A complex design

Every New Year  I reflect on what happened the past year and what the New Year will bring. Many things have happened this year that have given me the conclusion that I don't know God's complex design. I don't know why some things happened the way they did. It has been a crazy year! Concluding that God's way is the best way.   The fruits of the spirit are...  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control. If you really think about it, how different would the outcome be in situations we have faced  if we followed this guideline? Would we be more loving with people? Patient and joyful in waiting? Kind and gentle to prickly people? Would we have lived a more disciplined life? How much more peace would we have in our circumstances if we knew God was in control and that it is our job to respond in his divine order. I hope this helps you as much helps me. Happy New Year!  ...  Galatians 5: 16-26

       

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Merry Christmas card from bannerandsail!

This is an angel I painted on hand dyed linen.
 Have a Merry Christmas!

Embroidery print out designs by bannerandsail

This Christmas change a life!

A child is waiting! Give hope to a child in need today! By sponsoring a child with only 35 dollars a month you can make a real difference in a child life. Look though these kids and see how special they are! Many have no parents and are raised by relatives. Your heart will be changed by the progress they will make! Join with me and give hope to one of these today! http://myshare.worldvision.org/Everychildmatters

http://myshare.worldvision.org/Everychildmatters

Cry Out for Congo

The children of Ledia ADP live in Gemena, Congo (DRC). It is a very remote place that makes access to resources and communication very challenging. This area is largely a forgotten place. 

Quick Facts: 

• Congo is the last on the Human Development Index: 187th out of 187
• Less than 6% of the Gemena population has access to clean water
• Children in Congo face malnutrition rates 3 times higher than the rest of the world
• 9 out of 10 mothers will lose a child before the age of 5 

Won't you help?
http://www.worldvision.org/sponsor-a-child?campaign=226220126

    

 

Dashboard wildflowers

On a quick stop driving across country I grabbed my camera hoping to find a great shot. Although it was a beautiful day in the mid west my aspirations for that perfect shot turned up void.
 
With a lot of driving ahead of us I quickly picked two wildflowers that seemed to be hidden under the tall grass and tossed them on my dashboard.
Every time I glanced at these two flowers on the dashboard they seemed to change position. Sometimes facing the sun and other times they seemed to look distressed, covered in pollen until opening up to take this picture.
Sometimes life seems to toss you on the dash board.

But God has a greater purpose...

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11

Even for a few tossed about wildflowers!:) 
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/dashboard-wildflowers-stephanie-callsen.html?newartwork=true 

New items in my shop! pendants,hoops to pouches makes great gift ideas.

Sunflowers! one of the most cheerful flowers

This is a commission that I did
for a client with two sweet embroidered
birds, Traveling the country this summer
I saw fields of wild sunflowers. Just beautiful!
My husband does not like to stop when we are driving to take photos. I was amazed at my neighbors sunflowers when I got home so I asked her if I can take a few and they were prettier then the ones on the road, You can take a look on...
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/a-good-start-to-the-day-stephanie-callsen.html

For the love of dogs!

Happy #NationalDogDay

Peony canvas flowers

A flower effect
I love peonies! So I created some peony photos that look beautiful on canvas or prints.http://fineartamerica.com/featured/peony-petals-stephanie-callsen.html Check out my flower, beach and embroideries on http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/stephanie-callsen.html Hope you will find them as beautiful and fun as I do!

A surprise gift

My sweet husband bought me this binder for my child ambassador work for World Vision.

New folk art decorated bird

 New folk art bird in my Etsy shop!

Putting a light on an issue embroidery piece update

This piece was put in a art and poem book "til all are free" for Art 4 Abolition.
To bring awareness to human trafficking.

Cat embroidery illustration

Embroidery sketch illustration

Embroidery sketch illustration named "Not Hansel and Gretel". This piece depicts two children not going to school because they are too busy gathering food and water for their families living in poverty. 

Nautical ship embroidered hoop art

Humility and the artist

Many years ago I had a commission to do a silk pillow with soft pastel colors covering the whole pillow with soft textured pink, yellow, light blue and  light purple stitches.
After working on this piece a few weeks it was finished.  I was thinking to myself it came out pretty good!
It was the end of the day and the sun was just beginning to set for the day. 

So I packaged it up really nice for my client and went out side to get the mail, and the whole sky was filled with soft little colorful clouds of pink, yellow, light blue orange, magenta and purples almost like these tiny stitches. From one end of the sky to the other.
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Blown away by the display I thought to myself even our greatest achievements in life is nothing compared to the glory of God to come.

That was many years ago and I will always remember that pillow filled sky, it is a sweet reminder that God is interested in all that we do on earth and that he is with the artist and the craftsman.

A lesson in humility by a wonderful and glorious God. 

Embroidered spring bird hoop art orginal illustration

Here in our area the birds out after being hidden all winter.

I have to say it always so special to hear them thinking they were gone after a silent winter. Teals and pinks that are in this piece seem to capture that Spring time feel. Prints available here.../http://stephanie-callsen.fineartamerica.com/

Miniature nautical ship on black fabric with red flowers and blue sea.

Nautical folk art pillow

A pillow I did for an auction this week. It has red wool flowers, sailboat and a American flag.

A picture tells it all "love"

We came across this moving picture when my father was cleaning out his work room I just had to share it. It was given to him by a photographer perhaps from the 70's or 80's working with World Vision. It really puts into perspective what is  important in life. I am going to hang this in my studio so I will never forget it.

Embroidery hoop art flower named "praise"

Folk art embroidery illustration Named "The new dress"

Plumeria done in rayon on silk

This design can turned in any direction

New embroidery design "What's in a flower"?

What's in a flower?

Complex flowers have embroidered name's of God in them. Every flower came out different with their own unique characteristic.This is unframed matted on wool.
Prints and artwork available at...http://stephanie-callsen.fineartamerica.com/

Shalom...Yahweh our peace/            
 Sabaoth...Yahweh commander of Heavenly armies/
Ezer...God is our helper/
Jireh...Yahweh our provider/
Shammah...Yahweh is present/
 Tsidkenu...Yahweh our righteousness/
 Nissi...Yahweh our banner/
Yahweh...our salvation/
Raah...Yahweh my shepherd/
 Elyon...God most high/
Adonai...Sovereign Lord/
El Olam...Yahweh everlasting/
 El Shaddi...God Almighty/
Mekoddishkem...The lord who sanctifies/
El Roi...The God who see's me/
 Hoseeu... The lord is our maker/
Elohim...Divine being/
 Quanna...Jealous/
Jehovah...God most high/       

These are just a few but I found it interesting anyways.

Many hand embroidered gift pouches available in my shop.