give away – Page 11 – Karla's Cottage

Here they are!

By Karla Nathan / June 13, 2008

Thanks to everyone who sent in a birthday card for my Great Aunt Caroline’s 100th birthday!

Earlier, I was posting cards as they came in, but with 100, it simply got away from me.

Today, I photographed all the ones that were not on Flickr yet, and will load them onto that site over the weekend.

In the meantime, I thought you’d appreciate a sneak peek at the creativity and generosity that came Aunt Caroline’s way.

Really something, huh?

They aren’t all in yet, but we are approaching 100.

The cards are coming from all over the world, like this one from Lili in the Netherlands.

And the styles are all so different. From hand painted by Meredith to an altered journal by

Jen Rizzo.

Liam Tatum’s has printed cloth.

And Joy’s uses Caroline’s photo and some gorgeous sequin trim.

Some are sweetly old fashioned and sentimental looking like Lea Star’s and Amy Wald’s pink pretties.

Maria Elena sent in a cross stitch all the way from Chile.

And Barb Burkard has machine stitched hers, and added padding!

This is the inside of Kelly’s, her blog is "Junky Gal" and she junked this one up just PERFECTLY! Lot of lovely layers inside and outside.

Here is the link to the flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/679216@N25/ I will be loading photos off and on this weekend. I hope to have all up by Monday, and would appreciate any corrections you can give me. A few don’t have names, and there were a lot of Kathy’s with a K and I don’t know who is who, sorry. Just look for your card, and please leave a comment on the photo to correct any stupid mistakes I have made. Because I tend to do that a lot. Again, sorry. I try, but my mind doesn’t work in a very organized way.

Here is the list of sign ups and hopefully it is updated to include everyone. I need to have all the cards here by the 20th, if you still want to send one and haven’t yet. I will then draw winners for prizes as a thank you for all of your help to make this elegant and kind woman’s 100th birthday even more special!

Prizes will include a collaged clutch, and some vintage jewelry as well as some other little fun tidbits here and there. I’ll see what I have made that I think you might like.

Thanks again, to all you wonderfully talented people who have sent in your art!

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
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
Joanne jk51958@yahoo.com

I promised to show my paint color for the bedroom, it is a barely there blue/aqua. And what a perfect name, "Nurture". I’d paint all my walls that color just because I love the title of it so much! I have enjoyed the grey-green color I have now, I just wanted a softer, sweeter shade. This blueish green is very similar to what I already have, just a tad prettier.

The walls are prepped, the wallpaper border is removed and sanded away, all of the furniture that can be moved is out of the room.

I promise that I am not going to do any more to this bedroom until all of the birthday cards are loaded onto Flickr! I’ll be camping on the mattress on the floor in the living room until then. After all you card makers have done, I at least owe you some good photos to enjoy!

And PS- a friend asked me to let you know about her giveaway:
http://connie-livingbeautifully.blogspot.com

And PPSS- (remember writing that on notes as a kid? I don’t think that is used in texting)- don’t forget about MY giveaway, with garage sale goodies I find this month! Leave a comment to enter.

Seeing some more reds and getting an eyeful at the Wakarusa Fest

antiques/junking, Books, family, give away, Sugarwings, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / June 7, 2008

I’m still seeing red! This time, it is tie dye and wild, hippy reds!!

We went to the Wakarusa music festival yesterday, not camping out for 4 days like most festival goers, we just bought a one day pass and took our fairy grand baby out for some good music, sunshine, hula hooping, and dancing. Oh, and FOOD!

I discovered that snow cones are her favorite food on the planet and that she can determinedly try scooping them it with the long plastic straw/spoon, long after the ice has melted away into a puddle of syrup.

Sugarwings traveled in style, in her canopied red wagon, complete with fairy wings on the back.

Sugarwing’s Hippy Chick mommy was one of my favorite things to watch at the fair, she was so graceful and pretty while doing her hula hoop dance.

Can anyone give me an idea on how to load a short video of Sugarwings dancing at the concert?

In the meantime, here is a link to the video on Flickr- its very short if you’d like to watch it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlascottage/2561653016/

I’m not a huge concert fan, myself. I typically listen to National Public Radio instead of music, but this festival was more "event" than concert for me and I had a great time.

