Catholic Etsy Artists Guild

Christmas Novena for Advent

2011-11-29T17:26:00.000-08:00

On the Eve of the Feast of St. Andrew, I would like to invite you all to pray the Novena of St. Andrew also called the Christmas Novena...

Hail and blessed be the hour and the moment

in which the Son of God

was born of the most pure Virgin Mary,

at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.

In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God!

to hear my prayer and grant my desires,

through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ,

and of His Blessed Mother.

Amen.

(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (30th November) until Christmas will obtain what is asked.)

Imprimatur
+MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York
New York, February 6, 1897

Click here to print a copy of the prayer for your convenience.

Below is a picture of a St. Andrew Chaplet with such a sweet little baby Jesus medal! A beautiful piece for meditation of this Christmas prayer. It is has SOLD out....but I may get another one in stock before Advent is through.

This sweet baby Jesus medal is precious on this St. Andrew Chaplet

Have a Holy Advent!

Announcing an Evening of Prayer Nov. 17th at St. Stephens Cathedral in Vienna Celebrating 30 years of Apparitions in Medjugorje - Live at MARYTV.TV !

2011-11-16T08:36:00.000-08:00

Thursday 10am-3pm NY EST.
==================================

Announcing an Evening of Prayer Nov. 17th at St. Stephens Cathedral in
Vienna Celebrating 30 years of Apparitions in Medjugorje - Live at
MARYTV.TV !

You are invited to be present for an evening of prayer, witnesses,
Holy Mass (Presider and Homilist, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn), and
Our Lady's apparition to Medjugorje visionary Ivan Dragicevic on
Thursday, November 17, 2011 in St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna.
Milona von Habsburg - De-Rambures will again be translating for MARY
TV.

 Log on to at 10:00 am Eastern Standard Time*
(apparition at 12:40 pm EST). MARY TV will be streaming the evening
live both in English and Spanish!

(Recordings of the live event in St. Stephens will continue to be
available on MaryTV's website.)

At last year's event, September 23, 2010, Cardinal Schoenborn welcomed
visionaries Marija Pavlovic Lunetti and Ivan Dragicevic: "Dear
Marija, dear Ivan, thank you - first of all - that you came! Thank
you that you came again! Thank you for your service across so many
years - for your work - for your service of being messengers of the
Gospa. You bring us - children of this world, children of humanity -
her love and her presence and may God pay you back one hundred fold
for what you are doing tirelessly!"

Last year there were 398,546 successful log in requests to Mary TV's
web page to pray with Our Lady on September 23, 2010 in St. Stephens
Cathedral. The apparition, testimonies, Mass, etc., can still be
watched in the video library at www.marytv.tv. Ivan told us Our Lady
was very joyful and she blessed everyone praying with her. He said:
"Tonight Our Lady tells us all 'thank you, dear children, that you
have accepted my messages, that you live my messages. Thank you, dear
children, that you will be my missionaries, my apostles, who will
bring the message out into the world! Thank you, dear children, that
you will be the carriers of the good news, of the beautiful news, of
the happy news. Thank you that you will pray with me!' "

The graces Nov. 17th will be incredible! YOU CAN BE THERE!

Spread this news to media & friends - to everyone in your email list!

"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world!" Blessed Pope John
Paul Il

(Why He Is A Saint, the Life and Faith of Pope John Paul ll and the
Case for Canonization, p. 168, by Msgr. Slawomir Oder, Postulator for
his Cause of Sainthood)

PS. If you would like to be receiving regular updates on MARY TV,
send your email address to < dnolan@marytv.tv>

Our Lady of Guadalupe Rosary in Copper

2011-11-08T08:09:00.001-08:00

Handmade copper wire wrapped five decade Catholic Rosary featuring Our Lady of Guadalupe Center. The Ave beads are mutli-colored fired agate round gems with teal being the dominate color with bands of copper. The Paters are diamond shaped etched copper beads. Turquoise seed beads complement both the Ave’s and Paters. Each Ave bead-set and Pater bead-set are individually wire-wrapped in 20 gauge copper wire. The centerpiece is handmade by the artist and is a one of a kind piece consisting of an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, centered in a copper cabochon pendant. The crucifix, complementing the centerpiece, is antique copper. This rosary will last a lifetime and can be passed from generation to generation. See more photos and rosaries at http://www.HeartBeadDesigns.Etsy.com

Our Lady Of Guadalupe Rosary

2011-09-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

Handmade bronze wire wrapped five decade Catholic Rosary featuring Our Lady of Guadalupe Center. The Paters are oval and turquoise in color which harmonize the coral Ave beads. Dark bronze seed beads complement both the Ave’s and Paters. Each Ave bead-set and Pater bead-set are individually wire-wrapped in 20 gauge bronze wire. The centerpiece is handmade by the artist and is a one of a kind piece consisting of an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, centered in a bronze antique cabochon pendant. The crucifix complementing the centerpiece, is one of a kind. It is a triple cross – the bottom cross is filigree brass, with the second and third layers consisting of silver on brass, heavily plated, cast from an antique mold. This rosary will last a lifetime and can be passed from generation to generation.
For more photos or to purchase this rosary go to "http://www.HeartBeadDesigns.Etsy.com"

Virgin Mary the untier of Knots

2011-09-06T09:40:00.000-07:00

SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY

«According to the research of this image, we find that the donor Hieronymus Ambrosius Langenmantel, priest and canon law doctor from (1666-1709) of St. Peter am Perlach, had ordered this painting for a family altar, for personal reasons linked to his family.
In the history of this true story, the noble Wolfgang Langenmantel married to Sophie Imoff (1612) and on the verge of a divorce, pays a visit to Jakob Rem J.P. in a monastery and university of Ingolstadt, located seventy kilometers north of Augsburg.
A total of “four” visits were made to this priest in a lapse of “28 days” in where he received advice from this venerable Jesuit priest, a priest already honored for his wisdom, piety, extraordinary intelligence and known for having a Marian apparition in where he compliments Our Lady with the title of “Thrice admirable” ( Mater Ter Admirabilis). The noble was able to achieve changes in his family situation, as the result of prayer and the veneration of the Virgin Mary and in the company of the wise priest.
Consequently on September 28th 1615 and the last day of their prayer, father Rem had been praying before an image of the Virgin Mary under the title of ( Our Lady of the Snows) located in the chapel of the monastery. “In a solemn ritual act”, Father Rem elevates the wedding ribbon untying the knots one by one and smoothing the ribbon out (1), causing the white ribbon to become such an intense bright, that not even the palette of any painter could have reproduced. With this experience the couple was able to avoid a divorce and their marriage was able to continue.
Hieronymus and his grandson decide to donate a family altar, in commemoration of the turn of the century of the year 1700 as was the tradition in St. Peter am Perlach. The Altar piece was dedicated to “The Blessed Virgins of Good Counsel”, in it, is the story of his own family.
The painter, Johann Melchior Georg Schmittdner, depicts the painting as a Virgin Mary who is “untying” the knots of the ribbon of married life, as the worried noble Wolfgang, walks towards the monastery accompanied by the Archangel Raphael.

source http://www.desatadora.com.ar/titulo-i.htm

INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
OF THE VIRGIN MARY UNTIER OF KNOTS
(Maria Als Knotenlöserin) (Virgen Desatanudos)

SHORT Unfailing NOVENA To The Virgin Mary Untier of Knots©
By: Mario H. Ibertis Rivera (VMS)
President Founder International Fraternity of the “Virgin Mary Untier of Knots”.
IMPRIMATUR CENSOR
Nada obsta a la Fe y Moral católicas para su publicación. Revdo. Mons. JOSE LUIS DUHOURQCensor Puede imprimirse.
S.E.R. Mons. JOAQUIN M. SUCUNZA Vicario General del Arzobispado de Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, 31 de Octubre de 2002 - Prot. Nº 828/02
CopyRight by Mario H. Ibertis Rivera D.N.D.D.A Nº 166369 –2001 Buenos Aires – República Argentina

Prayer to the Virgin Mary as Untier of Knots
Holy Mary, full of the presence of God, during your life
you accepted with great humility the holy will of the father
and the legacy of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, and evil
never dared to entangle you with its confusion. Since then
you have interceded for all of our difficulties as you did
at the wedding feast of Cana. With all simplicity and with
patience, you have given us an example of how to untangle
the knots in our complicated lives. By being our mother
forever you arrange and make clear the path that unites us
to Our Lord.

Holy Mary, Mother of God and ours, with your maternal heart,
untie the knots that upset our lives. We ask you to receive
into your hands (here mention your prayer request) and
deliver us from the chains and confusion that restrain us.
Blessed Virgin Mary, through your grace, your intercession
and by your example, deliver us from evil, and untie the
knots that keep us from being united to God. So that free
of all confusion and error, we may find him in all things,
keep him in our hearts, and serve him always in our
brothers and sisters. Mother of Good Counsel pray for us.
Amen.

We begin with our daily prayers, making the Sign of the Cross and praying the Act of Contrition so that God will enter our hearts, and he will brings us near to the Virgin Mary.
The Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for
having offended you, and I detest
all my sins, because of Your just
punishments, but most of all because
they offend You, my God, who are
all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of
Your grace, to sin no more and to
avoid the near occasion of sin.
Amen

Blessed Virgin Mary, the one who unties the knots, in marriage, in people and of nations, I offer you this novena
requesting the follo-wing intentions:

(mention here the favors that you wish to obtain)
First Day

Bible reading:

...« and now she will bear a son. You shall call him 'Jesus' for he will save his people from their sins.»
( Mathew 1, 21 )

Brief Reflection:

Our Lord Jesus, was born of the flesh and blood of the Holy Virgin Mary, spouse of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, untied the
tongues of the mute, the obstacles to the paralytics, he remove the yoke of the oppressed , and he liberated the
sinners with his death. Jesus, through his Death and Resurrection is the Great Untier of Knots of our humanity united to
sin. His Mother, first disciple and coore-demptrix, will untied our knots.

( Brief meditation: meditate with one decade of the Holy Rosary: One Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, One Glory be and
the Prayer to “The Virgin Mary untier of Knots”)

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven;
hollowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father and to
the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now
and ever shall be, world without
end. Amen

`Pray to the Virgin Mary Untier of Knots´
¡ Mater Ter Admirabilis !
(Mother Three Times Admirable!)

Second day:
Bible reading:

...« And the Angel said to her in reply, ”The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most High will
overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
( Luke 1, 35 )

Brief Reflection:

The Holy Spirit, Third Person of God, overshadowed the womb of the Virgin Mary full of grace, and the power of
the most High was with her so that she would give birth to our savior made man. That is why the Virgin Mary is
blessed and holy. In her, The Son of God inhabited. ¡ Who better than his Mother, to aid us and help us to
dismantle our tangled conflicts!
( Brief meditation: meditate with one decade of the Holy Rosary: One Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, One Glory be
and the Prayer to “Our Virgin Mary untier of Knots”)

Our Father, Who art in heaven,.....

