Karla's Korner

What's Your Favorite Bible Verse?

I just added 100 Favorite Bible Verses to my Bookstore so
if you would like a signed copy for yourself or as a gift you can find it here!

I've been hearing from a few of you that have already bought your copy...

I love how Carol said...
"It's beautiful to hold, easy to read and lovely to look at."

And Heather shared...
"I am now enjoying it very much. It is just lovely and each devotional
is full of meaning. Your art is so lovely throughout the book!"

Thank you my friends for your kind words and I pray God will speak to your
hearts and bring you joy, comfort, hope and encouragement through the
blessing of these favorite Bible verses and the thoughts gleaned from them.

Now here's what I want to know from you...
what is your favorite Bible verse?
Do you have one?  Do you have a life-verse?
I have some new scripture projects coming up so
I really need your help here...
so please take a minute and let me know!

Love and God-hugs...
Karla

Color Me Happy...

I've always loved yellow... it's bright and cheerful...and it colors my heart
happy! So... inspired my box of yellow paints and this blog and this blog...


I gathered a few yellow things from around studio to color you happy too...
like myf ribbons and ric rac... my buttons and a few tiny little flowers.


You can almost always find yellow in my artwork...
and I love fringes of all kinds... and the little ceramic tiles are too cute.


Lots of craft and sewing supplies boast the color yellow... and I just picked
up that little clown head at a garage sale with it's bright yellow hat!


And you know I love yellow flowers... so I leave you with this bouquet...
and pray that your day will be just a little happier because you've had a good
dose of some sunshine yellow and a color-me-happy God-hug from me...

xoxoxo
Karla

The Fragrance Filled the Air...

I just came back from the most fragrant walk I think I've ever taken! I love
that my new neighborhood LOVES their flowers!!
And, of course, it made me think of how the Bible says...
we are to God the fragrance of Christ!


Then as soon as I got back... I added three new prints to Etsy... this one...
Delight Yourself in the Lord... in two sizes... square and 5x7...



and this one... In the Shadow of His Wings... in a 5x7.

Hmmm... I guess that's my way of sharing the sweet aroma of Christ
with you today!  Can you smell it?

For we are to God the aroma of Christ
among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
2 Corinthians 2:15

Heavenly Father... we so long to be women who are sweet smelling
for You!  We want the knowledge of You Lord to be so sweet in us... that it
just naturally seeps through the pores of our being and out into the world! 
We want how we live and how we love to produce a holy fragrance
wheverever we go... a fragrance that will cause others to want to know
where it comes from... so we can tell them about You! 
Let Your will be done in us and through us Lord... for Your glory!

The Vine and The Branches...

Don't you just love how Jesus used such strong visual imagery as He taught?

As I sat in church this past Sunday... listening to a message on this verse...
all I could see were heavy clusters of lush ripe plum-purple grapes ripening
on the vine to the glory of the Vinedresser... and I knew... come Monday...
that I wanted to create a new art print to remind myself that I cannot bear
fruit that is pleasing to the Vinedresser unless I stay connected to the Vine!

I do want to be more and more fruitful for the Lord in the days to come and
I know you do too! This verse tells us that the only way to do that
is to stay connected to Jesus... to spend time with Him...
allowing His Word and Spirit to flow in us...
transforming our lives and our thoughts and our attitudes.
And we need to be willing to let Him prune away every thing that does
not line up with His Word and His calling on our lives... even if it hurts.

We were created to bear fruit my friends... and much fruit...
so let's do it for the glory of the Lord!!  Amen.

xoxoxo
Karla

New Mirrors in Etsy!

I've had so much fun formatting some of my art into the round
to make more mirrors for Etsy!


There's just something about hands-on making it yourself
that makes one's heart smile and soul thankful... don't you agree?


I loved seeing the Shadow of His Wings become something gift-worthy!
I'll be adding the print of this one to Etsy soon just in case you're wondering.


As I was making these, I thought about how I want to carry a couple in my
purse to have with me just in case I have a God-moment with someone
who could use a Good Word of Hope in the Lord to hold onto.


