Hoppy Easter!

celebrations, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, Food and Drink, holiday decor, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / April 12, 2009

Happy Easter! We've had a fun one so far, lots of egg hunting excitement, and we've decided that instead of Sugarwings, the fairy grand baby's new name is "Sugar Rush".

She might have had one too many jelly beans today! Although, her Daddy did buy organic ones and only hid one treat in each egg, she was insistant on opening them up and devouring the treat the moment she found it.

After all the eggscitement, she has been tucked in for a nap (well, we HOPE she'll take a nap- tucking in Miss Sugar Rush was like trying to convince a Tasmanian Devil to get some rest).

We are having a small dinner tonight, only about 9 of us, so we'll fit in the dining room. I didn't have to clean the studio after all!

My Handsome Husband is smoking a pork tenderloin, stuffed with apples and brown sugar plus a turkey breast, I am making baked mac and cheese, and Sugarwing's Daddy has whipped up vegetarian beans in the crock pot. My sister-in-law is bringing some other dishes. Aren't pitch ins the best meals ever?

Sugarwings did her part of preparing dinner by helping to decorate this cake. And it has taken over her mind, even with all the jelly beans she has consumed, all she can think about is this cake she created. Every other sentence she speaks includes something about Easter Bunny Birthday Cake.

And I don't blame her! This cake is a candy lover's dream! Sprinkles in the batter, as well as 3 kinds of sprinkles on top, 4 colors of sprinkled sugar, edible glitter, peeps, and little coconut nests filled with Cadbury eggs. I can't wait either!

Here is a tip for making coconut nests, I had never done it before, but figured out how to do it.

Mix one cup of sweetened, flaked coconut with a few drops of green food coloring

Add a splash of milk

Stir in a 1/4 cup of powdered sugar

The trick to make it work, was the powdered sugar, that and the milk make the coconut easy to form into nests. Kind of like play dough.

My home is now covered in pink Easter grass, but I think I kind of like it. I was going to clean it up before dinner, but its festive, so I'll probably leave it all over the floor. But I do need to go and put together my mac and cheese casserole and set the table. I hope you are having a wonderful holiday too!

This one is all about the FOOD

celebrations, Food and Drink, Moving to DC

By Karla Nathan / April 5, 2009

As wonderful as so many things about my week in Virginiahave been, I have to say that the food at the Tower Club was one of the highlights! Right up there with the day we spent in Gettysburg (no, I'm not a Civil War buff, but man, that Cyclorama!!! What a painting, that painted battle scene was like magic, it comes to life with a light show).

But how many restaurants have a view like this?

And special treatments like this? Our name was on the mints when we got to the table. Now, I might just be a country hick, but I was sure impressed.

And yes, a country hick would photograph all the food. The waitress remembered me from the last time I was there a year ago. Apparently, not a lot of people take pictures before they take bites.

I had scallops as a starter, followed by Caesar salad prepared table side. Anything made table side is always extra good!!!

See why I pulled out the camera? Lobster and fillet, nothing prettier. Not even the foofiest of flowery hats! (oh, and I have been in top hat whispering form, and filled a SUITCASE with flowers! photos when I get home)

Since I'd been there before, I knew what a treat the coffee was. So I had the Baileys and coffee in place of dessert.

Was it rude of me to dip my spoon in the whip cream, then in the chocolate shavings and eat both little bowlful?

Then, yippee!! Treats to go with the coffee, as a surprise! (That mini hamburger looking thing was really tasty)

Hip Hip Hooray!

celebrations, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), give away, holiday decor, Miss Frenchie's

By Karla Nathan / March 4, 2009

"I did it, I did it!! Yippee, Hip- Hip- Hooray!"

I am quoting Sugarwings there, that is what she says when she is proud of something she did. I was telling Beth today while we were working, that its too bad we don't cheer ourselves on more as adults the way a 2 year old does. You can learn a lot from a toddler. They take so much joy in small accomplishments. Sugarwings gives herself a good old, hop-hip-hooray quite a few times a day. I've adopted her habit and have taken on that chant, it really makes the day more exciting.

