Karla's Korner

Farmer's Market and Flowers...

It's been a dreary spring so far, but the sun was peeking through last Sunday,
so I grabbed my jacket and headed off to visit our local Farmer's Market.
I went with only one thing in mind... flowers!

Despite the weather outside, flowers are a great way to bring a bit of
sunshine and beauty inside... and more importantly... they have a way of
brightening up one's heart and mental well-being!


I can't even express the joy and delight that flowers bring me...
the colors, the design, the details! The shapes, the patterns, the veins!


That's why I love close-ups.... and these are spectacular...
not the photography so much... but the Creator's glory!

This is a a peony tulip... isn't it stunning?
I'm excited to watch it unfold... all that beauty just waiting to be revealed!

And this iris... unbelievably gorgeous!

Now if I can just keep my Abby cat from pulling off the petals...
she thinks I bought these flowers just for her!

Thank you Lord for filling the earth with flowers and our hearts with joy!

And thank you my friends for being part of my life!
Blessings to you for a beautiful day in the Lord!

Owl Painting in Progress...

I thought you might enjoy a sneak peak at my newest painting in progress!
If you remember, I have a couple of owl art prints done in pen and ink but
I've never painted one on canvas before and I'm having so much fun with it!

 It's looking like spring time, don't you think?
I'm really liking it so far... especially the colors and textures...
but it still has a long way to go!

Poor owl... he's missing his tail feathers! Soon little owl... very soon you will
have your tail feathers... and the flowers will have color and the whole canvas
will come to life with delightful details and greater depth!

I gotta say... it made me think about how we are also a work in progress!
You see, our God is the Master Creator Artist and we are His paintings...
His masterpieces... and praise Jesus...  He's not finished with us yet...
Hallelujah!

But can you imagine when we get to heaven and walk through God's Majestic
Gallery of Glory and Grace and behold all the finished masterpieces
that will fill the Halls of Heaven? Including you and me!! Oh what glory
will be His and what blessings will be ours just to be among them!

Isn't it comforting to know that this life is not all there is? That one day all
our tears will be wiped away and sorrow will be no more... and we will have
all our tail feathers... and we'll be whole and complete in Jesus! Amen.

xoxo
Karla

One Proud Momma...

Michelle and I met at our local Barnes and Noble last night for a little coffee,
catching up, and some fun magazine browsing!

It was the first time I had seen the newest edition of Somerset Studio...

and the fantastic spread they did on Michelle and her artsy stairs that lead
to her even more artsy studio! Needless to say... I am one proud momma!

The folks from Somerset spotted her stairs on Pinterest... amazing! I'm on
Pinterest if you want to follow me there. I'm not an avid pinner but it is a
great place to visit for eye candy and inspiration if you want to check it out!

And I love the quote she used... it's from John Maxwell...
"Dreams don't work unless you do."

Reminds me of the verse that says "faith without works is dead."
Sometimes God gives us dreams and visions of the good works He has planned
for us... and then He waits to see if we wil believe Him enough to put feet to
our faith and go for it... to act on His Word and the promises He's given us.

How about you? Has God given you a dream? A promise? A direction to go?
Who knows... maybe today's the day He's stirring your heart to take the first
step toward making your dream a reality!

God bless you my friends... and the work of your heart and your hands!
xoxo
Karla

Bingo Pennant Banner

Yesterday was just one of those days when I should have been painting...
but just couldn't get motivated. So instead I played!


Remember these bingo cards from a couple of weeks ago?

With a little added lace, ric rac, felt flowers, pom-poms and buttons...


they were completely transformed...

...into this wonderful fun Bingo Pennant Banner!

What a delightful touch of whimsy it adds to this corner of my studio!

You know... I've always loved banners... and for two reasons.
The first is because the Bible tells us that God's banner over us is LOVE!
And the second is because they shout out CELEBRATION... and I want to be
a woman who celebrates life and all the blessings God has so freely given me!

So how about you? Are you a woman who celebrates life?
Do you have a stack of vintage Bingo cards you've been holding onto?
You might just want to make your own banner and have some fun with it!

