Karla's Korner

Here Kitty Kitty...

Finished.
It's so fascinating to look back at how a piece of art started...
and so fun to see how it all creatively came together!

She looks so happy, doesn't she...   with her heart shining through.

And she brings a word of hope wherever she goes...
a reminder to keep our focus on the one true Hope-Giver.

I chose this number randomly at the time...
but when I questioned if it had any significance to me... it does!
I was 29 years old when I came to know Christ...
and when we began our four year Alaskan adventure.

I wonder... does the number 29 mean anything to you?

And this hope will not lead to disappointment.
For we know how dearly God loves us,
because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Romans 5:5

Lord God... I just want to thank You today for giving us hope in a world
full of despair and disappointment.  Without You, I know my heart would be
overwhelmed with hopelessness and fear. Encourage our hearts Lord to trust
You in all things...so that we might be an encouragement to others...
for Your glory.  Amen.

Where in the World Was I???

So sorry I left you in suspense for so long...
but I've been trying to play catch up these last few days!!


So where in the world was I for five long days last week?
Sitting on a jury with 11 other people deciding the fate of another person.

Interesting that it was the week before Easter and I kept thinking of Jesus
being on trial and about Him being wrongly accused and convicted.
It's a huge responsibility to listen and discern what is true and what is not...
and then decide where a man will spend the next several years of his life!

Deliberations began Friday mid-afternoon and though heated from the start...
after about five hours... we ended up with four guilty verdicts.

It was a tiring and tedious five days... but still an amazing experience...
especially of watching twelve unique individuals, with their own perspectives,
wrestle with an extremely difficult set of truths, half-truths and potential lies
and, one by one, come to a unanimous decision on, not just one, but four
counts.  My heart still aches for the young man... more than I even realized as
tears are filling my eyes as I write this. 

God loves even the most guilty among us.

Coming Right Along...

Coming right along with a little layering... a bit of embroidery...

a few beads... and a bingo marker.  What do you think so far???

I'm eager to see it finished... hopefully in the next day or two!!

Just wait until you hear where I was when I was working on this cutie.
It was somewhere I've never been before...
and you would you probably never guess... so stay tuned.

My Cup Overflows for Easter...

"My Cup Runneth Over" Art Print is now available in my Etsy Shop!!

In the midst of pondering the celebration of Easter this weekend
and the message of "My Cup Runneth Over" based on Psalm 23...
my heart was blessed to consider how the two are truly inseparable.


You see... we Gentiles were once outsiders and outcasts.
We were wanderers... sheep without a shepherd.
We were hungry for Him... without even realizing it.
We were broken and in need of restoration.
We were empty and in need of filling.

So the Truth is... it is through faith in the message of Easter...
faith in Christ's death and resurrection...
that we are able to know the God of Psalm 23 as our Shepherd!
We are now the sheep of His pasture...
He has invited us to His banqueting table...
He is restoring our souls...
and our cups are filled to overflowing with His grace and goodness!

And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth...
the Good News that God saves you.
And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as his own
by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 
Ephesians 1:13

Heavenly Father... please help us to contemplate and give thanks
for all You've done for us through Jesus.  However we celebrate Easter...
may it bring great blessing to us and greater glory to You!  Amen.

I Just Can't Wait Any Longer...

It's not totally finished but I can't wait any longer... I just have to show you!

This is how the kitchen looked in September of last year....

and this is how it looks today... almost seven months later!

Quite a difference... don't you agree?

Michael just put up the subway tile on Saturday... it's perfect!

This is the first gas stove I've ever owned and I absolutely LOVE it!!!

We tried to be very practical with our materials... Ikea cabinets, granite tiles
instead of slab, subway tile instead of glass... but we seriously splurged
on this beautiful stainless apron sink and we're both so glad we did! We love it!

We make most meals together so we are both very thankful for our kitchen...
it's small but very practical... the perfect size for the two of us to work in!

Michael just needs to grout the tile and finish up some detail work
and the kitchen will be finished!  Woohoooooo and yippeeeeee yay!

Then I'll get to come in and figure out how to add some colorful and fun
decorative touches... so stay tuned!

Thanks again for letting me share our remodeling journey with you...
and thanks even more for all your kind comments and encouragements
in the past... they've been greatly appreciated!!

Love and God-hugs...
Karla

Thrifty Treasures...

