fairies – Page 13 – Karla's Cottage

Little Ghosts, a little puppy, and a little fairy princess

antiques/junking, dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), fairies, family, puppies!, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / September 10, 2012

There was a fairy surprise inside the box of swap pages coming from Deb Ganas, a whole pile of fairy garments, wings and slippers.

Dewdrop has a bit of a shoe obsession, so she will glom onto the slippers right away. Look at how funny the barefoot fairy feet shoes are! My husband has recently started wearing barefoot shoes for running, he thinks they are amazing. (his are not this cute) I'll have to clock the girls and see if these make them run even faster. I already can't keep up with Sugarwings, but I doubt if anyone could!

And isn't the package with the pages wrapped so sweetly? I should make sure and get a photo of her artwork too, it's really nice.

So far, a couple of tubs of packages have been mailed out. It will take a while to get through the whole set of swappers, but I've got a great start on it.

And the dilemma of how to wrap them is solved. Each book is swathed in fabric or tulle. Some of them are getting these elfish playing card tags. I only have 52 of those, so its a random selection for the tags.

I've got a few different airy fairy fabrics and tulles to use too, that really makes packing them up more fun. It gets monotonous if every single one is the same.

Of course, no two books are the same either. I'll be sad when I am done assembling them, I love sorting and sifting through to find pages that coordinate well together.

Last week was a short one for the kids. Not only were they out of school for Labor Day, Tuesday was some sort of day off too. So, I was able to spend some time with the big group of grands, and went to a garden center close out, lunch and a movie.

Mexican food, and Para Norman- which was a bit scary but had a wonderful message about accepting the differences in others and not being judgemental. Too bad it had to be taught by a scary, 300 year old Pilgrim Zombie Judge. But I love zombies, so really enjoyed the movie.

Poor Fin, looked at me about halfway through the movie and said, "why did you have to bring us to a scary movie?" And Sugarwings crawled up on my lap to clench me. I hugged Fin, held Sugarwings, asked if they wanted to leave, but both wanted to stay. I'm glad they did, it had an uplifting ending and Norman was a town hero.

We have a family tradition at movies. As the show ends, we go down to the front of the theater and dance to the songs that play during the credits. This time, I was too exhausted from lack of sleep due to puppies, but it was a really good song that I was sorry to miss out on dancing to. Little Ghost from the White Stripes, was so fun that we sat in the parking lot and played it over and over on my Iphone, then sang it all night.

The best part of being a grandmother are those kind of moments. At this stage of life, I know how fast it all zooms by and I like to stop and let the little ones take the time to explore and listen, and absorb the world. If we want to sit on a sidewalk and listen to a song a few times, why not? What is the big hurry to get in the car? Home will be waiting when we get there, we might as well grab onto something fun when we see it.

The garden center sale was a doozy. These weren't half dead, end of season clearance items, these were lush, thriving, pretty plants. I was thrilled to load up a cart at a dollar a pot, my yard had taken a beating from the heat and the chickens. I discovered that hens have a sweet tooth for begonias and petunias, and all the planters filled with those flowers have been pecked naked.

So, I have some pots to replant for fall and this sale was just what I needed. I want things to look pretty for Romantic Gothic Ghosts in October! If I get this new batch of plants settled in the dirt now, they should be ideal for company that week.

This photo was taken on 9/5, the little ones are opening their eyes and are getting strong enough to try to walk instead of scooch on their tummies.

Faery Book Swap page sets

Books, fairies, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / September 8, 2012

I'm so impressed with the art that has been winging its way to my door! Wow, what beautiful pages!

My job is to select pages that flow together in some way, whether color theme, or style.

Of course, I can't match them up perfectly, but I make sure that the pages look pretty together.

Its a joy to make the books up!

Its not a joy to make the labels for the packages though. Ugh. Oh well, its going ok. This will take a while, but I sure got a good start Labor Day weekend.

Not all the packages had arrived yet, but I had 50 some sets of pages, that was plenty to mix and match.

Sorry that I have not given you the names of all of the artists. If your art is here, please do leave a comment and let us know. These books are all done and packed up, so I can't flip them over to read the names at this point.

Gorgeous, huh???

