Author name: Karla Nathan

Now that my computer is back, she is still not quite feeling right.  She is functional and in good working order, she's just feeling confused and a bit lost. So many files are hidden away somewhere deep, and we can't seem to coax them out.

Like the last 6 months of our financial records.  And ALL of my Paper Cowgirls getaway pictures. Many of my files are all dumped into one big, lump, not broken down into files like they were before. I've spent about 6 hours just today trying to get organized.

Its all been frustrating, and I am sure you are sick of hearing about it. Sorry. But you know, a computer really does become more than just an appliance in the home. It contains so much, that when things go wrong, its traumatic!

But, I'll stop whining and complaining. I think I'm pretty lucky that my stuff is still on it, just scrambled into new and unusual places.  I'll try to think of it as a treasure hunt as I find little tid bits of my life hidden away here and there.

At Paper Cowgirls (which I am still hunting for pictures of) I had this wonderful drink at the Polka Dot Prom and have made it every day since I've been home.  Its club soda with lemon, a sprig of mint, and fresh strawberries. I've got a giant patch of mint growing right outside of my studio and its good to have a delicious use for it.

Cindy had made this drink for us in Texas, and I was so over heated and tired, that I just couldn't stop pounding them down. This concoction is so simple and refreshing!

I made another version of it for company too- with fruit tea instead of soda.

We were going to have the boys over for Father's Day and the party blossomed to 23 people.  And it was such a pretty day, we all sat outside in the courtyard.  This little dumpling is so fun to watch eat.  I've never seen a baby who just eats 'real' food like she does.  Her parents have been feeding her what they eat themselves for months now, and she is happy with it all.  The other day, I saw her chomping on a radish.  At 7 mths old?

She likes peppers, and cucumbers, and anything else that is handed to her.  She is not picky and doesn't even eat baby food, or has anything chopped up for her.  I've learned a lot from watching these two parent her.  Most of what we think we have to do with our little ones is pure marketing from big companies.  A baby doesn't really need all the equipment and specialty items that we think we have to buy for them. 

Before everyone came over to the dinner party, I foofed up this umbrella. I'd painted it years ago, and the paint faded. So I took a sharpie and outlined the flowers and leaves to make them stand out again. This umbrella used to be a dark, dark green, but I've had it 15 years and bought it used at a garage sale. Its faded out to a nice, soft no-color shade and  is holding up fine.  Newer ones that I bought aren't made as sturdy and have broken in some of our  harsh Kansas winds.

 Of course, if I were they type to remember to put them away for the winter, that could help.

The pink umbrella in the previous photo is from an estate sale this summer ($20), I hope it holds up. Its such a cheerful burst of color in the center of my courtyard.

I hope your Father's Day was a good one too!

This was pre-posted while I am visiting the Guncles in Florida.  I'll be answering emails and if you sign up for the Mini Dress form tutorials, I will send you the password.  I'm sorry I won't be able to answer all comments, though, and all orders from the Boutique will be sent out on Wed. the 29th.

Old Blue is actually my husband's truck, but it spends more time at my son's house than at home.  He's had some major gardening projects this year and Blue has been hanging out with him since spring, and always seems to be full of dirt, or mulch, or some other fun pile for the kids to play with. Kind of like a sand box on wheels.

When we pull into their drive way, we usually see kids climbing all over Blue, like he is some sort of jungle gym.  It will break their hearts when we finally pick up that pick up and bring it home.

Now, the truck is being used to haul stuff to Sugarwing's Daddy's new business!  "Holding Space" is a massage therapy, energy work, and healing center.

I've been helping them get it ready, the place was not so nice to start with.  He has been cleaning and patching and soundproofing for weeks.   We've just started painting, you can see the two rooms behind him, they are the ones that are done.  The white walls will soon be looking like a fiery sunset.

Here is a close up of the massage room wall.  We painted  the base deep blue (I am in LOVE with Behr's new paint and prime together.  It covers in one coat, even with deep colors!!!!!!), and after the blue, I glazed it in darker blue, raspberry, purple and red.

Over all of the glazes, I flecked white from my brush, and while it was wet, swirled some of it with a rag. The room is going to be kept dark, and restful. We thought this would be a calming finish for the walls in there.

This room is the entrance, where they will have some small tables and chairs.  We painted it sand colored, and glazed over it in all metallics.  Bronze, pewter, gold, and copper.  I think it makes a dramatic entrance for the guests, don't you?

I used to do faux finishes and murals for a living, and travelled around quite a bit doing walls for hotels, day care centers, and what felt like billions of other places.  I love to see what a rag and some color can turn a plain room into, but honestly don't miss the hard work. 

It was fun to hang out with my boy and spiff up his new workspace, but I am glad that I no longer have to haul ladders, buckets and all the other stuff around like I used to. Painting itself is fun. Its the prep, set up and clean up that is so awful. 

And it tends to make me achy. But, painting at a healing center is ideal! After I climbed down from the ladder for the last time, with my shoulders tight and my arm in pain, my son worked on it for about an hour and I felt better than before I started. That kid can even take the arthritis from my right  thumb.

I have a feeling that his new space will be a success.  He has some amazing skills.

They have a nice, big space, with high ceilings and a sky light.  The far wall butts up to a restaurant kitchen, and the room was loud before. So my son hung rolls of old carpet over it, and covered that with bamboo. It deadened the sound, but is not done yet, he'll be doing a clay/plaster treatment over the top of that too.  All very green and cheap.

If you are local and want to attend a workshop on how it is done, please let me know.

And if your thumb hurts, come to see Adam!

This was pre-posted while I am visiting the Guncles in Florida.  I'll be answering emails and if you sign up for the Mini Dress form tutorials, I will send you the password.  I'm sorry I won't be able to answer all comments, though, and all orders from the Boutique will be sent out on Wed. the 29th.