I should be doing so many things.
1- packing
2- cleaning my house
3- mailing my packages
4- straightening out the crazy mess my quarterly sales taxes got into (by the way, never send the state of Kansas your own hand written forms, they really, really, really prefer that you use THEIR forms. I sent the money in and apparently, that doesn’t count if you send your own improvised forms with it.)
Instead of doing what is on my list, I got a little side tracked and worked on this old doll clothes collage I had done months ago. I thought it needed MORE.
So, I added a little hand painted border of posies, the little girl image from an old greeting card and a banner made of silk wallpaper with a word cut out of an old book, that says "Dolly".
Oh, and a ruffle at the bottom, from a vintage children’s book.
I am infatuated with ruffles and banners right now. And little hand painted embellishments.
I have listed this piece on Etsy if you are interested.
In the last month, I have successfully avoided my lingering Christmas decorations by hanging out in my studio or running around and being social.
But yesterday, I had the baby all day and we were in the living room, surrounded by all the dusty, over powering holiday things. My skin started to crawl and I got itchy and antsy and couldn’t take it any more, those decorations were driving me up the walls!
Maybe having a 15 month old help pack away Christmas decorations isn’t the best idea.
Not a lot got packed away and the room ended up worse than before we started. Only two ornaments broke and no one was cut, so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
My husband has been gone almost three weeks now and will be coming back this weekend after our Palm Springs trip.
I really should do something about this room, it isn’t much of a welcome home, is it?
After Sugarwings went home.I skipped out and went to a movie instead of finishing the pack up.
I saw Juneau- it was really sweet and witty. I also saw Cloverfield this week, and was enthralled by it. Plus all my running around, with art openings and parties and coffees, and shopping, and of course, the start of American Idol, and the book club books I have to read, and making magic wands and book covers—-I have simply stayed out of the living room for a long time. But today, I face up to the empty boxes and fill them with holiday memories.
Or at least, that is the plan. I will make this room habitable while Project Runway is on tonight, then pack my bags and head off to sunny California!
This is me in my more natural environment. (the picture is from last summer)
Which might explain why I am living with my house looking like something out of a dumpster right now?
But tomorrow, I am off to Palm Springs, to be pampered at a spa!
I bought a dress to wear to the Country Club we will be dining at. I had hoped for something springlike and floral, but this is Kansas in January, that doesn’t exist here and now. I did find this dress on clearance, and don’t think it looks too wintry, at least I hope not.
I do worry that it might be a bit young for me??
So, I pulled out a couple of jackets to try with it.
Frumpy? 
Too much?
I am not a polka dot person, but these dots are more random and I felt that suited me.
Plus I loved the vintage looking buckle! (it gives the illusion of a waist too)
My husband is a sweetheart, he said, take a few hundred dollars and buy a dress. Now, that is sweet, but silly—does he know who he is dealing with here?
I spent $22 on clearance, at Dillards (a classy department store, so don’t worry that I went to KMart, or found it in a dumpster)
Not only did I find dress up sandals, I got a pair of silver beaded thongs too. I am set for a resort get away. A trip to the clearance section of J Jill filled my suitcase with pastel long sleeve tees at bargain prices and the cutest blush colored light weight sweater I’ve ever seen.
So, I have the costumes ready to go. Think I can fool everyone into thinking I fit in?
ps- my Sissy says to stop calling myself trailer trash. And since it is her birthday this weekend, I will explain that SHE is NOT trailer trash!! Just me.
Actually, our family had a real solid foundation home (even with a pool in the backyard) till I was 11, then mom and I lived in trailers for a while, Sissy and Bobbie Sue didn’t, they were off and married by then.
And thanks to everyone who is warning me about the CA cold spell! I repacked and added socks and jackets to my suitcase. Close call, there. Thank goodness for blog friends all over the country!!
enjoy your trip to Palm Springs Karla! We were there a few weeks ago and it was chilly – your dress is super cute!
Oh my gosh- we must have been twins separated at birth- our feet are a perfect match! It is so hard to find comfortable and pretty shoes! I just finally found a pair of ballet flats I have looked for forever- they only had one pair or would have bought all in my size!
Have a wonderful trip.
crystal:)
Oh, I love the dress! Very cute! Have a blast!!
Adorable dress! It is very cute. Good luck on your procrastinated to do list – from another dumpster-diving midwestern Karla (I am never sure where Oklahoma fits) who also has trailer trash roots.
I don’t think your dress will be too “young” looking at all! I just bet you will be lovely! Hope you have a great time!! Love the wands from the previous post too!
Barbara
I’m pretty sure a dumpster diving midwestern artist is exactly what Palm Springs needs to shake things up:>) The dress is beautiful, I hope you have a really great time!
Love that smile on Twinkle! Have a great trip. The dress is lovely – I like the black jacket with it.
Karla
Have fun at Palm Springs.
