Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers) – Page 27

Garden helpers and purple posies

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, flowers, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / May 7, 2008

Another beautiful Spring day around here. I am spending it in the studio working on a project for Vintage Workshop. (but with all the windows and doors open to enjoy the day!)

I downloaded images from Vintage Workshop last night. Once I got started, I got a bit carried away and ended up spending hours playing around with different sizes, color settings, etc. I now have such a big stack of images to use, I could fill 3 books instead of the one I planned on making!

I also got some jewelry listed on Etsy. Did I mention that when I packed up for the art show I was in last weekend, I forgot to pack up all the new jewelry I had made just for the show???

Anyway, it is now available on Etsy. I’ll be listing more as the week goes on, so far there are two necklaces and one bracelet.

Why does listing seem like more work than making the item to start with??

Today, I might be indoors working, but yesterday, I had a perfectly beautiful afternoon outside planting flowers with all my little helpers.

We planted a lot of purple, I have an upcoming photo shoot with Carol for Fifi at Romantic Country in a few weeks and will need fresh flowers to pick.

The article we will be doing is supposed to be for fall, but it will be shot outdoors in the spring.

So, I planted a lot of cool season flowers that bloom Spring and Fall both: Pansies, stock, violets, and ornamental cabbage.

Being the thrifty soul that I am, I know it is much cheaper to pick your own flowers then to buy an arrangement.

And the smaller the plant you start with the cheaper it is. So, I bought flats of annuals, and set them out now. They have time to grow and will be ready to pick and arrange when it is time for the pictures in a few weeks. Right now it all looks a bit spindly, but with a little sunshine and some time, these will be perfect for our theme.

Sugarwings and I took a ride on the John Deere out on our 10acres, scouting out a good spot for the photos. (Twinkle ran along behind us the whole way)

I am thinking this is a lovely spot for an outdoor picnic. Do you think it will be picturesque enough, once Carol does her magic and brings all of her tables and props?

April Showers Bring May Flowers

celebrations, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, give away, jewelry

By Karla Nathan / May 6, 2008

Thanks so much for all your birthday well wishes!! I even got cards in the mail from blog readers and friends, how sweet is that???

My pal, Jen, baked this carrot cake and brought it over as a surprise. And by the way, it is even tastier than it looks.

She has a way with baked goods that is not quite human, we think she has some sort of magical powers with butter and sugar. Whenever there is an event of any kind, everyone begs for a "Jen Cake".

The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful for my 50th birthday, and I got to spend the day doing things I love best, working in the garden and flower beds, taking a relaxing nap, playing with Sugarwings, then having a special family dinner topped off by Jen Cake.

Sugarwing’s Daddy slow smoked a prime rib roast all day with cherry and persimmon woods and we had a pot of roasted veggies (including fresh asparagus from my garden) along with it. Luckily I started the first day of my next 50 years by going to the gym in the morning!

My special day was just that, extra special. And the celebration goes on, I have a coffee with friends this week, and a party on Sat. night. Also, my buddy, Beth, is letting me paint her antique mall booth for her (how kind of her).

Actually, we’ll have a fun day hanging out and playing decorator with all of her junk, then meeting up with Amy Barickman of Vintage Workshop about some design ideas.

In the meantime, here are a few necklaces for the winner of my Birthday Giveaway to chose from.

Oops, you want to know who won, don’t you?

Nancy

(Nancy, if you don’t care for a necklace, I can send you a bracelet or earrings instead.)

Thanks to all of you who entered by leaving a comment. All the comments count toward the May Giveaway prize too.

I will be adding to the goodies that go out in May, already there is a white leather Brighton coin purse and a gold band from the flea market in the prize pack. Maybe some millinery flowers?? And more! May is my favorite month of the year and I just have to share my happiness with everyone!! Leave a comment, any post all month to enter.

As soon as I list a couple pieces of jewelry on Etsy, Sugarwings, Twinkle and I are going to go and plant a few more flowers. I have to get outside and enjoy that gorgeous May weather.

Plucking some blooms

antiques/junking, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, swaps

By Karla Nathan / April 30, 2008

Thanks for all of your kind birthday wishes!

I am soaking up all the birthday goodness I can get and enjoying every minute of it.