Knee deep in Fairies

Books, fairies, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / September 6, 2012

Earlier this week, I began to tackle the boxes and packages of Faery Book Swap pages that have been arriving. Here are my steps:

Each box needs to be opened, and usually the pages are individually wrapped.
There is a master list with all the names, and I check off that the package arrived.
I salvage all bubble wraps and tissue paper.
I make sure there is a return address, if not I have to cut it off of the box they arrived in, then check off the address on my master list.
I check for payment, set that aside and mark the person paid.
The pages get stacked with the return address at the bottom of the pile. When I make the books, that helps me keep track of who created those pages. Then I slide the completed books into the padded envelopes and tape the address to the front. I don't use this as a label, I make the labels online and look at the taped on address as I type in the info.
All empty boxes get stored away for future use, I try to recycle as much as I can.

So far, I've made 52 stacks of 8 pages. This table top has been cleared and all the packages are tended to. What a good feeling!

I'll wait till the rest arrive to finish the stacks, and start making the books. Since I extended the deadline due to Labor Day, they will be trickling in all week.

Want a peek of some of the gorgeousness that has been coming my way?

Its going to be sad when the avalanche of packages stops coming to the door every day. Its like little bits of blog friends coming to visit my studio. Well, that sounds weird. But I hope you know what I mean.

I'm glad to know that I have Romantic Gothic Ghosts planned, and that I can start gearing up for that. Then, I'll have real live friends coming to see me here. (there are a couple spaces left if you'd like to come to play with us)

Freda sent Sugarwings this sweet music box, I can't wait to see her face when she opens it. We like to wind up a music box after I tuck her in sometimes, and she can listen to the music till it runs down.

I've always admired Robin Sanchez's work, and was thrilled that she sent me one of her pieces!! Look at that Charlotte necklace!!!

Charlottes are such a special little doll, aren't they? And so wonderful to use in projects. I adore what Terri Gordon did with this one. When its folded up, its a heart. When its open, the sides are fairy wings!!

This was on someones box, sorry I can't remember who. Cute,huh? I'm often blown away by some of the packaging that comes in. Wow, there is a lot of love and care that goes into a swap. Which is just one of the many reasons why I love them!

I'll try to snag a few more pics as I make the books. And I'll pin these from my blog to the Pinterest Board that I made.

PS- a couple years ago, Beth and I did this online class, complete with every paper and image you need ready to download and print for the detailed projects. There are also lots of decor tips and pretty ideas.

It wsa the inspiration for our Romantic Gothic Ghost class at my studio, Oct. 6th.

There are a couple spots left in the workshop at my house, and if you sign up to come, the online class comes as a bonus! If you can't make it to Kansas for the arty party, the online classes are full of fun and only $25.

Family Reunion Fun Times Two

celebrations, fairies, family, parties

By Karla Nathan / August 26, 2012

This photo is from my Sissy, of her page for our swap book. Its just gorgeous, done with beautiful things. She says she used "the Good Stuff" like I always harp about! The fabric under the sheet music and on the fairy herself is cut from a beaded 1920s flapper dress. I saw the gown last time I was at her house, its truly wonderful. I can't wait to see this page in person.

Here is the back. Pretty, huh?

I probably wouldn't be an artist if I hadn't had my two big sisters. As a kid, I always loved Bobbie Sue's paintings. And as an adult, Sissy showed me many tricks and had beautiful examples on how to make life prettier by adding lovely details to your surroundings.

This photo is from my trip to see them last year. I've pre-posted this, and will be visiting my sisses in Indiana for a family reunion as you read it.

On our last visit, we went on a junking jaunt East from Pendleton on Highway 40.

We usually have a good junkin day every time I go to Indy. Sometimes just hitting Goodwills, other times antique malls, doesn't matter where we go or what we do, its always fun to be together.

Bobbie Sue and Sissy are both coming to Romantic Gothic Ghosts! So is Cousin Paula, Guncle Randy and two of my husband's sisters, Terry and Sandy. It will mean a lot to me for my family to meet some of my blog friends and see what I actually do for a job. If you can call it a job…

We often do crafty days too. This time, we'll be making centerpieces for our Downey Dinner, family reunion. My Daddy had 8 brothers and sisters, and every summer the remaining sibs and all the families gather for a big pitch in. Hosting responsibilities rotate down the line from the oldest orginal member to the youngest. This year is our Dad's turn, so it falls to my sisses and I to host in his place.

