Merry Christmas! {Free Baby Jesus Block Print}

 

Earlier this fall I shared with you that block carving and printing has become my new favorite hobby. I've really enjoyed sharing process videos on Instagram and am grateful for the creative outlet this medium has been. I hand carved this sweet infant Jesus stamp for my Christmas cards, and creating it was a beautiful opportunity for reflection and prayer on the hope of the Incarnation.

I'd love to send all of you a personal Christmas card, but since that isn't quite possible, I'm happy to send you this greeting as a little Merry Christmas and thank you for being part of the Look to Him and Be Radiant Community!

Here is the original test print and the carved block- this was my most detailed block to date. The image of Jesus is based on some photos of my sweet nephew, and the Christmas star, poinsettias, holly, and pine are all symbols connected to the birth of Christ.

Click on either image below for the free pdf, both in black on white, and black on brown kraft paper. Feel free to share as a little digital greeting to your friends and family! The edges of the print are marked to an easy to frame 5x7" size. If you display it in your home, I'd love for you to email me a pic or tag me on Instagram!

May the Infant Jesus, born to save us, 

fill our hearts with hope this Christmas Season and always. 

Know of my prayers for you, your families, and your students each day.

Merry Christmas!

Interviews with TWO of My Favorite Authors, and a GIVEAWAY!

For several years I've been sharing my book reviews with you, but today instead of just listing favorite books, I get to share two of my favorite authors! Maura Roan McKeegan and Katie Warner are both prolific authors of Catholic Children's books, many of which are the books I've used frequently in my classroom and parish, bought multiple copies of for gifts, or recommended to others time and time again. I had the opportunity to ask each of them about their insights on sharing our Catholic faith with kids through the words and illustrations found in their books and I'm so excited to share those interviews with you today! AND to celebrate, I'm also hosting a giveaway for you, my awesome readers! The winner will get their pick of one each of Katie and Maura's books. Check out the end of the post for how to enter!

***Looking to buy a few books for Christmas gifts? On this small business Saturday, I highly encourage you to buy directly from the publisher or from your local Catholic bookstore! Many of them are also offering great deals this weekend, too. (I've linked directly to the publisher's websites below, but these books are also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.) ;)

An Interview with Author Maura Roan McKeegan

I have long loved Maura Roan McKeegan's books, especially her Old and New Series that so beautifully brings Biblical typology to life for children. I was so honored to get to ask Maura a few questions recently about writing books for Catholic kids! Maura's books include Where is Jesus Hidden?, The End of the Fiery Sword, Into the Sea, Out of the Tomb, Building the Way to Heaven, and Conrad and the Wildfire.



Q: In Where is Jesus Hidden? and your other children's books, you do a beautiful job of communicating rich theological truths to little readers. What are some ways you think parents and teachers can share deep topics with young children?

A: Thank you! I think one of the best things parents and teachers can do is to cultivate their own sense of wonder about the Faith. When we read fascinating books and listen to captivating speakers, they create a spark within us. That spark can be passed on to children when we share our enthusiasm about our discoveries with them.

All of my children’s books began with me learning something about the Faith that struck me as fascinating (like biblical typology), or inspiring (like the story of St. Conrad of Piacenza). When adults are enthusiastic about a topic, they can impart that enthusiasm to children in a real and meaningful way. Then, instead of trying to feed children information because we think they “ought to know it,” we convey exciting truths about deep topics because we find it all just so amazing and we want to share it with the children in our lives!

My favorite college professor, who taught a course in elementary reading education, used to say, “Enthusiasm for reading is caught, not taught.” In the same way, I think enthusiasm for the Faith is caught, not taught. Children have an incredible capacity for understanding deep truths—in some ways, even more than adults do, because of the purity of their hearts. When we, as parents and teachers, fill our own hearts with Scripture, stories of the saints, good books, and interesting conversations, these things will give us the “good treasure of the heart,” from of the abundance of which “the mouth speaks” to children. (Luke 6:45)






Q: What are some practical applications or discussions you hope occur after reading Where is Jesus Hidden?