This cute card is from Robin, as if the clock/frame she made wasn’t enough?!

The picture is so cute. It reminds me of Sugarwings, I am teaching her how to cook, and of course, the beaters are her favorite part of the process!

My suitcase is still sitting in my studio, filled with vintagey purchases from my trip. I am trying to focus on getting ready for Art in the Park on Sunday and ignoring the other stuff piling up around me.

But I just HAD to pull some of it out to play with.

All the photos and birds are from the Cottage and were only $1 each. The cute bird collage is from an artist there too, look at how she has used the snap for an eye!

The hymn book was $2 from Lucketts and the old toy mirrors were $1 each at the thrift store Robin took me to.

The first three hats on the back left are from my trip to Virginia, but the rest are from a day out with Sugarwings yesterday. She and I did a bit of junking and I bought these four floral beauties for $30!

Look at the load of red velvet roses on the middle one in the bottom row- jackpot!

And even though I know I need to get ready for the art show this weekend, I spent the hour I watched American Idol last night sorting flowers.

(Our local Kansas City boy, and my favorite, David Cook is still blowing them all away on Idol, and I think he has a good shot at winning)

The blooms are sorted into boxes by color then I put them into my big storage box that is covered with old wallpaper.

I even made a separate box of an assortment of posies to keep by my worktable, ready to grab when needed.

Getting ALL the flowers pulled off of hats and sorted felt like a major accomplishment, till I turned around and realized I still had a table top full of flowers I was using as a center piece.

I’m starting to think I might have a few too many. Maybe.

Lori and I had been talking about a mini- swap like I did with Lili last week.

But since she sent me that sweet collage of my fairy grand baby, I told her that was already way too much.

So, I bundled up a few pretties and have them ready to send to her.

Still had more than I could use. What to do with all these hats and flowers???

I put Twinkle in one, but she is a little too big. Unless I get some smaller dogs, this isn’t going to be a good use for my hats.

So, I made 5 packets of pink and white to sell on Etsy. It isn’t even a drop in the bucket. I think that once I get past this art show, and the rest of my upcoming 50th birthday parties, I will wrap up some more to list and sell. edit: only two left, these are selling fast

edit: oops, those sold too! I added more to the shop, thank you all so much for stopping by and snapping those flowers up so quickly!

Twinkle was relieved that I decided to sell some.

Today is the last day to enter my April Giveaway, but you still have 5 more days to enter my birthday giveaway.

Any comment, on any post gets entered.

Girls Day Out and a birthday giveaway

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, jewelry, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / April 22, 2008

The sun was shining and today was about as springy as a day can be.

Sugarwings and I decided to have a girly day together. We started with a little shopping spree. She picked out glittery pink shoes at Target ( I wish they had them in my size!)

And a stop at the antique mall turned up the perfect grandma hat for me. (only $6!!! And it has FIVE large pink roses on it) Of course, I wore it the rest of the day.

When we saw these matching dresses for toddlers and their dolls on sale for only $10 at TJMaxx, , we had to snap them up and find a dolly to fit the dress.

Those dresses simply couldn’t stay in the bag, not when they went so perfectly with the new shoes! We changed "the girl’s" clothes in the car before going downtown to stroll in the springtime sunlight and show off our new finery.

Since it was Girls Day Out, the three of us treated ourselves to a ladies luncheon. Over our BBQ (hey, we are Midwesterners, not dainty girls- we like MEAT) we tried to come up with a name for the new baby.

"Baby" and "Good Girl" were the names Sugarwings suggested. Scraps_417

I voted for "Miss Daisy" because after our trip, we decided to go for a ride in the little pink car. I drove Miss Sugarwings and Miss Daisy all over the neighborhood.

These two best friends wanted to make a stop in the park for a bit.

Twinkle was jealous of Sugarwing’s new friend and reminded her who her true best friend really was.

How can a day be more perfect than this???? Well it gets even better!

Ryan surprised us and had dinner cooked and ready when we came home from our spring fling! Chicken, rice and ice cream cones topped off our spring fling! And I didn’t have to cook.

Then, once the fairy grand baby went to bed for the night, I was able to make a little more jewelry.

This bracelet and matching earrings are assembled from vintage religious medallions.

The necklace is a variety of chain sizes, beads and aqua rhinestones, with a pendant of old keys.

