Karla's Korner

Art in the Making...

I love gathering odds and ends of whatever... all with a plan of course!!
What do you think about my little helper hiding behind the brushes?

I did paint some orange before I remembered to grab the camera...
glad I didn't get any further along cuz I love sharing the process.

Check out that metal plate back there with Lincoln's head... very odd!
Some tourist picked up in Illinois, I'm sure.

Ohhhh... there's a hint... a big hint... do you see it?

Anyone know what those coil wrapped ceramic cones were used for?
Maybe some kind of warmer... look a little dangerous by today's standards.

My color inspiration for this project is my painted fabric in the background.
Totally new color pallete for me!

LOVE old doorknobs! LOVE being creative! And LOVE to share it all with you!

So what do you think?  Do you see the vision?
Oh I can hardlly wait!!!

xoxoxo
Karla

My First IF Illustration Friday...

I've wanted to participate in Illustration Friday off and on for a long time...
but it wasn't until I saw Michelle's IF drawing that I realized it doesn't have
to be complicated or detailed or even painted...

it's simply a fun prompt to get your creative juices flowing...
and this weeks prompt was the word... ASLEEP!
Yep... inspired by my own little Abby cat!

Okay... I still think the bird down below needs to be chirping something
clever to his buddy but the only thing I could think of was... SHHHHHHH.
What do you think... got any clever ideas?

First Studio Gathering...

I invited my Art Group to come to my studio for this month's meeting...
have I told you how much I LOVE my new studio?!?!

I had so much fun just getting ready for their visit.  It was the first
time I had set all six stools around my large work table and it felt good.

Some day I think I would like to teach small workshops... not sure what I'd
teach... but I do believe that's one reason why God gave me this wonderful
room. It will be fun to see what He has in mind... and even if it's only a
bring your own craft and let's hang out together time... sounds like fun to me!

These gals are such a blessing... Lani, Teri, Jaron, and my daughter Michelle! 
We missed you Paulette... hope to see you next month!

What I love about this group is the diversity of styles we each bring
to the table and how we come together to inspire and encourage one another
in whatever creative endeavor we are working on... loving one another
and accepting one another's uniqueness for who God made us to be.

I had set out some fabric and paints, just in case the girls were in the mood to
create... but we always do show and tell first... which I absolutely LOVE...
and since we all had so much to share and catch up on... well... let's just say
I still have those fabric panels and paints ready for the next time I have friends
over to my studio... wanna come?

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
Hebrews 10:24

Father God...
I am thankful for the women in my life who motivate and inspire me
to love and creativity and good works.  May I also be a woman who motivates
and inspires others to love and to live fully and wholly for you! Amen.

A Fresh Bouquet of Blessings...

This is my newest art print and I'm LOVING the colors!!

Aren't the flowers fun?  Do they make you smile like they make me smile?

And this is... and always be... one of my favorite Bible verses.
Is it one of your favorites too?

You can find my new print in my Etsy Store.
xoxoxo
Karla

Thank You Father...
for filling us with a joy that moves beyond our circumstances...
for the faith to trust You to be our strength during the hard times...
for giving us reason to celebrate life and make the most of every
opportunity You give us to love You, love others, and glorify Your Name!
Amen

In My Studio...

I must say... I LOVE my new studio!
Still much to do... but I couldn't wait any longer to begin
sharing it with you... one wall... one corner... one vignette at a time!

These are the cabinets I was painting a couple of weeks ago.
Notice the white lights around the ceiling?  Happy lights!

Michael made this cabinet a few years ago...
it's the perfect height for my cutting station...
I have owned this cutter for years and don't know how I'd live without it!
And I love having the cutting mat handy... it saves cutting things I ought not!


Cheerful little vignette... a friend gave me the little metal table... love her!
And a few of my Etsy prints have found a temporary home here!


This little doll... who is still not finished reminds me to keep dreaming!

Love the details... love the bling!

Hope you enjoyed this little visit to my studio...
oh so much more to show you in the days to come!!

Keep dreaming my friends... and always remember... God is able to do
so much more than we can think or imagine... so let's imagine big!

xoxoxo
Karla

100 Favorite Bible Verses...

I got my sample book in the mail just yesterday!

It's always a delight to have and hold a finished book
that you've been a part of... and this one is as beautiful as can be!

This is one of my favorite pages... favorite verses... and favorite flowers.


Just lovely.

The author of the devotionals is Lisa Guest and above is part of what she has
to say about this Favorite Bible Verse.

Yes Lord... thank You for the gift of this day...
give us eyes to see You and ears to hear You
so that we may rejoice in it and give You glory!

Oh yes... I will let you know as soon as the books arrive!!

Monday Musings...

I love that my neighbors forget-me-nots are spilling through the fence and
into my yard! I am praising the Lord for the benefit of living next door
to a couple who love flowers... flowers that bring great joy to my soul!


How easily I forget stuff... people's names, where I put stuff, what I went
into the other room for... you know... the kinda stuff that makes me feel
like I'm losing my mind and getting old way too fast!

But there are some things that I forget that have nothing to do with my
age or my brain, but instead have everything to do with my heart...
the kinda stuff that makes me feel ungrateful and discontent... and
that's what happens when I forget the benefits and blessings of the Lord!


Today... oh my soul... take time to remember the benefits
of the Lord... and give Him the glory and praise!

Sneak Peek...