Alison
I used to live in Santa Barbara and Isla Vista. Love California, especially San Diego (I was in the Comic Convention there or Comic Con because I helped with some inking on a comic book that was in the making.) It’s huge. For the first 3 days only the artists are let in. The Simpson’s television show artist did a promotional piece for my son’s birthday. I got so much stuff all signed and remarked FREE that I threw all the clothes out of my suitcase to protect the art. I got home and they called telling me I’d won the limited addition platinum Spiderman Watch-very valuable and of a short run of like 50, my certificate shows it to be #1. I gave it to the other son who is still mad that his little brother got the Simpsons drawings.
Have a ball, wish I was going with you 🙂 Wish this had spell check!
Pam
I am a dumpster diver too! People call me crazy but I find great stuff! Have a great time at your getaway!! Sounds like fun and I am sure you will be the belle of the ball! I can’t wait to get the recipe books…you and Beth have put so much time and wonderful energy into them – they will surely be treasured keepsakes!
-Lolly
That dress is gorgeous, love the flirty little hem line, don’t you dare ruin it by covering it up with a cardi thingy! You need a stunning necklace, little evening bag and you will be fine. Oh and cute shoes by the way. Have fun:) Rachael
You will be adorable! Have a great time!
Aaaaah! THE shoes…they are gorgeous and so is your dress, if it’s not cold you shouldn’t wear a jacket in my (modest but honest) opinion. Have a wonderful time in Palm Springs! Enjoy!
I love your creation. Have a wonderful time at the spa, I love your dress. When you return rested an relaxed…you’ll be full of energy to tackle organization. Enjoy. Karen
Hey my little cutie patootie, your dress and snazzy new sandals are adorable! But, just to give you a heads up….it’s freezing in PS right now! Like 50ish tops during the day and much colder at night. Remember deserts aren’t always hot, so bring some warm cozy clothes too. Just in case. Although compared to your freezing temps, 50 might be “hot” for you! Lol.
Hugs,
H
You go and have a great time…black can be worn anytime, anywhere and you can fit in…I should know, I’m from NY and it’s all we wear here!
In love with that dress. You must show a photo of you in it.
You’ll be fine on the trip. What concerns me more is that Kansas obviously doesn’t value a handwritten form. I’ll never move to Kansas!
Have a great time on your trip! I bet you have a blast!!
Michelle
Have a fabulous trip to Palm Springs. I hope it’s sunny and warm for you. The dress is beautiful – I love the belt and tiny dots.
Lorrie
I love the intent look upon your face in that dumpster – must’ve been some buried junquey treasure there! You make me feel better about my own antics- I did the long way home tonight – you know it’s trash night in the burbs and these people don’t have much junque, but I manage! I’ll be watching Project Runway tonight & crafting! Enjoy your trip! Kelley
The black top is cute and looks good with the dress. You will look great!
Have fun and keep us posted!
Hi Karla…I just discovered your blog and am enjoying reading and looking at your pics! Very cute dress! Just to warn you…I live in So. California and it is definitely NOT “sunny and warm” right now…so make sure you bring some cozies! We have rain for the next several days, with snow way down to the 2000 ft level..highs in P.S. in 50’s and at night down to very low 40’s! Warmer there than where I live..30’s here at night…Our mountains are measuring snow in the FEET…have fun but stay warm!!
Karla,
You will be the toast of the Country Club in that darling black dress with those too cute shoes. Can’t wait to see the pictures!
Have fun and come back!!!!
Hugs,
Carol
Love the black jacket over the dress, you are going to look darling, and as long as you feel good, who cares what the other people think!! Just enjoy every minute of it and you do fit in and deserve the royal treatment!!! You are a star (bright and shining!!) in the blog world, just remember that!!
Have a great time in Palm Springs, it is one of my top favorite get away places. The new dress will look terrific there. Remember it can get pretty cool in the evenings in the desert so those jackets or a wrap will come in handy.
Darla
You will look beautiful in that dress.Have fun…Smiles
Yikes, Karla! If you read this before you go, take an umbrella and coat. Sunny SoCal is having rain this week and next. It’s supposed to be 55 in Palm Springs, tomorrow, which isn’t cold based on your standards, but you do need more than a light sweater.
Hope you have a great time. I don’t think it’s raining in Palm Springs.
~elaine~
I saw a couple of the girls commented on our weather in so cal. 🙁 I really hope it clears up while you’re here…maybe you can wave one of your magic wands…
On the plus side, your dress is great!!!You’re going to look beautiful. Have a great time!
Samantha
Karla, I think that dress is awesome and if anything it’s still too old for you… You got it going on and can show some cleave….throw a black sparkly shawl over it that you can let drape sassily down your shoulders and have a great time…!!!!!!
Jen R
One of the first pictures I ever saw of you was of you dumpster diving! It would be fun to see you in a dress. I think the ivory cardigan would look really sweet with it! Enjoy the CA weather! 50 degrees is better than 10.
Dumpster diving is a great thing!
Have a wonderful time in Palm Springs..
Michelle
Have a wonderful time in P.S.!
I hope the weather is nothing short of fantastic for you!
Priscilla
Karla, have a great time and I really like the dress.
Karen
Have a great time at the spa. Relax, unwind, decompress. I’m so envious!
