Etsy Goodies – Page 2 – Karla's Cottage

In the pastel forest

antiques/junking, Books, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, family, paintings

By Karla Nathan / October 22, 2009

Thanks for all your well wishes for poor little Bookie. His fever is
gone, and he is doing better. But I can tell that he is still feeling
bad, he follows me around and stares at me, like he is begging me to
help him. It just breaks my heart to see him in pain and confused about
what is going on with him.

My trees are coming along well. I have some of the actual vintage ones that I have dyed and glittered listed in my Boutique.

There weren't very many to list, because I was using them all up in my own projects! I've been decorating the trees themselves, and also using them on the Putz houses that I've been remodeling. But I've got lots more soaking in the bleach right now and will be dying them tomorrow.

Sugarwings has offered to help, so I'll be dying them in Kool Aid. I've never tried that but hear its wonderful to use.

There are a few more finished pastel trees in my Etsy shop, too. Not many until the fairy grand baby and I get that soaking sinkful finished. Hopefully, we'll do that tomorrow, because I need to RE-DO the glitter on my Grumpy Fairy books over the weekend!!

The printer made a mistake and the covers that I spent hours glittering were cut wrong. But I didn't cry. My lip might have trembled a bit, but I took a deep breath, and took the box of pages back and asked for a redo. I'll just need to set aside a few more hours to glitter these new covers. Oh well. That kind of mistake happens, I just have to deal with it and get glittering.

While waiting for the new book covers and for the dark trees to bleach out, I started planning my Silver Bella booth.

Next week, we are going to Florida to help clear out my Great Aunt Caroline's home, so I want to have everything done and ready before then. When I get back, I'll do price tags and pack it all up. I'm happier if any show I do is packed and ready at least a week before the event. It makes life so much more calm and enjoyable!

So, in the front half of my studio, I'm setting up a 10' x 10' booth to play dress up with my goods. We have a very small window of time to set up the booth on Vendor Night at Silver Bella, so I want to be as prepped as possible. No surprises, no problems, all planned ahead.

Plus, it would be hard to relax on my trip to Florida, if I was fretting about all the work I've left behind. And this is a special trip, Sugarwing's first time on an airplane!

We have a day to go to the beach in Jacksonville, then down to Orlando for a day at Sea World, and another day that we don't have plans for yet. We can't take her to Disney World… a long story that I'm sure you don't want to hear… If you've spent time in the Orlando area with a 3 year old, I'd love some tips on where to take her for that last free day.

Any ideas?

And please remember, that all comments go into the drawing for a copy of the Grumpy Fairy bedtime story book as the gift for the OCTOBER GIVEAWAY.

If it ever gets done and glittered, that is.

Back to normal

antiques/junking, Etsy Goodies, flowers, holiday decor, show and tell, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / September 27, 2009

Its so nice to have everything back to normal, with Twinkle home.  Sugarwings is no longer telling everyone "Toto has wunned away" and the two of them are happy to be reunited.  Since she is convinced that she is Dorothy, she has also decided that Twinks must be Toto.  Which works out fine, because she can't say "Twinkle", she always says "Ankle" instead. 
Yes, Toto sounds like a cuter name than Ankle. And that dog will answer to anything. 

Thank you for all of your kind words about my little dorkie taking off.  I really don't deserve them, it was ALL MY FAULT.  Poor dog. But, she is home now and I am making sure she stays this time.

Over the weekend, I finally broke my losing streak in hat gathering. Lately, I've not done well at all, and Beth reminded me that I had created my own shortage by buying all the hats up in the surrounding area.  But I did manage to find a few this weekend and might be able to reclaim my hat whisperer title. I thought I'd have to retire it, I'd been on such a long dry spell of hatlessness.

Most are already stripped naked and packed up, ready to fly out of here.  I love this little bouquet of about a dozen white flowers with a scattering of purple velvet posies. When I saw the hat with those next to the ugly green and orange hat, I knew that together, they'd be great for Halloween decor or crafting. 

It was an estate sale blast this weekend!  One here in my town was amazing, a beautiful, newer home on the golf course isn't usually the place to find old things, but it was jammed with a lifetime of great stuff. I was so surprised to see all of it. I was glad I didn't blow it off, like I normally would a house in that neighborhood.  I bought boxes and boxes of sheet music and a big stack of these spooky old napkins. So, I made up little craft kits with some of these things and have them listed here.