Blessings and God-hugs...
Karla

Love Like Crazy!

One of my goals right now is to finish up some of the paintings I've had
started for a while and this is one of them... Love Like Crazy!


I love this photo of Abigail helping me as I add the finishing touches
of color and detail. She's such an encourager!


You can't tell I love detail, can you? 


Especially when I can weave a story into it...
a picture to remind you that God's banner over you is love!

...or how the taste of His love is sweeter than a cupcake!


God's love for us can unlock the prison doors of our hearts and set us free...
and our love and prayers for others can sometimes do the same thing!


And this Crazy Love of God flows down from the cross and fills our lives to
overflowing... so that we, in turn, can love others like He loves us!

O Lord...I want to be a woman who loves like crazy...
so that others will know that I belong to You and You will get all the glory!

May it be so for all of us!
xoxo
Karla

Floral Cross For You to Print & Color!

I've been doing a lot of pen and ink drawings in my journal lately
and I wanted  to share this one with you as a little token of my appreciation
for your friendship... and for being such a sweet part of my life!

It's yours to download and color... so pull out those paints or colored pencils
and have some fun... on your own or with your kids or grandkids!



I thought you might be able to use it to make a few special greeting cards or
maybe even frame it as a gift.  Whatever you do... I'd love it if you'd come
back to this post and tell me about what you made or leave a link to your
blog post if you decide to share it with your world!

Just one note... this one is for personal or ministry use only...
thanks for understanding!

xoxo
Karla

Holding Onto Hope!

I finished this piece just last night...
and I love the spiritual symbolism tucked into the details!
Now I don't know if you need encouragement or not,
but there are definitely days when I need to be reminded...

that even when the struggles of life seem overwhelming ...
I can still hold onto hope! 


Not just hope for the sake of hoping...
but a living hope found in the promises of God.

A confidence in the One who is able to transform our sorrows into joy...

and Who gives us wisdom as we seek His heart and wait on His timing.

It is a hope in Christ... the One with Whom all things are possible.

So my prayer for you, my friend, is that whatever you may be facing today...

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13

xoxo
Karla

What's New?

I was thinking about new beginnings this  morning... about how Jesus died
on the cross and rose from the grave to give new life and the hope of new
beginnings... to those of us who put our faith in Him.

I personally love new beginnings. Maybe that's because I get bored easily...
I don't know. But it did get me thinking about some of the new things in
my life lately...

1. I have a new art agent, Cruise Creative, who will hopefully open new
doors for my artwork to find new product homes.


2. I've started more than one new painting, including this one...


and I'm loving the detail that's happening in the background!

3. I joined the Firstenburg Community Center and am taking a Zumba Gold
class and water aerobics... both new to me and so much fun!
My granddaughter, Alexis, even decided to join me for Zumba!

4. I have a couple of new craft projects I've started...

repainting an old welcome sign...

and a flag banner I'm making from vintage Bingo cards.

5. We've been going to a new church for the past few weeks and loving it.

6. I got my nose pierced!!  It's tiny... but I just had to do it!I

7. And I submitted a new book proposal to  my publisher... a book designed to
encourage your heart to trust in the new mercies God gives us each new day!

I am so thankful that Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly...
and I love living the NEW life He gave me which includes being creative and
trying NEW things!

So how about you? What's new? What are you learning? What step of faith
have you taken recently? What new thing have you tried? Sometimes it
takes courage to make a change or try something new... so I pray you
will find your courage in Christ and take the step!

Lord God, thank You for coming and giving us life... not a boring life...
but a life full of adventure with You... a creative life designed not only to
meet the challenges we face but also, to celebrate the beauty and bounty of
the blessings You've given us. Open our hearts and minds to always be
willing to learn, grow, and experience new things... for your glory!

Easter Weekend Celebration...

Sorry I went missing again! I've been in the middle of big project with a
deadline and, sad to say, but I had to temporarily become a hermit. 
Sad... because I've missed you my sweet friends...
but thankful for a new opportunity which I'll have to share with you later.