The lead singer of the Flaming Lips arrived in a giant hamster ball and crowd surfed while bubbles and confetti were shot out from the rainbow colored stage. And for some reason, giant Tele Tubbies danced away on the stage to every song. During one song, naked women from the audience joined in and danced with the Tele Tubbies. Now that isn’t something you see everyday!

Another thing you don’t see very often is me out garage sailing and forgetting to take my purse!

I didn’t realize until I got all the way across town this morning, that I didn’t have it with me. I guess I was beat from the late night at the Wakarusa fest and wasn’t thinking clearly.

So, I dug into my ashtray where I keep my emergency frozen custard money, and challenged myself to a morning of garage sailing on $8.75.

Not only did I do fine with a limited budget, I came home with change!

Not enough to stop for frozen custard, though.

I bought:

*3 hand made lawn baby gowns

* a delicate embroidered baby’s pillow case

* sweet little pink booties

* a small, old bottle with a glass stopper

* a tiny wooden doll to fix up for Bethany’s art show

* and this cute little child’s toy hutch to fix up for Sugarwings.

I promised that my June giveaway would be garage sale finds that I get this month. So, here is the first of the batch, one of the lovely, old baby gowns I picked up today.

Check back to see what gets added as the month goes by!

And leave a comment, on any post all month to enter, as often as you’d wish.

One more red, and some thank yous- Sarah, thanks for the "Seeing Red" week, it was a fun challenge.

Thanks to Rhondi for belatedly adding me to her porch party. I had been left off the links and thought I must smell bad or something, because I seem to be getting left off of party links lately!! She was kind enough to add me in to the party today. Even though, everyone was showing beautiful porch pics and all I had was a burr covered dog in a gazebo.

And thanks to everyone who inquired about my Friday Flea Market items in the last post, and to those of you who bought some pretties!

The table cloth and some hand made vintage wallpaper books are still available.

Here is what the covers look like, I was feeling Flocky when I made them!

the not so romantic side of a Romantic Country Autumn Garden Party IN JUNE

flowers, give away, magazine pictures or articles

By Karla Nathan / June 1, 2008

Today is Present Day! I get to announce the winners of not one but TWO May giveaways!

Jenny

and

Dede

Remember, I ALWAYS have a giveaway going somewhere, some how. All comments are entered into the monthly drawing and the prize is always something different. A new one starts now for June.

What should I have for June’s giveaway? Last month was popular, maybe I’ll do another prize pack.

I know!! It can be a June Garage Sailing Extravaganza Pack! I’ll scour garage sales and find some good presents for you.

Carol and I set up our fall photo shoot for Romantic Country for Fifi, and Sugarwings dropped by to help a bit.

I see a future photo stylist in the makings there!

And you know, we could use all the help we could get. Its not simple to turn a neglected corner of a farm field into a romantic picnic!

Luckily we had a beautiful, perfect day, sunny and no wind. Shooting outdoors is never easy. Diane Guthrie (our photographer) had to run an extension cord across the field so we could set up some lights for a shadowy corner.

The other day in our "dry run" to set up and see what needed to be tweaked, we came up with lots of changes.

One being the planks on the ground under the table legs, so that when we loaded the table, it didn’t slowly sink into the mud and tilt sideways so that things fall off and break (yep, that happened in the dry run).

To create an outdoor room for our Autumn picnic, we hung some curtains from the trees. Vintage French lace curtains from Carol’s stash!

But, halfway through the shoot, they were just not looking right to me on the screen. Great in person, very romantic. But haunted and ghostly in the film, so we had to take some down.

We had hung this Gothic arch window of Carol’s (she has great stuff, check out her website) with more French lace behind it, and that was plenty for atmosphere. Sometimes just a touch of something is all you need. (can you believe that I said that, Miss Gaudy actually said that a touch is enough???)

Oh but, don’t worry, there was some gaudiness! But tastefully done, not over the top like I tend to do, because Carol is magnificent and this article is featuring her creations and ideas.

