winners for Just Begin & Make + a big thank you to PJeanArtMachine

Week 4:  Just Begin
Nothing begets nothing, but something just might beget something really good. 
Print details at PJeanArtMachine on Etsy.

Now the winner from week two for the print of your choice.  I snagged (literally) Natalie as she was running out the door for school to draw this week's name.  (please notice the purple wristband)  We found a semi-orderly surface in our unpacked home to take the snapshot.  She did not have time for even one more photo, but I promise you this is the name she drew.

drumroll for winner............  HOPE SPICER!

Here's Hope's photo story from last week.  Over the years Hope has been really generous to volunteer her paparazzi services so I'm especially grateful to send her this week's print.  Keep looking for new beginnings, Hope! (and thank you Phaedra for the prints!)

.....

NOW for the grand finale drawing for this whole blessed and beautiful Practice Resurrection series: a brand new, never-been-listed print from PJeanArtMachine ...

MAKE 

We found another semi-orderly surface to stage this drawing.  I really wish you all could have been there.  Also, we used the drawing as an excuse to eat half-moon cookies from Central Market.  And, yes, the shirt Kendra is wearing is one of her very favorite thrift store finds.  Please appreciate it.  

I especially love how the first photo turned out -- proof that we shuffled all the slips of paper with all the entries from the very beginning of the series until now. 

And we drew a winner....

drumroll for winner............  MEGAN GLENNON!

Megan offered both a guest post and a photo story and I think her work is a beautiful example of making all things new.  So, I say, "Megan, keep on making!"

Megan Glennon's guest post: Take Up Something New - repurposing curb-side trash to furniture treasure

......

Thank you, again, Phaedra Taylor, for partnering with me in this fun and meaningful experiment.  It's been a joy to celebrate resurrection each week with so many delightful people.  May God establish the work of our hands and may we remain alert to all the daily evidences of His life in, around, among and through us.

amen.

xo,

Tamara

..... P.S.....

PhaedraTaylor.com

Phaedra Taylor on Etsy:

• PJeanArtMachine
• The Ambrosium

Phaedra Taylor on Pinterest

Phaedra Taylor on Facebook

final week of photo stories to practice resurrection + last chance to enter for our final two print giveaways!

Thank you to all who have joined me the past two months, taking up something new and sharing your photo stories as a way to practice resurrection.  I think we've honored the mad farmer.  Hopefully we've encouraged each other along the way.  I have loved every single week.  Thank you, especially, to the ever-making Phaedra from PJeanArtMachine for her generous gift of prints we've given away each week.

You can still enter the drawing for this week's print: Just Begin.   Also,  everyone who has participated by sending a photo story or liking our facebook pages or sharing a post will be entered for a grand finale drawing of a brand new print from Phaedra's shop. (find the list of ways to enter both of this week's drawings at the bottom of this post)

We'll draw names for the winner of this week's print and the grand finale print thisTuesday morning.

And, now, for our final week of photo stories (and our first international entry!)

may 31
.....

I've seen the ocean many times. But this time it was different. I saw freedom, beauty, power and mystery. I saw the things that I was longing to see and feel in my adopted (Muslim Majority) country.  (Pam H.)

.....

I finally settled on a new telephoto lens; I've been shopping for a year before deciding. This was taken during my first hour with it. I didn't even see this falcon until it flew right over my head and in a tree not too far ahead of me. (Hope Spicer, Endicott, NY)

.....

A kindhearted potter gifted three pastors and their wives an afternoon of making with clay.  All of us gathered in from stressful seasons, overtired, wrung out.  To quote Shannon:  "It felt good to make something again."  (Coelhos, Warners, Murphys, Austin)

.....

We spent our first nights in the new house this week.  This is our third house in less than two years since we moved to Austin.  We are holding high hopes for deep, restful roots to grow down in this place.  (Tamara Murphy, Austin)

.....

A few more ways to enter the weekly drawing, leave a comment (on this post) every time you:

• Like This Sacramental Life on Facebook.  
• Like The Ambrosium (Phaedra's fan page) on Facebook
• Favorite PJeanArtMachine on Etsy 
• Become an email subscriber to This Sacramental Life 
• Share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Google + or Pinterest (use all the cute little icons at the bottom of the post)

This week's giveaway:  Just Begin!

Just Begin (print winner and giveaway revealed)

Week 4:  Just Begin
Nothing begets nothing, but something just might beget something really good. 

Print details at PJeanArtMachine on Etsy.

Five motivational prints to give away in four weeks, week four:  Just Begin! 

Here's how to enter this week -- our very last week...

