Karla's Korner

The Consequences of Procrastination...

Oh my! I can hardly believe it's been so long since I visited with you!
The truth is that the consequences of my own procrastination
had to take priority. Unfortunately, there are just not enough hours
in a day to do everything and I know you understand.

Well... I will spare you the details... except to say that there are certain
tax reports due tomorrow... the 31st... from both my business and my
husband's... and let's just say bookkeeping has not been at the top of my
list for some time. Ouch! And add to that some new aspects of one business
that required a huge learning curve on my part.  Ouch and double ouch!

But today...  I"m praising God for getting it done... and with a day to spare! 
And I'm so thankful to be back!  I thought this sweet journal page was a very
appropriate expression of my grateful heart!

I confess... procrastination is one of my weaknesses. It always has been.
Sometimes I tell myself it's okay because I work so much better under
pressure... and that seems to be true. But I still want to get better so I have
once again vowed to be more diligent in staying on top of that pesky
paperwork. Along with prayer, I have set up a few sysems that will hopefully
make it easier for me be more disciplined and develop some new habits
in the days ahead... because I don't want to have to take another two week
break because of it!

Thanks for being here!
Love and God-hugs...
Karla

His Banner Over Me & You...

I've been painting... and it feels so good!!
Yes... I know... I painted those cute little boxes. But that's different.

Painting a canvas... like this one... allows me to become a storyteller.
It gives me a platform from which to share a Word from the Lord,
in a way, that will hopefully lift your spirit and bless your heart!

How can your spirit not be lifted when you contemplate the greatness of
God's love and how He brings us into His presence and boldly waves the
banner of His love over us... not secretly, but publicly... declaring to the
world and to our enemies that we are His and He is our God and Father.

And we, as sweetly as any songbird, lift our voices in reply...
worshipping and singing praises to the One who loves us.

I loved using real sheet music for the leaves... it made me think about
how all of nature rejoices with us in the glory of the Lord.

And I loved using bingo cards for the banner... especially when you notice
the "FREE" in the center of each card... a reminder of how we cannot earn
or buy God's love... but instead He has given it freely and lavishly to all.

I'll be listing the print of this painting in Etsy sometime tomorrow.

May your heart be encouraged in the Lord today.
May you find a few moments to stop and be still and imagine, if you will,
the banner of God's love over you...
a holy declaration of His love and power for His you, His beloved one.

Blessings and God-hugs my sweet friends....
Karla

By Special Request... Garden Angel Art Print

Today's Special Request was from Jackie. She wrote me saying,

"I have the book "Savor This Moment" and there is an angel on page 79.
I was just wondering if you ever did a print of her.  I love your work and
wish you did more home decor products.  I would like to do my kitchen
in the colors and designs in "Savor This Moment".

Her email and request made my heart smile! So... because Jackie asked...
I just added the new Garden Angel Art Print to my Etsy Store!
She's about 7"x9"... the perfect size to slip into a standard 8"x10" frame!

May this little Garden Angel remind you that God has poured out His love
into our hearts so that we, in turn, can pour it out on others!

Blessings & God-hugs...
Karla

The Art of Doodling...

I've always loved doodling... especially patterns because it's so
relaxing, creative, and fun!  I know many of you are doodlers as well...
so I wanted to introduce you to my friend, Joanne Fink, who has taken
doodling to a whole new level... including having her own book and a
number of free videos which demonstrate her technique.


Joanne is an incredible calligrapher... and about three years ago she began
playing with a form of doodling called Zentangle® and enjoyed it so much
that she began to incorporate these doodle patterns into her letterforms
and designs and she calls her new style “Zenspirations™”
(which, just so you know, is not related to Zen as a religion or lifestyle).

In her book, Zenspirations, Joanne shares creative monogram and pattern
techniques, as well as wonderful borders and frames,
that I can easily see being used in everything from art journaling
to creating your own embroidery patterns... and more!

You know I don't usually promote books or products on my blog...
and I'm certainly not being paid for this.. but the truth is my friend Joanne
lost her husband a few months ago with no warning at all. She had made a
promise to her publisher that she would help promote her book, but with all
that has happened in her life, she has been unable to keep that promise
and needs a little help from her friends because that's what friends are for.

So if you love to doodle... I promise you will LOVE Joanne's new book
and you'll definitely want to add it to your creative library!

In His love and always for His glory...
Karla

Painted Treasure Boxes...

I love the word TRANSFORMATION:

trans·for·ma·tion/ˌtransfərˈmāSHən/

Noun:

A thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance.

I love it when I think of how God has seriously transformed my life. 
Dramatically. Without a doubt. And yours too, I'm sure.
And I love thinking about how He's still transforming us day by day.

And I love how we've been created to be able to... with a little paint and
ephemera... transform something as ordinary as these little boxes...

into something so fun and wonderful and delightful
as these oh so cute Treasure Boxes!


I'm thinking seriously about hosting a Girls Night Out Craft Party with these
as the craft to make... what do you think?

I want my party to have a Valentine theme... thus the heart on this one.

And we all have little treasures that need a special home, don't we?

Maybe some pretty jewelry?  Or perhaps memorabelia from a special event.

And we all have friends and family who would love a gift made with love.

So I'll let you know if and when my little craft night comes together...
maybe you'd like to come. Oh what fun I am already imagining.

You see... one of my goals for this year is to be more intentional about
enjoying the company of the friends I have... and the ones I have yet to meet
and hosting a craft night sounds like a great way to do it!

