Character bird embroidery with Edelweiss flower

This is a rough sketch of one of my designs with a very old wood Edelweiss flower necklace my grandmother gave me.

  My grandmother is a folk artist that didn't know that she even had a talent for wood carving until she was 80 years old. Her best work came in her late eighties were she was featured in the newspaper along with her amazing wood carvings.

Some of her work consisted of eagles, animals, her faith (she really likes the pope) and many other beautiful pieces.
This inspiring lady will be 99 years old this November!

The Edelweiss flower is considered a symbol of bravery because it is so difficult to obtain one due to the fact that they grow in high, craggy areas where it is dangerous to climb. The flower itself is a symbol of purity and virtue.

There is a lot to learn from this little steadfast flower. Daring, courage and noble purity is the true meaning of this flower. Although there are other meanings... firm, strong, brave, steadfast, hopeful and uncompromising. "A true soldier".

Pretty amazing for a flower huh!

 Admirable little flower that can be crushed by the snow one moment and then appear pure white with soft "wool like" petals.
~*~

 
 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 2-peter 1:5-8

I am really sorry for the song suck in your head right now. :)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace this Christmas!

  This is a commission from a client who wanted to give someone some encouragement this Christmas. Jesus is the hope of the world born in a manger, walked among us on this earth, suffered and died for our sins and rose again. Christmas is hope because God loved us so much that he would send his son his only son.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.~John 3:17

Have a Merry Christmas!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.~ Romans 15:13

Child protection for children most at risk

{ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okcEI6dIXsc }

What can you do to protect a child who is vulnerable and powerless to change the situation they are in?

Many children fall prey to human traffickers looking for a child to exploit. Some children are born without a birth certificate and that makes them an easy target for human trafficking. Children are often approached with promising jobs in another city or country, only to be sold to a brothel, or forced into heavy labor, or even made into a child soldier and many other unthinkable situations. For a few cows or appliances a young girl can be sold into early marriage to a man 3 times her age.

So now that we know all this what can we do?

World Vision works with local hospitals, schools, community leaders, faith communities and law enforcement agencies to ensure child protection is a priority. In the country of Bangladesh alone World Vision is providing 20 safe places for children to go after school where they are nurtured and off the streets where they can be protected from the sex industry going on around them. There is no way out of their environment without these programs.

Here are some ways you can help this Christmas...

Consider sponsoring a child at risk of exploitation  http://www.worldvision.org/sponsor-child?campaign=226220126

Donate to programs that are already at work to support these kids http://donate.worldvision.org/ways-to-give/by-category/where-most-needed

Pray for staff and law makers for the work that they are doing http://www.worldvision.org/our-impact/child-protection

Share some stories to make sure their stories are always brought to light and never left in the darkness again.

Everyday butterflies

"Perhaps the butterfly is proof that you can go through a great deal of darkness yet become something beautiful." - Unknown. 

 "Always remember to fall asleep with a dream and wake up with a purpose"

I love to embroider on nice linen or silk and thought I would give a try on a muslin fabric; a fabric used for common purposes.  Personally, I found that it is easier to work with silk and linen fabrics because the fabric works with you to create your design.  The fabric shows though, adding to your work, where the muslin only shows what you added to it.

These butterflies are embroidered with silk and cotton thread on a common cloth and is already sold.

God is still working in ordinary people.  He specializes in taking the commonplace and weaving it into a thing of beauty.  The butterfly is a good visual reminder of the work He wants to do in us. 

 Freedom and beauty in joyous colors that dance across the summer sky.

Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail and served as your banner; your awnings were of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah.
 Ezekiel 27:7

Loving promise

A little encouragement.

A quote from Corrie ten Boom. Don't give up so true!

The making of a Jack Russell Terrier

This is a commission of a hand embroidered Jack Russell Terrier. I first sketched the dog based on a picture, then blended short stitches to create a short haired dog effect. The red ball and collar was featured in the picture my client gave me and I thought it accented the Jack Russell's colorings very well.

Here is a picture of the quilt my client is working on with the Jack Russell embroidery.

                        The finished project! She did a beautiful job! :)

A path of Hope

One eerily quiet morning I was walking on a path that stretched for many miles along the waterfront. I had a lot on my mind; it was at a time when many hard situations were happening in my life. We were in the middle of a move and living in upheaval for many months and I had a hard time feeling at home anywhere. 
Walking along the path the Lord brought to my mind that everyone is on a path in this life. After walking for quite a while I was getting tired and decided to look and see if there was a shorter way around this path. Maybe there was a short cut somewhere. Instead I thought I just better stay on the path and rest on a bench for a little bit.
Immediately after I sat down a man on a bike stopped in front of me and said do you walk here everyday?
me~"No once in a while"
Do you have a family?
~" yes I do"
Then he said take care of them.
He then looked ahead up the path and said... at the end of path is home.
~"where is home?"
Then he said Heaven and rode away up the path.

I was pretty stunned actually of what he said and of course I finished the path.
Their ended up being some really good things around the corner I could not see at the time.

If you are in a place where the path seems hard and tiring and you can't see hope past the horizon.
I encourage you to press on. Things change in an instant. By giving God your difficult circumstances you can rest in the assurance that he has everything in control. 