So, here is a hip-hip-hooray to myself for hitting 500! And a thanks to all of you who take the time out of your day to visit. As a thank you, I drew a name from comments on post #499 to send out a pair of earrings to:

Gail Horowitz

I was looking through a list of things I'd been giving away over the last couple of years, and believe it or not, I've passed out more than 50 prizes. Which averages one every ten posts. Geez, I had no idea I was able to ~~get rid of so much crap and clutter around the studio,~~ I mean, gift things to so many of my friends.

Twinks took time to chase bunnies today, that was a good sign she is getting over her pups leaving. Its good to have hobbies.

Beth and I SEWED today. We decided we wanted our tables for Miss Frenchie's saleon April 17th to look professional, so we made table skirts. I had some ticking that I had dyed to look old and she had a tub of ivory table clothes. As soon as we saw each other's stuff, we traded! I made a "collaged" skirt, as she was calling it, from a hodge podge of whites and creams and lace and pillow cases, and doilies and curtains.

This picture is of the skirt, in progress. A far cry from the ticking stripe I started with, huh?

Yesterday, I spent about 12 hours in the studio all alone with my papers, glitter, and glue.

Do you ever have one of those days where you just slide into your zone? Well, today's sewing project sure wasn't one of them, but yesterday's glue fest was.

My favorite part of the day was sugaring the little lambs and bunnies and chicks. My fingers were all goobered up and stuck together with glitter and glue, but in a fun way. It had been too long since I'd had the glitter out. I'd been missing it, and didn't even realize.

I'm going to have to raise the glitter quotient in my life back up to a respectable level. Some sparkle and that self cheering I learned from my fairy grand baby are a couple of things that can take a blah day and turn it into something a little more special.

Or is it just weird that I sit for a dozen hours in my studio with my fingers all glommed together, yelling out "Hip- Hip- Hooray, I did it, I did it!!"?

PS- Beth is having a good Giveaway , you should check it out.

This is the post to comment on for the 500th giveaway prize (yea, I know, not a very clever title, but it did get your attention, right?)

antiques/junking, celebrations, Etsy Goodies, give away, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 1, 2009

Wow, what an outpouring of caring and sympathy from everyone about the last pup going on to her new life. Thanks so much, to all of you. I think we will all miss those little furry sweethearts, won't we?

Sugarwings got a little extra attention, although it is hard to give her any extra attention, when she already gets it ALL. I took her to Toddler Tumbling for the morning and my handsome husband splashed with her at the indoor pool for the afternoon. She played hard and wore herself out, I think that helped her cope with losing the puppy. I'm trying the same thing with Twinkle. She is still searching everywhere for the babies, so we've spent a lot of time throwing the squeaky toys for her to chase and be distracted.

Me too! I'm keeping busy myself. I actually had some studio time, which I have really missed. Today, I made this pedestal from a hankie box, a salvaged bit of a chair leg, some trim, wallpaper, millinery blooms and fringed trim.

The lingerie box in the first photo was from a flea market I went to yesterday. Today, I plucked some blooms from my hat garden and foofed it up a bit. I might line the interior with wallpapers, but am not sure yet. I just love the old rose printed cotton fabric on the top of it.

There was a tiny bit of trim from the pedestal left, so of course I couldn't waste it! So I edged out the bottom of an 8" shipping tag with it and then started decking it out. This is listed in my Boutique right now for $9 and has lots of vintage goodies in its makeup!

Remember last week when I bought the boxes of tid bits from an assemblage artist's sale? The curly-que metal bracket on the top of this wallpapered covered box is from that. I started this box before Christmas at a craft day with friends, and didn't feel inspired to finish it, until I found that metal piece in my goodie box last week. My craft pals were coming back out to visit, so this was the perfect time to pull it out and get it done.

