Karla Nathan – Page 260 – Karla's Cottage

After the shoot

Etsy Goodies, holiday decor, Silver Bella, swaps

By Karla Nathan / August 20, 2008

My bedroom photo shoot went well, Diane and I finished in record time.

My Queen Anne’s Lace was tinted perfectly blue over night and was ready to go into the bottles on the mantel in time for the pictures.

Normally,we count on about one hour per photo, but yesterday, we had sparkling sunlight shining through the windows and that made the whole process go so much easier! We had all 7 photos in 3 1/2 hours, that is a record for us.(although these blog photos were taken at night with a flash, not nearly as pretty as the ones with sunlight for the magazine)

By the way, this trick of using food coloring in the water to dye white flowers works with blossoms other than this weed. Try daisies or carnations too. It is a great teaching tool for kids so they learn how flowers soak up water through their stems, too.

Here is a snippet of my first paragraph:

"A romantic retreat with morning light dancing through lace curtains and reflected from antique mirrors will make you want to linger in bed with a tray full of treats while sinking into plush pillows."

The first time I did a photo shoot, I thought it would be a perfect time to have a party, afterward. I thought that my house was at its most spotless and foofed up best and I should invite people over while it looked good.

But, at the end of an exhausting day of hard work, my house looked like some one had picked it upside down and shook it!

During a shoot, all throughout the day, furniture and knick knacks are shifted here and there, moved out of the way, switched around, taken in and out of the frame, and moved away to make space for the camera.

Kind of a mess, with stuff piled up everywhere to get it out of the sight of the lens!

Not the best day for a party! Since then, I have learned to not plan anything else but sitting down after the shoot ends.

I wait and put it all back together and write the article the next day when I have recovered. No matter how much fun it is to do, there is a lot involved and it does tend to wreck the place.

But today, all is back to normal, my piles of books and bottles of water are back beside the bed and all the clutter is spread back out where it usually lurks.

I’ve been adding to my etsy shop this afternoon.thanks, this one is sold

Nothing that I have made, but creative pieces for others to use. I keep seeing Halloween projects popping up all over blogland and thought the timing was right to make up some millinery flower packs in these colors. sold

Making up kits and supply packs is almost as much fun as actually creating a piece. I just love picking out items that go together prettily and imagining what they will become when they go to their new homes.

If you have ever ordered anything from me, you’ll notice that I love to wrap and make the package pretty. One thing I don’t do though, is use brand new packing boxes. I do my best to recycle and reuse, and don’t much care if the outside of the envelope has past addresses marked out.

all Halloween packs are sold, but I am listing more. I will have maybe 8 more to list, then am out of black and orange!

It is important to me to make the presentation of the item itself pretty, but the envelope, I’d rather reuse and keep my shipping prices down while helping to save the world in my own little way.

But after receiving this box, that was perfect from the outside, in, I might have to change my practices!

Oh my, it was delightful. Even the outside was pretty, every detail was gorgeous.

The box was from Andrea, and was filled with her goodies for our Pre-Bella swap.

Oh my.

Did I say that already? Well, this gift box was so pretty, I might have said that a few times while gazing at it, trying to decide if I should open it or place it on a shelf and enjoy the box as it was.

Of course, I opened it!! And once again, OH MY! Look at the prettiness involved in this box.

This pile is gifts that Andrea sent to me, as hostess. Oh my, I haven’t even opened my swap box from her yet. I am waiting till all of the packages are in from the rest of the swappers.

I am so lucky to be a part of this talented group of artists who agreed to be in this swap with me. Here is the list, if you’d like to visit any of them, they all have wonderful blogs! I know I have posted this list before, but it is a fun group and definitely worth you going to visit.