A: I hope that reading Where is Jesus Hidden? will help children find the hidden Jesus in their everyday lives. When I was growing up, even though I had a Catholic education, I had no idea that Jesus was truly present in the Eucharist, let alone that we could find Him in the poor or the sick. (I don’t fault my teachers—I probably wasn’t listening!) These were concepts I didn’t understand until I was an adult, but they are well within the grasp of children.

Mother Teresa is my inspiration for finding the hidden Jesus. She said, “In the Eucharist, I see Christ in the appearance of bread. In the slums, I see Christ in the distressing disguise of the poor. The Eucharist and the poor are but one love for me.”

It is my hope that this book will open children’s eyes to see, as Mother Teresa did, the many ways that the hidden Jesus is with us. I also hope that hearing and reading the words of Scripture will create a familiarity with the Bible that children can bring into adulthood. I hope that when children hear these same verses in other places, the verses will resonate with new understanding because of the discoveries the children encountered in Where is Jesus Hidden?, and that those Scriptural connections will last a lifetime.




Q: What do you look for in quality Catholic children's books?

A: In Catholic children’s books about Scripture, it’s important to me that the Bible verses are authentic and not changed or embellished. If Scripture is paraphrased, it’s important to me that it stays as close as possible to the actual text and doesn’t take liberties with the words and messages of the Bible. Every word of Scripture is packed with meaning. When we stay close to the actual words, we stay close to Christ.

In Catholic children’s books about saints or fictional stories, I look for good storytelling that:
--captures children’s attention (no one wants to read dry or boring books!)
--imparts truth in inspiring and unique ways without being didactic
--trusts children’s ability to internalize the story without watering down content
--respects the child’s intelligence and doesn’t talk down to children in a condescending way
--is accompanied by endearing illustrations

This article that I wrote for the St. Paul Center dives more deeply into the topic of reading spiritual books with children, with tips for parents, teachers, and others: Reading with Love: Tips for Sharing Spiritual Books with Children

An Interview with Author Katie Warner

Katie Warner's contribution to Catholic books for kids continues to amaze me! She brings the truth of the Sacraments and sanctity and more to such a relatable level for young children. I've always been so encouraged by her work and was thrilled to get to ask her a few questions about Catholic kids' books too! Her writing includes This is the Church, Lily Lolek, Future Saint, Fr. Ben Gets Ready for Mass, I Went to Mass, What Did I See, and board books like Kiddie Cat and The Word of the Lord. Her next title, Listening for God, is also available for preorder! (And she also has a whole series of books for adults on prayer, too.)




Q: This is the Church is a treasure among picture books! It shares the beauty of Salvation History in such an appropriate format for little readers. It seems to be a goal of First Faith Treasury books to present authentic teaching in an approachable way, even for preschoolers. How do you go about sharing the truths of the faith without watering them down?

A: I love this question. Our faith is so rich, and our children have the capacity for great understanding; it is our desire to create books that acknowledge these realities! We aim to publish books that children will want to read, because by their nature they are true, good, and beautiful -- qualities that any soul is drawn to regardless of age.

On a more practical note, I have a graduate degree in Catholic theology and have spent the better part of my life teaching the faith in some capacity, so I'd say that watering children's books down is not so much my challenge as is making them too rife with content or theology beyond a young child's age! But honestly, I find that our children and students, who were made by their Creator to know Him, are quite ready to scour depths of faith and mystery beyond what we might expect. It's incredible to hear from readers -- and to watch my own children -- fall in love with stories that don't talk down to them, but rather help form them into little disciples.





Q: Your books feature gorgeous illustrations, but each design is unique to the content of the book. How have you worked with your illustrators to create both images and text that enhance and build on one another?

A: I am blessed to work with the most amazing artists! In fact, I wouldn't be a children's book writer if it wasn't for my desire to see Meg Whalen's illustrations be enjoyed by kids around the world. She had been publishing small batches of her own illustrated books for years for family and friends' baptisms, birthdays, and other special celebrations, and I wanted her beautiful work to be more widely distributed. I knew I had the skills to arrange a publishing contract...and then along the way I discovered I loved writing children's books and that the Holy Spirit wanted this to happen for more reasons than I had originally planned!

