Kid's Klub in Bucha, Ukraine

For some months I've been talking to our Sunday School director about starting a Saturday kid's activity so we could bring in more children from our town who are not in church. We did our first Kid's Klub and had 13 children. It was a start and I know it will grow. We did songs and crafts, but starting next month we will also offer English classes so that will bring more out. You can see from these pictures we had a real range in age. Please be in prayer for this monthly children's ministry. My thanks to Marge Naperski who sent the lovely fish pictures for this project. The kids loved it. And send us your buttons and old jewelry for craft projects. Grateful for you, Coleen

Changes: New Blog Name

I'm going to be moving my blog and changing it's name to Vintage Terrace 2! Please adjust your subscription address or go to the new blog address/url http://vintageterrace2.blogspot.com/ and subscribe. I will be leaving my old blog up, which will look identical to the new one (except for the title and header of course) for a few months. I will keep publishing reminders so everyone makes the trip!

I Love Hearts

A friend and colleague, Laura Kanaykina came to me recently for ideas to entertain a women's group with a craft. This is what we came up with and since you all know I like to doodle, well, that is what I did on each heart. No, it may look like Greek, but the Bible verse is in Russian.

VintageTerrace2 Online Shop (My Etsy)

Some of you have already seen our online shop and we've already made sales. The things on here are all sold without profit motive, but are sold to use for missions work in Ukraine. I teach art classes to various groups and the proceeds from this shop go to providing scrapbooks and other items to the children and adults we work with. For those of you who have donated items we are ever grateful for our privilege and ability to be of service here in this capacity. I love what I do and the big payoff is the joy on their faces when they've created something they admire. God has given me a unique tool for witnessing the love of Christ through teaching. Thank you to all who have been a part of making this possible. Please take a look at the things in our shop and see if there is not something there that catches your fancy.

Pretties

Got creative one day and made these pretty little flowers as embellishments. So fun for decorating a page, a box or whatever you want to doll up. Used a paper punch for the bottom flower and the rest is fabric flowers and a gem.

2010 Life Path Challenge Week 7

I've heard from several more who are doing the challenge, I just wish more were interpreting with art, but it's OK to interpret these questions in any way that works for you. Remember, how you interpret the questions is your private business, but if you want to make some art then either go to our Flickr site (search Flickr for "2010 Life Path Challenge)and upload it or mail to us and we'll do it for you. Here's our questions which you can answer one or both: WHAT IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST TIME-WASTER IN YOU LIFE, AND WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT THIS YEAR? FOR WHO'S SALVATION WILL YOU PRAY MOST FERVENTLY FOR THIS YEAR? Again, you can answer one or both questions. Have fun.

Where In The World is Ukraine? FYI

Ukraine, isn't that Russia? No, it used to be part of the former Soviet Union, but it was always Ukraine. My geography got a lot better when I moved from the U.S. to this part of the world. Ukraine is just below Russia on right side of the page. How do I feel about it? I love it here, as well as traveling Europe.....16 years now.

Snow, Snow

Snow, Snow go away, come back another day. I know anyone who lives in a snowy area is getting tired of it by the time they get to February. For us this only means another month or so. I say "or so" because we could get snow as late as April or May, but the stuff that stays on the ground will start melting in mid to late March. This shot is from our front door looking toward the street. I thought it was interesting how the flash in this night shot caught the snowflakes. In summer the arch has clematis growing over it and the sidewalk is surrounded with flowers. Ahemm (sigh, longing for spring).