And is my day over yet? Nope, now I get to go watch a tivo-ed American Idol featuring Andrew Lloyd Webber. (Don’t even ask me how many times I have been to see Phantom, you don’t want to hear me sing the whole thing either).

And not only that, Cloverfield is out on video, so Ryan and I are having a horror movie night. What a perfect way to end a perfect Girls Day Out!

You know, my birthday is just around the corner. I can’t imagine any party I plan being more fun than today!

I’d like to share my special day with you guys and give away a piece of the jewelry I have been making on my 50th birthday, May 5th.

Any comment between now and Monday May 5th goes into the drawing.

And don’t forget that ALL comments this month are entered into my monthly giveaway.

Hmmm, what will I be sending as a present for April??? hmmm, let me think. I have been on an endless tag marathon lately, maybe a tag?

Or a tussie mussie! In time for May Day flowers?!

I know, I will give the winner a choice!

On Wed. April 30th, I’ll draw a winner for a choice of one of these prizes:

1- a pair of earrings

2- a May Day tussie mussie

3- a Birds and Bonnets Vintage Workshop images tag

4- a Cottage Collage Kit with vintage wallpaper and millinery flowers

We have Extended the Deadline for the Swap, I wish I could extend the Deadline for my upcoming art show so I could have more time to goof off, since I can’t, I’ll just whine about it.

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), jewelry, show and tell, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 20, 2008

Its show and tell time again, and the subject is a timely one for me. Vintage jewels!

Twinkle has agreed to model this pink jeweled bracelet, and doesn’t seem to be too embarrassed by her choppy haircut, although she isn’t looking at the camera like she usually does.

I have an art show to get ready for and one of the things I take to shows is my redesigned old jewelry.

Thing is, it has been a while since I organized my sparklies and made anything from them, so I had an hour or so of prep work to do to even get started.

Just because I hadn’t been making jewelry, doesn’t mean I wasn’t buying stuff to use as supplies for the last year!

The pieces needed sorted out so I could find what I wanted to put together. I sort by era, style, color and lots of different criteria that mostly boils down to a made up system that doesn’t work anyway. I end up looking through each of the 8 or 9 plastic containers sitting on the desk for that perfect bead that I knew was just there a minute ago…..

So, what did I make today?

A charm bracelet first.

A few necklaces next.

A couple more necklaces, then moved on to earrings. I prefer making earrings, they just fly through my pliers and almost make themselves. Necklaces and bracelets take a lot of time and trying on, measuring the weight of the charms to be sure they hang straight.

Balance is so important when making jewelry. Both visually and weight wise.

I only use sterling or 14kt gf French hooks for the earrings and buy them wholesale through Fire Mountain, for the best prices.

The rest of the pieces are all vintage, including the beads. Sometimes I do use some new semi-precious beads, but I prefer older things.

To tell the truth, it was not a fun transition from my tag marathon to jewels today.

I know I have to make the jewelry for the art show I am going to on May 4th, that is what my clientele expects there (along with hand painted things) and luckily I always sell it well there.

But I am still feeling like making more tags! I did a few this morning and was zipping along, humming to myself and having a great time.

When I got the jewelry out to work on in the afternoon, that is what it felt like- WORK!

Probably, I should shut up and not complain. Poor Karla, had to stop gluing her endless parade of tags and put aside her Vintage Workshop papers to play with sparkly jewels instead.

That isn’t going to get me much sympathy!

So, the papers are on hold, while I put together old jewelry for a few days, then make price tags for it. If you think I am complaining now, wait till you hear me whine about pricing items!

But in the meantime, I will play hooky from all of it and go blog surfing and see what everyone else has for Show and Tell.

Its always a treat to visit other bloggers and see their collections. Hopefully, I won’t run into anyone else who complains and whines about it like I did today.

Before I go, I wanted to announce that "due to popular demand" Beth and I extended the deadline for our swap. So, if you haven’t joined yet, hurry up and come play with paper with us!!

The curse of “I CAN DO IT MYSELF”

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

By Karla Nathan / April 20, 2008

Why do I always think I can "do it myself" no matter what it is? Poor Twinkle is the latest example.

I cut her hair today. She looks awful. I doubt if there are two hairs on her entire body that are the same length.

