See why I am glad to be home? I missed my Sugarwings. She had a sleepover last night and we played tea party with her dolls and then this morning she let me semi-French braid her hair. 
I think her hair grew while I was gone.
After the fairy grand baby left to go home, I listed a few things on etsy, wrapped packages, and got some things ready to mail.
These are the gifts that I am sending out to the 8 winners of the drawing from the pool of card makers.
Sandy, Melissa, and Sherry– I still need your addresses. Jen, Lili, Alice, Irma, and Robin should be expecting something in the mail soon, theirs is on its way.
Thanks again to everyone for their help! And here is a note from my great Aunt Caroline’s niece, Caroline Beth, who hosted the 100th birthday party:
Our Aunt Caroline had the BEST birthday!
Most of the praise goes to all of you who donated your time and effort to show so much love and affection for a lady you’ve never even met. What a heartfelt effort!
Thanks to Karla and her sisters who were "everything" to her on her special day. She’ll talk about this forever and we’ll be delighted to listen.
All of us who were lucky enough to spend the day with Caroline were amazed at her vitality and glowing disposition. You could watch as she gained even more positive energy from her well-wishers. The cards sent a huge burst of appreciation for a life well lived and a lady well loved.
We can’t thank you enough for the blessings, thoughtfulness, and amazing beauty of your creations.
God bless you all.
Carolyn Beth ( another of Caroline’s nieces)
Caroline’s birthday wasn’t the only one we celebrated while in Florida on our Sister Trip.
We got to spend time with my brother-in-law, Randy the Birthday Boy Nathan, who lives in a house filled with antiques, laughter, and fun plus a magical garden full of fairies.
Around every corner there is a surprise in this yard.
Its full of whimsical elements and beautiful blooms. 
Not one inch of space goes to waste here. To make it seem larger, there are winding paths that keep you guessing about what is around the corner, and a mirror is hung on the bright red garden gate (I want to try that trick!).
This old iron railing was picked up at a garage sale, and re-purposed to become trellises.
It seemed like everywhere I looked, there was a smiling face looking back at me!
More garage sale finds brighten up this corner. The shiny thing hanging in the foreground is a chandelier found in the trash and taken apart to add some sparkle to the garden, since sparkly things attract fairies.
See, I told you so!
And the fairies have shelter on rainy days, here in this vase turned on its side and tucked under the foliage.
Randy and Kevin’s garden is a vacation in itself! I could spend all week just exploring all the nooks and crannies there.
My sisses and I spent a day crafting with Randy, (that explains the blue, glitter encrusted fingers). Then we spread lady bugs around the garden to eat pests, this lush landscape is not only beautiful, it is chemical free! 
Our craft day consisted of making fairy pages for each other. This is what I did for Sissy. She and I both love the smell of Birthday Cake scented candles sold at Kohl’s and have had some serious bonding time while sipping wine and burning a cake candle, so the background of her fairy page is of sprinkled frosting.
Bobbie Sue is deep into genealogy, so the fairy page for her is made from photos of my great grandfather and his brothers glued to a copy of some hand written family history.
And after seeing Randy’s back yard, you’ll understand why I made a fairy gardener on "I love you" paper for him.
My little friend and fellow fairy lover, Adeline Grace, is turning 7 this week, so when I saw a poem in an old book, titled "Adeline" I cut it out and made a faery birthday card for her with the poem glued inside.
The best vacations are ones where I get to make things, so I loved my crafting day, and also my chances to play in the sand and make a "Twinkle".
Ooops, I almost forgot to announce the winner of June’s Garage Sailing Giveaway Prize Pack-
it goes to:
Thanks to everyone who left a comment and entered the drawing. Remember, all the July comments go toward a prize too!
Love the garden! Very fun and full of surprises. The altered art pages are quite wonderful. I would love to try my hand at that sometime.
What a wonderful garden!!!
I love the fairy cards, too!
oops, hit post too soon 🙂 Go over and check out my blog an award for you 🙂
I have to say all the creations are fabulous but my favorite is the sand Twinkle! I am so glad your aunt had a wonderful celebration. I LOVE that red gate with the mirror. I thought the gate had a hole cut in it until I read it was a mirror. I am so stealing this idea!
Hi Karla, I’ve missed you and am glad to see you back. Sounds like you had a wonderful time. I hope I’m as gracious and spry as Miss Caroline, if I ever live that long!
Karla, It also looks like Sugar Wings is glad to see you again too. The garden pictures are absolutely wonderful. It is such a fun and magical garden. It was so nice you got to have fun with your family.
