You Don't Want to Miss This...It's A Prize!

I have an opportunity for you to walk home with the mother load of all gifts.

Are you ready for this?!?!

First, let me tell you about Baby University.

From the BabyU website: "Moms who participate in the program meet on a monthly basis to learn more about nurturing brain development in their new babies, and receive practical and spiritual coaching."

Baby University is a non-profit organization founded by Hether Pflasterer of Jackson, Tennessee. This program is offered in conjunction with Birth Choice of Jackson, TN, (which is a crisis pregnancy center) to extend support of new moms past birth. It's sort of a "next-step" program for moms for after the babies have been born.

 Hether just so happens to be one of my closest friends. Hether was a public school teacher here in Jackson for 17 years. During her time, she saw year after year a true need for early childhood education, not just for children, but for parents. She had an idea to come alongside new parents and offer one of the most needed resources.....the resource of a friend.

BabyU meets once a month for six consecutive months. Classes cover everything from brain development at each age, discipline issues and health and nutrition. What we also do, is join together in a big 'ol circle and share stories from the trenches. We talk about all the things the experts say, and then we talk about how this plays out in the day to day grind of raising little humans. And we also spend time talking through things like "how do we pray for our children?". At the last BabyU meeting, Hether passed out little index books to all the moms who were present and encouraged them to search for scriptures that speak to issues with their families. We all partnered up and spent time talking through how we can better love our children by praying scripture with them and for them.

One of the things I'm realizing by attending BabyU classes is how, just as a smile is a universal language, it seems that being momma is also something that goes beyond all the boundaries we can sometimes erect. Boundaries of socioeconomic status, culture, neighborhoods, age.....when we sit down and start sharing how we struggle with these sweet babies....it seems that all of those differences don't seem so large. Over the past several months we have grieved with a sweet momma who lost her baby to SIDS, we've rejoiced over all the new babies who have been added to that circle, we have laughed A LOT at stories of little ones who have their own big personalities, and we have all prayed earnestly together that God would guide us as we navigate this road of motherhood. Being a part of these classes personally has been a true blessing to my soul.

So.....are you ready to hear about the prize!?!?!

BabyU is ALWAYS in need of diapers and wipes. By attending classes, moms get a chance to use mommy money to shop in our resource room. Diapers and wipes are a hot commodity! So, here is a chance for you to not only contribute towards this awesome ministry, but win a prize! Yay!

This year at the Marketplace, we are going to have a booth dedicated to some non-profits who work with children in our city. One of the featured ministries is BabyU! Drumroll please........

If you bring a package of diapers OR wipes and drop it off at this booth, you will get a ticket and be entered into a drawing for a gift basket! This gift basket will feature items from a lot of our vendors! Pocket journals from Inkwell's Press, products from Made On Acorn Hill, pottery from a local potter, a stylish neckerchief from Garner Blue, jewelry, beautiful hand drawn cards, and more!!!!

 

So basically a $10 pack of diapers could win you a gift basket valued at over $150! AND....you'll be giving diapers to new momma's who really need them. WIN!

 

Now, go get those diapers!

Vendor Spotlight: Inkwell's Press

I am so excited to tell you about our next featured vendor who will be at the Marketplace this year. Ryan and Elyzabeth are dear friends of ours. And they are the creative fuel behind Inkwell's Press.

 The amount of thought and creativity that this couple puts into every aspect of, not only this venture of Inkwell's Press, but also in their lives as a whole is awe inspiring. I have witnessed first hand the craft and care that goes into each item they sell. I have sat in their home studio as Elyzabeth hand stitches each journal with a carefully selected wax thread. The pace that this couple takes to care for and deeply love not only their products, but every person who is in their life is a refreshing breath of air in our hurried, digitized culture.

Inkwell's Press exists to create beautifully printed 'artifacts' designed for everyday life that beg to be pondered, explored and discovered by future generations. Ryan and Elyzabeth are a wonder-struck, creatively determined husband-wife duo with a passion for telling stories.

"Everything that gets designed and printed in our lifetime will eventually be a small piece of the big story that gets told to our children, and our children’s children, and so on.  We want to humbly play our part in telling that story through the timeless beauty of tangible goods and services we can still touch, and see, and share with each other in our local neighborhoods.”  