But for now however, I didn't want to miss the chance to say
"Happy Resurrection Day"
and send you my blessings for a  wonderful weekend of celebrating
our Risen Lord and His amazing love!


And I know it's late coming... but I also wanted to let you know that I do have
a few coloring pages you can print off for the kids or grandkids who will be
celebrating with you this weekend!  You can click here to download the one
above or go to my website to find a couple of other Easter choices.

However you celebrate... I do hope you'll take some time to reflect on what
Easter really means to those of us who have put their faith in Christ Jesus.
For what Mary discovered in that empty tomb is still true for us today...
Love overcame death...
Hope overpowered despair...
Peace overrode fear and...
Joy filled the hearts of all who put their faith in the Risen Savior!

Let us rejoice together and be glad!
Love and God-hugs...
Karla

Walk With Me Wednesday... Signs of Spring!

I have sooooo missed buds, blossoms, and blooms!
Ahhh spring... I am loving you... and warmer weather... thank You Lord!
And thank you my neighbors for planting such pretties along my path.

We are so blessed to be able to enjoy the beauty of the Lord all around us...
whatever the colors, shapes, or patterns... close up or from afar!
Beautiful... absolutely beautiful!
So wherever you are... take a moment and savor some of God's beauty...
and give Him some well-deserved praise and glory!

xoxo
Karla

The Perfect Pets on My Kitchen Counter...

I've been wanting to share these two little guys with you for such a long
time!  They sit on my kitchen counter right behind the sink and I love them!

They are called Soap Spitters™ and are the whimsical creations of my
uber talented daughter Michelle. The dog, named Parker Dog after my
daughter's family pet, spits the perfect amount of hand-soap from his mouth
while the Black Cat spits out dish soap.


They're so fun and look so much better than having a bottle of brand name
hand soap on the counter and it sure beats having to pull out the dish soap
every time I want to use it. Plus  they color-coordinate perfectly with my
favorite red coffee cup... how much more could I ask for!

It's these kind of little treasures that make a house a home and gives it
personality, isn't it?   And I love that they make my heart smile!
Hope they brought a little smile to your heart too!

A merry heart does good like a medicine!
Proverbs 17:22

xoxo
Karla

Watercolor Coffee and Flowers...

I came across a Mother's Day card online the other day
and was inspired to play with creating one myself.

I decided to pull out my Koi traveling watercolor set and just have some fun.

Lotsa lovin', a good cup of coffee and a bouquet of flowers...
what more could a mom want to start her special day celebration?

Such cheerful colors!

So pretty... but not sure quite yet what I'm going to do with it!
I did use it to create a Mother's Day Card on Zazzle.
I'm thinking about offering it as a printable card design on Etsy.
And I was able to remove the "Love you Mom" sentiment in Photoshop
so I might even offer it as a print on Etsy.  So many choices.

But for right now...
I'm sending you a simple bouquet of cyber flowers to brighten your day...

and a big drink of LOVE... from me and from God!

Jesus said...
"whoever believes in me will never be thirsty"
so take some time today to quench your thirst...
sit with Jesus... drink from His Word, His love, His grace...
and let your soul be satisfied, blessed and refreshed in Him.

Love you!
Karla

A Fun Creative Learning Weekend...

I was blessed to be able to spend all day Saturday with some of my fabulous
and fun... uber creative friends at a workshop taught by Kim Poloson.


This is a great shot of Kim, Madeline and Jan... looking oh so cute!
The vintage look of this photo is quite accidental due to the poor lighting...
and the amateur photograher holding the camera... which would be me!

I was not able to get a good photo of my sweet friend Gwen... but together...
we all had a wonderful time of learning, sharing and encouraging one another!


These are two of the boards I created... one with vintage papers and the
other with layers of paint. It will be fun to see how these techniques wiggle
their way into my own work in the days to come!


And the place itself was so inspiring with all its artsy and vintage charm!
It's called Art Circus Studio... tucked away inside Main Street Vintage.

So I wonder what new things you've been learning? Anything fun and creative?

