All in the Family-With My Cousin Karen!

Crafting is usually handed down from generation to generation. My cousin Karen is a wonderful example. Her father enjoyed drawing cartoons when he was in high school and then when he was older took up oil painting. He did a few ocean scenes before an unfortunate fishing accident that left him blind in one eye, losing his depth perception and his ability to continue to paint. He periodically draws a cartoon figure for his grandchildren now. His Mom was a furrier and illustrated her own advertisements. She also drew little pictures in her correspondence with relatives.

Karen has been given the same gifts. Karen is a Christian homeschooling mom of 6. One of her children has graduated from RPI with a dual degree in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering! That says so much about her dedication to her family and God. 

Karen lives in the midst of beautiful woodlands where she spends quiet afternoons during the Spring and Fall months, collecting small leaves, flowers and plants for pressing. The Summer months are filled with gardening and other outdoor projects, but also lend themselves to finding some larger leaves or different plants.

Being interested in the beauty of God's creation and wanting to be creative, She has worked with pencil, colored pencil, pen and ink and watercolor. She also enjoy photography, sewing, crochet, cooking and organizing.

Karen has started a home business at Etsy called KateXpressions. (Etsy is a social commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items as well as art and craft supplies) KateXpressions has come from the desire to create and to encourage. Here are some examples of her beautiful note cards.

"Everyone enjoys being thought of and sending a note of
encouragement is a way of loving and caring for others."

I encourage you to take a walk through Karen's shop and see the beauty she has captured on paper!

Karen's Etsy Shop: http://www.katexpressions.etsy.com/

Karen's shop blog: http://katexpressions.blogspot.com/ - KateXpressions

Karen also has her personal blog: http://sowerscorner.blogspot.com/ - The Sower's Corner