Hello sweet friends and Happy Thursday! I know today I had planned on doing a holiday tour of the new old house.. but we will postpone that until monday :)
Today I have something else I want to share with you.. very special to my heart and two gifts I want to share and give to you, as my way of saying THANK YOU for all you do to support me and my family.
Over the last few years we have been so blessed to have your support in so many ways.. by subscribing to our kit club, buying from our online mixed media store, taking my online workshops, attending one of my retreats.. and always jumping at the chance to help me with any fundraising charity project I have going on. BUt more importantly you have all been there for me through SO many lifes ups and downs. Through all the blog posts about my fibro, my struggles, my happy times, my sad times, my mistakes. you have been there for ALL of it! Posting comments in support and love, sending emails out of concern or hap pines. It's been humbling to be on this end of my artsy life adventure. I AM SO BLESSED to have all of you in my life!
I was trying to think of something I could do for all of you for the holidays. Of course I would LOVE to send you all something in the mail.. though I don't know if thats physically possible lol.. or even $$$ possible.. so I was trying to think of another way I could show you how much you have blessed my life and my families lives over the last few.. MANY years.
Recently, while I was in Mexico teaching at the SHe Matters Art Retreat I was hosting.. I started to paint a new series of watercolors.. a series I call the "boot" collection.. just for fun. I saw a photopragh of a girl on Instagram.. her blog name is Pink Peonies (it is also posted on her blog HERE)..
(this picture was taken from the Pink Peonies blog.. here)
and I felt so inspired to sketch it and paint it..
SO many of you commented in Instagram and Facebook when I posted about it and it overwhelmed me with how kind and sweet you all were about loving it and wanting it in your home! I was blushing.. inspired by the first sketch, I started painting a series of sketches.. based off the same red hunter boots.. in the first sketch. Here is what I have created over the last few days since then..
Many of you have asked if these will be in my etsy store.. and YES they are now available in the store AND shipping has been reduced so more affordable! . You can find them here..
but then something magical and unexpected hap pend..
yesterday my sister Tia (you know her as the owner of Muvazi Skin Care), sent all of us siblings.. a beautiful email letting her know of her love for us. How this year they didn't have much money, but they still wanted to give a gift to all of us for the holidays.. something that means more to them than a physical gift could.
Then they included a link to a video that my sister, Tia and her husband Deren, had created using bits of pictures and videos.. put to music.
It was stunning.. I found myself BAWLING at my computer.. as I watched it OVER.. and OVER.. and over again. I am starting to cry again right now just thinking about it. I immediately texted my sister and said.. I LOVE THIS!! I soooooo NEEDED THIS!!
It was a beautiful short video about our Savior, and the reason that we Celebrate this wonderful Holiday Season. It was about hope and love, forgiveness and peace, it was about kindness and joy, trials and miracles. IT was everything I had been through for the last year.. all rolled into one. AND it reminded me that my Savior, Jesus Christ.. was born, lived and died.. for me. To help me in my journey on this earth. It was magical.
I immediately asked her if I could please please please!!! SHARE this video with my friends and other family members.. and she said of course! It was meant to be shared.
I knew right away I wanted to share it with all of you.. but I also knew EXACTLY what I what it was that I wanted to give to you all for Christmas. I wanted to paint a sketch that would remind you of hope, love, forgiveness, miracles and more. I wanted to paint something that would remind you of this sweet tender video that I HOPE HOPE HOPE you will take just a few minutes to watch! So i painted you this card/print that you can DOWNLOAD for free.. to use anyway you would like (for personal use only please).
Use it to print out your own Christmas.Maybe you want to print it out and frame it and give it as gifts. Perhaps have it printed on canvas (wall-mart does them).. and put it on your wall or mantel. But it's for you to have.. to use for your personal happiness :).
(please do not sell or re-use this image for commercial or private reason).
To download this print.. simply click on the file below, once it opens, Right click it and Save it to your computer. This is a Hi-RES photo.. which will give you beautiful prints of up to 12"x16" in size.
This print will mean SO much more and you will get why I wrote what I wrote.. after you watch the video below.. SO PLEASE take a few minutes to watch this video.. and PLEASE feel free to share it with anyone you would like!
