Karla Nathan – Page 118 – Karla's Cottage

A sea shell “Farewell Fairy” at Coronado Beach

By Karla Nathan / March 9, 2016

For the last few years, every time I go to a beach, I leave behind fairies made from the shells I find while walking the shores there.

I've been told that Coronado Beach can be shell heaven or be totally bare. And I caught it on one so-so day then a few days of bareness. So I was lucky to have found enough to create this little sprite, my beach treasure hunt didn't yield many shells. Lots of sand dollars though. My husband was a champion sand dollar finder, he even found living ones that we couldn't pick up. They were everywhere he looked.

I never break or alter a shell for my fairies, so I was happy to have him find this 3/4 sand dollar that made a pretty skirt with the ruffled conch shell topper.

The shore was a bit rocky, lucky for me, one was just right for the fairy's head, because I couldn't find a shell that worked anywhere.

There might have been a lack of shells, but the sand itself more than made up for it. There were GOLD FLAKES OF GLITTER throughout on my first day there!!!!!!!!!!

Real GLITTER!!!!!!!!!!!

Apparently, the waves are filled with Mica flakes that wash up on the shore. When the surf is light, they are big, fat, flakes of gold glitter. On rougher days, the mica is pulverised into a shimmer of stardust. Every day, the sand along the water is different, but it is always sparkling.

I was in love.

I just wish the sparkles had photographed better. The glitter (and that is what real glitter is made of, MICA flakes) was one of the most unexpected treats I've ever come across on a vacation.

Well, beaches each have their own personality and specialness, like the quartz crystal on Siesta Key that keeps cool to the touch no matter how hot the sun is. And the heart shaped pieces of coral that wash up on Kaanapali in Maui. Or the shark's teeth fossils all over Venice Beach.

Why oh why do I live in the smack dab, middle of the USA, as far from any beach as you can get?

Of course, I really can't complain. We have made it to the ocean quite a bit in the last few years for Kansans.

Which is why I make all these sea shell fairies to leave behind, I want to show my love of the shore, and my gratitude for the opportunity to be there.

I treasure each moment I get to be by the water. And thank my lucky stars that I had a chance to be there.

Every day should be considered a gift, but a day by the beach is a true treasure.

Goodbye, Downton Abbey- sob, sob, boo hoo, argh!

Books, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 6, 2016

Tonight is the LAST night for Downton Abbey. I find that painful to say. The show was in its 3rd season when I discovered it, so I was late to join, but fixed that quickly with a little Netflix bingeing and was soon enamoured of it all.

The show touched many of us, not just for the glorious sets and costumes, but the stories too. Last week, while I was in Coronado Island, I attended my THIRD Downton Abbey art retreat. It was a popular theme, wasn't it?

For this event, we stayed at a 1930s era mansion and I took advantage of the lovely interiors to get some photos of my Farewell to Downton art journal. Some of the pages I'd made there were for the swap, some for my personal book. Beth and I spread supplies out on a dining room table, and I worked on the book for a big chunk of the weekend.

Most mornings, I was at my work area before anyone else even came down for breakfast.

The theme has so many opportunities to explore, I never got bored with it. And want to do more, too.

Also, having a big space to spread out, and leave our things for 5 days was hard to resist. There were other projects for the retreat classes (photos soon), but our time there was pretty laid back, we were free to work on our own projects, explore the house, beach, or the nearby town, and hang out with new friends.

But if you know anything about me, you'd guess that I was constantly drawn to my pile of goodies and bottle of glue.

So, here is a big stack of pages to show you, as examples for your own books if you are joining the swap.

I've mentioned that the book should be a "working journal". Artists will be completing some pages, and leaving some for the new owner to work on. Like this page lying on the desk, it is a piece of stationery with plenty of room for the person who gets the journal it goes into to use for photos, doodles, notes, anything she'd like.

And the page on the easel? It is an example of a decorated page with a pocket that can be filled with whatever momentos the artist would like.

My plan was to do half and half of completed artwork, like the collage on the left, and pretty pages that could be used by the next artist, like the one on the right. That one is old ledger paper with a pocket that has a tag tucked into it.

Hopefully the pages where we leave space for further work, will be lovely as is, while being an inspiration for the artist to fill and finish.

These pages all leave workspace. The one on the left is a decorated pocket page, the middle is a collage of pretty papers to use as a background, and the front section is stationary paper with a die cut rose and lace trim.

Notice that the pages I have done have trim or lace or flowers on different edges? It makes for a more interesting finished book if there are tidbits peeking out from all sides.

The one in front is for my own book, it is the finished version of the coloring page that comes with the journals. And the buttons? That is a necklace! From one of our workshops.

This page is pretty simple, old rose wallpaper, a cut out lady from a vintage magazine who has been glitzed up with some rhinestones, lace, millinery, and velvet ribbon, then some tatting trim at the edges of the paper.

A layout doesn't need to be elaborate to be eye catching.

And the Downton theme can mean so many things. I went with a lot of the fashion of the era.

Here are ladies from an old fashion magazine layered over netting and a map of the British Isles, then blinged up.

Here are two more pocket pages,both have two pockets to fill up.

You are welcome to be more direct in your own interpretation of the show. I plan on having more examples of the themes to show later on.

If you are going to miss this show as much as I will, maybe you'd like to join the swap? Creating pages will give us something to fill the hole left by this beautiful program.

