February 2016 – Karla's Cottage

Coffee Filter flower buds

By Karla Nathan / February 29, 2016

Coffee filter roses seriously took over my life for about a week over Valentine's Day. I had no reason or need to be making them. But once I thought about doing it, I had to try.

And once I tried one, I had to do more.

And more.

And then try little tricks to make them better.. I found that adding a narrow roll of paper to make a bud really brought the blooms to life. As did using watercolors to deepen tones along the edges of the petals.

I never did perfect the use of floral tape. That stuff is high on my list of nemesisses. It doesn't even respond well to glue. And I actually got out the hot glue gun, that is not a typical tool in my crafting arsenal.

This called for the Big Guns.

Although, I did find that the tape was ideal to cut into pointed strips and use around the buds and at the base of the flowers. It was not at all easy to attach, I glued each piece on, then added more glue over it with strips of tape wrapped around that . And glued it down on the ends.

Still, the tape has an ethereal quality and naturally curls up when cut in the strips. So, while it wasn't easy to do, it was worth the effort.

Eventually, I had to force myself to stop making coffee filter flowers and get on with my life. I gave some away to loved ones, and made a couple vase fulls for myself, and then tucked away the supplies with a promise that I'd dig them out again when I had more time.

Because I am not done yet, those blooms are addictive.

Having the Farewell to Downton book to work on was helpful to get my mind off the roses. Also, planning the trip to San Diego got me into gear. There is nothing like a deadline to pull me away from an obsession.

If you'd like to be a part of the art journal swap, please email me at: karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

I'm in CA for a nice, long, visit, but will return your emails and sign you up when I return.

Exciting mail

show and tell

By Karla Nathan / February 27, 2016

Recently, I was surprised by a thoughtful gift that came in the mail. Cathy sent me a package full of things I love. Including this hat covered in blooms.

And vintage napkins with sweet pictures on them.

Like this adorable Alice theme. Thank you, Cathy!

Soon after, this package came from Terry while she was vacationing in Maui. We have travelled there with her before and she knew what some of my faves were. Well, at least the ones that can be packaged up and mailed, that is.

Now, as if that wasn't enough, I opened my mailbox to find handmade cards from my pal, Angie and my dear Guncle Randy.

Getting this fun mail has made me even more excited about the Farewell to Downton art journal swap. It is going to be like Christmas every day as the artwork starts coming in. I LOVE seeing the boxes arrive, and piling up in the studio.

I do my best to not open each as it arrives, because I have to stay with a system and keep them all boxed up until I'm ready to spread the pages out and sort them into books. There is a checklist that I need to follow.

But… how can I resist? I have to allow myself some peeks into the wonderful artwork my creative friends have entrusted me with.

I just cannot wait to see the pages, this is a theme I'm so fond of. It's going to be a good one, isn't it?

Sadly, it isn't going to work out to do international swapping, I miss those days of feeling like the world was such a small place when mail would arrive from across the globe. Postal rates have skyrocketed for overseas, and when I saw that it would cost over thirty bucks to send the books out of the country, I figured that was way too much.

Now, if you really, really want to participate from far away and you are fine with the cost, please do sign up. But I understand if you balk at the price, I sure did.

ps- I am away right now, but please do send an email to sign up for the swap. I'll catch up with my records when I return.

Coloring tips for pretty roses

drawing, how to's, swaps

By Karla Nathan / February 24, 2016

The Dowager's coloring page in our "Farewell to Downton" Art Journal Swap has swags of roses around the banner at the top. There are also some on the pillow of her chair. Here are some tips for tinting them.

First rule:

Do NOT feel like you have to color inside of the lines!

Be free and easy with your colors, don't try to be perfect.

See what I mean?

I take a medium pink, and kind of messily add color to the centers of the flowers.

Then, fill them in with a light pink. Notice how some white of the paper still shows through? Those little "skips" add sparkle and life to the page.