Normally, everyone shows up, sets out the food in the rented hall as is, that's it. But, since we get to plan it this year, we are making centerpieces and using table cloths. Nothing elaborate, just something to brighten the room up.

I have red and white, throw away table cloths, to keep things simple for clean up. And we are making family trees as centerpieces. They will involve a branch in a canning jar, with photos from last year's reunion and some old pictures from decades ago tied to the branches.

The photos will be cut with decorative punches, glued to colorful scrapbook paper, and tied up with twine. I'll toss a doiley or two under each canning jar to make it even homier.

This will be our crafty day project with the family a couple days before the reunion. I'm filling a box with supplies and we'll all make a few hanging pictures for the trees. I think it would be nice if relatives could pluck pictures they like from the centerpieces to keep as momentos. Some might even be cute Xmas tree ornaments for the holidays in the right homes.

When I get back, I'll be finishing up some other projects then its time to go into full Faerie Book Swap mode. (this page is my sister-in-law Sandy's.)

People are still joining! And since I made plenty of extra covers, there is room. If you think you can have the pages to me by Sept. 1, feel free to enter. Isn't it nice to be a part of an easy going, do what you want, type swap?

I hope the swappers all enjoy it as much as I do! oooh, I can't wait to get home and see the piles of pages that come while I am away!

Happy birthday Sugarwings!

celebrations, Dew Drop, dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), fairies, family, Mayara, puppies!, Sugarwings, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / August 24, 2012

Sugarwings' birthday was such a fun day for us. We went to lunch at T. Rex to see the dinosaurs, but at first, Dewdrop wasn't sure if we should go in. Once she realized that there were cute little baby dinosaurs there, she was fine.( I don't know why the restaurant keeps the biggest, scariest one of all right inside the door to greet everyone. I guess they want to test the kids right up front to see if they can withstand the atmosphere before they waste table space incase the little ones have to leave before the food comes? If the kids can get past the giant monster at the door, they must be brave enough to sit and eat there.)

Sugarwings has always loved it there. Dewdrop took some convincing, but not much, She was careful to not look at the bigger ones, but was happy to give hugs and kisses to the colorful, cartoony beasts.

We walked around the shopping center, and let the kids run around on the Yellow Brick Road sidewalks. It was a favorite pastime for Sugarwings when she was little. Now that she is turning 6, I wanted to take her there again before she was too big to enjoy it.

Hopefully, she'll never be too old to be silly with Grams.

And honestly, she is happy anywhere she goes. Her idea of fun is just exploring. It can be along a yellow sidewalk that takes her imagination to Oz. or just sitting in the grass meeting whatever bug crawls by. It all entertains her.

Dewdrop had a good time on our day out too. And I was pleased to spend time with my boy, remembering when he was a little guy and running way ahead of me wherever we went, just like his daughter does now.

A pretty table cloth, a pitcher of Chocolate milk so that the kiddos could pour their own refills, and letting the baby join the big kids table all made a special meal for the birthday girl that night for dinner.

We also covered a big chair and tied balloons to it, creating a birthday throne when cake and ice cream time came. Then, her cupcake was served on a musical, wind up cake plate that plays "Happy Birthday", but not very good. Its kind of old and wonky, but still a fun tradition for us.

It was all I could do, to not be teary all day. I can't believe she is six now.

The last few years have zoomed by!

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment HERE.

Fairys and Happy Thoughts

fairies, swaps

By Karla Nathan / August 23, 2012

Can you take a few more Faery Book Swap pages from me?

While looking through a box of postcards on my shelf, I came across one that said "Fair Days and Happy Thoughts"

With just a little bit of tearing and glue, I changed it to Fairys And Happy Thoughts.

I used some of the remnants of the post card, a letter, leftover bits of lace, and some other bits and pieces from my desk to collage a background around the words.

Over that, I added a Victorian scrap little girl, and gave her butterfly wings and some flowers.

The pansies were on thick paper, so the layers of them give the piece some nice thickness.

The back is a continuation of the same theme, Cleaning Scraps off my Desk. I tore strips of leftover scraps to make a collage, then added a calling card and lace. I covered up the original name on the calling card and added my own, as a signature.