The little doll was a gift from my friend, Jenn, and I turned it into a fairy princess with a millinery flower petal skirt, and an old rhinestone earring made into a crown. Oh, and of course, some wings. These are a pair of feathered wings from Michael's that I cut down to fit this teeny baby. She is hanging from a fishing line to a screw I added to the top of the box. The screw is hidden under an old button.

And what would be the best thing to make a nest for the fairy to sleep in, but an old corsage with some shredded paper! If I was a fairy, I'd want to sleep there.

Speaking of Jenn, she sent this elf to me, just out of the blue after I gave her a little painting advice! How sweet was that?

This surprise arrived in the mail too, from Coddy, who I met in Virginia for a flea market day last fall. My pal, Robinwas there too and Coddy sent her a similar bracelet. It sounds like Coddy, is planning to start a blog, I'll let you know if she does! She makes these bracelets from seashells, and it looks pretty intricately done. Sugarwings saw it and called it a Mermaid bracelet, I think that is a good description!

Isn't this a pretty find? I've discovered that a lot of you love old brooches as much as I do, and I am filling the shop up with a variety of them. This one is only about 1" long and is extremely delicate, yet still sturdy enough to wear.

The next post will be my 500TH!!!!!!! Geez, how did so many go by so fast? Probably because I never shut up….So, I'll have a special giveaway for that. Not these earrings, they belong to:

Kerryanne as the winner of the February giveaway!

I'll chose another pair of earrings for the anniversary giveaway. So, now onto the 500th post giveaway, if you'd like the yet to be determined pair of earrings.

I'm going to do this a bit different than my usual way. For this you have to:

Leave a comment on THIS POST. I'll let you know who the winner is on the actual 500th post itself.

Join me in the studio!

celebrations, fairies, family

By Karla Nathan / February 16, 2009

mini studio tour
Originally uploaded by Karla's Cottage

Here is a quickie video of my studio. I called it "Part One" as I was making it, but I was able to fit the whole room in and don't know if a part two is neccessary. If you'd like to see more, let me know.

I've shown lots of photos of the room before, but the odd way I have it laid out, makes it hard for everyone to picture altogether. So, I thought I'd give you a little mini tour.

Today is my Mom's birthday. I miss her all the time, but even more today. She is a person who understood the love of a good work room! Mom was a quilter and could spend hours in her basement sewing room. ( under the vintage card is a quilt that she made for me).

At the end of her life, she was in the hospital for months, very ill and weak. Watching her in her final weeks, I saw that the most simple of pleasures, like having a loved one near by, sharing a laugh, and the sweet taste of a favorite treat are the true treasures in life. The joy on her face when my sisters and I fed her a bite of canned Mandarin oranges, brought tears to my eyes. She didn't have much of an appetite and was tiring of hospital food, so we brought her cans of oranges, one thing she had always enjoyed.

The oranges weren't something fancy or exotic, but were special to her. The simplicity of the food itself kind of became a symbol to me. It made me remember to appreciate life's little perks.

So, when she died, I scooped up a can of oranges that was left on her table.

Today, for her birthday, I wanted to make the can into something I could use. After emptying it, I took off the label and glued it to the inside of the can, and then looked through old books for some words that reminded me of her. I found this little poem about a daughter sitting at her mother's feet while she sewed, and that was just perfect! (I've got lots of memories of sitting under the sewing machine and playing with fabric scraps)

Mom loved fairies as much as I do, so I drew and colored, and sparkled two sets of wings and glued them to a picture of her cut from a copy of an old photo. The first pair, I glued down, the second, I bent up for a 3-D effect.

With a green sparkle marker that Sissy gave me, I colored the dress Mom is wearing. I chose green for the rick rack that I lined the edges of the cans too, because that was her favorite color.

As soon as the glue is dried, I will fill it with sparkly marker pens and keep it on my desk, in my studio, since that is such a special place for me. I feel close to her there, knowing how happy she was in her own workroom.