 On Friday, I explored the unexpected treasures at the country club house, and made a big haul.  Then, Beth invited me to Kansas City to shop with her on Saturday. And how could I turn that down? She is an estate sale master and knows where to go, what to avoid, and how to find the best deals.  Plus, I was still an emotional wreck from the Twinkle-less week and wasn't feeling too creative. I thought some more shopping therapy could help.

And of course, it did!  Isn't a bit of junking is good for the creative soul?  Sometimes, buying some new, old crap is just what I need to get me wanting to hunker down in the studio and work away.
I'll be getting out the jewelry making supplies and playing with all the rhinestones that I've been lucky enough to find lately.  

Don't you think that this picture is just trying too hard?  Its a great example of Photo Styling Gone Bad.  Too much loot, too much trying make it look cute in a picture. Just because I found pink Christmas lights, does it mean you really need to see them? 
 Sometimes I wonder about how I spend my time….  I'd better go do something productive, I'm off to the jewelery making tools and getting to work!

 And don't forget, if you want to win some vintage jewels, you still have till the 30th to enter by leaving a comment on any post. 

Paper dolls

Etsy Goodies, fairies, family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / September 11, 2009

If you aren't following Daisy Cottage
(well then, you must be one of the only people who aren't) you are missing a treat. Kim has the cutest cottage, in the most cheerful colors ever. When she ordered something from my Boutique, I knew I needed to make the package extra special to go to such a special home, so I added some wallpaper, ribbons, and trim to the lid of this little tin to use as the packaging.

Five minutes and no expense (I bought the tin for the buttons that were in it, and the rest of it was lying around the studio) and I had a quickie gift wrap fit to go to live at Daisy Cottage.

But then, I always enjoy the wrapping part of sending out purchases. I guess I was in an autumn mood when I packed these.

Today, little Sugarwings was feeling ill and stayed home from school. I managed to photograph and clean some old jewelry while she was napping, and got a few listed on Etsy.

Not as many as I would like, but I have all day tomorrow to add more jewels.

Poor Sugarwings was so freaked out by spewing her breakfast across the dining room, that she insisted on keeping a roll of paper towels next to her all morning. I helped her out by turning the towels into a baby doll to hold.

One side is sleepy, the other is happy. Kind of like the moods of a sick kid, they seem to perk up and feel fine for a while, then crash and need to take another nap.

Yes, the paper towel roll seems like an odd doll baby, but it really did comfort her. And when you are three (or fifty one) anything can become a toy!

She is feeling much better tonight, and luckily the paper towel baby doll didn't have to be deconstructed and put to use. Here is a photo of her last week at the Kansas City RenFest, I don't want to leave you with a sad, tummy ache photo of her. So here is a happy one.

I'll post more Renfest photos of our happy, dancing fairy soon.

Here are directions for foofing a tin:

Turn the lid upside down and trace a circle onto the paper you want to use, then cut it out.

Using "The Ultimate" (my favorite) glue, adhere the circle of paper to the lid

Rub a dark ink pad around the edges of the paper, to age it.

Cut a length of ribbon to fit around the lid, and run a bead of glue around the edge to attach the ribbon

I glued a tiny crocheted daisy cut off of a doily to the end of the ribbon.

To the center of the top of the lid, glue down a matching button.

To the center of the button, add an embellishment. I used a daisy snipped from some old trim.

No matter how much you spend on cupcake decor, if you can’t get the icing right, the cupcake still looks homemade

antiques/junking, Etsy Goodies, Food and Drink, give away

By Karla Nathan / July 15, 2009

Today is craft day, but with a twist, I am not cleaning up my studio and inviting friends over, we are using a rental studio in KC. ( I'll have details when I get back, I lost the blog address and am rushing right now).

But first, I wanted to take the time to thank you for your purchases and to remind you that the sale is still on at the Etsy shop . Details are in the previous post, but I also want to remind you that you need to purchase the items from Etsy, go to the check out, but do NOT pay with check out. Email me and I will send you an invoice for half off whatever is left.