I hope everyone is remembering to sign the backs of your pages???? Swappers will want to know who created the pages they get in their books!!

All of the charms I ordered to tie onto the books have arrived safely. I have 3 different ones to use, and will have a couple on each book.

The padded envelopes are ordered, the rings are here. I bought enough rings to do two per book, but I'm not sure yet if that is how I'll do it. I might go with one ring in the top corner, like the Birdsong books that Beth made. I like that look, mostly because I hang my books on hooks or nails in the studio and they look pretty displayed that way, from one top hoop. I'll a few together and see what I think. Its still up in the air right now.

In the past, I've wrapped tag books in vintage text from books in the theme of the swap. But these Faerie Swap books will be larger (oh my poor studio, when I start laying all of these out!!) and book pages won't fit around them.

I probably should order some tissue paper.

Sweet, Ruth Flowers sent me a big bag full of pretty ribbons that I can use to tie to the books and attach the fairy charms. I've got some more that I will be using too, but these colorful snips will be a nice addition to my stash. Its going to take a lot of ribbon!

Isn't the page she made beautiful?

And look!! Wendy sent an adorable, fairy cupcake as a gift!!

Thanks, Wendy and Ruth! Wendy did her pages all different. I did mine that way too. Some people make them all the same, its okay either way, they all go to different people. If you want to see more of Wendy's you can go to her blog.

I know I wasn't going to open any more packages till after the 1st, but I just have to peek a little… I'm letting myself open one here and there. Soon, I'll be getting 10-15 arriving at once, and it will be easier to pile them up. For now, when they trickle in one at a time, its too tempting to not see what is in the box.

And boy, has it been fun to see them! You will LOVE the artwork that has been showing up on my doorstep.

More later, I'll be away in Indiana for the big Downey Dinner, family reunion, but have posts prewritten for you to read while I'm away.

To enter the Giveaway, please leave a comment on THIS post.

Yep, still making fairy pages!

Books, fairies, swaps

By Karla Nathan / August 20, 2012

How could I not keep making fairy pages for the swap when I come across perfect images like this one!? I only need 8 pages to trade myself, but I think that I'm up to 15 now.

This vintage advertising card was so pretty, all she needed was some wings, she was already a fairy like lady.

I put the whole card onto an old letter, and added lace behind it, and a die cut of flowers over it. Slipped some wings on her, and glittered them up.

The backside is another page of the letter, with a butterfly postcard.

The card is embossed, and flocked.

This image was in the same box as the other, purchased at Bottom's Up last week. I got a huge pile of old die cuts and cards for $20. This one was torn, but was perfect for this page, I tore it a bit more, added glittered butterfly wings, a millinery bloom for a hat, and lace across the torn bottom edge.

Her background is a page from a children's gardening book.

The back is a page from the same book, and some more lace. I love that there is a place to write the name of the book's owner on this page when I mail it out!

This little hen hugger was in the same box.

I placed her over sheet music layered with a piece of curtain fabric left over from when the raccoons tore into my breezeway. The curtains were shredded at the bottom, but too pretty to throw away, so I saved what I could.

I glittered the chicken, gave the fairy some dragonfly wings and a millinery laurel for her hair. I almost added fairy wings to the chicken till I realized that, dur, chickens come with wings already.

She reminds me of Sugarwings carrying around one of her pet Rhode Island Reds.

Since the Fairy's gown looks like velvet, I added red velvet ribbon to the bottom of the page. Then, more lace, some flowers, and an old brooch.

Here is the back, sheet music, inked up with three colors of ink pads, and a vintage card in the center.

I have a couple more to show you in the next posts. Hopefully I will stop making these and get to work on some other stuff. But this theme is soooo fun, I just keep coming up with more and more ideas and would rather make these than get other stuff done. Like the BORING task of making the back covers of the book. Ugh.

There have been some rough days around the cottage recently and sitting down to make something pretty was a big help to me. Filling my world with pretty things helps to forget about the ugliness sometimes, doesn't it?

I'll be in Indiana for my family reunion, but will pre-post on my blog. All orders from the Boutique will be sent out when I return.

And I completely forgot that I wanted to make some pages with this image too! I need to do a few more, I guess.

You still have time to make some if you want to join too. Details on the side bar button to the right.