See the purple brain in the urn? Hmmm, it looks better from the front angle instead of this one. It is a red cabbage is embellished with ribbons and rhinestones and I just thought it was the cutest topiary ever.

I can show you some snippets, but not all of the set up, it will have to be a surprise when the fall issue of Romantic Country comes out.

Carol made these mini crowns from gutter screening, and we set votive cups inside to hold the water and flowers.

Our colors were rich purples, plums, and cream, with contrasting greens.

Neither of us are purple people, but everything looked so pretty together, we might have converted ourselves.

The table was set with such an inviting style, we were tempted to pull up a chair and start the party. But instead we sat on the bumper of the SUV parked in the grass to eat our sandwhiches. After all that work, we couldn’t risk messing the disply up!

The field felt like it was miles from the house ( I guess I was feeling my age today, plus it was so humid that Carol’s glasses steamed up). So, I got out the John Deere and made my hauls back and forth with props the lazy way!

Speaking of lazy, that last load of stuff is still in the wagon, I’d better go get it put away, then treat myself to a relaxing evening with nothing else to do but finish a good book I am near the end of. Maybe in the jacuzzi. With lots of Calgon. And a glass of wine.

Yep, perfect ending to a fun, but tiring day.

Two Sugarwings Fairies!!!

antiques/junking, collections, Etsy Goodies, fairies, give away, paintings, Sugarwings, swaps

By Karla Nathan / May 28, 2008

The swap panels are coming along nicely.

There are only about 400 or so to punch holes in and ring together.

But honestly, it isn’t monotonous or boring at all. I look at it as a chance to examine and admire each artwork.

Since Beth and I sorted them according to colors, styles and themes, they are already in piles ready to be assembled in groups that coordinate nicely.

Its kind of like doing one of those Flickr mosaics.

Or more like doing dozens of those Flickr mosaics!

I’m happy with the way they are looking, and hope everyone agrees that it was worth our time to match up sets of four instead of randomly hooking them together.

Tomorrow, Beth comes over for the day to finish and pack up the rest so we can get them in the mail.

A number of them will be late, though. Amy Barrickman wants to have a large selection professionally photographed for her newsletters and possible other publications.

We’ve had so many gorgeous ones come in, it will be hard to chose a few to send to Amy, so we are giving her a box full and letting her decide.

There are prizes going out to a LOT of swappers. Not based on their art (we love it all!) but by random drawing.

6 gift certificates from Vintage Workshop

2 clutches made by Beth and I with Vintage Workshop images

This lightweight cotton scarf, hand made by Beth and dyed by me

And a slew of tags I made from the images Amy provided

We’ve informed a couple of winners, but not all prizes are drawn yet.

I feel like I won a prize, look at the score I made today on a quick junking trip!

Sterling silver mini tiaras covered in crystal rhinestones, ready for me to foof and doodad up even further. I can’t wait to make these even more gaudy!!

Also, vintage trims and more cabinet cards. I KNOW I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO BUY ANY MORE PHOTOS. But when they are 50 cents or so, how can I not??? (the tiaras were $4 each and are going to be the most gaudily gorgeous things ever!)

Well, not as gorgeous as my fairy grand baby. Nothing is, in my book.

And look what I got, from my pal Lili! Isn’t she just adorable??? Thanks so much, Lili, I just love it!

I have my little fairy baby hanging on a chandelier in my art studio and can’t wait for her to come and see it there. She always notices my light fixtures and has a comment on them. I like to hang extras from them to surprise her, since she appreciates it so much.

Do you remember this photo of little Sugarwings at the zoo?

Today, after taking my husband to the airport at FIVE THIRTY IN THE MORNING– ugh- and going to the gym- double ugh- I sat down and painted a quick watercolor of this picture.

I ‘fairied" her up a bit more and added glitter. No respectable watercolorist adds Stickles glitter to their work, but hey, who needs to be respected? I’d rather be sparkly!

By the time this baby is in school, I’ll have enough paintings and collages of her to fill all the walls in my house.

If I had any sense at all, I’d spend my time on commissions instead of painting my own baby over and over!