I'm fine with you just emailing me the info and I go to the shop and delete the items, but I doubt if Etsy would like it, and I might get booted from there, because they don't get their percentage that way. I've done this for a few people, because it was quicker and easier than explaining and no problem to do, but I really don't want to make the big ole Etsy goliath mad at me.

I've made up cup cakes to take today, because crafting in packs is hungry work. We all get nibbly while we are cutting and gluing.

And you know, I really, really, sincerely tried to make pretty cupcakes. These are okay, but not what I wanted. I saw some on Andrea's blog once that made me sigh they were so lovely. So, when I spent a day with her, I asked her secret and she took me to her cupcake decor source, where I bought a big bagful of icing roses.

But, its not the same. Oh, yes, they are the same roses. They just don't look as good without her magic cupcake touch. She has that touch with everything. Heck, she could probably have a cupcake hanging out of her nose, and everyone would think it was the most beautiful cupcake they ever saw. She's that good with making things pretty.

I even tried the edible Glitter that I was introduced to at Debbie's party. The glitter and the roses look good, but with my sloppy icing job and skimpy crooked cupcakes, it just isn't the same.

Well, they might not look like they came from a classy bakery, but they are tasty. Pillsbury strawberry cake mix and a can of cream cheese icing, yum!

See the stack of books? I can't believe it, but I found more of these at a sale yesterday! I listed a couple, the last ones went fast. They are in the Boutique. There are some sale prices here and there in the Boutique, but the Etsy sale is Etsy only.

These teensy framed prints were at the sale too, so I bought a bagful. This one is being added to theJULY GARAGE SALE GIVEAWAY PRIZE PACK, a couple others went into the Boutique, and I kept a few for myself to deconstruct and use in projects.

But what is the most special thing in the photo?? Ahh, aren't these just the best?? Aunt Caroline had her pink pearls sent to me. Sorry for the bad picture, these deserve better than that. But I need to throw some supplies and crap in a box and get my butt to craft day, gotta run! (that butt that is a bit bigger after making sure the cupcakes were tasty even though they only looked average)

An Ice Cream Social and a Christmas in July sale

Etsy Goodies, Food and Drink, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / July 13, 2009

Sweet Jenn at Sweet Eye Candy Creations is having a party today, and I've been to one of hers in person, so I know just what a wonderful hostess she is!

In honor of the occasion, I made a couple little dessert treats myself, but out of vintage wallpaper.

I also took Miss Sugarwings out for ice cream, but after seeing the perfectly groomed and darling children Jenn has shown eating ice cream at her house, I didn't photograph my wild child fairy grand baby smeared with bright blue "Cookie Monster" ice cream. We found a yellow brick road (an actual yellow brick sidewalk through some landscaping) in front of an ice cream store at a shopping mall and she danced and sang Wizard of Oz songs up and down that side walk until it was almost as blue as she was from the dripping ice cream.

When she decided to lay down in the day lillies planted along the yellow brick road, and tell me that she needed to go to sleep in the poppies, I wiped as much of the blue goo off of her as I could and we headed home.

My contribution to the party is photos of vintage wallpaper ice cream cones, that I whipped up this morning when I realized I had nothing to show for the party and I certainly didn't want to miss Jenn's shindig!

This mini notebook is covered in Flocked wallpaper, front and back, ledger paper on the inside covers and Neapolitan ribbons tying it up.

I've made an ice cream cone on the cover with a wallpaper waffle cone and two scoops of wallpaper ice cream in strawberry chocolate chip (glitter chips) and chocolate with pink swvarsky crystal sprinkles. The scoops are both coated in sugared glitter and I've added a strawberry colored velvet posy to a chocolate covered velvet leaf in the corner.

The edges of the pages are coated in chocolate covered ink.

Its available in the Boutique if you are interested.

I've also made this little sweet treat, and since a party should have favors to give out, this tag is going to be a gift to go along with the next purchase in my Boutique.

edit- OMG- I am so sorry about the background of the ice cream cone photo!!!!! I had no idea what the print said, it was just a page from an old magazine that I thought had pretty type. So, that photo is replaced now with a cropped out version. I'm SO sorry for not noticing that was there, and hope that it gets replaced on Google Reader, sometimes they are slow with changes.