Hebrews 12 (NIV)

 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

A soft sail

This piece is sold and available on printed canvas.
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/a-soft-sail-stephanie-callsen.html

                    

I phone cases available

http://pixels.com/products/purple-ginger-stephanie-callsen-iphone5-case-cover.html

http://pixels.com/products/a-walk-on-the-beach-stephanie-callsen-iphone5-case-cover.html

http://pixels.com/products/dashboard-wildflowers-stephanie-callsen-iphone5-case-cover.html

http://pixels.com/products/waiting-winter-stephanie-callsen-iphone5-case-cover.html

http://pixels.com/products/teal-wave-on-golden-waters-stephanie-callsen-iphone5-case-cover.html

http://pixels.com/products/whats-in-a-flower-stephanie-callsen-iphone5-case-cover.html

 Many new i phone cases available on pixels.
http://pixels.com/art/all/stephanie+callsen/iphone+cases

Pearl brass and copper summer

I don't why I think of pearls every summer, I made them up to be more casual for every day outdoors. Hope you like them!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/bannerandsail?ref=shopinfo_shophome_leftnav

New embroidery piece "At rest in a quiet place"

 This framed picture is embroidery under glass.

You have searched me, Lord,

and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

you, Lord, know it completely.

You hem me in behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,”

even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, God!

How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand—

when I awake, I am still with you.

Ps 139

"Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
Psalm 55:6

The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
 Exodus 33:14

Art show event

These are some of the pictures my daughter took for my Art Craft and Garden event. Went very well! I also displayed some kids with me which are all orphans,older kids. The little girl from India is raised by brothers and sisters. If you know anyone who would like to sponsor one of these let me know!

Hand embroidered illustration named "little water girl"

Sketched this a while ago and but put it aside. My husband liked it and wanted me to do it so here is.
Embroidered sketch illustration named "little water girl".

Wool, leather, brass and embroidery

These are some embroidered red wool, soft leather and brass finished bracelets I have been working on. They are going to be free with a sponsorship at a art and craft table I am doing.

Happy Easter!

Smile! He has risen! Have a happy Easter!:)

God's in control!

 http://society6.com/Bannerandsail/Sunflower-impression_Print#1=45

The cost

How would you define poverty? Lack of food, no access to clean water?

I myself have never been in the predicament of having only one worn out dress, one pair of too small shoes or not having a bucket to hold the water I needed to fetch for my family. May-be not having soap to wash or the luxury of having a little sugar. What if I did not have a mat to sleep on or no school?
The most important thing is letting a child know you value them and that you love them.
I don't know what your sponsor kids needs are if you have them, but my guess is that you don't know what their needs are either.
Please consider finding that out and sponsor them back. You may be the one person in their lives that care.

My story

If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely.  The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient.  Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.  I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.  Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.  Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,  in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.  

2 Corinthians 2 


I was really saddened by the events that happened this week. I have been a volunteer for World Vision for ten years now and we sponsor 3 children. I have always noticed such a kind and loving gentle spirit among the workers both employees and volunteers. I have seen miracles and things "that only God can do" working at some of the events I volunteer at. I know that this ministry has been effective and essential in being the hands and feet of God in the face of desperate poverty and injustice for children, families and communities.
World Vision has always been a Christ first organization with its roots in prayer, and the gospel message. 
I know this because when I young I was rebellious and I was put on a prayer list at one of the chapels. No one else prayed for me but them, and years later I love God and my aim is to please him alone.
One of the things I love most is the fact that World Vision will help any child, does not matter what religion, race, sex or anything else. There is no requirement to receive any care! Isn't that what matters? 
I really hope that people of faith would reconsider and take your children back. It is not their fault. God can restore what he needs to restore and heal our countries problems. Lets just focus on the task at hand of what God called us to do. Feed the hungry, give clean water to a child in need, protecting a girl from early marriage or child trafficking, and give a child a chance to go to school. I hope people can put aside their hurt and understand what's truly at stake.

Stand with a child

 

 Illnesses from dirty water prevents kids from reaching their full potential. How many kids lives have been cut short just from no access to clean water? More than 1,600 children under age 5 die every day from diarrhea caused by unsafe water that’s more than AIDS and malaria combined. If you would like to help a child reach their full potential  sponsor a child today.    

Some kids have to get water for the family instead of going to school.

Give much needed food in the case of disaster or extreme poverty.

World Vision is one of the largest providers of clean water in the developing world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg1iLMnKD-4

New embroidered flowers hand embroidery

Quilt square cat

This is a quilt that my client just finished and sent me a picture of this morning with the embroidered cat she ordered. She did a lovely job!

Valued and blessed

I see pictures of children from around the world from all kinds of different cultures; I love seeing some of the colorful clothing, so rich in culture. One of these pictures came from my sponsor child with a big smile on her face and a letter saying, "I feel myself a blessed child".  This comes from a child with no parents, who lives in a poor community in an AIDS affected area. She’s the only girl among brothers in an area where girls don't seem to be valued as much as boys. What people value on earth are not necessarily what God values. If everyone only knew how much they are valued and blessed!

Matthew 10:30,31
"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. "So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.