A Get Acquainted- Get Inspired

Pre- Silver Bella Swap

1-Heather- http://www.prettypetals.typepad.com/

2-Cheryl Dack- http://roseyposeyconfections.blogspot.com/

3-jennifer Hayslip- http://sweeteyecandycreations.typepad.com/

4-Jessi Nagy- http://www.scrappyjessi.blogspot.com/

5-Kim Caldwell- http://www.artisticbliss.typepad.com/

6-Holly- http://www.hollydoodledesigns.com/shop/

7-Natasha- http://www.natashaburns.blogspot.com/

8-Analisa- http://www.leesiebella.typepad.com/

9-Andrea- http://velvetstrawberries.typepad.com/andreasingarella/

10-Cheryl Stoneham- http://www.insidethebubble.typepad.com/

11- Tiffany- www.shabbyscraps.typepad.com

12- Carol Spinski – http://raisedincotton.typepad.com/

And don’t forget that every comment is entered into my August giveaway. Heck, maybe I’ll even wrap it up in a pretty new envelope to send it out!

The truth behind the photo shoot

give away, housework, jewelry, magazine pictures or articles, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / August 19, 2008

I am busily getting ready for the photo shoot of my master bedroom tomorrow morning. It was a last minute project that came up just a few days ago, and I have had the fairy grand baby for a few days, so I didn’t get a chance to set up till tonight.

I’m making up the bed nicely and sleeping on the couch so I will be ready and not have to rush in the morning!

The truth is, when I have a photo shoot, I do a lot of extras that aren’t involved with every day life.

I certainly don’t get a breakfast in bed tray complete with roses every morning!

The tray is all set up, all I need to do is add a muffin, coffee and juice for the pictures.

I also did a quickie project, and dolled up these lamp shades. That was about 1 minute per shade, all I did was wrap a bit of vintage trim around it and secure the trim with a rhinestone shoe clip.

The three shades each have a different trim on them, I like the non-matchy look.

The window frame had nails sticking out of it from a past curtain style. Those had to be covered before pictures, so I swagged a bit of lace that I usually use as a table runner in the dining room over the nails to hide them.

The biggest change for the shoot was moving out my husband’s comfy chair. He is out of town for now and won’t even know I messed with it, it will be back before he is.

But, in rearranging the chairs, I had a gap in the room, so brought in a stack of picnic baskets from the studio. They are all filled with ephemera for projects, but I’ll write a cute little paragraph about storing extra linens or something like that in a stack of baskets to save space.

We will pretend they are useful, not just filling a gap till they go back where they belong!

Most of the time, the shelf of my mantel piece headboard is bare of junk.

But to foof it up for the pictures, I added a row of old bottles, that simply have some text cut from an old book tied on with pretty ribbon.

Tomorrow morning, I will add a single flower to each bottle.

For now, the flowers are soaking in blue food coloring. I used to do this as a kid, pick Queen Anne’s Lace and place it into colored water. The stems draw up the color and tint the flower.

It was hard to find the pretty weeds, most around here are finished for the season. I drove around until I found a decent patch to pick where I wouldn’t get chewed up by chiggers in the weeds, luckily, these were along a parking lot of an abandoned car dealership. I could snip them from the pavement and not even have to walk out into the tall grass.

A police car turned in the lot and parked behind me, but the officer never got out of the car or said anything to me. I guess it isn’t illegal to pick weeds at a closed business. Although it might be considered trespassing, and it was dark out.

I guess I am about ready for Diane to show up with her camera tomorrow. I’m off to the couch to get some rest. Chasing Sugarwings has worn me to a frazzle. It was fun, as always, but she is a busy bee.

Before I go, I’ll show the apron I added to the August Giveaway, which I will call my "50’s Housewife Kit"

You get a frilly, sheer apron, a pair of pearl pink clip on earrings, and a lovely old brooch with a blue stone, all to wear as you spiff up your home while waiting for Mrs. Dickson to call. (her calling card is included in the kit).

While you are dressed up for cleaning, and down on your knees, make sure you don’t forget to scour the corners of the floor with a scrub brush.

Trying a new trick

antiques/junking, family, give away, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / August 17, 2008

Before picking up Sugarwings to spend the day together for her birthday, I stopped at a couple of garage sales. One sounded promising, it said "fancy hats".

When I got there, it was not the kind of hats I crave, it was modern day Lady’s church wear.

BUT- since the people at this sale weren’t into vintage stuff at all, what they did have along those lines was dirt cheap.

