Karla Nathan – Page 216 – Karla's Cottage

How lucky!!

By Karla Nathan / July 23, 2010

What a week! Its hard to get back to reality today after such a pampering time in California. First at Kim's over the top, wonderful event, then a few days with my husband at Rancho Las Palmas.

By the way, if you have heard that Kim throws the best art events and pays attention to every little tiny, pretty detail of the weekend, its true. No exaggerating. She's got some SKILLS. Mad skills.

Plus, she's fun.

The hotel she chose for the art-a-thon couldn't have been more perfect. And the teachers? I learned something from each class. I'll have photos of the classes later on.

I grinned so much that my face hurt. And I tend to ruin a lot of people's photos by closing my eyes. Jessi says its because I smile too big. But there was no stopping that. So, there were LOTS of times we had to take and retake group shots because I had my eyes closed. Me, every time, no one else.

But I had a lot to smile about!

Not only did I hang with old blog friends, get to meet new friends, and learn lots of good tricks from the generous teachers, I was on a winning streak!

I won 2 drawings during the event itself, plus got a giftie for answering one of Julie's questions during a game. Then, while at our Long Beach/Orange bus tour and shopping extravaganza, I won two door prizes, including this glam apron. Perfect for Silverbella, huh???

Then, I found out that I am a winner in the Where Blogger's Create party thrown by Karen Valentine. Everyone has been telling me to go and buy lottery tickets while I was on a hot streak of good luck.

Jo Packham chose three winners from the studio show and tell to be featured in her magazine. I was wowed by Laughing with Angels and am so glad that she won, she had my vote. If there had been voting. Her place is dreamy. And there is non stop vintage goodness at Old Grey Mare. I'm honored to be in their company.

Yep, I'm pretty lucky. Not just for the prizes, those are just the icing on the cake. And I do love cake.

I'm pretty lucky to have a handsome, funny, lovable husband who whisked me off to a romantic getaway.

He's not bad on a daily basis either.

The weather in California was perfect. Even in the desert, it was just as the cliches say, a "dry heat" and not as sweltering as it is here at home in the Midwest.

And everything is so pretty out there. This is a house we walked by while heading to the beach.

The food was great, and everything I ate was just as pretty as a picture.

The stores in the city of Orange had me wanting to move to CA. And while everyone was warning me that I wouldn't like the prices, honestly, I didn't think they were that bad.

At the Long Beach flea market, I found good deals on old hats. This one, covered in pale pink roses was only $10.

But my best deal of the day was a duffle jammed full of Ariel paraphenillia for only $20. Sugarwings is having a birthday soon, and this will be the theme for the party. Kim gave me handfuls of shells left over from the tablescapes, and I have plenty of other mermaid decor from my projects, prizes, and gifts.

My husband was fully prepared to have this Ariel duffle as his carry on too, but we were able to stuff it all into his golf bag.

I'll leave you with some photos of a few of the wonderful people that I got to play with. I wish I had photos of more of them. (Nice to meet you, Kathleen!!)

This is Joy, who co-hostessed a martini gathering for us.

Talented Kay Ellen and my buddy, Beth

Cynthia co-hostess of the cocktail bash, sassy Jessi, and baby doll Sherry

Generous Valerie (who I wish I had gotten to know up at Silverbella! I hope to spend time with her there this year)

The beauty queen, Andrea

Classy Charlene

Danielle and Cheryl, two of the nicest people you could ever meet.

Majia who regally held court in the lounge.

And I was so happy to meet Karin! She is every bit as nice and as funny as she is on her blog.

And these two aqua marine mermaid queens are Jenn and Christine

Okay, now, I'm off to play with my sweet puppy, that I missed while I was away.

Okay, now, I'm off to play with my sweet puppy, that I missed while I was away.

A silly way to spend a day

fairies, family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / July 21, 2010

Isn't this a gorgeous pendant? I liked it on this bust so much that I thought about keeping it there, but I took the listing photos anyway, and will add it to the Boutique.

Along with a few other trinkets.