But it is important to me that the illustrators bring a lot of their own creative talent to each book. The pictures tell the story as much, if not more, than the words do! After I finish a text, I like to let the illustrators (Meg Whalen or Amy Rodriguez have illustrated all of our current books, and Meg does the book design for all of them as well) take the lead in creating artwork for the book that expresses their own preferred style and enhances the text. We work together as the book progresses, in hopes that we can wed the text and the illustrations on each page beautifully, so that they are each a cohesive, mini work of art that make children and adults want to linger a bit as they read.

Meg and Amy are so incredibly talented that the whole process turns out to be so delightful, easy, and fun!



Q: What do you look for in quality Catholic children's books?

A: In addition to the qualities of truth, goodness, and beauty as I mentioned previously, a truly great Catholic children's book is captivating. It draws children to it. They want to reach for it from the shelf as they would its secular Barnes and Noble bestselling counterparts. It's okay for a Catholic children's book to be fun! To be creative. To be unique. To tell a great story. We started doing this work because we noticed that a lot of our Catholic children's books in the home had great content, but were missing that ... pizzaz? (to sound like a nerd)...that made us really look forward to reading them. I also think a quality Catholic children's book can foster experiences, discussions, and memories.

I've had so many teachers and parents tell me about their pastors' reading Father Ben Gets Ready for Mass to children and seeing the Mass and the priesthood come more alive for them through the special connection made through that interactive book. I've treasured stories of children who excitedly create their own club or litany of favorite saints and talk about their desire to become a saint someday after reading Lily Lolek, Future Saint. These anecdotes (along with hearing my own kids recite my books word for word by memory!) make my heart explode with joy and remind me that there are few things as treasured in childhood as a good book...so why not a good Catholic book? Even better, right?

Ok, and now for the GIVEAWAY!

I just love my readers so much, and am so grateful for your support and encouragement. I'd love to send you one of Maura and one of Katie's books of your choice! Winner must be 18 or older and have a US mailing address (sorry, international friends!). Lots of ways to enter below, and the giveaway closes 12/5/20 at 12 a.m.


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Names of Mary Bookmarks (and Etsy Shop Announcements!)

I'm kind of a jack-of-all-trades girl when it comes to crafting. I like to watercolor, letter, sew, make jewelry, draw, embroider, and more. I kind of bounce from one media to the next, and about a year ago I decided I wanted to learn how to do block carving and printing. It is a challenging process that is wide open to style and interpretation, and I have really enjoyed learning and growing in skill while learning something new!

Over the past few months, I ended up created a collection of carvings honoring Mary under some of her various titles and names. If you follow me on Instagram, I've been sharing carving and printing videos along the way, and I'm so excited to have all of these prints to share with you! 

Seeing all the images of Mary together inspired me to scale them down to little postage-stamp-sized, and I made these bookmarks, which would be a nice thing to use during this last part of the Month of the Rosary and to remind you of Mary's role in a Christian's life all year long. Print on heavy cardstock and stick it in your favorite Bible or journal!

Click here for a free printable set of Marian bookmarks:

Maybe soon I'll do a how-to post about what I've learned about (and from) block carving, but I'll just share that it has been a very prayerful process overall. The slow work and attention to details gives you a lot of time to think as you work, especially when carving a holy image.

The inking and reveal of the first print is just so satisfying after all of the work- so much cooler than hitting "print" on a computer! ;)

And the texture, inconsistencies, and little mistakes of the prints that make them one of a kind are really fascinating as well. I often have a hard time choosing a "favorite" or master print from a printing session because there are different things I like about different prints.

And because art is meant to be shared, I added a whole Marian collection in my Etsy Shop available today! Everything here on my blog will always be available for free, but I don't always do a good job of letting my blog readers know when there are new things available for you on Etsy. I hate being "sales-y," but I know that we are all thinking ahead to Christmas shopping, and I thought you might like to go check out these prints and bags as you work on your gift list.  

You can find my Etsy Shop here and below is a little preview of a few of the items:

The Names of Mary Collection includes prints, totes, zipper pouches, and stickers of: 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, The Immaculate Conception, Stella Maris, The Immaculate Heart, The Sorrowful Mother, The Holy Family, Our Lady of  Częstochowa , The New Eve, Our Lady Undoer of Knots, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Fatima, and The Spouse of the Holy Spirit

The black and white really looks great with a variety of decor, and I am loving how mine look on the gallery wall I've set up in my bedroom.

