The desert will provide...
Mentioning it to my friend, the two of us pondered the meaning, eventually shrugging it off with a laugh.
The next morning (June 9, 2009)
I was dragging the trash can to the road when I spied a nemesis from nature - a large tumbleweed I'd been tossing to the winds for nearly 3 weeks, hoping each time it would vacate our yard for the surrounding desert. Deciding enough was enough, I carefully picked it up and headed back to the trash can.
Barely a dozen sandy steps were taken when those same words were heard again, VERY distinctly:
"The desert will provide."
I froze, tumbleweed in hand...
Barely a dozen sandy steps were taken when those same words were heard again, VERY distinctly:
"The desert will provide."
I froze, tumbleweed in hand...
From tumbleweeds to tumbleBEADS...
the first tumbleweed necklace
I again contemplated the words, asking God what He meant, what He wanted from me. In the moments of silence which followed, I realized He wanted me to see something...
the tumbleweed itself.
What I saw surprised me...
Wood!
Bone-white wood!... material designed by His hands as a natural bead-making wood!
The first necklace was fashioned that same day and unbeknownst to us, an art business was born.
the tumbleweed itself.
What I saw surprised me...
Wood!
Bone-white wood!... material designed by His hands as a natural bead-making wood!
The first necklace was fashioned that same day and unbeknownst to us, an art business was born.
The cross in that first tumbleweed necklace was store-bought; the previously ignored inhabitant of a desk drawer.
On the evening of our tumbleweed discovery, we'd been discussing plans to make more of these necklaces when my friend suddenly shot off the porch and headed for the woodpile. "I bet I can MAKE a cross!", she called back over her shoulder.
Things haven't been the same since -
and not a day has passed where we haven't thanked God for it!
An accomplished woodworker, my friend had let her gifts go by the wayside - but suddenly there she was, digging through shop, searching through store room, pulling out power saws, tools. As the first cross of mesquite was being finished she confided, "I nearly sold all those things at a yard sale a couple years back..."
There's no doubt in our minds that Divine Providence had stopped her from doing so, for without them our work wouldn't be possible. My experience with wood was in carving only; the tools I possessed would have fit in a shoebox - and though our art IS worked by hand, we need the BIG tools to get the wood cut into manageable sizes!
On the evening of our tumbleweed discovery, we'd been discussing plans to make more of these necklaces when my friend suddenly shot off the porch and headed for the woodpile. "I bet I can MAKE a cross!", she called back over her shoulder.
Things haven't been the same since -
and not a day has passed where we haven't thanked God for it!
An accomplished woodworker, my friend had let her gifts go by the wayside - but suddenly there she was, digging through shop, searching through store room, pulling out power saws, tools. As the first cross of mesquite was being finished she confided, "I nearly sold all those things at a yard sale a couple years back..."
There's no doubt in our minds that Divine Providence had stopped her from doing so, for without them our work wouldn't be possible. My experience with wood was in carving only; the tools I possessed would have fit in a shoebox - and though our art IS worked by hand, we need the BIG tools to get the wood cut into manageable sizes!
Dreams and Discoveries, Gifts and Gratitude
We became children; the desert our wide open playground... discovering different woods, different plants; carving and creating. We learned how wood can vary just by its location on the tree; roots, trunk and branches give different end products. We learned how it can change color just by the WAY it deteriorates, especially when baked for years in the desert.
We had dreams about the desert and the secrets it held...
In one dream, I was watching the hands of a Native American woman as she made a basket from small bundles of off-white fibers. She sat on the ground in front of a yucca cactus and somehow I understood that the fibers came from this plant.
Spurred by curiosity, my friend and I went out looking at yuccas, but we didn't see anything resembling the dreamed fibers. THEN - (about 2 weeks later) - we poked and prodded at another type of yucca (decaying) and there they were! - EXACTLY!
Though we haven't woven any baskets we do periodically use the fibers for wrapping crosses, etc. :)
Coincidence?...
Three days after we first began using rocks, gems and minerals in our work (and with no one knowing about it), a complete stranger walked up to my partner in a local store - and gifted her with a handful of peacock ore from his mine!
One day after discovering we could use chrysocolla in our work, a "mountain man" we've befriended stopped by to chat... "Hey! I found a really unusual bluish-green rock up there! Gonna bring it down to you girls!"....... Yep! - it was chrysocolla!
