Before I hurt my back this week while on vacation, I started a few tags. I was thinking about making some tag books, but decided that these wouldn't fit into the binder with all the 3-D stuff on them, I'll need to add doodads after binding the tags, not before.
These colors are a bit different from what I usually pick out. Beth and I have a Wallpaper Pact, when one of us scores some vintage paper, we share with the other. She gave me the border that I used across the bottom, and if went perfectly with a playing card I got in the En Le Jardin swap.
When my back cooperates and I can sit at my desk again, I'll be adding ribbons to these and calling them finished. Then, I'll start over on the tag books. So, this batch isn't exactly a waste of time. I just about always finish what I start and make it work somehow.
This is the statue that I bought from Carol. For now, she is gracing one of the dining room tables in my studio. I might bring her into the living room later on. I already have a couple in there now, and I do think a collection makes more impact when it is grouped together, but on the other hand, I like having my favorite things all around me. So, maybe she'll stay out here in the studio to keep me company while I work.
Last Saturday, at the world's greatest estate sale, I found this punch bowl. I've been wanting one forever, but didn't want to spend much. This one is cracked, so it was cheap, only 5 bucks. I don't mind the crack, since I am using it for something that won't leak, not punch.
There was also a giant box of cushion sized slip covers at the sale, and they were only $7.50! I immediately put some on my porch furniture. The rest got washed up and look even better. The pink background shows up a lot prettier when it isn't dirty. I'm not quite sure what I'll do with the rest of them, its gorgeous fabric, some of the prettiest that I have found. And while it isn't old-old, it is older. Hmm, does that make sense to you? Not antiquey old like bark cloth, but not made all that recently either.
There were a few round pillows in the box too. And I almost didn't buy any of it, I wasn't sure if the size was something I could use, but Beth told me that the fabric was worth a lot more than $7 to have for cutting up. She's right, I'm glad I listened.
Notice these photos are focused only on the chairs? I've not done any planting and my porch looks desolate and lonely without flowers! Of course, with a sore back, I won't be doing much gardening this weekend, so it might be a while before I get plants set out.
Years ago, I fell off a pony and fractured a couple of vertebrae. Now, I wasn't thrown from a horse, I just carelessly slid off the back of a small pony. Like a klutz, nothing dramatic about it.
I had a few surgeries, cortisone epidurals, lots of rest. But, I was in bad shape for a LONG time, till I finally found a Dr. who got me to physical therapy. Since then, I've controlled the back problems by sort of keeping in shape. Not the kind where I look good, but the kind where I stay flexible and can move.
There is also a routine I go through if my back gets sore and it usually works in a day or two, I no longer have months of pain like before. My trouble now, is that my back went out on me while on vacation and I didn't follow my recipe for healing, since, not only was I staying at a hotel, we were sightseeing and hauling around a 2-1/2 year old.
Here is what I usually do, and am doing now. It doesn't work as well if you don't do it right when injured, but it still helps:
Back Pain Relief Recipe
Equal parts of rest, laying and sitting. Do not stay in one position too long.
Equal amounts of ice and heat, taking turns with each.
Walking and stretching in small amounts to start with, then building up to more. DO NOT rest too much, you have to MOVE or you'll cramp up.
And last, anti-inflamatories and muscle relaxers. I use Ibuprofen and Skelaxion, neither make me drowsy.
You will also need a stack of movies to watch. I'm going to go watch Diary of the Dead, it seems fitting, since I have the zombie shuffle walk going on right now.
And for now, I have probably sat too long at the computer, I need to walk and stretch. But before I go, I'll tell you the winner of the Cottage Charm giveaway, my May prize. Thanks, Kim, for hosting this annual event!
And the winner is:
By the way,Beth is having a fantastic giveaway full of Victorian scrap! Go enter before its closed!!
Dear Karla:
WOW ! I’m so sorry you’re having back problems ! I know how much that can hurt.
I hope you will be feeling better soon.
Loved your punch bowl, it sure is pretty, and the statue is too. LOVE, the pillows and slip covers ! Smart buy !
GET WELL SOON !
Love,
Deborah Woodrow
Karla, those tags are simply GORGEOUS!! Love the colors – they remind me of vintage table cloths!
Karla, I sure hope your back is doing better.It sounds like even with back trouble you had a great time on your trip with sugarwings and I know she had a good time. Take care of yourself and enjoy watching your movies.
Jean in virginia
I’ll definitely keep that recipe – I did that whole epidural/physical therapy routine a few years ago, and I never want to go back to that. I’m so grateful to being able to do things again, and very sympathetic to your plight right now – I don’t think people necessarily get how much you’d love to be up and moving unless they’ve been through that. Movies are a very good thing!
Oh I am sooooo sorry your back is hurting…but I am thrilled to be your winner!!!! WOOOHOOOO!!!! It’s funny, since I have a box going out to you on Monday. I have been swamped here with some family stuff that we finally got good news on tonight, but your little blue bird plates are winging their way to you on Monday!!
I am so sorry you are still having the back pain, I hope you get it back in shape soon…Glad you enjoyed your trip with Sugarwings along though….Keep making memories..
hugs
Brenda
Great finds! I also fell in love with the tags! It’s fun to try new stuff out of our norm huh? Very Pretty
Hope your back gets to feeling better! Looks like you found some cute stuff! Come on over and be queen for a day with me! xo Andrea
Karla,
Been there myself and you are right don’t sit or lay too long. One thing that helps me, too is to get a massage. We have a massage therapist that comes into the clinic every pay day. I get a 15 minute chair massage. This keeps the surrounding muscles relaxed around my pain. Ibuprofen and Skelaxin are the best, too.
