small things

In the Loft {Preparing for Lent Giveaway}

Today’s giveaway is from Sue, of In the Loft.  Sue paints the most beautifully detailed figures, perfect for your home or Atrium.  She has wonderful tools and ideas for celebrating Lent, and her figures are perfect in an Easter basket or for First Holy Communion gifts!

Hello. I’m Sue. I live in southern New Hampshire with my husband of 37 years and 4 of our 6 children(who are now ages 16-36).  I am the proud Meme to 6 grandchildren and homeschool mom to 1 high schooler, lover of coffee, books, baking, and rearranging furniture.

I am owner and artist of In The Loft, a home based business and Etsy shop selling hand-made, hand painted, religious wood figures, ornaments & icons.  I design and make all my items start to finish…which means lots of time in the wood shop cutting and sanding…but my favorite place to be is in the loft painting.  This business has grown to a full time job in a few years and now my 16yo son helps with the wood cutting so I can spend more time painting. I am grateful to be able to be doing work I love and using my gifts to offer beautiful materials that bring a bit of beauty to the home and help others celebrate and teach the faith. You can follow me on Instagram & Facebook.

Lent is fast approaching (Ash Wednesday is February 14th) and I am happy to be in the loft working on items for this season.

The Lenten Table Runner is a favorite. I created a paper Lenten path to mark the days of Lent when our children were young.  This was a wonderful lent activity and I began to think about ways to create a path that would have a prominent place, be beautiful and last for years.   So, I designed and  created a one on canvas.   This became a favorite Lent activity for our family and we’ve used ours for over 10 years. I am pleased to offer this item to you in my shop! It is a lovely way to mark the days of your Lenten walk and teach your children about the beauty of this season. This double-sided runner is durable and beautiful, sure to be used year after year.
+As you celebrate Fat Tuesday(Mardi Gras), place runner with the “Alleluia, Alleluia” side showing.
As you end your celebration, turn over the runner to hide the Alleluia, showing your children that the Alleluia is hidden (not sung) during Lent, revealing the image of the stone path leading through the Lenten desert to the Tomb of the Resurrection.
+A grapevine wreath with thorns (toothpicks provided) is set in the center of the runner. You may wish to have your child/children remove a thorn each time a sacrifice, prayer or act of charity is offered.
+Each day during lent you will move the small wooden cross or mini wreath (your choice) one stone forward on the path to mark your progress toward Easter.
+Optional – use a tealight (provided) on Sundays
+ On Holy Saturday, remove any remaining thorns from “crown” and decorate with ivy and colorful, spring flowers, symbolic of the Resurrection and new life.
+At the Easter celebration, the table runner is once again turned to the Alleluia side to grace the table with a beautiful and festive reminder of the Easter season. Place your decorated wreath in the center space provided.

Easter Sunday falls on April 1 and my saint figures are perfect for tucking into Easter Baskets, gifts for birthdays, baptisms, First Holy Communion and more.  If you don’t see the saint you’re looking for in my shop…there is a custom order saint item and you may request any saint.  You will also find many items for use with The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program (www.cgsusa.org).

I am excited to offer one Small Things reader a chance to win a $75 Gift Certificate to my shop!

***In addition, I would like to give a 10% discount on all orders placed through January 19.   Use code GINNY10 at checkout to receive the discount.

For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post. Comments are closed and the winner is Katherine, who commented, “Her saint figures are beautiful! My go to gift for baptism’s and first commuinon’s. My son has the St. Nicholas figure – it is so well done.”

Reader Interactions

Comments

  6. My nephew lives little figurines like these, and he’s receiving his first communion this spring, so these would be the perfect gift for him.

  12. I always find it inspiring to read of mothers-of-large-families creating little cottage industries with their talents. So clever!

  13. I have a collection of 1 figure (St. Teresa) and would love to add another so that I can at least honestly call it a collection!

  19. What lovely work! This Lent will be poignant for us as we prepare for relocation. I’d love to see some of that artwork in our new home!

  21. Such beautiful work and inspiring ideas to celebrate lent with my toddler! Thank you so much for sharing.

  30. Sure could use some help with Lent this year. What beautiful work Sue does. Thanks for blessing us with such lovliness!

  32. I’m on my own road of recovery after a stroke. Many prayers are helping.

    Would love to own some of Sue’s figures. ?

  33. Oh my, so lovely. Thank you for the opportunity.
    Just discovered your blog today. Am so looking forward to delving in deeper!

  35. Sue’s items are so beautiful! We have a CGS atrium at our church and it would be wonderful to have some of Sue’s saints in it. Thank you!

  38. I absolutely love the table runner! Such a beautiful touchpoint throughout Lent. The visual speaks to my heart— Lent is, indeed, a journey!

  42. Those are beautiful, loved the picture with the children playing church.
    Thank you for the opportunity

  44. Oh, gosh. I would just love a gift certificate to her shop. I look through all of her creations every time she is featured on your blog. Just love the Lenten table runner.

  45. I love the Lenten table runner! I’m currently looking for something for lent to use with my kids.

  46. Her saint figures are beautiful! My go to gift for baptism’s and first commuinon’s. My son has the St. Nicholas figure – it is so well done.