Red Hat Society

Red Hat Society:  11 x 14 (framed and matted size)
Watercolors on Paper. 
Interested in purchasing?  Send an e-mail to auntiesworkshop@outlook.com



 

Titus 2:3-5 - Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. (MSG)

 

We all need mentors, but we all should also be available to be a mentor.  There seems to be no shortage of mentoring opportunities for men.  In fact, I read where one self-described "virtual mentor" is selling tickets to his inner circle for $30,000! 

 

Good luck with that one. 

 

Ladies have had to get creative when it comes to mentoring opportunities.  Enter the Red Hat Society.  This organization was originally created for women aged 50 and over to encourage one another and to mentor younger ladies.  Now, it has morphed into a self-described "play group for women."

 

Really?

 

Yes, fun and play is important to having a balanced healthy life.  However, real mentoring happens during times of pain as well as times of joy.  Though the scripture from Titus chapter two seems to only place women within the context of the domestic, the true spirit of these instructions is to meet people where they are.  In other words, true mentors aren't only wives and mothers; they are "every woman."

 

Why the gender specific call?  Because some things can't be shared in mixed company.  Why the call to sobriety and discretion?  Because some things (meaning anything important) can't be shared with loud mouthed drunks. 

 

So, while we straighten our red hats, be encouraging and kind to she who's hat has been rumpled and knocked askew by ugliness of this world.  As we model our red hats and purple dresses, let's also be models of God's goodness...to ourselves and to each other.

Window Garden

 

Window Garden:  16 x 20 Acrylic on canvas. 
Interested in purchasing?  Send an e-mail auntiesworkshop@outlook.com

Isaiah 40:8 - The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.  (KJV)

Each season, God provides beautiful flora and fauna for us to enjoy.  Spring bursts with azalea and dogwood blooms.  Summer is a symphony of color from huge yellow sunflowers to tiny pink dianthus.  Autumn is filled with the changing colors of leaves and pots of mums.  Winter rounds out the year with violas and pansies.  With each season is the reminder that though the beauty of last season is gone, there's more to come.

Our walk with God is like that.

Each season of struggle against satan's attacks is replete with stunning bouquets of God's grace that make us "more than a conqueror" (Romans 8:37).  Song of Solomon 2:1 calls Jesus the "Rose of Sharon" and "The Lilly of the Valley."  However, he's no mere perennial favorite--His love, His beauty, is everlasting--a continuous feast of extravagant elegance amidst the dead brown ugly that is this sinful world.

Jesus said in John, chapter 15, "I am the true Vine, and my Father is the Gardener." 

What a beautiful garden he tends, and we get the benefits of it.

Card Sharks

Why do we love handmade cards?  From the crayon-scribbled cards we made for our parents as children, to a store bought card with a genuine handmade, handwritten message, cards show caring and creativity.

When I took painting back in the 90's, painting books full of card patterns intrigued me, but not enough to try it.  Years later, I saw a Pinterest pin of an embossed card to paint.

Unfortunately, I couldn't afford the embossing machine or the paper to make these cards.  So, I tried an economical version.

Nope, not as pretty.  Plus, since I used glue to try to get the embossed look, it made for a very sticky card.

Since then, I've thought about cutting watercolor paper to the size of card I want and painting them one at a time.  But, what if I want to make a set of 12 for someone?  That would take way too long.  So it hit me.

Why don't I paint something.  Scan it into the computer.  Use a program to create the card. Print and cut them out.

Tada!

Yes, I know I need a proper paper cutter, but right now, my quilting supplies will have to do. 

In the future, I'll play with different designs.  I may even start writing sayings in them.  When I feel more confident about them, I may start posting them for sale.