Advent 2's Coming!

Hello!  ¡Hola!  As a priest, with all the Advent activities and Christmas planning, time is precious these days.  I just need to remind myself that God is in control.  He provides me with the strength, courage, and wisdom to get everything done.

Felted Holy Family
Word Art Wednesday 728-29
What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 861/81 

For my first project, I have a set of Holy Family figurines that I made.  I like learning new things, and had always been intrigued with felting, so I decided to give it a try with these two simple figures.  It's very fascinating, calming, and rewarding to see pieces of wool fiber slowly transform into a three-dimensional figures, by molding the fibers together with felting needles.  I took a photo of my two figurines and layered Karen's Word Art from Matthew 1:21, using a Procreate app on my iPad.

Happy Holidays Card
Freshly Made Sketches #71
Just Add Ink #775 - Just add a celebration

For my second project, I have a Christmas card I made for my oldest daughter who loves pink.  I used a Spellbinders' Classic Mouse Holiday Wreath cutting dies set; a Sizzix's Tim Holtz Styled Labels Big Die, a Pine Branch embossing folder, and a Big Shot die cut machine; assorted solids, prints, and glitter card stock; assorted adhesives; and a black Pentel Sign Pen.  I enjoyed working with this non-traditional Christmas color palette!

Christmas Self-Portrait
Sunday Postcard Art - Dictionary
Art Journal Journey - Winter
Thursday Art & Dinner Date
Friday Face Art 12/5/25
Art For Fun Friday #186

Nicole had challenged us to do a self-portrait for last week's FFO challenge, so I decided to do one for my third project this week.  I used a picture of me that someone took when I was ringing a bell for the Salvation Army, as a reference piece.  I began by collaging a piece of Tim Holtz dictionary print tissue paper on a postcard.  When it was dry, I did my self-portrait using a black marker, Faber-Castell Gelatos, and a Funcils' White Acrylic Paint Pen.  I finished my piece by adding 3 quote stickers by Bomichi.  I'm currently displaying my impressionist postcard, but will glue it in an art journal for safekeeping.

In closing, I want to leave you with my closing paragraph to this coming Sunday's sermon, which is based on the 2nd Sunday of Advent Gospel:

Walter Brueggemann, the late American Christian theologian, who’s work often focused on the Hebrew prophetic tradition, argued that the Church must provide a counter-narrative to the dominant forces of consumerism, militarism, and nationalism.  He said, and I quote, “The prophetic tasks of the Church are to tell the truth in a society that lives in illusion, grieve in a society that practices denial, and express hope in a society that lives in despair.”  That’s why John the Baptist’s reference to wrath, fire, and axes are Good New’s.  That’s God calling us to turn away from and repent of our indifference.  Wrath, fire and axes are not necessarily about destruction or punishment. They are about life, love, and relationship. The unquenchable fire of God’s love burns away our indifference. The healing ax of God cuts away all indifference. The wrath of God reminds us that God cares and we ALL matter.  So let us “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Thanks for your visit!  ¡Gracias por tu visita!  Shalom!

Arnoldo+