The other day I dug a thorn out of my husband’s knee with an exacto blade craft knife. His knee didn’t look much better than Twinkle’s hair style.

A few weeks ago, when Ry’s truck broke down, and he was late to work, I figured I would handle it myself after dropping him off at his job. I had a big old four wheel drive truck and a rope, I’d just haul it home instead of calling a tow truck.

Well, I had some trouble trying to figure out how to hook the rope under the truck, I knew that it had to be hooked to the frame, but how can you tell what is frame and what is just random truck parts? So I called my brother-in-law for advice, and he was there within minutes, telling me that you cannot pull a vehicle alone, you need someone in the pulled vehicle to steer and brake. I had been worrying a bit about the hill on the way home. Being a do-it-yourselfer leads me into trouble sometimes.

I’ve been known to try to carry a large dresser up the stairs alone and get stuck halfway with it balanced on my shoulders yelling for help.

Its a rare thing for me to think a task through before starting in on it, I just always figure I can do it.

So, I am extremely proud and surprised at myself for not trying to do a birthday party here at the cottage for my 50th on May 5th. (the same week of a major flea market I HAVE to go to, and an art show I am a part of) I am having it at a restaurant!! That is not like me at all. Letting professionals handle something I could DO MYSELF??!! never!!

Last year, we had my 49th here, and invited 60 some people, and I cooked goodies for it, cleaned, fixed up the yard, etc, etc.

Maybe at 50, I am grown up enough to let someone else take over a job? Or am I just tired???

For now, I will stick to making tags for our swap, and getting ready for my art show (the day before the party).

This tag is made with the downloads for the swap from Vintage Workshop, that I edited to be in sepia tone. Then- I used some pastels to add color and glued dark pink roses from an old greeting card onto it for another splash of color.

For our swap, we have 3 collections to use from Vintage Workshop, and I think you can see from my last few posts that you can do a lot of different things using the same images. I am excited to see what all the other artists come up with.

Adding other elements, like the greeting card roses, and the pastels, or ribbons and jewels adds variety too.

Besides butchering Twinkle’s fur and making what seemed like a thousand more tags today, I doctored up this old photo with paints and pastels, then added ribbons, old wallpaper, and flowers to it. I plan on sending it to Pam.

Her sis is ill, and there is a fund raiser coming up. Pam is needing handmade items to fill a basket for the raffle.

I want to send three things, a gift for Pam, something for her sis and something for the raffle. This is my first item, tomorrow I will make some more things for the box I am sending.

More items are needed, and if you would like Pam’s address to send her something, let me know.

I know how generous you all are!

Cards for my great aunt’s 100th birthday are pouring in!

Colleen Cavanaugh sent these two pretty pinky ones, and they showed up wrapped so lovely, along with an Eiffel Tower card for me too!

Three more came from Heidi Woodruff, Phyllis Covington, and Pam Warden. (blog addresses available on my previous post)

See what I mean about generous? Pam has health issues herself as well as ill family members, and she took time to make a card for my aunt!

OK, it is 2am and I need to get to bed, but first a little Earth Day reminder to be kind to the planet! Today is Earth Day, well, actually, I am up so late that yesterday was Earth Day.

I went to a fashion show tonight where vintage and recycled clothing were the highlights on the stage.

I try to redo and reuse as much as I can, personally,with antiques, furniture and art supplies, but I never thought of remaking clothes from old prom dresses and men’s ties like this gown. Hmm, I think I could do this myself…..

Granny Panties full of Rocks

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

By Karla Nathan / April 17, 2008

I’ve had a fun couple of Sugarwings days this week. We had some gravel delivered and before I get out the shovel and start spreading it, the fairy grandbaby and I decided to play a little king of the hill.

Or "princesses" of the hill. Sugarwings and Twinkle had a blast in the rocks. So did I. We climbed, rolled, slid, dug, and fell all over them. And I may never get all the gravel out of my socks and clothes. I was downright crunchy by the time we were done.

If you are asking yourself why Karla has a dress hanging out the window of her chicken coop, well, good question. I really should clean that building out, it hasn’t been used since an antique sale TWO YEARS AGO! The other day,there was a big wind storm (yes this is Kansas), the window blew open and a vintage dress blew out.