You know that old saying about how you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
Well... it just isn't so, is it?  No matter how old or young you are... I do hope
you're challenging yourself to learn something new during this season of your
life... for you never know how God might want to use what you're learning
today to bring Him glory tomorrow!

Love and hugs...
Karla

Before and After...

Is this the most fun ultimate makeover or what?

I loved experimenting with the funky style of this girl's face... but she ended
up looking a bit too much like a flapper girl... but I was willing to live with it.
Until... a sweet friend boldly told me that she looked hung-over! Ouch! 
Well... I decided she was right... and so with paintbrush in hand...
I sobered her up and gave her a total makeover...


I like her sooooo much better now! I'm not sure I'm totally done with her yet...
but after so many years of painting only with non-forgiving watercolors,
I am sooooo thankful for acrylic paint and
the opportunity it gives you to cover over a multitude of mistakes!

Hmmmm... reminds me of what the Bible says in 1 Peter 4:8...
Above all, love each other deeply,
because love covers over a multitude of sins.

So I got to thinking... our love is like acrylic paint! We can't erase or wash away
people's sins... only Christ can do that... but we can care about people so much
and love them so deeply that we can no longer see their sins but only the person
created in God's image and their captive heart that Jesus died to set free.

So girlfriends... pick up those paint brushes and
let's go paint our world with LOVE!
xoxo

Art Journal Page Beginnings...

No... I haven't finished the last art journal page I showed you yet...
but I couldn't resist starting a new one!

It began as a random smathering of teal, green gold and a buttery yellow...
topped with some yellow ochre stamped dots. I don't start all pages with a
coat of paint like this but I do love how it lays a foundation to flow from.

And then I just began to doodle. in this case, I started with the pattern
of that fir cone I picked up on my walk the other day... can you see it?

I love the girl... even though her footing is precarious... she looks confident
and ready to proclaim something pretty important to the world! I have no
idea yet what she wants to say but I'm sure it will be some wonderful
declaration of God's goodness or a word of affirmation or encouragement.

She reminds me of us... and how God says we are to encourage one another
daily. Every day... through our words and/or deeds we are to speak
hope or comfort or blessing into the life of at least one other person! And
what's so amazing is that when we do... it speaks that same word back into
our lives... and we are double blessed!

So today my sweet friends... be encouraged to keep looking up!
Keep your eyes on Jesus... not matter what struggles you may be facing...
remember that God is bigger than your problems... and He is on your side!

This I know: God is on my side!
I praise God for what he has promised;
yes, I praise the LORD for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
Psalm 56:9-11

So praise the Lord... pass it on...
and keep your eyes open to see who God wants you to encourage today!
Blessings and God-hugs...

By Request... Apple Recipe Pages!

Over the years I have received several emails asking about replacement
pages for the "God Bless Our Home" Recipe Binder that was sold primarily
in Costco and Sam's Club a few years ago.  I always had to reply with an
apology because there were no extra pages offered by the manufacturer.



Another version of the same binder was offered later... only with the saying:
"May the meals we share be sprinkled with love."

I've thought about creating filler pages before now... not sure why I haven't.
But I guess better late then never... eh?
The great thing about this design collection is that you don't have to own the
Recipe Binder to be able to use them! I've included several versions so you
can use them as recipe pages or as stationery... with or without lines! I also
offered full color designs, one option with a white border for printers that
don't print borderless, and two white centered options for using less ink!  I
kept thinking of other options... but decided I better quit or I'd never get
them finished!

So before I quit for today this collection of recipe pages will be is now
available in my Etsy shop as a digital download! 
Hope some of you who've been asking
for replacement pages will find them there and be blessed!

I also added them to my Zazzle store for those of you who cannot or do not
like to print yourself.  You can find them under the "Kitchen" tab.  And just
so you know, if you sign up for Zazzle's newsletter, they will let email you
with their sales which can be quite good sometimes!

So I hope at least a few of you are smiling right now.  I know I am.

Bless you my friends... and remember... you truly are
the Apple of God's Eye!

Walk With Me Wednesday...

I've just recently started walking again and even though I have to
argue with myself to get me out the door... I'm always happy I went!