Now, you can be really arty and make sure the skips are intentional and placed exactly where a highlight would hit the petals. Or, you can just be scribbly and not color the full petal in, either way, you get a pretty feel.

Over the two lighter pinks, I like to dot a dollop of darker pink into the centers of the blooms.

For my leaves, I have only used two colors of green, my typical way of doing these things is to use three tones. But this worked too. Color all the leaves the lightest color of green that you are using, Then add a darker tone to some of the leaves. If you'd like, add a third darker shade to some other ones.

One thing all of my finished pages have is highlights done with a white opaque pen, like you see on the umbrella and on the feathers.

I also like to use a white opaque marker to soften and blend, like over the brown of the hat.

Metallic pens add dimension, and are even prettier if done over a previously colored area. The umbrella handle is grey marker with silver ink over it.

And one more thing that makes a picture look complete, I have re-outlined some of it in black ink again. Not the whole thing, some lines are left soft. Here, I drew around the outside of the umbrella, but not all the small details. Also, around the top banner and words, not the flowers, around the outside of the chair, and her jacket, again not the small details.

If you'd like to do your own, these pictures are included in the Farewell to Downton swap. Details here.

Speaking of Downton, I'm off to meet Beth and have yet another Downton adventure! This one is with Deb Hodge, who I have always admired and wanted to meet. We are attending her retreat on Coronado Island. But first, I'm spending some Cali time with Sugarwings and my handsome husband. Please do sign up for the swap, and I'll catch up with the lists and record keeping when I return.

Coloring page tips for a nice skin tone

drawing, swaps

By Karla Nathan / February 21, 2016

Beth pointed out to me that the coloring page with the Dowager was a little harder to do than some of my other pages. I had a feeling that the face would give people trouble and I was right. If you are trying to get good skin tones with markers, you really have to know what you are doing. I think it is much easier to use colored pencils for the skin.

Plus, I think the pictures have a lot more interesting look if they are done with a mixture of textures and style. I like to use markers, metallic inks, glitter pens, opaque pens, and colored pencils together.

First step- with a pale, brown pencil, lightly draw around the wrinkles, and in shadowed areas (under the chin, hat, and eye sockets).

Again, use a light touch, and fill in the face with a peachy tone pencil, including the lips.

Using a soft pink, add blush to the cheeks, much like you'd add makeup to your own face. Under the cheek bone and onto the apples of the cheek.

Color in the lips too.

Darker pink, or red, can be used on the inside of the lips, where the two meet.

I did the rest of my page with markers and inks. For the eyes, I used a lighter blue over the full irises, then a darker blue on the top half the irises, over the lighter blue. (Like the blob example) The left one is two colors, the right one is only the lighter blue at this point.

To make the eyes stand out, go over the pupil with black ink, then add dots of white opaque ink to the pupil and to the iris.

I also used the same pink pencil I'd done the blush with to make a single dot in the inside corner of each eye.

Simple, and easy. You don't have to be a portrait painter to make this face look natural.

I used a grey marker on her hair and eyebrow, then the white opaque ink pen over that, and then was ready to move on to her clothing and hat. I like to color the main areas before the background, personally.

In another post, I'll show you a tip on finishing the roses in the drawing.

If you'd like to do your own, these pictures are included in the Farewell to Downton swap. Details here.

Midwinter pick me ups, look for happiness wherever you can

cottage, flowers

By Karla Nathan / February 19, 2016

There is no reason why I should be complaining. None at all. The week the weather was hovering at zero, I was in Florida. At the end of February, I'm going to California. And most of our winter has been pretty mild.

But Kansas is soooooooo gray in the winter.

Soooooooooo gray.

I have to keep looking around to find reasons to not let winter get to me. Buying some new houseplants to give my kitchen and living room a shot of green, was a good start. Especially since it gave me an excuse to finally purchase one of those terrariums that I always walk by in Hobby Lobby and day dream about owning. Heck, they aren't expensive, and even go on sale for half price on a regular basis. But I'm glad I waited til the mid winter blahs struck before indulging myself. It feels good to have some live plants cheering up my space now when I need it.

