Karla's Korner

Summit View Bazaar Display...

In just a couple of hours I'll be on my way to my first bazaar in 20 years!
Oh my... I had forgotten how much work putting together a display could be!
I didn't get everything done I wanted to... but I'm happy with it.

What a blessing it was that my studio is large enough to set up a mock booth.
There were so many details to work out along the way!

And what a blessing that my daughter loaned me those great panels.
All I had to do was cover them with some inexpensive muslin for a fresh look.
And I had bought the red curtains when we first moved into our new house
but decided not to use them.  I had felt guilty about not returning them...
until now!  Maybe it was a meant to be!

My display consists mostly of my original art and prints from my Etsy store...
but these little snowman ornaments were a fun and crafty addition. 

 
I may even make some for Etsy after the bazaars... they are just so cute.

Each one is unique with its own little vintage trim...

and I can't help but smile over each one.

I know its a bit early to be thinking Christmas...
but to all my friends out there who are selling at a bazaar or craft show
this weekend or preparing for one coming up... you are in my prayers!

Things that are handmade with love make unique and thoughtful gifts.
So... if you are not making and selling your own handcrafts this year,
would you consider visiting a bazaar or craft show in your area
during the next few weeks in support of those women who are
trying to help with their family incomes through the gifts and talents God
has given them and show them some love... in His Name and for His glory!

Thank you for your prayers... I'll let you know on Monday how it went!
Love and God-hugs...
Karla

Suitcase Mirror Display...

I had the hardest time figuring out how to display my little pocket mirrors!
I have 16 designs to choose from and I wanted it to be easy to find the design
you wanted... so throwing them all in a big basket was just not an option!

I had bought this adorable little vintage suitcase at a garage sale earlier this
summer... I should have taken a before photo as it had a broken oval mirror in
the lid and a little brighter kelly green lining... but I really wanted to use it.

So I removed the broken mirror and re-lined it with this green felt.
I was pleasantly surprised to see how all 16 designs fit perfectly in the lid!

I used black foamboard to cut and hot-glue this divider for the inside
with 16 spaces and each space holds four mirrors of each design perfectly.

It looks pretty cute with the lunchbox I think.  I am wondering if the sign is
a little over-sized but maybe when I get some of the other signage done it
won't look so over-powering. What do you think?

We will be borrowing some display panels from my daughter and should have
those today to start figuring out how to set the whole thing up so stay tuned!

But for now... I am thankful. Thankful for the opportunity to share God's
Word and my art with the church and with the world through these bazaars.
Thankful to the Lord for showing me some creative ways to display it all.
And thankful for knowing that He goes before me and prepares my way!

Are any of you selling at bazaars this holiday season? If you are... let me
know and let's pray for one another... not only for good sales...
but that we might somehow be a blessing to all those who pass by!

Love & God-hugs...
Karla

Craft Show Display... Lunchbox Fun

It's been a lot of years since I've been a vendor at a Craft Show or Bazaar...
but this year I'll be at two... Summit View Church which is my home church...
and Crossroads Community where I attended several years ago.

I've been working on some creative display ideas for my booth...
like this oh-so-cute lunchbox to hold a few of my little square plaques!

I bought it at a yard sale while I was in Illinois this past year... I remember
my sister just smiled... wondering why I would want a rusty old lunchbox!

I attached some webbing for straps to keep the lid upright...


and I stainded some spindle tips I had cut off and kept from an earlier project
and simply hot-glued them to the bottom of the lunchbox for legs.

I also used some styrofoam packing material to build a 3-sided box to hide
my calculator and money under... and wrapped it in a 1910 newspaper page!
Don't you love the "I cure men" title to this ad?  Hilarious!
I love how it says... "If honest and responsible you can pay when cured!" 
Oh... if only that were true for today!

Stay tuned... tomorrow I'll show you my Pocket Mirror Display!

So next Saturday, the 29th, I'll be at Summit View and the following
Saturday, Nov. 5th, I'll be at Crossroads... both days from 9 to 4.
If you're local... I hope you'll come by and see me!  I'd love that!