Or instead of buying hats all the time. But, at least I pulled a few more flowers (and cherries!) off of a few and listed them on Etsy. And some on Ebay too. I hadn’t done Ebay in months. It isn’t hard to do, I just don’t enjoy it like I do my sweet little Etsy shop.

Thanks to all of you who help keep my shop going, I couldn’t do it, if I didn’t have you all shopping there. Yuck, I’d have to go and get a real job and not have time to waste on blog writing and reading all the other fun blogs out there!

That is why I am so happy to do giveaways. I owe you!!

So remember, you still have till the end of the month to enter to win the birdhouse for the Cottage Charm giveaway. And check out my previous post for the pics of my other giveway prize pack for May.

Planted Plates and Pansies

collections, flowers, give away, show and tell

By Karla Nathan / May 25, 2008

Hope you are all having a happy Memorial Day weekend? We’ve been busy, with boating, and a party, and the fairy grand baby staying the WHOLE weekend with us. She and I have done yard work all morning (and no, I didn’t tame the wildness of the yard, I merely pulled weeds and cleaned up a bit). After nap time, there will be more boating, so I thought I’d use this small window of time while the baby is sleeping to be a part of Show and Tell Sunday and snap some photos of my china and crystal.

Except, I don’t really have any crystal…

All of my glassware comes from garage sales.

Just about all of my dishes do too. Except the collection of chintz patterned coffee cups, those I buy at Home Goods or TJ Max when I see a pretty rosey one I don’t have. The chandelier cup is from there too, it was on clearance for $1.99.

Gosh, on my last post I was talking about the wildness of my gardens, but from the looks of my cabinets, they aren’t much neater.

I am so much more comfortable with a laid back, casual display.

The very top shelf seems to be neater. These pieces aren’t in daily use like the others.

It is important to me to have things pretty, like painting the insides of the cabinets a complimentary pink.

The pink interiors aren’t really that noticeable when the doors are shut, but the color always lifts my spirits when I go to put away my dishes.

For every day, I use an assortment of white, cream and ivory plates and bowls that I have picked up here and there.

Then I have a couple of sets of "good dishes" like this stack of Wedgwood ones from an auction (for $11).

I don’t always put my things away in an order that makes sense. I go more for how pretty they look together, then add little tidbits to the display, like these chipped up porcelain flowers.

And no, I am not too proud to admit that I cook with instant mashed potatoes and prove it by showing a cannister full of them in the cabinet with the Wedgwood plates.

I do have a trick for instant taters, though. I will boil one potato, skin on, and smash it up so that is still slightly lumpy and add that to my instant ones to give them a better texture.

Any china with a rose on it is hard for me to resist at garage sales, even though I am out of room for displaying them all.

And of course, what is a cottage without some Pussy Willow around somewhere?

Well, when you run out of display space indoors, it is time to start hanging plates on the garden fence!

There were quite a bit more out here hanging but over the last few years, they have fallen and I simply haven’t replaced them. I’m surprised these have stayed up through a few rough Kansas winters.

And of course, I plant plates too.

And use them as flower bed borders.

Teacups glued to the arms of an old chandelier make great candle holders. (I did this project for Romantic Country a couple years ago).

As a clumsy, careless, and hurried antique dealer, I always had boxes of broken dishes from moving displays without bothering to clear the shelves first.

So I took up mosaicing to use up the dishes that I regularly crashed.

I’m not the sort of collector who expects or values perfection. Many of the dishes in my cabinets are chipped or cracked or crazed. I think it makes them more interesting (and of course, more affordable!!).

If all I am doing with a plate is using it for decor in a cabinet, I’d much rather have a 25 cent chipped one than a $35 dollar one in perfect condition.

In honor of last week’s Show and Tell Sundays vintage linens, I added an embroidered doily to the MAY GIVEAWAY PRIZE PACK.

For this week’s Show and Tell, I’ll do the same and add a lovely old plate. It seems to just be perfect with the assortment of other prizes, doesn’t it? How could I NOT add it to this bunch of pretties??? (that is if I don’t break it first!)

Don’t forget to "grab for the golden ring" and leave a comment to enter the drawing (all comments, all posts this month count).