One of the very first things I do every single morning is stand at my back window and look out into the yard as I brush my teeth. In the spring, I'm on my toes with excitement watching for the latest blooms, and I love seeing what new flowers have popped up to greet me. Summer is just pure enjoyment, because all of the plants are at their peak. And fall holds all sorts of changes daily with the trees changing.

But winter?

Mostly gray.

We haven't even had much snow this year. Still, I love looking out the window, contemplating the new day as I scrub my teeth, whether there is much new to see or not.

But every once in a while, I get a view like this- BLUEBIRDS GALORE!!!!!

Ahhhhhhh, that was just what I needed. And near them, were redbirds. Little flying flowers, all throughout my trees.

You've got to look for happiness, sometimes it is right in front of you and if you are not paying attention you'll miss it.

I had jury duty recently, and from my seat in the juror room, I could see this Happy Tree through the slats of the blinds on the window in our semi-basement room. It was a windy day, the branches were blowing, and the tree looked like it was talking to me.

Of course, I didn't mention the talking tree to the rest of the jurors, I thought I might lose my position of head juror, or even get kicked out of the box if they knew I was slightly crazy.

Because this is what I saw all day, in my own mind.

Yep, it is the reminder of spring that green plants bring, elusive bluebird sightings, and silly little things like this that keep me sane during the long, GREY, winter months.

Or am I?

Farewell to Downton- an art journal swap to say goodbye to our favorite program

Books, swaps

By Karla Nathan / February 15, 2016

Soon, Downton Abby will be airing its last episode.

I thought it would be nice to share art journals on the theme as a memento of the show. So, another swap is in order!

This show has touched many hearts and had us all swooning over the sets and costumes. I've attended two Downton themed weekend art events, myself and have another coming up soon. Lord Grantham and his family's story is one that so many of us love to immerse ourselves in.

This photo of one of the sets is my inspiration for the books. Lush, heavy wallpaper, in a soft green, rose silk damask, gilded, white trim, and overall, ornate elegance.

Here are the details of what I'll be including and making the book from for the swap:

Two chipboard, flocked wallpaper covers, lined with antique silk brocade.

On that, a painted and golden glazed frame filled with my painting of the castle itself printed on high quality matte photo paper.

The bottom of the front cover will be trimmed in lace and hand dyed velvet ribbon.

The book will tie shut with hand dyed silk ribbon, anchored in place with a medallion of vintage wallpaper and a sparkling rhinestone cluster.

Pages will be tied in with ribbon accented with bundles of vintage trims and laces, along with a variety of Victorian style charms and a millinery bloom.

Two coloring pages, hand drawn by myself.

The book will be made up of 3 signatures of 3 pieces of card stock. You will send 6, I will supply 3 pages ready for you to finish as you'd like in your own book. This makes a total of 36 pages.

For this swap, you will get one of your own pages in the book. It will be included in the count of the 6 you send in. So, you will send in 5 folded pieces of card stock, embellished on a minimum of 2 sides to swap, plus 1 more of the same for me to add to your own book. You will get 5 swap pages in return along with 3 plain or background pages from me.

I will ship these Priority Mail in padded envelopes.

I have copied vintage stationary and will include this as one of the pages I provide for each book.

This will be a functional journal, for you to use for notes, pictures, doodling, memorabilia, and adding your own favorite images or ideas from the show. So, up to half of the pages created by swappers will be simply finished to allow you space to use in the book. Such as stationery paper, ledger paper, an envelope, lined paper, plain paper, etc. Borders, headers, or decorations can be added, but the page should still be usable for the new owner to fill in for themselves.

(you can scroll down to the end of the post for photos and links to other swaps for examples)

Of course, I'll be using the Good Stuff to create your book, here are a few of the hats I'll be plucking.