Three easy steps to play along our Practice Resurrection photo story series:

1. Take up something new. (one day or fifty days doesn't matter, just one thing that's new or, maybe just unique with this season)

2. Take a picture and write a description in 36 words or less.

3. Share the photo and the 36 word or less caption with me via email or facebook message by Thursday morning each week of the series.  You are welcome to share a photo story as many weeks as you'd like.

A few more ways to enter the weekly drawing, leave a comment (on this post or the Friday post) every time you: 

• Like This Sacramental Life on Facebook.

• Like The Ambrosium (Phaedra's fan page) on Facebook

• You already liked This Sacramental Life or The Ambrosium on Facebook before the giveaway began?  Go ahead and leave a comment (once per page) and we'll add you to this week's drawing.

• Become an email subscriber to This Sacramental Life 

• Share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Google + or Pinterest (use all the cute little icons at the bottom of the post) 

On Monday mornings I'll announce the winner from the previous week and reveal the next print to give away.  The last week in May I'll also draw a name from all the entries during the entire series to win this brand-new, not listed yet print from PJeanArtMachine...

Now the winner from week two for the print of your choice.  (May I insert here for your imagining enjoyment, the first week we drew winners we did it up big photographing both my daughters drawing a name out of our pretty kitchen bowl.  we're moving tomorrow so this week was me in my sweats, throwing scraps of paper into a styrofoam cup.  But Kendra drew the name and I beat a drum roll on the kitchen countertop; we celebrated you best we could!)

drumroll for winner............  HALEY BALLAST!

Haley's photo story for last week

Congratulations and keep on rolling, baby Sadie (and tell your mama to let me know which print she wants)!

your photo stories to practice resurrection (week 7) + enter a giveaway!

"... we should be taking steps to celebrate Easter in creative new ways: in art, literature, children's games, poetry, music, dance, festivals, bells, special concerts, anything that comes to mind.  this is our greatest festival....This is our greatest day. We should put the flags out.

...if Lent is a time to give things up, Easter ought to be a time to take things up. ...The forty days of the Easter season, until the ascension, ought to be a time to balance out Lent by taking something up, some new task or venture, something wholesome and fruitful and outgoing and self-giving."

Want to join me, to practice resurrection for Eastertide? Take something up and share it with us.  Maybe a six week dance class?  We want you to show us a picture.  Planting spring flowers (maybe a new variety this year)?  Show us!  Taking a new route to work (maybe taking more time than necessary in honor of the mad farmer)?  Share it!

may 17
.....


"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." ~ maria robinson.  This sunset is from a place that my husband and I are making our new ending. (Kirsten Reynolds, Conklin, NY)

.....


Taking Up Capitalism.  (Sharon Huijik, Cooperstown, NY)

.....

The beach scene is from a photograph my husband took. It attempts to combine our interests and avoid copyright issues. The photograph is from a resort Jacksonville Florida beach from a year ago. (Florrie Barnett, LaGrange, GA)

.....

Green bean harvest! (Christ Church Garden)

.....

With a big Sunday dinner audience cheering her on, our 4 month old daughter rolled over back-to-front this week! Way to go Baby Sadie! (Haley Ballast, Normandy Park, WA)

.....

Rannoch Moor is an upland plateau in the the West Highland Way; no one lives within 8 miles in any direction. I walked it early in the morning. I was in awe the entire time.  (Joel Cutting, Scotland via Vestal, NY)

.....

Each week for the rest of May  I'll select one motivational print from PJeanArtMachine to give away to one of YOU photo story contributors.   

Three easy steps to play along our Practice Resurrection photo story series (and get your name entered in a weekly drawing):

1. Take up something new. (one day or fifty days doesn't matter, just one thing that's new or, maybe just unique with this season)

2. Take a picture and write a description in 36 words or less.

3. Share the photo and the 36 word or less caption with me via email or facebook message by Thursday morning each week of the series. 

A few more ways to enter the weekly drawing, leave a comment (on this post) every time you:

• Like This Sacramental Life on Facebook.  
• Like The Ambrosium (Phaedra's fan page) on Facebook
• Favorite PJeanArtMachine on Etsy 
• Become an email subscriber to This Sacramental Life 
• Share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Google + or Pinterest (use all the cute little icons at the bottom of the post)

This week's giveaway:  your pick from the remaining 7 prints!

Week 3 is Winner's Choice + Week 2 Winner Announced

Week 3:  YOU PICK
Nothing begets nothing, but something just might beget something really good. 
Print details at PJeanArtMachine on Etsy.

Five motivational prints to give away in four weeks, week three:  Winner's Choice! I've marked the two prints that have already been given away, but this week's winner may select a favorite print from the 7 remaining prints in the series. 

