Fabulous Contest Winners and Inspired Product Line Introductions

Hello Inspired Women~

I have missed this blog! I have been working for months on our new website, which is up and just beautiful. Thank you to Keith James (all the way in Indiana) whose patience, skill and graciousness created a clean, beautiful, easy to use website. There will be an official email from new site as soon as I have learned the process!

Grand Prize Winners are here! The Grand prize was $1,000. in cash and our new product line which will be comprized of these works. We have a greeting card line as part of the new products, so if you want Christmas Cards that will be spectacular, keep us in mind! The money will go to keep Inspired running, created by our fabulous teenagers! *Scroll to the end to hear more about our Product Line.

Here are the Grand Prize Winners:

1, 2 & 4 are by Erin O'Brien, age 19

3 Alex Laine, age 15

5 Hannah Baldoz, age 14

6 Kendal Koorenny, age 14 (Not pictured, because it wouldn't download)

Product Line:
I am so excited to be sharing with you the beginnings of our Product Line. We hope our ministry will run entirely supported by our product line, within the next year. One reason I am so excited about this is because I love design. This can include so many amazing talents and utilizing our teens talents to teach/mentor them not only on the basics but the nuances that can get quite complicated regarding the business of design and art. The desire to create combined with the necessity to be financially viable is something each artist ultimately struggles with at one time or another.
If our girls have the desire to use their art, I would like to come along side them and help! This is a big part of Inspired's foundations. You can see our site Inspired31.org it's new and gorgeous.
We have a jewelry line in North Carolina that we will design some pieces with, and they will sell it in their retail store, along with Inspired Design and perhaps many of our other pieces.
We are also working on our next book, whose working title is "Fully Present", and will have some exciting elements from girls and Inspired31!

After four years of Inspired31, and about 6 since we began the book project for Inspired Design, I have learned that those that get the most benefit from something are those that dive in! We'd love to have input and if your girls would like to get involved, email me. The girls that are involved in the product line are very excited about all the possibilities to make art and make a difference!

We're so excited about this new part! Let me know if you'd like to help or contribute in some way.
Blessings and love to you and yours,
Please join with me in saying a prayer for those in Oklahoma, as well: Proverbs 31: 8,9

Roxanne

Before and After Front Door

Hello Precious Inspired Readers,
So many inspiring things going on lately, I haven't kept up with posting very well. I've been deep in thought, prayer, discerning between things and enjoying my family! These before and after articulates so well what I have been thinking about. I'll close with the thoughts of my 16 year old son who shared with me some thoughts before he went to bed. (Happy Mom)

I'll be able to articulate more clearly in a few weeks, but I'd love to hear your guess', as this all relates to the new book I have begun to work on.  (Guess the title) I know some of you don't know how to comment on blogger, I'm trying to figure out easier ways to comment, so I can hear your thoughts...

So, I run a ministry.
My husband says it makes me a......
Minister....NO!!! But, it challenged me that I do minister to people, more than tasks or duties, I hear from people every day.
I am....
Flawed,
Imperfect,
Inarticulate at times,
Saved...
Willing,
Enthusiastic,
 "Skinny Fat" to my dismay (I'll explain later, from Chapter 4 in Lioness Arising).
Focused on ONE,
THE ONE: I serve,
Pleasing to Him, may I be,
Attentive to those I serve with,
Pleasing to one.

Phone off,
Off Facebook,
Listening,
Hearing,
Walking forward,
Cleaning Out,
Too busy,
Focus,
Clarity,
Family.

Here is the Los Olivos Cottage (Thanks for the help with the name) and the before and after pictures of the front door. There is so much symbolism, I'll let you apply it...I will just walk you through my thoughts, and where I'm going, for now, with the book....(Can you follow?)

The First picture~to the Last:
~The house upon purchase. 100 Shades of mismatched color, style and hodge podge. Messy, unclean, cobwebs, piles of birds nests that have lodged in...Visible peeling paint, exposed wood, from unprotected wood getting soaked in rain....Ugly yellow pots.
~ Little objects around that detract from the beauty. Looks better with even those things gone.
~Paint scraped, damage exposed. More extensive damage: dry rot. Every corner, every piece of wood: ripped off and exposed. Damage very deep, call to us, ripped off more: Need to go deeper: heading into the foundation. Owners hadn't tended to paint for over 10 years. Damage had seeped inside into the hardwood floors: warped, damaged. Final verdict: Front door had to be replaced. Siding couldn't be matched.....Even the insulation failed after too many years...
Pieces back together (skipped a few shots, need to find) but process of finding and replacing exactly what needed to be replaced, lengthy.
~Pruning of Branches of a neglected tree. Beautiful huge, old tree whose branches broke from being to heavy to bear itself...
~The new door, painted with several coats to protect it from the elements. A red tag indicating the premise had been fumigated to get to all the places that were damaged that we couldn't see and that even the specialists couldn't find.
~The new awning, though it looks stunning, was designed and built to lead the damaging elements away from the door, as much as possible, bearing in mind the possibilities for flaw in this architectural design, that included no overhang....
~A crown on the newly pruned tree, almost in blossom for all to enjoy....
Finished for visitors to enjoy

My son, 16....shared with my that he and his friend Grace sat at school and went over Proverbs 8 (not as a class project, on their break time) and discussed it. I hope you'll open it up to see the beauty in the doorway......
He shared with me all kinds of insights, you
Proverbs 8:11... Instructions on knowing Christ...notes on Wisdom...
Funny...it speaks about "Entrances....leading to the....
...Craftsman at his side...

Watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway
whoever finds me..........

Bless you sweet reader, love to hear your thoughts...