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace,.....

Glory Be
Glory be to the Father and to...

`Prayer to the Virgin Mary Untier of Knots´
Mater Ter Admirabilis ! ((Mother Three Times Admirable!)
Mother of the Good Counsel !

Third day:
Bible reading:

« Mary said, “ Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.
“Then the Angel departed from her.” » ( Luke 1, 38 )

Brief Reflection:

The Virgin Mary meekly undergoes the designs of God, alt-hough with certain reservations. ".. How can this beif
I do not know man?…she accepts, with some concerns. How many doubts will we have when we have moved
away from God, and in our mistakes, we have knitted a useless cobweb of knots. Let us give our griefs to the
council of Mary.
( Brief meditation: meditate with one decade of the Holy Rosary: One Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, One Glory be
and the Prayer to “Our Virgin Mary untier of Knots”)

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven,.....

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace,.....

Glory Be
Glory be to the Father and to...

`Prayer to the Virgin Mary Untier of Knots´
Mater Ter Admirabilis ! ((Mother Three Times Admirable!) Mother of Good Counsel !, Mother of Divine Grace.

Fourth day:

Bible reading:

« 15 When the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, "Let us go as far as Bethlehem and
see what the Lord has made known to us." 16 So they came
hurriedly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby lying in the
manger. 17 On seeing this they related what they had been told
about the child, 18 and all were astonished on hearing the
shepherds.19 As for Mary, she treasured all these messages
and continually pondered over them.» (Luke 2, 15-19)

Brief Reflection:

They went to Bethlehem, where they found the Child, “The word made flesh", the only Truth. Let us walk through
our desert, that with the guidence of the Archángel Raphael, that we may come closer to Mary Mother of the
Church, and with her to Jesus. Little by little, the knots of error that make us prisoners will be untied.
“The Truth shall set us free”. Let us walk in confidence towards our liberation.”

( Brief meditation: meditate with one decade of the Holy Rosary: One Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, One Glory be
and the Prayer to “Our Virgin Mary untier of Knots”)

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven,.....

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace,.....

Glory Be
Glory be to the Father and to...

`Prayer to the Virgin Mary Untier of Knots´
Mater Ter Admirabilis ! (Mother Three Times Admirable!) Help of All Christians.

Fifth day:

Bible Reading:

« 7 Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened. 8 For everyone who
asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; and the door will be opened to him who knocks. » (Mathew 7, 7-8)

Brief Reflection:

( The Heart of Mary is opened to us, like the door to heaven. We only need to ask for her help and her maternal
arms will open for our tor-tured spirits. In her we will find the solution to our problems, balm for our pain, and
answers to our doubts. Mary our help, intercede for us.)
( Brief meditation: meditate with one decade of the Holy Rosary: One Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s One Glory be
and the Prayer to “Our Virgin Mary untier of Knots”

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven,.....

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace,.....

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father and to...

`Prayer to the Virgin Mary Untier of Knots´
Mater Ter Admirabilis ! (Mother Three Times Admirable!) Door to Heaven, Consolation of the Afflicted.

Sixth day:
Bible reading:

4 Jesus replied, "Woman, your thoughts are not mine! My hour has not yet come." 5 However his mother said to the servants, "Do what-ever he tells you." (John 2, 4-5)

Brief Reflection:

In the wedding feast of Cana , the patient Virgin Mary interce-des for the guest. With this act, she inaugurates her
Mediation between the Son of God and men. The faithful servant of the Lord, is our most humble and maternal
servant, in our afflictions, despairs, tribulations and wrongs doings. She is the Mediatrix of all graces, to which
we commend ourselves in our intricate problems, that with her maternal hands, she will untie the knots that
still imprison us.
( Brief meditation: meditate with one decade of the Holy Rosary: One Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, One Glory be
and the Prayer to “Our Virgin Mary untier of Knots”)

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven,.....

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace,.....

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father and to...

`Prayer to the Virgin Mary Untier of Knots´
Mater Ter Admirabilis ! (Mother Three Times Admirable!) Mother of Divine Grace.

Seventh day:
Bible reading:

“ It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.”(Luke 23, 44)

Brief Reflection:

The Father’s will is about to be acomplished; Our Lord Jesus Christ will die on the cross for our salvation, in the
promise of his Resurrec-tion. From the darkness the light will shine to illumine us, freedom from darkness.
We already see our problems with more clarity. Our ties loosen, in the measure in which they conform to the
Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. At this time we are closer to his Mother, the Virgin Mary.

( Brief meditation: meditate with one decade of the Holy Rosary: One Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s,
One Glory be and the Prayer to “Our Virgin Mary untier of Knots”)

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven,.....

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace,.....

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father and to...

`Prayer to the Virgin Mary Untier of Knots´
Mater Ter Admirabilis ! (Mother Three Times Admirable!) Mother of Christ.

Eighth day:
Bible reading:

« 26 When Jesus saw his Mother, and the disciple whom he loved, he said to his Mother, "Woman,
there is your son." 27 Then he said to the disciple, "There is your mother." And from that moment the
disci-ple took her to his own home. » (John 19, 26-27)

Brief Reflection:

At the moment Jesús went to the Father, he leaves us in the care of his Mother. It is the greatest legacy that Jesús
left to Our Virgin Mary, and when he points out to the disciple he loves, he gives her custody of the whole
humanity. She will be our Advocate, Helper, Benefac-tress, and Mediatrix. The handmaid of the Lord, will
grant us freedom through her intercesión, she will untie the final knots that make us prisoners.

( Brief meditation: meditate with one decade of the Holy Rosary: One Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, One Glory be
and the Prayer to “Our Virgin Mary untier of Knots”)

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven,.....

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace,.....

Glory Be
Glory be to the Father and to...

`Prayer to the Virgin Mary Untier of Knots´
Mater Ter Admirabilis ! (Mother Three Times Admirable!), Mother of Christ, Help of All Christians.

Ninth day:
Bible reading:

« 14 All of these together gave themselves to constant prayer. With them were some women and also Mary,
the mother of Jesus, and his brothers...» and »when the day of Pentecost arrived, all were filled with
the Holy Spirit.» (Acts 1:14 and 2:1-4)

Brief Reflection:

Our Father sends the Holy Spirit on the feast of Pentecost , that will feed us in our faith. This is the same faith
that with Mary’s maternal help, will remove the bonds that keep us prisoners. With the light of the Holy Spirit
we see in meridian clarity which of our anguishes had our spirit trapped. The guidance of Saint Michael the
Archangel has always been certain, Saint Gabriel the Archangel will announce my freedom and Saint Michael
the Archangel, will protect me from any attack. The Evil one (the serpent), overpowered by the presence of Mary,
lies at her feet, made into a useless knot, unable to touch us.

( Brief meditation: meditate with one decade of the Holy Rosary: One Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, One Glory be
and the Prayer to:
“Our Virgin Mary untier of Knots”)

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven, .....

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, .....

Glory Be
Glory be to the Father and to ...

`Prayer to the Virgin Mary Untier of Knots´
Mater Ter Admirabilis ! (Mother Three Times Admirable!) Mother of Christ, Help of All Christians.

movie watch

2011-09-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

These days most of the holywood flicks are so totally unwatchable anyway we saw one foreign movie that is a heart warming and thougth it was worth a mention
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Children-of-Heaven/60010229

Available on netflix and a must watch for children and parents.

New - Miraculous Medal Necklace Crystals & Pearls

2011-08-03T14:26:00.000-07:00

Introducing a Miraculous Medal Necklace with Pearls and Crystals on a double chain. Length is 21". The Miraculous Medal pendant is two sided and slides open to reveal the Lord's prayer. This pendant is unique, it's length is 21", the pendant is accentuated by a set of four pearls and Swarovski crystal rhinestones. A one of a kind necklace great for gift giving. Great to wear with anything yet can be dressy. One of a kind. Got to

www.HeartBeadDesigns.Etsy.com for more photos.

Our Lady of Lourdes Rosary - New

2011-07-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

Handmade five decade Catholic Rosary. The Paters are 13mm rectangular agate stones with layers of white and light blue. The Paters are accentuated by clear Czech crystals ant tiny sapphire blue crystals. The Ave beads are hard-to-find Montana blue Grade A 8mm cateyes (also known as fiber optic beads). In between the blue Aves are white 3mm cateyes used as spacer beads. Cateye beads change hue as they capture and reflect light. They have a band of light running through the center that resembles a cat's eye. The centerpiece is handmade by the artist and is a one of a kind piece consisting of an image of Our Lady of Lourdes, centered in a silver plate antique pendant. The crucifix is two-sided and heavy, brass on silver, heavily plated, cast from an antique mold.

To see more pictures of this rosary on Etsy go to:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78267860/rosary-catholic-five-decade-handmade-our

New Listing - Rosary featuring Madonna of the Poor

2011-06-22T19:22:00.000-07:00

Handmade Catholic Rosary featuring Madonna of the Poor with child as the centerpiece. The Paters are multicolored lampwork beads accented by Swarovski bicone crystals . The Aves are made of simulated high quality silver pearls with sterling round spacers between. The centerpiece is handmade by the artist and is a one of a kind piece consisting of an image of Madonna of the Poor and child, centered in a silver antique bezel pendant. The cross is is two-sided and heavy, silver, heavily plated, cast from an antique mold. I used 49 strand nylon coated stainless steel beading wire – the best available made for durability and strength. This item for sale at

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76079906/handmade-catholic-rosary-featuring

Our Lady of Guadalupe Rosary - New

2011-05-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

Handmade bronze wire wrapped five decade Catholic Rosary featuring Our Lady of Guadalupe Center. The Paters are oval and turquoise in color which harmonize the coral Ave beads. Dark bronze seed beads complement both the Ave’s and Paters. Each Ave bead-set and Pater bead-set are individually wire-wrapped in 20 guage bronze wire. The centerpiece is handmade by the artist and is a one of a kind piece consisting of an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, centered in a bronze antique cabochon pendant. The crucifix is two-sided and heavy, silver on brass, heavily plated, cast from an antique mold. This rosary will last a lifetime and can be passed from generation to generation. Go to www.HeartBeadDesigns.Etsy.com for more rosaries.

Welcome to our WhisperingOak

2011-04-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

WhisperingOak is nestled under beautiful California native oaks that give us inspiration. It has always been tradition in our family to sit around the table on a Saturday afternoon and work on crafts. Many times you could find three generations working together while drinking coffee.

We created beautiful things to decorate our home. Children and adults alike enjoyed the different items that decorated our home for holidays, birthday celebrations, changes in seasons, and more. This created a tradition that brought us happiness and gratefulnes for every day we were able to celebrate.