And the book itself can be a treasured memento to look through and reminisce.

I have been getting some questions about the swap details, and hope that these pictures help answer them. If you have any, please feel free to contact me at:

karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

And here is a communication I had with a swapper, with her statements answered in red:

1) We get 6- 81/2 x 11 pages of card stock. yes

2) We fold them in half which will make our pages in the book… yes

3) We are to decorate each side of the pages not leaving any blank.yes

4) We are to add laces, trim or ribbons to the edges of the pages. please do, it makes a pretty book with that peeking out the sides

5) Are all the pages to be the same, but are only getting one back as the others will go to other swapper's. you DO NOT have to do all the pages the same, decorate them as you'd like, they go to 5 different people plus yourself.

6) Can we tea dye the pages? Or do they have to stay white? the artistic touches and color palette are up to you

7) We can add envelopes, lined paper , and so one. Are we to glue them to the page or send them in separate? again, up to your own design choices

8) Are all five of my pages going to one person or will they be divided between five other people? you get five different artists work back and your work goes to five different artists

9) How do you want the $38.00. In cash , a check, paypal. What ever works for you, but please do not send it til you send your pages

10) When you say we can purchase a blank journal. It is the cover and the six blank pages along with your three. If you could give me info on that.. The blank journal will be a complete cover, same as the swap books, with 9 interior pages ready for you to embellish as you'd like.

I missed Kansas, but I did love Cali!

Travel

By Karla Nathan / March 5, 2016

Everything about our trip was just wonderful. Well, Sugarwings did come down with a fever and we missed the San Diego zoo, but she told me that she'd rather be sick in the hotel by the ocean with the door open than at home in bed, and seemed to be pretty happy even with a fever.

And the gas company repairman told us that the leak at the mansion where I was at for the art retreat could have blown up at any time, he said it was a "when" not an "if" for the explosion.

But, hey, none of us exploded, and I even figured out that we could finish the macaron cooking lesson with the toaster oven since the 100 year old gas stove was not repairable and was ready to blow.

Oh, and when I got home, my computer started dying off… but I did a restore on it and hope all is good. I might take it to visit a Geek just in case.

In the meantime, I'm just popping in for a quick hello, if there are no new posts coming up in the next few days, you'll know that my visit to see the Geeks was not a simple hello, and the computer is staying there a bit.

Hopefully, though, I'll have some of my photos from the trip edited and be posting soon. It really, really, was a good time. When you laugh so hard that you have an asthma attack, that is a sign that the vacation is a blast, huh?

(and thankfully not the kind of blast that a major gas leak makes)

Around the cottage in February

cottage, dogs

By Karla Nathan / March 2, 2016

Our garage has needed repainting for a long time. Especially since we rebuilt the doorway for the boat to fit into it.

Years ago, I used to paint furniture with an air compressor and spray gun, often leaning the pieces against the garage while I worked. Mostly I used whites, but I used quite a variety of shades from snowy to cream to ivory. So, there were faint, layered outlines of chairs and headboards all along the side of the building.

The trim had been pretty messed up too. It is good to have a carpenter for a son, our boy rebuilt the wrecked trim and gave the building and the shed next to it a fresh coat of white paint.

Now, our whole yard looks revitalized. I've always said that paint is magic, and this sure proves it. What a difference.

Haircolor can be magic too. I was still feeling the effects of a long, grey winter (funny how the lack of snow was more depressing than getting snowed in and feeling trapped, huh?) and decided to get a pick me up of a shot of blonde.

I felt much better after!

In other Around The Cottage news, Honey has been busy digging. She finds moles and starts a collection on the porch where she can keep an eye on them. A few times a week, I go out and gather up her latest critters and throw them in the trash.

Between the 4 cats proving their love to me by bringing decimated creatures to the front door, and Honey's skill in hunting moles, I'm used to picking up and disposing of carcusses.

This latest catch really surprised me, though. A snake?

In February?

Aren't reptiles hard to come by in Kansas in the winter? She managed to find one. I guess she dug it up from somewhere.

She also seemed to have found a carpet cutter. There was not razor blade in it, thank heavens. And who knows where she got it. And is it now part of her snake hunting arsenal? She has put it in her pile of favorite things. Usually there are a few insides of toys and cushions, along with her sticks and bones, and dead things. And always in this spot where she can proudly watch over them.

Our yard is mostly holes now, Honey is busy looking for more items to add to her collection.

We'd heard that if you bury a balloon in a hole a dog has dug, they will dig it up, pop it, and frighten themselves so much, they will never dig again.

Sugarwings and my husband thought they'd give this a try and filled a few of the many pits in our yard with colorful balloons.

We didn't consider that Goldens are bred to retrieve birds and have gentle mouths. Honey found all the balloons, retrieved them, and was thrilled to get new toys to carry around and play with. Not a single one popped and scared her. She was just excited to find so many bright and fun things to egg her on into digging to look for more.

So, now Honey has her habit of searching for hidden treasure underground reinforced, not cured. We need to find her a new skill…

Sugarwings is learning a new skill, she has signed up for circus classes. Here she is doing silks. Next up, after our trip to Cali? Trapeze!

I'll be back from California soon, but if you'd like to sign up for the Farewell to Downton swap, you don't have to wait for my return. Here is the info.

Coffee Filter flower buds

flowers

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.

Author name: Karla Nathan