For now... I've been walking 3 laps at the local grade school track...
not exciting or inspiring... at least not at first glance...


...but when you look a little closer... there's beauty galore all around!
Look at the incredible collection of God's handiwork that I came home with!


I absolutely LOVE pattern and texture in nature...
and this pine cone is such a great example!


And just look at the intricate detail in a single feather! I am in awe.

Not sure what kind of cone this is... but I love the unique shape of the scales!


What I loved about this ivy leaf was not just the exquisite veining but also
the fresh spring green color... a sure sign of new life and a new season!


And isn't this little cedar sprig remarkable with its graduated color palette,
repeat pattern and the fantastic texture it creates? I only wish my big camera
lens was working so I could have captured and even better close up

So I end my day, praising God for His awesome creativity... and thankful that
He has created us as part of it!

Oh my sweet friends... if you haven't taken a moment lately to delight in the
intricate details of God's creation... do it today! Whether you go for a walk
with your eyes open or take time to examine a house plant or your favorite
pet up close... let God bring a smile to your heart as you delight in Him and
in  His handiwork... and give Him praise!

Love you...
Karla

Journal Girl Page in Progress...

I haven't played in my journal for a while... it felt really good!

This is where she is now... but I hear lots of detail crying out to be added!


I did start adding detail to her hair. Can you tell I LOVE line... lotsa line.

A messy paint palette and some home made stamps... an artist's delight!


That pink background and light green leaves makes me think spring!
She looks rather carefree with a soft wind blowing gently through her hair,
don't you agree?

Well... I can hardly wait to see where she goes from here... so stay tuned.

xoxo
Karla

The Price You Pay For FREE!

It has recently come to my attention that something that is supposed to be a
a free service... actually comes with a price that could easily be
misinterpreted. I have been using Feedblitz as a subscription service since I
started my blog and am very pleased with how easy it is for you to subscribe.
In fact, I personally love waking up in the morning to several of my favorite
blogs... all delivered in one convenient Feedblitz email.

But... a friend recently emailed me to find out if I knew I was advertising
for something called "The Well Daily". She told me they were promising the
ultimate guide to health and wellness and if she signed up she could win a
free yoga mat!

Okay... just so you know... I know the well where Jesus met the Samaritan
woman... and The Well of Living Water Jesus offers us daily as we come
to Him... but I don't know "The Well Daily" and do not endorse them.

The reality is that the price I must pay for my "FREE" Feedblitz service is them
attaching advertising of their choice to my blog. If I don't want the advertising
I must pay a monthly fee, which to be honest, just doesn't fit in my budget.
So please... just ignore the ads... and be thankful for Feedblitz and the
blessing it is to bring us together... ads and all.


Oh yeah... and what does that have to do with the photo of the crocus?
Nothing really. They were a delight to my eyes on my walk yesterday and I
just wanted to share the blessing with you!

Love and God-hugs...
Karla

Thank You Gifts...

If you've ever shopped my Etsy store before, you probably know how I love
to tuck little goodies in with each order... as my way of saying "thank you"
and wanting to let you know how VERY special you are to me!!

Well.. this month I decided to do something a little different.
I purposely created a special little "Be Joyful" Bluebird gift collection that
includes a greeting card, a bookmark, and a fun little round gift tag...
especially for you!

I'll be including all three special gifts with every shippable order over
$10.00 during the month of March to let you know how much JOY you bring
into my life by choosing to shop with me.  I know the world is full of
amazingly talented artists so I am both humbled and grateful for every sale.

Oh yes... and just so you know... even if you buy less than ten dollars...
I'll still tuck in a little special something... just because I LOVE you!!

Have a gloriously great weekend in the Lord my friends...
in His love and for His glory...
Karla

White As Snow... on March 1st!

You know the old saying... in like a lion... out like a lamb?

Well... we woke up to a nice blanket of fresh snow this morning... and,
even though it doesn't look lion-like... it's still a far cry from spring flowers!

I started thinking about that "lion and the lamb" saying and couldn't help but
think about Jesus, who is both the strong triumphant Lion of Judah and God's
sacrificial Lamb... who died for our sins and and washed us white as snow.