2010 Life Path Challenge Week 6

Well, the day has gotten away from me for being too busy, but here I am. Here's my tag for this week along with your questions. You can do one or both questions. Just however you feel moved. 1. WHAT IS THE MOST THANKFUL YOU HAVE EVER BEEN AND HOW DID YOU EXPRESS YOUR GRATITUDE? 2. WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU COULD DO THIS YEAR TO INCREASE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF GOD? Now, let me say that if you fall behind one week then my suggestion is that you just leave a blanks page, blank spot for whatever you are doing and move on so you can keep up. Then maybe you can pick up on that week at a later time and maybe not. Remember, this is a no pressure deal so do it as you like. Have you stopped to consider that you are creating quite a legacy in these questions? It might make a great gift to give a love one later. We now finally have a Flickr site set up for those of you who would like to post your work to share with us. Find it here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1351653@N21/ or just look for vintageterrace2 on Flickr. I hope you are enjoying these questions as much as I am. I'd sure love to see what you are doing and I would love to hear from some of you as to how it is going in comments below. Have a great week and Happy Valentine's Day to you all. Tell someone you love them.

Painting a Rose by Donna Dewberry

This lady of many talents is fascinating to watch even if you don't paint. Click on the title to watch.

Happy Valentine's Day

My gift to you dear friends....this is how God sees you. Listen to this lovely song from Ginny Owens. She is a blind singer. Then hear her short story below. Click on the title to listen. It's beautiful.

Singer, Ginny Owens

She has a marvelous story and now she is a well-known singer. Click on the title to hear her story on Youtube.

About.com Write Up

It was so fun when I got an email from About.com that they did a small write up on my tags and the 2010 Life Path Challenge. Spreading the word. It's fun to see how many are doing this. You can see their write up here: http://familycrafts.about.com/od/gifttags/ss/ColeensTags.htm

Street Dogs

On a chilly fall day these street dogs were finding a warm spot in the sun. I wonder where they go in winter? This is an ongoing problem in Ukraine as there is not the infrastructure to take care of it. Many of the locals help feed these dogs and most are very meek and harmless.

Art Book Giveaway

The book is called "Collage Fusion" by Alma Cox and they are doing a giveaway to check it out: http://www.favecrafts.com/sweeps/Collage-Fusion-Book-Giveaway

Journaling Crafts

Check this out for more ideas on crafting and journaling. Journaling Crafts

Tutorial by Tania Willis: Altering Fabrics with Ink

Angie from Scrapscene featured this really cool tutorial of a technique for dye/bleaching fabric for your scrapbook layouts. It is such a neat idea I wanted to share it with you here. Tutorial by Tania Willis: Altering Fabrics with Ink

Life Path Challenge, Week 5 Art and Question

Well I've finally caught up to where I hope to be posting my tag for that week each time I give you the new challenge question. The question for this week: WHAT IS THE MOST HELPFUL NEW WAY YOU COULD STRENGTHEN YOUR FAMILY? Now that one will make you think a bit, but if you take the time to do it you could have a wonderful result show up in your family relations this year. I've been thinking about something that I'm going to add in here. That is another question each week. You can take your choice or do both. There are just too many intriguing things to consider in life. Will I have two every week? Well, I'd like to, just depends on what I find and how I'm led. If you have a question you'd like to throw into the pot, just leave a comment below or email me at coleenfranks@gmail.com Question number two: WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY YOU WILL, BY GOD'S GRACE, TRY TO MAKE THIS YEAR DIFFERENT FROM LAST YEAR? Wow, I too often think I don't have control over my circumstances, but that is furthest from the truth. Just considering the question causes things to leap in my brain. Have fun with it.

Now you see where I got all these great moss pictures. I just love taking shots of textural things and when you combine it with natural texture, all the better. I love nature and just wanted to scoop these pretties up and take them home, but just did so in my photos. I may make some paper out of them for an art project. I know some of you think I'm a bit strange, but this beautiful example of nature just speaks of the Great Creator to me. They are all covered over with snow now, but these were taken in the fall while we traveled.

My Snowflake Book

My "snowflake book" was made by some pretties sent to me by my friend Sally Joy from England. Why this program flips my pages sometimes I just haven't figured out. I'm not the most hi-tech of artists. The embellishments were put on plastic pages made from plastic bags. You can see the tutorial on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9pe5oXYYxU&feature=related Try it.

Tim Burton's Mad Tea Party

Talk about artistic. I have got to see this movie. Even from the trailer I know I want to see it,,,,but in Russian? Well, I'd miss some of the detail, but I'd do.

