Day 14 Matchbox Advent Calendar

Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,
for the Lord, your God
will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

Artwork by Becky Hunt

This came from Linda over the weekend. Is it not just TOO adorable? It still surprises her that I like glitter. I like shiny objects, especially at Christmas! And New Year's Eve.





What is even more wonderful about this little glitter house (than just the sparkle!) is that there is a loose jingle bell inside, that rings when you shake the house. Great little detail!





And inside the base are peppermint treats. It's not Christmas without candy canes!



Thank you, Linda for sending me a little Christmas. Maybe I'll try my hand at making my own glitter house! This little house needs neighbors. :)

Day 13 Matchbox Advent Calendar

For thou art my lamp, O Lord,
and the Lord will lighten
my darkness.
2 Samuel 22:29

Artwork by Cheryl Lennox





Clever symbol, Cheryl.
Birthday candles are wonderful miniatures

Day 12 Matchbox Advent Calendar

You hem me in--
behind and before,
you have laid your hands upon me.
Psalm 139:5

Artwork by Katie Hogue

Now that's security.

Being hemmed in by God.

I love Katie's playful take on the scripture, especially the metal sewing bobbin full of

robin's egg blue thread.

Ammended 6pm...

Katie sent out this email today to all of us in this advent swap. I just have to share her story behind the bobbin in her box. I am so blessed to own one!

Good morning, fellow swappers! I forgot to include the story behind the bobbin with my matchbox for today (Dec. 12th), and thought you might be interested to know.
The bobbin inside belonged to my grandmother, who passed away last August at the age of 92. It was one of hundreds she kept in her sewing supplies. I hope that when you look at it, you will be reminded of how much God loves his crafty girls. ;-) Below is an excerpt from a tribute I wrote about her on an old blog:
My grandma was a very strong, creative, and resourceful lady. The oldest of twelve children born to Oscar and Stella Payne, she and her brothers and sisters spent most of their youth as sharecroppers, picking cotton in southeast Missouri and Arkansas. She was only able to complete third grade, but persevered and taught herself to read using "True Stories" magazine. At 23, she married a boxer with a penchant for drinking, and after ten turbulent years and two children, she found herself a single mom. Armed with her Christian faith and a family who loved her dearly, she did not fall apart; on the contrary, she "picked herself up by the bootstraps" and survived, graciously.
Grandma learned to sew out of necessity when she was twelve. She hired out to make dresses for the ladies in town for $2 each, then hunted down the prettiest flour sacks to make clothes for her own family. When I was a kid, she and Mom owned a tailoring shop together, and Grandma lived in a little apartment in the back. After hours she would work on her own creative projects, crocheting afghans and making pillows out of the leftover fabric scraps (using plastic dry cleaning bags for the stuffing.) Not confined to fabric, she could produce a mighty fine table with just wood scraps and a hand saw. We still have beautiful snowflake Christmas tree ornaments that she made out of toilet paper cores and toothpicks, painted and sprinkled with glitter. And no one had a greener thumb; I swear she could put a pencil in the ground and make it grow. No matter what, she didn't stop.
She only had a little, but she used it all, always doing for her family, always trying to make things better, a little more beautiful.

Day 11 Matchbox Advent Calendar

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

Artwork by Jill Smalley

This precious notebook came in the mail just the other day. I bought it from Carole's etsy shop. She had shamelessly posted photos of 3 notebooks to promote her etsy and I snapped this one up before someone else did.

What sold me was not only the bird images, but the tags tipped in on the inside.




The back cover looks as good as the front and because there is some batting on the covers, this little notebook feels comfy and cozy in your hands. It's not too late to get one or two in time for Christmas, even coming all the way from New Zealand! The petite envelope took about a week.

Carole also has wonderful needle keepers. She's got them posted on her blog today.

Day 10 Matchbox Advent Calendar

And the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.

Isaiah 58:11

Artwork by Glenda McNeal

Day 9 Matchbox Advent Calendar

Angels we have heard on high,

sweetly singing o'er the plains...

Artworkby Barb Johnson

And speaking of matchboxes, here is an altered matchbox I created for Ooglebloops swap. This box went to Patty. I decided to make it "practical" and created it as an ornament.

The "star" is a road kill ornament topper (found it smashed, on our hardwood floor, after decorating our tree). Inside the box I put Christmas themed trinkets, including some inchies I made for a Christmas inchie swap last year, some things that were red (festive!) and tea charms, because Patty is a serious tea drinker. It was not an easy box to pack, because I had so much stuff to cram into it. I would love to make more as gifts or to offer in my etsy shop (time, time, where are you?)

Day 8 Matchbox Advent Calendar

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:26

Artwork by Wendy Klassen

I love the subject matter of this box and the incredible details Wendy put into it (and had to recreate 24 times for swapping!)