Also check out the button on the side bar to see all the Cottage Charm giveaways going on this month. Good luck in the drawings!!

Swap Central

give away, Sugarwings, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 23, 2008

In honor of the generosity of our Birds and Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap, I’ve added more prizes to my May giveaway.

A little round tag that I made using Vintage Workshop images (from the flower girls collections), then tied up with a snippet from a vintage hankie, and a sprig of old millinery flowers are now included with the other prizes.

(don’t forget there is a solid gold vintage band in the presents!)

Speaking of flower girls, look who was in a wedding! Sugarwings walked down the aisle picking up the petals her cousin was tossing down.

During the rehearsal, she remembered her turn and curtsey, but got a little distracted by trying to pick up all the petals to do it for the actual ceremony.

On Thursday, Beth and I had a great time sorting and tagging the panels for our swap. Even though I was late, at my own house!

I left the door unlocked in case Beth got here before I made it back from picking my husband up at the airport. Good thing I did, his flight was delayed and I was waiting for him for a couple of hours. Beth knew to let her self in, grab a can of pop, turn on the TV and start working on the tags without me. Isn’t it nice to have friends that can make themselves at home and are as much family as a friend?

After getting the name tags attached, (which Beth did 90% of, since I was late) we spent a lot of time compiling groups of panels that seemed to go well together.

While everyone had the same 3 sets of images to use, there was a wide variety of styles and themes that were used by the artists.

Instead of just picking up four random panels to put together, we thought it would be much better to coordinate the artwork to 4 complimentary panels per screen.

So, the piles are grouped according to which ones we think will flow well together. These 3 photos are of a few of our groupings that we will use to assemble the screens.

I put one together to see how it would look, here is one side.

And here is the other. I can’t say front or back, everyone did such a detailed and beautiful job finishing both sides!

And I have to thank everyone for their generosity in taking such time to create the panels and participate in our swap! Also, there were some wonderful artworks, gifts, doodads, treats, and tidbits included with the packages- just look at these!

It was quite overwhelming to open all the packages and see the thougthful hostess gifts!

Can you believe all of this???

THANKS!!!!!!!!

We could have spent all day, just playing with our new toys.

We had fun going through them all, and I think I managed to get everything in the photos.

We also had a great time looking through each of the panels as we put the name tags on them.

It was so impressive to see the range of styles and imagination that went into the creations.

I am going to try to get photos of a few more completed screens this week, then next Thursday, Beth and I will get together again and start hole punching and assembling.

Luckily, I have a large studio, because this is all laid out in it till next week!

Two dining tables and a card table full of pretty panels waiting to be put together, packed up and sent to their new homes.

Don’t forget, that I have TWO Giveaways going on right now, not just the May prize pack I showed at the top of the post.

I’m also offering this vintage wallpaper covered bird house as part of the Cottage Charm giveaway. Click on the button in my side bar to find other blogs giving away cottagey gifts on May 31st.

Hats, and Papers, and Bears, OH MY! Plus a Cottage Charm giveaway

antiques/junking, collections, Etsy Goodies, give away, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / May 19, 2008

Kim is hosting her 2nd annual Cottage Charm Giveaway and of course, I had to participate!

I have a lot of crap, I mean hand made creations, lying around my studio and I should dump them somehow, I mean give them away to readers.

So, if you would like to win a cottage style bird house, just leave a comment any time (and as many times as you’d like) between now and the end of the month.

Your comments will count towards this giveaway as well as my regular monthly prize. Which really isn’t all that regular, since I am so in love with May and am adding to the prize pack every once in a while.

Check out Kim’s site for a list of other giveaways all over blogland. There will be some good stuff out there waiting to go to a new home!

Our trip to the Topeka Zoo yesterday was delightful. Its a cute little zoo, just the right size for a toddler’s visit.

I saw a lot of these type of expressions on Sugarwing’s face, she was so excited to see the animals.

This photo might just have to become the basis for a fairy painting of her.

When I go to the zoo, or an amusement park, or any other tourist spot, I rarely photograph the place itself. I like pictures of the people I was with (and of course lots of Sugarwings!)