The block prints are all hand printed, and contain unique inconsistencies, making them one of a kind:

Besides prints, I also made some little zipper pouches for pens or all those pesky tiny things floating around your purse or diaper bag:

These generous zipper pouches, which I love for journals and art supplies:

And there are several versions of these tote bags (13x13" with a 3.5" gusset and 9" drop on the handles- not too big, but plenty of space to haul things!)

And I just love these super cute vinyl stickers:

Also next Saturday, 10/31/20, I'll be restocking my popular stamps, which are the heart of my shop. This will be the last restock before Christmas, and I'll be honest that they usually sell out quickly. I'm advertising the restock as opening at 9 a.m. CST, but I'll let my blog readers know that I'll have the listings up and ready at 8:30 a.m. if you want a little head start. :) Set an alarm now!

I hope that these things help bring a little faith and beauty into your lives!

Renewing Baptismal Promises Activity- Perfect for Lent and Easter

Lent is a perfect time to be thinking about Baptism. First, we remember that during Lent we are called to die with Christ so that we can also celebrate the Resurrection with Him, just as we do in Baptism. We also witness the preparation of those that desire to enter the Church this Easter as they draw nearer to the time of their own Baptisms. And we also know that we will renew our Baptismal Promises at Easter and the new Paschal Candle, used for Baptisms for the rest of the year, will be blessed at Easter Vigil. Plus, every Sunday is a little Easter, so any Sundays are a good day to think about our Baptisms!

So as my students were finishing up a unit on the Sacrament of Baptism this week, it was perfect timing to dive a little deeper into the rites and rituals that happen at a Baptism. They have a good knowledge of the form and matter, as well as the symbols used, so on our last day we closed our study by reading some of the beautiful prayers from the Rite of Baptism. We focused on two of my favorites- the Blessing of the Baptismal Water and the Renewal of Baptismal Promises.

I printed a copy of the Baptismal Promises for each of my students so they could read and examine them- and they quickly realized that after saying no to Satan, what we are saying yes to are the tenets of the Creed. I intentionally made their copies long and narrow so after reading the words, they could flip them over and design their own Baptismal Candle using the symbols they had learned about. (You can get the printable at the end of the post if you'd like to try the same!)

Then, we closed in a time of prayer, renewing our Baptismal Promises together and blessing ourselves with Holy Water. The activity was made even more special by using my new Holy Water bottle from Reliquary Supply Co.- a new little business that is striving to create things that are true, good, and beautiful.

(Reliquary Supply Co. sent me a free holy water bottle to review. All opinions are my own- and I only review things I've used and love!)

Just look at this lovely Holy Water Bottle! The design is both modern and classic, and the small details make this sacramental truly lovely. The heavy glass bottle holds a generous 4 oz. and has a prayer printed right on the back.

The packaging for this lovely little bottle is so thoughtfully done, making it a pleasure to open and perfect for gifting. I love that their bottle presents an opportunity to celebrate so many occasions- Baptisms, First Communions, Weddings, etc.- by filling the bottle with Holy Water from the church that day as a way to remember those significant moments, as well as just for regular use of Holy Water in your home or classroom. It makes a timeless and beautiful keepsake. They also have a unique Baptismal Candle, and the two together would make a wonderful gift for a new baby or a new Catholic coming into the Church this Easter. If you're thinking of all the ways you'd like to make use of their great designs, Reliquary Supply Co. has graciously offered a 10% discount to my readers with the code KATIE10. Go check them out- and I can't wait to see what they come up with next!

Click here for the Baptismal Promises Candle printable:

This post has more ideas for teaching about the Paschal Candle, which is an especially great activity for Holy Week:

Or click here for a Baptism activity that includes these water drop Baptismal promises:

Beauty That Points Beyond- Jessica from TelosArt {Guest Post} (AND the Giveaway!)