I truly am grateful for all of you! Merry Christmas and know you are SO loved!
xoxo
What incredible pictures! My grandmother would love a painting like this. I wish I would have stumbles upon your blog before Christmas. I am still going to have to get one of these for her. I got her a metal photo printing of her old love letters that my grandfather wrote to her when they were kids. I appreciate you sharing this video, I feel like Christmas is slowly dying and this is a great reminder.
Posted by: lauren | December 31, 2013 at 10:36 AM
Enjoyed reading this!! I'm new to your blogger. And found your three hearts workshop last night and signed up for it today!! (I can't wait to start your class!!)
Posted by: Liv Stone | December 30, 2013 at 06:04 PM
That's so beautiful.. Took my awhile to find a time to slow down so I could watch it and enjoy it.. It's very wonderful of you to share this :)
Posted by: the little details company | December 29, 2013 at 07:21 PM
so sweet! thank you, i love this!
Posted by: alicia king | December 29, 2013 at 04:40 PM
Thank you so much for the reminder,even after Christmas, the reason for the season! He lives in each of us if we are willing to accept His gift! Beautiful video,and print. Thank you!
Posted by: Becky | December 28, 2013 at 06:36 AM
Thank you so much for the video and the beautiful download and just everything you do, Christy! You are such a good, good person!
Merry Christmas to you and to your family!
Posted by: joanie | December 25, 2013 at 08:08 PM
Thank you for sharing the salvation story! Praising God for our Redeemer born at Christmas time! Thanks for your artwork as well!
Posted by: Gwen | December 23, 2013 at 09:58 PM
<3 <3 <3 T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U!!!!
Posted by: Paula | December 23, 2013 at 10:31 AM
Thanks, Christie and thanks to your sister and her husband. I was truly blessed especially by the Hallelujah song. Reminds us that song can be sung any time. Bless you and your family at Christmas.
Posted by: Maurine Wiley | December 22, 2013 at 06:45 PM
Thank you Christy, What a beautiful gift, both of them. Love the video clip, just beautiful and of course your lovely art work. Have a truly joyous family Christmas time. Bless you xxxxxxxx
Posted by: Deb | December 22, 2013 at 05:04 PM
Bless you!
Posted by: Deb | December 22, 2013 at 12:37 AM
Christy,
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful video, and your lovely art of the Baby Jesus.
Four days before the big day I tend to loose that Christmas Spirit. But feeling your sweet spirit is helping to bring it back.
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Susan Warnick | December 21, 2013 at 10:05 PM
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing, Christy! Merry Christmas to you and your family. May blessings continue to come your way throughout the new year.
Posted by: Laurie M | December 21, 2013 at 08:12 AM
So very beautiful Christy ...watched, cried over the video, reminds us all what the true meaning of Christmas is all about and that song said it all. Thank you so much for shsring
..hugs to you and all the family from my house to yours and thank you for being you!!
xxxxxx
Posted by: Tracy | December 21, 2013 at 12:23 AM
Thank you for your wonderful gift. Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Posted by: Christine V | December 20, 2013 at 10:12 PM
Loved the video Christy. Can't see how anyone would not cry watching that.
One issue....I wanted to use the Walmart canvas option but they cut the corners out of the actual picture and wrap it around the edges...so the wording end up on the top edge and baby Jesus on the edges too. ANn way of getting the photo with a white border for the sides of the canvas?? Will try another place to print it too in the mean time.
Posted by: JudyC | December 20, 2013 at 04:19 PM
Bless you for sharing all of you! Happy Christmas.
Posted by: Carolyn | December 20, 2013 at 01:59 PM
Christy, Thanks to you and your Sister. The best Christmas present I could have received this year. My absolute favorite song. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Posted by: Cathe Ekas | December 20, 2013 at 11:53 AM
Thank you Christy. This video is so beautiful...thanks so much for sharing. This is the reason that we celebrate Christmas after all. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Posted by: bmessina209@roadrunner.com | December 20, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Thank you Christy, timing is perfect. What a wonderful gift YOU are, try and remember that. The video is Beautiful!
Posted by: vickie | December 20, 2013 at 10:47 AM