This is an odd Christmas card, isn't it? Robins are usually thought of as a first sign of spring, not a winter bird. But, it seemed fitting to use this to illustrate a CHRISTMAS IN JULY sale at my Etsy shop.

So here are the details of the Christmas in July Sale

1- Anything and Everything in the Etsy shop is HALF OFF. Including sale items!

2- All you do is make your selection, but DO NOT pay for it. The discount has to come from me, it won't show up in the Etsy shopping cart.

3- This sale is for readers of my blog only.

4- You need to email me at: karlanathan@sbcglobal.net to let me know what you purchased.

5- I will send you an invoice with the sale price and shipping.

Remember, if you don't email me for the corrected invoice, you won't get the half off discount!

The sale might sound complicated, but its not. Just make your purchase, email me and wait for the invoice before paying. I offered this sale price last Christmas to clear out inventory and thought it might be a good time to clean house and offer some discounts again.

So, go fix yourself a refreshing and rich dish of your favorite ice cream and visit Jenn's list of parties, and of course, check out my Etsy shop to ~~help me get some clearance items whooshed out of there because I am sick of all that crap and want it gone~~ enjoy the sale!!

Won’t you be my neighbor?

Etsy Goodies, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, videos, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / July 5, 2009

Before my trip, I started building this little housing development. Then, when I got home, Beth came over for a craft day, and brought a similar project to work on!

Funny, how we both had the same idea at the same time without knowing what each other was doing! Yet, we both took a different route with our cottages. We took the same idea and each "made it our own", as they'd say on American Idol.

My houses started as cheapo, chip board books from the Michael's dollar bins. But all the building materials that went into the renovations of these cottages were top notch! I like to think of them as those run down neighborhoods where an artist moves in, fixes up a place and then makes the block trendy. So that everyone wants to live there after that.

Adding all the little details was the best part of redoing these plain houses into artist's cottages. Lots of vintagey goodness went into the renovations. The chip board was covered in old wallpaper, back and front, then I hand drew some welcome banners, butterflies and vines.

The curtains are old lace, the door knobs are vintage buttons, and the window boxes are blooming with teensy flowers I transplanted from my hats.

You might have noticed, I have become infatuated with mosaics….. I'm really enjoying the Picassa editing tools.

If you like Mosaics too, check out http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/ for Mosaic Monday!

While making up houses (some are books, some are just wall hangings) I made another butterfly book too. Its not pictured with the houses because it is the same size, and would look like Mothra devouring the houses in the Godzilla movies if it was next to my dainty cottages.

I'll be adding this butterfly to the website this morning, the homes are already there. And please wander through Beth's open houses too, she has some beauties inherEtsy shop right now.

All of the books, hers and mine, are ready for your own embellishments over the base of old papers we have used.

When Beth comes over, she always has some tid bit of cool stuff to bring to me. If you read her blog, you know that her life is one great find after another. Recently she found this box and when she saw that it said "Nathan" (my last name) on it, she brought it as a gift. Along with some new (old) wallpaper too. She and I have a Wallpaper Pact. Whenever one of us finds more paper, the other gets a hunk of it.

Its a good way to keep jealousy from coming between friends while shopping! Plus, isn't it more fun to share the joy when you find something great?

While she was here last week, we were joined by Mary, Queen of the Logomachy cards. She just got a new flip camera and wanted to play with it. We made up a couple "how to" videos and I thought I'd show you one.

Now remember, its off the cuff, not planned. Not professional at all, on my part! And while Mary does a good job with editing, and has learned a lot about the camera, there are still moments when the angles are a bit odd and we decided that the title of the movie should be "Karla's Cleavage" instead of "Karla's Cottage".

Also, I might not be very good at loading the video onto the blog. If you can't see it here, you can click on this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZYx1iIyid8

More En Le Jardin with Jenn

celebrations, Etsy Goodies, flowers, parties, show and tell, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 20, 2009

Everyone is asking what we made at En Le Jardin. Here is my flower pot, I didn't exactly follow directions…. They are supposed to be covered in chicken wire and then the embellishments added to that, but I left off the wire. I also went a little crazy with the foofs, its about as gaudy as can be, huh?