Our grandmother taught us how to make paper flowers and other paper crafts. My grandmother learned from her mother. My mother learned the delicate arts of embroidery, needlepoint, cross stitching, sewing and painting from nuns in her Catholic school. Her teachers were nuns that had come from various countries in Europe, such as, Portugal, Spain and Italy. To this day, my mother buys books and self teaches new techniques.

Since neighbors and friends have always admired our crafts and the way we celebrate the seaons in our home, I decided to open our store on Etsy and share with everybody. My mother is the main artist. My sisters and I add our talent and designs to our items.

We thank our followers and buyers for the appreciation and love they have shared with us and the warm welcome they gave us to Etsy. We also thank CEAG for the support and friendship that the team has given us.

We are close to selling our 100th item. To celebrate and thank our buyers, we would like to offer a gift with purchase. When the counter at Etsy turns to 100th item sold, we will ship the lucky buyer a Pink Blossoms Couple for free. So, come and visit us.

Divine Mercy Novena started on Good Friday

2011-04-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

On October 5, 1938, a young religious by the name Sister Faustina (Helen Kowalska) died in a convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Cracow, Poland. She came from a very poor family that had struggled hard on their little farm during the terrible years of WWI. Sister had had only three years of very simple education. Hers were the humblest of tasks in the convent, usually in the kitchen or the vegetable garden, or as a porter.

On February 22, 1931, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ appeared to this simple nun, bringing with Him a wonderful message of Mercy for all mankind. Saint Faustina tells us in her diary under this date:

"In the evening, when I was in my cell, I became aware of the Lord
Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand was raised in blessing,
the other was touching the garment at the breast. From the opening
of the garment at the breast there came forth two large rays, one
red and the other pale. In silence I gazed intently at the Lord;
my soul was overwhelmed with fear, but also with great joy. After
a while Jesus said to me, 'paint an image according to the pattern
you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You.'"

Some time later, Our Lord again spoke to her:

"The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous;
the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These
two rays issued forth from the depths of My most tender Mercy at
that time when My agonizing Heart was opened by a lance on the
Cross....Fortunate is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for
the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him."

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/stfaust.htm#ixzz1KMZtd5Gm

First Day
"Today bring to Me all mankind, especially all sinners, and immerse
them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the
bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me."

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us
and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which
we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of
Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg
this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy
Spirit.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and
especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate
Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your
mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and
ever. Amen.

Pray above prayer and then the Divine Mercy Chaplet which can be found
here:

http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

Second Day
"Today bring to Me the Souls of Priests and Religious,

and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind."

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard -- upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

* In the original text, Saint Faustina uses the pronoun "us" since she was offering this prayer as a consecrated religious sister. The wording adapted here is intended to make the prayer suitable for universal use.

Third Day
"Today bring to Me all Devout and Faithful Souls,

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were a drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness."

Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Fourth Day
"Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not know Me,

I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy."

Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

*Our Lord's original words here were "the pagans." Since the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, the Church has seen fit to replace this term with clearer and more appropriate terminology.

Fifth Day
"Today bring to Me the Souls of those who have separated themselves from My Church*,

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion."

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

*Our Lord's original words here were "heretics and schismatics," since He spoke to Saint Faustina within the context of her times. As of the Second Vatican Council, Church authorities have seen fit not to use those designations in accordance with the explanation given in the Council's Decree on Ecumenism (n.3). Every pope since the Council has reaffirmed that usage. Saint Faustina herself, her heart always in harmony with the mind of the Church, most certainly would have agreed. When at one time, because of the decisions of her superiors and father confessor, she was not able to execute Our Lord's inspirations and orders, she declared: "I will follow Your will insofar as You will permit me to do so through Your representative. O my Jesus " I give priority to the voice of the Church over the voice with which You speak to me" (497). The Lord confirmed her action and praised her for it.

Sixth Day
Today bring to Me the Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children,

and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.

Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Seventh Day
Today bring to Me the Souls who especially venerate and glorify My Mercy*,

and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God:

Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.

*The text leads one to conclude that in the first prayer directed to Jesus, Who is the Redeemer, it is "victim" souls and contemplatives that are being prayed for; those persons, that is, that voluntarily offered themselves to God for the salvation of their neighbor (see Col 1:24; 2 Cor 4:12). This explains their close union with the Savior and the extraordinary efficacy that their invisible activity has for others. In the second prayer, directed to the Father from whom comes "every worthwhile gift and every genuine benefit,"we recommend the "active" souls, who promote devotion to The Divine Mercy and exercise with it all the other works that lend themselves to the spiritual and material uplifting of their brethren.

Eighth Day
"Today bring to Me the Souls who are in the prison of Purgatory,

and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice."

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.

Ninth Day
"Today bring to Me the Souls who have become Lukewarm,

and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy."

Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.

Diary, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul (c) 1987 Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Stockbridge, MA 01263. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#2#ixzz1KMa3Zzr0

Holy Week Sale!

2011-04-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I hope that you are having a wonderful holy week! My name is Rebecca from Phoenix Art Studio on Etsy.
I am having a spring sale to celebrate new life in my etsy shop.
Enter coupon code SPRING to get 15% off of everything in my shop from now through Easter!

I have many unique 100% handmade crosses in my shop as well as other unique items.

Enjoy and have a blessed week!!

St Jude's Creations Handmade flowers introduction

2011-04-08T07:21:00.000-07:00

I have not introduced myself yet even though I am one of the admin of the group:-)

My name is Maria Noble and I run stjudescreations a handmade flower shop for all wedding and party needs.

Born into a catholic family catholicism was ingrained into me at a very young age.We had many youth groups of which I was part of and thus I found Christ through a Catholic Charismatic movement.I am a John Paul II product I guess.My favorite prayer is the Rosary and my favorite saint is ST Jude of course being my patron saint of my shop.God has immensely blessed me especially through St Jude.My husband name is Jude btw :-)

I am married with 2 beautiful children a now 5 yr old girl Ann and a 3 yr old Joseph so things do get hectic at home juggling everything.

Here are a few of my items I create! You can browse my site on the top left.

Cake toppers

Huge paper flower for store displays

Wedding bouquets

I am doing a promotion..Like me on facebook by clicking here and one random fan will be picked for a 20% off coupon code on any items here.Fan count is now 32.Offer expires when fancount reaches 100.
If you are already a fan then a post to facebook of any of my products will qualify for an entry.
Please leave a post on my facebook page mentioning the post.

My blog is at http://stjudescreations.blogspot.com
and facebook page is at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bristol-CT/StjudesCreations/176524212376603

Thank you!
Maria

My First Protestant Rosary

2011-03-27T02:21:00.000-07:00

Cobalt Blue Anglican/Protestant Rosary..click to check it out at the shop!

Hi Tammy from "Righteous Rosaries & Gifts" writing to you!

I met a new friend online and somehow through a bit of a tough beginning of our friendship, we hit it off and became friends very fast. She gave me some food for thought, that I had lovely products, but what about the rest of us, like our brothers and sisters of the Protestant faith. She suggested that I make bracelets and prayers beads for my next projects. Her idea for the bracelets was to call them "Faith Bracelets", I loved that idea.

Eager to please and delve head first into a new market area, I made this Christian Rosary last night. I turned out to be easy and I copied the instructions from a fellow Rosary Artisan. Voila, in my hands was a lovely 6mm cobalt blue AB czech beads with 10 mm lampwork paters and a tibetan silver cross. The picture is the finished product.

What do you guys think of making not just Catholic, but also Protestant products? I think if we can encourage prayers, they it all goes to the glory of our Lord!

Blessed Mother Rosary in Roses

2011-03-20T21:33:00.000-07:00

Introducing my latest rosary. Made with white cats'eye (fiber-optic) beads for the Ave's spaced with pink sead beads. The Paters are lampwork beads with tiny pink roses on them. Surrounding the Paters are fuchsia bicone Swarovski crystals. The centerpiece features an image of our Blessed Mother in all her beauty. It was handmade by the artist using a resin technique. The crucifix is a double cross with crucifix on cross and is double sided with a heavy feel. It is hand cast in heavy silver plate from an old design. The ends of the cross have tiny fleur-de-lis design. A very nice crucifix.

Hail Mary Full of Grace!

Thank you Mary for saying yes to our Lord!

www.HeartBeadDesigns.Etsy.com

Patroness Treasury

2011-02-14T21:24:00.000-08:00

'Patroness' by AngelosTreasures

This Treasury is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe Patroness of the unborn Creations by Teamcatholic artisans Not just a creation, but an inspiration to transmit an emotion through their artistic gifts

These creations are from various artisans, when you click on the item it will take you to their

individual store

Crystal Pendant - O... LaDonaBoutique $36.00	Vintage Brass Baby ... thevelvetheart $21.00	Our Lady of Guadalu... AxisMundiDesig... $18.00
Pro-Life Large Glas... inspirationsby... $9.75	Our Lady of Guadalu... janallisfinede... $40.00	Our Lady of Guadalu... Art4thesoul $22.50
Hooded Baby Blanket MummyMade $40.00	Powder Rose Swarovs... PMMDesigns1 $22.00	Upcycled Framed Our... cedarcreektrea... $20.00
BABY HYDRANGEA Diap... chicgiftsbysas... $70.00	Prayer for the Unbo... TheRecycledCat... $14.99	Saint Gianna Berett... StAnnesPixies $20.00
Pro Life Necklace (... camp11artisan $20.00	PRO-LIFE Rosary righteousrosar... $85.00	Our Lady of Guadalu... StLukesBrush $54.50

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

Giveaway from St Ann Pixie

2011-02-14T11:12:00.001-08:00

Our giveaways are back up!

This weeks giveaway comes from StAnnesPixies and is an awesome Pink Sprite Waldorf Doll with an Orange Petal Skirt

Check out her shop which offers beautiful gifts for the coming Holy communion season!!!

It up for grabs for anyone who follow the rules:

To enter the giveaway you can complete any of the following tasks. Please leave your contact email address in your comment(s) so that we can notify you if you are a winner. Completing multiple tasks will get you multiple entries into the giveaway.

IMPORTANT
Each task must be added as separate comment in order to count as an additional entry. If you do not leave an email address your entry will be disqualified.

1. Follow the Catholic Etsy Artists Blog by using the google friend connect tool (bottom left).
2. Leave a comment in the etsy treasury created here
3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your tweet.
4. "Like" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Etsy-Artists-Guild/138264902876262.
5.Blog post about our giveaway with a link to our blog and leave a comment with the link to your blog post.
6. Tell us your favorite item from Etsy shop or StAnnesPixies her shop sponsporing the giveaway for this week.

Giveaways ends Feb 21th and watch out for the next giveaway!

BlueAventurine Rosary with Pardon Crucifix and IHS center

2011-02-10T14:01:00.000-08:00

BlueAventurine Rosary with Pardon Crucifix and IHS center

I love to use a Pardon Crucifix on my rosaries because it carries a special indulgence attached to its use. For those who are not familiar with the term indulgence it is given by the Church to remit the temporal punishment of sins that have been forgiven.