I don’t want to fill my photo album or scrap book or computer storage with stock photos of giraffes. The look on the baby’s face as she sees her first giraffe means a lot more to me.

Before leaving to go to the zoo, we all met downtown to have lunch. As we walked toward the restaurant, I heard the faint, but persistent call of the millinery flowers.

So, I told my family I’d meet them in a minute, and ran down to the antique mall to find this pile of hats, for $4-$6 each!!

I didn’t even miss lunch, when I got there, they had saved me a fajita.

I know you are asking yourself, what is that under the hats? Is that the elusive PINK flocked wallpaper?

(I refuse to believe that you are really saying, "there is a serious problem with this crazy lady and her hat problem. AND HER WALLPAPER PROBLEM.")

You are right, it is FLOCKED vintage papers in beautiful shades of pink, ivory and tan!

I’ll be making up some packs to sell on Etsy if I can force myself to share. I could be a little bit stingy about this stuff.

This one, I simply cannot call vintage, it is only from the 80s and I get irritated by that label on stuff that is not OLD.

I bought this paper to line a cabinet for Sugarwings. She is the worlds biggest Care Bear Fan.

She is so crazy about Care Bears that I added a pink rainbow bear decal to the window of my car, so she could see it from her car seat. And I am not a decal or a sticker person.

Before you start to think that all I do is shop for flowers and wallpaper, or play with the baby, I want to show you a project I actually made!

Yep, I sat at my desk and made something, it seems like it has been a while since I had a chance to do that. I spent most of the day working away on cleaning the studio, listing supplies on Etsy, and watering all my new plantings outside. But I did take time to use some of my favorite things and make this piece.

It has hand painted roses, vintage flocked wallpaper, pink pages from an old French book (from my pal, Lili), velvet millinery flowers, an old earring with rhinestones, seam binding ribbon, and sheet music. Wow, I don’t think I could have possibly squeezed in one more bit of any of my obsessions onto this gaudy little dumpling of vintage goodies.

Its rosey red and faded pink, I like those colors together. A little different, but nice.

One more thing before I go, in case you haven’t made up your mind that I might be crazy.

Remember the fall themed photo shoot I have coming up this spring with Carol? I decided to try painting some leaves, to make the trees look more fall-like. So, here is a tiny sample, and it seems to work.

I used a red spray paint meant for florists, so I doubt if it will kill the trees. I only painted a couple of leaves to see how it went, don’t you think they look like autumn?

Linens and Things

antiques/junking, collections, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), give away, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / May 18, 2008

Today is Show and Tell day again and I have to thank Little Pink Studio and Sugar Sugar for coming up with yet another topic of obsession. At first, when I saw the subject was antique linens, I thought I wasn’t a collector. But, then a quick glance around my house and I realized they are everywhere. I guess I don’t think of them as a collection as much as just part of my decor.

Most of what I have are doilies that I buy in bags or boxes at garage sales for a couple bucks a bagful. I tuck them here or there around the cottage, layering them and bunching them up. Nothing too perfect looking, I don’t want them to feel fussy or Victorian-ish.

I like to mix the styles of doilies when I layer them.

And I use all shades of white, but really prefer the darker ones, in more of an ecru.

I also am big on using old embroidered tea towels and hand towels. And I actually use them, not just set them out for display.

The texture of the fabric is so absorbent, and really feels good to dry your hands on.

Tea towels and old linen napkins are actually cheaper to buy than a brand new dish towel from Target, and they are so soft! I rarely pay more than 50 cents for one, and they are so much nicer than any new towels.

Another thing I never turn down at garage sales are old shawls. I have a few around the house that I use over table tops, and each were just a couple of dollars at estate or garage sales. I don’t care if they have holes in them, I think it just adds to the allure.

Every once in a while, I shake them out or throw a bunch in the bath tub and hand wash them, but basically, I just let them gather dust like everything else in my house. We try to change the furnace filters once a month, and buy decent ones that trap dirt, plus keep the house fan running all the time to circulate and clean the air. That helps, as well as hitting stuff with a feather duster sometimes.

I can live with a little dust as long as my floors are clean and junk is picked up. Clutter gets to me, and I have to constantly battle piles of crap and toys, so I pick my battles. Dust isn’t worth the fight for me!

