Thrifting awesomeness

Tonight I headed to a thrift store called Unique Thrift. I think that it is probably the largest thrift store that I have ever been to. (My sister would have been in heaven) I was on the hunt for things to use in my art journaling. This class (check it out here) that I am taking really has spurred me to think outside the box. I am loving it sooo much. I thought that I would blog and share some of my finds from tonight's thrifting adventures and some of the plans that I have for them because I am quite excited.

Tip #1 - The linen section of a thrift store is a GREAT place to find vintage fabric:

I am pretty sure that this print has been in my family at some point in time. It just looked so familiar to me. Perhaps my mom or grandma can help me out on this one. I have really grand plans for this fabric, not only in art journaling but also in transforming an old pair of jeans into a skirt (more to come on that one).

Tip #2 - Great place to find cheap puzzles:

For some strange reason I have really been wanting a puzzle, but have found that they are actually quite expensive. I found this way cute puzzle for $.99. Awesome!

This book came with a few others but it is definitely my favorite. The pictures are so cute. I plan on cutting it up and using it for my journal. Can't wait to have a journal prompt that is worthy.

Just some seam binding and trimmings, but I was looking on Etsy today for just this sort of thing. The green trimming is my favorite. I LOVE it and can't wait to use it.

So there you have it. I have rediscovered the thrift store. Ah, such wonderful things to be found. And tonight my purchases were all an additional 25% off. I have a feeling I will regularly be checking out Unique Thrift on Mondays. Oh happiness :)

What a funny feeling

I have noticed over the past few days that I have been feeling a little bit weird lately. In fact, today I was able to put my finger on it. I feel...relaxed. I can't remember the last time that I felt truly relaxed. It's a good feeling just to be able to be. To not feel like I have to have a gigantic smile all the time and be energetic. Don't get me wrong I am still joyful, smily, enthusiastic Melany. But I guess that I am just having more relaxing chill moments. Does that make sense?

I feel like over the past few months I have been on a journey of de-stressing and I have noticed that it has really made a difference in my life. I definitely have to say that it is a work of the Lord. It's not something that I could do on my own. But, there are just certain things that don't affect me the way that used to. I feel at ease and am experiencing more and more peace each day. There have been times that it has definitely been the peace that passes understanding. My life is by no means perfect and there are many things on my mind and many things that break my heart. I guess that for me God's hands have gotten bigger. I know that He's got it. I know that He's got me. And right now, He is also taking me on a journey to learn to love who I am. It does not matter what others think of me (this one is definitely a work in progress - one step at a time and each step just sets me free more). It's all about my One. And while I am so grateful for all the people that He has placed in my life to challenge me towards growth, my God is the filter.

That's all. That's what is on my mind and I thought that I would share it.

Yet another new obsession

Based on some of my last posts it is definitely evident that I have been exploring the inner artist. In all my search for all things creative I have found a wealth of really, REALLY cool resources. I have already mentioned the class that I am taking and the art journaling book that I bought. Well, there is sooo much more where that came from. Another one of my newest obsessions is the magazines by Somerset Studios. There are absolutely amazing. I can sit in a bookstore for hours just looking at them (because at $15 a piece I can't bring myself to buy one...maybe someday). My favorites are:

Art Journaling

Click HERE for link

Artful Blogging

Click HERE for link (I might just have to buy this one to find inspiration to spice up this little blog of mine)

Green Craft

Click HERE for link

Somerset Digital Studio

Click HERE for link

Somerset Life

Click HERE for link

Somerset Studio

Click HERE for link

They are so cool and really inspire me. I would love to be cool enough and artistic enough to be published in one someday :) I believe it could happen. I am just now getting into this whole artistic thing, but learning more and more everyday that there is an artist inside me. At least, it is art to me.

Art Journaling...my new obsession

I have posted about my new found love with art journaling before and told about the class that I am taking. Well, just thought I would put it out there that pictures of my journal pages are on Flickr. Click HERE to check it out. I am very new to Flickr, so the journal pages are pretty much all that I have put out there. Enjoy!

LIfe and death and eternity

I was driving by a cemetery today and saw that a funeral was taking place. I know that funerals happen every day, but seeing it there really made me sad and stirred me to pray for all those who were there. It got me thinking. As I was praying, I did not really know where the people I was praying for are at in their life and what this death has brought forth in them. I knew absolutely nothing about the person that was being buried or what life they had lived. I did not know if they were male or female, nice or mean, or most importantly if they knew God. It was this thought that really got me thinking as I did not know if this person had passed on into heaven or hell, but they are eternally in one place or the other. I began thinking about all the earthly bodies laying in the ground at that cemetery and the eternal status of each and every one of them. If I were to walk through a cemetery I would be walking over the decomposing bodies of people whose soul is either in heaven or hell. I am not trying to be morbid, but these were the thoughts that I had today and it is really just a reality of life. We live and we die, and then we either spend eternity with God or in hell.

Will I be freaked out every time I go to a cemetery (which is not a place I frequent) - No. Will my heart continue to be stirred with compassion the way it was today - most likely. There is lots of heartache and many tears that waters the soil of cemeteries. I know that in someway God brought peace to the funeral that I saw happening today, because that is what I prayed for and He answers prayer. Today God gave me a reminder of the reality that people all around are one step closer to hell. That is not God's desire for them. He wants eternity with us as we live life on this earth and after in His glorious presence. What great news Jesus is!

My newest hobby

Ok, this is where I tell you about my new craze. I am absolutely hooked on art journaling. There are so many cool books and I want them all. I recently got "Journal Spilling" and now I want to spend every moment of my day playing with papers, fabric, paint, pastels (and all things artsy). I am also taking a class called Tell Your Story:

Basically, I am busting at the seams to create to the point that it is affecting my sleep. Ah, I just have to make things. I fact, I think that I am going to go and make something right now. Just had to share my excitement with the one or two of you that might be reading this ;)

Sleep Deprived

Since I can't sleep, I thought that I would just spend some time writing. You know I wish that this blog was cool and exciting like so many that I have been looking at lately. I wish that it was filled with so many creative ideas and projects that I myself have done. I wish that it was linked to others in the creative community with great ideas.

I know that I definitely have a creative side. It has been that way ever since I was little and would make myself a dress using grocery bags. I have always enjoyed making things and recently I have been grasping the idea that it is not just something that I enjoy, but also a very important piece of how God has created me. I truly believe that He gives us specific talents that He will use to impact the world. My creativity is something that I know God has big plans for. It is an area of my life that I want to dive deeper into.

I was at the bookstore looking at books on creative journaling. If you don't know what that is, let me just tell you that it looks super cool. I figure, I am creative and I love to journal so why not mix the two. One of the books that I found was about art journaling and creative healing. Hmmm, creative healing...now THAT is something that I can get excited about. Standing in the bookstore my mind started to reel about seeing people experience God through creative journaling. Just putting their thoughts out on paper in an artistic fashion. People being real. I personally think that the idea of creative journaling and healing hurts sounds like something that God could be all over. So, my mind is reeling. I myself want to experience more and learn more about creative journaling. I think that it comes through practice, which leaves me being a craft and art supply addict. I look forward to experimenting and seeing what God may do as I learn more about creative journaling and what it can do for the soul.