Standing On The Promises" is inspired by the hymn by the same title written by Russell Kelso Carter (1849-1928) which I sang in church as a child.  It is in a private collection in Frankfurt, Germany.

Sheep's Clothing" was inspired by the warning in Matthew 7:15 of The Holy Bible to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."  It was an honor to preserve part of a disintegrating 1882 Family Bible, from my husband’s family, in the tan coat part of the sculpture. 

This dress is made of tea bags to illustrate how we should be soaking up Scripture continually.  As tea leaves steep, the hot water is changed as the tea integrates into it.  Allow the Word of God to change you by steeping in Scripture.  Let 2 Timothy 3:16-17 remind us that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 

These beautiful waves were inspired by Ephesians 5:25-27

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.                                            

May we all be inspired to be washed by the Word.  Open a Bible and be refreshed.

Every person sins because they are born sinners. (Romans 3:23)  No matter how much we try, we cannot escape our sin nature.  Our righteousness is as filthy rags to God. (Is 64:6)  No matter how many good works you do, it does not take away one sin you have committed.  The Holy Bible tells us in Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  We deserve death and hell for eternity because we have sinned.  However, God offers an exchange of our deadly sin and pathetic attempts at good works for the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  I’ll take that trade any day.  Today is the day of salvation.  Are you ready to trade? 

I have been set free from sin by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit resides within me and gives me power to overcome temptation, to hope in all circumstances, and to stand firm in Truth.  Galatians 5:1 reads, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  When I am free from guilt, because my Savior already paid the penalty, I am free to obey God’s perfect will for my life.  I can walk in resurrection power!  Amen!

Blueprint For Life shows how The Bible explains how to build a life that honors God and fulfills His purpose for your life. The 16 blueprints that make up the skirt address various areas of life. The top layer explains the origin of The Bible, including inspiration, canonization, printing and distribution, and discipleship. The lower levels of the skirt discuss: commerce, creation, community, the New Jerusalem, lessons taught using animal imagery, government, church, behavior to avoid, spiritual disciplines, personal relationships, evangelism, and the family. The dress to which the skirt attaches is covered with Scripture that refers to construction projects or uses building imagery. These are cyanotype images on fabric.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

God’s design is perfect. Build your life according to the design your Creator intended.

Direct My Path is based on Israel’s Exodus from Egypt. During their 40 years of wandering in the desert, God led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Exodus 13:21 (ESV) And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.

Notice the maps under the sheer fabric in each section. The blue and teal fabrics overlay maps and are folded like a map. A black and white topographic map provides the foundation for the cloud side. Sheer yellow fabric filters maps on the fire side. Bible pages are blended into the dangling cloud forms on the back.

Psalm 119:105 (ESV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Let God direct your path. Read, study, memorize, meditate on, share, and apply The Bible.

In His Image shows how humans are uniquely created in the image of God.

Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

The pleats of the dress are a continuous photo collage depicting the parts of creation. The hat represents the Spirit of God hovering over the waters. The braids of the wire symbolize the Trinity. The scarf of the hat has biblical text about people being created in God’s image over a photo collage of water images. Flesh colored and deep blue beads were sewn onto the surface of the water.

Genesis 1:1-2 (ESV) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

What does it mean to be made in the image of God? The Bible has the answer.

Knowing Evil is about original sin. When Adam and Eve were in the garden of Eden, all they knew was good. They only knew good. What changed when they disobeyed God’s command, not to eat from the tree in the center of the garden, was then, they knew evil.

Genesis 3:4-7 (ESV)

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened,

Genesis 3:22 (ESV) Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil.

The serpent got into Eve’s head and deceived her. How can you keep from being deceived by Satan? Read, study, memorize, meditate on, share, and apply The Bible.

Hemmed In is inspired by the vision Isaiah had when he was called to be a prophet.

Isaiah 6:1-3 (ESV) In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV) Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

The title Hemmed In is sort of a paradox because the phrase usually means “backed into a corner”, bound, restricted. But here Christ’s hem represents the power that won every battle, the power of the resurrection! So, with that Hem power in us, we have the “freedom” to obey God, resist temptation, boldly proclaim His Truth! We can live freely, “hemmed in” with God’s resurrection power!