One more sneakity peak

 Happy Sunday Afternoon~
I'm snuggled in, by the fireplace, writing the outline and synopsis of the book my agent suggested I write next...but my sweet friend T, said she wanted another few pics of the house because she loved it! So, since this is a quick and easy thing to do...this is for you Tam...
A few more "Sneakity Peaks" of the "Los Olivos House" as we have named it. Yes, it is really original, I realize! We had some fabulous suggestions: Inspiration, The Crowned Cottage, Vineyard Cottage and more, but ultimately it had to fit the design scheme and respresent the house. For me, the first two really represent "me" best in relationship to the house, but for the website and company that is "in charge" this was the most accurate. Long story...
So...
thanks for the help with the name. I'm going to try to change the way you can comment on this blog, but as I'm totally technologically inept...it may be a while to switch it
My hope for the cottage:
That lovely people go to the cottage to regroup, recoup, spend time together and celebrate life!

I'll be writing a column in WHOA magazine, of the before and after's of the house, and it will be featured in the next issue of Cottages and Bungalow's with before and after's as well. I'm excited for you to see the transformation, so I'm not sharing too many more pics now...
Have a blessed day
and may you experience hope and love today in a fresh new way...
Let me know what room you want me to start the before and after's with....
oxoxox
Roxanne

Sneakity Peak Los Olivos House

Hello Inspired Gals,

I am so excited to show you this sneakity peak of the Los Olivos House, which is ready to be rented! Woo Hoo!

It's been lots of work and with the help of my awesome mom, we put many of the finishing touches on and had the lovely Lulu do the photographs!

After the next Inspired event all my time is going to be on this art & design project, which is what makes my heart beat fast, as I so love designing. I have missed it with all of the events we have put on for Inspired lately! (Inspired31.org~New website up in 3 weeks)

This little house is going to be used for retreats and getaway weekends.

I'll post more pics later, but I actually need help with something..

Yes help...

We cannot think up a name for the cottage!

Here are some, but we are stuck...thoughts?

The Inspiration Cottage

Pomegranate Cottage

The Los Olivos Cottage (plain?)

Vineyard Vines Cottage 

(It is in wine country and I like the symbolism)

Christmas Cheer

Christmas Cheer!

I thought I'd wish you a wonderful Christmas Break and I so hope you are enjoying your time with loved ones.

Below is my mom's Christmas design and her friend Nancy's Annual Christmas Tea. 

I love the picture with my mom and her friends, daughters and granddaughters, daughters in law et all. It was a beautifully done tea and Nancy has always been so kind to my daughter and I. I am so thankful for my mom and all her friends (a few who were off getting cookies and didn't sit for the photo!) because they are so lovely and so VERY kind and good to each other.

I wish you days of joy, comfort and hope.

I wish you days of slow, unhurried, uncomplicated time with those you love.

I will be spending some time in the snow doing just that: sitting & snuggling inside, while the boys do all their sports things... (My dad and my son getting ready to cycle around Newport)

Hannah, my mom and I will be designing up some "Crowned" themed goodies for our retreat in late January! (Mother-Teenage daughter retreat) It is so fun to  design things for amazing women like you! Plus, the good news is these will all be very affordable!

oxoxxo Love you all!

Inspired to shine and be brilliant light, Ruthie Marek, Teri Sangster and Inspired News

What a perfect title for this blog~28 pictures of light and life, from top to bottom...below: Because the two friends who are the women who have created these beautiful homes are just examples of the light that shines through when Christ is at the center of your life, I am sharing their home, now and in our next book (yea). When you browse Ruthie Marek's home, then Teri Sangster's you will see so many touches that bring blessing upon those who enter. (I was the happy recipient of that blessing last week) Ruthie is amazing for a variety of reasons (and I am only a newer friend) but among other things she is doing this while doing chemotherapy. While cancer is no part of WHO she is, its all about WHOSE she is, it is part of her story. I'll share more on another blog entry all about her, but I wanted to get this blog out, as my Christmas preparations are well underway...

     Did I also mention they are doing a breakout on "the home" at our retreat?

     Next home is Teri's, beginning with the open bible, whose home is fresh white, warm antiques and filled up with stories of God's grace and provision for her and her family. Special side note is she has the same floor plan as my mom's late best friend Ginger, on the same street a few houses down! I love her ability to take what she calls her "rental/tract" house and makes a gorgeous home, welcoming, enveloping and that "thing" I always talk about that some homes that just "have" JOY that springs eternal! Also, known as Abiding Faith! Again, another whole blog entry, but this is a teaser!

     Lastly, our Inspired girls where light shines through them truly brilliantly...this was our prayer session on Friday for an hour and half where we prayed over our Inspired girls! Kenzie Mae is our darling 19 year old worship leader, and the other girls are our Inspired Girls, Kristen, Marta, their girls and some new fabulous early 20's girls, home from college! Julie is our newer PR girl and Kristen's darling daughter Kylie made these fabulous cards...so I made her :) pose with one!

    There are so many exciting new things going on with Inspired, Our first retreat Jan 18-20, our National Inspired Tour with Dannah Gresh's PureFreedom.org, and our first ciriculum and new book "Holy Hospitality/the working title" under construction, design and prayer!!!

    Holy Hospitality will be written by Hannah and Roxanne again, but will feature artwork from our moms and daughters, and the two homes featured below! I'm so excited, I'm over the moon.

    Our ciriculum will be written by Kristen Cummins MFC and her daughter and they are equally excited about the joy they are experiencing working together. Kristen brings a wealth of experience from not only her years working with kids in the inner city of New York, but her years of practice with teens and teaching scripture/bible locally. She is new to our Board of Directors and a huge piece of where inspired is going, along with darling Kylie. Kylie has a sweet and royal spirit that lights up a room when she enters. She, along with her mom, adds a large piece of the puzzle that the Lord has lined up with Inspired!