The silk fabric is just gorgeous and is very reminiscent of the Crawley's sitting room furniture. The frames I have found to use are in an assortment of shapes and sizes. I will be painting each one white, then glazing it in a metallic gold, to mimic the sitting room trim.

Ahhh, that fabric is going to make a perfect liner. It is sturdy, yet delicate and beautiful. And here is one of the coloring pages I'll be including- my drawing of the Dowager, and some of her noteworthy quotes.

Here is a closeup, so show you some of the detail. Doesn't it make you want to grab your markers and start coloring? If you haven't embraced the Adult Coloring kick, here are some tips that could help you get started and get a finished, arty look on your pages.

Each book will have charms tied to the ribbons along the spine, and I will have a selection of laces and trims to embellish with too.

No two book covers will be exactly the same, since I am using so many vintage elements.

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Here are the guidelines, if you'd like to join:

1-The theme is "FAREWELL TO DOWNTON", any interpretation you'd like- the family, the rooms, the era, gowns- is wide open to your view of what you love and will miss about the show. And keep in mind that the show does span eras, so you have a choice from Edwardian to Flapper.

2- Size is a full page of 8-1/2 x 11 card stock, folded in half to make two 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 pages with a crease in the middle.

3- Please use card stock. Add anything creative over it, but the base must be card stock. Please keep the fold ONLY card stock and clear of embellishments so I can punch the holes.

4- Make 6 folded sheets of card stock front and back, So that means 6 pieces of paper -24 sides total. This sounds like a lot, but keep in mind that this is a journal/scrapbook. UP TO HALF of those 24 sides, need to be usable for the book's owner. Lined paper, pockets, old stationary, envelopes, etc, something that the new owner can write on, tuck things into, or add to. This is a functional journal. (please check out the examples below) The rest of the pages can be decorated to your heart's content, but do please keep approximately half usable for the book's owner. And please do not just leave a completely blank page with nothing at all on it, do use something pretty as a background to be created upon later.

5- Please add trailing lace, and other pretty trims that peek out from the covers of the book. The more trims, laces, and ribbons, the prettier the over all look of the book will be. And don't just add it from the bottom, it is pretty to have trims peeking out from the side and top also.

6- Sign your work, add your blog name if you have one.

7- One of your pages will be returned to you, in your book.

8- LEAVE ONE INCH ALONG THE CENTER FOLD EMPTY, no 3-D items along the fold, so I can punch holes. Decorate the rest of the page as thick as you'd like, but please leave the center 1" for me to bind! hmmm, I think I might have already mentioned that one…

To join, please email:

karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

Please include:
1-Your first and last name
2-Your Instagram or blog name and URL (if applicable)
3-Your email address

Deadline
Pages should be to me by May 31, 2016

In your package along with the 6 pages, please include:

1- Your first and last name, same as you provided at sign up
2- A slip of paper with your name, and address, if your mailing address name does not match the first and last name you provided, (if you signed up with your nickname, blog name, etc) please alert me so I will know it is you and the book is going to the right address

3- $38 fee for USA, sorry, no overseas swapping this time.

(I am sorry also, but due to the volume of books I'll be making, I am not able to honor special requests, or let you know personally when your box arrives. Once a week, I will post a list of arrivals on Facebook and I will try to get photos of all the pages and feature them on my blog as I build the books.)

If you would like to purchase an assembled book (blank pages ready for you to create yourself) they will be available for the same price. Comes with the coloring pages.

Here is a button you can post on your blog for the swap if you'd like. I look forward to seeing the nature inspired pages winging thier way into my cottage!