Thanks for all your love and support and prayers!
xoxo
Karla

Princess Love-A-Lot

I first wrote about Princess Love-A-Lot back in February and she's been
in my heart ever since. I recently gave her a new look
and just added hersweetness to my Etsy shop...


She made me think about all the little girls... and big girls too... who fancy
themselves as princesses  and I thought maybe this little princess could help
moms share the truth of not only the blessings of being a princess but the
huge responsibility that comes along with wearing the crown. So I've decided
to include a copy of the original story {that I've also added below}
with every print order because...

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...

Walk With Me Wednesday... in the Fog

I almost didn't walk the other day just because it was so foggy and cold.
I'm not so fond of being chilly so I argued with myself quite a bit before going!


I'm glad I did though because the mist from the fog
added to the beauty along the way.

All the mist in the air transformed a zillion spider webs from
almost invisible... into sparkling works of art! 

The patterns of each spider's design were all so incredibly unique and
the intricate details kept me fascinated all along the way... beautiful!

And then, of course, it is the season for mums with their brilliants colors
boldly announcing that fall is in full swing!

Close to the end of my walk, I passed this warm and welcoming doorway...
a quiet celebration of the beauty and bounty of the season.
And it said so much about the woman who lives behind that door!

And talking about celebration... this entryway reminded me of how we are to
"Enter {God's} gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise"...
and how God longs for us to enter His presence and let Him know how thankful
we are for who He is and for all that He has done in us, through us and for us!

Today... among many other things...
I am thankful for God's paint palette and the rich warm colors of autumn!
I am also thankful for the riches of God's provision in our lives...
because whether a little or a lot... God is always faithful.

How about you? Is there anything about fall that inspires you to give thanks?
Autumn blessings and God-hugs...
Karla

Art Journal Growing in Grace...

If you looked back through my art journal, you'd see all kinds of artsiness...
oodles of doodles, collage and layering, painting and colored penciling...
but right now my love is for simple line drawings...


I'm guessing this little cutie will be getting some color some day soon...
maybe even become the catalyst for a canvas painting. But for today
it's simple... clean and crisp... a combination of line, shape and patterns.


The fun thing about creating in a journal is that you are able to give yourself
the freedom to let your page or doodle or design just becomes whatever
it becomes. There is no pre-planning. No end goal. But sometimes
you like it enough to want to share it... other times... not so much!


I did have to stop and ponder a bit when I added the words to the image...
they were just so fitting. And I thought about how... having just turned 60...
I still have so much room to grow... so many opportunities in my life to both
receive God's grace and to givie it away! We all do, don't we?


And the flowerpot reminded me to let my roots grow deeper in God's love...
because the more firmly we're rooted in Him... the stronger we grow in every
way... in love, hope, and faith... and the more we have to give away!


Did you notice the pencil sketch on the opposite page?  I'm so ready to
start inking her. But should I paint this one first?  Should I offer it on Etsy?
Should I offer it as a line drawing or wait and offer it as a painting. Or both?
What do you think?


But for now my friends... my prayer is that we might all continue to...

"...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
2 Pet. 3:17-18

Love and God-hugs...
Karla

Strawberry Yumminess...

I love surprises and that's what arrived at my door last Friday...
a whole box of these yummy chocolate dipped strawberries!

Aren't they gorgeious?  Almost too pretty to eat!
They were a gift from my publisher and his wife...
such sweetness... both the fruit and the friendship!

Enjoying this yummy gift of kindness made me think
about the sweet Fruit of the Spirit that is ours in Christ...
about tasting the goodness of the Lord through the friends He gives us...
and about how blessed and thankful I am to have both.

I love these kind of moments... God moments...
when He uses something like a strawberry to remind me to stop
and reflect on the really important things in life and give thanks.

Have you had any of those kind of moments lately?
They are sweet aren't they?

Hoping you have a chocolate covered strawberry moment
in your life today my friend!
love & God-hugs... Karla

No Walk With Me Today... Sad to Say...

Between playing catch up, celebrating my birthday,
and just feeling uber tired ever since I returned from China...
I have not found the time or energy to even take a walk!


And sad to say that today... instead of walking... I'm sipping tea & honey
from this lovely cup my blog friend Julie gave me {thank you sweet friend},
I'm sucking on Hall's throat lozenges, sniveling, coughing, whining a bit...
and... mustering up just enough energy to do a little computering.