One time when I was at my favorite auction with Beth, I bought a big box of linens for $3 and 2 of these edged bedspreads were in it. I used them as bed skirts in my room and in the guest room.

I rarely pay much for the things I find, so, when I do see something that I really love and it costs a bit more, I don’t feel bad about splurging. This table runner is actually a curtain that I bought last time I was in Leesburg, at the Cottages. It was $30 (yes, very rich for my blood!) but was so perfectly tattered and elegant at the same time and seemed to be just what I needed to complete my new dining room redo, that I had to go for it anyway.

And I was glad I did.

OK, I just told you about how dirty and dusty I am, now I will show you how messy and unorganized I am by opening the door to the linen cabinet of clutter and chaos. I know I said I don’t like clutter, but if I can shut a door on it, that isn’t so bad.

In honor of today’s theme, I reached into the linen cabinet of clutter and chaos and pulled out a pretty little embroidered doily to add to the May Giveaway Prize Pack. It now includes:

1- a vintage cake topper ballerina

2- a vintage GOLD band

3- white leather Brighton coin purse

4- embroidered doily

5- pretty pearl pin

6- vintage greeting card

7- Bath and Bodyworks lotion

8- satin hanger with a millinery flower

Every comment all month is entered, thanks for visiting!

A bit of vintage linens thrown across this ugly swing might help it out. Or probably not. Its just plain ugly. But, it is nice to have on the upper deck outside my husband’s office. When he works at home, he sometimes sits out here and swings while he is on the phone doing business.

Sugarwings and Twinkle make it look a lot better too!

Enjoy visiting the other sites that are showing their linens today. I look forward to seeing them all too, but will have to check them out later, I am taking my fairy grand baby to the Topeka Zoo today.

But that is one thing that is so nice about blogs, I can come back later tonight and look through the show and tells at my leisure.

Where does the day go? Putzing and puttering and then Poof- its over!

antiques/junking, fairies, give away, jewelry, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / May 15, 2008

I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that the days are getting shorter. I know, I know, Spring is here and the sunlight is lasting longer, but why don’t the days last long enough for me to ever get caught up?

Could it be that I putz around the antique malls and shops too much? I did that this morning while waiting for Sugarwing’s Daddy to get out of the dentist’s office.

I gave him a ride, mailed my packages, (thanks for your Etsy purchases by the way!! I appreciate it!!), ran some errands, then had a few minutes to kill, and of course, since I heard the siren call of a $7 floral bonnet, I couldn’t resist!

I was glad I popped into the mall, I got two bags of broken bits of vintage goodness for $3 each. Loads of flower power in these jewels.

Then, Sugarwings and her Daddy helped me clean out our boat after it’s long winter of dust and spiders.

After we got it sparkling clean (or as sparkling as it will get after 6 years of wear and tear!), we went for a spin out on the lake. Captain Sugarwings was a fine skipper until she decided that a penny would fit perfectly into the cigarette lighter.

She was right, it fit very well. It also shorted out the whole instrument panel! Luckily, the boat still started, but the lights, stereo, gages, etc are all dead.

At the fairy grand baby’s nap time, I did some yard work. Mostly it was puttering around and enjoying the beautiful day and seeing what was sprouting.

But I did plant a few flats of annuals.

You can tell I certainly didn’t get around to mowing the lawn! The grass is almost knee high, but my son is coming over to mow tomorrow while Sugarwings and I plant more flowers.

I fixed lobster ravioli for lunch today (from Costco, gotta love that place!) and he will always work for food. I think I can get away with feeding him leftovers of the ravioli tomorrow.

Sons are so wonderful, especially when they are hungry and helpful.

There isn’t a lot blooming yet, or many flowers planted, but I love this lush, green time of year before all of the flowers come on.

This is the pathway back to our bon fire pit, and see, we have a big pile of wood ready for the next fires. The evenings are still cool, it is a great time of year to sit by a fire and eat s’mores.

May is my FAVORITE month. I can’t get enough of it.

As a matter of fact, I am feeling so May-ish that I added another present to the May prize pack, a bottle of Bath and Bodyworks orchid lotion.

