holiday decor
Easter Blessings
Corona virus, holiday decor
Our family cannot all be together for Easter.
As many families cannot.
We will get to be with Ryan who lives with us, and hopefully with Sugarwings and her two moms, if all goes well. We are two separate households, but since we have Sugarwings while her mom works at the hospital, we figure that it is not breaking the distancing rules to be with the three of them.
Since our Hippie Chick works in Labor and Delivery, and Ryan cooks for a nursing home, we feel like every decision we make in gatherings or outings can affect a new mother and baby or someone’s grandparent.
So, we weigh our moves carefully.
We will do our best to stay away from as many people as we can, and appreciate what we can do, and keep the people we cannot be near, close in our hearts.
We are blessed with what we have, and that our family is healthy, if not in hugging range.
Having a grand fairy around part time has kept us active and involved. She has home school and martial arts online for some of the day, but that leaves plenty of time for crafting.
In preparation for the holiday, she made these hatching chick jars to fill with treats. I love seeing what she comes up with. And I love that she is still able to keep us company and be part of our world during this.
My sacrifices have been small during this time. I refuse to be sad that I do not get to be with the whole family for one holiday.
Oh, yes, I miss them.
I miss them all, tremendously.
But if each of us can think about that unknown person that might be saved by our own sacrifices, that is how we can make this work.
In my mind, it is that new mother and baby that our Hippie Chick is caring for. Or the grandma that Ryan makes a meal for.
Thoughts of them, having an Easter dinner next year, is what makes this present, quieter Easter bearable.
Little bunnies hopping away
Corona virus, family, holiday decor
This afternoon, I bundled up some bunnies and dropped them off at the post office.
I had snipped quite a few of this critters out of foam. It felt a little bit like whittling.
Well, I think it did, I have never actually whittled before…
Anyway, they were a fun craft for me, when I wasn’t feeling up to spending time in the studio. I was glad to have something to work on, and even happier to share them with some kiddos I know.
After writing out some instructions for painting, and for making their own with some foam included in a few packaged, I added some flowers and tidbits for decorating and got them all boxed up in time for Easter.
One went to Angela and another to Gail, from giveaways on FB and IG. I kept this one, that I had painted for my own Easter decor.
Our holiday display is pretty low key so far, but if Sugarwings has anything to say about it, our home will be strewn with rabbits and eggs from one end to the other.
Actually, that sounds kind of cheerful. I hadn’t really planned on doing much besides gifting these squishies, but I am liking the idea of having the grand fairy decorate for me.
How to make and paint memory foam Squishies
Corona virus, holiday decor, how to's, how-to projects
My creative efforts have been kinda low key lately. Because of knee surgery which was harder to recover from than I had expected, I haven’t gone to the studio.
So, I did a little busywork, and some simple things to keep my hands busy.
And to take my mind off of the world wide crisis we are in the middle of. I don’t think I have the mental focus to start a big project, and these little bits of cuteness were just what I needed.
Sugarwings is hooked on watching Squishy makeovers on Youtube, and I told her we could probably make our own little critters. When I went on the long camping trip to Florida, we trimmed up some memory foam pads to fit our camper bed and I saved the remnants.
They were not perfect for this craft because they are not as thick as I’d like and they have a grid pattern cut into the backside. But for our purposes, they were fine.
First step is to draw the design on the foam with a marker, then roughly cut it out.
At first, the cuts are larger, but as I get the shape to come out, they become teeny snips.
When my fairy girl started making hers, she was chunking them up too much and got frustrated. Once I showed her the trick of making itty bitty cuts, she got the hang of it. And soon, my home looked like the scene in Edward Scissorhands where Johnny Depp made snow from paper and created a blizzard.
I use fabric glue to seal the grid cuts that I mentioned, and to add pieces, like a wing or something to them. I try not to do many add ons, I like the challenge of cutting 3D shapes. But Sugarwings enjoys making hers in pieces and then attaching them with glue like they do in the videos she watches.
The kitty has a glued on mouth and nose, but the puppy is all one piece. They can be done either way.
Mine were all made to give to kids to play with and paint themselves. But I wanted to try out the paint myself first to see how it went, so I could offer some advice.
The paint has to be pliable so that when the foam is squeezed, the paint moves with it. You can use puffy paint, or fabric paint. Or make your own fabric paint by adding textile medium to acrylic craft paint. I have heard that you can make your own by using glycerin, but I had used all of my glycerin to make hand sanitizer.
Here is what I discovered: These are SPONGES, so they take a lot of paint!
It soaks right in and makes them hard to decorate. I decided that my best move was to cover them in a solid coat and leave it over night to dry.
Once dry, it was much easier to add other colors and details.
In the scheme of things, these are not anything that were worth much. But, they gave me joy and in my mind, creativity is good for the soul, whether you are making something simple and cute, or a spectacular masterpiece.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
celebrations, holiday decor 
We are spending our Valentine’s Day in the tiny trailer at St Augustine Beach. But before I left, I enjoyed the holiday pretties that I’d made at my friend’s valentine get together and had them on display out in the studio.
I’d crafted this pipe cleaner heart from the inspiration of Lori Oles’ Christmas project during A Snowbird’s Song.
Hers was a ball made from pipe cleaners and filled with flowers. I reshaped the ball into a heart.
At the craft day, Tami provided furry pipe cleaners and printed faces for us to make dolls.
I made a white kitty.
And a little girl.
While my home was light on the displays of holiday pretties, what I did have out was special to me.
