You frame it Friday

After I finished this unframed picture this evening, I decided it looked like the flowers were casually waiting for something...

Earlier this year, in the Spring, I made a similar framed pressed flower picture, and titled it "Waiting Flowers". That picture has been sold, so I will recycle the title.

This "Waiting Flowers" picture is sealed with 2 different UV resistant and moisture proof polymers, so it's all ready for you to pop into a standard 8 x 10" frame, or even an 11 x 14" frame, with standard matting. If I were framing this, I would go with an 8 x 10" frame with a plain white mat.

"Waiting Flowers"

I know I showed you a scan of this picture two weeks ago, but here it is framed.

I looked long and hard at this picture, trying to figure out what to call it. It finally occurred to me that these flowers look like they are trying to see what's ahead - they're waiting for something...anticipating something.

I love this verse: "In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you, and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3

I'm so amazed that every morning (and whenever I want through out the day) I can go and lay out all my requests, concerns, and frustrations out before Him.... to the God of the entire universe - and He actually listens! And, He actually acts on our behalf, if our sights are set on Him (Romans 8:28). If you really think about that, it is absolutely mind boggling, and incredibly humbling all at the same time.

Part Two: Turning over a new leaf

Continued from previous post...
The next morning I accidentally stumbled upon a scrap- booking web site raving about something called “Perfect Paper Adhesive”. It was touted as a great adhesive, but also works as a flexible, strong matte sealer that just happens to be UV resistant, and it was reportedly safe on flowers. I jumped in the car and flew over to the nearest Michael’s, and by late afternoon I knew my dilemma was solved. It works great! Thankfully it’s completely non-toxic, and all I had to do was to apply a very thin coating over the flower, stem, and leaves with a soft brush. When it dries, it covers the botanicals in a barely perceptible, but tough, flexible film, that is amazingly durable. The pressed flowers on the cards can be stepped on, crumpled, folded, spilled on, (not that anyone should do these things to their handmade cards) and they remain intact! And what a blessing that it’s UV resistant as well!

This extra step is easy, but time consuming – partly in the application, but mostly in waiting for the cards to be completely dry before I can place them in cellophane wrappers or boxes. Because of the extra time needed, I will now be offering four cards in my boxes of pressed flower cards, instead of five…but I think the change will be worth it. My customers will be getting a much more reliable and higher quality product. Isn’t amazing that God cares about the little dilemmas in our lives, as well as the really important ones? I’m thankful.

Learn more about Perfect Paper Adhesive here.

The Lord is my Shepherd

I’m taking a quick respite from writing about the world of pressed flowers, to bring you something much more substantial.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss of Revive our Hearts Ministries is currently in the midst of an excellent series on Psalm 23. At first I thought it would be rather trite and dull, (who hasn’t heard parts of that Psalm at least a million times) but I was incredibly wrong! There are so many valuable principles waiting to be discovered in those familiar verses…if one will only take the time to read them with a fresh mind and heart.

The series is already nearing completion, but if you visit Revive Our Hearts you can download all the transcripts, and study them on your own. And, if you can find the time, here is something even better. Her teaching on Psalm 23 was actually taped at a recent conference, so you can actually see Nancy teaching on Psalm 23 here:
http://www.reviveourhearts.com/videos/

In hurried, hectic, and often bewildering times like these, I am immensely grateful to have my very own Shepherd. Please take some time to get to know your Shepherd. Your time couldn’t be more well spent.