So we are up to:

1- satin hanger with a fluffy vintage rose

2-white leather Brighton coin purse

3- a tiny dancer

4- a gold band (yes, real gold)

5- a cute pearl pen

6- vintage greeting card

7- lovely lotion

So, leave a comment, any comment, any post all month and I’ll draw a winner June 1st!

Well, I am running out of daylight, just as I complained about. I got no artwork done today. If I wasn’t such a TV addict, I’d do some now, but Thursdays are a big TV night for me, so I have to get my butt parked in front of the set before I miss anything I can’t live without!

I have to be there when Jim asks Pam to marry him. And when McDreamy realizes Rose isn’t for him. (although, I like Rose) And when Luca comes back to Abby. And just HOW do the Oceanic Six get off the island?? This is all much more important than me gluing some paper together!

By the way, do you think that this $1 candle holder is a fairy or an angel? I think she is a bit flirty to be an angel. Her skirt is up pretty high.

Lots of reasons to say thank you

Etsy Goodies, fairies, family, flowers, give away

By Karla Nathan / May 14, 2008

I have added some of my paintings to my Etsy shop this week. These are reproductions of floral watercolors I did, that I have adhered to canvas boards and then crackled and aged.

These prints are $25 each and are 8" x 10", so are ready to pop into a standard frame, or can be leaned on a shelf, or set on an easel as they are.

The hydrangea print is sold, but since these are reproductions, I can print more up if you are interested, let me know and I will make up more. The crackle comes out a little differently on each one, that stuff has a mind of its own.

In this summer’s Romantic Country, I will have a "how to" article on doing this technique if you’d like to give it a try yourself.

The 100 cards for my Great Aunt Caroline’s 100th birthday are still coming in and I will soon catch up and photograph them all and do a whole post showing the latest ones.

This one is from my pal, Lili in the Netherlands. Can you imagine what my aunt will think when she sees 100 cards from all over the world? Thanks again, to everyone who is participating and helping Caroline celebrate this milestone.

Another thank you I have to add is to Vicki. I won her giveaway and she sent a bonanza of goodies for me to craft with! (this doesn’t show them all) Thanks Vicki!

The hat box in the picture is one that I found while at the antique mall with my little Mini Hat Whisperer. It was $6 and in pretty good shape. I can’t ever have too many of these for storage!

Do you remember that I said I would add to my May Giveaway Prize pack every week?

I changed my mind and added MORE today!

To the white leather Brighton coin purse, the gold band and satin hanger with the millinery flower, I added a vintage ballerina cake topper, a vintage greeting card and a sweet little pearl pin.

You have to love the faces of those old ballerinas. Oh my.

Were the painters drunk? Those painted on lips remind me of little old ladies putting on their red lipstick with tremors. Or me putting on lipstick with no mirror.

My Sissy can put on lipstick without a mirror anytime, and I can’t for the life of me. I showed her once how bad I was at it at Applebees when we went out for a glass of wine after sitting by our mom’s bedside in the hospital.

It became a joke for all of us, that we would close our eyes and apply lipstick all over our mouths (yes, in public) and laugh like 6 year olds. Here is a photo of Sissy, Bobbie Sue, and me, Karkie Jo looking festive at Sissy’s 60th birthday slumber party.

Sissy made us into fairies and turned the photo into a birthday card for my 50th. (notice that even when she tries to put her lipstick on badly, Sissy’s still looks pretty good! Well, at least compared to me, or do I just have a really big mouth?.)

I know you are all tired of my blathering on about my birthday, but one more story-

Yesterday, Sugarwings and I were at the grocery store and saw that the Mother’s Day flowers were marked down to $1.99 a bundle. So, we bought an arm load (I should have had a cart, imagine me carrying all these bunches of roses and a wriggling baby through the store).

I made up bouquets and dropped them off to my friends who had come to my birthday party as a thank you.

It was like a belated May day, I set the flowers on doorsteps, rang the bell and left them as a surprise as I drove away.

And thank you also to Paula Kay for the cute little bag! I just wish you lived close enough for me to drop some flowers off on your porch as a thanks!