Pages are due on Sept.1st. But please keep in mind that it might take me more than a week to assemble, pack and label approximately 100 books. If you are running late, contact me before you spend money overnighting your package!!! I hate to see you overnight something and then have it sit here on my desk for 10 days.

But try not to be late, that does make it harder for me. Just please contact me if you are a couple days behind.

PS- if you want to win a giveaway of one of these doily votives, please leave a comment on the previous post.

I am finishing up my pages, Twinkle is finishing up her pups

dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), fairies, puppies!, swaps, We're having a party, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / August 16, 2012

This Faery Book Swap page is a done in a similar way to my other pages: slap down a vintage paper back ground, find a pretty lady or girl in my ephemera drawer, glue on some wings from the 1950s bug book that I got at a garage sale, sprinkle on some glitter, trim and done.

Well, basically at least. All are different in that I used a variety of ladies or girls, papers and trims, but it boils down to all being the same sort of process. Each is unique, but I didn't use any ground breakingly creative skills in assembling them, as you might have noticed as I gave some "how to's" on most of the pages I made.

This one has some hand drawn vines around the wallpaper centerpiece. And I used a sheer fabric, layered between the main decor and the background.

After finding my stride and figuring out shortcuts to make pages, I went a bit bannanas and made quite a few. I like to have extras for the swap, but if I don't need them, I'll be making up a seperate book for the Boutique.

I've also got some extra covers, so will make up some kits to sell too. In case you didn't get in the swap but would like to create your own fairy book.

The back is a pretty page from one of my old children's books, and a touch of lace at the bottom. But ooooh! what lace! Its butterflies!

I used quite a bit of this trimming out the covers too.

Each cover was basically the same design and style too, but all were done with slightly different supplies. When you use vintage materials, you get unique results. My wings are all petals or leaves from old millinery blooms, and the wallpaper is matched up to my wing materials. So are the ribbons and the little flower that I added to either her bodice or hair.

You can tell from this glimpse, that I used lots of different laces to trim the bottoms too.

I am so excited to be getting closer to assembly time! There will be two more posts upcoming with photos of the rest of my pages.

If you are curious about how I pull together a big swap, here is a post from the last one I hosted.

This pic of Twinkle about to pop on Aug. 12th, before the puppies are even due. Believe it or not, she is much bigger now, every day she seems to balloon up even more, and I feel so bad for her. Its hard to figure the due date, because she was over at her boy toy's house for ten days and I hear that they enjoyed every minute of the time together.

The vet says to figure 63 days from the mid point of their romantic interlude. But if I calculate from the first weekend, the due date is now.

I think she might have the pups today, and its Sugarwing's birthday, wouldn't that be perfect?! Her temperature has dropped to 98.5, she seems to be trying to nest under the deck, so we can't let her go out in the yard alone. I've barricaded the doggie door so she doesn't sneak out. She barely fits through it anyway. I might have to grease her belly if she continues to try to get in and out that little door.

Today Sugarwings is six years old. Tomorrow she goes to kindergarten.

For her birthday, I painted her new loft bed. She helped me, its a razzelberry color, with glitter. The ladder that goes up to the mattress is 5 steps, so I numbered them and did one fairy, two worms, 3 lady bugs, 4 butterflies, and 5 flowers on the coordinating rungs.

Sorry the photos suck, they were taken on my phone in a dark garage.

We've had a terrific birthday week, starting with her Mommie's party on Sunday, zoo on Monday, cupcake baking and decorating Wednesday, and a BBQ tonight. We had thought about a water park visit today, but haven't mentioned it to her. I'm glad we didn't, the weather doesn't look great, and I want to stay near the expectant momma.

What's on the menu for the BBQ? All of the birthday girl's favorites, of course! Salmon, french fries, watermelon, chocolate milk, corn on the cob, and spinach. Then, home made cupcakes mixed up by Dewdrop and Sugarwings.

I'll let you know if we have a few extra guests for dinner. I'm hoping to see six little tiny pups coming to the 6th birthday party!

Faerie Pages flying in!

fairies, show and tell, swaps

By Karla Nathan / August 7, 2012

Kim

Fairies are winging their way into my studio daily now!

Lisa

The very, very best part of a swap is the packages piling up around the room. Of course, it doesn't take long for them to take over the room….

