July 31, 2012

heeey

i cannot wait to reveal some logos i've been working on... but alas, i'll need to wait for my sweet client friends to launch first [obviously].

so while i'm chomping at the bit.... here's a guy that literally chomps at the bit.
what?? who am i, making these dad jokes...



thanks for humoring me. :)

xo,
ashley

oh, p.s. august desktop + wallpaper will be up tomorrow!! soooo excited about this one... i think it's my fave so far. :)

July 24, 2012

the trade :: beauty for ashes

i thought of a million different ways to start this post, but the truth is i can't write anything catchy for what i'm going to talk about. my heart is seriously pounding.... it's something i've kept hidden away for a long time [with the exception of telling a handful of people] because i thought if i told people, it would define me as a person... but i was already letting it define me on the inside.... up until about a year + a half ago when i finally let God heal that part of my life...
...i was molested around 4-6 years old. i can't pinpoint the exact time frame because it happened a few times, all by my babysitter's teenage son. unfortunately, it's some of the most vivid childhood memories i have.
i know this is a serious subject to be talking about on the blog, + i can't even really explain why i'm writing about this except that i've been thinking about this for the last couple weeks, thinking that maybe sharing this story would bring hope + freedom to someone carrying a similar shame + baggage.

for so long, i thought things like -  i'm damaged. i'm tainted. i'm worthless. i'm ashamed. which is probably why i struggled with eating disorders + looked to relationships to make myself feel better. they were always empty by the way. i was still called chubby + i was still left at the end of a relationship feeling more unattractive + more tainted than before.

even though i was a christian, i struggled. it wasn't until i went through a beth moore study called 'believing God' that i realized what i had been doing for years [we're talking almost 20 years people!] i had never surrendered the shameful thing to God, never trusted Him to make the trade --- He had always asked for my ashes/my broken pieces, + promised beauty in exchange....... i just never offered it to Him. i never let myself believe that He could make beautiful things out of dust. i seriously cry every time i say that. it's miraculous + unbelievable that He pleads for our handfuls of dust because He wants to give us a beauty unfathomable + unimaginable.

when i finally did that - all i did was offer up those ashes with open, willing hands - God responded immediately, like He couldn't wait for me to give it up.

He started blowing my mind with blessings - our dear friend crystal invited us up for a summer in Montana [which quickly turned into 6 months, which turned into a move earlier this year], i started writing again + God gave me so much time to write in MT [God has put a vision in my heart for this book + i'm so excited about it!!], i'm doing what i love [art] for a living, i gained a bunch of amazing new friends, my marriage is awesome + thriving + full of love, + i'm filled with joy. i'm excited. i'm happy. i love this beautiful life that God has given me. it all might sound cheesy but i've never felt so free in my life.

if you've never given your entire heart to Jesus, i beg you to do so; you will be blown away with all that God gives you in return for your complete surrender.

"He will give them beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, + a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." [isaiah 61:3] 
....you are beautiful. you are NOT damaged beyond repair. 

"you will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God." [isaiah 62:3]
....you are a priceless treasure. you are NOT worthless. 


"but because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." [ephesians 2:4-5]
....you are loved more than you could ever imagine! 


God can + will redeem anything if you let Him.

i'm praying you'll let Him....
xo,
ashley

p.s. in case you're wondering, i go to fresh life church. :)



July 13, 2012

what's your brew?

wow, can't believe it's been a week since i last posted... well, actually i can, i've been wrapped up in a few different projects [which i'm so excited about] + remember little baby braveman? yep, he's here!! baby ezra trontel is adorable!! congrats reed + kelli!!



in other news, it has been boiling hot here the last few days so i've taken up my iced latte addiction again.... luckily i have a sweet husband who loves making them for me first thing in the morning!! i've made a few myself too... only when he's gone though. :)



right now, we're pulling shots from 6 degrees beans [from billings montana]... so good + the beans smell like dark chocolate, if it were up to me i'd buy coffee based on that alone!
when i'm not feeding my addiction, i'm brewing peet's snow leopard for iced tea. mmmmm.

any coffee beans or tea i should be trying?! i'd love to hear what you guys are brewing...

happy friday!
xo,
ashley

July 6, 2012

new cards coming to the shop!



these cards are 4x5.5 + blank inside, making them multi-use friendly:: "you're a gem... happy birthday!" or "you're a gem... thanks for everything!" or "you're a gem... just wanted to say so." :)
...+ making them available at the shop later today. yay!!

happy friday!!

xo,
ashley

July 2, 2012

july desktop + iphone wallpaper!

summer has come very slowly here in northwest montana... but has come nonetheless, for which i am very thankful!!

well, last month kelli + i had a ton of responses about the desktop [which is awesome!!] + realized that most of you like having a calendar for the month... so without further adieu, here's your quote + calendar for the month of july!!

[this month's quote comes from our amazing pastor at fresh life church, levi lusko. check out his blog here. always an awesome read.]






+ iphone wallpaper::




xo,
ashley