I’ve noticed that non-vintagey garage sales have great giveaway prices on vintage items if there are any around. These aprons were 25 cents each.

This table cloth and apron were each a quarter too, and they gave me an idea.

A friend, who loves funky, kitschy things is going through a rough time. Her husband starts chemo this week, and I thought I’d make her a hospital survival bag and fill it with handy things to have while sitting with him during his sessions.

I included:

water bottles

coin purse filled with quarters and dollar bills for vending machines

a 1940’s magazine to read

granola bars

home made trail mix

Italian candies from 100 Wishes

Kleenex

and a book mark

Sewing isn’t exactly my top skill. I learned that pinning is important and so is keeping the sewing machine manual next to me at all times.

I cut out the table cloth to the size of the apron and PINNED it together, right sides facing each other (I was so proud to have done that correctly!).

So, I stitched the two pieces together, making the apron and is pockets one side of the bag.

I was zooming along so nicely, that I got brave and added a pocket made from half a doily and some trim to the table cloth side.

Then, the tie that was supposed to go around the waist of the apron, was tied together to become the handle of the bag.

Its big and slouchy and can hold lots of magazines or what ever she needs to take with her.

The only problem was my inability to put on a button to hold it closed.

I solved that by making a drawstring bag (also with trim on it!!) that pins (with a heart brooch) to the inside of the big bag, in case she wants to carry something that needs to be secured, like a cell phone or wallet.

The sugar bag and some of the trim came from the box-o-goodies that I won from Heidi. The doily that became a pocket is from Lori. Those gifts came in handy!

Sugarwings had a sleepover with us, so I had to get up early to make this while she was still snoozing this morning.

When she woke up, she thought it was for her. After a day of birthday gifts, she expected more presents. Plus, everything she sees makes her yell "MINE!" now that she is two. This sewing thing went pretty good for me, I was surprised. I might make a bag for her from one of the smaller aprons.

A group of friends is going to take turns supplying the hospital survival kit each week when our buddy goes in for chemo treatments. My suggestion was to have practical things in it of course, but to also throw in one odd thing that will make her wonder what on earth we were thinking when packed it. And maybe make her smile.

My little weird thing for this time? Just a tiny, yellow, plastic bird about the size of a thumb tack. It is in the coin purse with the change.

Sugarwings was her sweet self for her birthday party, that was a relief. What ever evil gnome had come and switched my little doll for the changeling child the day before decided to return her.

We had a simple party, in the park. She got to chase bubbles and play on the swing set.

Her uncle Steve got her a big girl bike and gave her rides on it!

We all had a lovely day, but it was enough to wear the little fairy girl out.

I decided to add one of the pretty 25 cent aprons to my August Giveaway along with this vintage brooch with the blue stone, and the pink clip on earrings.

Whoever wins can wear them all together and look like a spiffy 50s housewife as she cooks dinner for her family.

By the way, have you seen this post at Heather’s? I took the quiz and was humiliated to see that I am a SUPERIOR 50s housewife!! In today’s day and age that isn’t a compliment.

Leave a comment on any post, any time, all comments are entered.

Putting together a baby shower while babysitting a grumpy baby

celebrations, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, flowers, Food and Drink, Sugarwings, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / August 16, 2008

For a while today, I didn’t think I’d be able to pull off tonight’s baby shower!

Sugarwings spent most of yesterday and today with me, and while she was very helpful making birthday cupcakes for her mommy yesterday, today, she was a bit of a challenge.

That is not like her at all, and had me worried. I hope it is just a phase she is going through.

But I kept things very simple for the party and served ready made foods, like a mix of pink jelly beans in a cut glass dish.

And a basket full of mixed nuts with dried fruits.

Then, Beth brought a cheese cake and someone else made brownies and treats. All I had to do was set the table, make some herbal tea/punch and open wine.

Setting the table looks much more complicated than it is. I layered pink flowered table clothes (the baby is a girl!), and borrowed one of Sugarwing’s vintage doll cradles that I had painted roses on to hold the plates and napkins.

The plastic silverware is sitting in her fluffy bunny basket (from Easter) that is lined with a floral napkin.

