Karla's Korner

A Cleaning Cubbies Giveaway

I've been cleaning cubbies and closets and found some samples
and stowed away goodies that I won't be taking with me when we move.

So... over the next few weeks I'll be giving these treasures away
a few at a time... to you... my sweet and precious soul sisters!! 
Starting with these...

I know you'll love this scrapbooking kit... it's fabulous and overflowing
with pre-designed pages and papers and die-cuts.

A beautiful fabric tote to honor you as a mom... or to give as a gift
to a friend who needs a bit of encouragement in her role as a mother...
notice the place to tuck in a special photo.

A plump pillow with a memorable message...

a recurring message in my art and heart over the years... must be God!

A packet of greeting cards for all occasions...
perfect for blessing and encouraging the people God has placed in your life!

A box of cards, a "Down a Garden Path" book, and a "Think on these things"
picture frame to show off your favorite people.

The box of cards includes these three designs...

and the details of the frame will make you smile.

And this sweet gift set includes a calendar, a pen, and a journal!

All these goodies are already packed and ready to be sent your way...
so if you'd like to win... just leave a comment on this post
and I'll draw the winner next Monday, October 5th at 4:00 pm.

And oh yes... don't forget this magnet and what it proclaims...
yes... Jesus loves you... yes... Jesus loves you... oh yes... Jesus loves you...
the Bible tells me so!

And I love you too...

Worship the Lord with Gladness!

Worship is more than just singing a song... true worship is a lifestyle...
a lifestyle of loving God, loving others, and living worthy of His glory!

We can worship lots of things other than the Lord if we're not careful...
people we love or admire, our money, even our hobbies or houses.
But what a privilege it is to worship the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

And isn't it great that we don't have to worship Him out of duty or drudgery
but out of a heart of gladness for who He is and how He's blessed our lives!

Sometimes we just need a reminder to stop the busyness and sing out
a song of praise and thanksgiving simply to bless the heart of our Father.

Let us lift up His Name together!
Amen.

xoxoxo
Karla

New Give Thanks Painting

I painted this painting last week to vignette with "Sweet Praise". It uses the
same warm rich colors and it mimics several of the design elements.
But what really makes it... and the one I'm painting now...
tie together is the united theme of praise, thanksgiving and worship.

Giving thanks to the Lord feeds the soil of our hearts and in gratitude
our lives blossom with the beauty and bounty of God's goodness and grace.

And we have so many blessings to be thankful for... always.

Hope is a blessing that gives meaning and purpose to this earthbound life
and one we forget to thank God for at times.

But above all... love is #1 on my Thanksgiving List.
God's love to me, in me, and through me.
The love of my family. The love of friends.
The love of God shown to me by strangers through random acts of kindness.
The love of those I work with and share my life with.

Without love... giving love and receiving love... we have nothing.

So remember today... in everything... especially in love... to...

Lord bless you!
xoxoxo
Karla

Monday Musings...Taste and See

What foods do you savor? Cupcakes? Chips? Fruits or veggies? Savory or sweet?

As I pondered Psalm 34:8,
"Taste and see that the Lord is good...",
I thought about some of the foods I love to taste... including chocolate!
But I also thought about how someone can place a piece of chocolate on a
plate before me and I can know it's chocolate... I can see it's chocolate...
I can even acknowledge out loud that it's chocolate.
But... if I don't purposely choose to pick it up and put it in my mouth,
I will never taste it's sweetness or savor it's flavor.

In the same respect, God doesn't want us to just acknowledge Him
from a distance. Instead, He wants us to experience Him intimately...
to taste His love and grace through His Word, His Spirit and His blessings.
His sweetness will beat out a cupcake any ol' day but we must choose
to eat from His banqueting table in order for our souls to be well fed!

I love Matthew 4:4 where Jesus says:
"Man does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
God wants us to eat His Word and with every bite, taste His goodness!
As we "chew and swallow" God's Word about who He is, who we are in Him,
and His great promises for us...  truly believing it for ourselves...
and as we respond to His Word  with faith and obedience...
the taste of His love lingers long in our hearts!

Heavenly Father, we praise and thank You for making Yourself
known to us... so much so that we can truly taste of your Presence and
savor the blessings we know come from Your hand. Lord you also know
how big the battle is to keep us away from Your banqueting table... help us
be overcomers so that we may eat well and find nourishment for our souls.
Amen

xoxoxo
Karla

Please Meet Esther!

I know I should have been cleaning or packing but I couldn't help myself...
Esther was tugging at my heart! 

Who knew that a mismatch of this and that could go from trash to treasure!

Here's what I started with:...a brass candlestick holder, a wooden bowl, a funky metal plate,
a jello mold, vintage buttons, crystals and the tips from the finials
I used for the legs on the boxes I made for the girls last Christmas.

And here's what became of it all... say "hi" to Esther!Hard to imagine that out of that pile of cast off's could come something
so sweet and delightful.

Do you love her bingo earrings? I chose the numbers... 9 & 14... for the ages
of my granddaughter's... but when Michael saw them he noted
that it was also that's day's date... the day Esther was created.

Do you recognize the jello mold and funky plate?

