About the Book
A celebration of motherhood, creativity, and the faith that binds them In our Pinterest age of handcrafted children's parties, artistic Instagram photos, tutorials for renovating old furniture into new treasures, and blogs filled with poetry, prose, and other creative expression, it is clear that a brand-new generation of creative women is rising up. It is a renaissance born not in Italian cathedrals or Harlem jazz clubs but in kitchens and nurseries and living rooms around the world. But when Christian women become mothers, they often feel expected to lay down their creative pursuits in order to properly parent.
Wendy Speake and Kelli Stuart know that struggle. While they acknowledge that some seasons of mothering require setting artistic pursuits aside, they also argue that these seasons don't have to last until empty nest time. Instead, mothers with creative gifts are called to actively use them in order to bless their families, their communities, and everyone they encounter.
Inspiring and encouraging, Life Creative celebrates the ways mothers can live their art in the midst of their mothering. They tell the stories of women such as author and speaker Angie Smith, recording artist Ellie Holcomb, and jewelry designer Lisa Leonard who do just that. By following God's leading to embrace His gifts, renaissance moms can model the joy of obedience for their families.
About the Author :
Wendy Speake is an actress who appeared on shows such as JAG, Star Trek Voyager, and Roswell where she discovered a longing to tell stories that edify women. Today she ministers to women through storytelling and biblical life applications. Her first book Triggers was released in 2015 Kelli Stuart is the coauthor of Dare 2B Wise and has written for several brands including Disney, American Girl, and Short Fiction Break. She has served as editor-in-chief for the St. Louis Bloggers Guild and as a board member for the St. Louis Women in Media. In addition to her writing, Kelli has spent twenty years studying Ukranian culture. Kelli lives in Florida and blogs at KelliStuart.com.
Review :
"Life Creative extends a hand across the lonely miles of motherhood to every woman who feels like she's lost herself in a sea of diapers and dishes. It breathes beauty and life and purpose into the everyday servanthood of mothering and reminds us that it's up to us to seize those very ordinary moments and turn them into something beautiful. I have never read anything like this, and as both a mother and an artist, I endorse it fully. The world needs Life Creative."--Emily T. Wierenga, author of five books including memoir Atlas Girl (7/18/2016 12:00:00 AM)
"As the mom of three kids, I need the wisdom of other moms, but most of all I need their companionship and gentle nod of understanding. Wendy and Kelli have offered that in the pages of this book in the most precious of ways: They've taken our hands, looked us in the eyes, and given us a gentle nod to help us move forward. Life Creative lets me be myself and find my best mothering there. Kudos, ladies. This book is a big exhale, a dear friend, and a powerful teacher."--Lisa Whittle, speaker, author of {w}hole and I Want God (7/18/2016 12:00:00 AM)
"Few things are as disorienting as the feeling that you have lost yourself in the midst of your own life. When demands of performing as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, chef, medical aid, teacher, disciplinarian, theologian, artist, and more all pile up in even one day, it can seem nearly impossible to extract a true self from the many roles demanding your attention. A true Renaissance woman isn't torn in a million directions but is instead able to recognize the creative ways that God works in and through the various channels of her life. In motherhood and in ministry, Wendy and Kelli are women who have felt the tension and found the beauty of God's creativity through the changing seasons. Life Creative isn't simply an inspiration to embrace the seasons but a manual to continuously celebrate the creativity of God at work in you."--Logan Wolfram, speaker & author of Curious Faith (7/18/2016 12:00:00 AM)
"In a culture laden with 'mommy guilt, ' Life Creative is a must-read for every mother who wants to hone her God-given creative gifts while encouraging her children to do the same. After feeling torn between mothering my three small children and pursuing my passion for writing during the first six years of motherhood, I finally came to peace with God giving me desires and gifts to bring Him glory. Motherhood and the creative life need not be at odds with each other! Wendy and Kelli's book will help readers realize this from the get-go. New and seasoned mothers alike need to read this book."--Erin Odom, creator of thehumbledhomemaker.com (7/18/2016 12:00:00 AM)
"Mothers carry deep within them an innate desire to create beauty around them--whether it's with shape or color, words or song. In Life Creative, Wendy and Kelli come alongside the artistic soul inside us all with their wisdom and insight on how to care for our families while also caring for the artist within . . . An absolute must-read for creative moms."--Denise J. Hughes, author of Word Writers (7/18/2016 12:00:00 AM)
"Our creative lives are a dance--fluid and ever changing--rather than one stationary, perfect balance of family and faith. For years I thought creativity was limited to those onstage or at an easel, but a new day has dawned. Life Creative has painted an all-inclusive picture, inviting everyone to embrace their part in this present Renaissance."--Sarah Bragg, podcaster at SurvivingSarah.com (7/21/2016 12:00:00 AM)
"The very first thing we learn about God in His word is that He 'created the heavens and the earth' (Gen. 1:1). We have a magnificently creative God who chose to make the pinnacle of His creation, humankind, in His image. Surely part of our image-bearing likeness to God is our ability to imagine and to create. Yet our creativity is sometimes lost in the busyness of life and mothering. In Life Creative, Wendy and Kelli offer fresh words of encouragement for moms to find natural, creative outlets right where they are--whether it is in a kitchen, on a canvas, through a lens, on a keyboard, or through some other medium. Wendy and Kelli's collection of stories about real-life creative moms is particularly inspiring and has led me to thoughtfully consider how I can best reflect the image of God through my own creative interests, as well as how I can model for my children the creative life that I desire for them to pursue as they mature."--Angie Mosteller, author of Christmas (7/18/2016 12:00:00 AM)
