Pregnant Woman Print. New Listing on Etsy!

The pregnant woman print is probably my favourite one but that could be because it it very applicable to my life at the moment as I just had my second baby. The original design for this print was one I did personally for myself as I meditated of the truths and scriptures I used as prep and encouragement for labour. I now have it hanging on the wall by my babies changing table and he looks at it every time I change his nappy. Since the one I did for myself was my own silhouette I figured I should better do one in a more generic mama shape so other women could use it as prep for labour too. 

It has a lot of scriptures that God showed me as I readied to have each child as well as birth affirmations and things I wanted to remember. I think the main scripture verse for me this time was Proverbs 31:25. Strength and dignity are her clothing and she laughs at the time to come. Birth is such a vulnerable time but not in the negative way the world views vulnerability. It is a beautiful vulnerability and in that God kept speaking to me that I am strong and dignified. 

I also love the detail of the subtle crown on her head. When I was creating mine God kept speaking to me that I was His royal daughter and I felt to wrap the vine around in the shape of a crown. I love it. I love creating with God because that was not a detail I would have thought of on my own but it is one of my favourite parts. 

If this print is for you or someone you know head over to my Etsy store HERE and get yourself a copy. It will be wrapped and sent from Cape Town with all the love. 

A Gardener's Daughter Testimonies

One of the best things about having my Etsy shop is that I have people purchasing my art work for incredible reasons. I love to make art but love it even more when it can encourage someone on a deep level. When you create with God there is always a message attached and my prints are full of messages and truth that isn't from my heart or mind but from His.

The first order I ever had at A Gardeners Daughter shop was one of my lungs prints. The lungs is one of my favourites because it is full of words and songs that God was speaking to and singing over me personally about speaking out and using my voice even though it is not the loudest or clearest. Everytime I look at it I am reminded that it is His breath in my lungs and that even though my voice may be merely a whisper it is strong and powerful. After I sent the order out and let them know it was on the way the customer replied saying they bought the print to give as a gift to someone who had just had a lung transplant. They wanted them to be able to read it and be encouraged in their recovery. I mean, hello! Knowing my art is being used like that makes heart soar to the moon and back.

Another person bought a lion print to give to their brother because he had just had a back surgery!

I know there are two brain prints hanging in psychologists offices. How great is it that there is something to look at while waiting in their offices that reminds you that your mind can be renewed and your broken places healed.

One more story is that one person ordered a crown to give to a younger girl she had been mentoring. She said that as she talked to the girl she would always try to encourage her with the truth that when you become a child of God you become royalty. When she came across my Etsy page she saw the crown print as the perfect gift for the girls baptism.

Leaf Print. New Listing On Etsy

The leaf print started with God speaking about renewal and refreshing and about his care for us. He breathed into him the breath of life/ Renewed/ When I speak the weary places will sprout. From there it turned into how refreshing should lead to praise and that as you worship you will become filled with love and fervency. Because your steadfast love is better than life my lips will praise you (one of my favourites)/ You will be fervent, zealous, and passionate.   

What I love most about this is that it is a beautiful circle. Refreshing will lead to praise which will grow passion for God with will in turn be refreshing because God's desire is to fill us. 

So this is really a word for anyone but especially for you if you feel weary and in need of an encouraging pick me up. God will meet you. He will water you and bring life again to your wilted leaves if you give Him the opportunity. You are loved. You are cared for and you are wonderful. 

A World Restored / Book Cover Design

A few weeks ago a beautiful powerhouse friend released her first book and I had the privilege of doing the cover art work. She had a vision for what she wanted so I drew up some sketches and we worked together tweaking the final details until we felt it was just right. If was a bit of a process as I often find that doing art with God can take longer than I plan but I have learned to trust the process and my sensitivity to Him as I add to an artwork. There are many times even with this book cover where I sat down and couldn't get anywhere with it and then there were other times where God's inspiration flowed and I'd have a big part done rather quickly and I knew that's exactly what it was meant to look like. Thankfully God honours deadlines and we got it done in time to send to the editor for printing.

The book is called A World Restored and you can find it on Amazon here. I haven't yet gotten to read it myself but Kimberly walked me through it section by section to get a feel of the book and it is definitely going to be a good read. You can also check out her website here.

Just figured I would share a few pictures of the process. They aren't set up nicely and are a bit messy but I barely took any while I worked on it so these will have to do. As per my usual style these days you will see some hidden words amongst the details if you look closely. To see the final cover you will have to look on the Amazon page :)

World Print. New Listing On Etsy

It's been a while but I finally have a new print in my Etsy shop and it is one I have wanted to do for a long time. You can find it here. I love maps so I have always wanted to do a print of a world map and this is the first one. I have a few ideas for another design with different meaning as well so we will see when I get to do that one. Probably someday when my heart is filled with wanderlust and I want to pack our family up and meander the streets of Europe. 

Lately I have been finding that I start a design with an idea from God and a few verses that often don't seem like they connect at first but I know that they are meant to be part of it. This one was similar but as I sought God for more words and verses to fill the shape I saw the story He was painting. I started with the truth that He will go with you wherever you go and give you guidance there. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go, I will counsel you with my eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8) Then I also felt to include verses about peace and the omnipresence of God so I started on the left with peace. (I didn't plan on putting them in Canada but its appropriate considering Canada is a nation of peace makers!) Peace in knowing that God is with you, that He upholds you in His righteous right hand, and that He is King on the throne. Then there are lots of verses about how His plans for you are for good, that He will help you, and that He will show you the path to take. You shall have no difficulty in finding the way if you watch Me. Lastly on the right there are verses about how He is always there for you, that there is no where you can go from His presence, and that you are loved. Where shall I go from your spirit. Where shall I flee from your presence? Even there your hand shall lead and hold me... for you know me. (Psalm 139, in my own words)

I don't usually write those things out but I guess I was suppose to for this one. Those are the main points but there is so much more in the details of this print that you will have to look for yourself. I think there is a special truth in there for each one of you so check it out. 

Be at peace knowing that He is with you wherever you go and that His plans for you are good.

Love Jill

New Listing On Etsy. Brain Art Print.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. - Philippians 4:8

 Find it here!

New listing on Etsy. Anchor Print.

"We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain," Hebrews 6:19  We have Jesus. A Living Hope. May we be anchored in Him and there we will find ourselves sure and steadfast. 

 This art print is all about being securely anchored in Jesus and from that place being filled with hope.  Find it in my Etsy store here.

Open on Etsy

Well here it is. I finally got my Etsy store started and although I haven't told a single person about it I have already sold one print! Until now only one person has seen the ad for my lungs print and they bought it. So thats exciting. I still have a lot to work out and I am sure there will be a lot of trial and error but I am really hoping this will be a helpful business for our small family. I have always wanted to sell my artwork and so I figured this was a good place to begin. Please check it out! 

I only have a couple of things listed but it is a work in progress and I will hopefully be adding more in the coming weeks. If you have a request for a specific shape or a custom design you want done send me an email and I'll see what I can do.