I'd brought lots of goodies to embellish with, plus we were given loads of treats to use in our swap bags. But when I saw this vintage gift wrap paper that Jenn had out for us to use, I had to go for it. Its actually two different papers, the little ladies were cut out and glued onto the floral paper. All the glue is still wet in this photo, so it looks a bit murky.

The day started out blistery, smelty hot. But then, the sprinkles came, not bad, just a little steamy. We were all having so much fun we didn't even notice, really. But, then the skies let loose! There was something about being under the tent, all together working away while the rain poured down around us that was kind of intimate and cozy.

But not so cozy, that I didn't want to get out and splash around in the "water slide" with Tiffany!

I think that if Tiffany and I were neighbors, we could get into some trouble. That girl is a blast.

Our other project was a fairy ball. Cheryl had the idea of adding the streamers, so Kim and I both used it. Mine is the one in the middle, the left is Kim's and the right is Cheryl's.

Mine is a little different. Instead of a little girl's photo made into a fairy, I used a fairy ballerina perched on top of a faux cupcake. Then, I drenched it in rhinestones and jewels and millinery.

Just like the photo of the planter, this one still has wet glue. The rain might have been fun, but it made the air so humid that my creations were still slightly damp when I packed them up the next day.

Since this was the fairy's nest, I added some pastel eggs to the top of the cupcake too.

Although, what do fairy eggs really look like? These might be pretty pastel colors, but they are a bit blah to have been laid by a little sprite. I should have tied little ribbons onto them and added millinery flowers. (Ouch-that might be a bit painful for the fairy to lay, huh?)

To the top, I added a vintage chenille bee, and one of my plant markers, this one says "Fleurs" in honor of the event.

The day in the tent was remarkable and the craft projects were really interesting. But, my favorite part of the trip was in our downtime, when we chatted for hours. Evenings went on way into the morning hours, and the sharing never slowed.

Lots of the attendees have been posting photos, if you'd like to see more, Jenn has a really good sampling on her blog. She has complied photos from our Flickr site and used some from different photographers. From her blog you can follow links to other people who have posted pictures, if you'd enjoy seeing more. I gotta tell you, the details that went into the weekend were pure perfection!

And while talking about details, I have to tell you how much I am loving my new camera!!!!!!!! Tiffany and Carol both gave me priceless tips on how to use it better.

They convinced me to be brave enough to venture on from the point and shoot options, which I figured would be all I could handle and since I refuse to read how to manuals, thought I'd be stuck with just doing that. I learn much better from Show and Tells, and these two always took time to show me.

Look at the center of this partial roll of vintage crepe paper! yep, I LOVE that camera!!!!

I've been adding a few odds and ends to Etsy and to the Boutique. I'm plugging away at it. I have a goal, to get 50 items back in Etsy, mostly craft supplies. As far as the Boutique goes, I really don't know what works well for it. I'll experiment with inventory levels and see what works best. I know I prefer fuller to emptier myself, but I'll see.

Look what I saw today, on the Vintage Workshop newsletter- a project I did for Amy last year:

NEW DOWNLOAD COLLECTION –
Garden Collage

The Vintage Workshop would like to introduce a new type of multi-image collection called Elements . These collections will contain a series of coordinating elements including single images along with background images. The number of images in an elements collection will vary. Elements collections will still come in two versions – the resizable Designer's Choice and the pre-sized Click-n-Cut (all backgrounds in click-n-cut version are sized 8.5” x 11”).

The first collection in this series is Garden Collage – emt100. This collection contains four vintage seed packet images, two sheet music backgrounds, and four different vintage wallpaper backgrounds.

The sample note cards shown here use images from our new Garden Collage collection. Use these as inspiration to create your own projects.

Click here to view more garden imagery.

How to cut vintage wallpaper

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 29, 2009

If you are going to be trimming vintage paper to use in craft projects, its time consuming and you'll need company to talk to so you aren't too bored. Luckily, I have Twinks to hang with.

For me, vintage wallpaper is simply a billion times better to use in art projects than any scrap booking paper could ever be. Now, I'll scan a really, really wonderful piece before cutting it up, so I'll always have it, but honestly, I don't much like using the copied pieces. The feel just isn't right.