While still pondering this mystery and miracle... I grabbed a pencil and
stepped out on the porch so as to share my thoughts with you in a fun way.
About half way through, I became aware that I was using the eraser end of
the pencil to etch this truth in the snow and it seemed almost profound in
the moment... because when we confess our sins and shortcomings to God,
He tells us that He not only makes us clean but He remembers our sin no
more. It's as if He erases them from our record and gives us a clean slate
and a new beginning.

To be honest, I've been carrying around some guilt and shame over something
I did't do several years ago that makes me really sad every time I think about
it.  I had asked God to forgive me every time it came to mind, but it
continued to haunt me and I carried the shame like a ball and chain.

The Lord really spoke to my heart recently and said it's okay if I feel sad
about it because I truly missed the mark... but the quilt and shame I was
feeling was because, even though I'd asked Him to forgive me, I'd never given
myself the time to sit with Him and really receive His forgiveness and to truly
thank Him and praise Him for it. I had never allowed the Lord the opportunity
to truly cleanse my heart and mind...  and set me free.

I can now say that I have... and it feels good to have a clear conscience
before the Lord. Oh yes... there have been other things He's brought to mind
since! And every day I'm so thankful for the Lion and the Lamb...who snows
His love and forgiveness into our hearts... on the 1st day of March and every
other day of the year as well!!

"How much more shall the blood of Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God,
cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 9:14

Heavenly Father... thank You so much for washing away our sins.
We're tired of carrying around dead works Lord...
things that only weigh us down and keep us from being a blessing to You.
Touch our hearts, like only You can...
to be able to receive Your forgiveness...
and set our hearts and minds free from guilt and shame...
for Your glory and praise
Amen!

My Heart Leaps For Joy...

Does the little girl in you ever jump up and down for joy?
Okay... maybe not outwardly... but how about your heart?


Do you ever become so overwhelmed by the goodness of the Lord
in your life that you can hardly contain the joy that wells up within you?

I have had a few moments like that lately when God...
...answered prayers for a friend whose test results revealed no cancer.
...revealed and healed a place in my heart I didn't even know was hurt.
...gave me the strength to endure a physically painful circumstance.
...put a song in my heart before I even opened my eyes in the morning.
...gave me the creativity to design Mr. Froggy who makes me smile...
and then brought Psalm 28:7 to mind so he could point my heart to Jesus.
And the list goes on.

So how about you? Has your heart leaped for joy lately?
Would you be willing to share it in just one sentence or two?
I love hearing what God is doing in your lives...
and rejoicing in Him with you... in His love and grace!

xoxo
Karla

Catching Up With Hearts of Love...

I have soooo much I want to share with you but have just not had time!
So for today I'm going to go back in time...

because I've really been wanting to show you what showed up in my mailbox!

Is this label not adorable?  So creative.  I was smiling from ear to ear...
and I hadn't even opened the gift yet!

Inside was this amazingly beautiful silk-screened bird on a heart...
embellished with silver beads.  Have you guessed who it was from yet?

It was from my precious daughter Michelle... sent with love.
I have to admit... to receive this little treasure truly blessed my heart...
but the surprise of receiving it in the mail tickled me pink!

She also gave me three of these little felt hearts... I made one...
and I was going to stitch up a few more and make a fun little garland...
this is as far as it got!  But I decided I really like them hung
with the close pins... so I am happy!

Thinking again about Michelle mailing me her gift instead of hand delivering
got me thinking... I want to do that for someone this week... surprise them
with a little unexpected gift!  Hmmm... but how can I make it a surprise?
I have it... I'm going to send a little something to one of my Etsy friends! 
So if you've bought something from me in the past year... you never know...
you might just be getting a special little something in your mailbox next
week!!  How fun will that be!

So how about you?  Would you ask God to show you someone who could use
a little bit of a surprise blessing from you? It doesn't have to be handmade
or expensive... maybe even just a card. It's the giving that counts!
So please please please... do it!!
How much fun next week will be with so many women getting little surprises
in their mailboxes!!!  I'm so proud of you... so go have fun my sweet friends
and give a little gift from your heart!! 

xoxo
Karla

Glorify Him With Thanksgiving...