About the Pardon Crucifix:.

These indulgences have been declared upon the Pardon Crucifix by Pope St. Pius X in 1905, and have been approved in the pardon of the living and the souls in Purgatory in 1907. The lengths of the indulgences were repealed in the new Enchiridion, and the indulgences were granted to remit the guilt of the sin committed:

1. Whoever carries on his person the Pardon Crucifix, may thereby gain an indulgence.

2. For devoutly kissing the Crucifix, an indulgence is gained.

3. Whoever says one of the following invocations before this crucifix may gain each time an indulgence: "Our Father who art in heaven, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." "I beg the Blessed Virgin Mary to pray to the Lord our God for me."

4. Whoever, habitually devout to this Crucifix, will fulfill the necessary conditions of Confession and Holy Communion, may gain a Plenary Indulgence on the following feasts: On the feasts of the Five Wounds of our Lord, the Invention of the Holy Cross, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Immaculate Conception, and the Seven Sorrows (Dolors) of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

5. Whoever, at the moment of death, fortified with the Sacraments of the Church, or contrite of heart, in the supposition of being unable to receive them, will kiss this Crucifix and ask pardon of God for his sins, and pardon his neighbor, will gain a Plenary Indulgence.

Definitions courtesy of newadvent.org

Heather's Homestead Shop Intro!

2011-02-07T09:16:00.000-08:00

Hello, everyone. I'm a Catholic Mother, expecting my 5th child this April. I live with my family on a small farm and keep chickens, honeybees, pigs, and grow a large vegetable garden. From January to Easter, I decorate Ukrainian Easter Eggs (Pysanky). With their deep Catholic symbolism, I hope that they will inspire people to bring their hearts closer to God this Easter season and always!

I sell my pysanky at www.HeathersHomestead.etsy.com. Please come over and visit my shop.

I also blog about homestead life, catholic mothering, Polish traditions, and pysanky making. There is a pysanka giveaway going on right now to celebrate the grand opening of my shop! Find out how to enter at this post: www.faithfunandfamily.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-first-giveaway.html.

Here are some examples of my work:

A goose egg pysanka with poppy motif.

White chicken egg pysanka with star & flowers motif.

A brown chicken egg pysanka with church motif.

Pysanky may look painted, but they are done with a wax-resist technique. Melted beeswax is written on the empty eggshells with a special stylus. The egg is then dipped in successively darker dyes with more beeswax written in between colors. The beeswax is then melted off to reveal the completed design!

Here are some common symbols and their meanings:

Stars: Christ, the light of the world
Crosses: Salvation
Flowers and Greenery: Springtime and the Resurrection
5 dots in a pattern: The 5 Wounds of Christ
Teardrop Shapes: Tears of Mary
Waves: The Waters of Baptism
Nets: That we Christians are to be Fishers of Men
Triangles: The Holy Trinity

I wish you a Blessed Lent and a Happy Easter Season 2011!!!

Catholic Etsy Artists Guild Treasury

2011-01-31T20:20:00.000-08:00

These treasuries are with a beautiful meaning and honor to Our Most Beloved Blessed Mother and Our Lord

These items were handpicked to be displayed based on the theme of each treasury from many of the Guild's gifted artisans

There are many different stores that are featured in these treasuries and many more creations in their stores

It is an honor for me to be a part of this wonderful Guild and have met so many beautiful artisans and all for the Glory and honor of Our Blessed Mother, Our Lord, Angels and Saints to express devotion and faith

'Flowers for Our Most Blessed Holy Mother Mary and Our Lord Jesus Christ' by AngelosTreasures

I was inspired today to bring this treasury to the attention of flowers and how important they are to Our Most Blessed Holy Mother Mary and Our Lord Jesus Christ and How She and Our Lord much appreciate them So therefore, the theme today is flowers

Romantic Dried Rose... CherubinoCraft... $35.00	FREE SHIPPING -Ster... LaudeArts $99.99	Saint Therese of th... StAnnesPixies $12.00
St. Rose of Lima gl... AxisMundiDesig... $12.50	Heart Shaped Porcel... cedarcreektrea... $12.00	Custom wedding pape... stjudescreatio... $140.00
Ivory Carnation, Gr... thevelvetheart $26.00	Catholic Card Set o... dustbincards $5.95	Watercolor ACEO Ori... ArtfulPurpose $12.99
Rose Flower Art Not... LadyinBlueShop $1.25	Three large lovely ... flowerjewels $9.00	Star & Flowers Etch... HeathersHomest... $20.00
Columbine Pink Phot... stargifts $4.99	Playing With Butter... WhisperingOak $10.00	Oxford Dictionary o... ReaDo $45.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.

'Creations of Love' by AngelosTreasures

Since I could not include most of the creations in my previous treasury of Prayerful Hands I'm creating a new one to add more Beautiful creationsFor more beautiful rosary creations visit my other treasury http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d44c043ce6a6d91f8f4f221/prayerful-hands

Our Lady of Fatima ... janallisfinede... $30.00	Hand Crafted Contem... benerita $16.50	Dark Blue Cat-Eye G... TheRecycledCat... $4.00
Handcrafted Fifteen... PMMDesigns1 $45.00	O.L. of Grace, Divi... righteousrosar... $50.00	Rosary Catholic Tra... HeartBeadDesig... $35.00
Amethyst Rosary LittleFlowersG... $40.00	Rainbow Colored Ros... ThePinkCatholi... $35.00	Ceramic Chaplet - A... LaDonaBoutique $18.00
5-Decade Wrap Brace... autumnal66 $55.00	pink/white double d... faithfulservan... $12.50	Amethyst Bracelet R... theirishlassie... $35.00
Rosary Digitized Ma... theparables $2.25

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.

'Prayerful Hands ' by AngelosTreasures

Inspirational Devotional Rosaries created by prayerful hands

Personalized Mascul... trendytraditio... $44.00	FREE SHIPPING Rosar... LaudeArts $84.99	Chaplet of the Holy... HandmaidRosary... $12.99
Chaplet of St. Jude... viadellarosa $25.50	Aqua Blue Swarovski... FullofGraceRos... $24.00	St. Therese Sacrifi... GracefulRosari... $13.00
FREE SHIPPING Rosar... LaudeArts $69.99	Rosary In Teal SwampRabbitHut $32.99	Yellow and White Ca... MementoMoose $20.00
Valentine Sacred He... thewoodwife $30.00	St. Michael rosary ... AxisMundiDesig... $20.00	Rosary with Yellow ... PrayersinPurpl... $20.00
Unbreakable Pink Ri... HailHolyQueenR... $36.00	Onyx and Leopardski... 15Promises $25.00	Russian Jade Rosary... SaintlyRosarie... $25.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.

Shop Intro from Heather @ ReaDo

2011-01-31T12:23:00.000-08:00

I'd like to let you know a little about myself and my shop...ReaDo.

Like Beth, I'm a Catholic convert. I grew up as the Methodist poster girl and was determined to convert my (would be) husband. God has a funny sense of humor since I'm now the Catholic (and a Marriage Prep and Natural Family Planning instructor to boot!).

We are blessed with three young children and I am foruntate enough to stay home and homeschool (did I say fortunate or crazy?!). :) My husband is the artist in the family but I was seeking a creative outlet for my "free time". I stumbled across the idea for repurposed book purses and - voila! - I opened ReaDo on etsy. Our family is chock full of bibliophiles, so this seemed the perfect fit. I also love the idea of giving an old book a new life.

I search out old or unwanted books with great covers and repurpose them into purses. My husband takes any cool illustrations and mats them to standard sizes. I've really enjoyed this; my only regret is not having more time and money to make all the great books I've found! I have, however, started to create listings with unfinished books so that the lucky recipient is able to have a say in the creation of their purse (see the Cover Collections at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReaDo?section_id=7672078).

I hope that you will take a moment to visit my shop at http://www.ReaDo.etsy.com/. I'm also on facebook at www.facebook.com/ReaDoBooks. You'll often find new listings and coupon codes over there! And if you'd like to know more about our crazy little family, feel free to read my blog entries at http://alittlelessthanangels.wordpress.com/. God bless!

Shop Introduction : Melanie Beth from The Velvet Heart

2011-01-31T11:46:00.000-08:00

Hi, my name is Melanie Beth (this is my given name, though I go by Beth). I run The Velvet Heart on Etsy which I opened last May.

I am a convert to Catholicism. I first visited the Catholic church while dating my husband and immediately felt that I had "come home". I like to say that I fell in love with my husband and the Catholic church at the same time!

I create vintage inspired jewelry, along with quite a few religious and spiritual pieces. I have enjoyed creating jewelry off and on for a long time and have also taken up photography as a hobby since I've been home with my kids. I have 2 small boys, aged 1 and 2 that keep me busy!

Here are a few things from my store:

Thanks for letting me share with you!

YouTube Movie watch

2011-01-31T06:34:00.000-08:00

With the advent of internet compatible TV I think most of us are watching You Tube videos on our HD TV's.

I just wanted to add few YouTube Catholic movies that can bring amazing enlightenment about the saints.
The first one that is available is History channel 's St Peter

The series has 21 parts and this user ( http://www.youtube.com/user/benjaminmbandi ) has all the part to it -it's a very uplifting movie and shows the immense sacrifices that the early Christians had to undergo for their faith and in turn for us the new generation catholics!

the 2nd movie is the little known(I didnt know this) of St John and how the Revelation was given to him on the Island on Pathmos where he was kept a prisoner

The same user has all the 10 parts.
Must Watch!

Sorry for the delay in posting last weeks giveaway it is ShealynnsFaerieShoppe {at} gmail.com Congrats!

Shop Introduction: Patty from PMM Designs

2011-01-28T14:35:00.000-08:00

ABOUT ME:

Hello, I am a 45yo SAHM. My husband and I have been married for 21 years and we have 3 wonderful boys whose ages are 19, 17 and 5!

WHAT INSPIRED ME TO START MY SHOP?
I had worked for a company part-time for 21 years but when our youngest was 1yo I left to become a fulltime SAHM. I began making rosaries not long after I had been at home fulltime. My first rosaries were mission rosaries that I sent out to various people that had requested rosaries. I moved on to create a birthstone rosary for my mom so that she could pray for her 5 grandkids as she said her daily prayers. A friend also asked me to create a personalized graduation rosary for her daughter. At about this time I learned about etsy and decided to see if anyone would be interested in allowing me to create personalized rosaries for them. I also am very passionate about the prolife movement and in particular the 40 Days for Life campaign. This was the inspiration for my ProLife Baby’s Feet rosaries that I offer.

ABOUT MY ART:
I design and create unique rosaries and Catholic devotions using high quality affordable materials. I had always been disappointed when I would go to stores to purchase my sons’ rosaries and they were so expensive. My goal is to offer beautiful custom rosaries at a reasonable price.