 

 

Ryan and Elyzabeth hope that Inkwell’s Press will become a social enterprise supporting gospel initiatives that enrich the life and culture of local communities.  For now they want to get started by designating a percentage of their profits from the A New Thing fall marketplace to go toward Aarik and Brooke Danielson’s adoption.  

Inkwell’s Press will currently be offering a collection of hand printed, hand bound pocket notebooks and journals, along with limited edition screen printed posters and woodcut prints, as well as a few decorative pillows.

 

 

 

You do not want to miss this booth at A New Thing fall marketplace! And those pocket journals would make such great gifts!

Vendor Spotlight: Made On Acorn Hill

If you've been around Jackson, TN any length of time, then you've probably heard of these two mama's who make all natural goat's milk soap and other products. I remember the first time I heard about these ladies and their soap. I was at a Holiday event and they had a booth set up. When you walked by their booth the aroma would follow you! I turned around and followed my nose back to their booth and purchased my first Made On Acorn Hill product. It was a bar of soap and I was hooked! And honestly, I can not live without their chapstick. Ok. That could be a bit overstated. But we are some chapstick consumers in this house. MOAH chapstick is by FAR my favorite.

Their products are absolutely amazing. And more than anything, I love the heartbeat of this business. They say "Made on Acorn Hill is an overflow of the lives of two mamas and their families that has grown organically into what it is today." These mama's met for lunch one day and shared a desire to make handmade, all natural gifts for their friends and families for Christmas. From those humble beginnings this amazing company began. Their friends and families couldn't get enough and now we all get to purchase these products! But this business is still a family affair! Ashley's husband is a counselor by day and a goat milker by night. Mandy's husband is a lawyer by day and a label designer extraordinaire by night. And they say you can even spy a few of their 11 children helping to assemble products! That's right.... 11 children between the two of them! Their "real job" is that of mother and they also get to make soap on the side.... We're all so glad they do!

This past January when I went to Ethiopia, one of our main objectives while there was to speak to a group of pastors wives at the pastors conference that was being held. The women that I was going with had met and decided that we wanted to be able to present gifts to all these precious women. Soaps and lotions are not things that are readily available in Ethiopia. In fact, they can be quite difficult to come by. So we thought bars of soap would be a great gift. I was sharing this idea with a friend when she said, "You should check with the Made on Acorn Hill girls!". But here was the kicker....we needed 50 bars of soap! That's a lot of soap! But these ladies graciously donated it all! And NOT ONLY did they donate 50 soaps, they also put a gift set together for each of the women who were going on the trip! Complete with my fave....chapstick! This was such a blessing in many ways. The pastors wives were so incredibly thankful, and also......my suitcase smelled AH MAZING. And not only my suitcase, but our whole room carried this sweet aroma. And let's just say in Ethiopia....well.....the smells.....maybe not so pleasant always.

We shared with these ladies about how God has created women as life givers. What a gift to share these soaps, made my two mama's who are living out their life giving rolls with women across the globe who are also living out their life giving rolls.

So, come check out Made on Acorn Hill at the marketplace! Get some for you and stock up on gifts! You will be so glad you did!!!

All Call!

I have this great friend named Bethany. She has this way of getting a big group of women's attention by loudly proclaiming..."Hey Laaayydaays!" We all turn because if Bethany is shouting at us, we're pretty sure something amazing will follow.

Consider this my version of HEY LADIES!

We only have 8 spots left for vendors at the marketplace! Isn't that awesome?! We're adding four more spots this year to make it an even 20. But that means at this point, we have 12 confirmed vendors!

And it is sure shaping up to be an amazing group of people! We'll start spotlighting our vendors within the next month or so, but I wanted to go ahead and give you a sneak peak....drumroll please.....

We have BBQ&Bowties returning this year...our manly, mans booth
Noonday Collection
Made On Acorn Hill
Pour Me Some Juice
The Restored Attic
Clutch 1:10
Inkwell's Press
High Cotton and Company
Indigenous Outreach International
Statement Stash
Garner Blue
Fig Paper Co

.....I can't even begin to tell you the amount of talent represented on that list!