I snipped a few flowers from my garden and tucked the blooms into child’s tea cups and popped a little ballerina in with the flowers. Since I didn’t have time to go to the store and buy flowers, these little rose buds and a handful of pink baby’s breath from my yard were the only bouquets I had.

I’ve found that, making myself be creative with what I have is much better than going out to buy something ready made. At least it is cheaper!

A few nesting tea cup birds from my Etsy stash of stuff for sale, and some birdies I got from Robin and Lori, and I was done.

I wrapped up a few more packets of bath salts to give as party favors.

Then, placed a doll crib in the living room to fill with presents.

Oh- and I also hung some pink glittered birdies from my Sissy on the chandelier along with a tussie mussie from my friend, Heather. I love the long, dangling ribbons on the cone, and might just leave it there for a bit and enjoy it.

Of course, the fun part was when the doll bed was filled with pretty pink presents for the expecting momma to open! (she was a good sport and wore the party hat I made for her too, even though it was kind of top heavy, but I think that at nine months pregnant, she is used to being off balance by now!)

Sparkle joined the party and spent most of her time on Aunty Beth’s lap.

Beth gave Shanna the cutest gift. She is planning on knitting a blanket for the newborn, but it wasn’t done yet, so she made a tiny one and wrapped it around a dolly as an IOU.

I gave Shanna my all pink version of the Sugarwings and Twinkle book, and added a hand painted cupcake to the teaparty page, along with a teacup that I drew onto rosebud paper and cut out.

I wanted it to have some special touches.

Here are a couple of the names that are being considered for the new little girl due this week:

Lizzelle and Audry– How pretty!! I like them together, Audrey Lizzelle.

Tomorrow is Sugarwing’s 2nd birthday, and I certainly hope she is back to being herself again so she can enjoy her party. It is so sad to see her unhappy and grumpy. I feel like we’ve been given a changling and someone is hiding our sweet little fairy girl!!

When it rains it pours!

Uncategorized

By Karla Nathan / August 14, 2008

Progress! So far, I have 3 books assembled. It takes a while, because I am embellishing each page, and all are a little different.

I’ve made two multi colored, pastel books with lots of glitter for a friend’s daughter and for Sugarwing’s birthday gift. (hers will be laminated, because she is only two). And one with all pink backgrounds for a gift I will give to the friend I am throwing a baby shower for tomorrow night.

Just in time to make a ruffle on this heart, I got a box in the mail from Heidi, full of goodies, including this pretty pink crepe paper.

Its sure fun to win a giveaway, even better when it is something that you really have a use for! Thanks, Heidi!

On the 2 books I mentioned for the older girls, there is a lot of glitter, all the wings are "sugared".

But on the 3rd book, for another friend’s expected new baby, I’ve left off the loose glitter, and only used Stickles, since it is not going to flake at all.

For the text page opposite of the picture where Sugarwings is holding a magic wand, I made a wand to tie to the page.

And on the page with the tea party painting, there is an invitation to come to a party, "in the playroom, after nap time".

I haven’t used my treasured vintage papers on these books, they are more scrapbook style. But I’d love to make a book that is all old stuff for the embellishments, just for me!

Beth and I have plans to get together and make ourselves each an embellished book, so I am sure those will be full of ephemera and special things.

But first, I have a job to do. I have written magazine articles here and there, and consider it a hobby. A very fun hobby, but not a real job.

I take the jobs as they come, and don’t really push it. If something interesting comes up, I consider myself lucky, but I don’t try to do this full time at all.

But, when it rains it pours!!

First, I have the inquiry from "Where Women Create" (not for sure, of course, just an inquiry, and I wouldn’t be the writer, or stylist on this one)

Then, Phyllis Goldstein, editor of many Harris publications asked me to do an article about a romantic bedroom. I’m guessing she’ll use this for Romantic Country and I’ll get to work with that Sweetheart, Fifi again.

So, I suggested my own, that I just redid recently.

Trouble is, I have to have the pictures and story done by August 25!!! Oh my.

My husband is home this week, I have a mess, a party, Sugarwing’s birthday, her Hippy Chick Mommy’s birthday, and whatever happened to my pact with myself to list something on Etsy everyday??