WHERE I SELL MY WORKS:
I have an etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/pmmdesigns1 and an artfire shop: www.artfire.com/users/pmmdesigns. I am considering participating in some church craft sales this fall but am still praying about that decision.

MY FAVORITE DEVOTIONS:
My favorite devotions are the rosary and the divine mercy chaplet. I believe that these two prayers are the ones most needed in our world today.

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF MY WORKS:

Thank you for letting me share a little about myself! Please come on over and browse through my shop and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss a custom order.

Blessings!
Patty

Giveaway from stargifts

2011-01-19T12:42:00.001-08:00

This weeks giveaway comes from righteousrosaries and is an awesome Earrings

Check out her righteousrosaries which offers beautiful gifts for the coming Holy comunion season!!! or Stargifts her gift shop

It up for grabs for anyone who follow the rules:

To enter the giveaway you can complete any of the following tasks. Please leave your contact email address in your comment(s) so that we can notify you if you are a winner. Completing multiple tasks will get you multiple entries into the giveaway.

IMPORTANT
Each task must be added as separate comment in order to count as an additional entry. If you do not leave an email address your entry will be disqualified.

1. Follow the Catholic Etsy Artists Blog by using the google friend connect tool (bottom left).
2. Leave a comment in the etsy treasury created here
3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your tweet.
4. "Like" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Etsy-Artists-Guild/138264902876262.
5.Blog post about our giveaway with a link to our blog and leave a comment with the link to your blog post.
6. Tell us your favorite item from Etsy shop or Stargifts her gift shop
or righteousrosaries sponsporing the giveaway for this week.

Giveaways ends Jan26th and watch out for the next giveaway!

The winner for the earring was cypva@cox.net

Congrats and you will be contacted shortly!

St Joseph

2011-01-16T11:43:00.000-08:00

He made his lord of his household,
And prince of all his possessions (Feast Day March 19th)

THE VISION OF ST. GERTRUDE

Once, on the Feast of the Annunciation, St. Gertrude had a vision during which the Heavenly Mother revealed to her the glory of her spouse, St. Joseph, in order to awaken in the Saint a greater love for him and to encourage her to have confidence in his intercession.

Of this vision St. Gertrude wrote:

"I saw Heaven opened and St. Joseph sitting upon a magnificent throne. I felt myself wonderfully affected when, each time his name was mentioned, all the Saints made a profound inclination toward him, showing by the serenity and sweetness of their looks that they rejoiced with him on account of his exalted dignity."

There are three reasons why St. Joseph is the special patron of the dying:

1) He is the foster father of the Eternal Judge, Who can refuse him no request.
2) He is terrible to the demons; the Church calls him
the Terror of demons and Conqueror of Hell.
3) His own death was most beautiful, for he died in the arms
of Jesus and Mary; this is the principal reason why he is the
patron of a happy death; the death no other Saint was so happy,
so glorious. St. Francis de Sales was of the opinion that
St. Joseph died of the love of God; St. Alphonsus Liguori
considered this most reasonable.

Ven. Mary of Agreda says that before his death St Joseph experienced a rapture during which he beheld the Divine Essence,The Face od God,His Glory,which Moses had in vain asked to see(Ex33:18,20)

Prayer to Saint Joseph to Obtain a Special Favor

O BLESSED ST. JOSEPH, tenderhearted Father,
faithful guardian of Jesus, chaste spouse of the Mother of God,
I pray and beseech thee to offer to God the Father,
His Divine Son, bathed in Blood on the Cross for sinners,
and through the thrice Holy Name of Jesus,
obtain for us from the Eternal Father, the favor we implore (Name your request)

Appease the Divine anger so justly inflamed by our crimes; beg of Jesus mercy for your children. Amid the splendors of eternity, forget not the sorrows of those who suffer, those who pray, those who weep; stay the almighty arm which smites us, that by your prayers and those of your most holy Spouse the Heart of Jesus may be moved to pity and to pardon. Amen.

THE GO TO JOSEPH PRAYER
I
IN the miseries of this vale of tears, to whom shall we have recourse, O blessed Joseph, if not to thee, to whom thy beloved spouse Mary entrusted all her rich treasures, that thou might keep them to our advantage? "go to my spouse, Joseph," Mary seems to say to us, "and he will comfort you, he will deliver you from the misfortunes which now oppress you and will make you happy and contented" Have pity on us, therefore, O St. Joseph; have pity on us through that love which thou didst cherish toward a spouse so worthy and amiable.

Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . .

II
We are fully conscious that we have offended the justice of God by our sins and deserve His most severe chastisements. Not what shall be our place of refuge? "go to Joseph," Jesus seems to say to us; "Go to Joseph, in whom I was well pleased and whom I had for My foster father. To him, as to a father, I have communicated all power, that he may use it for your good according to his own desire." Pity us, therefore, O blessed Joseph, pity us, for the great love thou didst bear toward a Son so admirable and so dear.

Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . .

III
Unhappily the sins we have committed call down upon the heaviest scourges: this we must confess. In what ark shall we take refuge in order to be saved? Where shall we find the blessed rainbow that shall give us comfort and hope in the midst of our afflictions? "Go to Joseph," the Eternal father seems to say to us: "Go to him who took My place on earth with regard to My Son made man. I entrusted to his keeping My Son, who is the unfailing source of grace; therefore, every grace is in his hands." Pity us, then, dear St. Joseph, pity us by thy great love for Almighty God, Who has been so generous to thee.

Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . .

From the Booklet, Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph
TAN BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS

I am making this post for the amazing favor recieved from St Joseph last week after petitioning him saying the above 2 prayers for a month!
I do hope everyone will be inspired to petition him even for things that you think are quite impossible at this point in your life!

this weeks giveaway earrings

2011-01-11T06:38:00.001-08:00

This weeks giveaway comes from GardenPig and is a Little Flower Earrings

Check out her GardenPigwhich offers great gifts!!!

It up for grabs for anyone who follow the rules:

To enter the giveaway you can complete any of the following tasks. Please leave your contact email address in your comment(s) so that we can notify you if you are a winner. Completing multiple tasks will get you multiple entries into the giveaway.

IMPORTANT
Each task must be added as separate comment in order to count as an additional entry. If you do not leave an email address your entry will be disqualified.

1. Follow the Catholic Etsy Artists Blog by using the google friend connect tool (bottom left).
2. Leave a comment in the etsy treasury created here
3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your tweet.
4. "Like" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Etsy-Artists-Guild/138264902876262.
5.Blog post about our giveaway with a link to our blog and leave a comment with the link to your blog post.
6. Tell us your favorite item from Etsy shop GardenPigsponsporing the giveaway for this week.

Giveaways ends Jan18 th and watch out for the next giveaway!

The winner for last plaque was so.kitsch at gmail dot com

Congrats and you will be contacted shortly!

This weeks giveaways

2011-01-03T16:15:00.000-08:00

This weeks giveaway comes from CedarCreeksTreasures and is a Vintage Look Inspirational Plaque with Quote from Mother Teresa

Check out her shop which offers great gifts!!!

It up for grabs for anyone who follow the rules:

To enter the giveaway you can complete any of the following tasks. Please leave your contact email address in your comment(s) so that we can notify you if you are a winner. Completing multiple tasks will get you multiple entries into the giveaway.

IMPORTANT
Each task must be added as separate comment in order to count as an additional entry. If you do not leave an email address your entry will be disqualified.

1. Follow the Catholic Etsy Artists Blog by using the google friend connect tool (bottom left).
2. Leave a comment in the etsy treasury created here
3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your tweet.
4. "Like" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Etsy-Artists-Guild/138264902876262.
5.Blog post about our giveaway with a link to our blog and leave a comment with the link to your blog post.
6. Tell us your favorite item from Etsy shop CedarCreeksTreasures sponsporing the giveaway for this week.

Giveaways ends Jan10 th and watch out for the next giveaway!

The winner for last week's cards was Amandaluckey@gmail.com

Congrats and you will be contacted shortly!

Introducing myself - Maria Marz

2010-12-30T11:36:00.000-08:00

My name is Maria, and I have been postponing my introduction for quite a while, because I just needed to find my identity. And well, I found out that I have too many identities to pick only one!

I have been described as a colorful, sweet, soft-spoken person. I am a wife, mom, craftista, writer, photographer & lover of comedy. I am also a pescatarian, Navy veteran, fibromite (fibromyalgia sufferer), migraine sufferer, and a former web designer. I also try to raise awareness about mental and invisible illnesses.

My store is http://www.etsy.com/shop/mariamarz
.
I have my personal blog at http://www.mariamarz.com, and I have a side project at http://www.indiecraftista.com

I am based in Oak Lawn, a suburb of Chicago. As a photographer, you can see some of my work at http://www.mariamarzphotography.com.

My favorite saints - those who I ask the most for intercession are (in no particular order) St. Joseph, St. Mary, St. Jude, and St. Therese de Lisieux. I am also devout to St. Dymphna and St. Teresa of Avila.

On my shop you can usually find an eclectic collection of accessories, a variety of Rosaries, and crafting supplies.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-26T14:47:00.001-08:00

2010-12-26T14:34:00.000-08:00

This weeks giveaway comes from PMMDesigns1 and is a Powder Rose Swarovski Crystal Pearl Pro-Life Awareness Rosary

Check out her shop which offers great personalized gifts for graduations,holy communions !!!

It up for grabs for anyone who follow the rules:

To enter the giveaway you can complete any of the following tasks. Please leave your contact email address in your comment(s) so that we can notify you if you are a winner. Completing multiple tasks will get you multiple entries into the giveaway.

IMPORTANT
Each task must be added as separate comment in order to count as an additional entry. If you do not leave an email address your entry will be disqualified.

1. Follow the Catholic Etsy Artists Blog by using the google friend connect tool (bottom left).
2. Leave a comment in the etsy treasury created here
3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your tweet.
4. "Like" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Etsy-Artists-Guild/138264902876262. Blog post about our giveaway with a link to our blog and leave a comment with the link to your blog post.
6. Tell us your favorite item from Etsy shop PMMDesigns1 sponsporing the giveaway for this week.

Giveaways ends Saturday Jan1st and watch out for the next giveaway!

The winnder for last week's cards was liz_crowny(at)yahoo(dot)com

Congrats and you will be contacted shortly!

This weeks Giveaway ! Handmade Peach Card

2010-12-19T14:38:00.000-08:00

This weeks giveaway comes from Dustbin Cards.
The handmade card is made with discarded labels from jars of Del Monte peaches, this set of 4 cards feature orange gingham ribbon,silk leaves and torn papers. The inside papers are blank for your own thoughts and are torn from a vintage,discarded cash ledger. The inside papers are held in place with circular paper clips and are easily removed for reuse of the cards, if desired.

The dimensions of each card are 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and each comes with an A2 envelope.

Check out her shop which offers great recycled card option to put a smile on your recipients face!!!