Hope you are up and around real soon. Hang in there, baby!
Sandy
Poor you…. it is no fun being in pain and unable to function normally. I hope your back relief remedy relieves the symptoms ASAP.
Great find with the chair cushions. I agree with Beth, worth the price just for the fabric. They look great on your porch too.
Hope you feel better soon.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
What a beautiful blog…Just blog hopping tonight and enjoyed reading your blog…I am posting on our Disney trip so hope you will stop by. Also, the June giveaway starts today…all comments left in June will be in the drawing for the “June Card Box”! You will have to go down a few posts to read about the monthly giveaway.
I’ve been out of the blogging loop for a bit but I hope your back is feeling better soon! Glad you had a nice trip, I love the pics of the brick house. We always visit our old homes too. 🙂
The cushions are beautiful, Karla. That was definitely a great purchase. And I do like what you did with your new punchbowl. Hope your back feels better soon!
Hope you are feeling better, soon! I cannot imagine you having to be still, you are such a go getter! Hope you are up and about, creating, planting, and chasing that adorable grandbaby, soon!
Oh, and I ADORE your new cushion covers! What a score!
The punch bowl is gorgeous! A few years ago I bought a cracked base of a cake stand in milk glass and it holds soaps. I love being able to repurpose beautiful glass.
Oh yes those tags are splendid!! I’ve been on a tag kick for a very long time now – don’t think I’ll ever tire of them. Looking forward to seeing your book when you get it done. Sure hope your back feels better soon. {i’ve got arthritis up and down my spine and your recipe for back pain is pretty much the same as mine … I’m sorry your in pain; I know how frustrating it can be.}
Well I guess I have to send you one or two of my vibes too, to relief the back pain. My great grand father had the ability to ‘touch’ against pain and I might have inherited this and send it over to you together with my comments, ok? It is good that you can make such lovely tags while suffering, looking at those results must ease the pain! Love love love the new ‘old’ cushions. And I love that crowned baby doll too. Don’t forget to catch the vibes! Take care!
I hope your back is better by now. How did you hurt it? Too bad it happened while you were on vacation. I so appreciate the pictures you posted of mom’s house. What a wonderful house it was; it holds happy memories for us and and I hope it is making happy memories for the family that lives there now.
Enjoyed seeing your tags and the stuff you recently purchased, the statue and the pretty punch bowl. The cushions really look good with your wicker furniture. Sorry about your back, I know how awful it can be. If we could just convince our bodies we are “young” at heart, right. Try to rest so you can get back to your fun.
Karla,
I love your pretty tags, punch bowl and statue!! So sad to hear that you are having back pain….but happy to hear that you believe in physical therapy. Thats my real job!!!! I hope the exercises, heat, ice and meds get you well soon!
Dear Karla, I am so sorry to hear about
your back pain and I pray that you will be
better very soon. Please take extra good
care of yourself.
I love your tags and the statue, and all of
your pretties are so lovely.
Be Well…
Hugs,
Janis
I especially love the colors on the tag in your second picture. Hope you are following your own recipe. Ellie
Karla, i am sorry to hear that you have hurt you back…that is the worst pain…mine bothers me a lot after my work weekend sometimes…and there is always the added bonus of sciatica if i have had to do a lot of heavy lifting…love your new tags…they are lovely…take care of yourself, and i hope you are feeling better soon!!!
With having a back problem, I’m amazed you still managed to put up this lovely post full of your discoveries and finds. but i guess you really do your regimen always and I’m glad it helps lessen the problem.
Congratulations to the winner
Mizpah
Li
First off I love your blog. I am amazed how so many of you can be so creative with your blogs. I think I can be creative with mine but dont know how to put all these pics up.
Your tags and painting are beautiful. I almost want to make some tags.I paint roses so I should just focus on one thing. My blog is http://www.chicroses-chicroses@blogspot.com
Hope your back gets better. My hubby goes through this back stuff all the time. It is awful. He swears by the chiropractor. Best wishes Sally
I could so live in your house. It’s beautiful. I love eveything I see. I especially enjoyed you palamino pony painting today!
Blessings,
Christine
Sorry you hurt your back Karla… I hope you feel better soon. I love those cushions! they are awesome!
counting the days til the 12th ;))
xoxo heather
Karla, Your tags look amazing!!! I just love looking at your art work…I feel really bad about your back…I’ve had back problems and it truly is the worst…
I hope you get better soon…Try to take it easy…
Stephenie
I am going to have to give this to my hubby…he hurt his back about 7 years ago and can do something very innocent and throw it out…hopefully can get it fixed next year but oh my,the way it lays him out. I’ll print this and keep it!
And your books are so very lovely…
Karla, the “back” story is unfolding (“back-wards”) for me. I hope by now it is feeling much better. After enduring PT for the past four months (and another to go), I know what it’s like not to feel great. So hope that’s done by now!
The symptoms of back pain include persistent ache or stiffness along the spine, chronic middle or lower backache especially after standing or sitting for long periods and difficulty in standing straight without suffering from severe muscle spasms in the lower back. People with back pain also experience a sharp, localized pain in the neck and upper or lower back on lifting heavy weights or performing a strenuous activity.