And just as a reminder....the purpose of the marketplace is to bring together a collection of vendors who make handmade, repurposed, or upcycled wares. A New Thing marketplace provides an opportunity to purchase with purpose, to buy unique handcrafted items while directing your money and hearts towards a greater good. The vision was to create a space for people to share stories, stories of redemption....of making old things new. Because everyone has a story.

At the marketplace, we want the shopper to put on the scarf you purchase and think about the God-revealed method of weaving the threads together. We want you to smell the sweet aroma of handmade soap you purchase and think of the momma's who made it while their little ones played at their feet. We want you to enjoy a cup of fresh juice and think about our friend who had an idea to help bring her child home from Korea and then help others bring their children home....all while being passionate about wholesome nutrition. We want you to sip coffee while you shop that was harvested in Ethiopia that helps to fund indigenous pastors and their families. You see, everyone has a story. When you, our shoppers, purchase at the marketplace and our vendors sale their wares, we all get to take part in these stories. God knits us together in such a beautiful way. And the ultimate story, the story of an ever-faithful, ever-loving God is passed down, shared, seen through eyes and hands that work to do what they were created for.

We just can't wait!

I Got to Go....

This post has been a few months in the making. It has taken awhile for everything to sink in. For what I saw and heard and experienced to really settle. Well. I'm not quite sure it will ever settle.

In January, I got to go to Ethiopia with Indigenous Outreach International. IOI was represented at the Marketplace last fall and is an amazing locally run ministry that supports indigenous pastors in several countries around the world. One of the things that I loved so much about going to Ethiopia was seeing the model of this ministry work. IOI is a true partnership. So what I mean by that is it's not a bunch of middle-class white Americans going to Ethiopia to tell them how to run their churches. Patrick, the founder and director of IOI, lived in Ethiopia several years ago and saw what amazing things the Lord was doing through the local church, and also saw how the ministers were working to support their families by various other jobs....trying to just make it. Patrick has written a short book about his experience there and the birth of IOI...it's a great read if you should be interested. (I think it can be found through the website).

Anyway, one of my dearest friends, Anna, works for IOI and runs their child sponsorship program. It's called the True Light Childcare program (TLC). After Anna returned from a trip in January 2013 and shared of her experience, I knew our family needed to be invested somehow in this good work. And on a whole other level....the Lord had really stirred something inside of me while Anna was away. I would wake up in the middle of the night and find myself praying for her and the people she was meeting and what she was experiencing. One day, while she was gone, I was standing at my sink. My little guy came in the kitchen to ask for some lunch. Well...I hadn't gone to the store and groceries were sparse. As he ran off to play while I tried to be creative in the kitchen....I was overwhelmed by the thought of mothers around the world who may never have enough food for their babies. A place where it is common for children to eat just twice a day. And for a split second, I feel like the Lord allowed me to feel that desperation. Now, all I have to do is run to the grocery store....I know it's not the same. AT ALL. But for whatever reason, I felt it for that moment and all I could do was stand at my sink and cry. Why? Why do I get to feed my baby and other mothers do not?

I don't think I can ever answer that question.

But, what I experienced on my trip this past January showed me a truth about hungering for something much deeper. It showed me how for years my spiritual appetite was being satiated by lesser things.

I began to learn of my spiritual deficiency as I was sitting in a one room "house" with a single mother and her two precious boys. One of the boys, Kedus (which means "Holy" in Amharic), is a boy that our family sponsors through TLC. This is how I got the privilege of being invited into this home.

Kedus's momma had been sick for some time. She had been growing thinner and weaker and was unable to work. Ayele, the man who runs TLC in Ethiopia, was so concerned about her that he made Anna aware of her situation. Basically for $500 she could have surgery and the medication she needed to recover from her ailment. $500. That was the difference of living and thriving or getting sicker and who knows what.

Anna made this need aware to our family right around Christmas. We didn't know how, but we were going to come up with what we could. Thanks to our families who gave us money for Christmas, we were able to come up with most of the funds, and the rest was given to TLC. Her surgery and medication was completely covered.