Hmmm, odd picture? My son found these rocks out in Western Kansas, I'm not sure what they are, but they are unique. Some of them are large and have caves in them, others look like little peanuts. Or, to Sugarwings and I, they looked like people. So we drew faces on the peanutty little rocks with black markers.

Some of the little stones looked more like dogs than people.

Sugarwing's Daddy brought a pile of these rocks and left them heaped up by my garage last year. I don't know why. I figured he had some plan for them and just ignored them. But today my fairy grand baby and I sat down to look at them and realized just what a gold mine of fun they were.

It was her idea to add the glitter. A lot of glitter.

I tied ribbons to a stick to make a flag. We built our "castle" near a weed that was growing through the rocks so our people could have some shade.

Funny, that such a silly thing made such a fun morning for me. I hope it was for her too. And I'm glad that I didn't nag at my son to "do something with those durn rocks or get rid of them!" like I had been tempted to do a few times over the last year or so.

She and I might have some of the peanut people come and live in our mini fairy garden too.

I am in CA playing mermaid with my arty friends and spa-ing it up, so this was written before I left, and I will not be able to answer emails or ship purchases until I return.

Please do leave comments, though, I love reading them. And each is an entry for the July Giveaway, a pair of genuine pearl and sterling silver earrings.

Siren of the Seas gift packs

give away, Travel, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / July 19, 2010

Isn't this a sweet little mermaid? I was so happy to see these in a bunch of vintage stir sticks that I bought at a flea market. And then, I saw NEW ones sold at World Market just like these. They hang over the side of a cocktail glass for some added festive-ness.

These two green girls are tied to the packages of ephemera that I am donating as prizes for Kim's mermaid event in Manhattan Beach, CA.

(that's where I am right now, this is pre-posted before I went out of town)Doesn't the old print that I used as wrapping paper have a peaceful scene on it? Its not of the ocean, but I still think there could be a mermaid in that water.

As a Mid-Westerner, I'd like to think that mermaids don't just live in the sea. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there is one in the lake by our house.

When I was a kid, I was sure there was one in the swimming pool too.

I don't know when Kim will do the drawing for prizes, but I hope its early on in the weekend, so attendees can use some of these beachy themed supplies for the weekend's crafts.

I packed up old millinery flowers in oceany colors, and found pictures of boats in old books. I've added vintage wallpaper in blues and greens.

And I even found an old ad featuring a mermaid. But only one. The two packs differ slightly. I could have made copies, but I really prefer originals. Especially since this is a gift. I wanted to use the good stuff!

Most of it is loosely related to the theme of the weekend, but I tried. All of it is vintage goodies that I pulled from my stash. It was easy for me to find all this, because I sure had mermaids on the mind while getting ready for the trip!

"See you" when I get back. Please forgive me for not answering messages. But please do feel free to comment, to enter the giveaway, a pair of genuine pearl and sterling silver earrings.

Sirens of the Sea Swapping Sisters

celebrations, swaps, Travel, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / July 17, 2010

Swaps always sound like fun, but I always run out of time and rarely enter them. At Silver Bella, I usually feel left out because I didn't join in. So, for my trip to CA and Kim's siren of the seas adventure, I made sure to join up for one, and told my roomie, Beth the same thing. It can be sad and lonely on swap night to have no presents to trade with a friend!

When I saw that my buddy, Jessi was hosting a swap with decorated bottles, I knew I'd found the right one for me.

I made the mermaid from one of those china half dolls, and added a tail made of paper clay that I glittered and glued on after it dried.

Then, my buddy, Jenn was paired with me to swap bottles with and I knew I could make something extra foofed and she'd love it. She's even more foof-a-fied than I am, and that is a hard thing to be.

Isn't that chandelier drop a unique shape? Beth had some in her booth at the antique mall, so I bought a handful of them to make into charms. I glued a vintage bathing beauty picture to the back for this one.

The charm is hanging from a silk ribbon that I have tied to a message tucked into the bottle.

Part of the swap was to slip a recipe for a cocktail into the bottle, but I did something a little different. Have you seen Jenn? She is GORGEOUS. And I know that she is fond of champagne. So, I wrote this note for her and glued it to the back of an old add for champagne.

