Heavensentdesigns's Blog

I’m needing to make some big changes to this site and clarification of what services I offer.   Over the next few weeks, there will be new content and photos and I think that the overall site will be much more informative and user friendly.

I will begin with stating for past clients that I no longer am making worship banners and passion play costumes as a main stay of Heaven Sent Designs.  I will continue to take “one of a kind” projects for churches on a limited basis…..depending of course on what that project is.

My main focus will be to work with people in my locality who need sewing services of various natures including alterations, custom sewing and embroidery, light upholstery, home decorating accessories ( curtains, pillow, cushions), finishing quilt tops (quilting, binding), complete quilts, mending and any other projects that require sewing experience.

I get asked often if I will: Recover dining room chairs, alter wedding dresses, make children’s clothing, monogram shirts, make custom table linens, recover lawn furniture cushions, make bedskirts, and design/make special children’s costumes.   Yes Yes and Yes!

I’ve over 45 years of experience with a needle, and 35 years of experience in sewing for other people professionally.   My shop is clean, organized and smoke free.  I’m diligent to turn my orders out quickly and have never missed  a deadline.   I have access to vendors who can supply me with multiple yards of quality fabrics, often very different  than what is available in the local stores.  This is very helpful when I work with brides who hire me to make all the bridesmaids dresses.

So whatever your sewing need might be, please give me a call and we can discuss your options and a pleasing solution. 904-845-3388

It’s been a long hot, very hot, summer.   The garden was planted and harvested.  Grandchildren came, stayed a few days, and went back home.  Termite damage was discovered and repaired.  The cleaning of the shop was taken in manageable bites, inventory counted,  packed up and sold.  Major family dynamic was changed with the engagement and 6 weeks of preparing for a wedding. Wedding dress designed and made and packing up and moving said daughter to new home. Teaching a quilting class stretched me new ways, and starting an Etsy shop has proved to be challenging.

Most days I’m just not sure what direction I should go in….I’ve not seen a clear path in any particular way, so I just keep putting my feet one in front of the other. It is a life of learning to trust more, leaning harder, and having just enough faith to carry me through to the next thing.   It is comforting to know that He will not let me go through doors He has closed so as I move I can be sure He is directing my steps even though I can’t see a change in the path or landscape.  I think this might be the place where many christians stumble and fall.  When things don’t seem to change, we get the idea that God has abandoned us and that’s just not true.  I have to remind myself often that my ways or timing are not His.

One thing I am re-learning is that there is much more to me than the “business”.  It’s so easy when you’re self-employed and wearing all the hats, that you kind of loose your identity.  And along with that , it gets real easy to try and do things in your own strength, and try to take the credit for any success.  This of course is wrong and ultimately self defeating. Any success we enjoy is only because of God’s grace and favor over us.

So this transition period I’m in is not the easiest place I’ve ever been but I’m learning slowly to be more patient as He completes His work in me. My husband always has told me to go straight if I’m not sure which road to take….and that advice has consistently kept me from getting lost.  So I’ll keep trusting Him and  keep moving until I find a sign that tells me turn or find a new door to pass through.

Today I’ve been sewing on music folders.  What is that you say?  For over 20 years I was a member of the choir at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville.   The entire time, I used the same black vinyl folder for my music.   When the music minister left and went to another church, he found that the folders being used were falling apart and called to ask me to make ones like were used at FBC Jax.  So, I’ve been working on 300 black vinyl 2 pocket folders which makes for pretty heavy stacks.  The folders are flexible, tough, and roomy.  This is one of those jobs that can get really boring so to combat the monotony of it, I try to picture the person who will use it.  Some day we will sing together in Heaven’s Choir and the sound will be beyond anything we’ve ever heard here.  It makes me remember a vivid dream I had a number of years ago…….I had stepped out of my home to find the air sparkling and brilliant.  The sky was filled with angels and the music was like nothing I had ever heard before….it was glorious!!!!! Then one of the angels stepped in front of me and said, “You shall see Him in all His Glory”.  I woke up!  I wanted to go back and hear the music again.  So as I sew the stack of black vinyl music folders, I will also pray for the choir that will be using them…..someday we will sing together in front of the throne of God.

Yes that is what I am.   I get comfy in what is familiar and find it hard to learn new things sometimes.  The “true and true” fits most of the time and I find myself resisting stretching myself especially in areas of technology.   Today, I’ve been working on setting up my Etsy store and find that I’ve allowed myself to get rusty in navigating set up procedures.  Eventually, I figure it out after about 3 calls to my daughter.  This makes me think about my spiritual habits/life as well.  How many times do I try to do things the same way without getting the desired results before I humble my self before the Lord and ask for guidance or wisdom?  I am finding more and more that I must admit my frailties in so many areas every day not just occasionally.  If I am to be a creature of habit, then I so desire that the habit be “total submission to the Lord in all things”.  When I am weak, He is strong.