I want to be the walking-talking-loving version of this design...
does that make sense to anyone else?
To me this image just speaks of delight and joy and blessing...
and that's what I want my life to exude as I journey through this world!


But I know I can't be that person unless I'm connected to God daily...
knowing and believing in the depth of my being that He is God...
and I am not... because only then can I say that all is well with my soul.

 
And I leave you with this one because my friend...you are a Precious One...
to me and to the Lord!

May we glorify His Name together...
every day and in every way!

xoxoxo
Karla

A New Design...

I've been working on some new designs and this is one of my favorites!
I love the colors... the tulip... I've always loved polka dots... and the swirls...
but most of all... I LOVE God's Word!

I love how He promises to give us the desires of our heart...
but only as we delight in Him.

I remember several years ago when I was going through a very difficult season,
the Lord clearly said to me that if I would delight myself in Him, and Him alone,
He would give me the desires of my heart... desires I didn't even know I had!

I love the  part about "desires I didn't even know I had" because
the truth isI had gotten so caught up in comparing myself to other women
and trying to be like them, that I didn't even know who I was anymore
or what my heart really wanted, needed, or desired.

You see, the reality is that it is only as we delight in Him...
getting to know Him... love Him... trust Him... and follow Him
that we can truly discover who we really are...
who He uniquely created us and designed us to be.

And the really cool thing is that as we do delight in Him our desires shift
from being all about what I want... to all about what He wants...
and those are the desires that will bring us the greatest pleasure and joy!

So I'm praying for God to give you the desires of your heart my friend...
so go delight yourself in Him and be glad!

Love & God-hugs...
Karla

 

Please meet Esther's Sister...

Do you remember a couple of weeks ago I shared with you
a preview of some Art in the Making?

One of you did guess that she might be a doll...

and in some ways she is... but she's more of an assemblage...

a pulling together of many unrelated items... some headed for the trash...

a few vintage finds... plus a little bit of new...

drilled, wired, glued, and screwed together and what do you have...


but Esther's sister... from trash to treasure.


She reminds me of sherbert with all her delectable colors!


Do you see the jello mold? the candle stick holder? the plastic frame?
How about an upside down metal plate and old chandelier crystals?
I heard those cones are some kind of radiant heaters...aren't they fun!
And I love her little clay hands... so delicate.


The base is a wooden bowl sitting on a round wooden plaque...
I glittered some little wooden balls and wired her legs to go with her arms.
The beaded trim was the only thing I purposely bought to dress her up!!


So there she is...
with her checkered ears but she still needs earrings... I just can't decide yet!
And the little vintage earring on her cheek is way too fun.
I crocheted the wire with the beads for her hair...
and she's topped off with a vintage glass doorknob for her crown...
a crown to remind us of the one Esther wore!!

She's still not quite done... but she'll peek back in when she is!

Please go read Esther's story so you'll know the heart behing this little cutie...
and then come back and help me give her a name.

Michael says "Esther 2" just won't do.
And Esther's sister doesn't quite work either.... SHE NEEDS YOUR HELP!!
SHE NEEDS A NAME!!

Love and hugs...
karla

Write it Down in Style...

I love to include a few goodies and a hand-written "Thank You" note with
every Etsy and Bookstore order... and for the longest time, I've wanted to
design my own scripture note paper to write my notes on...



so I finally did... and I love them!
And the greatest thing about them is that they're printables!!
That means I'll never run out... they will always be just a printer away!!
And I've made them available on Etsy so you never have to run out either!

There are four different designs each with their own verse...
the verses on the two above are Psalm 119:105 and Joshua 1:9...


and the verses on these two are Psalm 19:14 and Psalm 100:4.


So just remember... the next order you place will have a few goodies similar
to the ones above tucked in with a hand-written "THANK YOU" from lil' ol' me!

And... you might want to order some Bella Flora Note Papers for yourself...
because hand-written notes have not totally gone out of style...
and just think what a sweet and inexpensive gift these would make
for a teacher, a friend, or a woman who works in your church!

...you shine like stars in the universe
as you hold out the word of life...
Philippians 2:16

Heavenly Father... help us to shine as we look for opportunities to share
Your Word with others. I know how often You've spoken to my heart through
a Bible verse at the bottom of a note paper or inside a greeting card and I
pray that as these note papers go out into the world that You will use
Your Word to encourage and build up the giver and receiver both!

Illustration Friday... Shadow

The word SHADOW conjures up lots of different visual images... but
I've always loved the spiritual imagery of hiding in the shadow of God's wings...
sheltered... protected... loved.

This verse reminds us to SING because we are hidden in Him...
because He is our help in every situation and in every way...
may your day be filled with the sweetest singing today!

FREE Rest in the Lord Color Page...

Thank you for all the great comments on my first illustration Friday drawing!
Because of you... it's now available as a FREE Coloring Page DOWNLOAD!

I just want you to know that even though I don't have time to respond to
every comment... I do love them, read them, and take them to heart!
And just to prove it...

Thank you Tamara for suggesting "sweet dreams" and Jen for taking it a
step further to "tweet dreams"... love it!

Thank you Barbie and Evangeline for inspiring me to change the "Asleep"
to "Rest in Jesus" so I chose to quote Psalm 37:7... delightful!

Thank you Linda and Rebecca for encouraging me to offer it as a coloring
page... so here you go... download your "Rest in the Lord" color page HERE!

And as always... if you have friends, a mom, grandma, Sunday School or
Christian school teacher who might be blessed by this coloring page...
please feel free to post this... picture and all... on your blog
or somehow let them know it's here for them too!

And what Evangeline said is so true...
"How many times in life do we have to be reminded to do that... to rest in
the Lord... instead of constantly trying to do it all on our own?" Well, for me
it's a lot... and I think the same might be true for most of us.  So for today...
let's color our lives with faith... and put our trust in the Lord...
to take care of what concerns us today... and tomorrow...
for He knows our needs and He cares... He really does!

Love and God-hugs...
Karla

Razzle Dazzle Zazzle...

As many of you know... since I first gave my life to the Lord I have asked Him
to allow me to use my art in ways that will glorify Him and be a blessing to
others... and another opportunity has opened up for me to do just that!!

So... I am delighted today to announce this new and exciting adventure...

So please... do go check out my new Zazzle Store, look around, become
a fan, and then come back here and let me know what you think... honestly!

You see... I want my razzle dazzle Zazzle store to be a special place that you
will want to visit when you need to find the perfect inspirational paper goods
and gifts that you just can't find anywhere else... and I need you to help me
be that for you!  All thoughts, ideas and suggestions are welcome!!

I thank God for opening this door and I can only pray that as I work to make
the most of this opportunity that God truly is glorified and at least some of
you will be blessed because of it!

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Col. 3:17

May whatever we put our hands to today... be done as unto the Lord...
with grateful hearts... to glorify Him and be a blessing to others!

In His love...
Karla

A Measure of Fun & Practicality...

I thumbed through a magazine in the grocery store just a few weeks ago
and noticed this very nifty and creative idea... but since I didn't have any
yardsticks, I kept on flipping pages and didn't give it much thought... I didn't
buy the magazine either so I have no idea which one it was!

But the very next weekend, I stopped at an estate sale and got three vintage
yardsticks... all three for 50 cents... score!!!  I immediately remembered this
great idea and came right home and bordered my countertop with them!

I especiallly love this one... do any of you remember the days when our
phone numbers were listed with the two letters and then the number?
Growing up, our phone number was BA3-5388... the BA stood for Baldwin...
but I'm not sure what Baldwin was all about... but those were the days!

It's just such a practical useful idea, you might be able to use it in your studio
or maybe in your kid's crafting area or sewing space... I love mine!!

Blessings to you for a great weekend...
and, oh yes... I have something wonderful to share with you come Monday!!

Karla