Karen
I think you are right Karla, Sugarwings hair must have grown while you were away. Unlike ladies like us, who gain a little every week, if we keep eating that chocolate, those little ladies (and gentlemen too of course) tend to grow in sprints or spurts, I don’t know which word to use. This is my way to tell you that I think that Sugarwings has made a little spurt again while you were away. The baby is almost vanished I would say and a beautiful girl is ‘unfolding’.
I like that garden. This is what I have in mind with my garden too! When I see cheap angels I buy them. I like it too when there is a surprise behind every corner. I like the gardenmirror too. My sister in law has a mirror with little shutters in her garden, so it seams you are really looking through a window. At this moment I’m painting a cupboard to put in the garden to hide an ugly wall and to put some left over service in…
Is there a limit to comments??? Of course I like all creativity, the Adeline card, your sisters card of the ancestors too and of course the sand Twinkle, You should try papier maché some time. Have a nice and productive day!
Well, pick my name and I’ll kiss your toes, my sweet chickee!! Great getaway in that “secret garden”!! Can’t you go anywhere without glittering yourself, my sweets?!?!?! *Laughing*………..
Smoochies,
Connie
What a beautiful garden, it would be a vacation just to sit there and enjoy the surroundings. Looks like your trip was fun! And Sugarwings is adorable!!
Congratulations to all of the winners.
Karla, you make everything magical. We are blessed that you share your magic with us. I could use a sprinkling of fairy dust.
Hello! I am so happy to have found your blog! The beauty makes me smile!
*hugs*
What a glorious garden! I reminds me of the “Secret Garden” in the Frances Hodgson Burnett story (someday Sugarwings will enjoy that one!). I can’t resist a stone angel or bunny. That is a haven that I would like to step into now and never leave.
What a beautiful time you had! Thanks for sharing the lovely home photos, the crafts, and the letter from your cousin. So glad to hear Aunt Caroline had a wonderful day.
Hugs, Lisa
I do love this garden. We, too, try to put surprises in every corner of the landscsape. Little gardens here and there–shade and sun; patio and vegetable. It keeps my interest up. I have broken flowerpots on thei sides to provide shade for the toads that live in our gardens.
Love yard sale finds!!!!
Sounds like an amazing time! Please come visit my blog…I have something for you 🙂
Margo
Lovely garden!!! Beautiful pictures. The cards are beautiful too. Love the fairies!
Karen at Ciderantiques
Your garden looks so relaxing, you have really done a super job. I would be sitting out there all the time with a good book and a cup of coffee if I lived there..lol. Have a nice evening!
Wow what a yard, that’s exactly what I want mine to look like! Only I have too much grass and not enough stuff 🙂 Better go sale-ing!
Sounds like a wonderful time! so glad your aunts party was such a success! The yard is soooo pretty! and the fairy cards are just awesome!
Sounds like tremendous fun! Loved those outdoor shots. And all the pretty things you all made!
Brenda
Hi Sister;
Thank you so much for your visit to Jacksonville – We so enjoyed your 2nd annual Sister trip! Thank everyone for us for the beautiful comments posted about our garden. It is where we feel most at home. We miss you all already and love you very much! Thanks for making everyday magical for all of us everyday of your life!~ You are a very special person.
Randy
What a fun-filled post Karla. Those cards are so great. That garden is magical! Please, tell me about the blue eyed statue. It is haunting!
Wow!!! How nice and I love the pictures brings it all to life!
Gosh, that child is lovely! I only wish we lived near you, as I think Sugarwings and my little girl would love playing tea party together (Madame also loves playing tea party in the tub, as her “babies” float in the water, she pours the “tea” directly on them!)
Love the garden, too!
Yours, Wendy at ethelsmommy@yahoo.com
This sand dog looks just like my real life “lil sister” dog. It’s uncanny!!!! Stop by and see for yourself.
I am a Designer in the Seattle area, and so glad to see a site like this out in siber world! It is refreshing to see people who love people, and the beautiful things in life. ALL of the pictures are beautiful and a pleasure to look at!
Thats a nice garden and for other needs of your garden as fencing and gates you can contact at http://www.fencing-and-gates.co.uk you will get good stuff here.
Fairy wonderland, indeed! The colorful fixtures you have there actually made it look like one. That li’l house there with the mushrooms looks like a little fairy’s humble abode, haha! Oh, and those arts and crafts you’ve shown are really amazing, too.