And whatever you do...

this morning as I was working very hard and focusing on the details of a tote bag I thought to myself 'Seriously, I'm spending so much time and putting so much love on this thing. It's kindof silly because it just a bag..

Posted on April 21, 2014 .

Putting Down the Brush of Comparison

"Sometimes the hand of God presses against us and creates unwanted discomfort." I can think of about 867 things in my 26 years of life that have brought me discomfort. God pressed us to create something better, I think. He knows where there are things he'd like to change and he does it to reveal something more beautiful.....

Posted on April 14, 2014 .

Don't Stop Believing....

Madison Knebusch was an active 8th grader - running track and playing competitive basketball. She began to have difficulty breathing. After numerous visits to the ER and to various physicians, a diagnosis had still not been reached....

Posted on March 4, 2014 .

Genesis 3:11 - WHO TOLD YOU?

I remember every comment made about my appearance. I remember every time you tell me I look pretty and every time you tell me I look healthy and every time you tell me I look skinny and every time you tell me my legs are big. I remember every.....

Posted on February 10, 2014 .

Pieces of Me...

I started looking at art a lot differently in my 2013 year. 2013 was a year of trust and a year that I gave up things I never thought I could have lived without! It was a year I, with much help of God, slayed some big idols in my life......

Posted on February 7, 2014 .

"She Was So Much More" Canvas Print Release!

I know I can't speak for everyone, but I bet if you're like me, many of you just read the title of this blog & thought "No Doubt" or "I so wish I could believe that" or "If only (fill in the blank) knew this." My heart aches because I think we, as a society, expect perfection from imperfect people & unfortunately there is absolutely no hope that comes from this expectation!

My husband & I have a set of 8 year old identical twin daughters. When they were in 3 year old pre-school, another 3 year old girl in their class went up to one of our daughters & said very matter-of-factly, "your legs are ugly" & then turned around & left. Although I didn't hear exactly what was said, I knew it wasn't something nice when I saw my little girl look down at her legs & begin to cry! The look I saw in our daughters eyes was beyond devastating! Not only because someone said something unkind, but because she believed what the other little girl said to her. At that moment, my world stopped! My husband & I knew it was going to be a daily battle to teach our girls about self-confidence & identity because we live in a world where the "world" tends to tell us what we are supposed to look like & who we are supposed to be. And while we happily accepted the challenge, we didn't think we would have to jump into damage control this soon! (And because of those unkind words, our daughter refused to wear shorts for 2 years (no lie!)!!!!) Even though that event happened 5 years ago, this particular twin has continued to struggle with her identity. I can assure you though, we pour scripture into (& over) both of our daughters & are intentional about reminding them that God created them with a HUGE purpose & because of that they can walk in full confidence knowing that God created them in His image! Not because it sounds nice & might add a little hope for the time being, but because it is the bedrock of who we are!

Psalm 139:13-14 says "For you created my inmost being;  you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  your works are wonderful,  I know that full well." If we could just grab a hold of this truth & believe it, I think we would be able to see that WE are so much more than WE give ourselves credit for! My prayer for you is that you would be able to begin to see yourself through our Creators eyes & not the world's expectations! God has given us the tools & ability to walk in confidence, we just have to figure out how to give ourselves grace to do it!

Beginning today, Valerie's newest Canvas Art Print titled "She Was So Much More" will be ON SALE! 8x10's are $10 (reg. $15) & 5x7's are $5 (reg. $10) through tomorrow night at 11:59 pm! These make perfect Valentine's Day gifts, birthday gifts or even graduation gifts so go ahead & grab a few while they're hot off the presses!

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We hope you have a fabulous week! Make sure you check back next Monday for Valerie's newest Canvas Art Print release!

Blessings!

~ Jill

Posted on January 27, 2014 .

New Canvas Print Released!

Uh Oh!!! Guess what day it is? Guess what Day.... It... IS.....(Extra points if you know what commercial I'm referring to...haha!) It's Hump Day which means we are almost to the weekend! And, I know I told everyone last week that I would be releasing a new print every Monday & I obviously failed to do that this week....I'm so sorry!!! I hope you can give me a little bit of grace..... pretty, pretty please?!?! 

My newest Canvas Print is a quote from William Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream". I've had so many of my Instagram & Facebook followers say that this quote fits their daughters (or nieces or grand-daughters) PERFECTLY (which I TOTALLY LOVE)! Beginning today & going through THIS FRIDAY at Midnight, this print will be available at a DISCOUNTED PRICE! So RUN (don't walk) on over to my shop & grab a few prints for all those sweet girls in your family! 

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You are BEAUTIFUL, Believe It!

~ Valerie

Posted on January 22, 2014 .