You know how in the "old days" women got together to can food or make
quilts or darn socks?  I think we need to create new opportunities for women
to come together and love on one another, encourage one another and just
plain old have a good time! What do you think?

So how about you? Is there something you usually do by yourself that you
could do in the company of other women once a month?  Go ahead. Share it!
It might be the first step you need to take to make it a reality!

Blessings and God-hugs to you my sweet friends!
xoxo
Karla

Looking Forward to Love...

One of the goals I have on my list for this year is to celebrate life more!
I want to use any and every reason. I want to celebrate ordinary days and
special days. Anniversaries. Birthdays. I'm Happy Days!
And I want to celebrate holidays... including Valentine's Day!

So I'm spending some time creating with Valentine's Day in mind... fun!
So I just finished this charming little digital collection of "Owl Always Love You"
Valentine Clip Art and listed in my Etsy Shop. If you love owls this might be
perfect for your Valentine cardmaking, tags, scrapbooking, and more.

What I love about this collection is the saying "Owl always love you" because
that's what God says to us. His love endures forever.  It never ends. He'll
never ever leave us or forsake us and because His love for us is unconditional,
there is nothing that can separate us from His love... nothing... ever!

Now if that's not a sweet Valentine message, I don't know what is!
God tells us He loves us always. Who needs to hear those words from you?

And you should know by now...

xoxo
Karla

Goal Setting...

Like some of you , I am a goal setter.  Working for myself requires me to be.
Setting goals and writing lists, not just at the beginning of the New Year, but
at the beginning of every new day, helps me to stay focused on my priorities...
and to live my life more intentionaly... with purpose and direction.


And that is what I want for myself for 2012... to live life more intentionally!

Oh yes... my goals include the traditional things like eating better and losing
weight... but I want more than that.  I want God to live and love more fully
in me and through me... and I'm excited to see what that's going to look like!

How about you? Are you ready to live and love more intentionally?
Are you ready to see God glorified and exalted in your life in greater ways?
Are you ready to ask God to fill you up and then use you to pour out His love
and blessings whenever and wherever He so chooses?  I hope so!

We have no idea where this new year will take any of us.  The path before
us is uncharted territory but one thing we know for certain is that we don't
walk it alone. We know God is with us... and we have each other. Yay!
Oh my... I almost feel like shouting, "let the journey begin!" 

Love and God-hugs my sweet friends...

Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works...
Hebrews 10:24

Heavenly Father... we are so grateful for your grace and for new beginnings. 
Knowing your mercies are new every morning gives us hope for another chance
and another opportunity to live for You. We pray for Your Kingdom to come
and Your will to be done... in us and through us... and we look forward,
with expectation,to seeing how You will answer our prayers. Amen.

Crafty Inspiration for the New Year...

Almost all my Christmas decorations have been neatly packed away but
there are a few handmade ornaments that were gifted to me this year
through an ornament exchange that will remain in my studio where I'm
sure they will serve as inspiration for future creative and crafty endeavors!

Maybe they'll inspire your creativity too...

My amazingly talented daughter Michelle was the one who arranged the
ornament exchange with her friends and included me! Her cute little
Rudolph the Snow Angel can't help but make you smile with all its quirkiness!
I love how she added the house numbers of my address (which is also my
birthday) but I didn't realize the scarf covered part of it in the photo...oops!

I met Deirdra through Michelle... and she hand-delivered her ornament to
me when she came to my studio for an afternoon of Christmas crafting. 
Her handiwork has such a sweet vintage feel to it... and I LOVE the color!
Her creativity shines in this little charmer!

This little cutie was from Tyler and what was so fun about hers was that she
had learned this techique from Michelle at a workshop she taught last spring
at Artfest.  I love this little guy... so sweet... almost huggable!

Isn't this owl a total HOOT?!?  Elizabeth made this amazing creation using a
recycled sweater... can you believe it?  So creative... and so inspiring!
It reminded me of the whole "trash to treasure" theme.  Beautifully done!

Janne is Michelle's friend from Norway. She has spent some time here visiting
with Michelle and I've been blessed to get to know her a little bit...
she's a darling girl and overflows with incredible creativity in so many ways!
I love the simplicity of her little house... and the brightness of the windows
made me think of "this little light of mine... I'm going to let it shine!"


I've had the pleasure of meeting Lulu  once and she is delightful. What I think
is most amazing about her ornament, besides its cleverness, is that she made
these in the midst of getting ready for her own wedding on December 3rd!!


And this was my contribution to the exchange... she turned out so cute!  She's
paper mache with lots of glitter... and I love the dots... and her musical tail!

I'm sad to say that I put Mystele's ornaments on the little tree in my kitchen
and I packed it with the tree without realizing it and there's still one coming
from Tammy so I have more inspiration to look forward to! I send my heartfelt
thanks to each and every woman who gave a part of herself to me this year!
And maybe next year, I'll host my own exchange... what do you think ladies?

What is so encouraging as I look over these ornaments is the variety of ideas
and the range of personality and talents that shine through! It reminds me of
how each one of us has been created so uniquely and how we can use the
gifts, talents and abilities the Lord has given to us to be a blessing to
others... to encourage them and inspire them... not only at Christmas but
all throughout the year.  I hope to do more of that with you in 2012!

Lord God... we are creative only because You are the Creator and we've been
made in Your likeness.  As we enter this New Year will show us how to
creatively use the gifts, talents, and abilities You've given us for Your glory...
and for the blessing of others. Thank You Jesus.  Amen.