Coincidence [ko-in-si-duhns] - noun: when God chooses to remain anonymous
In one dream, I was watching the hands of a Native American woman as she made a basket from small bundles of off-white fibers. She sat on the ground in front of a yucca cactus and somehow I understood that the fibers came from this plant.
Spurred by curiosity, my friend and I went out looking at yuccas, but we didn't see anything resembling the dreamed fibers. THEN - (about 2 weeks later) - we poked and prodded at another type of yucca (decaying) and there they were! - EXACTLY!
Though we haven't woven any baskets we do periodically use the fibers for wrapping crosses, etc. :)
Coincidence?...
Three days after we first began using rocks, gems and minerals in our work (and with no one knowing about it), a complete stranger walked up to my partner in a local store - and gifted her with a handful of peacock ore from his mine!
One day after discovering we could use chrysocolla in our work, a "mountain man" we've befriended stopped by to chat... "Hey! I found a really unusual bluish-green rock up there! Gonna bring it down to you girls!"....... Yep! - it was chrysocolla!
Coincidence [ko-in-si-duhns] - noun: when God chooses to remain anonymous
Undoubtedly the most amazing affirmation we've received began when my partner carved a cup of yucca and placed it on a mesquite stand. Upon completion, she asked me what I thought of it. I looked - and looked again! - and kept seeing something ELSE that wasn't there: a host (representing the bread), placed next to the cup.
She agreed this addition seemed right and proceeded to carve a host from yucca, with the finished piece pictured below.
She agreed this addition seemed right and proceeded to carve a host from yucca, with the finished piece pictured below.
We immediately began carving other items using the chalice and host as the focal point. We each made a special necklace for ourselves (a particular design we decided not to replicate, though we do some crosses which are similar).
We continued carving, trying to perfect the small chalices and hosts; designing new ways they could be used in our pieces. The chalice was truly a challenge, but the tiny hosts of tumbleweed also took a great deal of time and care to create. It was delicate and time-consuming but we loved it!
THEN we received a special gift; an "affirmation"...
The following week (after we began carving chalices and hosts) I felt an overwhelming urge to stop by the local Salvation Army. Suddenly an old greenish wooden box caught my attention and drew me to it. I gingerly opened the lid - and saw a REAL chalice!
Looking no further, I took the box to the front register. Expressing my surprise, I told the cashier what the item was; a sacramental object, a chalice. "Is that what it is?", she asked, "We had no idea!".
We chatted some more, but it was her last words which left me speechless... "Oh well! It must've been meant for you 'cause we just put it out on the shelf 'bout the same time you came in the door."
The following week (after we began carving chalices and hosts) I felt an overwhelming urge to stop by the local Salvation Army. Suddenly an old greenish wooden box caught my attention and drew me to it. I gingerly opened the lid - and saw a REAL chalice!
Looking no further, I took the box to the front register. Expressing my surprise, I told the cashier what the item was; a sacramental object, a chalice. "Is that what it is?", she asked, "We had no idea!".
We chatted some more, but it was her last words which left me speechless... "Oh well! It must've been meant for you 'cause we just put it out on the shelf 'bout the same time you came in the door."
The story continues, though this part may always remain a mystery...
I'm certain I recognized the chalice - that I'd seen it BEFORE...
Many years ago when I was still a teenager, Father Bob had shown me his special "travel chalice". From an odd green wooden box he'd pulled out a very unusual chalice; received as a gift for his ordination, the gold-lined piece had been made for him by a friend who was a potter.
Father Bob had shown me this chalice because he planned to use it for my 1st communion and confirmation, a special event to take place - not in church! - but a park...
Perhaps we may never find out if the chalice was Father Bob's or not (he passed away many years ago) , but considering all that's transpired, we're inclined to believe so... NO ONE can do this sort of thing better than God! LOL (and we are endlessly grateful for it!)
Note: When Father Bob passed away those many years ago, it was in a city 75 miles away. We found
out this SAME city supplies the Salvation Army (I went to) with the items they sell .
I'm certain I recognized the chalice - that I'd seen it BEFORE...
