The house seemed empty after all my campers packed up and left, and I dropped my husband off at the airport for his business trip. But luckily, I had plans with my regular crafting group, Shawn, Marilyn, Beth and Mary. They came over to liven up my empty house and we laughed and chatted while we each worked on our own projects.
Mary brought a giant box of book covers and offered them to us to use. I picked out a couple, not wanting to be greedy, but there really was a LOT of them and she kept telling us to take more, so I got a hefty stack to use. I was inspired to make something with them right then and there, so I used two of the covers, layered with French dictionary paper, a calling card, a vintage cameo brooch, a little bloom from one of my hats, and a photo (also from Mary).
The collage is $14, please email me if you are interested.
These book covers make an excellent back drop for a collage and I can't wait to make more. One book was Alice in Wonderland and I am daydreaming about making a whole art journal with Alice themed pictures inside that cover.
The collage was a quickie piece of work, the rest of the afternoon, I put together crowns. (available in the
Boutique at Karla's Cottage) Now, don't ask me why, it isn't on my list of things I am behind on, and that I desperately NEED to get done.
(lets not talk about the pile of receipts on my desk, the listings I need to do for Etsy, or just the packages of stuff to make up for Silver Bella!)
This time last year, I was making crowns too. Back then, the article that
Carol and I did together for Romantic Country was just coming out on the stands. She and I set up a garden party in my back field to photograph and she made some crown votive holders and I had written up a how-to for the story.
Carol is a sweetie and didn't mind me making some of my own up. Our styles are very different, plus why would you do a tutorial and not expect people to make some themselves? She meant for the directions to be shared. Any way, I still had some of the wire cut and painted from last year's crown making marathon, so I thought I'd whip a few out while avoiding my real work that needed to be done.
And I guess Romantic Country had been on my mind lately. I had mentioned in a posting last winter that I was scheduled to write an article about
Jenn's home. Well, it didn't happen. Seems like in the magazine business that sort of thing happens a lot. Things get planned, plans get changed.
The article that Diane Guthrie and I did about my bedroom still hasn't been published. I think I'd told you that it was on its way too. Somerset Life has said they were using some of my wallpaper journals and that hasn't shown up yet either. Jo Packham talked to me about shooting my studio for Where Women Create, had to reschedule, but then it never got shot. Lets, see, what else? Hmm, seems like I've had a string of near misses lately.
Maybe I shouldn't talk about upcoming stories until I actually see them in print?
You might have noticed that I don't really think things out or plan what I write in these posts, I just kind of ramble on about what is going on in my life or is on the tip of my tongue at the moment. I guess I should be more careful about announcing things, because after years of doing magazine articles here and there, I know how the business fluctuates and changes. Plus, for me, its just a hobby, not a job, so some years I won't have a single story printed, other years I might have 4 or 5. I don't really pursue it much, I just kind of do what comes along.
Sometimes I wonder what I could have accomplished with my life if I'd actually tried…Instead of just doing what comes along or feels like fun that day? If I had gone after a career or stuck with one thing????
But on the other hand, I know how durn lucky I am to have the odd ball, do what I want-when I want,
no career-career that I am plopped into right now.
But I still wonder.
Karla, you are so cute…i like you just the way you are…those crowns are adorable…i love the simplicity of them…how nice is Mary…she sounds very generous…i love what you made with your book cover!!!
Hi karla.. loved the crowns and just went back through your last few posts. Youre lucky that so much of your family can come and camp in your yard! I’ve always said that all my siblings should come camp in my yard.. but no one has ever taken me up on it! looks like you had a great time! I’m with you, save the clean up for when its over!
have a good night!
vivian
Hi Karla,
The crowns are adorable. Love them (especially on that sweet little birdie). Good idea with the book covers. 🙂
Kitty
It was the perfect craft day–thanks so much!! Love the crowns and the models wearing them:) And your book covers turned out so great–I can’t wait to do something with mine!
“Career” sounds a lot better than it actually plays out. You’ve got a long resume of accomplishments, and there’s no limit to what you can so in the future.
Well you do lots karla , you bring a magical touch to everything you do . You inspire others to untap their creative side , you look at things in a different way. You are a teacher Karla , and you are awesome. I love reading your blog and it is one of the things i look forward to in my day. Donna xo
hello Karla…what great ideas with the book covers and the crowns….there’s always just one more craft idea to liven up the day :)….well done!
I wonder the same thing {very often mind you!} about my life…but I agree…the go wherever do whatever life style does have its perks…but higher pay would be nice…lol!
I always adore your creations and creative ideas Karla…
TypePad HTML EmailYou are always a supportive friend, beth, thanks.
Boy, Karla, I wonder the very same things. Where would I be if I had stayed with one thing long enough. But then I wouldn’t have spent as much time with my kids. That they are making their way in the world is a pretty big success for me.
~Marilee
Karla, I think success is being happy and you are.
~elaine~
Well I think you have a glamorous carreer Karla. Being one of the most popular bloggers, being a bonne vivante, enjoying your granddaughter as a professional babysitter and recording her life as well as inspiring other peoples! Need I go on?
Daydreaming is just part of your routine and that is good! What would happen if I should focus…..
you do amazing things with your life! I am very glad you have time to do this wonderful blog…….It is my escape and my inspiration…..I USED to be a crafty person…then life seemed to get in the way…..and I haven’t made time for it in a LONG time…..but after reading your blog…I want to do it again…..thanks again……you are great! deb
Sometimes I wonder about the career thing too. But it looks like I am about to find out what is going to happen!! If I’ve got it in me or not:) Love the crowns. Obviously I bought 2!!
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Thanks, Andrea! And good luck with the new career.
TypePad HTML EmailAw, LiLi, you always say the nicest things. Thanks, buddy.
TypePad HTML EmailTrue for me too. The family has always come first, and now it is my fairy grandbaby that I give my hours too. Much better than a career, no doubt!
I just love how you write. What you write. And what you make. So inspiring to me.
I love the little crowns Karla!!
I ditto Donna and all the others, Karla. Adding glitter, magic, beauty and inspiration to the world – in your own way you definitely make the world a better place!
Karla, You are lucky to live your life with all your great family and friends and you just have too much fun. We in blogland are lucky to share in the antics of Karla and your creative way of doing things. Don’t ever change, just keep on keeping on ,just the way you have been doing.We all love you and sugarwings and look forward to the next adventure.
Jean in virginia
I, for one, think you are doing exactly what you should be doing and that you are accomplishing more than you might realize. You see, YOU inspire me every time I get the chance to stop by and read along. Your blog is wonderful. AND let me say I love your book cover. I too collect them and play with them as little canvases … yours is lovely. Im so jealous that you got a whole stack of them. For me it seems they are a rare find. You lucky, lucky girl!
I would love to find out how to get magazine people even interested in “me”! We have so many people stop by the shop and say it should be in a magazine, but how do you do that???
TypePad HTML EmailI got into magazines by volunteering in design showcase homes. I met some people that way. Volunteer work won’t get you rich, but it gets you connections!
Craft day was fun Karla you are always such a great host. Looking forward to tuesday. 🙂
Gotta get that magazine for the crown tutorial. I think the best of all worlds is just doing what we love to do, with or without recognition! uffda_687877@yahoo.com