I've got the world's worst hand writing, I should have done the note on the computer- It says:

"Jenn- you are much too pretty to mix your own drinks! Bat those eyelashes and some handsome guy will bring you some bubbly!"

As a hostess gift for Miss Jessi, I made another bottle with a 1" Frozen Charlotte sporting a tail made from paper clay.

No recipe for cocktails in it, either. I filled it with pretty little shells, crystals, and pearls instead.

I want to make more of these girls!!

The first couple that I made were for the soap box challenge Lisa hosted. I'm big on being efficient when I can be, so I killed two birds with one stone by making the challenge into a gift for my pal, Kim for hosting the mermaid event.

Hopefully, the mermaids will travel well. I've got them all wrapped tightly in bubble wrap and tucked into lidded plastic containers in my suitcase. I packed the gift wrap separate so that I can pretty the packages up there after checking to make sure the presents arrived safely.

In all the trips I've taken, I've never had my luggage lost or damaged. But I have had it rifled through by inspectors, but no problems from that. So, I figured these will be okay in the checked bags instead of the carry ons.

I'll "see you" when I'm done gallivanting around the beach with the mermaids. Please forgive me if I can't answer emails, or comments till I get back. All purchases from the shop will be sent out after I return too.

But please do feel free to leave a comment, I enjoy them, and will be able to read them from my new Iphone toy, I just haven't figured out how to answer them from it yet… And each comment is entered into the drawing for the July Giveaway, these pearl earrings.

Frickets

celebrations, parties, show and tell, Travel, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / July 16, 2010

Its been Mermaid Madness around the studio getting ready for my BIG weekend in California.

I'll be in Manhattan Beach for a sea side art escape hostessed by Kim. Who, I've heard, is the world's best hostess. From spending time with her in the past and hearing her stories about preparing for her events, I believe it. She is dedicated and does it all with devotion. I know we are in for a good time.

And from looking at the class descriptions, I can tell that the projects will be just wonderful. I'm sure they come with lots of goodies, but I like to pack extras to give the finished products my own touch.

These two mermaids might end up on the journal or the crown… not sure which, but what project wouldn't be appropriate to add a sparkling little merperson to?

I've made these sprites with vintage cake topper ballerinas. I doubt if this would work with the reproduction ballerinas, the plastic they are made of is too hard and would crack if you tried to cut into it. The older ones are of a softer material and were easy, well not easy, but semi-easy, to cut with jewelry clippers.

I cut off their skirts and legs (remember the movie "Boxing Helena"?) then made a tail from paper clay, let it dry, glued it on and glittered it.

The silver one has a bit of a chunky butt going on, because I didn't trim enough skirt off. But I can't hold it against her, I do too. So, I added an accessory to draw the eye away from her extra wide hips. All those years of watching "What Not to Wear" have taught me a little something.

Besides supplies, and gifts for my swap hostess, (tomorrow's post) I wanted some extra little gifties to pass out here and there. So, I made a mermaid from a girl cut from a Victorian scrap book, and added a wallpaper tail.

Then, I glued her to this pink underwater wallpaper (how cool was that to find in my sample books!?) and made copies on card stock.

After cutting them all out, I embellished each with metallic inks, ribbons, ruffles, and trims.

Each one got a Mother of Pearl button and a little shell.

To the top of each, I tied a small vial filled with teeny shells, crystals, and pearls.

If you'd like to make your own mermaid, here is the original scrap art that I used. If I have done this right, you should be able to click on it to make it bigger. Then, print the larger one to cut out and use in your art. If you print it directly from the post as is, it won't have enough pixels to make it usable.

And here is the girl with her tail on the back ground if you'd like to print it this way to use. I hope I've done it right. If not, let me know and I'll try to redo it when I get back from my trip next week.

Another perk for the upcoming weekend, is the parties. Beyond the event itself, there are bonus parties thrown by some of the attendees. One is a cupcake gathering, that can't be bad.