For all of you who think I get so much accomplished, this is proof that a lot of things just go by the wayside and never get done! That shed sure could use a cleaning out.

Anyone want an old dress or should I haul it to Goodwill?

I could save it for Sugarwing’s dress up parties, she can be a fairy and I can wear that ugly old thing and be Auntie Em!

Beside playing with the baby, and picking rocks out of my granny panties, I did make time to do a few tags for the Birds and Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap that Beth and I are co-hosting.

We will be having a drawing for presents for the participants. So far, we have:

2 clutches with a set of pearl beads, one from Beth, one from me

6 $25 gift certificates from Vintage Workshop for free downloads

Some tags from me

And now, here is a new one!!

Not only is Vintage Workshop providing all these cool images from 3 of their collections for us to use in the swap, plus the 6 gift certificates, everyone who enters will also receive a free download collection of their choice!

I thought that was a nice little bonus!

I made all of these tags from the wallpaper backgrounds collection that we have available for the swap.

To the backgrounds (various wallpaper patterns that I printed in different sizes then glued down in a crazy quilt way) I added some roses cut from my stash of wallpaper, some ladies from the Vintage Workshop collections, old seam binding ribbons, buttons and jewels.

And of course- millinery flowers!! My projects don’t feel ‘done’ until I add a flower.

Speaking of my vintage wallpaper stash, I just added a bunch for sale on Etsy. And it is flying out of there! If you are needing wallpaper, this is a good time to check out the shop, before it all flies away.

And what is flying in to me? CARDS! CARDS! AND MORE CARDS!

This is from Shawn Behrends and her daughter Bethany (3 yrs old)

(Shawn do I have you on the list??)

And this is from my pal, Scrappi Jessi, one of the liveliest people in blogworld. Using one of her terms, "you rock, girl!"

This tasty cake is from Kathy Algonzzine

Pretty pink roses from Betty Bates.

Lovely faded flowers and portrait embellished with Caroline’s initial from Debbie Doughty.

Old fashioned romantic style from Kathy
Maximo.

Here is a photo I received of a card on its way from Nancy Burns. Ooo La la!

And this one is being sent in by my East coast buddy, Robin (Thrifty Miss Priss).

I am so excited about the beauty and generosity pouring into my mail box!

But, I do need to warn all you nice people that are sending in cards. I tend to screw things up. Bad lists, mixed up piles. So, if I make a mistake on saying who sent what as I post the 100 cards or so that are coming in, please don’t be offended, and please correct me!

I already accidentally deleted half the flickr file and am going back to reload it after I do this.

Please check it out when you get a chance, but give me a few minutes to correct my screw ups.

Here is the updated list of contributors. If you are not on it and should be, please tell me, because this is the list that I am drawing names from for prizes.

The clutch is one prize. Maybe some vintage wallpaper and millinery flowers? A card kit to make some more cards?

You are doing me a big favor and a sweet thing for my aunt. What would you like to get as a gift for helping out?

100 cards

Karin http://madrekarin.blogspot.com
Michelle http://www.ginghamworld.blogspot.com
Pam http://blogcabinfever.typepad.com
Lesa Farmer
Robin~ thrifty_misspriss@yahoo.com
Robin Foster
Lori http://faeriewindow.blogspot.com
Kathy http://www.kathyscottage.blogspot.com:80/
http://oodlesandoodles.typepad.com/
Carol Spinsky RaisedInCotton@aol.com
http://soinspired.blogspot.com
Lori http://pinkfadedroses.blogspot.com:80/
Janine http://angelgurl.wordpress.com/
http://emmaspaperpatch.blogspot.com:80/
Liane Tatum
http://bluemuf.blogspot.com:80/ Karen
http://simplysage.blogspot.com Mahala
Beth http://bethleintz.typepad.com:80/
Debbie Doughty http://queendebbee.blogspot.com/
Alice Wingerden http://www.paintedwhite.com:80/
Karoline http://www.cherishedvintage.blogspot.com
Joyce Rodli
Lili http://lilimsadventures.blogspot.com:80/
Mandy Blake
*Heidi* http://journals.aol.com/hwoodred/everyday-cookies/
http://www.bonoramamama.blogspot.com:80/
Kirstie http://adelinecountrycottage.blogspot.com
Phyllis http://shabbyinthecity.blogspot.com
Sherry (Edie Marie’s Attic)
Pinkie Denise
Marilyn http://marilynbutler.blogspot.com:80/
Melissa http://melissaburford.typepad.com:80/burford_designs/
Lisa Russell http://www.violetsandsnapdragons.blogspot.com/
Crystal http://www.fariebees.blogspot.com
Janice Rehmeyer
Meredith http://www.thevictorianlady.blogspot.com
Nancy ~ Fete et Fleur http://feteetfleur.blogspot.com
Jessi http://www.scrappyjessi.blogspot.com:80/
Donell
Jenn~ http://whinenroses.blogspot.com/
Lolly http://lollysnestegg.blogspot.com
Gail Sell
Kathy http://www.vintagesnapsandscraps.com
Barbara http://smith411.typepad.com
crchaffee@cox.net
Edie Marie http://ediemariesattic.blogspot.com
María Elena
Kelley http://www.junqueygal.blogspot.com/
Kelley: http://teacupmosaics.blogspot.com
Carlene http://carlenefederer.blogspot.com/
Barb http://www.123lavenderlollipoplane.blogspot.com:80/
Louisa http://beachyscapecodcupboard.blogspot.com

