by Kimberly | Nov 20, 2015 | Coffee with..., creatives
I’ve known some pretty creative people in my life, and this long time friend is certainly one of them. Her life is one turn after another and I love to watch how she handles it all with a creative flair. And her latest project – a coloring book with a spiritual tone to it (mostly for adults) is definitely a winner and would make a great Christmas present for any one over the age of 8 – but really thinking for the lovely creative lady on your list or even the teenager who loves to be creative with a crayon or colored pencil. Now that I’ve given you one way to finish your Christmas shopping, let me introduce you to my friend, Karisse.
We’ve not sat down together in a long time – but if we were sitting down together for a cup of coffee in a favorite coffee shop – what would you be drinking and where would we be?
We would be sitting at my favorite coffee shop: The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf! I fell in love with this place when I lived in Los Angeles and wish they had one here in Florida! I would be drinking a Strawberry Tea Latte or a Vanilla Iced Blended which chocolate covered coffee beans. We, of course, would be lucky enough to have snagged the corner with the comfy chairs. 🙂
This coloring book is a new venture for you – but not living the creative life. Can you tell us about some of your other creative works? (Folks, she did beautiful art of Scripture for my boys’ rooms.
My sister and I started a small art company called “Pretty Philosophie“. We paint inspiring quotes and silhouettes. (Our fave silhouettes are of Audrey Hepburn, Anne of Green Gables and Marilyn Monroe.) We never use stencils and I often do the lettering freehand! I’m also in the process of writing two books! One is the story of how my grandmother (Oma) escaped from Concentration Camp in Yugoslavia. (We aren’t Jewish, but German and our people were put into concentration camps right after WWII. The other book is about my experience with cancer and what I learned about myself, illness and God in the process.
Why a coloring book and why a quiet time?
Let’s be real. Sometimes reading the Bible, focusing while praying and meditating on Scripture can be difficult. At least, it can be for me. When I was in high school I started writing out my prayers as a way to help me focus on them. In college I doodled while I took notes so I could pay attention. In my 20’s I started writing out passages of Scripture in “fancy” lettering so that I was forced to work slowly and really meditate on the verses. And I’ve always loved coloring!
Creative Quiet Time: A Coloring Book for Your Soul is my labor of love to pass these practices on to others. I wanted to enable a way for people to spend time with God while using the arts and creativity. Besides, God is the one who created the arts, and, well, creativity! My prayer is that this book enables people to connect their mind, soul and spirit to Jesus and receive revelation of His ways and His love as they color.
What is your favorite coloring page in the whole book?
Oh, that’s a tough one! I think that my favorite, because it’s so detailed, is the “Be kind to yourself” page. “Be kind to yourself” was my motto in 2014 and it bled into 2015 as well. I based that on Philippians 4:8–focusing on things that are life giving, true, beautiful and lovely. So often, we are our own worse critic and don’t see ourselves the way that God sees us. We have a tendency to have a negative track running through our minds. But, Jesus has countless loving thoughts towards us, and I think we should have the same towards ourselves.
What will be coming next from the creative genius of Karisse?
Oh gosh! I am hoping that a second coloring book, or a new and improved version of the current one (with extra pages) are on the horizon. And finishing my books! Both of them! My sister and I will continue to work on our art and are expanding to include furniture refurbishing too!
You love to travel – how has that played in to your creative life?
I think you spice up your life by travel. It’s beautiful to see how each culture expresses themselves. God has used that to reveal to me aspects of Himself that I wouldn’t have noticed if I was at home. I love pulling the various pieces of design from each place too. Thailand is full of sparkles and vivid colors. India is packed with details in every nook and cranny. South Africa has a freedom about it that is so warm and welcoming. France and Italy have a regal beauty that invites you to sit and enjoy what surrounds you. I think I have borrowed from every culture I’ve encountered.
Why do you love the color teal?
You know, that’s a great question. If you knew me in college (or right after) you would say that my favorite color is purple. While I still love purple, in the last decade teal has taken over. There is just something so fun, free and inviting about that color. It’s just perfect.
by Kimberly | Sep 25, 2015 | Coffee with..., creatives
Here we are again with a sweet friend that is a true creative. When I first met Sarah back when she was in high school, I knew she was a creative. It is in every fiber of her being. She has a new venture and I thought I would introduce you to her. You will fall in love with her just like I love her!
If we were sitting down at your favorite coffee shop enjoying your favorite drink…where would we be and what would you be having?
My favorite place to sit and chat over some coffee is absolutely the Hyppo Cafe in St. Augustine. My parents think its weird that I will go out of my way to go there when I go up to visit, but its adorable, calming and I love their wooden tables and chairs. As for a drink, I think I have the soul of an 1900 victorian lady. I prefer an earl grey tea with a tad bit of milk and sugar, especially on a chilly day while wearing a sweater.