Briar Rose

This particular swap certainly will take over. Close to 1,000 pages including my front and back covers will be spread out around the room.

Laurie

I wish I could take photos of all the artwork for you. I'd get nothing else done if I did though. I will promise to get random photos here and there as I can.

But I will have a Pinterest board for them. And I think there is a way for people to add photos to my board, isn't there? Any tips? I think you just have to send me a request, but I could be wrong. I don't know if you do that through Pinterest, or if you just email me with your user name and I add you to the board.

If anyone has done this let me know if I'm close on how to do it.

Isn't this cute as a bug? It was sent to me by Elaine at Briar Rose

She actually creates the porcelaine pieces herself and used one on each page she made.

My front covers are DONE!!!!!!!!!!! Now onto the back ones, which are not nearly as entertaining to do. Which is why I have so few done. I need to force myself to do a few a day, and I'll be fine by the end of the month.

Then the fun begins, the first couple weeks of September will be assembly time. There will definately be more photos coming then. I love seeing the books come together, and try hard to match up pages so they look attractive with each other.

For now, I will try not to open all the packages till the due date. I love to see what comes in the mail, but I have to be very, very organized, with marking items off lists and double checking contents, and not getting anything mixed up.

So, its smarter to not open very many till they are all here and ready for me to dive into. Its hard to resist and I do peek a bit, especially at first. But once I start getting a lot of them, I pile all of the packages into tubs and slide them under tables until its time to open them up. If I open them all as they come in, I'd have total chaos, things might slide out of boxes, stacks would get knocked over.

I'll be using my self control and waiting to do it right.

Its almost impossible for me to let you know if your package is here or not. I check them off as I open them, not as they come in. As they come in, they will be stored away till later. Yours could be buried under 50 other packages, so its very hard to check. Thank you for understanding.

You can still join, if you'd like. They are due Sept. 1st.

Faerie Swap Book Update, And an explanation of the costs

fairies, swaps

By Karla Nathan / August 4, 2012

The Faerie Swap book covers are coming along fine. Here are 77, almost finished ones. They still need a magic wand and some lace trim.

I've been trying to do them assembly line style, gluing all the wallpaper backs on, sanding and inking the edges, cutting out and adding the fairy with her vintage millinery wings, then the wallpaper circle with the title, then some glitter.

Whew.

It was going very well and I was pleased to see I was almost through the stack.

But the stack looked kind of small.

Then, I counted and realized that the copy store had only made 60 copies, not 100. So, back to the copy store for 40 more and start the process over again.

Now, I 'm working on the back cover. The very back is flocked wallpaper on the outside with some other pretty paper on the inside. I haven't decided which yet.

I bought chip board to use for a sturdy backing. I'm covering 50 in paper, then cutting them in half.

I plan for 100, my smaller swaps have gone way over that, but this one is more involved. We are not quite to 100 yet, so you still have time to join. Click on the side bar button if you want more info.

Some of the charms I ordered to tie onto the rings have arrived! I've got some other ones coming. I'll be tying pretty ribbons onto the binding ring and dangling charms from them.

I've had people asking me why I am charging so much to join the swap, when postage won't take $20.

So, I thought I should explain. First of all, I have to buy charms, chip board, wallpaper, glue, more glue, ribbons, ring binders,card stock, ink, and glitter. I have to pay for color copies, plus use my own stash of wallpaper, flocked paper and millinery.

It adds up for 100 books. And the postage will be higher than previous swaps I've done, these books are much larger than little tag books.

I put in hours, and hours, and hours of time to this. Starting with the watercolor of the fairy, so that there is an original design on the cover, not just an image I got from the internet.

Plus, all the sorting, and book making, then the days of making labels to send out the packages, plus the ink and paper for my printer.

Now, its true, that not all the money goes to purchases, some goes to my time. But it doesn't cover the extent of time that I put into the work. I'd make a lot more if I was taking photos of my things to sell and adding them to the Boutique. Or making something arty to add to it instead of this.

But I love swaps and its so fun to see my studio swamped in pages and pages of your art work!

So, I enjoy doing it, but I simply could not do it if I didn't charge, it takes away too much time from my real work. I hope you don't think I'm trying to gouge you on the price. Honestly, I'm not getting ahead on this. If you think I've over charged you, I hope this explains the costs behind the price.