Advent Market at Summit Crossing

Advent Market at Summit Crossing

"During the Advent season of 2013 we were able to partner with Neverthirst to change the lives of several thousand people in 7 different villages in India. As 7 new wells were built we hope these lives are changed not just during the Christmas season but for years to come through clean water and for eternity with the hope of the Gospel of Christ.

As we look towards Christmas this year, we are excited to host the 3rd annual Advent Market on December 6th from 8am to 2:00pm. There are 63 local vendors that will be part of the market this year. Over $2400 has already been raised in booth fees and several vendors are giving a percentage of their sales to the wells. Come out and do all of your Christmas shopping and also help continue to carry the Gospel to the nations." - Summit Crossing 

Here's a sneak peek of a few products we'll have available at the Jitney booth this year: 

Handlettered Etched Metal Bracelets with Leopardskin Jasper Beads

Etched bracelets

I have been obsessed with making these bracelets. A few months ago, I asked on FB what you would like to see etched onto the Jitney's handlettered beaded bracelets. Here's what I have so far!

Each metal piece is meticulously etched with a word or short phrase then finished off with leopardskin jasper beaded sides. These will be out for sale at the Advent Market on December 6th. 

In all honesty, the beaded part is what takes so long. I'm thinking about making a more simple version of the bracelet (without the beads) but still have the handlettering with maybe a simple leather band(s) on each side. Or maybe even no leather or beads, just a simple chain with the metal piece. What do you think?

Check out our other bracelets here. 

If you would like a customized bracelet, you can send us an email or contact us here. Please note that we will be unable to finish any orders prior to Christmas. These bracelets are priced at $28.

Kind Heart, Fierce Mind, Brave Spirit // Artwork

I have intentions of selling pretty much all of the artwork I create, but I decided to hold on to this one. 

I've seen this quote floating around Pinterest and Etsy for a while now but I've been so inspired by it. The quote actually derived from Kate Forsyth's The Witches of Eileanan, "May my heart be kind, my mind fierce, and my spirit brave." I haven't read the book but I do love this quote. 

When I finished painting this girl, she seemed to hold all of these characteristics. Obviously, she's not real but an artist becomes connected to the person or objects in the artwork, just as a writer becomes connected to the people (fiction or non-fiction) that he / she writes about. Trust me, as I'm writing this, I'm questioning if I should share this or not. I realize how crazy it sounds. But I'm trusting that you'll either disregard the craziness and continue to read future blog posts or you'll love this piece and totally relate to what I'm saying.

Kind heart, fierce mind, brave spirit: these are characteristics I pray to develop in my own life. I lack each one daily but it is because of the grace of God that I entail these characteristics at all. 

This painting hangs in my studio along with a few other favorites of mine. It is a reminder of who I want to be and the warrior heart I strive to attain. 

What quote or scripture are you drawn to this week?

2015 Daily Agenda // Vote for Your Favorite Cover Design!

We need your help! We've created this fantastic agenda for 2015 but can't decide on the cover. Vote on your favorite design cover and you will be entered into a giveaway for a free 2015 Daily (by the hour) Agenda by Jitney's Journeys!

We've also included a layout of the inside pages design so that you can get the full picture of the agenda design.

Dwell Richly: Inspired by Colossians 3:16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly," we added this as a section for you to write in weekly scripture memory or things to be praying about. My current goal and goal for 2015 is to be more intentional... in memorizing scripture and praying for people. We hope you'll use it in the same way. [side note: We will share resources for different studies and ways to "dwell richly" throughout the 2015 year.]

By the Hour: Each page is one full day beginning at 6 am and ending at 9 pm. Fill in appointments, dinner dates, play dates, school schedules, or things to do (or to get done by that time). 

Today's Top Five: Set goals for yourself and feel awesome when you get to check it off your list for the day. Julie, one of our fabulous JCT members, likes to write in her Top 5 at the end of the day for the next day. (i.e. She'll write in her Top 5 for Tuesday at the end of the day Monday. That way, she can go into the office Tuesday morning and tackle it all without having to take time Tuesday morning to list out the goals for the day.)

[JCT = Jitney Creative Team]

The Feather: We couldn't help but sneak the feather logo design onto a few spreads including the holiday placeholders.

B & W vs. Color: The front and back covers will be printed in color but the inside (unfortunately) will be printed in a simplistic black and white. There was a significant price difference between the two so we tried to create the best looking B & W design we could come up with. We didn't want to waste the color designs we came up with so we added the monthly calendars as a printable product in our Etsy shop. (see below)

Size: I normally prefer a hefty 8.5" x 11" but we decided to go with 6" x 8.5" after much thought, advice and inspiration. Our church created a phenomenal journal for a Psalms of Ascent study we're going though as a church body. As soon as I laid my hands on it, I knew it would be the perfect size for the new agenda design. I called the printing company they used (Sir Speedy in Nashville) and was deeply encouraged by the woman (Pam) I spoke with. "It's so neat to know that when the journals are here, they're just pieces of paper; but when the church begins to journal in them, they become Godly pages filled with prayers and scripture." Yes, please. I would be honored to do business with you, Sir Speedy. 