I am so blessed to be able to offer this painting to you as a print on Etsy!

She has such a sweet face and with, her hands lifted to the heavens,
she reminds us, not only to sing our praises to God, but that He is glorified
when our hearts are thankful and our lips declare His blessings.

Today I am thankful, that even though my Valentine sweetheart of more than
41 years, may not be the most romantic guy around, his love for me so
reminds me of God's... steadfast, unconditional, and forever.

I remember when God first began to teach me about the power of giving
thanks for my husband. I was a new believer in Jesus and wasn't used to
being thankful for much of anything, especially not for my husband! God
showed me how I had been so focused on his faults, I had become blinded to
his strengths. Over time, as I began to seriously look for things to be thankful
for... my heart towards him began to change. And then... over a period of
time, because my heart changed toward him... his heart changed toward me...
and we watched as God worked a miracle in our marriage.

This verse reminded me of this story because before I met the Lord, Michael
and I were voted by our circle of friends to be the most likely to divorce... it
was just a matter of time. But here we are today... happily married...
and God seriously gets all the glory!!

God wants to be glorified in the hard places of our lives... and it can all start
with developing a grateful heart! So... can I ask you? Is there a circumstance or
a person in your life that you hear God calling you to begin to give thanks for?
Will you begin today? For His glory?

xoxo
Karla

Happy Valentine's Day...


Today can be one of those holidays where sweet expectations can be met
with heartbreaking disappointment and the devil may try to whisper in your ear
to try and convince you that you are not loved... or lovable. But it ain't so!

God's love is so much greater than human love... and it is unconditional and
forever and ever! And He says you ARE lovable... and much LOVED! 
So take a moment to quiet your heart and let God love on you!
Okay now...  go pass it on... gp give someone a Valentine hug...
or pick up the phone and tell someone how special they are to you!

And just for the record... I LOVE YOU!!
My life is sweeter because you're in it!
Will you be my Valentine?
xoxo

Something To Crow About...

I know I disappeared again... so sorry! I've missed you!
But I've been working on a new project!  Can't tell you what it is quite yet
but here's a little peek at a portion of one of the paintings that's part of it.

I love roosters... they have sooooo much attitude and personality!
We've had a few of these fiesty characters off and on over the years and
every one of them has been fun and entertaining!

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of a rooster is it's crow...
the infamous cock-a-doodle-do that so proudly announces the rising of the
sun and the bright new beginning of each new day.

Just now it made me think of Psalm 113:3...
"From the rising of the sun to it's going down,
the Lord's name is to be praised."

So do you think the rooster may simply be greeting his maker with a song
of praise every morning... thankful just to be alive! 
Hmmmm... I think the rooster really might have something to crow about?
What do you think?  How about you?
Is there a word of praise you'd like to crow about today?

Blessings and God-hugs...
Karla

Bold Love... Brave Heart...

As I drew this tihs face and wrote this  phrase in my journal, I paused to
ponder the words and wondered if I could claim them for myself:
"She wore her heart boldly and loved bravely."

I would like to be able to say "oh yes, that's me.. bold and brave"
but I know I'm not always... at least not as much as I would like to be.

I so want to be more like Jesus... a lover of souls... but I always fall short.

I want to be a woman whose heart is so full of the love of God that
she can't contain it... and that she not only wears it boldly but shares
it with great passion and pleasure.

I want to be a woman who is so consumed by the perfect love of Christ
that fear has no power over her and peace and courage adorn her life
like precious pearls.

I want to be a woman who daily says, "Here I am Lord, send me!" and then
is willing to boldly go whereever He sends her and bravely loves whoever
He sends her way.

Yes... I do want to be more like Jesus... and yes... I know I will always fall
short this side of heaven... but I hope I never give up trying because
Jesus wore His heart boldly for all to see... and He loved bravely all the way
to the cross for me... and for you... and for those around us.

Father God... help us to be more like Jesus... amen.

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