What Lies Within?

I found this interesting article on a site called Victorias Past

Genesis 1:27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.


In the 1500's a practice developed in Derbyshire in England. It was a capital crime to marry a woman without the consent of her parents and friends. However, as the Reformation progressed the understanding that the decision to marry was the woman's herself and not her parents also began to dominate. So they developed a new tradition. The woman would run a race against her suitor. If he won, they would marry. If she won, they would not.

There is more to this tradition, however. The woman was always given such a huge lead that there was no chance the suitor could ever catch her. So if they were to marry, the woman would have to lose the race on purpose which would also signify her consent to marry. Lastly, if she won the race, signifying she did not wish to marry the man, it was against the law for the man to ask her again.

One of the reasons this tradition is so interesting is because of the social change that it represents. Before the Reformation women and children were simply the property of the man. He owned them. When the Reformation began something very significant happened. People started reading and studying the Bible. As they did this the practices and beliefs of the past were challenged. The teachings of Scripture on the dignity and worth of women began to be understood and taught. It is one of the fundamental changes that
the Reformation brought to the world.

Man or woman, the dignity and worth of the individual is based upon the image of God which is found in each. If you can read this, then you have worth, dignity, and value simply because God has stamped you with His image. This is the prime reason for the sanctity of life. "Genesis 9:6 tells us,
"Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man." It is God's image that makes life sacred.

Part of regeneration is the restoration of the image of God in us. "...put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him." Colossians 3:10 If you ever struggle with self-worth or the value of who you are this truth can be a great comfort. God has created you in His image. This truth really began to take hold and come to prominence during the Reformation. Male and female, it makes no difference. All God's children are precious to Him.

"But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18

Soli Deo Gloria,

THE STORY OF THE CORSET

"But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the
Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as
from the Lord, the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18

"The Dress of the mistress should always be adapted to her circumstances, and be varied with different occasions. Thus, at breakfast she should be attired in the very neat and simple manner, wearing no ornaments. If this dress should decidedly pertain only to the breakfast-hour, and be specially suited for such domestic occupations as usually follow that meal, then it would be well to exchange it before the time for receiving visitors, if the mistress be in the habit of doing so. It is still to be remembered, however, that in changing the dress, jewelery and ornaments are not to be worn until the full dress for dinner is assumed. " From " Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management " Oxford University Press

The Victorian age saw the last great heyday of the corset, when the tinier the female waist, the more attractive a figure was considered. A girl's ambition was to be married before 21, with a waist measurement less than the years of her age. In pursuit of this ideal, corsets were laced so tightly that numbness in the lower body and legs and even fainting were frequent occurrences, reinforcing the popular image of the female as a fragile, helpless creature. In reality, women had to be true stoics, enduring severe discomfort while remaining outwardly serene; it was considered disgraceful to show any distress, especially in front of the maid pulling on the laces, or in company. Even when sleeping, they did not escape, as a night-time model would often be worn, in order to maintain the waist reduction achieved during the day. For the Victorians, with their repressed sensuality bubbling under the surface, there was more to all this masochism than the mere pursuit of fashion; in 1870, a reader of "The Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine" naively wrote that "tight lacing produces delicious sensations, half pleasure, half pain". In an age of heightened prudery, the corset was in fact a socially acceptable method of self titillation! It was also an acceptable method of torture; many of the trappings of this obsession with waist reduction would not be out of place in a modern dungeon; the unfortunate young girl being "figure trained" hung onto an overhead bar while mother and maid hauled on the laces; an extra long and tight corset was a favorite method of disciplining recalcitrant girls, sometimes with metal screws to tighten more than was possible with laces; a stocking needle might be placed in a schoolgirl's busk to improve posture - any drooping of the head would result in a sharp prick to the chin! From AX FORDS

OUR ETSY TEAM IS AWESOME!!

Yesterday we had our monthly Etsy Team (O.C.E.A.N. Oregon Coast Etsy Arrtist Network).
These are just some of our members from left to right Sue Pearson, Brenda Salzano, Jan Brock (who is also my neighbor), Patti Koosed (me), Lynn Helgedalen and up front is Kathleen Bush.

I can see that after a year our team members are growing so much in their creativity.

Brenda is a very talented artist. She does beautiful jewelry as well as paintings and just look at this piece she did using wool. I mean come on! This is amazing. She has actually created a picture using wool. It is a scene for a sheep grazing in the field. I love her work.
Salzano's Design and Decor

Jan Brock

I love the vibrant colors.

Jan Brock and her twin sister Jan Nist are making these beautiful little pins for Cancer Awareness "Relay for Life".

Jantastic Creations


This is Lynn. She has been so helpful to me in helping me with Photoshop as well as how to use my new camera.


She makes beautiful beads, photos and jewelry.
You can visit her site at
byLynnea

Nadine and Kathleen make the cuties cards from their original creations. They call them "the girls".
This is their latest creation. She is just amazing. Now they will take this beautiful creation and make cards of her.