So, I used a couple of my hand painted cup cake pictures and made up gift tags as thanks for the ladies who are treating us to the frosty goodies.

Another couple of ladies are hosting a welcoming cocktail party. I wanted a little thank you for them too, so made up these vintage test tubes filled with shells and baubles to use during the weekend. I topped them off with these plastic mermaids that hang on the side of a drink.

I think they are fitting for a cocktail party. By the way, I saw new ones like these at World Market, if you need some.

And last but not least, a room mate gift for Beth.

Did you just gasp with awe at its beauty? Or shriek with terror? Yes, its a gag gift, and about as tacky as anything could be.

Its an ucky story behind it. Sugarwings got herself a head full of lice. She says they hop like "Frickets". I think she means crickets. But to me, lice will always be frickets. And she said it in a very upbeat, cheerful way. Frickets!!!!!!

My head itches just thinking about it. No matter how many cleanings the house gets and the heads get, it still freaks me out and I itch. Of course, I already have chigger bites, but not on my head.

Gee, don't you love coming to visit me and hearing about chiggers in my drawers, lice, snakes, and rats? Maybe I should change my blog title to "Karla's Creepy Crawly Cottage".

Its brave of Beth to room with Creepy Crawly Karla, so I wanted to give her a little thank you gift too, a glittered and foofed lice comb of her very own.

Since I'm in CA as this posts, I won't be able to answer emails, comments, or ship packages till I return. But please do leave a comment, I'm giving away some pretty pearl earrings for this month's gift.

Blather

antiques/junking, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage

By Karla Nathan / July 15, 2010

While I am away, frolicking with mermaids by the sea, I'm leaving you with a few pre-written posts. This one is nothing but shameless huckstering.

All of these pictures are of things I've been listing in the Boutique.

Slowly, but surely, I've been making my way through the Giant Tub-o-Fun, that is filled to the brim with stuff I've been meaning to get around to trying to foist off onto you list in my online boutique and offer to my readers.

So, there are quite a few new things in the shop, and when I get back from my trip, I'll have LOTS more to add. That tub doesn't seem to be emptying out very fast.

There isn't much to this post, huh?

After listing all of this, and writing a handful of posts in advance, I'm slightly burnt out from being at the computer ALL DAY. This is the last one that I've written, but it isn't posted in chronological order.

Its one of the first that will come up while I'm away, even though its the last I've written.

Hopefully, the others will be more interesting. I wasn't suffering from computer burn out when I wrote those.

I might even had something interesting to say in those other posts. Well, maybe not. I do tend to ramble on and on about nothing, on a regular basis.

Geez, I'm lucky any of you EVER come back to read this blathering, aren't I? Thanks. I do appreciate you for being there!!

Randomness, swoonyness, winners, tasty puppies, and SNAKES- just another day at the cottage

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), give away, jewelry, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / July 13, 2010

While getting ready for my mermaid trip to California, I was thinking about tidbits to pack up for class supplies, and gathered up lots of little pearls and shells.

The pearls inspired my July Giveaway, of a pair of genuine pearl earrings. I made these with sterling silver hooks, then wrapped them up in a lovely vintage hankie. All comments- all month count toward the drawing.

I need to announce the winner of the other giveaway I was having, a pair of vintage rhinestone earrings go to Kay Ellen. I'll be meeting her at Kim's event, so will pack her gift in my bag and bring it along. Too bad its not one of my heavier giveaways, I'm only saving about a buck 40 in postage for lightweight earrings….

On Thursday last week, I didn't get a chance to take many pictures during Carol's farm house photo shoot with Fifi. I was trying to not be obnoxious, which is hard for me. But I managed to keep my camera out of everyone's face.

I did ask Carol to pose for me, as we were putting away props from a shoot they had done outside. She was carrying in this vase of sunflowers and looked so pretty in her fresh, white cotton top, that I just had to get her picture.

Here is a quickie pic of Fifi and Mark Lohman (the photographer) going over a shot that they had just done. Carol's house is just swoony, every shot I saw them get was a keeper!