Ayele gathered all of the TLC parents and guardians while we were there visiting. He had asked us to share a bit. After we did, he got up and began speaking passionately to the 100 or so people gathered in this church. I read once that it can be a gift to not understand a language....because you don't get caught up in dissecting what someone is saying or distracted by a misspoken word....this proved to be true. I had no idea what Ayele was saying. But I knew it was important. As he spoke, Anna leaned over to me and pointed out Kedus's mom. She was sitting in a white plastic chair with a beautiful scarf around her head and tears streaming down her face. I'm not sure how Anna knew what Ayele was saying...but she leaned over to me and said "he is explaining how the Lord provides and is telling everyone that our gracious Lord has provided for her and her surgery". As one can imagine, I could not hold it together. Thankfully. Who really needs to hold it together anyway?

As the meeting was over, I got to go and meet her for the first time. Her beauty took my breath away. Her eyes radiated such warmth and joy. All I could do was hold her hands. We couldn't understand each other's language, but somehow we knew each other. She invited us over to her house....and I had no idea how this moment would be imprinted on my heart and mind.

When we arrived, I quickly knew that this home was filled with love. It seemed to exude from the mudded walls. She had prepared popcorn for us, and began to roast the coffee beans to prepare the coffee. As I sat beside Kedus and his little brother, they were excited to show me a little book that I had sent them. I sent it a year ago. A book with pictures of our family, pictures of Kaplan's favorite animals, and a picture of a bouquet of flowers, because Kaplan wanted them to give flowers to their mommy! Since I had sent the book, they had moved three times. The book was out on the only piece of furniture that sat in that small room. Right on top. And as Kedus showed it to me, he pointed to the first picture and spoke to Ayele. Ayele to tell me, "He said he knows your name is Autry". That's something huh? To be known. To be known by this family....what an amazing privilege! They also showed me some little matchbox cars we had sent. They didn't have wheels on them anymore....looked like they had gotten some good use out of them!

As we sat and enjoyed coffee and popcorn and shared a little about our lives, the Lord began to show me how much I needed this family.  I understood in that moment that this sweet family in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia has something that I do not. They have a faith that's roots grow so deep that it surpasses any circumstance. They have a joy so abounding that it doesn't depend on the flimsy emotion of happiness. This family exuded a hospitality that I had never quit experienced. Not only did they invite me into their home, they loved me and my family, they pray for us, they keep our picture up in their home. This momma has not even been able to work, she was so frail and thin and she was squatting in this tiny room roasting coffee beans and making us popcorn. And her face. I just can't get it out of my head. The ways her eyes were light and her smile seemed to warm the entire room. She loves her sweet boys the same I do mine. They were playful together and she even laughed as the youngest one sucked his thumb...the same way I laugh at my boy who is too old to suck his, buy yet still finds it on occasion.  It was there that I began to understand that we are kin. That we belong to one another.

 "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to one another."

-Mother Teresa

 

 

This mom, halfway across the world, is my sister. When my sister goes without her basic needs met, this should effect me. And not just in an expressed sentiment. In a I'm going to do all that is within my power to help her sort of way. And I just can't stop thinking about her. Every morning when I wake up, I think about what time it is in Ethiopia and about what she is doing. I know she has had her surgery and she is doing great! She has applied for an IGA loan (income generated activity...a microloan model that is being offered through the TLC program), and is getting stronger every day. Why the Lord chose my family to be invested in this families life is beyond my words. But I learned a little something about His pursuit of me....He wasn't content for me to go about my happy little existence....he exploited my ease by showing me her needs. And I'm forever grateful and forever changed.

 

This experience is teaching me so much. Still. It's teaching me about my sisters right here in Jackson, TN. Sisters that struggle to care for their babies. I don't have to travel across the globe to see that. I can walk two blocks.

 

This is what I am learning.... how we are all connected and how we all need each other. I need Kedus's momma to help open my eyes to my spiritual needs, and she needs my family to help meet some basic physical needs. We are incomplete without each other.