In a world that craves the true, the good, and the beautiful, is a joy to host the fourth Why Make Beautiful Things series here at Look to Him and Be Radiant. You can read the original post with my thoughts on beauty here and read all the guest posts in the previous series here. Today I have the honor of sharing the work and reflections of Jessica from Telos Art, maker of jewelry and paintings and my very favorite Liturgical Calendars. I think you'll enjoy reading her wisdom about the WHY behind her creativity. We'll be featuring guest posts all week, and a huge giveaway of beautiful things on Friday, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. We'd love to hear from you here or on Instagram why YOU make beautiful things- Chime in on today's post!!

Throughout life I have been captivated by the visual world. As a child I would often map the layout of a building in my mind or on paper, trying to make sense of each space and how they were connected. Converting to Catholicism was a similar process of piecing together the truths I had heard growing up. After completing architecture school, where modernism was king, Catholicism encapsulated my pursuit for truth, beauty, and goodness...both in my faith and in my aesthetic.

Image Courtesy of  31Four, Inc.

“For all its rooted loveliness, the world has no continuing city here; it is an outlandish place, a foreign home, a session in via to a better version of itself--and it is our glory to see it so and to thirst until Jerusalem comes home at last. We were given appetites, not to consume the world and forget it, but to taste its goodness and hunger to make it great.”

This quote from Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection, by Robert Farrar, speaks in part to the vision behind my work. The beauty of this world is meant to give us a glimpse of the truth and beauty beyond. While we are just "passing through" the truth, beauty, and goodness still has a purpose.



Visiting beautiful churches, hearing sacred chant, even studying the geometry of seashells can point to something beyond. Something greater. I think we all want more of those reminders in our lives.

The definition of telos is an ultimate end or aim. As Christians, we are called to be a new creation. Many of my necklaces are designed around vintage medals. Taking old, vintage, forgotten jewelry and bring them back to life is not only fun, it's symbolic.



"From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." 
--Ephesians 4:16

This verse from Ephesians 4:16 has always been an encouragement to me, especially when I felt like "making pretty things" was trivial. But being able to design jewelry, modern liturgical calendars, and other unique resources is a joy. I'm so grateful I get to share in some creative acts as my work. Through Telos Design and the Telos Art Shop my hope is to join others in our journey of faith.

If we recognize that our lives are not the end itself, but rather a "session in via to a better version...", then truth, beauty, and goodness each play a part in that journey. And they are anything but trivial. The music we enjoy, the jewelry we wear, or the art we hang on our walls can be an opportunity for us to live for our telos. 

We are all on a journey and the true beauty of this world is a means to a greater end.





I'm honored to get to share Jessica's words of wisdom with you.  Please go visit her shop and social media, and join the conversation here in the comments or on today's Instagram post. And don't forget to come back every day this week for more creative wisdom from a set of beautiful women makers! Sign up for the Telos Art Shop monthly newsletter to receive a liturgical calendar download each month as well as shop updates:

Find Jessica:

Shop- Telos Art Shop

Instagram- @telosart

Facebook- Telos Design

Jessica is generously donating a set of her brand new Mysteries of the Rosary window clings to our Beautiful Things Giveaway! You'll be able to enter to win here on the blog and on Instagram, 

Enter the Beautiful Things Giveaway:
You can enter the giveaway here on the blog, and for more chances to win you can enter on Instagram as well! I hope you enjoy visiting all these lovely and generous makers, and know that they appreciate you following along with them on your favorite social media tools.

The winner of the Beautiful Things Giveaway will receive:
$55 Credit towards a Doll and Guaranteed spot in 2019 from Marcy of Marzipantz
8x10 Sacred Heart of Jesus Print from Tricia of Providential Co.
Red Sacred Heart Tote Bag from Rakhi of Rakstar Designs
Set of Cards and Stickers from Shari of Catholic Paper Goods
Set of Mysteries of the Rosary Window Clings from Jessica of Telos Art
Any In-stock Stamp of Your Choice from Katie of Look to Him and Be Radiant

One winner will be chosen using random generator from combination of entries on blog and Instagram. US only and must be 18 or older to win. Winner must meet entry guidelines. Winner has 24 hours to respond or new winner will be chosen. Giveaway closes at midnight Central time Sunday, June 30, 2019. (And if you're viewing this in your email browser, you'll have to click over to the blog to enter using the Rafflecopter giveaway widget!)

