BDC Uganda

I recently had the pleasure of participating in a fundraiser for the Business Development Center- Uganda. You can read more about this great organization at www.churchestogether.com It was a wonderful evening hosted by a sweet friend from our church and I had the pleasure of meeting other artists from the Memphis area!! My husband wasn't able to attend due to babysitting issues but my sweet daughter was my date for the evening! We were able to raise lots of money and have a fun night all at the same time! :)

The Queen Bees

This past Saturday I had the honor of attending an artist meet and greet at The Queen Bees in Jackson, TN. I met a lot of fun people and actually got to meet the people who took some of my pieces home!! It's always exciting to see the new owners of my pieces of work...every piece of my art is like a baby of mine after all!! Here are some pics from the day :)

Stop and Hear the Birds

We are not neat, tidy people. I am more so than my husband but still not great. Our carport is embarrassing....really. We had a garage door at the old house so the fact that we have nothing to close off our junk from the world really bothers me. :)

The other day I heard a faint, very high pitched chirping sound. I followed the sound from the driveway into the carport. I climbed over junk and finally zeroed in on where it was coming from. Piled on the top of a shelf...and then on top of a box is an old baby doll bassinett (it was our daughters...when she used to really care about baby dolls). It didn't make the cut to go in her room so naturally we put it in the carport on top of a bunch of old junk...duh!

There is was...a sweet little nest full of babies! I'm assuming it's full of babies based on the sounds coming from inside. My attempt to take a close picture ended with the momma bird flying out toward my face so I gave up and held my arm as high as possible to get this pic. You can hear the precious sounds from inside and since then I've seen the momma coming to the rescue with food in her mouth...so yes, lots of babies in there!

Two days ago I didn't even know that little family existed and now I'm obsessed with it. Three feet from where I walk a million times a day is an intricately built home. A home that a momma lovingly and carefully made for her little ones. It reminds me of the verses referenced in the song about how 'His eye is on the sparrow'... It's amazing to me that God gives something like a bird the ability to build such a detailed home and the ability to look after her babies in such a way. Of course God cares for me and the details of my life!! He looks after me and my babies (and my hubby)and sees that we have our needs met. His eye is on the sparrow so of course He watches over me!

I wonder what else I am walking right by every single day and missing. What do I not see because I am in such a hurry? My kids? My husband? Yes, I pass these things by everyday and miss opportunities to really SEE them. I encourage you to stop and 'hear the birds'...it's precious!
-Katie

"5 Minutes Here, 5 Minutes There"

One of the things about doing what I do is the benefit of being able to work at home. I work in my den...by necessity. Not just because we have 4 kids and every room is taken by a little person (which means that I have no studio space as a result) but because I have to BE here. I have to KNOW everything that is happening in this house at all times. Little hands can make a HUGE mess in 2 seconds flat. I can't be off in a 'studio' somewhere (don't get me wrong- I'd love to be) while the natives are left to their own devices. :) I need to be MOMMY 100% of the time. I have to see and hear what's going on...**oddly enough they've only gotten into my paint once...knock on wood :)
Sometimes when the 2 'little' boys go down for their naps I put a movie on for our 4 year old (yes, I do sometimes use tv as a babysitter- don't judge me) and I am able to get a good hour or two of painting in. This doesn't happen every day though. MOST of the time it's 5 minutes here and 5 minutes there. Between changing diapers, fighting with light sabers and fixing meals I find a few good minutes to pick up the brush and paint. I have learned to work fairly quickly when I do get one of these windows.
I have found that I kinda enjoy painting like this. I think I have painting A.D.D. anyway so this just fits in perfecty. When I do have hours at a time to paint I am continuously walking away from the easel and coming back again. I snack, I walk...pace is more like it, I wander. Maybe it's the short spurts of time that I'm given that have made me this way. Maybe it's impossible for me to stand and paint for longer than 5 minutes at a time because that's what I'm used to.
Whatever it is...it works for me.
God is good. :)
-Katie

"The Ugly Stuff"

One day I might have a sun-lit, spacious art studio. Until then I will continue painting in a dark, tiny little corner of my den. (at least I have a corner, right?) I spilled gesso on the wood floors the other night (barely missing the rug). I continually have paint on my hands and under my nails. The process is ugly...all of it. I start with raw materials and the process is oh so messy. I make mistakes and cover them up. I layer and layer and layer until finally I have a piece of art!
All of this reminds me of my relationship with God. I am ugly...the depths of my soul are detestable. I have nothing to offer but filthy rags. Only through the saving grace of God am I made new! He uses all the ugly stuff to give Himself glory!! He is the potter, I am the clay....He is the artist, I am all the ugly stuff.
I am oh so thankful that God has given me the ability to do what I truly love for a living. I know that everyone cannot say the same so I am truly grateful. I pray that He will continue to use me...(all the ugly stuff) to bring glory to His name in whatever way He chooses.
See you soon~