I need to get my friend, Diane (who shot the fall party pictures that Carol and I did for the next issue of Romantic Country) out here with her camera and equipment next week. She says she’ll fit me in.

I’m lucky that I can spend a day with a good buddy while actually doing a job. It feels more like playing that working!

Phyllis also talked to me about some Valentine’s photos Diane and I did 2 years ago.

The last time I had an antique sale at Valentine’s Day, I had Diane come over and photograph some of the displays.

Here are some snippets, I can’t show you the whole picture, yet.

The story will be "What is your Valentine’s Decorating Style?"

I came up with that idea because the three displays are so very different, I didn’t know how to tie them together, so decided to write how to tips to achieve these three looks:

Whimsical and Fun

Vintage Cottage

Glamorous Elegance

I think I’ll enjoy writing this one! Trouble is, it is due Sept. 14th, and I have a trip and house guests planned. Oh well, writing usually goes fast once I have an idea, and these photos are already done and ready.

And I am not complaining, just trying to figure out how to get it done. Whenever I do an article, I always figure it could be the last one I do, so I do my best to make it enjoyable and memorable. I know how lucky I am to have these jobs dropped in my lap.

Well, time to get Sugarwings, she offered to help me bake cupcakes today. First I need to de-glitter myself from making all these books. or we’ll have some shiny sprinkles on those cupcakes.

Babies, babies, babies

Books, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, fairies, family, paintings, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / August 12, 2008

I’ve been ensconced in my studio all day, and although the book is coming along, it is slow going.

So I took a little break from painting my baby to fix up this baby.

I had the perfect bittersweet colored silk dress for her, to match her auburn hair, but as soon as I put it on her, it shredded.

Sometimes, there is such a thing as TOO vintage.

So, I found this little silk number and gaudied it up for her. Here is what I said on Etsy:

"This darling little red head came to me needing some help, wearing nothing but a pony tail and a Made in Japan stamp.

I found a pretty silk dress in my collection of vintage play things, but it was a little boxy and didn’t really flatter her. So, I created an apron with old trims and pale pinkish seam binding ribbon, and it suited her much better. Custom fitted clothes are always so much nicer than "off the rack". (Although, I am sitting here in a ripped tie dye shirt and gym shorts, so I really wouldn’t know what custom fitted clothes are like)

Her long, flowing, pony tail was in good shape, but the hair on her head seemed a little sparse, so I gave her a ringlet of old millinery flowers. She liked them so much, I added some to the hem of her dress.

A few coordinating ribbons in her hair and a vintage, glass, floral button on her dress and she is all ready for her new home.

She is about 5 1/2" tall and her body is a very soft, pliable rubbery material. She’s Made in Japan, so is old, but over all has held up well for her age. Better than I have."

Four paintings are finished for Sugarwing’s birthday book. Two more to go.

Plus the backgrounds for the text.

I’ll take them to a copy shop tomorrow and start making up books, or at least I hope to.

This is my favorite of them all, its number 5. I need to paint it, and then do one more tomorrow morning so I can start working on embellishing the copies. I hope to make another one to give as a gift to a friend. I am throwing her a baby shower on Friday night, she is expecting her first daughter.

Or is that odd, to write a book about my own little girl and then give copies to another little girl? My friend has Dorkies too, actually puppies that are children of my oldest dog, Bookie.

I’m impatiently awaiting the day that Twinkle becomes a puppy momma, she should be ready very soon. And although Bookie is no longer capable of being the father, I have a neighbor down the road with the cutest little 4 pound Dorkie you’ve ever met and he has a bit of a crush on Twinks.

Maybe before winter comes, I’ll be a gramma again! I miss having little puppies running around, I just can’t wait!!

OK, back to painting. I’m running out of time, I’d better keep working. I just wanted to take another break and visit blogland a bit.

PS- I’ve had no time to add to the August giveaway, but promise to when I get caught up.

A rare treasure

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, flowers, paintings, Sugarwings, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / August 11, 2008

You were all so thoughtful in cheering me up, thanks for your well wishes!