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EXAMPLES

Here are some links to a previous shared effort, the Fairie Book, if you'd like to see my style of arranging pages. I put a lot of time into sorting the swap pages together to look like cohesive, pretty books:

1- http://karlascottage.typepad.com/karlascottage/2012/09/knee-deep-in-fairies.html

2- http://karlascottage.typepad.com/karlascottage/2012/09/the-tail-end-of-the-faery-book-swap-ill-miss-it.html

3- http://karlascottage.typepad.com/karlascottage/2012/09/faery-book-swap-page-sets.html

And here is a link to the last swap, the Nature's Blessing Journal. and another here.

And here are some journals that I have bound the same way I will be doing for this Nature's Blessing Journal swap:

1- http://karlascottage.typepad.com/karlascottage/2013/05/a-book-of-enchantments.html

2- http://karlascottage.typepad.com/karlascottage/2013/02/at-the-valentine-journal-workshop-and-some-free-images.html

3- http://karlascottage.typepad.com/karlascottage/2011/01/if-dorothy-was-a-scrap-booker.html

These books shown below are a different theme, but show some ideas on how to finish the pages so that they can be used by the new owner of the book.

Please fully decorate about half the pages you send and the other half,leave simple and pretty for the new owner to decorate themselves. Much like some of the examples below.

a On the left- I've covered the cardstock with pretty paper, and added envelopes.

Left- This page has added note paper.

Left- This one has a pocket for notes.

And here is a big selection of plain papers, with borders. Lots of space to use for the new journal owner, but still decorative and creative from the swapper.

Along those same lines, a simple, lined paper with a pretty header.

And this idea is the simplest of them all. Pretty paper, lace trim, left empty for the new owner to add a photo to.

Similar to this, plain paper to add a photo to, and an envelope with a message on the flap.

And again, the same type of look, room to write on, and an envelope to save special things inside.

This heart is a collage made by Lori Oles, I have added it to a page in one of my books, and by only gluing down the sides, not the top, it has become a pocket to hold tidbits.

These pages were done by a student in one of my classes.

Plain, pretty paper on some pages is nice too.

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Here is a detail from the doodle sheet that is similar to the ones included for you to tint.

And this is an example of how I color mine.

Here is an example of a past doodle sheet I've made. It has a fairy tale theme, as you can see. I draw words and designs on an old book page, and it is copied and ready to be colored in with markers.

A nature themed doodle sheet will be included in your book for you to finish as you'd like.

Here is one with a Love theme for Valentine's Day.

Coffee Filter flowers for Valentine’s Day

flowers, holiday decor, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / February 13, 2016

To celebrate the holiday, Sugarwings asked if we could throw a craft day party. I try to do these for other occasions too, some years we have one for every holiday, other years are hit and miss. It is always a good excuse to clean up the studio and hang out with good friends. so if I can make a party happen, I'm glad to do it.

And it is such fun to see Sugarwing's excitement and to watch her little wheels turn as she plans a soiree. We made a couple of trips to craft stores, and she picked out all the supplies needed to make cards.

The menu was all her idea too. Of course, Conversation Hearts were a main treat.

Along with Ghirardelli chocolate dipped strawberries.

Sadly, about an hour before the party, I got a call from her, in tears because she was ill. Our poor, fairy baby had a fever and had to cancel. Luckily, her Nurse Mommy had a day off, and was there for her.

Which meant she was in very good hands. (Here comes a bragging moment, and a big one-) Her mom, our Hippy Chick, is on the nominated list for "The Best of Lawrence" voting for Best Nurse in town!

And that is a big deal, isn't it?

After talking to Sugarwings, I talked to her daddy and discovered that Kia, my Faux Granddaughter, was ill too. So, no family for the big party. Dewdrop is in NC with her own mommy, and the rest of the bunch were taking care of sick kids.

I was down for a bit, sad that my girl couldn't come to the party she had planned out, but I'm leaving it all set up and letting her throw another one for her family, and I had a lovely day with my good friends and their kids.

Lots of cards to spread Valentine love were crafted, and we also made some coffee filter flowers.

Here is a vaseful at a point when I thought they were done.

But, I decided that they needed something more, and figured out that a kid's marker dipped in water was great to give the petal edges some color.

