How do you make a house a home? One way is to decorate! Decorating with meaningful objects that evoke love can create a sense of happiness and peace for those who live there and those who visit. 

I very much enjoy being a part of the Habitat for Humanity team.It gives me such joy to contribute to the delight of new homeowners by donating something that can really turn a structure into a warm, cozy place of well-being.

“For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.” Hebrews 3:4

Even before I met the Ford family, I had started on their painting. I meditated, prayed and asked the Lord to point me in the direction of that which would please these new homeowners. How could I help make their house a home? I found myself selecting a Bird of Paradise flower, it seemed to me that a home should be a haven for these nice folks.

Here were my first steps to lay in the painting

Habitat House painting step 1

The bird of paradise flower meaning includes joy and paradise, as it is one of the quintessential tropical flowers. It originated in South Africa, where it is also nicknamed the Crane Flower.

As I continued the painting I started to realize that the background was going to be the most challenging piece of work for me. I labored over all the abstraction detailing the leaves.

Habitat House painting step 2

As the flower blooms, each petal makes its debut and the resulting shape mirrors that of a tropical bird in flight.

The bird of paradise is closely related to the banana plant, which has large fan-like leaves. 

Here you can see the evolution of the leavings emerging and really starting to come to life.

Habitat House painting step 3

I wasn’t able to be present for the dedication of the Ford’s home, since I was out of the country. Don’t worry, there will be more on my trip to Columbia, South America in later blog posts. However, my good friend Joy was able to present the painting last week. Thanks also to Meagan, another friend who took the pictures.

Ford Family, Habitat House a Home, Paradise painting

Here is the final painting as well. 

© Laura Gabe, "Paradise Home", XXXXX, acrylic. Private Collection

Your own home can become a unique reflection of you, your tastes and imagination when you feature an original painting. So don’t forget, I am available to creatively develop a work of art that can make your house into home.

“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” Isaiah 32:18

 


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