 

And while this is a blog about a marketplace event, this experience....this is why the marketplace event was even created. Basically....to put it as plainly as I can, I want you to come shop at this event because I care about your soul and I believe with all my heart the more opportunities we have to be connected with our sisters (and brothers!) here and around the world, the more opportunity we have to grow closer to our Savior. Let us not be content with our small circles of friends. Friends are so great. So needed. But Sisters.....sisters who you don't even know you have?! Sisters who you may just meet once, may just even hear about....oh how that can open our eyes to our own needs. Sisters, who our Lord moves heaven and earth to pursue...just like he does for you and me. We need each other. I need you! And our generation, our influence, our resources....well....can you even imagine what we can do together?!

 

I can't wait to tell you all the things going on with the Marketplace. Vendors who are committing and so many exciting things happening.....but I had to share this story first. Thanks for allowing me this little space and this little time to share with you.



A Dream Turned Reality

It’s Marcie here, I figured now that the Marketplace was over, I could write the last post to sum up what happened this past weekend. It was something so beautiful. An experience, a feeling, which words can’t quite seem to capture. But…I will try...

 

On Saturday, I walked over to the Thistle Farms booth. Shell, one of the workers from Thistle Farms was there, and as I walked over to her, she said “I heard you were adopting! Tell me your story. Everybody has a story.” As I began to tell her how the Lord had prepared a path of adoption for us, and as she listened with much interest and care, I thought of the True Beauty that was in that moment. Here I am, a girl placed for adoption as a baby by a birth mother who loved me so much but couldn’t take care of me. A girl who has faced the heartache of infertility in my life, and experienced the sweet grace of a Savior who loved me so much to lead us to His best plan for us…a plan of adoption. A plan that would completely turn our world upside down. A girl, who became a momma because of the heartache, loss and love of another momma. And now a girl, who longs for children across the globe that I’ve never met, but whom I know have faced so much heartache of their own already. Shell wanted to know this girl’s story. My story. And I needed to hear hers. A story of addiction and prostitution. Of deep despair and gut wrenching loss. But the story doesn’t end there. God did not discard her or forget about her. He sent his servant, a girl who had an idea. A seemingly simple idea. Love Heals.

 

Now, Shell has her own place and is employed at Thistle Farms. She has bills and she pays them. Once overlooked by society and considered worthless, she has been given purpose. A future. And a hope. I needed to hear Shell’s story.

 

 

This, to me, is the heartbeat of the Marketplace.

 

 

 

 

My vision was to create a space for people to share stories. Stories of redemption, of making old things new. Because that is what all of us experience in our lives on some level. We know someone, or we ourselves have experienced heartache, hard times, heart wrenching situations, and we have seen restoration, beauty, and hope rise up with healing in it’s wings. Love does have the power to heal everybody.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

This weekend at the marketplace, gifts of HOPE were purchased, stories of LOVE were shared, and many new relationships were made. And also, a little over $13,000 of revenue was generated and a huge percentage of that was made for various gospel work around the world. Our family raised a little over $4,000 for our adoption. My dream became a reality and it was SO MUCH MORE than anything I could have ever hoped for or imagined. God has a way of doing that.

 

 

 

 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your participation in the Marketplace. In a world where we hear so many upsetting stories, it was refreshing to hear stories of restoration, redemption, and the power of good to triumph over evil. God is at work. And the power of His LOVE at work in His BODY has power to change the world. To be able to see just a glimpse of this truth….well…it’s more than my tiny mind and heart can handle. Praise be to Him. The giver of life. May you all enjoy every single thing you purchased this weekend, and may it serve as a reminder of what our Great God can do!!! Grace and Peace to you all!

 

 

We’ll see you again next year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

*images by Kaelin Large (thanks Kaelin!)

 



Vendor Spotlight: THE DREAM TEAM!

Happy Marketplace Eve, everyone! 

A New Thing Fall Marketplace opens tomorrow night for the Preview Sale from 7:00-9:00 pm. You'll need a ticket for the Preview Sale (see information on the sidebar.) Since there are so many custom made, one-of-a-kind items you don't want to miss this.

For example, who is going to snatch up this beauty from the Restored Attic booth?  It's a bench made of doors. Isn't it cool!?! You won't find another one of these on either side of the Mississippi!