Watercolor paints work well on the petals too.

I added some leaves pulled off my favorite old hats too.

Much better!

They were so much fun to make, that I'm also having one more coffee filter craft day too. Plus, I have dyed HUNDREDS of filters…

Twinkle really needs to learn to not be so curious when I'm dying things. She always ends up with a polka dot on her head.

It's been a few days and the color is barely fading.

I bought two packages each of small, medium, and large filters, and dipped them in fiber reactive dyes. Once they were done, the amount seemed to quadruple.

I'm going to need more friends to help me use these up….

Or I could just sit and make flower, after flower, after flower. (this is the same flower I showed painted and using a marker on. Big difference, huh?)

Because they are addictive and beautiful. I seem to have the best luck with peonies, I wish my roses turned out better. And I find it hard to work with the dang floral tape.

Why is it even called tape? It has very little stickiness, which is basically tape's main ingredient.

But the flowers are really pretty easy to make, we all had some beauts. The kids might have even out-flowered the adults.

The hardest part for me was adding the wire stem with the floral tape. I discovered that it was better to use artist tape to hold the flower onto the wire, then cover it in the green tape.

It still wasn't perfect. I'll need to do some research before friends come back to make more flowers with me.

If you want to make some, there are so many how-to videos and guides online, that it probably isn't worth my time to give you any directions. This site has links to many different tutorials. I tried a variety of styles, some easier than others. I gave up on the Martha Stewart ones. They are unbearably beautiful, but not a quick process.

The joy of the other directions was that they are so simple and look like you spent a lot of time on them, when you really didn't.

I'll let you know if we figure out any good shortcuts or tips when we make more. I'm glad to be having more parties!

Sculpy dragons

paintings

By Karla Nathan / February 10, 2016

At the romance fantasy writers' retreat that I helped my sis, Terry, with in January, we had some craft time along with all of the author meet and greets, workshops, games and meals, snacktimes, and treat times.

There was a LOT of good food, we ate like Hobbits-

Here is a sample of a Hobbit's menu for the day:

Breakfast – 7am.

Second breakfast – 9 am.

Elevenses – 11 am.

Lunch – 1 pm.

Afternoon tea – 3pm.

Dinner – 6 pm.

Supper – 9 pm

Yep, that sounds about right. We had a lot of tasty breaks for goodies.

The whole weekend was pretty interesting, even though the books weren't my typical genre to read, it was a racy yet, light hearted change for me. And the attendees were so happy to there that their enthusiasm was contagious. The hostess, S. E. Smith, is also an artist and she travels with Sculpy clay to create with during downtime at the workshops she attends. She brought some along for this event and led us in making some baby dragons hatching from eggs.

This was my first Sculpy experience. I've worked with paper clay and air dry clay, and each have their own pros and cons. I didn't do very well with this stuff, but it was fun to try. I found myself re-smooshing and ruining an area I'd just worked on. I think that with practice and with tools, I could get the hang of it though.

One thing I discovered is that if you use multiple colors, they can smear together easily. At least if you aren't careful.

One of the things most people love about this clay is the way it can blend as you use multiple colors to make your creations. But I found it messy and flat looking. Here is my hatchling at the event, and I wasn't too thrilled with the way I'd made him.

This one is even worse.

So, when I got home, I got out my paints and touched them both up. Adding some metallic and pearl paints really helped.

While they still look like a first attempt with clay, I think they are better than before. And I love an excuse to have something to paint.

Which reminds me, I need to go and paint some frames. Not quite as much fun as painting dragons, but I'm doing them for my "Farewell to Downton" art journal swap, and that is pretty durn exciting for me! I scrapped my first example because I didn't think it was as regal as I wanted it to look.

Back to the drawing board, because this book had to have the feel of luxury that we all drool over on the show. After searching online, in all my favorite stores, and trying lots of different ideas, I found some mini, ornate frames to add to the covers that was PERFECT touch. But they are garish colors, and need to be painted white with glints of gold.

