Gospel ... and Art on the go

Gospel Lk 5:27-32

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, "Follow me."
And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house,
and a large crowd of tax collectors
and others were at table with them.
The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying,
"Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
Jesus said to them in reply,
"Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners."

Can you imagine getting up and following some guy just because he says to? I can't. But wow, it must have been completely charismatic to be in the presence of Christ as a man, because Levi did get up and left everything behind.  Everything! Levi (also known as Matthew, the tax collector) threw a big party for Him, and brought all his other tax collector friends, the despised ones. Can you imagine the freedom they all must have felt, because surely those of them who had fallen into corruption would have been moved to repentence and then forgiven by Christ, no?

When I recently attended the Visitation of the Relics of St. Giana, the presenter told that 5000 people came to the church or were outside the church on her wedding day.  He said that she drew such a crowd because people loved to be near her.  It was because she simply exuded Christ, and whether we know it or not, we long for Him.  Sigh.

So its been a really long week with play performances and running here and there and school, I was really in need of some sanity therapy.  Saw these very sweet art-folios from Gingercake Patterns and Design and  it quickly became a project.  The girls were very excited, and Dawson also had to have his own.  I modified his to be a large folio, but the girls' I made directly off the pattern.  Lots of fun stuff at this site.  The folios became quick inspiration to draw and everyone was very busy! We also found out today that they perfectly hold a couple of Bob books.  Bonus!

The kids all picked fabrics from my stash of fat quarters.  If you ever make this, please note that the pattern only gives you the total amount of required fabric for front and back.  You have to guesstimate how much if you want to make the pockets all different colors.

The small folios are meant for crayons, but we found they also fit Pipsqueak markers and mini-gel pens.  Crayons would fit a bit better though :)

For this larger folio, I used Pellon (medium-weight stabilizer) to stiffen it.  The little ones were done with fusible fleece ... but the actual pattern calls for batting.  

These are going to be GREAT for travelling!

Enjoy your day!!