Jen http://Sanctuaryarts.blogspot.com
Sandy Babb
Colleen Cavanaugh http://cc-creativeramblings.blogspot.com
Rachael http://theroseroomnz.blogspot.com/
Valerie http://Queenschocolate.blogspot.com
Joy http://www.thejoyof.blogspot.com
Sheri Ingrande http://www.pawshpoodle.com
Mary Isabella http://daisybouquet.blogspot.com
Natasha Burns http://www.natashaburns.blogspot.com
Di Ann Sheps
Pat
Cami http://www.camillefano.typepad.com
3rdEyeMuse http://3rdEyeMuse.blogspot.com
M.Kate http://www.melialissa.blogspot.com
DELIA http://brooksidecottage.blogspot.com/
Kathy
Samantha
Karen http://karenharveycox.blogspot.com:80/
Sarah Lee (Adelaide’s Country Cottage)
Louise http://pinkgate.blogspot.com/
Betty http://shessewpretty.typepad.com/
Amy Wald
Tera http://Stampqueen.blogspot.com
Kari and Kijsa http://www.kariandkijsa.blogspot.com
Kathy Jacobson kathyjacobson.typepad.com
Vickie http://www.whisperofinspiration.blogspot.net
Amy P http://www.rubymoonart.blogspot.com
Shannon J http://www.faithandchocolate.blogspot.com:80/
Gail http://boutiqueginabeana.blogspot.com/
Cindy http://yappingcatstudio.typepad.com/my_weblog
Rhonda http://rhondamum.blogspot.com
Irma http://irmasrosecottage.blogspot.com
Rhonda RhondaMum.blogspot.com
Alison Gibbs
Paula Kay
Jeanette http://scrapnchick-keepmeinstitches.blogspot.com/
Lisa http://reflectionsinagazingball.blogspot.com/
Jeanie http://www.themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
Whitney Johnson http://www.kindredjoy.blogspot.com
Corina http://corinaj.wordpress.com
Lisa Lee l-lee@sbcglobal.net
Sammy don@stafney.com http://sammystuff.blogspot.com/
Rachael’s Princess
Rachael’s Mum
Sissy
sonya http://www.loveofyellowroses.blogspot.com
Beverly http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/
Holly Abston >http://www.hollydoodledesigns.com
Adla http://www.vintagedelights.blogspot.com
Anja http://newclassichome.blogspot.com
Angelina http://beautifulcards.typepad.com/angelinascards/
Maxine v.maxlie@charter.net
Jennifer
Heather R. Kowalski http://www.prettypetalsboutique.blogspot.com/
Barbara York http://panhandlesuequiltingspot.blogspot.com

Gardens of Velvet and Silk

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, flowers, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / April 6, 2008

It doesn’t look like I am the only one who is crazy about millinery flowers.

I use them all the time, seems like I can’t make anything anymore without adding a posey or two!

If I haven’t actually used them in the composition, I love to twist them up into the ribbons that I hang the piece from.