And since I am doing such a random, here-there-and everywhere-post, this is my purchase from Bottom's Up the week before. Its a gesso-ed and foofed box by Linda that I filled with sparkled birds when I got home. Willow's Nest was a great addition to the show, I hope they become regulars.

When I am working in my studio on nice days, I just leave the back door wide open and let the dogs wander in and out. Agnes Rosebud wears a jingle bell, so I can keep track of what is going on by listening to her follow her mom around.

But today, it was Twinkle I heard, she was barking and causing a ruckus.

When I ran out to see what was going on, I was greeted with this. So, I scooped up the tasty, rat-sized puppy and ran with her back to the studio so the snake didn't decide to snack on her, and grabbed my camera to run back out to get Twinkle.

She didn't seem to need to be saved.

That is what I love about terriers. They have NO fear and don't know they are little dogs.

I love living in the country, but some times, there are some drawbacks. Not, the snake,I'm happy to see him, he'll eat the hated rats (those are a BIG drawback). Chiggers are another one.

By running out into the grass to see what was going on, I'm sure I'll be itching all night. There was no time to stop and spray myself with bug repellent before I snatched up that delicious puppy.

One of the best things about going on vacation, is the break from bugs. Kansas in July is a chigger fest, and my yard seems to be party central for these guys. I'll be happy to be in California, at a completely different sort of party, away from this itchy critters.

A Rosy Redo

antiques/junking, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), flowers, paintings, redos

By Karla Nathan / July 11, 2010

Now that we are in the midst of summertime, I felt like the living room needed to look summery too. I took my background of creamy whites and added a blooming garden of roses to the room with just a few touches in about 15 minutes.

The first step was taking down the Shabby Chic cream velvet curtains (from Target) and putting up these vintage curtains from a garage sale. They had pleats at the top, that I had un-stitched with a seam ripper last year, so that step was already done ahead of time.

These curtains are different lengths, but who will know it with the sofa sitting in front of them?

In the past, I had done this room with browns and had made this sofa cushion seat cover. I've got a few extra covers lurking in the back of the closet for when the mood strikes me. I don't cover the whole couch, just the seat and pillows. Making them is as easy as making a pillow case, and I am NOT much of a seamstress. I keep them simple, by not using zippers or buttons, I just sew ribbons to the back to tie the cover shut.

(I've also just wrapped the cushion in a pretty quilt before too- that works if you don't have teenagers around. Teens just kind of DO things to destroy a couch. They sit HARD)

I also keep a stash of pillows in the linen closet for trading out too. A floral pillow goes a long way towards brightening a room.

I added a dinner napkin (with roses) to the little table, and a retro kitchen table cloth to the side table, along with a plate, and a small botanical print.

When my son walked into the room, he told me that I had a "lot going on" there. Yea, I know. That is what I like about it! Its an explosion of lots of roses ranging from pale pink to cherry red.

The fastest way to add some color to my white room was to set out some fresh cut flowers from my garden.

And I already had a white millinery bloom tied to the lamp shade. I just slipped a pink rose in on top of it.

Over the years, I've had many colors on my walls, but I think they'll be like this for a while. I've washed them with layers of glazes in colors ranging from ivory to deep tan, with hints of gold and bronze. I feel like its a good background color to anything I add to the room.

Keeping the basics of the room neutral means that I can add splashes of color here and there and have a whole new look in a matter of moments.

On the TV cabinet, I draped another rose curtain and added two rose plates and a tray to what was already up there.

On the other side of the room, all I needed was a couple of throw pillows on the white chairs and 2 vases snitched from the guest room. Oh, and a table runner that matches the dinner napkin that I used on the little round table. I'm not a fan of matchiness, but this is what I had handy.

There are always hints of roses in every room of my house, like on the floor mat that I painted to set the dog dishes on, and the table and small hutch that the dog bed is under.

But even with some roses here and there, the room was predominately white and cream, and these pinks just became background until I added all the rose patterned textiles. Now, this stuff seems to stand out too.

