ROAD TRIP TURNS INTO A MISSION TRIP!

I am taking a "random" road trip this July

with my 'little girl', Skyler.

We started planning this trip about 9 months ago

and it was simply going to be a road trip

with no agenda.

We were going to find some

Diners, Drive-In's and Dives,

take back roads and my camera.

Check out some junk stores.....

just several many days of relaxed fun.

It's not changed in that sense.

What has changed is that we now

have a mission!

I love, love, love it when God speaks to me

and I'm quiet enough to hear Him.

In thinking about the trip, He told me

that turning it into a short mission trip

would give it meaning.

It would give us more of a chance to

be a vessel for God.

Whenever I travel I always

do what I can to be a vessel for God.

I pay other people's tolls, anonymously.

I pay for other traveler's meals, anonymously.

And, I am extremely blessed each time

I do a random act of kindness.

(if you've never done a random act of kindness,

give it a try - it's the bomb.)

You've probably figured out our mission...

we are going to volunteer for two days

at a Center for Women and Families

in the eastern part of the U.S.

Basically a shelter for victims of

domestic violence or rape.

(because of confidentiality I can't tell you any more than that)

We are so excited to be a part of

the healing process of

these women and children.

We will be helping them create art.

Here's where YOU come in.

Here's where you can be a part of the healing process.

We'll be supplying the art supplies to make journals

and keepsake boxes out of cigar boxes.

We could use some help with these supplies

so if you are interested in helping with

glue sticks, patterned paper (for women and children),

fabulous embellishments,

AND/OR AN ENCOURAGEMENT CARD OR TAG FOR

THE WOMEN AND FOR THE CHILDREN,

please do what you can and

mail everything to me.

Don't sign your name on the cards/tags,

And, don't "address" OR seal the envelopes. (This is sooooo exciting!!)

and add a note of encouragement in your card or on your tag back.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ENOUGH CARDS/TAGS

FOR EVERY

WOMAN AND CHILD IN THE CENTER.

Those will touch these hurting women and children

more than money.

Think about it - receiving a letter of encouragement from

someone that doesn't even know you. WOW.

God bless y'all and

if you can help with some of the above,

thank you.

And, if you can't, would you please pray

that we can be effective representatives of Jesus Christ

and that the women and children who we encounter

will see Jesus in our eyes and in our actions.

Jan Vermillion-Thomason

5720 Hwy. 27

Center Point, Texas 78010

CLEANING UP THE CRACK HOUSE

I WONDER IF THERE WILL EVER BE

A MAGAZINE FOR MIXED MEDIA ARTISTS

WHOSE STUDIO'S LOOK LIKE CRACK HOUSES?

YOU KNOW, LIKE CRACK HOUSE STUDIOS

WHERE ARTIST'S CREATE.

the main isle runs through,

well, I can't really call it the major storage area...

but, L@@K, you can see THE FLOOR!

I DID *YET ANOTHER* MASSIVE OVERHAUL

OF THE CRACK HOUSE THIS WINTER.

IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD IN THESE PHOTOS

BUT I WOULD BE LESS THAN HONEST IF I TOLD YOU

THAT IT STILL LOOKED QUITE THIS GOOD.

I keep my sewing machine close - at the top of my work area.
I MEAN, IF I DIDN'T EVER WORK IN MY STUDIO

IT COULD ALWAYS LOOK LIKE THESE PHOTOS.

BUT, THE MINUTE I START A PROJECT,
COME ON, THE ARTIST IN ME DOESN'T HAVE TIME
TO BE NELLIE NEAT.I HAD A BRILLIANT IDEA AND TOOK THE DOORS

OFF OF THE FRONT OF THE THREE LOCKER STYLE

SHELVING AREAS IN THE STUDIO.

MY STUDIO MAY LOOK EVEN MESSIER,

BUT NOTHING CAN HIDE FROM ME!OH, THIS IS JUST PERFECT!

SEE WHAT I MEAN?? LOOKS LIKE NO ONE PLAYS IN HERE!

I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE SOME OF THOSE STUDIOS

IN "THE" MAGAZINE BEFORE THEY'RE BOXED UP, PAINTED UP AND SPRUCED UP.

(OH, HUSH, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR STUDIO)

I WANTED YOU TO SEE MY OLD YELLOW CHILDREN'S CHAIR
AND THE VINTAGE PINK WORK LAMP ON TOP.

I JUST LOVE THIS!
IT SITS BETWEEN THE SIZZIX AND SOLDERING SIDES OF THE 2ND WORK TABLE.
I'M GOING TO LET YOU ENJOY THE REST OF THE PHOTOS
WITHOUT ME YAPPIN' AT 'CHA.
YOU CAN PROBABLY FIGURE IT ALL OUT.
OH, I SEE YOU SHAKING YOUR HEAD IN DISBELIEF....

I MAY GIVE YOU A WORD OR TWO OF EXPLANATION IF NECESSARY.

OOPS! STILL WORKIN' ON THE 'LOOK'!
JEWELRY AREA
JEWELRY WORK AREA

WHICH, TRUTH BE TOLD,
YOU REALLY CAN'T EVER SEE THE TABLE TOP IN REAL LIFE.
MORE UNFINISHED WORK...PUTTIN' UP EMBELLISHMENTS...

I ADORE CABINET CARDS

STAMPS....ONE OF MY DRUGS.

LOTS AND LOTS

AND LOTS

AND HUNDREDS

AND LOTS MORE STAMPS.

PAPER, OH, PRETTY, PRETTY PAPER,

GOTTA HAVE MORE.
IT'S NOT ME, IT'S THE DRUG - PATTERNED PAPER.

VINTAGE LACE.

SO MUCH LACE IS NEVER ENOUGH.

I DISCOVERED VINTAGE SUITCASES THIS YEAR

FOR STORAGE.

VINTAGE BOOKS

AND LEDGERS

AND MUSIC, OH, MY.

I FEEL FAINT.

I HAVE MY PRETTY LITTLE AREAS

THROUGHOUT THE STUDIO

THAT MAKE ME SMILE.

I'M EMBARRASSED TO TELL YOU HOW MANY

VINTAGE BABY SHOES I HAVE.

BUT, IT'S NOT MY FAULT!

PAPER RIBBON - SO STINKIN' CUTE.

ORGANIZATION FINDS IT'S WAY TO THE GARAGE...

OR, STUDIO OVERFLOW.

I DELIGHT IN DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE AND

SEEING MY LARGER FRAMES HANGING IN FRONT OF ME.

DON'T FLIP OUT!

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE ORGANIZING

WHAT HAS BEEN COVERING MY GARAGE FLOOR.

HEY! IT'S NOT MY FAULT!

I CAN SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT.

AND, I FOUND A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING

AND MOST OF EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE

SOLD IN MY ETSY SHOP

JUST AS SOON AS YOU GET OVER HERE

AND HELP ME TAKE THE PICTURES,

FIX THE PICTURES,

UPLOAD THE PICTURES,

DESCRIBE THE PICTURES

PRICE THE ITEMS,

AND DETERMINE THE POSTAGE.

I HAVE A CRACK STUDIO.

I OBVIOUSLY NEED HELP.

UNTIL LATER,

I LOVE YOU AND

I'LL BE LOOKING FOR YOUR CAR

DRIVIN' UP THE LANE,

Jan