This is an exciting time in your life! Can you share what’s going in your world?
I don’t know how I got into this whirlwind of time. A couple years ago, I turned 22, and when my sister was my age, she had graduated college with a nursing degree, gotten married and then pregnant. I laughed thinking I wouldn’t have anywhere near that many accomplishments. Here I am however, at 25, graduated with a degree in stage management, engaged to an amazing follower of christ and working full time in a job I love. What happened to the child three years ago compared to the adult I feel like now?
Why DIY? What got you started and what fuels your passion?
I work with my hands and build stages and work with special effects at my job. I get to see so many props and scenery which added to my inspiration to start a DIY blog. When I was younger, my dad taught me how to use some power tools, and then let me put together furniture from Ikea. Meanwhile my mom taught me how to sew and use a sewing machine, and my sister taught me scrapbooking. Between my three influences, I must have been groomed to be a crafter. I took the inspiration with me to college and began in theatre classes. I learned how to design and draft out my own ideas, sew more difficult things and find new ways to create props. Do it yourself (DIY) projects always appealed to me because that is exactly what I had to do in school. If a show needed a coat hanger but it had to look like the 1800’s, then I had to figure out a cheap way to buy or build it. Now that I have done multiple building and creating projects, I know the cost of items, and I see that sometimes it is easier to buy things. When you create something however, there is this feeling inside you of accomplishment, of knowing you had your hands on every aspect of that item, that it turned out beautiful and you made it so. I have so many friends who love what i do but feel like they are not creative at all, or can’t afford to create these super fancy things.
I created my blog www.abeautifulbuild.wordpress.com as a blog for creative and non creatives alike, to give projects that anyone can do without costing a fortune. I want to give people a realistic idea of what a project costs before they go into it themselves. There are so many time I encountered a pause in a project because I had to make a run to home depot for 1 item and then I go back 2 more times that day.
One of the blogs I like to look at is www.jeffbranch.wordpress.com
I not only love the bookshelves and benches, but the beautiful fluidity of the cut pieces themselves. I want to create a blog that inspires people to push their creative limits.
Katie Shelton is a writer for the blog http://www.abeautifulmess.com
and her hair tutorials, sewing projects and home decor ideas are so lovely and adorable. I want people to feel that way when they see something they can create from my blog.What are some goals you have for 2016 w your blog and creative side? My goal for this next year is to have a new project at least once a month, if not more. I already have a giant project in mind that might take some time.
Who is your favorite Disney character?
As for my Favorite disney character, I am incredibly obsessed with frozen, however, I still think my favorite character is Merida, the princess from brave. She is stubborn but fearless, knows how to make her own way and has awesome red curly hair that makes me think of my best friend. Also I think Scotland is beautiful.
What part, if any, does your belief in God play in your role as a creative?
My biggest inspiration of them all however is in fact Proverbs 31. I had always heard of “A Wife of Noble Character” But had never really looked at it. Int he past couple months, i have been studying this chapter much more closely. This chapter encourages me daily to do what God gave me gifts for. I do not want to eat the bread of idleness, but I want to set about my work vigorously and have my arms strong for the task. I read each verse and apply it to each day. In my description of my blog, the last sentence says this:
“So get ready to work with eager hands, grasp the spindle and pray you are ready to make A Beautiful Build.”
Prov 31:13 “She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands”
Prov 31: 19 “In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers”
That is the woman I want to be, the woman who works with eager hands and grasps the spindle ready to work.
And just because I can, I’m throwing in an old school photo from my first trip with Sarah.
Thanks for joining me Sarah!
by Kimberly | Sep 24, 2015 | Books, creatives
If you haven’t been in a Michaels are read blogs you may not know this – but coloring books are back. No, not for kids – but for adults. Mostly women who want to have a creative outlet. Coloring books are definitely a new thing in the adult coloring world – and may be here for at least a little bit – and one of the fads I love.
My friend Karisse is doing them and I love hers because they are simple and based on Scripture for the most part of really cool quotes that she likes.
Blogging For Books had one I chose by Daria Song. I really loved the prettiness of the book, but for me it was a little too detailed. I like to color to relax and just think and do nothing. When I have to be that detailed in my coloring (I like coloring inside the lines) then it isn’t as relaxing for me.
I can’t wait to do some more though and keep the coloring trend alive!
by Kimberly | Sep 22, 2015 | creatives
Oh this is such a happy day on the blogtember challenge. Its where I get to talk about creativity!
God made us in His Image and He is a creator. While we don’t get to be a creator – because we can’t create out of nothing – we aren’t God – we still have a bent toward the creative. And I love that. I love taking the every day and making it creative.
Food: we all have to eat. My motto: “everything important happens around a table” And why not make it fun? I love making meals for people, baking special treats for celebrations and my men, and making hospitality even better with good food. My Dream: to be published on Food Gawker, have a cookbook published one day, and share recipes and desire to cook for your families.