A Noodle Flinging Sweetheart

celebrations, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, give away, Sugarwings, swaps

By Karla Nathan / February 15, 2009

I hope everyone had a lovely Valentines Day! Mine was great, I can't imagine a more fun day. We had Sugarwings till noon, then I played with puppies and afterwards, went junking a bit and met up with my husband to go see a movie (Taken- very gripping and scary) , then pick up Thai food (there was no way we could fight the lines to go to a restaurant!!) and ate it while watching a rented movie (My Best Friend's Girlfriend- predictable and stupid, but had its fun moments, I like dumb comedies).

This photo is from Bella's new family. Yes, one puppy is gone already. It was hard to let her go, but she is just down the road at Teddy's house, so I will get to keep up with her and see her as she grows up.

These roses are a custom order for someone, I thought they'd be pretty to show for Valentine's Day, even though that was yesterday. I usually consider a holiday to last a bit longer than just the one day. We celebrated Friday night too, and I guess I will just consider this "Valentine Weekend".

For Friday night's celebration, we took the whole family to a Japanese steakhouse. Sugarwings thought the fire was a little scary, but really got into the chef throwing shrimp into everyone's mouths. She was kind enough to share too, and thought she'd toss him one of her noodles.

We've had to move the puppies out of their pond and make a barricade for them in the studio, they have already gotten big enough to climb out of the wading pool! I made a couple little videos of them if you'd like to see the fluffy babies in action, go here.

I also made a studio tour video, but it was too big to load. I need to figure out just how long they can be, because it really was pretty short. But too long for Flickr I guess. Maybe YouTube allows more time, I should try there.

This little noodle flinger was her Daddy's Valentine Sweetie.

Oh- I forgot to announce the winner of my 2 year Blog Anniversary! It is

LYNNE

Please send me your address, Lynne, and I will get your gift in the mail. Thanks everyone for commenting and coming by to visit! Please remember that you can still enter the February giveaway by leaving a comment on any post.

If you'd like to visit some blogs who are featuring photos of our Puppy Love Tag Book Swap, here is a list of swappers who have sent me links. If you are showing your book on your blog, please let me know and I'll add you to the list.

Sheila-

http://www.blessedanddistressed.blogspot.com/

Cheryl –

http://insidethebubble.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/02/the-puppies-have-arrived.html#comments

Gretchen –

www.mimitoriasdesigns.blogspot.com

Meleen –

http://passionatedetails.typepad.com/

Robin –

http://thriftymissprissy.typepad.com/thrifty_miss_priss/2009/02/puppy-love-and-friday-the-13th.html#comments

Kana –

http://kanacreates.blogspot.com/2009/02/puppy-love-arrives.html?showComment=1234533240000#c5418216385443080485

Andrea –

www.vintagebellastudio.blogspot.com

Dawn-

http://gahangirls.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-tags-are-here-my-tags-are-here.html

Christa-

http://chloerosedesigns.blogspot.com/2009/02/sweetheart-of-package-in-mailbox.html

Nancy-

Http://wwwnancymatters.blogspot.com

Marilee-

http://rose-brier.blogspot.com:80/

Jenny-

http://fatedfollies.blogspot.com:80/2009/02/romancing-blog-valentines-day-party.html

Marilyn-

http://marilynbutler.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-puppy-love-tag-book.html

Carla-

http://myvintagevignettes.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-puppy-valentines.html

Karoline-

http://cherishedvintage.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-very-own-puppy-love-tag-book.html

Tiffany-

http://shabbyscraps.typepad.com/shabbyscraps/2009/02/americas-got-talent.html

Jeanie-

http://themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com/2009/02/puppy-love-and-one-world-winners.html

Cheryl-

http://fromthepines.blogspot.com:80/2009/02/puppy-love-book.html

A Table Top Party (I’ve danced on a few tables, haven’t you?)

celebrations, Etsy Goodies, holiday decor, parties, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / February 12, 2009

Its been a long time since I attended a blog party! Today, Cindy is hosting a Center Piece party.

Which is fitting for me, because my very first post was a picture of a Valentine brunch I was having that day for my friends, 2 years ago Feb. 14th.