We’ve printed a new catalog showing some of our gift items that we are now producing.  If you are interested in obtaining one, please email me at heavensentdesigns@windstream.net

Designing and printing a catalog is always a monumental process and I’m always glad when the project is completed.  We have determined through many years of creating catalogs, that people don’t really care much about the cover, but of the content inside.  We have given extra effort to explain each product and to be informative as to all our services .

This catalog shows but a brief sampling of the items we are now offering, but it will give you a start in understanding the new Heaven Sent Designs.  We have a long list of new items we will be adding regularly so if you want to get updates please be sure you indicate that in your email and we will be sure to add you to our mailing list.

I look forward  to hearing from you.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and He shall direct thy path. Prov. 3:5-6

I’ve been holding off for some time writing this post as until now, the timing did not seem right.   The Lord has brought me through the pruning process and I now feel as though I am ready to bear new and better fruit.

For 21 years, I’ve owned/operated a small company called Heaven Sent Designs.  I designed and manufactured worship banners and costumes for Church passion plays.  Along with a few employees and one very loyal and helpful husband, we were able to help thousands of churches across the US and in 15 countries with their special programs and with bringing art into the worship facility.  My dream when I started was small but God had much bigger plans for me.  I can never list all the wonderful experiences I enjoyed because of this ministry, nor could I ever give credit to all the people who helped me along the way with ideas, accountability, inspiration and hands on assistance.  There have been several who had the ability to “open doors” of opportunity for me which ultimately grew our influence in this area of church life and worship.  The work has been challenging beyond my wildest expectations but fulfilling as I’ve seen over and over God’s mighty hand of provision, protection and blessing.

In recent years, we’ve seen vast changes in worship styles and focus in our churches.  Trying to fit the resources and abilities of the church to minister to those who need it and still fulfill the great commission has been often a trial and error process.  Some churches seem to get it right quickly while other struggle.  Our world is changing so fast and along with that, our physical earth is groaning.  Natural disasters are frequent and it is the church who always steps up to help people get back on their feet.   Along with the changes in governmental leadership, economics,  and culture, there seems to be less and less interest and desire to use the products I’ve been producing over the past years.   This is not to say I’m quitting…..this is to say, that I have come to the realization I must change and adapt.  A friend once told me that I needed to let the Lord show me how I could reach the most people in the most effective way with the time I had for the cause of Christ.  For today and onward, I am going back to my roots  which will enable me to have a more personal involvement into the lives of individuals.  Where as I will not be mass producing products, I will now work on projects that require custom techniques and an individual approach.  So whether it be sewing a few bridesmaids dresses, making music folders for a choir, sewing a backdrop, creating special character costumes, or making specialty items that will help a new mother care for her baby, I am looking forward to seeing how God will use my talents, resources and abilities in the coming days and weeks.  I have made many wonderful friends because of God using me in this capacity in the past and am excited about this place He has led me to for this time in my life.   I will be developing a shop on Etsy and also premiering new products on this site so bookmark this page and check in often.  Heaven Sent Designs is going to better than ever before and we are very excited about what God is going to do with the new format.

Yesterday I went into town to do some intense power shopping for fabric.  I was out all day, and only hit 3 stores.   This year I will make about 40 costumes in just a little over 3 weeks.  Some of these will have multiple parts and there are a few that only have 1 piece to make.   What makes this year different from the rest is that we are doing a new script and therefore have some different scenes.  We will be adding an expanded scene around Procula’s character and I will be making 3 more Roman Women.  These will be colorful, very feminine and flowy.  Also we will have the marriage miracle scene with a Rabbi, Bride and Groom, Parents of the Bride and servants.  I have chosen to take the perspective that this is a wealthy family and the the costumes will be in white, gold, cream and beige.  I love doing work like this because it allows me to break away from the regular drab biblicals and get creative with some of my nicer fabrics and trims.  I also will be doing new outfits for the 16 dancers and this is the biggest challenge of all as I’ve looked for fabric for 3 years to get the exact look I’m after.  I think I’ve finally found it….am waiting on swatches sent through the mail.  So these will be the last ones done as I won’t have fabric in hand for at least a week.

In past years, I’ve pretty much handled all the costuming myself and it has continued to grow into a bigger job each year.  This year I decided it was too much for one person as the cast is 80 plus people and that doesn’t include the choir, dancers or angels.  So I’ve been praying for someone to assist and Thurs. night one of my favorite people from choir stepped up and offered to help.  This is a huge load off my shoulders.  We’ve already got a great start….all the basic robes have been unpacked and put on hangers and I’ve about 20 costumes assigned.

One of my characters this year is a seller of purple.   I’ve been trying to learn how to use my embroidery machine more  to it’s capability and so I’m embroidering a 5 color design along the bottom of each sleeve.  It’s coming out really pretty.  This is the first time I’ve added embroidery to any of my costumes and I hope to really expand this technique on more of my costumes.

So tonight as I look at my work room, the tables are piled with stacks of fabric from burlap and fur for John the Baptist, to silk and brocades for the wedding party to tapestry for Abraham’s coat and many others.  It’s organized chaos but only for a short time.  This is what I love doing and I’m blessed to be able to be a small part of this great production.