Check out the transformed candlestick holder!
And when I bought these weaver's spools at a yard sale a while back,
I had no idea they would become Esther's arms!

I love these vintage buttons royally seated on checker game pieces!

And this sweet filigree was a gift from my daughter's ephemera stash...
thanks Michelle!

As I stand back and look at Esther she makes me smile.
And she reminds me... and I hope she reminds you too...
that God can take the trash of our lives that seems to have no value...
and with divine creativity and loving kindness...
He transforms it and us into something delightful...
fit to be the bride of the King of Kings.
And I know that when He looks at us... like when I look at Esther...
He smiles!

Lord God, help us see ourselves through Your eyes rather than our own.
May our lives be like Esther's... knowing that we were created
for such a time as this... to be a reflection of You in this world...
for Your glory!

         

A Sweet Saturday...

So what made my day so special? 

1. Time with those I love... of course! 

2. Watching the Ladybug's sensational first soccer game of the season!

3. Getting to see Jess (my youngest granddaughter) head butt the ball...
 for the first time... and grin from ear to ear for doing it! (PRICELESS!!)

4. Going flea market junking with my daughter Michelle...
  and talking for hours afterward! (Again... PRICELESS!!) 

  

And to top off the day...
  5. A quiet dinner alone with my hubby...
 not unusual but no less sweet... and no less PRICELESS!

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Here's some pics from the Vintage Gathering and the Barn House Sale.
The staging itself was incredible... especially at the Barn House Sale
 even though they were almost sold out by the time we got there!

The Vintage Gathering...
 Michelle really wanted that red canister... but left it there

Love the hen and chicks... but left it there

I always wanted to make a "tool sculpture" similar to this one...
but it won't be long before I won't have a building to put one on anyway!

Okay... these apples are from the Barn House... is that just too cool or what!

Notice the sink they used for the jewelry display... how fun!

Next time we'll have to go earlier when there's even more to see...
we missed out on so much... but most likely saved some $$$...whew

So does this make you want to take your sink outside and fill it with gourds?

 
 Without a doubt... it was a very sweet day... a taste of heaven...
 hanging out with the ones you love!

Lord God, help us to savor the moments You give us with those we love.
Help us not take those special times for granted but to embrace them
and enjoy them as glorious gifts from Your hand to our hearts. Amen.

Something's Fishy...

First off... thank you all soooooo much for all your wonderful comments
 about the release of my new book, Give Thanks!
 You always encourage my heart and bless my socks off!  

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And I'm thankful for my husband! You might remember me telling you about how much my sweet hubby likes to fish... if not, trust me, he does! Well... last weekend he thawed a mess of his frozen bounty and smoked it. I was his helper! It was just too pretty a picture not to share with you... take a look...

The many stages of smoking salmon from ready to brine to ready to eat!

Straight out of the smoker.. love the rich aroma and warm color!

Mouth-watering! It would probably not surprise you to know not
every piece made it to the platter! 

Vacuum sealed and back to the freezer.
Thankful that we get to enjoy such a treat...
 but also thankful to have such a savory gift for treating others!

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Update on the house...
 have had two lookers... no offers.
Please keep praying and I'll keep you posted!

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Lord God, thinking of Michael and his love for catching fish makes me think of how You've called us to be fishers of men... to be women who lure others to You through the way we live and love. You've told us to be ready to share with people about the hope we have within us... but sometimes we lose hope and when we do, our witness wavers. Father, would you do a hope check in our hearts today and show us where we need to have our faith stirred and our hope renewed. 

Lift our heads to see Jesus in all His glory...
 because He's where our hope comes from! 

May our lives and our love always reflect You to the world... for Your glory. Amen.

Give Thanks is Here and it's Gorgeous!

My new book "Give Thanks" is here and I know you're going to love it!!

I LOVE this book and am excited about it because...

1. I KNOW that God loves it when His kids... you and me...
  give Him thanks... and that's what this little book is all about!

2. I KNOW the difference that giving thanks to God
 can make in a person's life... including yours and mine... 
 and that's what this little book is all about!

3. this book represents a personal growth in my life
 as an artist and I LOVE the combination of Klassic KARLA
 and Kontemporary Karla artwork... and I know you will too!

4. even though I was uncomfortable and apprehensive 
 about not seeing color proofs of the book before printing...
 the colors are rich and warm... and absolutely beautiful!

Thank You Lord... and thank you to all the wonderful
folks at Thomas Nelson Pub. who made it all happen!

I am so excited for you to own your own copy of "Give Thanks"!
I know you're going to LOVE it!
You can order your signed copy from me here!

And don't forget... we're still going to do some great promotional
fun things a little closer to Thanksgiving...
but you'll have to wait until then to see what we're up to.

Lord bless you today with eyes to see
 all the blessings He's poured out on thee!

xoxoxo

Sweet Praise... My New Painting

Sweet Praise!

Have you ever just gotten lost in praise?

Immersed in His presence? Embraced by His grace?

Have you ever had those moments when it's just you and Him...

those moments when the world truly grows strangely dim?

Gentle in spirit.

Quiet of heart.

Growing in love.

Lifted by His Spirit.

Praising His Name!

Standing on the Rock.

Forever giving glory to the Lord of Hosts!

Amen.

xoxoxo