Utah Trip-favorite pictures, more to come...

I had been looking for the artist of this picture of CHRIST:  http://www.jeffhein.com/painting-history-scripture#3  FOUND THE ARTIST!  78x42 inch original, so the one in DC is larger than original.

Sibling hug at Aunt Becca & (soon to be officially) Uncle Chris home.

Painting from 1990 when I was a new mom-student-artist at BYU, in collection of Deborah Koehler. I was surprised at  how it brought back the emotions of being a new mom, the confusion, the love, the "cuteness" and the unending soberness of caring for the health of a newborn.  Rabbits were my favorite animal growing up.

John on his history-photo tour; one of his many, many jobs while we were starving students with children...

John, Sam, and Roxie waiting for me to finish looking at paintings at the BYU museum of art.

Current quilt show, downstairs at same museum:

What do you think???

Happy Father's Day!

(photo credit:  Roxie Jane with our new camera)

Taken last night, before going to Wilson-Powell wedding reception. 

And a glimpse of how to take a $7.00 thrifted dress and make it modest: extend the sleeves, fill in the front, add silk-ripped flower necklace.

SHOULDER Improved

For years he has had right shoulder pain, problems reaching overhead, behind.  Problems putting his arm around my shoulders...  Nor could he fold his arms comfortably.  He has tried cortisone shots, months of PT exercises, oral steroids for the inflammation, and finally the doctor sent him for a MRI and suggested manipulation to un-crack it...Something they couldn't do while he was awake.  He needed to be relaxed and unconscious, not fighting back...

After not eating breakfast, 5 minutes of anesthesia, and an hour recovery he can now fold his arms.  I opted out of watching the surgeon un-freeze his shoulder.  John's elbow was a little sore, and he has a week of PT to do, but pain-free miracle. 

Baby Flower Sandals

Hard to tell what these are from this picture, but think cute little baby girl toes peeking out from the bottom of the flowers, like this:

In the tutorial she warns that they are addicting to make...

I needed a fast shower gift, and was able to use materials on hand, things in my sewing studio...Made 3 pairs in less than 45 minutes.

Give Credit where Credit Due

I have seen 1/2 of this picture all over Pintrist lately, the right half. 

I googled how to do a reverse image search, found a 2009 listing in Spanish, but pulled out the artist's name:  Michael Belk.

Went to his website.  Saw this video about the project, Walking with the Messiah.

And I am adding this former fashion photographer to my list of artist I admire.  I love the juxtaposition of modern problems with Jesus Christ included.

Insert rant here about the pros/cons of Pintrist, the lack of credit, the fluff of incomplete stories/instructions, the lack of SOURCING... And I am guilty of pinning without complete research, looking for broken links.

Liz Lemon Swindle came and spoke at a fireside here in Baltimore recently.  She invited all the listeners to take home four paintings she has printed of her "Prince of Peace" to give away.  She feels that people need to be reminded, need to know Him.  She took her signature off the painting, printed at her own expense, thousands and thousands...It is not my favorite painting of Christ*, but I was touched spiritually by the goal of helping people come to Christ, help them know Him.  I have given away one, and know who the other two should go to...

Years and years ago, my brother, David, said he felt everyone should paint their own picture of Christ. 

I am not ready.  On the horizon is a figure drawing class at the local community college, for starters.  I have felt a little stagnant, need some more training, develop some skills!  And to practice more, put more time into painting.

*Current favorite is in Washington DC LDS temple foyer, off to the left over the stairs going down to the Distribution Center--Christ in the jungle standing between two Lamanite children.  I would LOVE to find out who the artist is.  All the temple office could tell me is that the 60 or so new prints are hanging in temples all over the world.

Manly Skills: Finger Knitting

My brother & his wife stopped by on Memorial Day.  Taught me & Sam how to finger knit.  David is wearing the brown scarf he knit while demonstrating how to do it.

Sam got the hang of it really quickly and has since made another blue scarf.  Relaxing, good physical therapy, comforting, and a tighter scarf than the arm knitting.

Start with a slip knot and a 2.5 foot tail, loop onto your right finger using up tail and pearl onto your left and keep going, without flipping work.  Easier to see in person.  Here is an arm knitting tutorial that matches how David taught us (except use fingers, instead of arms, and we only used one strand of yarn).

Family History in the Making

I am convinced we should all take more photos, especially at family holidays, family gatherings.   And either blog more, or write down somewhere what we are thinking.  Who we love.  What we are doing.

Kisses from Max on Mother's Day (LOVE THE NEW CAMERA!).

Crab, Maryland style!  I love eating crabs with extended family!

Great Grandma Billie likes the mustard.

John & his mom on Mother's Day.  I laughed looking at this picture--their t-shirts crack me up!

Me with Sam.

With Roxie.

Sam with Great Grandma!

Suzanna Ruth, borrowing the camera, up on Queen/King Seat.

Playing with old photos of Great Grandma Ruth.

And William & Rose, her parents.  Really wish there was one of them closer together, wedding photo, anything.  It looks like his knee might be bumping into her leg.

The whole family in front of THIS house in Paris, ID.

Which I am trying to find on google map street view and making myself motion sick!

This summer we are spending time in Bear Lake, ID, and I want to go see significant family history places.  Grandma Sandy said they tried to find this house, nobody knew where it was...

In William Shepherd's history:

A

...and a little bit about Ruth:

A paragraph?  I want more details!  This is my husband's grandmother.  She inherited the strong & sturdiness from her mom.  As have 2/3 of my daughters.  (Emma is more delicate, more Gma Lucy Babcock stature.)

Makes me think I should write in my journal today, update things some.

Update:  John's GRANDPA William Budge book online here!