It up for grabs for anyone who follow the rules:

To enter the giveaway you can complete any of the following tasks. Please leave your contact email address in your comment(s) so that we can notify you if you are a winner. Completing multiple tasks will get you multiple entries into the giveaway.

IMPORTANT
Each task must be added as separate comment in order to count as an additional entry. If you do not leave an email address your entry will be disqualified.

1. Follow the Catholic Etsy Artists Blog by using the google friend connect tool (bottom left).
2. Leave a comment in the etsy treasury created here
3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your tweet.
4. "Like" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Etsy-Artists-Guild/1382649028762625. Blog post about our giveaway with a link to our blog and leave a comment with the link to your blog post.
6. Tell us your favorite item from Etsy shop Dustbin Cards sponsporing the giveaway for this week.

Giveaways ends Saturday Dec25th and the watch out for the next giveaway!

The winnder for last week's Ring Bearer was garrettsamboATaol.com

Congrats and you will be contacted shortly!

This week's Giveaway! Ring bearer Pillow bird Nest

2010-12-12T12:06:00.000-08:00

This week giveway is a ring bearer bridal pillow with a birds nest using a woodland theme.This is bridal ring bearer pillow using a woodland theme.The ring bearer pillow is a birch wood on which 2 cute birds are nestled on a cushion of green moss.The rings can be tied onto the ribbon.Custom requests are welcome if needed.

This would be great photo op for the ring bearer :-)and would be great to show off in the house after the ceremony on a small cupcake stand.It can even be displayed next to the cake on the cake table after the ceremony.

Many other choices are available at my shop so do come by!

My shop is at: http://stjudescreations.etsy.com
My blog is at : http://stjudescreations.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/StjudesCreations/176524212376603
Twitter: http://twitter.com/judepaperflower

Be sure to check out her shop of handmade flowers...See other items from the shop from the Spotlight shop.

It up for grabs for anyone who follow the rules:

To enter the giveaway you can complete any of the following tasks. Please leave your contact email address in your comment(s) so that we can notify you if you are a winner. Completing multiple tasks will get you multiple entries into the giveaway.

IMPORTANT
Each task must be added as separate comment in order to count as an additional entry. If you do not leave an email address your entry will be disqualified.

1. Follow the Catholic Etsy Artists Blog by using the google friend connect tool (bottom left).
2. Leave a comment in the etsy treasury created here
3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your tweet.
4. "Like" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Etsy-Artists-Guild/1382649028762625. Blog post about our giveaway with a link to our blog and leave a comment with the link to your blog post.
6. Tell us your favorite item from Etsy shop stjudescreations sponsporing the giveaway for this week.

Giveaways ends Saturday Dec18th and the watch out for the next giveaway!

The winnder for last week's Peacock tag was codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com Congrats and you will be contacted shortly!

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception

2010-12-08T13:36:00.000-08:00

"I am the Immaculate Conception."

Today being the Feast of the Immaculate Conception I wanted to discuss the meaning of the Immaculate Conception because it is one term which is misunderstood by many people. The term refers to Mary being conceived without any stain of original sin.

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eve, that sin has been passed down to all of mankind, except Our Lord, and Our Lady. Our Lord is sinless because He is God. Our Lady was preserved from 'original sin' because it was God's desire that Our Lord be conceived within a spotless vessel. Would it be fitting for God to dwell in anything unclean? The answer is 'No' and this has been the understanding that has been widely held since the early church. It was written in many Church documents prior to its infallible proclamation by Pope Pius IX in 1854. (See the documented early writings at this link, http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/maryc3a.htm)

Pope Pius IX proclaimed the doctrine as such, "the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, and in view of the foreseen merits of Jesus Christ, the savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin."

One of the reasons that Catholics have become confused is because todays Gospel reading is that of the annunciation, where the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive and bear a Son and He will be called Jesus. This reading is quite appropriate because the fact that Mary will bear the Savior is the reason she was Immaculately conceived. But unfortunately because the reading is also about Our Lords conception, it causes people to think that it is His conception that this feast refers to. There is no specific bible passage that discusses the Immaculate Conception of Mary, because this doctrine is not found specifically in Scripture but is based on what the Church has always believed to be true. This is the teaching tradition of the Church; and of course, the Catholic Faith is based on Scripture and Tradition.

The Church has chosen Dec 8 as the day to celebrate this event, because it is 9 months prior to Mary's birthday which is Sept 8.

Happy Birthday to Our Lady!

2010-12-08T06:15:00.000-08:00

September 8: Our Lady's Birthday

Today is the day of our Lady's Birth! The time between 12noon to 1:00 pm is said to be the time of Grace so catching up on your prayer during this time would be great.The recommended reading is Psalm 51 during this time.

Day Blessing
G.E. Mullan
The feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated each year on the eighth of September. Usually it is the custom of the church to celebrate the feast day of a saint on the date of their death as this is truly their "die natalis", the day remembered as their birth into everlasting happiness. Mary, however, entered this world sinless through the privilege of the Immaculate Conception and is the firstborn of the redeemed. Her nativity is a cause for great joy as it is considered the" dawn of our salvation" as Pope Paul VI wrote in the document, Marialis Cultus in 1972.

There is no reference in the Sacred Scriptures to the birth of Mary. That which is known about Mary's nativity is found in the Apocrypha, principally the Protoevangelium of James which has been dated by historians prior to 200 AD. This book gives us a detailed account of the birth of Mary which begins in the fifth chapter and even gives a detailed conversation between Mary's mother, St. Anne and the midwife.

The earliest document commemorating this feast comes from the sixth century. It is generally believed that this feast originated in Jerusalem since there is evidence, in the fifth century, of a church dedicated to St. Anne, located north of the Temple in the neighborhood of the Pool of Bethesda. Sofronius, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, affirmed in the year 603 that this was the location of Mary's birth. After the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, the cult of the Blessed Virgin Mary increased significantly. This, combined with the influence of the Apocrypha, may have been a factor in the increase of popular devotion of the people toward Mary

It is generally believed that the date of September 8 was chosen to celebrate the Nativity of Mary since the civil year began in Constantinople on September 1. Scholars believe that this date was chosen since it was symbolic that the "beginning" of the work of salvation should be commemorated near to the beginning of the new year. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary was later fixed at December 8, nine months prior.

This feast day was introduced in Rome from the Eastern Church in the seventh century . The Syro-Sicilian Pope St. Sergius I, who reigned from 687-701, prescribed a litany and procession be part of the liturgical celebration of this feast day. Paschasius Radbertus (d.860) wrote that this feast of Mary's Nativity was being preached throughout the universal church and it became a holy day of obligation for the west by the year 1007.
The primary theme portrayed in the liturgical celebration of this feast day is that the world had been in the darkness of sin and with the arrival of Mary begins a glimmer of light. That light which appears at Mary's holy birth preannounces the arrival of Christ, the Light of the World. Her birth is the beginning of a better world: "Origo mundi melioris." The antiphon for the Canticle of Zechariah at Morning Prayer expressed these sentiments in the following way: "Your birth, O Virgin Mother of God, proclaims joy to the whole world, for from you arose the glorious Sun of Justice, Christ our God; He freed us from the age-old curse and filled us with holiness; he destroyed death and gave us eternal life."

The second reading of the Office of Readings is taken from one of the four sermons written by St. Andrew of Crete ( 660-740 ) on Mary's Nativity. He too used the image of light: "...This radiant and manifest coming of God to men needed a joyful prelude to introduce the great gift of salvation to us...Darkness yields before the coming of light."

A secondary theme of joy also appears throughout the liturgical celebration. The entrance antiphon at Mass states: "Let us celebrate with joyful hearts the birth of the Virgin Mary, of whom was born the Sun of Justice, Christ our Lord." It is with these two themes of both the approach of light and joy that the faithful senses the great happiness and festive nature on this beautiful feast of Mary's birthday.

Note: Fr. Matthew Mauriello is the Administrator of Our Lady of Montserrat Church in Stamford, CT

This Week's Giveaway: Set of Peacock Gift Tags from CherubinoCrafts

2010-12-05T14:45:00.001-08:00

This week's Giveaway is a set of 6 handcut, hand inscribed Peacock gift tags from CherubinoCrafts! The winner will be able to choose the text on the tags. Each tag is cut by hand, dyed in tea bath, and adorned with a gold satin ribbon for a beautiful vintage look!
Approx 3.5 x 3"
Since each tag is cut and inscribed by hand and, each card will be one of a kind!
Shown are two options for the inscription:
Joyeux Noel
Merry Christmas
I would be happy to personalize these however you desire!

Check out her shop at CherubinoCrafts

See other items from the shop from the Spotlight shop.

It up for grabs for anyone who follow the rules:

To enter the giveaway you can complete any of the following tasks. Please leave your contact email address in your comment(s) so that we can notify you if you are a winner. Completing multiple tasks will get you multiple entries into the giveaway.

IMPORTANT
Each task must be added as separate comment in order to count as an additional entry. If you do not leave an email address your entry will be disqualified.

1. Follow the Catholic Etsy Artists Blog by using the google friend connect tool (bottom left).
2. Leave a comment in the etsy treasury created here
3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your tweet.
4. "Like" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Etsy-Artists-Guild/
5. Blog post about our giveaway with a link to our blog and leave a comment with the link to your blog post.
6. Tell us your favorite item from Etsy shop GracefulRosaries sponsporing the giveaway for this week.

Giveaways ends Saturday Dec11th and the watch out for the next giveaway!

Congratulations to Eclairre@ymail.com from Hawaii for winning last week's Giveaway- a lovely rosary bracelet from GracefulRosaries! Eclairre, you will be contacted shortly!

Jesus Mary's Son

2010-12-04T11:01:00.000-08:00

It's about that time to introduce myself...

2010-12-01T16:08:00.000-08:00

Hi, my name is Tammy and I have two Etsy store, Righteous Rosaries ( www.etsy.com/shop/righteousrosaries ) and Star Graphics ( www.etsy.com/shop/stargraphics ).

I have been an artist for over 20 years since high school. I have only been a Catholic since April 2010. Been a Catholic in my heart since summer 2008. The conversion and confirmation took some time, but now I get to go to Mass and have the Eucharist. That's the best time of my week. The other best times are being with my husband, spending time with my mum-in-law who lives with us (we take care of her as well, she is quite dependent on us) and running around after 4 pets, 3 cats and a dog.

You may have wondered why do you have two stores? Well, I have two because Star Graphics turned from just doing web design/site and graphic design, to having actual pieces of art that evolved from my love of working with my hands. Then I was fixing a broken Rosary I had bought and thought to myself "I wonder if I can make these" I got some supplies and in about 2 hours, I had my first Rosary finished and usable. Then I did some brainstorming and lots and lots of praying and realised that I was meant to make Rosaries for my the rest of my life.

Then the jewelry came along and I thought what a great line to add to my Star Graphics. The Rosaries were crying out for their own store, I realised after much prayer this was the right thing to do for the Most Holy Rosary. Then Righteous Rosaries was born!

