When we met Kacie and saw her line of scripture-inspired art and apparel, we knew you would love her and the Persimmon Prints brand. We are excited to partner with Persimmon Prints at Declare this year! Let us introduce you to Kacie and Persimmon Prints, PLUS give you an opportunity to enter to win this supercute ‘Hope’ tee!
Declare, meet our beautiful friend Kacie @ Persimmon Prints…
kacie, her husband patrick, and their malti-poos lucy & rosey. photo by gift of today photography.
Q: Tell us your story and the heart behind Persimmon Prints.
A: In the late winter of 2013, God was tugging on my heart. From as far back as I can remember, He’d given me the gift of doodling and creating. Over the years, I tucked his gift under piles of to-do lists, and pursued other passions. That winter, He wanted me to pull this talent back out, brush off the dust, and begin directing this gift back to Him.
Later in the spring, my husband and I found out I was pregnant, and we felt a strong call from God to transition my career, from 8 years of teaching elementary school, to working from home with this new business we called Persimmon Prints. I resigned from my position, took on part-time teaching, and trusted His plan. My summer was filled with lots of ‘firsts’ – I attended my first handmade market, sold our first items, and for the very first time, I felt a greater purpose behind my work.
At the end of the summer, we faced the terrible news that I had miscarried our little one. After months of brokenness and mourning, I began to see more clearly that God had great plans for our family through Persimmon. He orchestrated events that I would have never imagined…
- I would have never been brave enough to resign from my position, but through these circumstances, He made me brave.
- Our marriage would have never grown to what it has become, but through our story, our mourning, and our reliance upon Him, He made us strong.
- Persimmon Prints would have never become a business with a heart of giving back, but as He opened my eyes to the precious life of every human being, He made me compassionate.
Though it has been a bittersweet journey, God has always been with us.
{About a year after our loss, I wrote a psalm-like poem and read it aloud to our congregation on a day when our pastor spoke about how families come in all forms. You can find it here: http://www.persimmonprints.blogspot.com/2014/08/life.html}
Q: What inspires your artwork?
A: Typically, my art is derived from God’s message to me through studying His word studies and worshipping Him. It’s funny, every time I’ve gone ‘rogue’ and tried certain design ideas that didn’t stem from my relationship with Him, they’ve completely flopped! I’d pick up a pen and attempt a drawing, and hours later, I’d have nothing to show for it. But, when God places ideas in my heart, they almost always come out perfectly with the first stroke of my pen! It absolutely amazes me every time.
Q: Papayas, pomegranates, pears, plantains…Why persimmons?
A: Oh, great question! I’m from southern Indiana, and a little known fact (to ‘Indiana outsiders’) is our state’s love for Persimmons. I grew up feasting on Persimmon Pudding every Thanksgiving. Each year, my mother pulls out a fresh batch from a neighbor’s wild persimmon tree and smushes them through a colander, creating a delicious ‘persimmon pulp’. She then follows a longstanding family recipe, baking it perfectly each time. Most Indiana families have their own passed-down recipe, and comically, we’ll each stand by them as best in the land, including me. Our family’s secret lies in the icing;)
Hoosier Persimmons aren’t found in many grocery stores. They’re typically found on wild persimmon trees in backyards, so families share persimmon pulp with each other. You can also order through Dillman Farm (http://www.dillmanfarm.com), but keep in mind that they’re only available mid-October through Christmas.
{I’ve shared our family’s Persimmon recipe on our website. You can find it here: http://persimmonprints.com/pages/best-recipe-ever}
Q: Tell us about the Giving Back feature of Persimmon Prints?
A: In 2014, God clarified Persimmon’s mission, which is helping others FILL their life with print, FIX their hearts on God, and FIGHT for those in need. Matthew 25:35-36 says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.” God opened my eyes to the needs of His people, and reminded me that I have the responsibility to be His hands and feet.
Currently, we partner with faith-based organizations in three ways:
- We donate a percentage of all sales within a calendar ‘quarter’ to the following organizations {http://persimmonprints.com/pages/community}.
- We’ve also recently begun dedicating certain items to specific organizations (ie. our “Love God & Serve Others” donates exclusively to my friend Phibby’s organization in Tororo, Uganda – http://persimmonprints.com/collections/clothing/products/love-god-serve-others )
Q: How can we support you and your mission? How can we pray for you?
A: I would love your prayers:) Here’s what’s on my heart…
- Please pray for the Lord to continue to remind me of His will for Persimmon, and not mine!
- Pray that He gives me inspiration for purposeful, enjoyable designs that are a reminder to Persimmon customers of our awesome, loving Father.
- Pray for our partnering organizations. (http://persimmonprints.com/pages/community)
- Pray that we have discernment when choosing future partnerships.
- Pray for protection from the evil one, secular criticism, and for God’s strength when facing trials.
- Pray for God’s timing and favor, as we continue to try to start a family.
Q: I know you have been reading straight through the bible…what has God revealed lately?
A: It’s been so amazing walking with God through history, and seeing his heart for humanity throughout the generations.
Through this experience, I have found one beautiful truth: It’s all about Jesus. It really is! After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and said, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. (Luke 24:44).” I keep imagining the hours of conversation between Jesus and these men, as He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. As I read along from the very beginning, I feel like I’ve pulled up a seat right next to these disciples, listening carefully as God points out to me how the Scriptures concern His Son Jesus.
Also, since my studies have been predominately within the Old Testament lately, I’ve seen the prophetic hints of Jesus, and have found myself yearning for Him to come. I’ve began to see the sacredness of sacrificial blood in the eyes of the Israelites (Deuteronomy 12:24), I’ve seen God’s explanation of how the blood makes atonement for one’s life (Leviticus 17:11), my heart was warmed when Ruth met her kinsman-redeemer (Ruth 2:20), I praised God as he came to Nathan and promised him that He would raise up an offspring to succeed David, one who will establish the throne of His kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:13), I wept with Job as he said, “If only there was someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God’s rod from me (Job 9:33-34).”
Ultimately, the Lord has placed this simple, powerful prayer on my heart: Come, Jesus, come.
Q: Tell us your idea of the perfect day…
A: Oh goodness… To me, those sweet ‘perfect days’ aren’t in the extraordinary events, the vacations, or the big celebrations. They come in those more ordinary days, when I quietly walk with the Lord on an unexpected Tuesday morning, or when I catch the sweetness of His love on a seemingly uneventlful Wednesday. The best days come when the right song tunes harmoniously to my heart, when God combines His perfectly aligned word with my listening soul.
My favorite days of all are those bittersweet, joyful mornings that follow the trials of yesterday. God is so faithful, and there’s nothing like the gift of His presence, especially when times are hard.
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. -Psalm 30:5
+ + + + + + AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
follow @PersimmonPrints on Instagram for details on how you can win the HOPE tee! Kacie is also TAKING OVER the @DeclareConf IG account today! Go say “hi!” and enter to win! Giveaway ends 6/1 and the winner will be announced on the @PersimmonPrints Instagram account on 6/2.
You belong here! Our heart is to equip you to be an effective Christian communicator.