My inspirations

Next to my Lord, there are two driving forces in my life that are a constant source of inspiration for me. U2 and Beth Moore. They come from two totally different places, their lifestyles are

completely different, however, it is their medium that is the common denominator between them, and that is scripture. These children of God have inspired me in more ways than I can say.

Bono, although we have never met, has been a mentor to me. His love for Jesus Christ, his drive to reach out and help others, and his sheer compassion for those who are suffering from HIV/AIDS brings me to my knees. I wish I could harness that love. U2's music can reach so far into my soul, and drag out of me feelings and emotions that I would never be able to describe. Their songs Walk On, and One always leave me with a spiritual high. I wish I could thank them personally. They have for a long time been part of my spiritual journey. I always work to their music.

And then there's my girl, Beth Moore. I absolutely love that woman! I've never met her either, although I did send her a gift once,and she sent me a thank you. It was from a Bible study of hers that I truly learned how to study scripture. WOW! What a ride! She is a power house! For so many reasons, Beth has helped me become the woman I am today, and for that I cannot thank her enough.

These beautiful people are a constant source of energy for me. Just recently I saw U2 3D, my husband and I went to see it as my anniversay gift. We saw it on the last night showing at the Liberty Science Center, NJ. It is hard to describe the feelings, the thoughts I had inside me when we walked out of the theater. But here's what happened, literally. When Raymond and I were driving home, I said to him, "ya know, Edge changed guitars 12 times during that performance, and only one of them was a repeat offender! He has to be the coolest person to ever walk the face of the earth!" "What about Bono?" he said,"I thought he was your main man?" "Well, he is! I love Bono, I love all that he does, his compassion, everything, but Edge is just so COOL!" He laughed. And then... here goes God again -- He throws an image in my head, out of the blue, and there it is, my next addition to Scarlet Clover! I see these visions of what God wants me to do next. I see the stitching, the details, the pattern.....it all just falls together like you are looking through a file at maximum speed. Click, it's done. Just like that. So my next bag is inspired by U2 3D and the ONE Campaigne, of which I am an active member. I am anxious to get started on it...soon. You can bet I'll post it as soon as it is done.

The Side Kick Bag - "Momma Bee"

Here's a new theme that I've added this summer. This is the start of the "Momma Bee" collection, and it is dedicated to my mother who shares the same name, Bea. The bee & the hive have long been symbols of industry & regeneration, wisdom & obedience, with a place in Christian symbolism. The bee, a symbol of diligence & industry, also represents vigilance. The beehive is a relatively modern symbol representing the church. Many bees, each assigned a different task, working together for the building up of the hive reminded artists of the Body of Christ. Click on the image to get a close up of the "bees". I've used black and white buttons for charm. Alva William Steffler, Symbols of the Christian Faith (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2002), 107, Symbols of Christian Art & Architecture. A Resource for Learning the Sign Language of the Faith (on the web).

A simple purse that is secured with a large glossy black button and a magnetic snap holds smaller simple items. The large pocket at the top is deep enough to hold your checkbook (long ways), pens, nail file, and perhaps sunglasses. There are six slots for your plastic, a changepurse with zipper, and a smaller pocket behind the changepurse. Everyone always likes the surprise of the beehive once the purse opens up! Who says a purse can't be as pretty inside as it is out? You can always "bee" assured that a Scarlet Clover bag will never overlook that detail!!




A close up of the bee and the hive.

The Side Kick Bag - "Love"

I've added a smaller bag to my collection this summer. The Side Kick Bag was created specifically for my darling mother who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. Because she is unable to hold onto a handbag, she prefers something to throw over her shoulder. This purse is part of my Love collection. The rose, a symbol for love, is meant to remind us of the Fruit of the Spirit, the first of those being Love (Galatians 5:22-26). This bag, with it's raw edge's and informal appearance is a great choice for the casual wardrobe.




A large square wooden button and a magnetic snap secures its closure. This darling bag is composed of many different materials....buttons, lace, and fabrics of varying textures (tweed, silk, taffeta, & denim). The handsome suiting on the inside gives a masculine touch to an otherwise feminine look.








The purse opens up to reveal plenty of slots for your plastic. There is one large pocket opening at the very top that is deep enough to hold your checkbook (long ways), pen, nail files or sunglasses. Just behind the changepurse (with zipper) is another pocket which is great for keys.









The Side Kick looks the same on the front as it does on the back.