Now, go Vote!

Don't forget to stop by our Etsy Shop and check out the 2015 Monthly printable calendar we added to our product listings this morning!

Watercolor Wednesday // Early Quiet Mornings

Aside from the fact I used watercolor as a medium (green triangle and a white-wash on the mug), I wouldn't quite consider this painting a "watercolor". It's really just a fun, quick sketch with lovely accents.

The quote, on the other hand, I'm loving.

I've been waking up super early the past few mornings (which is rare for me). Most mornings, JD lovingly drags me out of bed and I feel anxiously rushed to get the day going.

As I was slowly breathing in the fresh air this morning, these words hit me like a rock: 

Quiet, early mornings are rich for the soul.

There's something undeniably comforting about waking up with the sun and the birds, soaking in God's Word and drinking a warm cup of coffee in solitude. The rush of the day has yet to begin. 

Maybe you love the painting or maybe you just love the words. Maybe you hate it altogether. It's okay if you do [just don't tell me]. Either way, the print is available for digital download on our Etsy site! [click this link]

It's Our Fifth [Engagement] Anniversary!

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the sweetest, most joyful proposal I've ever experienced. I'm pretty sure I write about it every year but I just can't help myself. Maybe it's weird for me to post about it but five years is a big deal, right? While I write for our readers, I also write for myself, for my own documentation of seeing where we once were and how far we've come. 

I woke up this morning, turned to JD and said, "Happy 5-year engagement anniversary!! I'm so glad I said Yes!"

JD: But you didn't say "yes". 

This conversation happens every year. And I love it. I didn't say "yes" because I was giggling, crying and in shock. I'm also convinced that I did, indeed, say "yes" but JD couldn't hear me over my screaming sorority sisters. Regardless, we are now married and it was such a sweet, sweet evening. 

proposal.jpg

My favorite part of the night was the actual proposal, the deeply thought out words he spoke to me. We had / have no idea what God has in store for us. But to see how He's reflected these things in our marriage just over the past four and a half years has been overwhelming. Without the grace God has continued to show us, we're convinced that we would not be able to live such an intentional, enjoyable and deeply woven marriage. He has allowed us to dance wildly, sing loudly, cook (somewhat) deliciously, travel endlessly, laugh uncontrollably and love without restraints. Words cannot express how thankful we are for that.

You have rocked my world and stolen my heart

I want to spend the next 50 years and the next 50 after that

Dancing, singing, cooking, traveling, laughing and loving with you

 

Thank you for continuing to rock my world and daily steal my heart, JD Todd. 

 

[can't get enough? check out the entire proposal story here]

Watercolor Wednesday // Your Path is Beautiful and Crooked

It's official. You can buy your first Jitney's Journeys original watercolor print here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/204701274/original-watercolor-print-5-x-7-vintage

But before you purchase, read the story behind this print below. Hint: You may find a little surprise waiting for you at the bottom of the post. 

In all honesty, many of my days feel chaotic. My mind is a jumbled mess and my path seems completely at a standstill, blocked by trees (at least the view is nice!). 

During JD's most recent trip, I decided to take a watercolor class. This class was amongst many, many things I did during his absence to keep my mind preoccupied and my hands busy (so that I wouldn't bite my fingernails - a dreadful habit I never noticed until my brother pointed it out a couple of months ago). 

While searching for inspiration, I fell in love with a quirky yet charming photo of pigeon-toed vintage brogue shoes.  I immediately began sketching and painting.  

Most days, I'm super quirky. But not on purpose. It just happens that way. My feet turn inwards and my face turns a sweet shade of pink when conversations navigate towards me.

Some days I feel completely confident in what I'm doing in life. Then I snap back to reality and realize I have no. I. dea. And that's okay.

"Your path is beautiful & crooked & just as it should be." 

Just being honest here... it would be nice to have thousands of "likes" on FB or Instagram on all of the things I post but that's certainly not the case. This watercolor, however, had the most "likes" - by far - of anything I posted. 

That tells me that you're with me. Not only do I need to be reminded that my path is beautiful & crooked & just as it should be, but YOURs is too! 

So let's walk these paths together. 

Our beautiful, crooked, just as they should be, paths. 

Side note: In honor of our first "Watercolor Wednesday", we're offering free shipping on your purchase of this watercolor print.

Use code YOURPATH at checkout. Offer expires Sunday, September 28!! 


Inspiration // Fine & Curious

If you're searching for a new inspiration source, check out Fine & Curious.

While trying to figure out how we should hang the hammock our friend brought us back from Brazil, we stumbled across this image that led me to my new favorite nook in the interwebs:

Swoon. This photo is just the beginning.

Where have you been finding inspiration from lately?