Oh, Karla
enjoy your trip, have a wonderful relaxing time here in California, we are freezing up
North, colder than usual but probably not as cold as Kansas…….Pinkie Denise
Karla, i hope you have a wonderful time on your trip:) your polka~dot dress is darling, i esp like it with the little black jacket, too cute!!!
Karla,
That dress is not too young- perfect. I like the idea of a shawl but if it is too cold – I like the black shirt over it.
Now you have some extra money to go junk hunting! Score. “Why yes honey this dress was 175.00, I have money to spare” lol!
Have fun!
Cheryl
Karla, After three weeks apart I don’t think hubby will notice your new outfits much!!!LOL Great dress! Your doggy is hilarious in how she/he poses!! P.S. The trailer parks in my city are very, very pretty ones, tell sis she needs to head North of Indi. aways they get much better. Love, Lori
You have a pretty black dress,cute little sandals and are going to warmer weather,have a wonderful trip!!
Karla, have a great time on your trip! I’m so inspired by your cleaning efforts that I might take down my Christmas tree also!
Have fun-Stacy
Hi Karla,
I was just about to say bring a jacket because it’s cold and wet out here! Glad to see you got the word. Have fun in the Springs 🙂
Hugs,
Dena
Your dress is great! Perfect “little black dress and you are NOT too old for it! Love the sandles you got, too. Have a great time in the sun, hopefully the California cold front will move out quickly.
Have a great time on your trip. Your dress is beautiful.
You have everything prepared.A enjoy!!!
have a wonderful time!
Yes, but it was my trailer you lived in!
Love,
Your Sister
Have a great trip! I don’t care how cold CA is, it sounds warm to us here doesn’t it! My van was showing -1, then 0 then, -2 every few minutes this morning on my drive to preschool. I guess when it’s this cold even the thermometers don’t know what to do lol! Enjoy!
Yikes! You said you bought some silver beaded thongs. In California, we call those string bikini panties thongs and the sandals are flip flops. LOL Seriously, a teacher got in trouble at our high school for making a girl go home because of her thongs. He meant her sandals and her mom thought he meant her panties. LOL
HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!! You’ve already left, I’m sure, but I hope you have a fabulous, relaxing time… and warm up a bit! See you on the flip side! (I’m a dork.)
Hope you have a wonderful trip Karla! What a fun time for you and hubby especially since he has been away for awhile. Beautiful dress!
Your dorkie looks so cute in that picture. :)))
xo Heather
Karla, I absolutely love the dress – you’ll look smashing dahling!
Love the dress(and the blingy flops) have fun for us all!!!
Karla,
I’m so happy to check in finally and see what you have been up to! The dress is lovely and I hope that you have a ball. Missed you!
Love,
Julie
I love the polka-dot dress any way you dress it up! You have a very nice waistline Karla…I guess I need a fairy grandbaby to help find mine LOL! Your artwork is great as usual…I love the navy…are you sure you did that? 🙂 Have fun! Remember us peons who have to stay home and read blogs for fun 🙂
Your dress is beautful…hope you have so much fun at the spa!!!
Have a blessed day!
smiles, kari & kijsa
Love your dress…hope you have so much fun at the spa…
Have a blessed day!
smiles, kari & kijsa
I just told someone the other day, that I never feel like I fit in anywhere, so I know that feeling, but Karla, you have such a wonderful way about you. Open, and kind to everyone. I think that you’ll fit in, just fine.
I love your dress, and think it’s going to be very pretty on you!
Your dress is just perfect! Love it. Have a super, wonderful, sunny time on your trip to the spa. Sounds heavenly! Amy
I adore the dress…the black wrap is awesome..
and shoes!! woohoo
I love J Jill too..great t’s
Have an AWESOME time!!
deena
Glad to hear you get to relax. I’ve been trying to catch up with what you’ve been doing. Wow, you need to rest and relax.
That dress is adorable. DO NOT COVER IT UP if the weather is good. You’ll look absolutely beautiful. I hope you’ll have a fantastic time! Enjoy.
Just discovered your site. I can’t seem to get away from the computer as discovering other bloggers also. Love reading what everyone has to say and picking up some new ideas to decorate my home. I also like to craft. Have been making christmas crafts and ornaments and for christmas craft shows for the past 7 years. So great to see that other people share the same interest. Makes me want to set up my own blog. New to this so I’m hesitant as I don’t know where to begin.
Once again your site is fabulous.
I’m sure whatever you’re doing at any given moment is what you should be doing. When your inner muse speaks to you, its often wise to listen. Love the dress! Pretty. Have a great time.
May I borrow a magic wand to clean my house? Sure would be helpful.
Love the dress. What a deal. I’m sure you’ll fit right in.
Hugs,
Nan
You look good to go Karla! Can’t wait for the pics!!
xo
Mary
Loved the outfit and the shoes…..especially the ones on the ..”right” in the photo.
Okay well my sister and I have a “term” that we use sometimes…regarding…ummm…”family” or
such and we throw in some of the area we grew up in and our roots and whatever we are in the mood for and we say something like…..”Counciltucky Trailer Trash”…there you have it. Maybe you could adapt some new name some way that wouldn’t be so bad for yourself. :~) HA!
love coming to your blog and catching a smile!
hugz
Lovely!
Cathy