The dog's bed is a lid to a Rubbermaid container that I put a pillow on. By sitting the pillow (in a washable sham) on the lid, it keeps it up off the ground in case the puppy pees on the floor, or Twinkle steps in the water bowl and spills it, or some other of the millions of ways that the dogs mess up the floor and would get their pillow wet. I look for shams on sale at TJMax, sometimes I can find them for under $3.

And by slipping the bedding under the table, the dogs feel like they have a cozy den to hide in, and I have a bit more space.

As much as I love my creamy whites, I just need an infusion of color now and then. Plus, I just enjoy a change of scenery. I have some old, powder blue toile curtains that are nicely aged and slightly yellowed that I want to try next. Especially if I find some pretty bark cloth rose material at garage sales this summer for making pillows.

Geez, I just redid the room today and am already thinking about the next one?

Yep, that is what makes it fun! The planning and creating and the thrill of the hunt for new bargains.

Happy and sparkling

Books, collections, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), flowers, magazine pictures or articles, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / July 9, 2010

My gazebo planter boxes rarely do well. I don't know why. This year, I planted colorful foliage instead of flowers and that seems to be a good fix for the problem.

The violets are wild, and I like the look of them. Its always nice when nature adds her own touch to my gardening!

Of course, adding Agnes Rosebud is always a nice bonus. She's a sweet little posy!

After visiting Carol and Fifi (by the way, she really is FABULOUS!) I stopped at the mall while I was in Kansas City to find some new sandals for my trip to California. The mall is a rare trip for me, I'm a Goodwill, garage sale, and TJMax shopper.

The parking lot I like is covered and out of the heat, but the doors open into Neiman Marcus- or Needless Markup, as I call it. I don't shop there much because I'm cheap. But as I stepped into the door, these jewel encrusted sandals were the first thing I saw and, I had to pick them up and drool over admire the sparkly rhinestones!

Since I was already in love, I was afraid to flip them over and see how much they were, but I sucked up the courage, braced myself and took a peek.At first I thought the tag read $158. And I was not surprised. That's pretty typical there.

But they were only $58! And now they are mine. And for that price, I can still afford a pedicure to go along with them!

Little Aggie Rose takes after her mom, Twinkle and thinks every photo is of her. By the way, Twinkle is posing too, but got cropped out. They both see a camera and start to ham it up.

Yesterday, I took everyone's advice and returned to the salon for a do over. It was a good idea, I much prefer a brighter look, and the hair dresser was sweet as can be about it. No charge, so I gave her a $20 tip.

I was feeling very happy and sparkly inside after the good news about the new baby, so wanted to look sparkly outside too.

My earrings are from Curious Sofa. Hand made
from Victorian buttons, and I just love them. Normally, I make my own
jewelry or wear vintage, but I'm a sucker for anything Debbie has to
sell… I love that store. She's sold my jewelry there before too. Its
an honor to sell there, she has such great taste.(here is some of my hand made earrings, on this page)

So, since I've been splurging, with new shoes, new hair color, and earrings I'd better get some things listed in my own shop and recoup some of the cash I blew.

When I cleaned up the studio last week, I filled a 33 gallon container with stuff I need to photograph and sell.
One tub doesn't sound like a lot, but when a bunch of it is jewelry pieces, it feels like a LOT. The tub is brimming with little things.

So far, there isn't much of a dent in the box.

But I'm working on it. Here is some of what I snapped pix of today. Which doesn't exactly mean that I've got it in the Boutique yet…. but its coming!

The best news EVER

Books, family, magazine pictures or articles, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / July 7, 2010

The superduper, extra strong, magnifying, scrutinizing, high def sonogram says that the baby is FINE. Fine, just fine. What better news could any grammie get?

Thanks for all of your prayers and well wishes and commiserating stories. It helped to have you guys to "talk" to while I was freaking out.

The baby's mama kept saying that she could feel that the baby had good energy and was okay. I wish I could have been as calm while waiting to find out.

Sugarwings hung out with me while all the testing was going on today, and we mostly played outside in the sweltering humidity. We went for a long walk in the woods and told scary stories about the Big Bad Wolf. I've yet to find anything that kid is afraid of, her favorite part of any story is the scary part.