I did manage to add 3 new super cute Snowy Joy Digital Art Collections
to my Etsy Store though and would love for you to check them out...
here's a sneak peek of one of them!



And now for a well-deserved nap!
Love and God-hugs...
{and be thankful you can't catch my icky yucky germs via cyberspace!}

Celebrating the Big 6-0...

Yesterday, I officially entered a new era... and celebrated my 60th birthday!
It's funny... it just seems so fitting... like I've been waiting to get here.
That does sound kinda strange, doesn't it? 
I don't understand it... but it's true... I am 60...  and I'm so okay with it!!


I told a friend... it's like my age has finally caught up with my hair! LOL!

My darling husband took me out to a very nice dinner and my sweet daughter
hosted a gathering of a few of my dearest friends to help me celebrate!
But I'm not done yet... I have a few other friend dates lined up so as to
draw out this special birthday celebration as long as possible!! 

I do have to tell you about this game we played though...
I love games so I was tickled to play a new one called telephone pictionary?
Have you ever played?  It was easy and, at times, hilarious!  I found these
instructions online but we didn't use a booklet... we each had the same number
of small pieces of paper as there were ladies.  The fun part is how different
the ending phrase can be from the original... kinda like what happens to gossip,
come to think of it... only this form is not harmful.

I also wanted to say a HUGE thank you to all my wondeful FB friends who
so kindly left their Birthday Blessings... you made my heart smile big!!

"LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered--how fleeting my life is.
Psalm 39:4 NLT

Thank Lord for the life you've given me... all 60 years of it!  I know that
apart from knowing You, I might not even be alive and if I had never met
You, I dread to think what my life would have been like.  Thank You
for my family and friends and all the love You've poured out on me
through them.  Father... bless them in return today...with Your love!

Driving Dangerously...

There is no way to effectively describe the traffic in China!
It was mind-boggling to say the least with cars weaving in and out of lanes,
bicycles and motorbikes driving the wrong way even in-between the cars,
and pedestrians NOT having any right of way!

People... including women and children... sitting atop cargo like this
was not an uncommon sight... but don't be deceived by this photo...
they do not always drive in this lane but weave willy nilly amongst the cars!

This photo looks like this family is taking a lazy Sunday afternoon bike ride...
but the reality is that I just caught them during a surprising lull in the traffic!
Driving a bike in China is a necessary but dangerous means of transportation.


Can you imagine taking your children on a bicycle like this... no helmet...
and no safety guard for the little girl on the back?  And this is a very busy
street even though it doesn't look like it here!  It was jaw dropping to see!

These are taxi motor-bikes just waiting to pick up a fare. 
I loved the colorful umbrellas! 
I saw many women sitting side-saddle on these not even holding on... yikes! 
We take so many things for granted my friends!!


Another taxi of sorts.
We also bicycles carrying 3 passengers plus the driver... crazy!

But this one made me LOL... Kentucky Friedn Chicken's delivery service!
No cars... just bikes!  And if you look close...
I'm thinking the colonel is looking a little Asian!  Too funny!

I'm surprised there are not more accidents then there are there... which is
a good thing.  And I'm thankful to live here where we have laws and, for the
most part, law-abiding drivers.  So next time you write in your thanksgiving
journal... you might just want to add US traffic to it!

Well... I have one more China post to share with you...
just to show you why I tagged along... so stay tuned!!

Thanks again for coming along...

Chinese and Chopsticks...

If you've ever seen any of my daughter's posts on her experiences with
Chinese foods you may have been worried for me... but... thankfully for me,
the people we were with only order food now that they know she will eat...
so I was fortunate to reap the blessing of her experience!!


I was also thankful to have a little chopstick experience before going to
China, but I confess that the rice and noodles were still seriously challenging!
Let's just say I gave our hosts, the Chinese people my daughter works with,
lots of opportunity for laughter as they watched me try! It was funny!


I loved how colorful their food was... and how beautifully it was served.
Just look at this dish... it's gorgeous. It was surprising to discover that hiding
under that delightful pile of spicy hot peppers were...


shrimp on a stick...  fried so crispy you eat the shell and all!
I cringed at the thought at first, but they were seriously soooo yummy.


