The Maker's Space

On Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, partnered with Purpose By Design, to bring a day retreat for 16 teenage girls who attend By the Hand Club after school in the Austin Neighborhood.  These girls who come to the club all year to focus on their studies and growing into everything that God designed them to be, were invited to this special day of pink, pearls and individual attention.  They discussed being beautiful on the outside as well as the inside while growing into women of beautiful character. Art was a vehicle to slow down and listen to what God was saying to them.  Art was also a way to express who they were on the inside and outside that words have a hard time incapsulating. After listening to John 15 speak to Jesus being the vine and we are the branches and only through connecting with Him can we bear any fruit of good character, the girls drew vines and their connectedness.  We used dark paper as the background signifying light coming out of dark and used bright colored pencils

The evening in September of our Gourmet Poetry Night was perfect outside under the stars.  We ate, then wrote, then ate, then wrote again.  All was done as we sat together, thinking of syllable combinations of 5 on the first line, 7 on the second and 5 again on the third.  It is a simple formula that got us thinking and editing and choosing our words carefully.  Some of our creations are below.  Perhaps this will inspire you to slow down and take the time to create word pictures. Muriel: I was so naïve Then all of life intervened. Now I know much more. Sun sets on our day. Good friends make good memories. Laughter fills the air. Loretta the nurse. Nurses walk along with you. Healing is God’s work Susan: Sun sets on our day. Gathered from our separate paths Home each goes in joy. Cicadas and cars. Sounds coming into my life. Souvenirs:    Later. Red green blue yellow. Brown-eyed Susans twist and climb. Winter

The Morton Arboretum is displaying 13 Lego sculptures near the visitor center until November 1, 2015.  the colors are vibrant an the detail is amazing.  Photographs courtesy of Susan Brooks