Look for details to join the swap soon.

If you don't want to miss my announcement and would like me to contact you with the info when it is ready, please leave a message here or email me at:

karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

Asian centerpieces and decor for a dinner party

celebrations, Travel, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / February 7, 2016

Well, that is not a photo you'd expect to see on my blog, is it?

Nope, not like me at all.

I travelled with my husband to Long Island to visit the Hamlet club, where the crew there had done an exceptional job and deserved a celebration. My husband's team was going to prepare and serve a special dinner and I offered to help.

When I was asked to pick up some items to decorate with, I was excited, that was right up my alley!

When I was told it was sushi night, I was flummoxed, that isn't exactly my style and I had no idea where to start.

Especially in a strange city, without my regular shopping targets. But, I went out exploring, set my Google Maps to Michaels and promptly got lost.

Very lost.

No cell service, no maps.

So, I turned into the first parking lot that I found, hoping to snag some free wireless from a business. I just so happened to be in front of an AC Moore, a store I'd not heard of, but the sign said "crafts" so I went in.

And found all the inspiration I needed for the table- some handmade, Japanese rice paper in firey dragon colors, and paper, clip on, crayon yellow, dragonflies. I bought enough rice paper to line up and use as a runner, scooped up some colorful bugs, and went from there.

Black "floating frames" were buy one get one free. I got 8, in different sizes (all they had) to use as zen garden style trays to fill with stones and moss, along with simple, cylinder candles and vases. In the larger frames, I centered a strip of coordinating rice paper for an extra layer.

To spice up the candles and vases (cheap ones from the wedding section), I bought some washi tape (that is Japanese, right??). If you are going to use washi tape to add a stripe to the top of a glass, I'd say make sure the vase or votive is as straight up and down as possible, and choose a tape that looks okay with a bit of a wrinkle in it. Because it is very hard to get it perfect. I thought about using an exacto blade to trim Vs out of the tape to make it fit better, then decided that working with the wrinkles, and burnishing them out as flat as I could was good enough.

I think it is fine.

Each frame "tray" was filled with handfuls of pebbles around the candles and flowers, with moss tucked in among the rocks. I also bought some big, black stones, and a gold paint marker. Then, I googled "Japanese lettering" and copied pictures I found.

On the backs, I wrote the English translation. I tried to chose words that went along with the event, and the people it was for, such as: pride, team, strength, friendship, self confidence, etc.

(Uhm, if you are fluent in Japanese, please don't try to read these, let's consider them arty, not accurate)

You can find anything online can't you? I thought that it would be a nice touch to have origami folded napkins too. So looked up youtube videos on folding swans.

I had a short period of time to pull this all off, from shopping to creating to setting the table. And the swans were not going well. So, I quickly switched to butterflies. Which went much, much faster. In all, I had about an hour into ironing and folding the napkins, and most of that was a learning curve. Once I figured out the steps, it went quickly.

The tall, clear vases were filled with more pebbles, and I split a package of curly twigs and bamboo between the 8 vases on the table and a larger one on the buffet.

On the way to the club, I got lost again and found the coolest grocery store I'd ever been in. I am a huge, Trader Joe's fan, and discovered the REAL deal type place that the chain is probably based on. It was an older market, full of imports and good prices too. I could've wandered around sampling cheeses and filling my cart with pasta from Italy, all day, but had to get to the club to set my table.

Before leaving, I picked up two bundles of freesias in yellow and orange for only $6 each, and they were the most perfect finishing touch for the vases. It wasn't something I'd set out to find. I thought that the vases looked pretty good with the washi tape, dragonflies, and curly twigs. But a few, small handful of bright flowers really improved the whole table.

There were even enough yellow freesias to add to the buffet table vase too.

There aren't any pictures of the buffet table because I was helping serve the appetisers by the time the main course was set out.