Inchie Accordian Origami Book

This is an example of inchie books Leah and I did in December for the Yahoo Mini-Books group(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mini-books/). Instead of doing inchies for the swap, we made a book for each member. Actually Leah made the books and I simply decorated them. It was a lot of work, but great fun. The inchies you see in the close up came from the swap. They were real beauties. You can find the directions for doing these little frames here: http://www.making-mini-scrapbooks.com/accordionorigamibook.html

2010 Life Path Challenge Week 4 Art

This tag was fun to do with the pretty flowers to remind of me of my lovely summer garden. The question I did for this week is: WHAT SINGLE THING THAT YOU PLAN TO DO THIS YEAR WILL MATTER MOST IN TEN YEARS? IN ETERNITY? Come back Monday for week 5 challenge. You can simply keep a journal of these questions in a book, on your computer, in a mini-scrapbook or you can do some art to express these weekly challenges. I'm doing a tag book which I"ll show you soon. You may express it any way you'd like. There is nothing to sign up for, nothing you have to commit to except to yourself if you so choose. We just love to hear about it if you are doing something and if I ever get Flickr figured out then we'll have a group page to show anything you want to do. Any which way, by the end of the year you will have a treasure in these questions. Have fun, Hugs, Coleen

2010 Life Path Challenge Week 3 Art

My third tag with a brown ribbon down the side. I know, it looks like a shadow in the pix. Now to start on my 4th for this weeks question. I'm enjoying that this challenge makes me create on a regular basis. Life gets so busy and the days slip by, but when I know I have a deadline, that helps. If you are doing this challenge I certainly would like to hear about it. Comment or email me: coleenfranks@gmail.com. Have fun, delve deep. These questions are real opportunities contemplate how you manage your life and relationships. I'm looking a lot at what's important in life. Blessings your way, Coleen

2010 Life Path Challenge Week 4

I don't know about you, but each week the questions have cause me to ponder. Some of you may have some good questions that you would like to see included so you may send those to me via comment below or by email: coleenfranks@gmail.com. Our question for this week: What single thing that you plan do to this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

2010 Life Path Challenge, Week 2, Art

Here's my tag for week 2 which is passed. I'm a little behind, but catching up. Hope to post week 3 soon. I am decorating the front and putting my question and answer on the back. When done I will have a 52 page tag book. Happy Crafting or writing to those of you who are participating. Would love to hear from you. Many blessings, Coleen P.S. The pretty paper and center piece is a gift from my friend Sally Joy in England. Thanks,Sally

From Shimelle, "Why I Scrapbook"

This is an interesting answer to the why of a lot of scrapbookers. Truly, isn't it your experience that most folks think this is just a hobby and not for them? What do you think? Just click the title to watch the video.

2010 Life Path Challenge Week 1 Art

This challenge is a new question every week. You can jump in anytime. You can go back and do the queSions you missed or not. The good thing about this is that there are no rules. You can interpret the question in any manner you choose. A 7th grade class is writing and some are doing art in different forms. I could see this as a great opportunity to an "About Me" book to later gift to someone you love. I'm am doing tags as that is small and doable for me weekly. If you are doing this I would love to hear from you.

A Few Journal Pages

Sometimes catching people out in public only gives you a few minutes to catch the main gist of their movement. As you can see, people and houses are a recurring theme for me. As you can see, I'm a doodler/drawer. I like to play. Self-portrait. I'm the only one who wlll sit still long enough for me to draw in any detail. I do a lot with just pen. It has it's limitations, but always stretches me to work harder at defining the image.

Contest - Canadian Scrapbooker

Here's a contest where you could win from Canadian Scrapbooker. Check it out: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vintageterrace2/148619667190?ref=ts

Comments and Following

We always love to hear what you think about any article in particular or anything in general so hit the comment button below each article if there is something you'd like to say. You can also follow this blog in two ways. One is by finding the pictures in the right panel that say Follow Me and doing that. I like that one because it has your picture on there and I can communicate with you from there. The other is to find the Feedblitz gadget also on the right and sign up to get updates by email dellivered right to your inbox as I do them. That is handy and in fact, you can do both. Thanks for reading and following. You are all dear to us.

