New "Beaded Blessings" in our Etsy Shop!

Hey guys!  I just listed 3 brand new "Beaded Blessings" in our Just Bee 'n Me Boutique Etsy shop! After selling numerous "Inspiration Kits" filled with yummy vintage trims, fabrics, buttons and jewelry, I decided to actually use some of those wonderful materials and make some little hanging fabric collage greetings to share with you...

This "Beaded Blessing" features a little wire dress form that I fashioned by hand, vintage hot pink and off white silk upholstery fabric, a dress made from vintage black and white dotted swiss...

...a hanger made from vintage beads from an old necklace, and an encouragement to "dare to dance"! Perfect sweet little greeting for a friend or to keep to bring a little inspiration to you...

Here's another one I made using some cool retro fabric in browns and golds, vintage ribbons, ric-rac and laces, vintage buttons...

...a vintage piece of tatting...

...a glass bead hanger, and a Scripture verse from Colossians 3:14 - "clothe yourselves with...kindness"

Finally, I made one featuring one of the names of God - "Jehovah Rapha" which means "Lord our Healer". I was inspired to make this one on the day we received some miraculous healing news about a young family member of mine who was facing a second heart surgery, only to find out that the issue requiring surgery had reversed itself, and the surgery was no longer needed! So, I wanted to honor God for His faithfulness and healing mercy...plus remind us that if His eye is indeed upon the tiny sparrow, how much more so will it be on us, His beloved children...

This "Beaded Blessing" features a cute little vintage embroidered birdie that I cut from a vintage linen piece...

...plus a sweet crochet flower from a vintage doily with a black rhinestone button center...

...and a background piece of vintage upholstery fabric in cool shades of lime green and turquoise, topped with a pretty glass beaded hanger...

I am looking forward to making many more of these little fabric collages - it has been so fun to dig in and really use the awesome vintage supplies I have been collecting all these years along with encouraging, inspiring Scriptures and quotes...and I hope they will be a blessing and bring a smile or two...

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

3 John 1:4

Wishing all of you Moms that I love and admire a wonderful Mother's Day weekend, filled with sweet blessings, simple joys and much love! Thank you for all you've done and continue to do to shape and influence the lives of all of us with your Godly wisdom and generous love!

And a particular thank you to my sweet Mom - my best friend. Your love, compassion, guidance, and grace mean more to me than you will ever know!!

Father's Day Freebie(s)!

In celebration of Father's Day this weekend, I designed this word art based on Psalm 112:1-9, which is full of beautiful promises for the important dads in your life. It is my gift to you for your personal use, and I hope you will use it as a blessing. It would be great to use for card-making or as a simple piece of framed art. Feel free to pass it along on your blog or Facebook page too. Simply right click the image and save to your hard drive.

Speaking of freebies and Father's Day, Casting Crowns is debuting their latest  *amazing* music video titled "Courageous", which is the title song for the new movie "Courageous" premiering in theaters September. (This movie is made by the creators of "Fireproof" so it is sure to be awesome!) The message in the song is custom made for dads. If you go to this link on God Tube, you'll also see a link to get a free download of the song "Courageous" - it would be a great, free gift for Dad!  When you view the music video, after the song ends it plays a short trailer for the movie - it looks really good...

Enjoy your Father's Day celebrations this weekend - and hug those awesome Dads in your life! We are heading off to Louisiana to see all of sweet hubby's kids and grands - perfect Father's Day gift!

Holy Land Homecoming: a Retrospective (part 1)

Gate at Mount of Beatitudes

As I mentioned in my last post, in honor of Holy Week leading up to Resurrection Sunday, I wanted to share some images and memories from my amazing 11 day trip to Israel in May of 2004. The pastor from my church in Colorado lead tours to Israel every year for 20+ years, and I was fortunate to be able to go on that year's trip.

I couldn't possibly show you all the photos I took or tell you all the incredible stories...it would take a book to do that, but I will do a few posts over the next few days and try to give you at least a taste of this most beautiful land, its wonderful people, its rich history, and its deep spiritual significance...

The Galilee Region

Mount of Beatitudes

One of my favorite visits was to the Mount of Beatitudes, the place believed to be where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. At the top of a hill is a beautiful Catholic chapel built in 1939...

The grounds of the chapel were gorgeous...I was continually amazed at how relatively lush the gardens and farms were in Israel despite the arid climate...

We had a wonderful lunch here served by the nuns at the chapel...I am not a big fish lover or a very adventurous eater, but despite it having its eyes, head and tail, I really liked this fish...it is called Saint Peter's fish from the Sea of Galilee, you will likely better know it as tilapia...

Our visit to the Mount of Beatitudes was capped off appropriately with a reading of the Beatitudes by our pastor....it was very moving there in that setting...

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven..."

Matthew 5:3-12 (NIV)

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Capernaum (Capharnaum)

The town of Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee is where Jesus made his home during His ministry:

"When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew 4:12-17

Ruins of homes in Capernaum from Jesus' time

It was also the home of the disciples Peter, Andrew, James, John (Matthew 4:18-22) and Matthew [Levi] (Mark 2:13-14). This place was so wonderful because it was so easy to picture where Jesus walked and talked and fellowshipped with the townspeople. There are also ruins of the Synagogue built in 4 AD and they are right on top of the location of the local Synagogue that Jesus taught in during that time...

From the Synagogue, it is just a stone's throw to Peter's house...

And it was then, when I saw the two places and how close they were, that I could see right where Jesus would have walked when He went from the Synagogue to Peter's home, where Jesus healed the paralytic that was lowered by his friends through the roof because of the huge crowd.

(Mark 2:1-4; Matthew 9:1-18; Luke 5:17-26)

Being on that same street and taking those same steps was an

 utterly amazing experience...  THAT was when every Sunday School lesson about Jesus from my childhood and everything I had studied about the Lord as an adult came so vividly alive and real as it never had before...I will never forget that moment as long as I live...

Here are a few more images from Capernaum...

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I'll be back in a day or so with more photos and memories from Israel...I hope you'll come back and take these steps through history and faith with me!