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Q & A with Shari from Catholic Paper Goods {Guest Post}

In a world that craves the true, the good, and the beautiful, is a joy to host the fourth Why Make Beautiful Things series here at Look to Him and Be Radiant. You can read the original post with my thoughts on beauty here and read all the guest posts in the previous series here. Today I have the honor of sharing the work and reflections of Shari of Catholic Paper Goods, designer of unique Catholic cards, stickers, and printables (and an amazing growing collection of Saint art!). I think you'll enjoy reading her wisdom about the WHY behind her creativity. We'll be featuring guest posts all week, and a huge giveaway of beautiful things on Friday, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. We'd love to hear from you here or on Instagram why YOU make beautiful things- Chime in on today's post!!

Can you tell us a little about how Catholic Paper Goods got started? You have both a secular and a faith based business. What inspired you to incorporate what you believe into what you create?
I am a graphic designer, illustrator and photographer with 26 years of experience in the industry. Since 2000, I have run my own freelance design studio, Em-press Design (www.em-pressdesign.com). I offer logos/branding/corporate identity, corporate marketing materials, brochures, annual reports, catalogs, sell sheets, t-shirt and specialty item design, trade show graphics, custom wedding invitations and baby announcements as well as portrait and product photography. While I love that line of work and the variety of clients I am honored to help, about 4 years ago, I started to feel like something was missing. When I was little, my dream was to be an artist at Hallmark so I could illustrate and hand-letter greeting cards. In college, I majored in fine arts and received my BFA in painting and drawing and went on to graduate with an MA in graphic design/illustration. I’ve always been drawn to the crisp lines of more graphic illustration, especially combined with elegant, bold typography and/or hand-lettering.

In 2015, I began attending the Walking With Purpose women’s Bible study at our parish and loved it. I am a cradle Catholic revert, the 1970s catechesis of my youth left me… shall we say, lacking!?! It wasn’t until I was almost 40 that I finally clued into how incredibly rich and beautiful this faith of ours truly is! It sounds silly to say that, but I honestly didn’t have even a basic understanding of it or appreciate it until a health crisis led me home. During WWP, I kept feeling a strong nudge to use my design skills for something Catholic, but I had no idea what that looked like. I asked the ladies at my table every week during our prayer time for clarity and kept asking God to please be extremely specific because I just wasn’t getting it! Two years later, I was blessed with an amazingly detailed dream with black and white hand-lettered Catholic greeting cards spread all over my coffee table. I jumped up and sketched them all out so as not to forget. I immediately started to produce all the ideas I was gifted in every free moment I could find for 6 straight months. I’m still in awe of that dream and its impact on my life.

At the end of 2017, I launched Catholic Paper Goods as an Etsy shop with digital downloadable cards, art prints, coloring pages, custom invitations for sacraments and vinyl stickers. I create everything when I can make time around my corporate design work and motherhood. This year, our family is planning a big move from the city to the country where we hope to find acreage to build a home, grow our own food and have chickens again (we had city chickens for a few years until a raccoon massacre). Oh, how I miss fresh eggs! I will also be a first time homeschooling mom to my 9-year-old son, Luke, this fall. He is a force to be reckoned with! He inspires me, helps me and loves it when new sticker designs arrive so he can plaster them all over his bike. He is so artistically gifted, it won’t be long until he contributes his own designs for the shop. Since I began to incorporate my faith into my work, I’ve never been more at peace or excited to create. The ideas never cease and I can hardly wait to keep producing them. I pray that I can continue to build and grow this new chapter and be fully open to the guidance of the Spirit. I am constantly pushed to keep creating and experimenting with new styles and this year, I’m working on more offerings for kids. I just launched the first of many saint and Marian coloring pages in time for summer break and more will be coming.



I'm so grateful for repeat customers and custom orders. The feedback I've received has been overwhelming and I'm so happy to be able to create custom designs for people, especially ordination invitations. My mission is to offer beautifully designed Catholic paper products that are hard to find or needed at the last minute and can be downloaded instantly. I have a sweet customer who recently messaged me about a last minute personalized baptism gift she needed for the the next morning and I was so happy to be able to help her!

