptive words of my mom).

You could also give her her favorite Scripture or Inspirational saying to make a meaningful gift this year. FREE shipping still going on now thru May 4 with the coupon code SHIP2ME in the ETSY checkout! 

 Grace & Peace, Julie

DIY: May Day & Mother's Day Vases

With May Day, Mother's Day, and Teacher Appreciation Week approaching, the kids & I created home made tissue paper vases as unique & utilitarian presents. It is quick & easy & just about any age can participate! All you need is: 1. Jars 2. Modge Podge 3. Tissue paper

Have the kids cut or tear the tissue paper into any size they want (go crazy!). While they are at work doing that, you do a quick layer of modge podge on the recycled jar & they start sticking the tissue to the jar. Layer the colors & see what happens if you like! Or, as my son did, leave a "window area" on the jar so you can peek inside to see the stems! After the entire jar is covered with tissue paper, you paint on another layer of modge podge. Now, mind you when it is wet it is opaque white, but when it dries, ta-da!!! A beautiful & colorful vase! You can also use them as pencil holders, paintbrush holders, marble jars, etc... etc... the skies the limit!

Fill the vases with fresh flowers from your yard (even dandelions are cute)

And the people who receive these beautiful hand made gifts will be so happy!

{The girls wanted me to attach these photos of themselves & many other crazy pics to their vases for their teachers... OH, how i wish their teachers saw this side of them!} P.S. Don't forget: FREE shipping in any purchase in the shop now till May 4! Enter the coupon code SHIP2ME in the ETSY checkout! Grace & Peace, Julie

Mother's Day Giveaway!

Jill Savage, founder of the Hearts at Home ministry, is hosting a giveaway over on her personal blog today in honor of Mother's Day. Three women will win 2 8x10 standard fine art prints: one to give to their mom & one for them to keep! Head on over to Jill's blog to enter the contest & hurry it ends tomorrow night. I am also offering FREE SHIPPING on any purchase now through May 4 so that you can choose a meaningful Mother's Day gift, whether it is her favorite Scripture or Inspirational saying, or a Mother's keepsake to show her how much you love her! Just enter the coupon code SHIP2ME in the checkout of my ETSY shop! Grace & Peace, Julie

Charisma 2012

I am busy preparing my inventory for Charisma 2012, a benefit show put on by the Winnebago County Medical Society Alliance to raise money for health career scholarships, grants, and community service projects in and around my hometown of Rockford, IL.

The boutiques are open to the public (that would be YOU!)
Sunday, April 22 from 5:30-8:30
Monday, April 23 from 9:30-3:00

The benefit show is held at
Giovanni's
610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford, IL 61107

I hope to see some of you there!

Grace & Peace,
Julie