I started out very greedy and hoardish with them. But now, with my (sorry, I think I mention this a LOT, but it is a major issue with me) New Years resolution to use my good stuff and enjoy it, I have generously used these flowers in globs and bunches and garlands as well as just simple accents.

(all of the projects pictured are listed in my Etsy shop)

If you love old hat blooms as much as I do, you’ll have fun today browsing through blogland and checking out the gardens of velvet and silk that are part of Sugar Sugar and Little Pink Studio’s show and tell.

This is definitely one of my obsessions. And I store them in a vintage wallpaper covered box, to compliment another of my collection compulsions.

And in a wallpaper covered drawer.

With a little glass full on my desk within easy reach if I need one quickly!

Not to mention the ones scattered here and there on my desk from past and present projects.

Oh, and the leaves!! I adore the leaves too!!!

There are always hats around for playing dress up with for Twinks and Sugarwings.

Aparently this one isn’t quite the right style for her.

The hats aren’t bought to keep as is, I buy them just for the flowers, but store them intact and pluck one here and there as I need it.

Up until lately, I had tossed the naked hats when I was done with them, but then decided they would be perfect to save for the fairy grand baby and I to decorate together when she is older.

Won’t it be fun to invite all of her little friends over for a tea party and give them each a hat and a pile of foof to add to it? I can just see the glue, glitter and doodads flying everywhere in my studio from all the little girls designing their wearable works of art!

These are my latest acquisitions. The perfectly aged, ROSE wallpaper covered hat box was $3, and the hats were $3 and $5. I almost passed on both hats, the pink one didn’t have many flowers on it, and the orange one was hideous.

But then, I thought about it, and realized that the pink one’s few flowers were definitely worth the $3 price, plus PINK is the best color to find!

And I made myself look past the hideousness of the orange hat, and plucked off all the creamy colored flowers, realizing that I had a bargain!

And after taking off the ugly (or so I had thought) orange ones and getting them away from the uncomplimentary tone of the green leaves, I saw that they were actually a very pretty sherbet shade.

Not a bad haul on that one $5 hat.

My favorite flowers to find will always be the dainty white ones.

And I never turn down a big velvety red rose. Although, so far, I have not used any in a project. They just make me smile when I come across them while digging through the blossoms to find just the right one to finish a project.

Because you know, it just isn’t done till I add a flower!

Hmm, I think that my giveaway for April should include some of these in some way. Remember, every comment during the month is entered to win.

I Heart Lawrence, KS

celebrations, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, flowers, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / April 5, 2008

Sunshine! Wow, I had almost forgotten what it felt like. What a long and rough winter we’ve had. I don’t think it is quite done with us yet, but I am taking advantage of today’s nice weather and planting some pansies.

There was no way I was going to wait any longer. The grocery store has their pansies out on the sidewalk and I can’t pass by them to go in for a gallon of milk and a case of Coke Vanilla Zero without stopping to daydream about warm weather.

Then, Target had garden tools with pink handles in thier Dollar Spot. How could I resist?

Pansies are pretty hardy, they should do well. And their little faces sure do brighten my own every time I walk by them planted by my front door.

Yesterday was delightful also. I went downtown (Lawrence, KS has a lively, active and entertaining downtown area with lots going on) and we went to visit one of the big Jayhawks that I painted and mosaic-ed with another artist a couple years back.

I could possibly be the only person in this entire town who isn’t planning on watching the big KU game tonight. The downtown atmosphere was pulsing with excitement.

I may not be a basketball fan, but I do love my town and know how important the game is to it.

My husband is a HUGE fan, and is in DC right now, so I bought Sugarwings a KU shirt (pink, of course) and took some photos to send to him before the game.

When I got the pictures back, she was so cute, I had to make some scrap book pages.

As a non-typical fan, I couldn’t just do a sporty page. I used vintage wallpaper, some old sheet music (one song about basketball, the other about the state flower of Kansas, the sunflower).

And since I am a lazy scrap booker, I made a pocket on one page to put multiple photos into, instead of trying to think up ideas for using all of them on the pages.

I used KU colors, of red, blue and yellow, but had to do it in flowers and ribbon.

When I make scrapbook pages, I tend to not worry too much about making it perfect. Edges are a bit crooked and things aren’t lined up exact. Mostly, I just want to get the photos into the book and get something attractive on the pages with them.

