This looks like a big advertisement but our goal is not as much for profit as for giving you some of the treasures of our lifetime. In this summary of books, art and media are links to some of our most profound realizations and expressions over the course of about 50 years of celebration, thought and prayer. This is an effort to put our treasures into your hands and hearts. Please review all these with gifting in mind for your friends, loved ones, and yourself. Let’s show our thoughtfulness by the gifts we give.
Books for the Season
Verse & Visions from Advent, Christmas and Epiphany (ebook and print 8.5×11) Thirteen poems are paired with thirteen images written and created over twenty-two years of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany seasons. Print is recommended to get the full effect of Mark’s visual art. The words and pictures are often surprising and give fresh illumination to the ancient celebrations. MORE
HARDCOVER (8.5×11) – PAPERBACK (8.5×11) – EBOOK
Browse all of our books on the book page.
Treats & Retreats for Christmas: stories, poems, essays & drawings (print paperback) Humorous and dramatic scenes happen in the holidays with these stories adapted from stage plays (including The Lost Kids Spy Christmas), poems from decades of contemplation, essays from blog posts, and artwork from many seasonal productions. MORE
Browse all of our books on the book page.
The Lost Kids Spy Christmas An old crook by the name of Ananiah gives a bunch of street kids a secret hide-out home in some reasonable shacks high on the roof of a skyscraper. In exchange the kids run his “collection agency” as pick-pockets and shoplifters (thank you, Charles Dickens). They are very good at it. The cop on their beat has been after them for years without solving the case. But, now she has a rooky for a partner who is eager to make a good impression and things begin to pop. MORE
Browse all of our books on the book page.
Artistic Gifts
We offer over 124 designs which I have personally created by hand over the last decade. They are reproduced on hundreds of high quality items: apparel, accessories, home decor, wall art, cases, bags and more. At our shops any budget can find a beautiful item to make a meaningful gift.
Visit all three sites:
Redbubble – Fine Art America – TeePublic
Crafts
Hand crafts provide a break from the norm, a change of pace which most of us need in the holidays. For the rest of the year see the other projects on our Crafts page.
Christmas Celebration Kit – $17 – Holidays are filled with opportunities for fun and personal handcrafts to express love and community. This kit provides simple, low-cost projects for parties, kids on holiday break, and pleasant conversations. Teachers will find fresh ideas for seasonal class art projects. Eleven objects to craft are included in the kit of seven PDF files. Just print out our black & white PDFs as many times as needed and start coloring, cutting, folding, and displaying the infinite versions of decorations, nativity scenes, gift tags, and Christmas cards. Each item comes with instructions and clear indications for cutting and folding. MORE – BUY NOW
Creche Nativity – $5 – Our family started collecting nativity scenes even before our kids were born. The collection now includes one from my childhood, as well as some from other countries. It is a wonderful way to remember the roots of our celebration and the meanings of Christmas. Everyone can make their own personal version with this do-it-yourself nativity. You print it as many times as you like, color it (the version shown here was colored with pencils), cut a few slits and fold it in a few places. It would be beautiful to see the variety from a whole group’s creativity. Think of giving a blank one as a simple gift, or as a special, personal gift already completed. Grandparents will be thrilled to receive versions from grand kids. This is great for Sunday school classes. MORE – BUY NOW
Christmas Tree – $5 – The tree is an appropriate symbol for Christmas as it stands for long life and beauty. Decorating it draws us together for opportunities expressing love, family, and community. This cut-out tree is excellent as a small group project at a party, a rallying point for people’s conversation. Make the finished tree a prize for someone to take home. Give the project to the children in your life who will be glad to have their very own tree colored just the way they like it. You print it as many times as you like, color it (the version shown here was colored with pencils), cut a few slits, and fit it together. Some of the decorations are colored and cut out to be fit onto the tree. Grandparents will be thrilled to receive versions from grand kids. MORE – BUY NOW
Flame Ornament – $5 – A personally, handmade Christmas ornament carries a piece of your love with it through the years as it is brought out of storage each season. This unique flame celebrates the coming of warmth, light and the energy of life at Christmas. Making the flame could be an activity at your Holiday party. You print it as many times as you like, color it (the version shown here was colored with pencils), cut, and fit it together, then hang it up. You could also scan your colored version and print many for your Holiday decor. Grandparents will be thrilled to receive versions from grand kids. MORE – BUY NOW
Starburst Ornament – $5 – A personally, handmade Christmas ornament carries a piece of your love with it through the years as it is brought out of storage each season. This unique starburst celebrates the star of Bethlehem which marked the birth of Jesus. Making the starburst could be an activity at your Holiday party. You print it as many times as you like, color it (the version shown here was colored with pencils), cut, and fit it together, then hang it up. You could also scan your colored version and print many for your Holiday decor. Grandparents will be thrilled to receive versions from grand kids. MORE – BUY NOW
Bell Ornament – $5 – This bell reminds us of the glorious music of the season. The bell is also traditionally associated with announcements and calling the community together. Your community could come together around the making of this bell at your Holiday party. You print it as many times as you like, color it (the version shown here was colored with pencils), cut, and fit it together, then hang it up. You could also scan your colored version and print many for your Holiday decor. Grandparents will be thrilled to receive versions from grand kids. MORE – BUY NOW
U-Color-It Christmas Card – $5 – Giving someone a card of greeting reminds them that they are valued and appreciated. It affirms and strengthens your community and the more personal the card, the better. This card gets you started in a very personal expression as you print, color, cut, and fold it. Inside you can write your message. It can be for just one, a few, or scan your colored version and print many. The card could also be another activity at your Holiday party. You print it as many times as you like, color it (the version shown here was colored with pencils), and fold it. Grandparents will be thrilled to receive one-of-a-kind cards from grand kids. MORE – BUY NOW
Gift Tags – $5 – This gives you five items in one. Wrap each gift with your personal handwork to express a little more affection and care. These five gift tags provide the outlines for your custom coloring. Print them as many times as you need and color them all differently. Give the kids something to contribute to the gift wrapping. This could be one activity at your Holiday party. MORE – BUY NOW
Downloadable Poems
Featured here is a poem connected to this season. Browse all of our downloadable poems with images on our Poetry page.
“How to be the offspring of God” poem and image – $5 – Download your copy of my poem “How to be the Offspring of God” with the image “Laguna Meadow Thunderhead” on two pdf pages to carry in your mobile device and print. I hope these will facilitate your contemplative times. MORE – BUY NOW
Two other poems as Short Art Films – view for free!
See all of our Short Art Films HERE.
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