What the World is Coming to!

2010 Life Path Challenge, Week 3

My, the weeks turn around quickly, here's Week 3. One favorite thing, write about it, do some art about it, express yourself about one favorite thing. When I talked about this with my husband his first reaction was that it was pretty broad. He suggested choosing a favorite poem or object. I gave this some thought and decided I did not want to restrict this in any way. Your favorite thing may be your kids, an artist, a poet or poem, but this could be vastly different or each person. Therefore, I've left it open for you to chose the thing you think is your favorite to express. Have fun. Coleen

Letter from Haiti

This is from a friend of mine in Haiti of whom I've been wondering, yet not heard from since the earthquake disaster. View it through a residents eyes. Pray for Shallale and all of Haiti. Keep in mind that English is her second language.......... Hello dear friends, Sorry it took that long to drop you a line. I am going through a really tough time in Haiti. Some of my family are okay, others are not. We finally were able to rescue my brother which building collapsed. He spent days under the debris but he was finally rescued. Since Tuesday I have been helping every where. I am just too scared to go home. I am just scared of the years to come, the month and the days. I am even scared of the next hour. I am scared of loosing faith. I can't even pray anymore. It is Sunday and we are still trying to rescue people that are seems to be alive. The smell of the deads is rising in the city. We are receiving help from everywhere but it is never enough. Some people are litteraly going insane. Everyone is wondering the streets like zombies. In few words hell broke loose. It might be another while before you hear from me. My house survived but for some unknow reason the atelier sank in water. Apparently the water tank cracks and it's close by the atelier so all the water went inside I just cannot understand how it happens because that tank of water is under ground and the atelier is upper ground. Well I am not going to try to understand any way. Good thing is that we could put all my mothers fabric to dry too bad we cannot do the same with paper.. My mother already started a quilt in memoriam of the fallen one. Maybe in the future I will try to to an album. I have been told it is therapeutic. My house is alright. Besides the atelier that is full of water and some broken glasses we are good. Nothing happen to our house. In fact there was no much damage at all in my neigborwood. Experts say that it's because we are located in the mountain and the house are built as they should. But after spending days dowtown in the center of the diasaster I find my self so lucky that I have been wandering since that day what make me luckier then others. But I prefer not to question God's acts. I will just keep helping others in needs as a thank you for being alive.I would have prefered to loose everything I owe if that could have saved few more lives. Well it will be a while before my fellow haitian dry their tears. Maybe in few month I will try to make an album with the pictures I have taken if it's possible. A good friend told me to keep posting on my blog because it will help me keep sane. Maybe it is true but I don't have the time to do so right now, nor the desire. I will not be longer cause I am in a free communication center and hey have limited the time so everyone can drop a line to their owns and i have to go back to my center. Please keep me and my fellow haitian in your parayers. Love you all Shallale Haiti

Christmas Service at Bethany Church

Children's choir performing for our Christmas service. Little One's Sunday School class doing verse for our Christmas service. They were so cute.

Accordian Mini-Scrapbook Tutorial

Here's a real beauty to look at even if you don't make them, but read on and you'll see these little books are easy to do. Just click on the title to see it.

2010 Life Path Challenge, Week 2

Our question for this week: WHAT HABIT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO ESTABLISH THIS YEAR? I just have to tell you all that I've had some encouraging comments of a number of people that are doing this challenge including a 7th Grade class. How cool is that to have 7th graders thinking on such life topics as they will have with these questions throughout the year. Now that is a pretty innovative teacher who is going to really make them think. I'm sorry to say, I still have not gotten our gallery up for this challenge. I will try to work on that, but in Ukraine we are still in the Christmas season. We have our last children's event this weekend where we will be entertaining an auditorium full of handicapped kids. Please pray for us that this would all go well. You who are doing this challenge are a great encouragement to me so please feel free to leave comments about how it is going for you. Blessings, Coleen

Handmade Decorations

Leah and I did these just before the holidays after some inspiration from a friend, Sally Joy, in England. She sent me a picture of this marvelous tree filled with homemade ornaments so I decided I just had to make a few. Leah and I did these together while watching TV. Just need a piece of cork for the center to stick the straight pins into that hold your selection of beads. I painted my corks silver. Try it, soooo easy and would be beautiful any time of year in a window.