If I worried too much about it, I’d never get them in the books, and having fun memories in the albums is the main goal.

And anyway, that baby is so cute, no one notices what I do to the page, people who look at albums are more interested in the pictures of her, and the backgrounds are just that- backgrounds.

I’m off to enjoy more of this pretty day and walk out in our woods with the dogs. Of course, that means I will probably be picking cockle burrs off of them this evening but hey, I wasn’t planning on watching the big game on TV tonight anyway!

A day of frivolous things

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, holiday decor, redos

By Karla Nathan / March 8, 2008

It was so nice to have my group of artist friends over for brunch today. We don’t do this as often as we used to, sometimes life gets in the way of getting together with your friends.

But when you have good friends, you always know that they will still be there when you do have a chance to catch up and visit.

Often, we’ll meet at a coffee shop once a week or so, and sometimes one or the other of us will have everyone over for a brunch or coffee and bagels.

I’m always looking for an excuse to set my table and have a mini party, so was glad to invite them all over today to fill each other in on what has been going on.

I set up an Easter themed table scape as a centerpiece for the meal, all gathered together on a vintage blue mirror.

I raided my shelf of things I have listed for sale on Etsy and used some of them on the mirrored tray along with vintage goodies.

This little sugared ballerina in a tiny tea cup nest is too cute to be hiding away on a dark shelf until someone buys her! She deserved to come to the party too.

My table scapes are usually pretty busy (and gaudy), but guests seem to enjoy looking through them, the displays are full of little surprises.

I always start with something underneath, to pull it all together. Either a tray, a doily, or a mirror, something to focus the mismatched pieces that I bring in.

Two things that I ALWAYS include are fresh flowers and candles.

The tallest thing, usually the candelabra, goes onto the table first. Next, the flowers. After that, I find something else to use for height, to build layers. Usually a cake stand, basket, or compote to fill with pretties.

I fill in around the taller items with some bigger pieces like this tussie mussie that I placed a nesting bird into.

This is the nest I received from Jeweled Elegance, my partner in Speckled Egg’s Nest Swap. Thanks Heather!!

I like an eclectic mix in my center pieces, hand made things, vintage, elegant, cute, unexpected and traditional all together (did I mention busy and gaudy?)

After the:

1.base underneath

2. the taller items

3. flowers and candles

4. larger items

5. I then tuck small items here and there and fill holes, making sure that there is something of interest as a focus for each seat at the table.

One friend wasn’t feeling well, so she couldn’t make it today. I packed up some Cinnamon rolls, blueberry muffins, egg casserole and yogurt to take over to her.

Of course, I had to include a pretty!

I wrapped some carnations in a wet paper towel, then slipped them into a plastic bag and tied them up with tissue and a ribbon. The bouquet fit right into this tussie mussie along with a fluffy chick.

And you know how one redo begets another? I am working on slipcover ideas for the sofa now. I have been buying vintage fabrics and will soak them in a tea color dye to make them all tie together better.

So far, I can’t make up my mind which fabric I want where, but do know that I want to get some ticking stripe to use so that I break up the florals a bit.

And I think I decided to go for a trailing skirt on the couch, like in the sketch on the bottom of the pile of ideas.

And of course, I am still not done with the dining room. The corner cabinet still seemed too country-cottage, with its bead board sides. I looked through my vintage wallpaper and found one that matched well in the room and taped pieces to the back of the cabinet.

I didn’t glue the paper down, some day I might want to have the bead boards show again. I do tend to change my mind a bit……

This large glass knob will be great to add to the door, but I don’t have the right length screw, of course. Does anyone ever have the perfect screw handy when you want to change a knob?

The corner cabinet seems better now that I have added the trim and the wallpaper. The glass knob will help too.

The room seemed off balance, so I moved this narrow cabinet into the other corner.

I’m starting to feel more satisfied with the space and it certainly was a comfy brunch, with everyone around the new table! The chairs are very welcoming.

What a pleasantly frivolous day. Brunch, visiting a friend, sketching, doodling around with centerpieces and fine tuning the dining room. I also went to a movie, then rented a nice gory vampire movie to watch with my son. Yep, a fine day of making things pretty and hanging out with people I care about.