Look what I found at the thrift store...

and all for $20!  Now who doesn't love a bargain? LOVE the bowls!!!
I was hoping to find some colorful pieces to add color to my new kitchen...
and there they were... with my name on them just waiting for me!!
So... why do you think anyone would discard such beauties?
Hmmmm... I'm thinking maybe so they could come live at my house!!

Oh yes... and those bowls are so fun and pretty to eat out of too! 

Lord God... thank You for the woman who chose to donate these dishes to
the thrift store rather than just throw them away... bless her Father... for
her trash has become my treasure!  Thank You for reminding me that You
call me Your treasure and You will never ever discard me or throw me away!
May I live today in a way that is as lovely to You as my new bowls are to me!
Amen

Art in the Making...

Michelle invited me to a mock workshop for one of the classes she taught
at Artfest last week... I loved it!  She is such a great teacher...
and SO CREATIVE!

She taught our little group how to create a simple silkscreen...
so easy peasy... I want to make more!! This little kitty was the result
of my creative endeavor... but now what to do with him???  Hmmmm?????

I enjoyed digging around in my studio and gathering together a pile of
this and that... some checkers, a few bingo pieces, a little fabric and felt,
beads, embroidery thread and a canvas. Can you imagine what this might
look like with a little painting, snipping, gluing, and stitching???

I'm not exactly sure either... but I'm excited to get started! 

God makes all things beautiful in His time.
(adapted from Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Heavenly Father... it's funny how just looking at this pile reminded me of how
You use all the bits and pieces of our lives... the old and dirty parts like the
checkers and bingo pieces... and the new... like the felt and fabric...
and You take what You're teaching us... like the lesson on silkscreen...
and You paint and You snip and You glue and You stitch all the pieces together
to create something beautiful out of our lives. Thank You Lord... I needed to
hear that today.  Love You Lord... Amen

New Easter Coloring Page!

I giggled outloud this morning...
wondering if you might think I have multiple personalities
with all the different art styles I create in!

But the truth is... I simply love creating... whatever the medium!
I still love my watercolors, I'm seriously enjoying painting with acrylics,
I'm having a new love affair with fiber arts on the side,
and I LOVED crafting this adorable Easter Bunny in pen and ink...
a Sweet Easter Love Gift... from me... to you!

To download your 8x10 FREE COLORING PAGE just CLICK HERE!
And if you have the opportunity... would you kindly pass on the love?
If you know of moms, grandmas, Sunday school teachers, or anyone else
who might be blessed by this little gift, would you take a minute to let
them know that it's here for them too!

Thank you my friends... and HAPPY COLORING!!
In His love and for His glory...
Karla

Finished and Overflowing...

Just yesterday I added the finishing touches to my newest painting...
inspired by one of my favorite verses...

Psalm 23:5!

It's true. When I stop and purposely begin to count the blessings in my life...
I am reminded of how much my cup truly overflows...

...overflows with the grace and goodness of the Lord.
Even on the worst of days I can see Him when I take the time to look.
I see His provision in the roof over my head and the food in my fridge...
His wisdom as I face the challenges of each new day...
His creativity flowing in me and through me with each new painting...
His love at work in my heart molding me through my trials...
His forgiveness when I fail for the umpteenth time...
and the list goes on... and on... and on.

I may not always act like my cup is overflowing
and my words may not always reflect it...
but that doesn't make any less true... only sad.

Sad that I have given in, once again,
to the proverbial "cup half-empty" syndrome...
grumbling, murmuring or complaining over what I lack... or think I lack...
rather than giving thanks and rejoicing in what I have.
For my cup is not half-empty and it's not just a cup that's half-full...
but my cup is so full of God's blessings that I cannot contain them all!!


So this little cutie will now hang over my buffet across from my breakfast
nook to remind me every morning to thank God for my abundant blessings...
and ask Him to show me how to share the overflow throughout the day!

Prints of "My Cup Runneth Over" will be in my Etsy Shop in the next few days.

Love and God-hugs to you...
Karla

A Peek Into My Breakfast Nook...

Please come in for a little visit...

This cozy little corner of my house is one of my favorite places!
This is where I sit with my Bible and cup of coffee early every morning...

and this is my view looking up... so fun!!

The crystals sparkle and dance with joy when the light is on
or when the sun beams through the window... it makes me smile!