Just look at the detail on this paper doll
Nadine and Kathleen (Beautiful Unsual Custom Cards)

Me with my 2 x 2 Memory Glass pieces which by the way the one I put on my Etsy Site sold already. Yipeee! I will be putting others in my shop sometime this week. For more information check out
My Etsy Shop


Here is a sneak peak of what is going in my shop this week
I will give you details later


Oh and by the way I received my prize for winning Vintage Nina Giveaway
Just look at all the goodies I got. All inside this beautiful altered cigar box.
Thanks Nina I love it!!!

WHAT WENT ON THIS WEEK

Okay first of all this was tax week and yes we got our taxes in on time this year! Whew...first time for awhile! We also had as many cities and communities across the U.S,. had a Tea Party here in Coos Bay. We are a population of 13,000 and there were 300 people at the Tea Party. I did not go but my political passionate husband did.
Let's not go there!

Love Heals

Well I finally got back to making more comfort dolls for Patricia Winter's project. I ended up giving the last batch to our local battered woman's shelter. Here they are. One large and three little tokens of love.

Hugs, Kisses, Dreams and Hope along with my little flower lady went out to Comfort Doll Project today.

Flower Lady

The weather was rainy and when it is like that for days I try to drown in creating so I actually created 10 note cards this being one of them. This one was my favorites. You will have to check out my Etsy shop at www.pchickki.etsy.com to see the others.

I finished this 2 x 2 Memory Glass Necklace and had a wonderful time experimenting with my new camera to get this shot. Cool, don't you think?

MOCHA WITH FRIENDS

Today I met my Etsy Team Buddies for coffee
Well I had Mocha...my fovorite!

This is my awesome friend Kathleen. She is not only a sweet person she also an excellent artist. She and Nadine make the cutest cards. You can find them on their Esty Shop nadineandkathleen

They are currently working on this beautiful "Girl"

This is Sue and Linda. Sue makes beautiful Mosaic pieces and Linda makes jewelry.

This is Brenda and Nadine checking out the altered book that Brenda made. It is so cool as are these two ladies...
Brenda also makes Nature Inspired jewelry and hand painted collages as well as amazing photography. Her creations are on her Etsy Shop at Salzanos

My newest creation. I call her Belle. The collage is 2 demensional and measures 12x12. She is listed in my Etsy Shop at pchickki

I also made a 2x2 piece in memory glass

Also made 41/4 x 5 1/2 Note Cards. The entire set is listed in my Etsy Shop.

Yep, this what an Etsy Team is all about. We share our thoughts, ideas and progress. We discuss new ideas and feed off each others ideas. The best part is we have coffee and talk and laugh and just get out one a week. These are a fabulous bunch of ladies and I love them all!

I'M A WINNER !!

Yep, I won this altered book from Brenda Save The Artist Hand Made! I cannot wait to see this book in person!


AND I won the Vintage Nina Giveaway. This will be just like Christmas for me.

Thanks ladies!!!

This must be my lucky day!

He Has Risen!

Let us not forget the true meaning of Easter.
Jesus was tortured, beaten spat on, mocked for being the King with a crown of thorns pushed into his head. He was made to carry a heavy wooden cross to the place where his hands and feet would be nailed to a that wooden cross. He was crucified, his side pierced with a sword and after much suffering he died for our sins.

"Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.' And they divided His garments and cast lots. " (Luke 23:34) "And Jesus said to him,'Assuredly,I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.' " (Luke 23:43) "When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, 'Woman, behold your son!' Then He said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home." (John 19:26-27) "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' which is translated, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?' " (Mark 15:34) "After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, 'I thirst!' " (John 19:28) "So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. " (John 19:30) "And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, 'Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.' Having said this, He breathed His last. " (Luke 23:46)

He rose from the dead and entered the gates of heaven to be with his Father Our Lord


HE HAS RISEN.

In 1842 Otto Thenius proposed that a location known as the "place of the skull" was the Calvary (Golgotha) where the crucifixion of Jesus occurred.

In 1867 the above "garden tomb" was discovered near this believed location of Jesus' death. The connection of the "place of the skull" with the garden tomb believed to be where Jesus was buried was given prominence by British general Charles Gordon in 1883. This is why the above tomb location is also known as "Gordon's Tomb".

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!

I received this lovely surprise from Mollye Self over at Shezadoosey.
Isn't it so cute ! Look at the details on this little piece of art. She not only created the easter bucket but look at the little collage that came with it and even the box it came in was created by Mollye.

Great job and I love it so much Mollye.
Thanks so much.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL

This song reminds me of Easter mornings when I was a little girl. My sweet Mother would wake me up and sing this song to me. She always made holidays so special. I miss her sweet voice. She loved to sing and if she didn't know the words she would just hum.

A PARIS CHALLENGE

I have entered a Challenge over at My Artistic Life - Helga.
The theme was Paris so this is my entry. My latest digital collage done on Photoshop
If you are interested, please go check it out and participate. Should be fun!!!