I am really blessed to be able to this from my home as my disabilities prevent me from getting a job outside the home, so this is a great way of keep me busy and hopefully to bring in a full income once they take off, so we aren't struggling on my disability cheque month to month. My husband is the one who takes care of all three of us and is an amazing man. We have been married for over 7 years but have known each other for 10 years. We have a really good communication between us and I am really able to rest and relax when Brian takes over the duties in the house. I make dinner, as I'm the better cook and Brian does everything else. He is amazing.

Having the Etsy stores and all that I do on blog as well, I find that my computer is my lifeline to the world out there. Sometimes I get cabin fever, but I joined the Calgary Catholic Women's League at our parish and I am hoping to expand my network of Catholic women friends there. Right now I have none here physically. I know our Lord is going to change that when I go to the potluck dinner on the 14th.

So that's about it from me, I must go and do my cooking for us three quite soon. Thanks for reading and I hope this was a fruitful introduction. I love the Catholic Etsy Artists Guild members, you guys and gals have made my life fuller and richer because of your input and sharing each and everyday!

Give Away week 2 ! A beautiful Turquoise Jasper Rosary Bracelet

2010-11-28T15:56:00.000-08:00

The 2nd giveaway is from GracefulRosaries

This rosary bracelet has 8mm Turquoise Jasper gemstone beads for the Hail Marys and Our Father bead. It is a one decade rosary. Ten Hail Marys and 1 Our Father.

It has a beautifully detailed miraculous medal charm and crucifix.

The toggle clasp is easy to put on or take off. The bracelet measures 7 1/2" long.

Here are some more items that her shop features

See other items from the shop from the Spotlight shop.

It up for grabs for anyone who follow the rules:

To enter the giveaway you can complete any of the following tasks. Please leave your contact email address in your comment(s) so that we can notify you if you are a winner. Completing multiple tasks will get you multiple entries into the giveaway.

IMPORTANT
Each task must be added as separate comment in order to count as an additional entry. If you do not leave an email address your entry will be disqualified.

1. Follow the Catholic Etsy Artists Blog by using the google friend connect tool (bottom left).
2. Leave a comment in the etsy treasury created here
3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your tweet.
4. "Like" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Etsy-Artists-Guild/
5. Blog post about our giveaway with a link to our blog and leave a comment with the link to your blog post.
6. Tell us your favorite item from Etsy shop GracefulRosaries sponsporing the giveaway for this week.

Giveaways ends Saturday Dec4th and the watch out for the next giveaway!

The giveaway winner for last weeks LadyinBlue's giveaway is
Gardenia.You will be shortly contacted!

Black Friday Coupon - 10% off everything

2010-11-26T09:22:00.001-08:00

Today at Righteous Rosaries I am giving a coupon for Black Friday the greatest funnest day of shopping. Join the buzz and check out the Rosaries and Chaplets I have listed on my Etsy store. Share the link as this sale lasts through till Monday!

God bless!

in reference to: Rosaries and Chaplets Handmade and Custom by righteousrosaries (view on Google Sidewiki)

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sale!

2010-11-23T16:59:00.000-08:00

Why brave the cold and the crowds, when you can shop the Catholic Etsy Artists Guild in your pjs and support Catholic artists!

We are excited to tell you that this Black Friday through Cyber Monday, CEAG is running a sale! There are deals to be had by searching "teamcatholic" on Etsy.com! Participating shops will have a note in their shop announcement prompting shoppers to use the coupon code "blackfriday10" to receive 10% off! The sale runs from 11/26-11/29.

Shop from your home, support Catholic artists, and get a discount- what could be better? :)

Giveaway week one - Flower Art Note Cards -- (Set of 5)

2010-11-20T19:45:00.000-08:00

The catholic etsy artists guild are rolling out their giveaways today!
The first giveaway promotion features a gorgeous set of Flower Art Note Cards -- (Set of 5) from LadyinBlueShop

The shop also sells wondeful chapel veils,religous T Shirts and artworks.So please check them out!

It up for grabs for anyone who follow the rules:

To enter the giveaway you can complete any of the following tasks. Please leave your contact email address in your comment(s) so that we can notify you if you are a winner. Completing multiple tasks will get you multiple entries into the giveaway.

IMPORTANT
Each task must be added as separate comment in order to count as an additional entry. If you do not leave an email address your entry will be disqualified.

1. Follow the Catholic Etsy Artists Blog by using the google friend connect tool (bottom left).
2. Leave a comment in the etsy treasury created here
3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your tweet.
4. "Like" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Etsy-Artists-Guild/
5. Blog post about our giveaway with a link to our blog and leave a comment with the link to your blog post.
6. Tell us your favorite item from Etsy shop LadyinBlueShop
sponsporing the giveaway for that week.

2010-11-16T06:27:00.001-08:00

The Catholic Etsy Artists Guild keeping with spirit of Christmas are doing a season of giveaways in the following weeks so keep tuned to our blog! The following are the items that will be given away.The rules are posted below.The first giveaway will start on Sat.

To enter the giveaway you can complete any of the following tasks. Please leave your contact email address in your comment(s) so that we can notify you if you are a winner. Completing multiple tasks will get you multiple entries into the giveaway.

IMPORTANT
Each task must be added as separate comment in order to count as an additional entry. If you do not leave an email address your entry will be disqualified.

1. Follow the Catholic Etsy Artists Blog by using the google friend connect tool.
2. Leave a comment in the etsy treasury created of our members in the link provided for that week.
3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your tweet.
4. "Like" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Etsy-Artists-Guild/
5. Blog post about our giveaway with a link to our blog and leave a comment with the link to your blog post.
6. Tell us your favorite item from Etsy shop sponsporing the giveaway for that week.

2010-11-14T17:30:00.000-08:00

ABOUT ME:

Hello, I’m Leticia owner and designer for Lety’s Creations and Angelo’s Treasures on Etsy

I have been married for over 29 yrs, three wonderful young men and a beautiful heaven sent 18 mo. Old granddaughter.

I have been a stay at home mom for the past 10 yrs. I used to work as social work, which I loved, but I do love taking care of my family and creating my inspirations.

WHAT INSPIRED ME TO START MY SHOP?

My inspiration came about 4 yrs ago when I had a dream that I was in an old Church and I was praying at the Altar when I was given a bag of medals and relics and was told that I must work with them, I used to create before but not Catholic until that dream, even though I’ve been Catholic all my life. I had no idea that I could incorporate my beading with such medals until that day that changed my life.

ABOUT MY ART:

I love creating jewelry with beautiful beads and gemstones to enhance the Catholic medals I use because I want to create something beautiful and eye catching to bring joy and hope to others. When I use pearls is like I’m offering them to Our Beautiful Blessed Mother or roses, which I use a lot in my creations.

I also create one of a kind locket shrines, I can’t even think how that started, it was just one day out of the blue when I felt this wonderful energy to fill a locket with beautiful Catholic items as I was making a shrine and I have been blessed to see how they are liked.

WHERE I SELL MY WORKS:

My art sells on Etsy, Angelo’s Treasures

http://www.etsy.com/shop/angelostreasures

and on eBay at

http://www.letyscreations.com/

My blog is:

http://letyscreations.blogspot.com/

MY FAVORITE DEVOTIONS: Sacred Heart of Jesus and Divine Mercy

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF MY WORKS:

Amy's Etsy Shop ltafrank

2010-11-14T07:16:00.000-08:00

ABOUT ME

Hello, I’m Amy and it was a man in a supply store(leather, beads, etc.) who told me about Etsy. It sounded like a great place to have a little internet store.

I actually come from a family that loved arts and crafts. My Grandmother was a lady sign painter and when I was a little girl she used to give me a piece of masonite, pots of paint, and a paint brush and I’d paint along side her while she did her work. My father wasn’t professional in his art as he was an Engineer but he was always creating something. He did wire art, painting, drawing, pastels and wire sculpture. My aunt taught me fiber crafts, sewing, pattern alterations, crochet, knitting and other odd crafts. I was sewing, knitting and crocheting at age four. I spent my life with lots of craft books, craft supplies and all kinds of people all over the world learning about their crafts. ( Los Angeles where I grew up had people from all over.) I was always drawing, sewing, knitting, etc. while growing up.

When I went to University I took classes in fiber arts, costume, pattern designing, metal enameling. I worked six years with a professional artist in California where I learned everything about clay. I also too a two year course in doll making.

My favorite crafts today are knitting, sewing, pattern designing, clay or other modeling media, fiber spinning, weaving, crochet, embroidery, leather work and beading.

MY CATHOLIC FAITH INFLUENCES MY ART

As I am now Catholic, I am making clothes, accessories, and chapel veils. I hope to soon have some instruction patterns for those who would like to embroider saints. But right now I have one chapel veil pattern and one lady said it was a fabulous pattern. I just re did my shop so I don’t have much up yet only a few items but I am slowly working on adding more items to my shop

WHY LTAFRANK

Well it is only my son and I. I lost my husband last year. It is simply our first name inituals and our last name.

I HAVE A BLOG

I do have a blog.

It is a place where you can find information on craft techniques, information on supplies and where to find them, free patterns and more.

http://www.ripsimeh.blogspot.com/

WHERE TO PURCHASE MY ITEMS

I only sell on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ltafrank

MY FAVORITE DEVOTIONS

I am a new Catholic and so don't know too much about all the devotions yet. My favorite is Mass. I also do the cross and pray Our Father. Hopefully soon my sponsor will teach me the rosery.

EXAMPLES OF MY ART

Hi! I'm Rose (AKA: Artist4God)!

2010-11-05T14:44:00.000-07:00

ABOUT ME:

Hi everyone! I am a brand new member of ETSY (since my birthday on October 21st of 2010) and of the Catholic Etsy Artist Guild. It is so nice to be acquainted with so many wonderful Catholic artists! My "real" name is not Artist4God (tee hee) but Rose Santuci-Sofranko.

I am a very happily Married, 49 year old Pro-Life photographer and artist. Me and my wonderful husband, Paul, met on the great online singles site: Catholic Match. We got engaged for the Feast of The Immaculate Conception in 2007, and were married just 3 months later for the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday (March 29th, 2008). We both love the Divine Mercy Devotion and were brought together by our Merciful Lord and many "God-Incidences" through the intercession of our parents in Heaven.

WHAT INSPIRED ME TO START MY SHOP?

Ah, good question! I have been trying to make some additional income for me and my husband on several other online sites (see "Where I sell my work" below) but wasn't having a whole lot of success. Several of my online friends tried to convince me to try ETSY, but I (wrongly) thought it cost too much. After recently "bantering" back and forth with them on Facebook I decided to REALLY check out ETSY this time and was impressed by it, and the LOW costs involved in opening a shop. So, I decided to give it a try! I have lots more photographs, note cards, jewelry and other items to upload, so please "stay tuned" for more!