I first thought this dish was pork... but can you believe it's tofu?
I've never been a big fan of tofu but this was so delicious it became
one of my favorites... that and the eggplant!


And yes... believe it or not... I actually tried chicken feet!
Funny things was though, that all I could do was nibble at it... even though
the Chinese manage to eat enough of it to leave only a few tiny bones
as seen on the right.  Trust me... it will not be a food I will be fixing myself!

Trying new foods was a real treat...
but it was the time spent at the table with Michelle's friends that was the
greatest treasure... experiencing a part of their culture first-hand...
enjoying fellowship despite the language barrier...
and sharing love and laughter that transcends differences.
I am grateful for having had the opportunity... thanks to my sweet girl!

Heavenly Father... thank you for creating such an amazing variety of foods
for us to enjoy... and an even more incredible variety of people for us to
enjoy them with. Lord, help us to love people who are different than
we are... wherever they are...to see them through Your eyes
and not our own... and care for them like You care for us. Amen.

If you'd like to see some of the other foods I ate there you can visit Michelle's
China food post for this year... yum!

Love you my friends... and thanks for joining me on this journey called life!

Zazzle Card Sale... Through Oct. 5th!

I LOVE a good sale and this Zazzle Sale is too good to not to tell you about!
50% off ALL Greeting Cards, Postcards, PhotoCards and Invitations!
BUT the sale is only valid though midnight October 5th so if you think you might
want to take advantage of it, you won't want to procrastinate! (Note to self!)

I have several Postcards and Greeting Cards included in my Christian
Inspirational Collections including the ones below....





You can click on any card above to go directly to that card or look by design.

All you have to do is Enter the code: ALLCARDSSALE at checkout
in the "Zazzle Coupons/Gift Certificates" box to get the sale price...easy peasy!

For more savings you might also want to look at their Zazzle Black Shipping
Program. I signed up just because every penny I can save is a good thing!



Whether you send a card, write a note, make a phone call, or
share a smile... take a few minutes today to give away some love...
and encourage someone's heart!

To Market We Go...

We stopped at an open air market... overflowing with beautiful colors...

and friendly smiles like this one... is he just too adorable... or what!
He made my day... following behind me with giggles and cuteness!
They don't see many foreigners in this neck of the Chinese woods so we
seemed to be as fascinating to them as they are to us!


Some beauty is just universal... the glory of God's handiwork!

I thought these were limes but they're not... not sure what they are.

I've eaten all kinds of roots here...
not sure what they are but they've all been tasty!

Isn't this a pretty way to display corn... all except for the flies!


I have eaten the eggplant here... and the way they fixed it was yummy!!

Our interpreter kept saying what these birds were... other then the ducks...
but I could not understand her.  Do you think they know they're on their
way to someone's dinner table?  Ouch!

 


This was too cute... he is looking at a photo he snappedof me just as
I looked in his direction... so I had to oblige of course! 

The only thing I really regret is not being able to have a conversation with
the people here.  I am blessed however that God has given me a smile that
crosses the language barrier... and the people have responded with lots of
smiles of their own. It makes me want to hug them but I don't think that's
socially acceptable... so a prayer instead...
and asking God to hug them with His love and draw them to Himself.

sharing the journey...
with love and hugs...

A Working Holiday...

We have spent much of our time at the factory Michelle works with here in
China developing her product line for her business... Close2MyArt.
It has been such a joy to watch her at work... and to observe the
amazing talent of the artists here and the pride they take in their work.


Here is one of the sculptors working from a sketch Michelle gave him.

I have so much respect for them and there craft and their eye for detail.


Once the sculpt is finished, a mold is made and a sample goes upstairs
and into the hands of the skillfull painters.


Here's that little teapot getting all dressed  up in Michelle's colorful style!


Michelle works with them on each piece until the perfect colors are in place.


It was so great to see how much they love and respect my daughter...


notice how the sweet girl on the right is holding Michelle's arm
with her head resting on her shoulder.  Michelle is so kind and respectful
of them and it shows in how they treat her in return.
That's my girl... so proud.