Karla's Korner

Royalty of the Heart...

You would have thought I'd have sewn something yesterday, given my tidy
little sewing nook... and I did think about... but instead I couldn't help
myself... this little lovely has been on my heart...

If we truly belong to the King of Kings... yes...  that makes us a Princess!
But not the kind of princess that sits on pedestal... expecting to be served.
And it's not a title we boast of.. or a position we brag about.
Oh no no... not in God's Kingdom!

In the Kingdom of Love-A-Lot, we are called to do just that...
LOVE A LOT!!
That's the crown we wear... that's what's supposed to set us apart.
Loving others like God loves us... yessirreee...
loving... caring... serving... forgiving... self-sacrificing.

But sometimes our crowns slip, don't they?  Maybe even fall off?  Mine does.
Sometimes I'm too preoccupied with my own life to care about others.
Sometimes I let someone else's attitude or behavior change my own...
and my crown tumbles to the ground.
Sometimes my own self-righteousness knocks it off without me realizing it.

But that's not who I am... I am Princess Love-A-Lot.
So once again... I must humble myself. And asking the King's forgiveness,
I reach down to lift it up, and I realize it's not really even my crown...
it's His.

You see, that's why our crowns keeps slipping and falling off.
God's love is soooo much greater than our love!
This crown we wear in His Name is too big for us!
But as He looks at His little girls... He smiles.
He is confident we will grow into it.
So once again... we don our crowns as Princess Love-A-Lot
and we seek to be more like our Savior... loving like He does...
so others might see Him through us.

Remember... we dwell in the Kingdom of Love-A-Lot...
so check your crown once in a while to make sure it's sitting pretty...
in His Name and for His glory.

Love and God-hugs...

 

Sweet Little Sewing Space...

I'm finally starting to organize my studio... little by little...
and I'm so excited about it!

I've always wanted a sewing nook... where everything could stay out and be
ready when the urge hit or the need arose.  I now have it... oh so sweet!


So my serger is ready to serge... (as soon as I find the cord)...


... and my sewing machine has already been sewing... yessirreee...
I hemmed up some jammies for a friend just a few of days ago!


So here's what happens when you're disorganized and can't find the color of
thread you want in the moment... you go buy more... and then it happens
again... and again. Will I ever use that much red & yellow thread? Hope so!


Oh my... do any of you remember the day of the duster?
Or a 35¢ pattern!?!?!?


I'm not finished organizing yet but I thought this was pretty clever...
the small metal dishes are vintage jello molds... and the little bucket is
super cheap from IKEA... loving it!


And who doesn't love colored ball-head straight pins? I do!  Cheerful and fun.
And this little pincushion has elastic to fit on your wrist... so helpful!


I got this adorable table from my daughter. I should have taken a before
photo though. Where the buttery yellow is on the top it was purple and
the legs were blue and white striped... very cute... but just a bit
too multi-colorful for my style and studio! 
Don't worry... she understands... and didn't mind at all!


Okay... so do you see what is wrong with this picture? 
Yes... the stools I got are too tall for the table!  I thought about just
cutting them off but I need them to be that height for my art table.
So... I'm looking forward to finding new chairs at the second hand store...
I know I'll find them and they'll be just perfect!

I believe God is calling me to get organized... in my studio, my house,
my paperwork, my daily routines, even my thought-life.
He's been impressing on me that being more organized will result in much
greater freedom... freedom to grow in my relationship with Him,
freedom to be more creative, to grow my business,  and give myself away. 
Yes Lord... that's my heart and my desire.

How about you?

Heavenly Father... I understand that greater freedom and creativity flows
from a sense of order rather than chaos and so I do desire more order and
organization in my chaotic life! I want to be all that You're calling me to be,
but I know I can't do it without You. I trust You to give me the wisdom and
direction I need for today to accomplish Your will in me and through me.
Amen.

xoxoxo

Happy Heart Day!

Thank You Lord God for loving us...
and reminding us that above all... we are Your Valentines...
and not just today... but every day from now and into eternity!
Thank You for hugging us with Your Spirit...
blessing us with beautiful and bountiful gifts every day of the year...
and rejoicing over us with great joy!
May our hearts truly be happy today... knowing we belong to You!
We are Yours... and You are ours... Valentines Forever!