Trouble is, vintage wallpaper can be a LOT of trouble. Its usually curly from being rolled up forever and it is often brittle.

Ironing it makes it much easier to work with.

I kind of go back and forth on what is the best way to iron and cut it. If it is really fragile, or I am just cutting a few pieces, I'll cut it right off the roll, then iron the pieces. If I am on a marathon of ironing and have good movie to watch while doing it, I'll iron it directly off the roll, like the first photo.

Here are some tips for cutting:

Keep a fresh blade in your exacto knife, or the edges of the paper will shred.

Find something the right shape and size to cut around. I use the glass from an 8 x 10 frame. That makes a good size bit to work with for most projects, and if I am making up packs to sell, its easy to mail.

Self healing cutting mats are wonderful! My blade doesn't get dull too fast and I don't slice up the table underneath. I used to try to measure the paper by the grid on the mat, but that was way too much work. Now, I just line up my 8 x 10 piece of glass with the straight edge of the paper and zip the blade around it. Much easier.

Iron the back side of the paper. Old paper is not prepasted, so the back is safe to iron on. If yours is gooey and gluey, its probably not very old. And your iron will be messed up.

The paper is often painted, if you want to protect your ironing board cover, you can lay a sheet of clean paper, or fabric over the board.

Ironing is almost as bad as sewing, but sometimes it has to be done. But ironing paper isn't nearly as bad as ironing clothes, since there are no cuffs or collars. At least, that is what I tell myself to get through it.

The iron can be left on its highest setting and some cut papers can be ironed in a stack of two or three pieces at a time to speed things along.

It has taken me most of the day to do this pile, but I'm still in my organizing mood, and it is rainy outside, so it was a good day to do it. I might even pull out a few more rolls to cut up before I start making up packets to sell. (this is just a fraction of the in my obsessed collection)

I'll let you know when I get them packed up and photographed and listed in the shop.

EDIT- I was able to add a few packs of wallpaper to the Boutique tonight

Man, there are a lot of steps aren't there? Sometimes I wonder why I don't get a real job… but then, I get to play with and sort out all these pretty papers while I sing to the Dorkie who never leaves my feet and think that this isn't such a bad job after all.

Before the skies turned gray and the rain started, I got a few photos of things to add in to the Boutique.

Slowly, but surely, I am getting some new things in there.

And I am trying to build up the Etsy shop too. Mostly supplies over there. But an assortment.

Wall paper packs will be coming soon, probably in both shops. If you see something you want in both, please email me before paying, so I can combine your shipping costs!

(There are some cute vintage swizzle sticks in both right now)

Some one asked me the other day if I wanted to trade links. You know, I rarely update my Pretty Places and am missing out on lots of good blogs.

If you want to trade links with me, JUST WHISTLE!

Also- one of my Etsy listings is in this pretty treasury, if you'd like to take a look.

Presents from the Lollipop lady, Loot from the trip, and a SALE in the Boutique

antiques/junking, Etsy Goodies, Miss Frenchie's, Moving to DC, Sugarwings, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 6, 2009

There is no place like home! Especially when I come home to this little girl. And waiting for us was a lovely box from my pal, Barbara. It was filled with fairies and treats and crafting supplies, and on and on and on!! She really went over the top on this "Just Because Box". Sugarwings and I will be serving PINK hot chocolate at our next tea party, thanks to Barb.

(There is nothing wrong with the fairy grand baby's eyes, that is a weird editing problem that happened when I tried to get rid of red eye, so don't worry that she got into some horrible glitter accident and was blinded)

Did I mention that I found a couple of hats in Virginia? The Hat Whisperer strikes again! I swear, I can sniff these little vintage nuggets of blooms anywhere I go. And JACKPOT, these are mostly roses. And all were bargains.

Of course, on Wednesday, I had the help of another hat lover, Andrea. She took me to all of her haunts in Frederisksburg. I was able to snag a couple there, but most were found in Manasses.

One of the very first things I unpacked when I got home, was the floral egg that Andrea gave to me. Its under a cloche in my bedroom now. Bethand I always say that things look more important under glass, but this little poof of foof looks very important even without the dome!