How do you think the Church today could better use beauty to convey the truth within Her that is unchanging, while also meeting the modern culture?
I am so inspired by Bishop Robert Barron and his Word on Fire ministry. They superbly use technology and social media integrated with simple, beautiful art and design to convey the truth and that is exactly what I pray to be able to do. I am so grateful that programs like his exist, they are making our job as parents so much easier and richer. We love to watch his DVDs and listen to the podcasts of Fr. John Riccardo and many, many others. We also enjoy Catholic radio and our son is a huge fan of Catholic Answers. All of these offerings are so wonderful for a young person to better comprehend our faith and to form a personal relationship with Christ. My son knows far more than I ever did about Catholicism even in my forties! I recently turned 50 and am super sentimental (read: peri-menopausal!!). I got married at 39 and became a mom at almost 41. I’m so grateful to God for my amazing husband, his endless patience with me and especially waiting to receive the vocation of marriage and parenthood later in life. I wasn’t at all prepared for this in my twenties—God’s plan is always better than mine!

I hope that by expanding my line of digital downloadable artwork, I can offer educators, homeschoolers, young mothers and their kids access to beautiful Catholic art that will enrich their day-to-day lives. I’m such a poor planner, my goal is that moms like me who woke up and either forgot or ran out of time to prepare something for a given feast day can quickly go download a coloring page or art print, etc. and be ready for the day. Using the incredible tools of technology we have in a positive way to inspire our youth and encourage them to live out their faith (and hopefully also be inspired to create beautiful sacred art!) can only help us to grow the domestic church. I pray to design artwork and stickers that young people are proud to display in order to encourage them not to abandon ship as I did at their age, no matter what's happening within our Church, in our country or in the world.



What Saints inspire you most?
I have so many favorites, it’s hard to narrow them down, but St. Dymphna and Pope St. John Paul II are very special. St. Dymphna was of great comfort to me when I went through a medical nightmare as a result of a horrible reaction to a prescription medication many years ago. I experienced mild brain damage that caused severe depression and anxiety and I prayed to her fiercely during the full year it took me to recover from it. I recently completed an illustration of her for her feast day in gratitude and it's one of my favorites so far.

Pope St. John Paul II is special because he was the first Pope I witnessed being elected. I was 9 years old and attending Catholic school at the time, so we had a front row seat to the process and I was fascinated. His smile and gentle demeanor were such a comfort to me as a child and young adult. Even during my time away from the Church, he held a special place in my heart and his pontificate shaped me profoundly.

What projects for CPG are you dreaming about?
I’m designing an ongoing series of downloadable Saint trading cards that I hope will be helpful for educators and homeschool moms. I also want to expand custom invitation offerings to include personalized wedding invitation templates and I’d love to eventually offer t-shirts and more physical products. Most of my items are instant downloads, but I can ship actual prints upon request. I'd like to hear from your readers about specific products they would like to have, I know there are so many ideas out there and I’d like to bring them to life! For example, a customer contacted me asking for a small card to accompany a Mass card for the deceased that explains why Catholics pray for the dead/have Masses said. I was happy to be able to offer her a few versions that are now in the shop. I’m putting the finishing touches on custom portraits of priests either for their ordination or jubilee, they are a more modern style like the saint series and I hope they will make a fun, unique gift. I realize many of my ideas aren’t original and there are many other Catholic artists offering similar products, but I love that we are all so different and offer our own unique styles in how we convey our faith artistically.

I'm honored to get to share Shari's words of wisdom with you.  Please go visit her shop and social media, and join the conversation here in the comments or on today's Instagram post. And don't forget to come back every day this week for more creative wisdom from a set of beautiful women makers!

Find Shari:

Shop- Catholic Paper Goods
Etsy- Catholic Paper Goods
The Well- Catholic Paper Goods

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And on Friday I'll be hosting the Beautiful Things Giveaway, an amazing collection of lovely items to bring the beauty of the Creator into your daily life.  Shari is giving away this awesome stack of Catholic cards, prints, and stickers! You'll be able to enter to win here on the blog and on Instagram, so check back Friday, 6/28/2019, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart!