Karla's Korner

Walk With Me Wednesday...

I took my camera out on my walk this morning... and I thought
you might enjoy seeing a bit of the beauty that brought me joy...

I love it when I give myself time to delight in the beauty of a rose...

and this variegated variety brought the greatest joy to my heart!

The fragrance of this Stargazer Lily was almost intoxicating...


and it's so stately and majestic! Love the dotted pattern on it's petals!

I'm not sure if this is a Rose of Sharon but it's color against the brilliant
blue sky was dazzlling!

And this sweet little rose, bursting with color, grows forgotten and almost
unseen in front of an abandoned rundown house... it's beauty in stark
contrast to the harsh realities of the world around it. 

And I thought... O Lord... that's how I want to be!  Despite my circumstances
and the struggles I face, despite the loneliness and rejection I feel at times,
even in the midst of the darkness of this world... I want to blossom for You! 
I long to be that flower in the garden of life that brings a smile to someone
else's heart... and maybe even makes them wonder what it is that makes me
able to thrive in the darkness.  And then I can tell them all about You... the
Sonshine of my life and the Master Gardener of my heart!

And I pray this for you too!
xoxoxo
Karla

By Special Request... Autumn Blessings Bible Bookmarks...

A couple of weeks ago, Jeanette, a pastor's wife from New Mexico, asked
if I had something for around a dollar that her church could purchase to put
in the goody bags for their "Autumn Blessings" Women's Retreat.

I didn't... but I'm so glad she asked. Because of her Special Request,
I designed this collection of "Autumn Blessings" Bible Bookmarks just for her
AND to pass along to you! The great thing is that it is a
digital download collection so you can print as many as you need!!



Perfect for any Thanksgiving themed retreat or Tea Party! Or maybe even
one at each table setting for your own Thanksgiving Dinner.

I think I'll carry a few with me just to give away... might be a great
conversation starter in these days where the burdens can easily blind us
to the incredible blessings that God has poured out on us all. 

As God's daughters... today and every day...
May we enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise
Psalm 100:4

Do you have a Special Request? An upcoming event you need art for?
A scripture you've been wanting to see as a print or a plaque?
A new idea for a pocket mirror or digital download?
Leave me a comment and let me know what your Special Request is...
you never know... yours just might be the next one I do... just for you!

Behind the Scenes...

My sweet friend Vicky, who is also the women's pastor at our church, came
by for lunch yesterday and brought me this delightful little jelly jar brimming
with hydrangea blossoms from her garden... aren't they lovely?
I was blessed by her thoughtfulness and our much over-due visit!

But check out what happened with these flowers only moments earlier...

I brought the flowers into my studio... turned my back to get my camera...
and Abigail had nudged the flowers out of the jar so she could take a drink!!


Can you see her licking her lips?  She keeps us in stitches!


And then she gave me that "oops, I just got caught look" look... love it!

Usually she just eats the flowers or pulls the petals off... but this was the
first time she ever dissed the flowers for the water.  She must have just been
one thirsty cat and too lazy to walk the extra few feet to her own water dish.

....a merry heart does good like a medicine....
Proverbs 17:22

Have a very merry day my friends...
and share a smile with someone who needs it!
xoxoxo
Karla

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly...

 
When we look back through the scrapbooks of our lives, we all have a
mixture of memories... some filled with laughter... some with pain.

That's why I am so thankful that we believe in a God who is able to take all
the days of our lives... the good, the bad, and the ugly...
and turn them into something beautiful. He is able to heal our broken and
battered hearts... and then use us as a vessel to pour out a drink of love and
grace into the lives of others. I hope you believe that for yourself!

And we each have our own story... a unique God-written novel of our days
that was penned before we were even born, an eternal scrapbook, so to speak,
created and kept by our heavenly Father... of our story... written for His glory!
So don't try to be someone you're not... but embrace your own story and live it!

"Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them."
Psalm 139:16

Heavenly Father... amazing to consider that You knew us before we were even
born! And how blessed we are to know that You not only created us but that
You are always at work... healing the wounds of our past, filling us with your
love, molding and shaping our characters... so that our life stories will bring
great glory to You and be a blessing to others. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Fun NEW Canvas Giclees...

Okay... I did not plan it this way from the beginning... but think about it...
from left to right... as we "have faith" in God and in His Word...
we will "be wise" as we walk in will and His ways... which will result in our
"be{ing} joyful" in the Lord and bringing glory to His Name.

I also did not plan how the partridge and bluebird would be facing toward the
owl nor did I pre-plan how the text on the outer two are at the bottom and
the text on the owl is at the top bringing balance and harmony to the "set".

I love it when things happen by "happy accident"...
I can just see God smiling... as He knew it all along!


You've got to know I am loving these!  The colors are fabulous!
And I especially love the "READY TO HANG" part!

They are called Canvas Giclees and they are sooooo amazingly cool!
The art is printed onto canvas fabric and then stretched onto the wood frame.

I listed them on Etsy a few minutes ago...
and now that I shared about how perfectly they fit together...I just decided
to offer all three as a collection for a discounted price... sweet!

Thank You Lord God for "happy accidents"! 
And just like I had no idea how these three paintings were going to come
together to create such a delightfully perfect collection... would you
remind us that even though, in the moment, we may not see how things
in our lives are ever going to come together to create something
beautiful... You do... because You are working all things together for
good in our lives... able to bring beauty from ashes and turning our sorrows
into joy. Remind us to put our hope in You Lord and wait with expectation
to see what fabulous things you have planned for us in the days to come.
All for Your glory... AMEN.

xoxoxo
Karla

Latte Da... and My Art is on Exhibit There...

Don't you just LOVE that name for a coffee shop?  Latte da!  So much fun!


It is a CHARMING vintage house turned Coffee Shop - Restaurant - Wine bar!
They've been open only a few weeks but I believe they have the potential to
become a neighborhood favorite for all sorts of gatherings. That's how came
to know about them.  My art group has met there twice now, including today.


And, as of this morning, the first thing you see when you walk in the front
door are... Karla Dornacher Original Paintings... Ta Da! 
It's my very first art "exhibit" and I'm thankful for the opportunity to brighten
the walls there and share my art with all who come by! I hung a total of
5 originals and 3 giclee canvas prints. Thank you Scott!


And we all thought "Stir It Up" was very fitting for a coffee shop!


The most amazing feature, however, is the beautiful "secret garden" they've
created just outside.  It's tall wall of greenery gives you a sense of privacy
and peace from the world just beyond! I hear they're having a baby
shower there next week.  I'm sure it will be delightful!


They even have a fire-pit and are hosting Friday night s'more parties every
third Friday... yum!!  And at other times they have live music. I think hubby
and I may go have a listen tomorrow night.

Anyway... just wanted to share a blessing.  Now if someone actually bought
one of my paintings there that would be an even greater blessing!

If you live nearby, you might want to Like them on Facebook to get updates
on what's happening there... or just get some girlfriends together and
go have a Latte Da and a blueberry scone...call me... maybe I'll join you!

Blessings and God-hugs...
Karla

The Sweet Taste of Friendship...

Surprise!  I have another new book out!

With an apple theme, perfect for fall, this sweet little gift book uses a few
ingredients from earlier books, combined with a measure of new, to stir up a
batch of friendship blessings for you to share with the girlfriends in your life.



It includes scripture, poems, prayers and words of affirmation, as well as
a collection of apple recipes and apple gift ideas.
It also includes a few journal pages, perfect for writing down some sweet
friendship memories to make this book a very personal from-your-heart gift.

You can check out just a couple of other pages and purchase it here!




Dear God... thank You for my friend! She is such an incredible blessing in
my life. I am so glad that You made her just the way You did... right down
to the number of hairs on her head... and the color of them too! She truly
is fearfully and wonderfully made - one of a kind by Your creative design!

I pray for my friend today that You will always enable her to see herself
through Your loving eyes... not her own or the world's. Remind her how
there is only one of her and only she can fulfill that perfect plan that You
have designed especially for her.

Bless her today with confidence in who You'e made her to be. Amen.
(an excerpt for The Sweet Taste of Friendship)

Do You Believe It???

This is a portion of a new pen and ink drawing I'm working on...
do you believe it?

Set Free now in Etsy...

Thank you all soooo much for all your sweet comments
on my newest painting, "Set Free."

I just added it to my Etsy shop!



And I wanted to show you what I've been up to lately...
I've been working on a couple of Baby Collections for my Zazzle Store.
This one is called "Baby Love" and I love the soft pink...
makes me want to borrow someone's baby girl to give some lovin' to!!


And this little "Roly Poly" just makes me smile! What can I say?  :-)

Don't you think they would make great themes for Baby Shower Parties? 
I started imagining little cellophane bags filled with candies with the little
tags ribbon-tied to each bag. And the stickers being used to make cupcake
toppers!  I'm thinking about designing the cupcake wrappers to go with them
but we'll see.  Oh so much fun I get to have designing products that will be
a blessing to celebrating life's special moments!


Right now, these two collections consist of Baby Shower Invitations and Party
Favor Stickers and Tags but I plan on adding more items to the collections in
the days to come!  If you know anyone who's in the planning stages of
celebrating a new baby or one on the way, I'd love it if you'd pass along the
link to them... thanks!

Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say rejoice!
Philippians 4:4

So what are the special moments coming up in your life? Any celebrations?
Parties? Anniversaries? Birthdays?  Oh come on now... God gives us ample
opportunities to celebrate the life and blessings He's given to us...
and I'd love to hear about yours!!

Love and God-hugs...
Karla

Set Free... New Painting

Here is my newest painting... appropriately titled... "Set Free"
What better way to imagine being free then a bird being released from
its cage on a beautiful spring day... allowed to spread it's wings and fly...
to fly as high and far as it likes... to soar with the eagles... to ride the wind...
to fully experience the life it was created to live!

I thought you might enjoy a few photos of the process. I wanted to create a
very airy springtime feeling... the season where new life buds and blossoms.
So very happy with the colors I chose.

Loved using the leaf cutouts from a vintage music book...
reminds me that the more freedom we walk in, the sweeter our song.

I'm guessing this looks like no other bird you've ever seen before.
Oh the joy of being able to create whatever bird I so desire...
and I chose this little lady because she's bright and cheerful and so very
excited about her new life beyond her captive past.

Jesus said, "you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
Not a freedom to do whatever, whenever and with whomever...
but a freedom from the lies that hold us captive and keep us becoming all
God designed us to be and living the life He died for us to experience.

Oh spread your wings of faith little bird... soar on the wings of the Spirit.

Thank You Father God for opening the prison doors of our hearts and setting
us free from the captivity of lies, sin and death. Give us ears to hear the Truth
of Your Word... and hearts to receive it, believe it and be changed by it for
Your glory... may we spread our wings of faith new every morning and fly!
Amen.

Love and God-hugs...
Karla

And yes... "Set Free" will be in Etsy soon!

What • So • Ever • Things...

What have you been thinking on lately?  Lovely thoughts I hope.

But there are times when our minds are like a battlefield, aren't they?
And battles are NOT lovely.
Lies waging war against the truth. Imaginings luring us to lose hope.
When we yield to the darkness... whatever the cause...
we lose sight of the light... and can't even see the lovely.
I know you can relate... we all go there.  Some just more than others.

That's why I am so thankful for this verse... Philippians 4:8...
because it helps me stop and examine what I'm thinking about
and invites me to refocus on God and all that is good.


There are several other attributes God tells us to think on in this verse but
for today I just wanted to share this one... think on what is LOVELY...
and just look at how the word lovely is defined...

love·ly  (lvl)

adj. love·li·er, love·li·est

1. Full of love; loving.

2. Inspiring love or affection.

3. Having beauty that appeals to the emotions as well as to the eye.

4. Enjoyable; delightful.

n. pl. love·lies

1. A beautiful person, especially a woman.

2. A lovely object.



So take a moment to...
1. Just think on all the lovely people God has brought into your life...
not perfect people... but kind, caring, loving people...
whether for just a moment in time or a lifetime!
2. Think on all the lovely people who have encouraged you along
the way and have inspired you to be a better you.
3. Think on all God's gloriously lovely creation that makes your heart
sing with awe and wonder!
4. Think on the lovely moments in life that have brought you
such joy and delight... savored moments that captured your heart.

1. And above all... think of the most beautiful person to have ever
lived and loved... above all else... think on Jesus...
the Most Lovely above all lovelies!
2. Think on how God has gifted us to create lovely things...
whether lovely works of art and music or lovely meals or lovely homes.

Oh so much loveliness... oh so much to grateful for!

And I must say... you my friend... are LOVELY! You make me smile!
Thank you for sharing this life's journey with me!
In His love and for His glory... xoxoxo... Karla