Many years ago when I was still a teenager, Father Bob had shown me his special "travel chalice". From an odd green wooden box he'd pulled out a very unusual chalice; received as a gift for his ordination, the gold-lined piece had been made for him by a friend who was a potter.
Father Bob had shown me this chalice because he planned to use it for my 1st communion and confirmation, a special event to take place - not in church! - but a park...
Perhaps we may never find out if the chalice was Father Bob's or not (he passed away many years ago) , but considering all that's transpired, we're inclined to believe so... NO ONE can do this sort of thing better than God! LOL (and we are endlessly grateful for it!)
Note: When Father Bob passed away those many years ago, it was in a city 75 miles away. We found
out this SAME city supplies the Salvation Army (I went to) with the items they sell .
Who are the artists?
From the beginning the question was asked and you'd think the answer would be simple - but...
the art was not about "us"; it was a gift to us. Neither my art partner or I wanted our names on business cards, advertisements or web sites; not even on the art itself. With prayer, an answer soon came...
Giving credit where credit is due, we put God first and then simply combined our last names, becoming
Lord & YoungMiller.
Now when a stranger takes a card, looks at the two of us and asks, "Who is 'Lord'?" - we both point to
the heavens!... When they ask, "Who is 'YoungMiller'?" - we point to each other!
God first in all things.
After considerable prayer (and with considerable hesitation! LOL), we consented to a newspaper article
in April 2012. The story, by Adam Curtis, can be read below:
the art was not about "us"; it was a gift to us. Neither my art partner or I wanted our names on business cards, advertisements or web sites; not even on the art itself. With prayer, an answer soon came...
Giving credit where credit is due, we put God first and then simply combined our last names, becoming
Lord & YoungMiller.
Now when a stranger takes a card, looks at the two of us and asks, "Who is 'Lord'?" - we both point to
the heavens!... When they ask, "Who is 'YoungMiller'?" - we point to each other!
God first in all things.
After considerable prayer (and with considerable hesitation! LOL), we consented to a newspaper article
in April 2012. The story, by Adam Curtis, can be read below:
friendship_and_faith_-_lifestyle_article_april_8_2012.doc | |
File Size: | 198 kb |
File Type: | doc |
"Who made this one?", people frequently ask of the pieces.
The answer is inconceivable to most...
With the exception of gifts we make for each other, 99% of the art is done by BOTH of us. There is no question -God knew EXACTLY what He was doing when He brought together "YoungMiller"! Were we not adament believers, we, ourselves, would say that what's happened is "spooky"...
Our favorite example:
One evening, my partner and I were busy at our separate work benches, however
neither knew what the other was working on...
A long period of time had passed when my friend finally stopped and examined the piece before
her. "I really like this, but don't know what else it needs.", she said as she handed it to me.
I looked at her work and then - in utter amazement - at my own... they went together perfectly!
Unknowingly, each of us had created HALF of the same piece!
Combining work, the necklace was done!
How long will we continue to do this art? - It's in the hands of the Lord!
The fact we are able to do it at all is nothing short of a miracle!... two women, both senior citizens - one with MS (multiple sclerosis), 6 strokes and a 2nd neuromuscular disorder (CIDP) severely affecting her hands... both with severe arthritis - going out into the desert, gathering gifts from nature; dragging them home to cut, carve and create...
Actually, the sight of us "collecting" can be quite funny! - and we KNOW what many people think!... "Those two old ladies have been in the sun WAY TOO long!"...
Yep! - we smile, too... because we know Who leads the way, Who guides us.
If the world thinks us crazy, that's okay.
The fact we are able to do it at all is nothing short of a miracle!... two women, both senior citizens - one with MS (multiple sclerosis), 6 strokes and a 2nd neuromuscular disorder (CIDP) severely affecting her hands... both with severe arthritis - going out into the desert, gathering gifts from nature; dragging them home to cut, carve and create...
Actually, the sight of us "collecting" can be quite funny! - and we KNOW what many people think!... "Those two old ladies have been in the sun WAY TOO long!"...
Yep! - we smile, too... because we know Who leads the way, Who guides us.
If the world thinks us crazy, that's okay.
the desert will provide
To acknowledge His words (which started this journey) and to praise the One Who gives all gifts, we make & inlay a tiny copper disc with the above symbol (about the size of a
pencil eraser) into each work of art.
pencil eraser) into each work of art.