Another of my favorite purchases was thanks to Andrea too. She took me to a shop that was holding a pink sap bucket for her, and after she picked the one she wanted, she was fine with me buying the rest. Have I ever mentioned that I can't stop at just ONE of anything? Or did you notice without me mentioning it?

I'll use these buckets at my Miss Frenchie's sale, and what ever is left over, I'll be happy to keep in the studio.

By the way, Deb has updated the Miss Frenchie's Blog! Check it out for new photos and a list of the artists and dealers.

Andrea sent me this photo of our luncheon at Pinkadillys. Next time I go, I'll want to play dress up with the stash of millinery in the back room that is available for tea parties. And yes, I'll be going back, for sure!! Maybe I can organize some sort of blogger tea party for a group of us in that area? If you live out that way, let me know if you are interested.

On our way to Gettysburg, I was able to squeeze in a sneak visit for a few minutes each at Luckettes and at that pink polka dotted shop down the road from it.

Sorry, I can't remember the name of the shop, but I know that if you have ever been to Luckettes, you have also stopped at the polka dotted barn. If not, you must be so excited to be heading toward Luckettes that you have tunnel vision. Not that I blame you, that place is special, but look at this one!

Every time I go, I see the prettiest stuff. But this time, I noticed (as leaving, and already too late) a sign that said NO PHOTOS. oops…. I'm thinking that these are grandfathered in, since I had already snapped them??? Rude of me?

On the other hand, why would they object to me telling hundreds of people how beautiful their shop is? Maybe because I can't remember the name of it?

Downtown Leesburg, on the way home from Gettysburg, I mentioned to the other people in my group that there was a cute little Irish pub around the corner. They all immediately were ready for a break and pulled over. I ran down to the antique mall that Sue has a spot in and had a few minutes there before it close up at 5:30, while my traveling companions were swigging their beers.

Sue (Vintage Rescue) had the BEST daily blog postsfrom Rountop.

Well, I'd better get back to work. Today is my catch up day. Looks like I will probably need a few more, one doesn't cut it.

I'm adding to the Etsy Shop and to the Boutique, but mostly, I have been marking sale prices. To get ready for Miss Frenchie's and the aftermath (lots of new listings from that huge pile of inventory) I'm clearing things out of the Boutique. Today, I marked clearance prices on over 30 items.

Feeling less than sparkly

Etsy Goodies, jewelry

By Karla Nathan / March 22, 2009

Doesn't this little lady look happy? I could use some of her exuberance! I've been in bed ill, with yet another bug of some kind.

Now that I am up and about, I am taking it easy with some simple projects, like sugaring babies. I've also been cleaning old hardware to get it ready to take to Miss Frenchie's sale. Some of the things I found in the boxes of knobs and handles were these glass discs. They probably went to part of a knob at one time, but now they are perfect little "stages" for my Sugar Babies.

I should keep a bigger stash of mini crowns ready to go. They do come in handy. I had one for the sweet baby on the left, but not enough to go around for everyone.

Another crown went on this sugared bird nesting in millinery flowers and vintage beads.

The nest is perched in this old German mug.

This week, I have been in a sorting mood. Not just hardware, I also cleaned out my jewelry supplies. After making up a big batch of jewels for the sale on April 17th (and to get me through the rest of the year too, I usually make all my jewelry once or twice a year, in big marathons) I cleaned up the odds and ends and bits I had too much of and am listing them on Etsy.

Aren't old beads so much more interesting to work with than new ones from Hobby Lobby or Michaels? I never use those. I'd much rather find necklaces at estate sales to take apart.

Luckily, the other day when I cleaned up from the Jewelry Making Marathon of 2009, I went ahead and made up bads of beads to sell. Because today is a perfect day to sit in front of the computer and add bead packs. It doesn't take much brain power or energy to do. And I have laid in bed TOO LONG. I need to be up and doing something, so this is just the right task for today.

While adding bead packs and charm packs to Etsy, I thought I should put a little something in the Boutique too. I didn't want it to feel neglected!

But I just felt like the de-stashing packs were a better "fit" for Etsy, so that is where they can be found if you are needing any!

Hopefully, I'll be back to feeling sparkly tomorrow.