Stitched Together
April 2022
Good morning, NoCo Family!
The month of March was packed with so many marvelous things to celebrate. Our hearts are as full as our days have been; it has been our privilege to host visitors from out of town, hold inspiring art lessons for our Afterschool students, & help members our community in other tangible, meaningful ways.
Shower, O heavens, from above, & let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation & righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the Lord have created it.
- Isaiah 45:8
All the rain we have had recently comes as no surprise (especially in Pittsburgh), & Spring showers always indicate that growth is just around the corner. Whatever rain is falling in your life right now—whether you are experiencing a season of plenty, or your present circumstances are far less than ideal—we are praying that heaven will pour out blessing on you & yours, that the growth & increase are on the way as you seek the face of Jesus!
The COVE: Afterschool
Sewing & Reaping
One of The COVE Art Center’s novel studios has seen a recent influx of students after we hosted an outstanding sewing class taught by two wonderful guests from Southeast Michigan! Vicki Petersmarck of Mountain Path Ministries & Jackie King stayed with us at Home of the Nomad for a full week so they could introduce the Afterschool kids to sewing & teach them how to stitch using a machine. After learning the basics, our students were each given the opportunity to create their own, unique “quillow”: a quilt that can be folded into an attached pocket, making it a pillow.
Those who participated all paid close attention & learned quickly. It was equally enjoyable for both student & teacher! Since the class, a few of the kids have started to use our Fashion Studio regularly.
Mountain Path has generously donated the four sewing machines Vicki & Jackie brought to The COVE Art Center so we may continue to teach & provide the means to sew for our students & the artist community we serve. They have been an incredible blessing to us here in Pittsburgh. Vicki & Jackie both expressed their pleasure in teaching & spending time with us here & shall return in May to hold another class for our students. Please continue to pray for them, for their families, & for their ministries back home.
We are always in need of support & appreciate what you contribute to The Novelty Collective; however, if you are interested to find out more about Mountain PathMinistries & would like to “sew” into their ministry, please send an email over to Vicki Petersmarck. Their mission is our mission!
Heard & Felt
March was a special month for Afterschool. The students had a chance to explore mediums of art we’ve never had available at The COVE before. Just a week after sewing, we welcomed Lanae Lumsden & her daughter to teach a two-day class on felting. With a set of needles & an assortment of colorful felt fibers, the kids created images of original scenery. By their second class, they were already creating three-dimensional objects & animals.
Our Afterschool students have found yet another art form to get excited about, & Ms. Lanae truly enjoyed working with them—so much so, that she started a campaign for others to invest in felting supplies for The COVE Art Center! At this moment, Lanae has already collected over $400 in felting supplies!
If there is a particular art you are passionate about, please contact us about how you can get involved with The COVE: Afterschool. If you would like to teach our students or do a live demonstration, we are happy to host you & compensate you for your time. You can give in other ways, as well. Take a peek at our Givebutter for more details!
All Good Things
We are coming up on the end of the year for Afterschool. Soon, classes at school will end, & our students will be on summer vacation. In the meantime, our team will be working hard to continue improving our space, planning future events, & focusing our attention on the other ministries that are starting up within our walls. Our year with the students has been extraordinary. They all learned so much, in terms of both art & scripture. Many have deepened connections to each other, our leadership team, & to God. They have certainly blessed us in many ways, as well. We are excited for what we have planned for them in May, & we will update you on events lined up for the summer in our next newsletter. If you would, please pray for the next couple of weeks we have left with them— that our students will truly know & experience the Father’s love for them, that everything they have learned will be solidified in their hearts, & that they make the most of their time in our space before we have to say our goodbyes.
New to NoCO
Open Studios
As we care for the grade school students in our immediate community through Afterschool, so we want to care for you & other adult artists through NoCo: Open Studios. We celebrated our official launch on March 26th, & held our second session on April 23rd! On the fourth Saturday of every month, we are providing the space, the tools, & the supplies you need to kickstart your creative energies. Come & go at your leisure between the hours of 11:00am & 5:00pm; it’s a free, drop-in style event with no signup or obligation. Mark it on your calendar & carve out time in your schedule. We at The Novelty Collective strongly believe all of us were made to create—the God who made us is inviting you & me to delight in His creation & partner with Him in creating!
A Site to See
The Novelty Collective is composed of many moving parts. If you have been keeping up with our newsletter each month, then you will have a solid picture of who we are & what we do; however, you may still find it difficult to draw connections & see how everything points back to one mission & purpose. We are pleased to announce that The Novelty Collective now has a website. You will find clear descriptions of our identity, our core values, & our programs all in one convenient location. There are photos of our team, our students, & our facilities, as well as pictures from events we have had. We will be featuring interviews of artists in our community, posting fliers for upcoming events, & updating you on our latest adventures right at the top of our main page every month. Please take a moment to visit the site & share it with your family & friends! Thank you for continuing to support us & celebrate with us in our shared creative journey. Tap on the moth to enter our website:
True Community
None of us are untouched by tragedy. Although we have neither the capacity nor the means to provide a solution to all life’s problems, we can pray, trusting that God will step in according to His great love. Yet sometimes, He undoubtedly chooses to intervene through our willing hands!
Very recently, a family connected to The COVE: Afterschool was confronted with an emergency for which they were not prepared. A member of our staff was moved to ask our network for support on their behalf via social media; her call to action was met with overwhelming generosity! Her simple “yes” meant a family had their basic needs met when circumstances seemed hopeless. Thank you, all who gave to the fund that helped the family mentioned above. Thank you for entrusting us with your gift & advancing the kingdom with us!
We desire to create & facilitate lasting relationships through The Novelty Collective community. We won’t always have the answers, but we are happy to find ways for you to get connected—whether you have a need or would like to help another in need.
Woven Wonders
The Novelty Collective is a diverse family of artists. We recognize the value of art & acknowledge its Source. Our identity is inextricably found in creativity: we bear the image of our Creator, & we are partners with Him in creation. However, it is also just as important to acknowledge that we are also art! And the One who made us makes no mistakes.
“You formed my inner being; You stitched me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully & wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, & my soul knows them well. My frame was not hidden from You, when You created me in secret, intricately woven in the depths. Your eyes saw my unformed substance. All the days You ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to pass.”
Psalm 139:14-16
As we conclude this month’s edition of The Novelty Collective newsletter, we want to remind you that you are a masterpiece, & your very steps are ordered of the Lord, who works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
We are already near the end of April now; there are many more wonderful things God has done in our lives & in our ministry since March that we could report on—& we will soon. Stay tuned for next month’s edition, & don’t forget to explore our new website!
In His Service,
The COVE Team
Article written by Jordan A. King