Also, Cindy was one of the first, "WOW" blogs that I came across. And she just gets better and better all the time.

Join me in attending her centerpiece party, and go check out her blog for addresses of other table scapes to see. I'll bet there will be some romantic inspirations for this weekend's Valentine celebrations.

This first table I am showing you is in my studio, and I've gathered up pretty Valentine themed (or colored) gifts from my sweet swap friends.

To the gifts, I added a cherry covered old hat. Isn't it supposed to be bad luck to have a hat on the table? If so, I am in TROUBLE, I do this a lot, but then, I just love old hats. Sometimes, I think that old wives tales and superstitions started for a reason. Like, maybe it was unsanitary to have a greasy, dirty hat on a table where people eat. Or if you walk under a ladder you could knock over the person standing on it and hurt them. Or a broken mirror was sharp and dangerous and telling kids they were bad luck to break maybe kept them from play ing with them?

But maybe that subject is better for Friday the 13th coming up tomorrow?

In my studio, I have two dining tables. I use them for "clean" work, like sorting or sewing, or piling crap up. Not painting or gluing. I actually try to keep at least one set up nice for when company drops by to visit me in the studio. Since we've had puppies out here, I've had lots of visitors come by lately.

(I really should clear off the top of that buffet a bit, I end up piling pretties there and it gets to the point where it is just a jumble)

Table scapes need to look good from each side! I plan them out, so that each person sitting at the table has something interesting in front of them.

The tables in my studio are usually filled with things I happen to have around, supplies, millinery flowers, jewels, pulled together with a color theme onto a tray, mirror, or series of doilies. I like to have my supplies out where I can see and enjoy them. Out of sight, out of mind, is a true saying. If I put things away, I never use them.

Thanks, Cindy for hosting this get together! I look forward to getting around to the blogs she has links to and seeing all the inspiring tables.

Of course, it is hard to beat a center piece that is all crafting goodies! My friend, Angie, invited me over last night for a Valentine making party.

She supplied wine, cupcakes, chocolate and all the Valentine's supplies you could ever need!

There was some gorgeous rose printed fabric to cut into, so I tried something different and clipped around the roses, then glued the fabric to sheet music that I had covered this mini journal in.

Then, I outlined the fabric's edge in soft tan marker to make a shadow, inked the edges of the book and tied it all up in a ribbon with a small tag and a flower. This was my Valentine to Angie for hosting the party.

Then I made a couple blank note cards. (these are listed on Etsy, $8 for a pair)

This tag is going to my pal, Heather, for some help she gave me on my website. I could not have set it up without her. Or without Beth. I really OWE her a big one too, she deciphered the web speak of the site and explained it all to me.

The little tags tied to this project and the mini journal came from Beth too. She'd made up a bagful for me to use, and I tied quite a few to the Puppy Love Swap tag books.

This darling little Sugarwings pen was a gift from a swapper too! How cute is that? I hear that the books are arriving, and everyone sounds pleased so far. As soon as I get a list of blogs that are showing the books, I'll post links here.

Saturday the 14th is my 2 year blog anniversary and I will be having a drawing for one of these Millefiori glass heart charms. This one is listed in my Boutique, along with 3 others. I have one more for the February giveaway too.

Now that the swap is over, I actually had time to list some stuff to sell in the Boutiqueand on Etsy!

Mostly, I added lots of millinery. I noticed that I was low on wallpaper too, and hope to make some up for next week. Thanks so much to all of you who shop there!

Now, go check out Cindy's Romantic Home and her beautiful table tops!

More Puppy Love, a list of LOOT, and a Valentine’s Swap

celebrations, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), give away, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / January 8, 2009

You didn't' think I could go more than one post without showing puppies did you? You guys are going to be so sick of my puppy photos by the time they go to their new homes. I'll have a reputation of being "that boring dog blog".

But I know that there are some of you who are feeling the Puppy Love too, so here's an idea……

How about a Puppy Love swap for Valentine's Day??

Of course, "puppy love" also means young love, so your contributions don't have to be dog related at all.