ABOUT MY ART:

I started out as a Pen & Ink artist, but always long to create things that more closely captured our Lord's beautiful creations. So, when I got my first digital camera I realized that I had found my "niche" and could more closely capture the beauties of nature, and other items. Then I discovered the "Special Effects" on my Photography programs on my computer and "went wild" creating digital kaleidoscopes, warps, and more from the photographs I had taken. If you look closely you can see the intricate details in each flower, bird, etc...so much better as they are repeated multiple times in each of my artistic creations! Our Lord is SUCH an amazing Artist, isn't He?

I also like to do Paper Crafts and hope to include some Origami and Quilling, etc... on my shop, as well as some beaded jewelry I have created. Such fun!

I have "Self-Published" several photography and/or prayer books through LuLu.com and have a list of more that I am hoping to complete in the near future. Please see below for links to my books and other sites.

WHERE I SELL MY WORKS:

My new ETSY shop "GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST" is found at:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Artist4God

I just got my own "Domain Name" and I am beyond pleased with that, as it is a pain to work on a website only to have it be "shut down" by the server (as in AOL's free websites). So, I'm hoping my new site will be around for years to come! Please check out my site, which includes hundreds of my photographs (many more to come), Forums, links to other "Artists4God", links to more of my online stores and galleries (some not listed here) and so much more! It is at:

www.Artist4God.net

I also have over 900 of my photographs and other computer created designs (Catholic, Pro-Life, and many more genres) for sale on 27 different types of products (clothing, mugs, tote bags, mouse pads, stickers, buttons & more!) on my store with Virtuous Planet. PLEASE check it out for your Christmas, Birthday, and other shopping needs. It is at:

http://www.virtuousplanet.com/artists4god

MY BOOKS

My "Joyful Jewels", "Roses for our Lord and Lady", and my "Snapshot of WNY" Books can be found at:

http://stores.lulu.com/rosesantuci

And my "Works of Mercy" Book may be found at:

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/works-of-mercy/13391833

A percentage of ALL sales from my sites will go to the poor, homeless and young.

MY FAVORITE DEVOTIONS:

Wow, there's definitely more than 1...I love Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, The Divine Mercy and The Rosary...and too many more to list.

Thank you very much for checking out my short (well, maybe not so short) introduction. Hope to "see" you at my various shops and galleries! God bless you and yours!

All for a love of Mother Mary

2010-11-02T18:59:00.001-07:00

I just made this "treasury" on Etsy, for the Catholic Etsy Artists Guild. Our love for our Mother Mary spans all over the world and I thought that this forum would be a great way to show off the Estian Artists who pay tribute by making handmade items with Mother Mary as the subject. Enjoy and have fun shopping! God bless - Tammy
www.etsy.com/shop/righteousrosaries
www.etsy.com/shop/stargraphics
in reference to: All for a love of Mother Mary by righteousrosaries on Etsy (view on Google Sidewiki)

All Souls Day!

2010-11-02T13:10:00.000-07:00

All Souls’ Day Indulgence – 2 November Plenary Indulgence
Posted on 2 November 2010 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
From the Handbook of Indulgences
Visiting a Church or an Oratory on All Souls Day

A plenary (“full”) indulgence, which is applicable only to the souls in Purgatory is granted to the Christian faithful who devoutly visit a church or an oratory on (November 2nd,) All Souls Day.

Will you not, for love, try today to gain this indulgence?

Requirements for Obtaining a Plenary Indulgence on All Souls Day (Nov. 2nd)

■Visit a church and pray for souls in Purgatory
■Say one “Our Father” and the “Creed” in the visit to the church
■Say one “Our Father” and one “Hail Mary” for the Holy Father’s intentions
■Worthily receive Holy Communion (ideally on the same day if you can get to Mass)
■Make a sacramental confession within a week of All Souls Day
■For a plenary indulgence be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin (otherwise, the indulgence is partial, not plenary, “full”).

Except from http://wdtprs.com/blog/2010/11/all-souls-day-indulgence-2-november-plenary-indulgence/

"Saints Preserve us!" Treasury

2010-11-01T20:34:00.000-07:00

.
(Please click the link below to go to the:)
SAINTS PRESERVE US! TREASURY

On this Feast of All Saints Day, and on the Eve of All Souls Day, I thought it important to show our gratitude for the "Communion of Saints" that have gone before us...from the "famous" to the little known. ALL of our loved ones who are in Heaven are saints, and we can ask them to pray for us, just as we ask our loved ones on earth to pray for us. Thank you all you saints in Heaven, including (with hope) my parents, my husbands parents, and my brother in law and sister in law. We love you and miss you!

Rose of: "Glory to God in The Highest"

Litany of Saints

2010-11-01T05:09:00.000-07:00

Today is All Saints day so I thought I would post the Litany here,would be wonderful if anyone passed to say the Litany!

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven,
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, one God,
have mercy on us.
have mercy on us.
have mercy on us.
have mercy on us.
Holy Mary,
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
St. Michael,
St. Gabriel,
St. Raphael,
All you Holy Angels and Archangels,
St. John the Baptist,
St. Joseph,
All you Holy Patriarchs and Prophets,
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
St. Peter,
St. Paul,
St. Andrew,
St. James,
St. John,
St. Thomas,
St. James,
St. Philip,
St. Bartholomew,
St. Matthew,
St. Simon,
St. Jude,
St. Matthias,
St. Barnabas,
St. Luke,
St. Mark,
All you holy Apostles and Evangelists,
All you holy Disciples of the Lord,
All you holy Innocents,
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
St. Stephen,
St. Lawrence,
St. Vincent,
Sts. Fabian and Sebastian,
Sts. John and Paul,
Sts. Cosmos and Damian,
All you holy Martyrs,
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
St. Sylvester,
St. Gregory,
St. Ambrose,
St. Augustine,
St. Jerome,
St. Martin,
St. Nicholas,
All you holy Bishops and Confessors,
All you holy Doctors,
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
St. Anthony,
St. Benedict,
St. Bernard,
St. Dominic,
St. Francis,
All you holy Priests and Levites,
All you holy Monks and Hermits,
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
St. Mary Magdalene,
St. Agatha,
St. Lucy,
St. Agnes,
St. Cecilia,
St. Anastasia,
St. Catherine,
St. Clare,
All you holy Virgins and Widows,
All you holy Saints of God,
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
pray for us.
Lord, be merciful,
From all evil,
From all sin,
From your wrath,
From a sudden and unprovided death,
From the snares of the devil,
From anger, hatred, and all ill-will,
From the spirit of uncleanness,
From lightning and tempest,
From the scourge of earthquake,
From plague, famine, and war,
From everlasting death, Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
By the mystery of your holy Incarnation,
By your Coming,
By your Birth,
By your Baptism and holy fasting,
By your Cross and Passion,
By your Death and Burial,
By your holy Resurrection,
By your wonderful Ascension,
By the coming of the Holy Spirit,
On the day of judgment,
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Lord, save your people.
Be merciful to us sinners, Lord, hear our prayer.
That you will spare us,
That you will pardon us,
That it may please you to bring us to true
penance,
Guide and protect your holy Church,
Preserve in holy religion the Pope, and all
those in holy Orders,
Humble the enemies of holy Church,
Give peace and unity to the whole Christian
people,
Bring back to the unity of the Church all
those who are straying, and bring all
unbelievers to the light of the Gospel,
Strengthen and preserve us in your holy
service,
Raise our minds to desire the things of
heaven,
Reward all our benefactors with eternal
blessings,
Deliver our souls from eternal damnation,
and the souls of our brethren, relatives,
and benefactors,
Give and preserve the fruits of the earth,
Grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,
That it may please You to hear and heed
us, Jesus, Son of the Living God,
Lord, hear our prayer.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, hear our prayer.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, hear our prayer.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Lord, hear our prayer.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of
the world,
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of
the world,
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of
the world, Spare us, O Lord!
Graciously hear us, O Lord!

Have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us,
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, graciously hear us
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

StAnnesPixies ~ Introducing Myself

2010-10-27T13:16:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm a crafty homemaking home educator ~ in whatever order you prefer. As one radio personality put it, with all the hats "stay at home moms" wear, I could earn money in the double digits. Housekeeper, sometimes cook (my hubby definitely helps out here), teacher, child care specialist, therapist, counsellor, drill sargent, amateur homeopath, artisan and on and on. My role as artisan is the only one that I officially get paid for. I like it that way. My life as a stay at home mom affords more satisfaction than I ever got having a career outside the home.

I enjoy singing, painting and sewing to name a few of my other interests. I have a college liberal arts degree in History. However, I wonder why I didn't major in English Literature. I was born Catholic but only discovered the fullness of the Faith after childhood. There is so much depth to the Catholic Faith. So much to be thankful for.

A friend inspired me to open my shop. She was going to sell secular Waldorfy-type toys. She encouraged me to list some of my wool felt fairy dolls that I had made for my children the previous Christmas. When I first began making them I enjoyed making them so much that I was afraid we would have a house full of these little dolls. Where would I put them all?? So, the prospect of making them for money ~ well, that was too good to be true!

My store name is a little unusual. Not initially intending to have a Catholic store, I wanted a name that showed my devotion to my Faith but also had some whimsy to it. So, I chose St. Anne as my patron since she is the patron of needlework as well as housewives. The Pixies part of my name was for my fairy dolls and to "whimsify" the name. Over time I realized that, while many were selling fairy dolls, saint dolls were much harder to come by. The mass marketed ones that existed were either rather expensive or kinda limited. I experimented with different patterns and was able to start creating different saints. Then I decided to make some wood peg dolls that were "simpler". Again, there were many sellers on Etsy selling all manner of peg dolls so coming up with the idea to make saints from them wasn't too hard. Also, I consider my store somewhat of a tool for evangelization. I include a little biography on the saints I make in the hopes that some will come read them and be edified. Someone might have reason to come back to a faith they found obscured over the years.

I make my dolls wherever. I wander around the house making and embroidering while giving direction to children and helping with schoolwork. I paint at the kitchen table or at my kitchen counter. Sometimes I bring my little bag to the playground or gym practice and work there. I find the time when I can.

I only sell my work online right now as any other way is a big inconvenience to my family. I am indispensable and proud of it. I'm not another cog in the wheel of some corporation that views my femininity as somewhat of an impediment. I am a fruitful vine. This is a privilege.

Some of my favorite devotions are St. Faustina's Divine Mercy Chaplet. I also like the book "Love, Peace and Joy" by St. Gertrude the Great. One quote I try to remember is from Blessed Mother Teresa: "Its not how much you do, its with how much love you do it."

The pictures here are items I have created. The first is an Autumn Faerie Queene doll. I created her because Autumn is my favorite season. Next, is an Annunication set I custom made for someone. Third is a bendable wool felt doll of Blessed Kateri the American Indian. Next is Saint Michael the Archangel. The last is a Saint Joan of Arc playset with a horse and standard. Thanks for looking and God bless!