They Fit Like a Mitten

January Valentines!

Get these Four Hats letterpress cards here, here, here or at www.fourhatspress.com!

A personal advent

advent stockings for purchase here

This really struck a chord with me. I can relate heavily to being in the waiting place known to many simply as the mid-twenties. Though I love and have been greatly blessed by my current job, it cannot sustain. I am in search of what's next. I've held up my end of this bargain. I've put irons in the fire, and watched them burn. I've acted and waited with no bites to date.

This is not new. I sat in this seat last year. Again, I am reminded that my praying and waiting points to a greater Advent. For four weeks leading up to Christmas, children across the globe take it day by day. A piece of chocolate, a charm, a decoration. One at a time, each signals to them the truth that He is coming, but we cannot rush His timing.

As I look ahead this season, may I be reminded once more that He does not intend to exasperate me with the longing. May the days in waiting only cause me to seek Him more, knowing He answers the door to those who knock.

A Year in Calendartines

Be a sweetie all the year through, sending kind wishes your valentine's way. Get the whole year in Calendartines at fourhatspress.com!

A Hauliday

If you're anything like me, one look at a Chronicle book leads to near obsession with their entire line. That's why, in the spirit of wishful thinking, I'm entering their contest to WIN! oodles of books this holiday, simply by making a list of some of their sought-after titles.

I choose:

1. Paper + Craft

2. Craft Inc. Business Planner

3. Silhouette Art

4. Creative Inc.

5. Hot Type

6. Reprodepot Pattern Book: Folk

7. The Printmaking Bible

8. Paint By Number

9. Indie Craft

10. Fast Breads

11. DIY Delicious

12. The Bread Bible

13. 52 Adventures in New York City

14. Thinking with Type

15. One Line a Day: A Five Year Memory Book

And hey, if you comment here, you might win too!

While I Wait

God spoke again to Ahaz. This time he said, "Ask for a sign from your God. Ask anything. Be extravagant. Ask for the moon!"

But Ahaz said, "I'd never do that. I'd never make demands like that on God!"

So Isaiah told him, "Then listen to this, government of David! It's bad enough that you make people tire with your pious, timid hypocrisies, but now you're making God tired. So the master is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She'll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us)." Isaiah 7:10-14, msg

I haven't been very watchful of God lately. I haven't travelled God-consciously on my journey. I have had ingrown eyeballs. And strangely enough, I haven't even been asking God for much of anything. No, this doesn't prove me pious or selfless. It proves me so self-consumed that I haven't even stopped to recognize the giver of good gifts.

In the passage above, King Ahaz (descendant of David) was likewise drowning in self-thought. A threat of foreign invasion had him and his people shaking in their boots. When God asked him what he wanted, Ahaz sloughed him off. I don't need anything from God, he thought. Because he was certain that he could take care of himself. He feigned confidence in the strength of his own army. He was satisfied with what he was doing to make things right.

But, God wasn't having it. I'm going to give you a sign anyway, He says. Ahaz didn't deserve it. He wasn't asking. And YET, God showed him the greatest sign of hope. He told him about a hope he wasn't even waiting for. Years and years down the road, a teenage virgin would carry the Savior of the World in her flesh. Her humanity would make it possible for God to dwell with man. But, Ahaz couldn't see past his present troubles. He couldn't see that not only could God conquer a neighboring foreign army, He could conquer sin.

I, too, often neglect to come to the Lord in asking. I, too, am caught up in hypocrisy, too concerned with my own acts to realize that God is not short-sighted. But, the good news this Christmas, this Advent season, is that it doesn't matter. No matter how ready, how needy, how cognizant we are of our gracious God, He gives. He speaks. He acts.

Thanks be to our God who comes near.

Let It Leaven

It's that time of year again... time to sigh and take a look at the months past, time to gear up for those ahead. It's about time to be resolute about something in the new year. For a few years now, I've been known to make rhyming claims about the time before me. Two years ago, my hope was to get back to craft, last year to begin again with a new outlook on life and career. For 2011, I'm thinking both specifically and vaguely.

I do declare that I want to "Let it Leaven in 2011."

That said, quite literally, I commit to learning the art of bread making. I hope to dirty the pages of this book, to get some face time with legit artisan bakers and to sink my hands into the dough of tens of varieties of loaves. I've made a few starter loaves, but I'd like to amp it up this next year, and get better at bread.

On the other side of the coin, I'm hoping that 2011 is a year during which my letterpress hopes and dreams will have room to rise. For the last year or so, I've planted seeds, watered them and waited. Now, it's time to let the yeast do it's natural thing, and aerate. It's time to watch things grow. While I don't make any promises, nor do I set too high expectations for myself, I do want to see change happen this year. I'd like to stash away more and more capitol to someday soon be able to buy a press and open the studio of my dreams.

I'm willing to work, and I'm willing to wait. I just pray that given some room to grow, these plans will make some headway this year.

What are you scheming for the year ahead?

More Wedding Bells are Ringing

This was my first-ever full wedding suite. The job was two color and printed on Crane Lettra's cottony 100 pound paper. The beautiful design was done by the bride.

My sincerest congratulations on the union!

No Sloppy Seconds

my booth!

I've got lots of leftover letterpressed goodies from the holiday craft bazaar this weekend, and will be soon updating my etsy shop with all of them! Look out for full sets of Calendartines, Sweet Something Cards, Thank Yous, Banners and more! Get crafty for Christmas at www.fourhatspress.com.

Come See Me

At Four Hats' first ever appearance at a craft show -- a Holiday Craft Bazaar to be more precise. Come on out Friday, Saturday or Sunday. I'll be there with bells on.

And in honor...