Lets make a tag book. You send me 6 tags and I will make a cover, then assemble the book. Everyone will receive a 7 tag book back.

Valentine's Day is my two year blog anniversary, the puppies will be about old enough to go to their new homes then, too. It seems fitting to have this theme for my swap. What do you think?

Oh geez, this means I need to make a button, doesn't it? I'm so inept at that. Lately, tech stuff has been getting the better of me. My buddy, Beth, has bailed me out and is helping me with getting my website going, thank goodness.

And maybe some of you wonder why I am making dozens of tags for book covers instead of making things to fill my new website or list on Etsy or sell at Miss Frenchie's in April? Beats me, it isn't a smart business choice, that is for sure. But doesn't the swap sound fun?

Here is a recap of Karla's Cottage goings ons and LOOT:

Yes, there is a giveaway for January, that I keep forgetting to announce. Lets solve that and just call it a SURPRISE GIVEAWAY! Just always count on me giving at least one present each month, all comments are entered into the monthly drawing.
Swap sign ups are first come first serve. I'll start making some tag covers for the book and see how many I can handle before I put a limit on the entries. The last couple of swaps I did filled fast, so enter soon!
There will be a name a puppy contest. With a PRIZE (to be named later, or shall we just call that one a SURPRISE PRIZE too?) We'll need to get to know these guys a little better before we can name them.
There will be a, you guessed it, a SURPRISE PRIZE for my two year blog anniversary on Valentine's Day too. (I need to make some stuff for these prizes, huh?)

And while we are on the subject of pups and love, here is Teddy meeting his babies for the first time. Twinkle is not as fond of him as she was a couple months ago.

Are you wanting swap details? Here they are. And email me if you are interested in joining. I hope you'll want to play, it will be a fun one, and a pretty simple one to make. The turn around time is about a month, but 6 little tags are quick to do.

Puppy Love

For this swap, you will make 6 tags, with the theme of “puppy love”. Dogs, sweethearts, young love, however you wish to interpret it is fine.

Decorate the tags in any way you wish, but please do not add ribbons to the hole, that is where I will connect 6 random tags to make a book for you, using my own ribbons and baubles.

You can add embellishments or ties or ribbons to the bottom of the tag, foof it up as much as you’d like!

Please use tags approximately 4 ½” by 2 ½”. You don’t have to be exact with this, but do try to be in that ballpark, so that your tag will fit well into the books. You can be an inch or so bigger or smaller, but not much more than that. Variety is quite nice, but if your tag is too far off, it won’t work with the books.

You are welcome to cut your tag out of any material you want to use. You DO NOT have to use a pre-made tag, you can fabricate your own. Fabric, metal, chipboard, etc, feel free to experiment!

You are welcome to finish both sides of the tags as elaborate as you’d like to, but only have to do one side, if that is all time allows you.

Please sign your tag, so the recipient will know whose work they are enjoying!

Once tags arrive at my cottage, I will sort them into piles that look cute together and assemble books from 6 different tags, plus a cover by myself. Some covers will be hand made, some will be copies, it will be a random mix, depending upon how many I need to make! And you might receive your own tag back in the book that I make for you, you might not. I’m sure you’ll be proud of it and how it looks with the other pretty tags so will be happy to get it as part of a book, if that happens.

Please have your 6 tags to my studio by February 5^th to be included in the books for Valentine’s Day.

Along with your tags, please send $6 for postage and supplies plus your return address.

An Elf Celebration

celebrations, family, Food and Drink, holiday decor, parties, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / January 2, 2009

Today we had an Elf Celebration. Sugarwings was so excited, and talked about it all day yesterday, she just couldn't wait. She thought it was the elf's birthday and sang Happy Birthday all morning.

She and I drew an elf, then painted and cut it to copy onto this little rhyme that I wrote about the party's theme, then we made up gift bags for the kids who were coming over.

Each small guest got some treats, a black and white copy of the elf picture to color, and an elf of their own.

