This is the second December 2025 newsletter I’m writing. The first one just felt like I didn’t really have anything to say. But it was also probably trash because I went to Jupiter’s Eye on the first snowy day to have a cozy winter writing moment and ended up talking to Morgan the whole time. Yapping about books and life and design and Stranger Things. The only lesson there is that you all need to go spend some time and money at Jupiter’s Eye. It’s perfect there. 

And then after writing a whole terrible newsletter my friend lost his wallet and then found it in the snow and it made me think…

✨ Sometimes everything we need is on its way. ✨

A lost wallet, a new friend, money to pay rent, inspiration, love…

I recently listened to the book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert on my drive to a market in Seattle. Not sure how I missed this book, it came out over 10 years ago. It’s about creativity and I cannot recommend it enough. It was absolutely inspiring and validating and encouraging to my spirit. If you are a Telepathy Tapes listener you maybe heard her on a recent episode from Season 2. (Also recommend)

Elizabeth Gilbert has this theory about creative ideas. They are not ours but they are kind of living their own lives out in the universe. And they present themselves if we are available. We can be ready for them at the easel or notebook or guitar and if we are ready and willing, we can be the vessel. When Mary Oliver talks about her most famous poem, Wild Geese she describes writing it in this exact way. Like she was just a willing recipient of the words. It gives me chills to think about it working like that. Maybe her skill wasn’t in poetry as much as it was in waiting and wondering and being ready. Add in hard won practice in a specific craft…magic.

So, I guess as I prepare to end this year of massive creative output in my life…murals and pots and card decks and songs.  I want to focus on the realization that I can rest open handed. Ready for what ideas are coming next. I can continue to create space to show up to each of my practices with anticipation. Not in a way that makes me feel like I need to squeeze the ideas out of my own brain…but in a way that allows for reception. A tender, quiet space of openness to what I get to be the vessel for next. In a very fast paced, materialistic, trend-driven world…this is a comfort to me. My job isn’t to make a ton of art to sell. It’s to channel ideas through the specific filter of my own humanness and experience. And share them with you in hopes that we might all have either a moment of relief from the pressures of this life, or we might be inspired to live more rooted in love and connection. 

I also love this idea because it means art belongs to us all. The privilege I have of being a full time artist allows for me to spend a lot of time creating. I daily practice gratitude for this joy. It is my dream and I am deeply and constantly grateful. But I also believe that what I make belongs to us all. And what you make does too. These ideas we capture and cultivate and produce art from are a part of all of us. Isn’t that cool?

I hope this next month you set aside some space for a little crafty moment. A doodle or a sketch or a haiku. Who knows what idea is waiting for you.

Have a peaceful December out there,

Karli

The last alcohol and feelings before I head south. This will be so fun! We start at 9pm

I will be vending at Crafty Wonderland in Portland next weekend! I’m so excited to be at this show. I’ve been wanting to try it out for a few years. This will be my last market of the year. 

Caroline Fowler has written and schemed up a magical narrative Christmas concert for us all. I’ll be performing along with a cast of other familiar Spokane musicians. It’s free and all ages. 

Wild Remedies, the first of a series of 3 plant wisdom playing card decks that I designed is available in my shop now! I will have limited stock of these for the holidays. The other two decks are coming as well.

Marrow Cards, greeting cards and prints are also available. After Crafty Wonderland I might through a few ceramic things online as well. 🙂

Market season has been abundant and exciting and I feel so supported. Thank you all for prioritizing purchasing from independent artists like myself! This time of year really does sustain the life of a full time artist/maker.