I am usually pretty upbeat, but I think I was suffering from vacation overload! I went from weeks of family and friends and travel to an abrupt stop and was feeling it. Isn’t that what makes blog friends so nice to have? They are always there to visit and company is only as far away as the keyboard.

Today’s sketches even went a bit better. Sometimes, sitting at my desk to work on my latest project can cure any worry or ill, but other days, it is just hopeless. And if it isn’t going well, I need to just walk away from the table and give it a break.

Yes, today was a good one, I was happy with the drawings, I heard from Fifi that the story Carol, Diane and I worked on turned out well and is set for the next issue of Romantic Country. Of course, she hadn’t given me any reason to think they wouldn’t use the article, but I am always reassured when the type is set and the magazine is final. Things get shuffled sometimes and it is good to know this didn’t.

Then, I heard from Jo Pakham that she could be interested in my studio for "Where Women Create". Of course, nothing is settled, it was only an inquiry, but I was flattered to be asked. I’ve heard a lot of positive buzz about this new publication, and I am honored to be considered.

I’ll spend part of next week taking a shovel to the room to make way for some sample photos!

I also kept to my deal with myself and listed more on Etsy today, another altered fairy and some flocked paper packs.

As if today wasn’t already a nice day, look what I found when I went out to do some yard work-

Surprise lillies everywhere! I adore these pink blooms that pop up over night sometime mid-August.

The fragrance outside my studio door caught my attention before I even saw the flowers. I picked an armful to bring in and scent my home too.

But there is more- Sugarwing’s Daddy came by to visit, just to hang out and talk. As close as we are, that just doesn’t happen as often as it used to, grown sons hanging out, one on one, just for the fun of it, is a rare treasure!

grumpy

Books, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, fairies, paintings

By Karla Nathan / August 11, 2008

My birthday book for Sugarwings is not going well today. Very little got finished this afternoon.

The tea party page is done as well as the text page to go next to it.

I painted a light background, scanned it, and then printed it with the words on it.

I’m sure that if I knew how to do digital scrapbook techniques, or just plain old, how to add text to a picture, this part would be easier!

The plan is to scan each page, then print and glue and embellish and sparkle them all up after I make them into a book. That way I can make multiple copies, with no two exactly alike.

But on this page she looks way too grown up. It’s not good enough to use. Luckily, not much time went into this picture, that also might explain why it isn’t very good??

Since painting wasn’t going well today, I took a break to add some things to my Etsy shop.

I seem to have piles and piles of crap, I mean finished art, around the studio that needs to be moved out of here!

So, I listed a few, but never seem to get many listings done.

I wondered if it was because I take so long with the photos, but from the looks of this one, that can’t be it, I didn’t even bother to comb this poor fairy baby’s hair before I took her picture!

Two fairies got listed and are ready to go to new homes.

And I dithered on whether or not I wanted to sell this wallpaper journal. It seemed like it should be a keeper, it is made with such pretty, old papers. But, I can make more if I need one later on.

It could be a scrapbook, or a journal, it is all vintage pages (9" x 11") ready to be filled with whatever the new owner feels like doing. It also comes with a scrap pack of coordinating wallpapers to use for further embellishments.

And lastly, this 8" x 4" tag.

Five items, is that all I listed today???? Geez, I am really not getting much done. I have a goal of 100 items, but have trouble keeping it at 50. And even though sales are not bad (thank you very much!!) they are not the reason I can’t keep up.

It is because it would take me a solid week to list another 50 items to get it up to that point! And I get bored doing it.

Its so much more fun to make things than to try to sell things.

Leelee_book_010 Sorry about the whining. Too much time off coupled with not enough time to finish a project that isn’t going well can do that to a person.

And maybe I miss my buddies who were here all week? It is sad to see them fly back to Florida and California. We’ve been friends since we were 11. Here is a picture of Sandy and I in our 20s, looks like we were hanging out in a bar…. probably were.

Plus, today is my 23rd wedding anniversary, and even though we had a wonderful celebration early, I felt a little lonely today, with Rich out East and me here.