THERE ARE ONLY 25 TICKETS LEFT and tomorrow is your last chance, so get on the stick! On Saturday you can pay a mere $2.00 admission fee to come shop - come one come all! Either way, we hope to see you there.

How often does something brand new come along? I know there are other holiday sales and of course there is Friendly Franks Flea Market, but there's never been a sale like THIS in Jackson, TN. Local artists, crafters, and creators gathering under one roof with their amazing goods and giving us an opportunity to Purchase with Purpose! My Christmas shopping will be all but finished by Saturday night and I'm going to love spending my money this year because I will know exactly where those dollars are going. Make your list, check it twice.

This year at the Marketplace we are hosting the DREAM TEAM of artists, crafters, and creators in this area! Would you believe I have even MORE vendors to introduce to you? These are amazingly talented people with hearts of gold and they are selling some REALLY cool stuff! Remember, a portion of all these vendors' profits are going to support the Autry's adoption, and some of them are donating more of their profits to support other ministries/missions.

It is my pleasure to introduce to you......

Origin Art - Carol Headen

OriginArt is a place where handmade jewelry, paintings, and drawings are sold. A portion of all proceeds are donated to www.kontaktmissionusa.org in support of the mission dreams of artist Carol Headen. Carol has been teaching art in Jackson, TN for over 16 years and has been an artist her whole life. Her son, Sam, and his wife, Tahlia, live in Sydney, Australia, where Carol is originally from.

Andersen Russell

I take my old sweaters to Goodwill.  Andersen uses her old sweaters to make these cozy scarves.  She knits, sews, and makes art pieces from handstitched fabrics. Andersen traveled to Central Asia last year on a mission trip and captured some of the images from her trip on these beautiful cards, that will be for sell at her booth. The proceeds from the cards will be given to support next year's Central Asia mission trip.

Kelsey Nagy

How do you make a butter dish look happy? You probably didn't think that was possible, but that's because you haven't laid eyes on the work of Kelsey Nagy. Kelsey works with a porcelain clay. All the pots are handmade as well as handpainted. (Microwave and dishwasher safe!) You can always buy Kelsey's work at Botbyl Pottery located at Crown Winery in Humboldt and also at the Tennessee Artisan Market in Dickson. But, just make it easy on yourself and come to the Marketplace this weekend and visit her booth. Her website is http://kelseynagy.wordpress.com/

Anna Avery - The Caged Bird

Anna's shop is called "The Caged Bird," a nod to the Maya Angelou poem as well as the desire for Heaven in the heart of the Believer. She'll be selling items she has sewn, including pocket tees, applique shirts, banners, bunting, baby items and tutus. She will also have homemade heat packs for the winter, scented with locally grown lavender and rosemary. Anna will be donating an additional portion of her profits to another family in her church who is in the adoption process. Soon, you can find more of her creations at www.becominghisbride2012.blogspot.com

Russ and Hether Pflasterer

I can't tell you all about our beloved Pastor and his precious wife in one paragraph. Let's sit down for coffee sometime, and I'll tell you the whole story of how the Lord called them out of their many years of teaching in Jackson's public school system to start a church in the heart of our city. Here is the prayer and purpose of City Fellowship Baptist Church:  "As a church we desire to become a Bible-saturated, Cross-centered, multi- ethnic family that seeks to demonstrate the reconciling love of God through Gospel-driven deeds of mercy." (taken from the City Fellowship website)

Russ and Hether are donating the profits from their booth to the City Fellowship Christian Community Development Fund, which enables our church to minister through various programs in our community, including: a lunch buddy partnership with Alexander Elementary School, a tutoring program, and Baby University (a program providing early childhood develpment classes and a support network for moms in our community). You can find our more information about Baby University at www.mybabyuniversity.org. 

You'll see from the pictures below that Russ and Hether are incredibly creative and talented and pour their heart into whatever they are doing.  They will be selling their own creations, which were inspired by homemade Christmas gifts they gave each other last year, as well as posters designed by members of our church with lyrics of songs we love to sing together as a church.

Personally, I love that this A New Thing Fall Marketplace is happening at the building where the church of City Fellowship meets to worship and our eyes are continually lifted to see that God is doing A NEW THING in our city.