I have had a fondness for these cuties since I was a kid and have a big collection of them, that I was happy to share with my friends today.

We started with edible snowflakes, cut from soft flour tortillas. The idea was to saute the cut tortillas in butter and add powdered sugar and color sugar sprinkles, but my little fairy grand baby enjoyed snacking on the corners she cut out of her creation. She also really got into dumping colored sugars onto the finished product.

There were lots of other goodies to eat, along with sparkling fruit juice in glasses you could toast with.

At Michael's after Christmas sale, I bought lots of supplies to make elf hats for 75% off, and rolls of snowman wrapping paper to use as table clothes.

The work could be pretty serious at times.

But at others, jumping up and down was called for. Sugarwings was a blur most of the day. My friends are a bit shocked at how much energy that little one has coiled up inside of her. She is always on the go!

But, with her buddy, Julia's help, she slowed down enough to get a elf hat completed.

Shawn's daughter, Bethany made a really cute hat. She is an accomplished crafter and when Shawn comes out for a craft day, I always know that Bethany will create something sweet.

Max made a snow guy hat. And asked me to paint a matching snowman on his face.

When it was Sugarwing's turn for some face painting, she turned the tables and painted me instead.

We both ended up painted, although, most of my paint is on my saggy, baggy, old lady neck and when I look down, like in this photo, it is hidden.

I just can't imagine a more fun way to spend a morning. Time to sit and talk with best friends while drinking coffees and eating quiche, hot Cinnamon rolls and crunchy snowflakes, then crafting elf hats with some of my other, smaller pals. This is a good start to the new year, I can't wait to see what other fun is waiting for me in 2009!

edit- Shawn has a great camera and just sent me photos from today, so I am adding them on-

OK little girl, let’s give someone else a turn!

celebrations, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, holiday decor, paintings, Sugarwings, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / December 23, 2008

We took Sugarwings to see Santa today and she wouldn't leave him alone. She sat there on his lap and waited for the Mermaid doll she asked for. Finally, she got down for the bribe of a candy cane, but then went back and got another candy cane to give to Santa. Then went back for another sit on his lap. Then for another hug. It looked like St. Nick was enjoying her visit, I think it might be nice for him to have someone with no fear come to hang out a while.

I think this little one loves Christmas as much as her Grammy does.

She stopped to speak to every single Santa she saw at the mall.

And she didn't think it would hurt to put in a word with the giant cow for that doll she wanted.

When I got back from my trip, there was a stack of packages waiting for me! One was from a sweet reader pal, Jean, who lives in Virginia.

Not only were there surprises for Sugarwings, she sent me some treats too, including a box of these white doves.

I've added the glass doves to the dining room chandelier along with other birdies and some snowflakes I have received this year. They might just all stay there a while after the holidays as more "winter decor" than Christmas decorations.

One of the snowflakes was from Tiffany, a Silver Bella pal. I'd ordered this cute little bottle of Christmas wishes from her shop, and she sent along lots of pretties, including this card. It brings back memories of a class we took together in Omaha, where she was helping me with using hot wax over parts of my project. I really like the way she has applied wax over the scene in the center of the card.

Previously, I had shown you some of my little paintings that I was making into cards. Here are a few (of the dozens) that I made while in the hotel room.

And in case you were feeling sorry for the poor dorkies, at home alone while I was out on a fabulous vacation, they had some fun while I was gone. Twinks was invited over to stay at the farm where her true love, Teddy lives. And the other two dogs were so happy to have Twinkle away and not bothering them, they felt like a queen and king with the whole house to themselves. (Twinks can be a little bossy)

I'm off to go work on my Christmas shopping. Typically, I am not a last minute shopper. When my kids were little, we used to love to go to the mall on Christmas Eve and eat lunch at the food court while we watched all the crazed last minute buying, and I'd bask in a warm glow from the knoweldge that my packages were wrapped and under the tree. Not this year!

I hope all of you are having a lovely holiday week. Merry Christmas to all of you from Sugarwings and I.