She was over here about 5 hours today, and I am shocked that I was able to accomplish anything after playing with her out in the heat. (I'm still hot flashing from having my Premarin dosage cut in half, and the heat has been gruesome. My reaction to it is much scarier than any Big Bad Wolf)

I was able to make these two books in the little snippets of time I could grab here and there. The fairy grand baby went and laid down to watch a movie with my poor sick, husband. Remember how much I enjoyed a day to myself to putter in the studio while he was resting up with a sore throat?? Well, I feel really bad about that now, the poor guy has strep throat and had to be rushed to the Dr. yesterday with a fever so high he was delirious and crazy. He's better today, and appreciated Sugarwing's company.

I was surprised to hear from the Dr. that strep throat isn't that easy to catch and to not worry about the little one catching it unless she was drinking from the same cup. Or getting kisses. So, I let the two of them have some quiet time while I tried to recover from the humidity and hot flashes with a bit of nice air conditioned, peaceful studio time. Creating took my mind off the endless waiting to hear what the Super Duper Sonogram had to say too.

This darker book is made from a cabinet card folder, and filled with ephemera and water color paper pages that I stitched together.

Notice the initials on the tag? I found a brooch with C S on it, ideal for a gift to give to my buddy, Carol Spinski!

Her home is being photographed tomorrow by Fifi and I wanted to make a scrapbook/album for her to put copies of the pictures in. I found some French text about homes to use, and I sure don't know what it says, but its purdy. I thought it was fitting, since the Fabulous Fifi is French.

Looking through my stash, I found old pictures of farmhouses to use as accents.

There was a portrait in this card that I tore out, and I kind of liked the texture the glue left underneath. So, I didn't cover it up all the way, I just inked over the torn cardboard a bit with two colors of brown, and then added my embellishments over it.

The other book is for Fifi. Its more of a notebook, or journal for her trip to the Midwest to photograph farmhouses and also features old homesteads. Its a bit foofier than Carol's book.

I included garden pages from old magazines, and items with a "home" theme. And whenever I do one of these keepsake books, I always add lots of envelopes for tucking things away.

This book is made from one large piece of flocked wallpaper. I folded it in half and sewed all the way around the edges. Then, I turned up the bottom 1/3 to the inside, and stitched that to make a pocket all the way across the lower portion of the interior of the cover.

After stitching the cover together, I gathered water color paper and ephemera to make the pages and sewed them in.

Carol graciously let me invite myself over to say hi during the photo shoot. I've worked with Fifi before, but only over the phone, never in person.

I'm not known to be shy. So, of course, I asked if I could come over and visit and meet Fifi.

I promised to stay out of the way and keep my mouth shut, but offered to help if needed. I've gophered enough times during photo shoots to be helpful if they need someone. And I'm bringing a cake and some flowers. You never know what you might need for styling, and sometimes a piece of cake is just the right touch in a photo, or a simple pot of white flowers is a good filler in the background.

If its not needed, we can just eat the cake. It won't go to waste!

I've also styled enough shoots to know that another opinion isn't wanted, and I'll not bother them with mine. If I'm in the way, I'll say my 'nice to meet yas' and head out after delivering the goodies. But I've also known from shoots that I've done in the past, that sometimes, another body can be nice to have around for running errands, ironing something, trimming back a branch, tying up a loose end, or fetching a glass of water.

I'm a handy gopher.

Another editor that I've done articles for but have never met is Barbara Jacksier. Its ironic that tomorrow while I'm meeting Fifi, I am missing an opportunity to talk to Barbara during a live online chat and meet her!

I hope that you can tune into the chat and ask her some decor info. She
has always seemed like such a nice person, I'm sure she is easy to talk
to. And boy, does she KNOW her stuff!

Here is the info you need to visit her:

She is going to be on their Home Front
live chat as a follow up to her book.

It's Thursday July 8 from 11 AM
til noon. Please spread the word.

The Live Chat link is http://live.washingtonpost.com/home-front-07-08-10.html if that doesn't automatically link click
on www.barbarajacksier.com

Author name: Karla Nathan