Here's how to enter this week's drawing:

Three easy steps to play along our Practice Resurrection photo story series:

1. Take up something new. (one day or fifty days doesn't matter, just one thing that's new or, maybe just unique with this season)

2. Take a picture and write a description in 36 words or less.

3. Share the photo and the 36 word or less caption with me via email or facebook message by Thursday morning each week of the series.  You are welcome to share a photo story as many weeks as you'd like.

A few more ways to enter the weekly drawing, leave a comment (on this post or the Friday post) every time you: 

• Like This Sacramental Life on Facebook.

• Like The Ambrosium (Phaedra's fan page) on Facebook

• You already liked This Sacramental Life or The Ambrosium on Facebook before the giveaway began?  Go ahead and leave a comment (once per page) and we'll add you to this week's drawing.

• Become an email subscriber to This Sacramental Life 

• Share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Google + or Pinterest (use all the cute little icons at the bottom of the post)

On Monday mornings I'll announce the winner from the previous week and reveal the next print to give away.  The last week in May I'll also draw a name from all the entries during the entire series to win this brand-new, not listed yet print from PJeanArtMachine...

Now the winner from week two for the Just Paint print...

............  Rebekah Cummins!

Congratulations and keep painting, Rebekah!

your photo stories to practice resurrection (week 6) + enter our giveaway!

"... we should be taking steps to celebrate Easter in creative new ways: in art, literature, children's games, poetry, music, dance, festivals, bells, special concerts, anything that comes to mind.  this is our greatest festival....This is our greatest day. We should put the flags out.

...if Lent is a time to give things up, Easter ought to be a time to take things up. ...The forty days of the Easter season, until the ascension, ought to be a time to balance out Lent by taking something up, some new task or venture, something wholesome and fruitful and outgoing and self-giving."

Want to join me, to practice resurrection for Eastertide? Take something up and share it with us.  Maybe a six week dance class?  We want you to show us a picture.  Planting spring flowers (maybe a new variety this year)?  Show us!  Taking a new route to work (maybe taking more time than necessary in honor of the mad farmer)?  Share it!

may 17
.....

We have lived in our house about 19 months now and this nest has been empty until this morning. I noticed a mama bird hanging out! How exciting! (Lindsay Youngs Gilligan, Whitney Point, NY)

.....

Making strawberry jam goodness with Mom.  (Deb Perry, Newport News, VA)

.....

I love to hear the sound of the cardinal every day at our feeder. It's one of the small gifts from God that we delight in daily. (Kirsten Reynolds, Conklin, NY)

.....

Thank you, Janelle for introducing my little princess to painting nails. All she wants for her birthday is nail polish.  (Anca Kochis, Vestal, NY)

.....

I started baking and decorating cakes again. I like to think of it as a way to honor and remember my grandmothers.  One was a fantastic cook and baker and the other one was a wonderful painter/artist. (JoAnn Murphy, Apalachin, NY)

.....

Trapeze school, blue sky, and a circle rainbow! Amazing.  (Cheryl Mango, NYC)

.....

For our one year anniversary, my lovely girlfriend Rebekah painted me a picture of my favorite scene from my favorite movie (points to whoever can guess what it is). This might be the best present I've ever received. (Alex Murphy & Rebekah Cummins, Austin)

.....

This week I'm featuring Megan Glennon from Glennon Interiors in Phoenixville, PA.  She generously shared a tutorial for turning trash to treasure with us on Wednesday. 

Read her guest post:  Take Up Something New - repurposing curb-side trash to furniture treasure

You can see more of Megan's repurposing, decorating and event planning projects at her website and at her Facebook page.  

.....

Taking something that is trash and of no use to someone else and making it beautiful is my kind of therapy. Repurposing is such a great feeling! (Megan Glennon/Glennon Interiors, Phoenixville, PA)

.....

Each week for the rest of May  I'll select one motivational print from PJeanArtMachine to give away to one of YOU photo story contributors.   

Three easy steps to play along our Practice Resurrection photo story series (and get your name entered in a weekly drawing):

1. Take up something new. (one day or fifty days doesn't matter, just one thing that's new or, maybe just unique with this season)

2. Take a picture and write a description in 36 words or less.

3. Share the photo and the 36 word or less caption with me via email or facebook message by Thursday morning each week of the series. 

A few more ways to enter the weekly drawing, leave a comment (on this post) every time you:

• Like This Sacramental Life on Facebook.  
• Like The Ambrosium (Phaedra's fan page) on Facebook
• Favorite PJeanArtMachine on Etsy 
• Become an email subscriber to This Sacramental Life 
• Share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Google + or Pinterest (use all the cute little icons at the bottom of the post)

This week's giveaway