I'm excited...
I've been working lots of long hours on a new project.
I still have much to do before it's ready
but I can't help myself...
I have to show you a sneak peek at what's coming!!


Soon... there will be a place where you can find
necklaces with God's Word and my art on them...

t-shirts with God's Word and my art on them...

 super cute baby stuff with God's Word and my art on them...

and lots and lots of other inspirational gifts and goodies...
and go figure... all with my art on them!!

The exciting part is that I have prayed for a new way
to share my love for God and His Word through my art...
and I believe He has opened this door for me.
And soon... very soon... I will be opening the door to you too...
and inviting you to be a part of this new creative adventure with me.

Love you my friends... and may we always
"stir up one another to love and good work..."
Hebrews 10:24

Florabelle...

 
Sometimes it's fun to just doodle for no reason.
This is Florabelle... she's a doodle.
Her flora-do just makes me smile... smiling is good.

She definitely is a belle... maybe not the belle of the ball,
but I'm sure she would be the belle of any garden party!

She made me think of the Bible verse...
"May your soul be like a well-watered garden."
Jeremiah 31:12

I think Florabelle's soul is in full bloom!

Oh Lord... we so want to be like Florabelle...
may the garden's of hearts blossom for you!

Sharing a Little Love...

Here's my pretty little bouquet of posy bracelets I told you about yesterday!

The painted fabric base makes them so cheerful, don't you think?
I love tulle... and oh my... the beads... very sweet.

Did you go check out the Craft Hope website?
It's a great feeling to make gifts for the peope we know and love...
but there's something special knowing it's for someone who has so little.

I'm having some friends over next week to make a few more...
wanna come?

In fact, I think these are so fun, I may just have to make more...
gotta make one for me... and then my friends... and maybe even for Etsy...
what do you think?

 

Keep creating and crafting my friends... whatever your craft is...
and ask God to show you where and how you might be able to share your craft
with those less fortunate than you who just need a little love.

Love and God-hugs...
Karla

ARTing with Michelle...

I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since I went ARTing at Michelle's!
We always have so much fun and she never fails to stretch my creativity!

I knew we were going to be making bracelets for Craft Hope... who is
partnering with Orphan Outreach to send handmade bracelets to orphans in
Russia... but I didn't know we'd be painting the fabric to make them with!!

Yep... this is just randomly painted patterns and a little stenciling on plain
canvas fabric... and I would never have thought of doing this on my own!

This is one of Michelle's bracelets... you can see more of hers here.
And I just went to take photos of mine and my camera battery died...
so I guess that means you'll have to wait to see mine until tomorrow!!

Thank You Father God for placing people in our lives,
including our own children, who encourage us to think and live and create
outside the box... to draw outside the lines...
to step outside our comfort zones!
Thank You Father that You do the same!
Continue to stretch us Lord... and give us the faith to trust You as you do!

Until tomorrow...
Love and God-hugs...
Karla

UnCreative Painting...

I've been painting...

not art...


but cupboards and cabinets and shelves... oh my!!

Trust me... I'm not complaining though because all this uncreative painting
is in my
ART STUDIO...
and I just know that working in this space
is going to make the creative painting all that much more fun!!

I can hardly wait to show you... hopefully later this week!!!

All I can say today is... thank You Lord!!

So do you have a creative space...
a studio?  guest bedroom? the kitchen table?  a corner?
Would you leave a comment and tell me... I really would love to know!

Blessings of peace and contentment to you today...
In His love... Karla

Tickled Pink...

I cannot even begin to tell you how HAPPY I was to discover that the
little tree by our front steps is a PINK flowering DOGWOOD!!

Did you know that Genesis 2:9 says, "the LORD God
made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--
trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food"?

Aren't we oh sooo THANKFUL that He cares... not only about feeding
our bodies with good food... but also about feeding our souls
with the beauty of His handiwork?   AMEN and AMEN!

Pretty as a Pansy...

I love spring flowers and pansies are amongst my favorites! 

So it is my pleasure to let you know about a new digital download kit called
"Pretty as a Pansy" that's now in my Etsy store.

You know I'm all about saving a nickel and stretching a dollar...
well, hat's the heart behind this new Digital Art Collection.
The idea that you can buy it once and print it over and over again is
fabulous!  And it's not just for scrapbooking even though it's that too.

What's great is that if you have the gift of encouragement
and love to send cards... or you're in a ministry where you need to...
it's a greeting card that can be used for any occasion.

If you give handmade gifts... the kit includes tags and labels to add your own
personal touch to your package or container.

And f you're looking for an inexpensive gift...
it can easily be framed as a piece of art.


I made a card... forgive my photography... but I wanted you to see how I
cut the cup and seed packet and layered them... and, of course, added some
glitter which gave it a nice vintage card feel.  I love it!

You can check out the other tags that come in the kit here.

Blessings and God-hugs...
Karla

Kitty Doodles...

My kitty's name is Abigail... we call her Abby unless she's in trouble. 
She NEVER comes when we call "kitty, kitty"...
unless it's accompanied by the sound of the treat bag opening!

I'm not exactly sure what plans I have for these "Fine Felines,
but I think they're adorable...
so I'm sure they will be showing up in a project and/or in my Etsy
shop soon. Any suggestions? I do hope they bring a smile to your face.

And may God's love for you bring a smile to your heart!
Blessings and God-hugs...
Karla