Pray Names: These are name art pieces that I do for people (completely customized) where I get to pray over the person I’m doing it for – as I’m doing it. I just did the ones for my sons – and that was special. I shared our older son’s prayer on the blog last week and I’ll share our younger son’s prayer when it is his birthday next month. I love doing this for people either for births, weddings, adoptions, or special times within the life of the family. My Dream: to get the word into people’s homes. This is completely by donation. I never charge a set amount (over supplies and shipping).
Photography: I’ve loved photography ever since I can remember, which is probably middle school. I was the class historian for our high school and now I love capturing memories for people (and food and nature of course). You can see more of my work here. My Dream: to consistently improve in this area, earn money from it to help our family, and to capture memories for you and our family.
Illustrated Faith: I love sitting down with my Bible and some pens and being able to meditate on what the Word is saying and coloring at the same time. Different verses will come alive in different ways depending on how you draw them. The Spirit speaks through His Word. My Dream: To motivate other woman to get creative while reading their Bible.
Writing: I’ve written some prayer resources that you can find here and I’m working on a daily devotional for moms. I can’t wait to get that to yall! And I write here, at Ungrind, Her View From Home, and other random places on the internet from time to time. My Dream: to be published by Crossway at some point in my life. And to write like Elyse Fitzpatrick
Coffee With: On the blog I love being able to introduce you to creatives that do creative things. All creatives are normal people, some drink coffee, some run, some are married – all are creative. I’ve been doing a series that I ask questions, give you insight into them, and let you see their work. My Dream: keep doing it. Have more creatives to introduce you to and keep community and ideas and encouragement happening.
by Kimberly | Sep 19, 2015 | creatives, mothering, parenting, Shepherding Children
Our sweet boy turns three today. There is so much to be said about the joys and challenged of being his momma, a momma to a preschooler, but this post isn’t about that.
This post contains a prayer that I did some #praynames art for last night. I love doing pray names art for birth gits or wedding gifts – to pray over the person I’m doing it for – and to get Scripture in their homes. But, I had never done ones for our boys. So, last night, before the balloons and the wrapping paper, the pancakes, and the cupcakes, I sat down and prayed this for him:
You are a faithful God who delights to give us good gifts.
Elijah is definitely a good gift!
We thank you for giving him to us for such a short time.
I pray that you would capture his heart and his mind early.
That you would use his creativity and imagination for the glory of your great name.
Take his compassion for others – for the hurting – and use it to bring peace and healing in the world.
Use his words and his sweet touch to be strength and comfort to those in need.
May he grow to be a man of God who is captured by all of your beauty.
May he never lose his desire to dance when no one is looking.
I pray that you would break his little heart for things that cause you to weep.
May he one day be a husband who leads his wife faithfully
and a daddy to littles who will look to him to show them Christ.
Most of all, I pray that he would love you more dearly than anything else in the world.
You are good.
Amen.
by Kimberly | Sep 12, 2015 | creatives
Admitting you have a problem is always the first step in recovery, right?
I have a pen problem. I have TONS of them. Most of them are ball point click pens that come from church, organizations, medical supplies, previous jobs, conferences, etc. But I’m hear to tell you about some pens that should be near the top of your list as well. And head on to the bottom for a giveaway!
So, I’m going to talk about some pens here – and my thoughts. You might not agree with my thoughts – because pens are like kitchen knives: you have to know what you are going to use them for, and grip them in your hands, then you will know which ones are right for you.
My fave pen for every day writing: Poppin Pens. I had a free coupon and got a box of these. Love the bright colors and the medium tip. They are fun. They write smooth. I’m glad I got them free because they range about 1$ a pen.
My fave pen for everything else: Staedtler. Oh my. These write smooth and help me to write like I want to write. Its that easy. They are heavier pigmented so they can be seen from the other side of my Journaling Bible – but that’s ok for me. (And if anyone needs a gift idea for me for Christmas or birthday or just because, the pen set I have linked here would be marvelous)
Runner-ups:
Frixion: a friend of mine gave me some of these. They didn’t write smooth enough for me – but I loved their fine tips and there erasability.
Sharpie Pens: these really are stellar – they just don’t come in enough colors for me (so that’s why they aren’t my fave pens)
LePen: I remember writing with these in my younger days. The only reason they aren’t my favorite (because I love their colors and their writing size) is because they seem to be delicate. I find myself writing with a lighter hand when I write with these.
PaperFlair: These are really good too, but just are too generic for me and don’t come in enough colors. But, I really like them for every day lettering.
So, to win this giveaway (which is for all you weekend people – ending Sunday night at 9pm) – all you have to do is leave a comment telling me what your favorite pen is How simple is that? Winner will be chosen and get some of my favorite pens!
Oh, and this lovely print in the above photo is from Kristin Schmucker