2010 Life Path Challenge, Week 1

Our first question for 2010 Life Path Challenge: What is the one thing you could do this year to increase the joy of your heart and the happiness of your life? This is not a resolution or goal, just something to think about and act on as you see fit. As for interpretation of the question? You can do a tag, mini-book page, jot it in a notebook or on your computer, make a piece of art, write a poem, the options are limitless, but I guarantee the results will be satisfying. This week I will put on my interpretation and work on getting us a site set up to display for those who want to show what they did. Hope you play along, should be fun. Oh, there also will be some random prizes through the year. More info below.

2010 Life Path Challenge

No doubt the year will be historical in many ways, both nationally, worldwide and for each of us personally. Therefore, I have an idea that I think some of you might enjoy playing along with. It is a challenge to do a weekly question next year. This question can be interpreted in a number of ways. You may simply write about it in a notebook or you can do a piece of artwork that represents the question(tags, mini, fat book, drawing etc.). It is wide open as to how you interpret this challenge. The idea is to get you thinking and delving into questions of life that will bring the end of 2010 to a more satisfying conclusion and give you an opportunity to develop more creatively(if you want to) in the area of art, writing, poetry or ???. It will be totally personal and answers need not be shared with anyone, though I envision us having a group gallery to post our artwork. Come back tomorrow (Monday) for our first question. If you would like to suggest a question email me at coleenfranks@gmail.com. Stay in touch to see how this all develops. Should be fun and I promise, you will have a special treasure by the end of the year.

Fun With Felt

Fiskars, the people who make all those great scrapbooking tools, had a lovely article covering three different projects, one of which I thought would adapt to scrapbooking quite well. They really come up with great ideas for using their tools, but you can do it without the tools as well. Just click on the title to get to it.

Tutorial: Polymer Clay Embellishments

I found this tutorial on Scrapscene and it is so pretty. Good instructions: http://www.scrapscene.com/2009/06/handmade-scrapbook-embellishments-polymer-clay-tutorial.html

Those Christmas Tins

Here's such a handy idea for re-purposing those metal Christmas tins that your cookies came in. You can transform them into something that even matches your decor. Take a look: http://www.craftstylish.com/item/33320/how-to-transform-holiday-tins

Vintage ATC Swap

Artist Trading Card (ATC) Swap in the old vintage style we all love. :Plus a yummy giveaway in the swap: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/redlead/

Holiday Greetings

Merry Christmas to you all. My wish for you is that it would be filled with love and joy and that you would have great hope for the future. Let us remember this year the "reason for the season" that such a momentous event was marked for all of history when baby Jesus was born. Blessings to you all, Coleen and family

Art Quilts

Here's a direction that my art has been taking me lately. I've been working with some fun fabric/paper techniques. I don't have anything ready to show you here yet, but when I saw this in the blogosphere I thought I should share it: http://www.favecrafts.com/Quilting/Crayon-Stained-Quilt-Art

Simple & Free Winter Paper Piecing Patterns

Check out this site for some real cute patterns for you winter scrapbooking: http://scrapbooking.about.com/od/freepatterns/ig/Winter-Paper-Piecing-Patterns/?nl=1

Christmas Books

This is called an Accordion Origami Book. We made a bunch of them for relatives this year. You can find directions for it: http://www.making-mini-scrapbooks.com/ and there are more of them further down if your interested.

Trail Mix, Ukrainian Style

Nuts just go with the holidays so while Jeff and Leah were doing a puzzle I made some for snacking on. They are especially good for the holiday puzzle times.