Here we are with the kids that day, and my, we look like kids ourselves!

Doesn’t Sugarwings look like her daddy, my youngest son?

Thanks for listening to me be down a bit. Blogging friends are good to have. I’ll cheer myself up by blog hopping around and seeing all the beautiful eye candy out there on my favorite sites!

Before I go, here are a couple things I added to the August giveaway. A pair of pink vintage earrings and a Victorian calling card to go along with the brooch with the blue stone.

More goodies to come, you deserve it after putting up with my wallowing in self pity tonight!

ps- thanks to all of your kind wishes for my fairy baby. She is doing much better now.

Gone by in a blur

fairies, paintings, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / August 9, 2008

A little bit of painting got done today, not nearly enough. I only have a few days to finish this book for Sugarwing’s 2nd birthday!

Her party is one week from today. Its hard to believe she will be 2 already, but on the other hand, I feel like I have known her forever and can’t even remember what life was like before she came along!

Instead of making more illustrations for her birthday book, I puttered about instead. I did little projects like hanging my rolls of ribbon from a ribbon on the spool shelf I store my supplies in on the desk.

The ribbon ties to the spindles and can untie to change spools. It really only took a couple of minutes to do, so I can’t say what happened to the rest of my afternoon. It was a blur of non-productivity!

On 8-8-08, Sugarwing’s Hippie Chick mommy had a Leo birthday party and I went to face paint for everyone.

I was a bit early, so the fairy grand baby helped me get set up and tried out the paints. She wasn’t quite herself, and I realized the poor thing had a fever, so I took her to my house for a sleepover and her parents got to stay and enjoy their party.

We cuddled in front of a movie, and every once in a while, she’d turn to me and say, "I sick". She just was not feeling well at all.

Maybe being up checking on a feverish baby throughout the night explains my lack of accomplishments today?

Oh, I have a thank you to mention- look at these pretty butterflies! A kind hearted reader, Caitlin, sent a rainbow full of them for me to use to make fairies.

I will be making some little sprites, but for now, I had to hang a few of the butterflies up to enjoy.

With company and trips and everything else going on for the last two weeks, I haven’t made up a prize for the August giveaway yet. Any suggestions?

There is one going, of course, all comments count.

We just don’t know what the prize is yet, except for this little vintage brooch with a blue stone.

Attack of the Seven Pound Monster

celebrations, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), fairies, family, Food and Drink, We're having a party, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / August 8, 2008

The house seems pretty quiet now that I have taken my childhood friends to the airport and their visit for our Fabulous Fifty Birthday Celebration has ended.

We had a lively week full of tiaras and champagne!

Because a good bottle of champagne can make any occasion special, even if it is just a dinner of egg salad.

It was a week of simple pleasures, like just sitting on the porch and talking.

Of course, we couldn’t leave the Dorkies out of the party.

Twinks just isn’t the type to let herself be left out of anything. Even though Sandy wasn’t exactly a dog person.

Twinkle couldn’t get it through her fuzzy little head that Sandy wasn’t crazy about her and she wouldn’t leave the poor woman alone all week.

But the dorkies got plenty of attention and even got to model some of the tiaras themselves.

We also did a bit of shopping downtown Lawrence. No luck on finding a prom dress to fit.

My pals aren’t the vintage type, but they were good sports about poking around the old dresses and helping me in and out of the ones I got stuck in.

It wasn’t the first or the last sticky situation these two have helped me with over the last 40 years.

After saying goodbye to my dearest friends, I came home to finish the scrapbook of Sugarwing’s second year. Her Hippy Chick Mommy’s birthday is this week and I wanted to give her a completed album of her baby’s adventures.

On Friday, 8-8-08, there is a big birthday party for all of the August babies. Sugarwings and her Hippy Chick Mommy are both Leos, as well as a few of their friends, so they are having a blow out party to celebrate.

I’ll be packing up my face paints and glitter and going off to join the kids tomorrow.

But the best part is, that Sugarwings and I will be leaving early and she will be staying all night with me. Now, that is something to look forward to, and to keep me from being too down about my child hood friends leaving today!

Author name: Karla Nathan