Yep, I was a waitress too.

When I was a single mom, that is how I supported my kids. And I met my Handsome Husband while waitressing at a Holiday Inn where he worked at the front desk. After I was married, I kept it up for years because the hours were great, I could work lunches while the kiddos were in school.

And I always loved doing the job and thought I was pretty good at it. So, I figured I still would be.

WHOA!!!!!!!!

Not so much.

The first thing I noticed as people were starting to come in, was that the trays were much heavier than I remembered. Very heavy.

Now, I still carry 9 year old Sugarwings around a lot. I garden, I keep busy. I'm not a gym rat, but I do lift some free weights (well sometimes).

But it didn't take long to find out that I do not have a single waitress muscle left in my body. Instead of 8 to 12 plates on a big tray, I could barely heft an empty, large tray over my head. I stayed with small, drink trays and carried a couple plates at a time, making many more trips back and forth that way.

Let me brag a smidge that I still had the drive and the eye for waitressing. I can spot a half filled glass and top it off before the guest even knows they are running low on water. I can whisk away a plate within seconds of the diner deciding he is done eating, and will scoop up all extra items on the placemat, keeping the area tidy.

But, boy, was I achey after all of it. It was fun to be a part of the event, and I loved the challenge of decorating, but the exhaustion that came with serving the meal really threw me emotionally. I wasn't prepared to face the fact that my youth is far, far behind me and I just can't keep up with things I used to do.

I think I'll keep my day job. Or maybe practice carrying trays around and get ready ahead of time before I do it again? I was too cocky to think of that, I figured I'd be a star waitress, not a weak, little old lady.

Because I sure would do this job again, what a delightful party it was, and the food was amazing!

I'd like to see more of Long Island, especially the Hamptons. There wasn't quite enough time to get that far. We did go to Times Square where we posed with one of a dozen or so Elmos walking around. They work for tips and before you know it, you are surrounded by all sorts of characters, each asking for money, even if some weren't in the picture and most weren't asked to be in it. They all crowd in, whether you want them to or not, and then try to get more cash from you. I was a bit taken back by it all, but it was pretty funny to be mobbed by cartoon characters.

I don't think Disneyworld would approve of Minnie Mouse's attitude.

We took a ride up to the top of Rockefeller Center. (Nice venetian plaster on the wall, isn't it?)

I was entranced by the chandelier.

Wouldn't you love to have just one strand from it?

And the lights built into the walls were chunks of crystal with colored lights behind them.

And what a view!

And what nice people we were with. Who knew I'd go all the way to NY just to meet a fellow junker and furniture painter? I enjoyed hanging out with my new friend, Beth.

We ate at Carmine's and I adored the mismatched chandies there too.

The selection of old photos on the wall made me feel right at home. This was my fave.

I've never been a city person, but I sure did love New York.

Keep Shining

family

By Karla Nathan / February 4, 2016

While walking from Disney Springs to our hotel last week, I spotted what looked like my name in the sidewalk. It was dark out, so I turned on my phone flashlight.

Yep, Karla, and spelled correctly.

The next day, in the daylight, I went back out and saw "Caitlin" next to my name. That is Sugarwings' Hippy Chick momma's name.

What are the odds of randomly finding your own name and a family member's name next to each other in cement while on vacation?

(There were NO other sidewalks written in along there, just this area. So, it is not like there are hundreds of names spread out and I picked through and found ours. The only other word was "Poppa" which is very close to title of "Pop Pop" the grand fairies use for my husband, but not quite close enough.)

After taking photos of the two names, I noticed the word, "Shine" next to them. I don't know how I'd missed it before.

"Shine" is one of the two words that my girls chose for 2016. Here is what Caitlin had to say about it on FB around New Year's day:

"Let your light SHINE with JOY this year.
Leandra and I chose these words for the year (shine and joy) and are looking forward to active creations to achieve them throughout 2016 and beyond 💜"