This is my "Esther" corner...


You remember Esther, don't you?  And her transformation story?

When I found this book "Sparrows", I knew I would have to do a whole blog
post just about sparrows... but that will be for another time.

And this is a painting that I did after taking a workshop from my daughter!
You're not actually supposed to quit at this stage of the painting but I
thought it was so cheery with all it's great patterns, I couldn't keep going.

Okay... I saw this great idea in a magazine for curtains hung from knobs...
but decided I wanted something more creative and so made my own "knobs".
They actually have a story of their own... being made from newspaper found
under the flooring in this very room but...
the problem is that when I hung my curtain... I didn't like it... at all.
So now I have my fun buttons... and not sure what to do with them...
to be continued at another time... LOL!!!

My fun little red bird... can you tell I love pedestal art?
I made this little guy and Esther using old candlestick holders.
I really really want to make more of them... someday soon.

This is the perfect place to tuck our Bibles away when we need to.

Here I have a little reminder...
that I do have an angel watching over me... and so do you...


And to complete the tour... under the angel is this  hand-painted scripture...

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul
and all that is within me, bless His holy Name.
Psalm 103:1

Heavenly Father... I will bless You today!  I will lift up my soul to You...
 despite my struggles and the sadness of this world...
and I will choose to bless You Lord... to give You my best...
for You alone are worthy of my heart songs and my life praises.



Thank you my friends for visiting and allowing me to share
a little nook of my life with you!!

Blessings and hugs...

Easter Freebie Digital Downloads...

I was hoping to be able to create a new Easter Freebie for you
but there's just not been enough hours in a day lately!
So... since Easter is almost here, I wanted to go ahead and re-offer
these two little lovelies as my Easter Gift to You...

This Easter Basket/Gift Bag comes with printable rainbow handles or
you could use a wide ribbon in a coordinating color for the handles...
use it for giving a special Easter treat
or
cut out and use only the front for scrapbooking or cardmaking!!


And these cute little Easter Egg Holders would be just as happy
wrapped around your napkins for Easter brunch!

Both of these freebie gifts coordinate with these digital kits for
your creative pleasure...
                                 

Hallelujah Easter Cupcake Wrapper Set
Pastel Bright Papers and the
Easter Eggs by the Dozen.

Happy Crafting as you prepare to celebrate Easter...
in His Name and for His glory!

Stir It Up Print In Etsy...

The "Stir It Up" Art Print is now in my Etsy Shop!

It's a 7" x 7" print of my original painting...
printed with archival inks on an 8.5" x 11" high quality matte artist paper...
Each print will be hand signed by me...
and comes with a white border for framing.

This is how it would look with a white mat and simple black frame.
Of course, I think it would look great with a red mat too... or yellow!
Frame not included.

"Stir up the gift that is within you..."
2 Timothy 1:6

Heavenly Father... thank you again for reminding us to stir up the gifts
you've given us so that we might experience more of You in us
and through us... for Your glory!

We Have a Winner!!!

Thank you all soooooo much for participating in my giveaway!
I loved hearing about your different hobbies and creative endeavors...
and was TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY by all your love...
...I am blessed to have friends like you!!

So without furthere ado...
using random.org... just a few minutes ago...
DRUMROLL PLEASE...
the winner from the blog comments promotings is...
CINDY MCILVIAN!!!

This was her sweet comment:
I have enjoyed several of your books. They are full of truth and have been a source of much encouragement for me. Although I knit and crochet, I get my greatest enjoyment in creating quilts and then giving them away. Thank you for sharing your creativity in art and writing.
Cindy

Congratultions and big God-hugs to Cindy!!

And...
the winner from my FB friends is...
SUSAN RUSTON!!!

Congratultions and big God-hugs to Susan!!

Give 'em a great big round of applause now!!!
xoxoxo
Karla

40 Years and Still Counting!

Will you take a moment to rejoice with us...
sing a happy song... dance a little jig... lift your eyes to heaven
and give our God thanks... for today...
Michael and I celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary!


Can you believe it?
We were not believers when we were married...
and several times came soooo close to not making it...
in fact, in our early 20's, we were voted among our friends
to be the first couple to divorce!!
But here we are today...
40 YEARS LATER... with HAPPY HEARTS...
for God has been good to us!

And we both agree... He gets all the glory... amen and amen!