Oh My... Oh My... The Week Flew By!

  Whew... I know time flies... but this week went by at record speed!



Where... oh where... did it go?

Well... remember that list I talked about last week?

At the top of that list was paperwork... and I knew that had to be God.
I know so because I would never put paperwork at the top of any list.
My favorite thing to procrastinate is paperwork.
So I have (had) piles... many piles... many messy piles.
Of course, the move didn't help the situation at all!

 
You can't imagine how many times I wanted to quit and walk away.
Do something fun.  Do something creative.
But nope... I knew it was God's will and desire for me to get it done.
So I was a good girl.  Encouraged myself in the Lord.
And stuck with it.
Yep... it's done... I'm all caught up... at least for now!  Sweet!!! 
And God was right... it feels good... weight lifted... burden gone!


And not only am I caught up but I am getting organized.
I LOVE being organized and orderly!
I still have a ways to go, especially with the house still being in process...
but as for paperwork...


2010 is filed away...


and 2011 has taken it's rightful place.

And I have worked out a few new "systems" to hopefully help
make staying on top of it all even easier.  (Thanks Audrey!)

So there you have it... that's where most of my week went!


And I'm smiling...
because now I'm moving on to the second big thing on my list...
THE HOUSE!!!!  WHOOOOOHOOOOOO!!
It's starting to take shape so stay tuned!


But before I go...I do have to ask...
what do you procrastinate doing?
Could it be that, like me, you've been hearing that still small voice
coaxing you to tackle it... get it done...
see it through to the end.
May I encourage you... you'll feel better when you do.
Not only because the burden will be lifted...
but you'll know that God is smiling.
And maybe you'll even hear Him say...
"well done, my good and faithful servant!"

Be blessed...
in His love and for His glory...

CHA Inspired List...

I LOVE writing lists. God made me this way.

Sometimes lists are written only to be thrown away.
But sometimes God uses our scribbled lines upon lines...
to help us capture our out of control thoughts.
to bring a sense of can-do to our daydreams.
to sort what is of Him... and what is not.
to enable us to prioritize and think things through.
to motivate us to move forward.


That's what happened for me at CHA.
I came home with a list.
My thoughts have clarity.
My creativity has inspiration.
My path has direction.
My heart has hope.
My eyes are on the Lord.

I know He's not done with me yet...
so I'm looking forward, with expectation, to see what He has in store...
step by step... moment by moment...
for His glory!

And I know He's not done with you either.
He has a plan... a glorious plan...
but sometimes we have to take a step of faith
to enter into what He has in mind.
So let's keep moving forward in faith together!!

Thank you so much for your love, encouragement & prayers.

Love & God-Hugs...

Amazing Creativity at CHA...

If you want to be inspired with amazing creativity...
CHA is the place to go!


An overall theme was mannequins...
because they were everywhere... large and small...
all dressed up in paper... paint... jewels... yarn... anything crafty!


Believe it or not... these are all paper... and I'm so sorry my photos
don't do them justice... they were EYE-CANDY GORGEOUS!!


A rep with this company... DCWV...
told me these took months to create... just for this show!! I can believe it!


Exquisitely designed and detailed and...
all made from sheets of beautiful scrapbooking papers...
who would have thunk????


This is one uber-talented designer... I wish I could have met her!!


I was told that the ruffles were created by soaking the scrapbook papers in
water... this must break down the sizing in the paper... letting it dry
overnight... and then using a curling iron to create the ruffles...
fyi just in case you want to make your own ruffled paper dress!!!

As I walked the show... what touched my heart was the AMAZING CREATIVITY
that we have inherited from our Father... the ULTIMATE CREATOR.
For some it comes easier than others but we all have a measure of creativity
in us because of Who our Father is... it will just look different as it flows
from each unique vessel... whether through paper or cooking or writing...
or whatever calling or passion He's given us.

I just hope you are using some of yours today... and thanking Him for it!

I will share more on my weekend later...

Love and God-hugs...