Karla's Korner

A Great Reason to Celebrate...

Saturday before last I met a wonderful man from Kuwait at The Market.
The father of three girls.
He was looking for something special for each of them. Something unique.
He asked if I would paint one of my 4" canvases for each daughter.
I was moved by his story. I said yes.  

But I couldn't paint just three... instead I painted nine!
When they are finished they will look similar to the ones in the back. 

As I was painting, I thought about the father and his daughters
and how he wanted something unique for each of his girls.

I couldn't help but think about how God wants that for each of His girls too!

Just like these nine canvases... we all have some things in common...
and yet we're all different...uniquely one of a kind by God's divine design.
God wanted something special for each of us and so He gave us each a
unique personality, our own combination of talents, gifts and abilities, and
He has arranged our lives so that we each have our own unique purpose... 
with which we are able to glorify Him and be a blessing to others!

Don't you just love it?  It's so freeing to know you don't have to try to be
like someone else! In fact, it's impossible anyway... so why bother!  

So just be you... but be the best you... you can be! 

And also just like theses canvases... remember...we are all still in process.
I'm not done with these little works of art... and God isn't done with you!

What a great reason to celebrate today!
Rejoice in your uniqueness. Praise Him that you are His workmanship.
Bless Him for all He's done in your life so far... and all He's yet to do!

Love and God-hugs... 
Karla 

Getting Ready for the Market...

I've had to set my paintbrushes aside for a little bit in order to get ready
for the new season at Saturday Market which starts March 2! 
I can hardly believe it... wow!  These past few weeks have flown by.

I haven't created near as much new art as I had hoped for in the almost two
months I've had off... but between being sickee and other such nonsense...
it just hasn't happened and I know I must be okay with it. I

One thing I can say for sure today is that I am SOOOOO THANKFUL that my
entire booth space fits inside my studio... allowing me to reconfigure and
redesign the space comfortably... and hopefully
it will be even more delightful and more efficient than last year!

The walls of my panels are almost bare and ready for new fabric slipcovers
and a new layout.  I just bought a new chair which puts me more at eye level
with visitors in my booth... and a smaller table which will need a new cover.
So much work... so stay tuned for updates!

It seems to me that the last photos I shared with you of my studio were
nice and tidy... so I thought I'd share what's more the norm when projects
are in progress and creativity is flowing!

So messy studio and all... I'm so grateful for the opportunity to create art
that blesses the heart... and to be able to encourage others along the way.

Thank You Father for all the ways you encourage us... including answered
prayers and friends who care... and today I am so thankful for both!

Love and God-hugs...
Karla

A Merry Belated Christmas 2012...

You have no idea how often I've missed you and longed for our visits but... balancing everyday life with being a Portland Saturday Market vendor proved to be more challenging than I imagined... thus my disappearance from blogging for more than a month! I thank God for the opportunity He gave me to be there but I am oh so thankful that the Market is closed until March 1st... a truly welcome break!

The Market closed on Christmas Eve at 3:30. We packed up our product, tore down the tent and headed home with just enough time to empty the truck and repack for our trip up to Mt. Hood where the kids have a cabin and the perfect setting for a seriously white Christmas... and the perfect back-drop my first-ever experience snow-shoeing!  I was apprehensive at first, but as you can tell my photo... I loved it! It was a great family time... snowball fights and all!

Every year the girls in the family do a handmade gift exchange which is always a highlight of our time together. This year proved to be a little more difficult for me because of being at the Market... so here I am finishing up Michelle's granny square pillow cover Christmas afternoon. We could only laugh as she opened her first box with the finished pillow front and pillow form... and a second box full of yarn and crochet hook ready to finish the back! I'm pleased to say I got it done for her before we left!!

Michelle was also kind enough to loan us the video series of Downton Abbey Season 2 to take home with us after we came back from the mountain. It was a nice way to kick back and enjoy some much needed R&R. Have you seen it?  Did you love it as much as I did?  If you haven't seen it, I encourage you to rent it or watch the first 2 seasons on Netflix.  I'm already anticipating season 3 starting on PBS January 6th!

I've been spending some time the last couple of days praying about the coming year... seeking God's will and direction for the days ahead... and asking Him for my personal One Word for 2013.. a word that resonates with my heart and helps me focus on all that God wants to do in me and through me in the new year. I'm not sure what it is yet... but I'll let you know when I do... hopefully soon!

Do you have a WORD for 2013?  I'd love to know what it is, if you do!!

Market Moments...

So many folks who come to the Portland Saturday Market  comment about
how they've never seen anything like it before.  They are referring to the
beautiful bounty of handmade art and crafts, the fun entertainment, and/or
to some of the more "interesting" people who call Portland home.
Since it's now a big part of my world and my new place of ministry...
I want to share a little of it with you each week. So welcome to my world...

Because I'm still new at the Market I don't usually have the same spot for my
booth every week... so every week I have new neighbors that I get to meet.
Lois was one of my vendor neighbors last Saturday.
She is beautiful... inside and out... and so is her delicate silver jewelry.

I love love love her display... so creative with the weathered wood, picture
frames and vintage windows. She has such a natural earthy look... gorgeous!
Hard to imagine, but she does not own a computer, thus no website link.
Instead, she lives a sweet and simple life on a small farm...  and loves it!

You probably wouldn't imagine finding a celloist at an outdoor market but
this guy was phenomenal... he was a treat for the heart and the ear!

And I don't know if you noticed the dirty feet sticking up behind the celloist
in the last photo or not... but here's the girl that belongs to those feet...
happily dancing with her hula hoops and entertaining the crowds. It was
amazing to watch... I know I sure couldn't do it... even in my younger years!

And I'll leave you with the same message that this dog had to offer to every
passer-by... smile!

A smile is a gift you can give that doesn't cost you a thing and I believe that
there is someone in your life, or who will cross your path today, who truly
needs a  smile... someone to acknowledge that they are alive and valued.
Will you be that person?  Will you give a smile... in the Name of Jesus!
Sending Love and God-hugs your way...