Yikes - I Opened a Bible!!

Confession - I didn't grow up going to church a lot since neither of my parents did.  I have been going since I got married 46 years ago and the last 20 years just about every week.  And I enjoy going, especially to the church we joined about 5 years ago.  But I have to admit that I have never read the Bible!  I don't know why, but it was not something I ever wanted to do.  And I have never been to a Bible study group or class and most likely never will.  I do go to our church's sewing group and love that and the people - but we sew, not study.  Phew - got that confession out of the way!

Two weeks ago at my church a new Bible Journaling group was advertised for anyone who liked crafts and Pinterest.  Well, now we're talking - right up my alley!  The class follows our weekly Wednesday night dinners which we always attend.  Five minutes before leaving for dinner I grabbed my writing and drawing implements and decided to get brave and go.

There were about 12 ladies there - some I knew from church and some I didn't.  When you attend Saturday night services you are limited as to how many people you meet.  I had a great time!  Practice papers were handed out and supplies shared.  Drawing is not one of my crafty talents but we had papers to trace which helped.  This was my first attempt.  We used water colors, markers and gel pens.  Not great but enough to peak my interest.

What I did learn was that I did not have the supplies to do a good job of this.  So of course I got on Amazon and ordered a journaling Bible, paints and markers.  That was a good start but after my second class I decided a trip to Michaels and Hobby Lobby was in order for even more.    If I don't have enough supplies now I have a problem!  Here is my second practice page.

Here are the supplies I deemed necessary for this new hobby:

Journaling Bible - Just because I never read a bible didn't mean I didn't have one or 2 or 3.  I actually have my first Bible from the 1950's and I certainly wasn't going to paint and color it that!  They make special Bibles for this purpose with a little thicker paper and wide margins.  Good eyesight or glasses are required as the print is very tiny but still readable.

Water Colors -  I had some tube water colors I had never used but the pots are much easier to use.  I got the big set from Michaels and the smaller pearlescent paints from Hobby Lobby.

Water Color Pencils - As if the paints were not enough, I learned about colored pencils that you draw with then go over with a wet brush to achieve a water color effect.  Cool!  Hobby Lobby.

Paint Brushes - I worked for Michaels for 18 years.  I have at least 100 really good expensive paint brushes.  But no, what we used you filled with water alleviating the need for messy cups.  And the paint color does not transfer from one paint pot to another when using them (I have no idea why not, but, these would have been great for the grand kids).  So I found a set with different sizes on Amazon.

Gel Markers - I have some really good Prisma paint markers but our Pastor shared her fabulous gel markers with us and I knew I really wanted them too.  Amazon.

Something to hold my markers - About 2 years ago I took a class at church on Zentangle drawing. Basically it is drawing those popular coloring book pages.  I made myself this little portfolio to hold my pens and drawing pad.

After the second class it was quite evident that this was not going to hack it.  We had a lot more people and not much room to spread out.  Plus I had other markers and pencils that did not fit in this case and were in another bag.  So this week I made myself a new portfolio that also stands up like an easel.  It actually has some empty spaces just in case I need something else.

So, after years of getting rid of almost all of my non-sewing related craft supplies, here I am with a new collection.  My hope is maybe this will help me get into actually reading what is in this book.  It is difficult to know what to draw on and where it is in the Bible when you know nothing about it. Technology nerd that I am, I downloaded a Bible app to my phone and iPad where I can enter a subject and it will give me a list of bible verses to read.  I also find a lot of inspiration and ideas on Pinterest.  Maybe some day I will be able to carry on a Bible conversation somewhat intelligently.