Baby Bro, Guncle Randy, surprised me with this gorgeousness more than a week before the trip, so I had time to enjoy them before our adventure. And the few tidbits that I’d made with friends were filled with memories of a fun day.
A Galantine Gathering
friends, holiday decor
My pal, Tami, invited a group of us over for a Valentine Craft Day.
I enjoyed the ambience of all of the decor even more than usual since I am not doing anything for the holiday myself. I will be in the camper in Florida for Valentine’s, and there isn’t a spare inch in it for any decoration at all.
When I return, I will be having knee surgery, so I was afraid I would not feel up to clearing hearts and roses from my home after our trip.
Tami transforms her home for each holiday or season and I am always impressed with her displays.
And her hospitality!
Thank you for the beautiful, eye candy, Tami!
And for the actual peanut butter heart shaped candy too- Yum!
Listen to Your Heart Kits and Project Available- The Ultimate in Good Stuff!!
holiday decor, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage 
Thank you for all of the inquiries about the Listen to Your Heart class. Since I had so many people ask about it, I decided to make up a few extra kits.
The amount of kits is very limited, since I am using the trim from a vintage bridal gown. I wanted each set to have an equally lovely selection of lace, including the neckline and hems. Too bad the dress didn't have a big full skirt so I could get more out of it!! The skirt was slightly narrow, so… limited kits.
There are step by step, hand illustrated instructions that suggest you can use glue, light sewing, or go all out and be a rock star seamstress if you have the skills.
(Personally, I used a mix of glue with thread and needle for my own.)
My finished piece is also available.
I especially enjoyed making this little accent heart and once I got started on it, I made a bunch of them as Valentine gifts.
The kits contain everything you need to complete the project as pictured. Or to change it up and select a different image from the collage sheet printed on fabric to add to your own creation.
You can find the kits and the finished project in my Boutique now.
Listen to Your Heart, a class in Deland, FL
holiday decor, Travel, Valentine's Day, We're having a party, Workshops
My dear, Special K, the divine hostess, Karen Hillman has invited me to teach a Valentine class on Saturday, Feb.8th at her Cozy Castle.
Whenever she comes to my home, she comments on some hearts I have hanging in my dining room. They were made during a girlfriends’ craft day at my good friend,Tami’s house.
So we will be making a version of those. Which makes it even more special to me. Craft projects made together with people you care about, already are infused with love, right?
Perfect for Valentine’s Day!
My kits will include a collage sheet printed onto linen, so everyone can choose their favorite photo to add. And faded, old, millinery blooms will in in the kit along with soft, pure silk ribbon to hang the lace covered hearts from.
Oooh, and the lace! YUMMY!
Yes, this is the Good Stuff, all the way. Class size and extra kits to sell will be limited due to the amount of this decadent lace that I have. There are two vintage gowns that I am taking apart to use, and I think the previous owners were pretty petite.
We will also be learning a quick and easy beading trick.
I’ve salvaged some vintage curtains that used to hang in my kitchen to make tiny, little tokens to hang from the knot of silk ribbon.
Your sewing skill level can be any level for this class. You can blow us away with your needlework, or get out a bottle of Fabric-Tac to assemble it.
I am not much of a sewer myself…
My Mom, who was a highly skilled seamstress, would be shocked to know that I am attempting to teach a class that involves needle and thread. But the main focus on this isn't the actual stitching of it, it is the foofing and decorating that is the best part.
Well, for me, the best part will be a day at the Cozy Castle with friends. Karen is an extraordinary hostess and has a beautiful home. I was lucky enough to teach with her there last year, and am thrilled to have a chance to say farewell.
She has sold her historic home, and will be moving this spring. It is a such a beautiful place, I will miss it and am honored to get one last visit.
Please contact me if you’d like more info, I would love to see you there.
The halls are still decked
cottage, holiday decor 
Typically, I have all of my holiday decor put away by now.
This year, we had Dewdrop visiting from North Carolina, so I left it up while she was still here.
Then, Sugarwings was staying with us for a couple of days after her sis left.
I can't dismantle a mountain of Christmas crap with a little girl around. The grand fairies are too sad to see it go.
And my house is in total disarray during the process. It takes magical skills to make it all fit where it needs to go. The huge task requires mega amounts of concentration and plotting.
So, I'll enjoy it, as long as I need to. Then go full force in finagling all of this into one small closet. I'm not sure if I will miss it or not. I think I will miss the twinkling lights, but I am possibly ready for the clutter to be gone. I did get the studio cleared of all signs of the holiday, and have enjoyed getting it back to normal and getting some work done out there.
Which reminds me, there will be some new, non Christmas, fairies flying their way to the Boutique soon. Photos to come.
Our Cottage Christmas
celebrations, Dew Drop, dogs, family, holiday decor, Sugarwings
Could I describe Christmas as both laid back and lively at the same time?
Maybe what I mean is that we had a lot of fun with simple pleasures.
Like princess cocoa parties with melting snowmen cocoa bombs while using Nanny’s china.
Decorating sugar cookies and gingerbread men together.
Taking advantage of the unusually, lovely weather by going for long walks.
In jammies.
We had a build your own calzone/pizza bar, so everyone got their favorites and it was a group effort for Christmas Eve dinner.
I chopped and sautéed most of the toppings the day in advance, then Ryan helped with the rest.
We had a house full for both days, with almost the entire family sleeping over, staying up late to watch holiday movies, using the hot tub to relax, and playing the games that were given as gifts.
I think what made it all so wonderfully sweet was that there was nothing at all formal about it. There was a nice, casual flow about the holiday.
We went light on gifts, with easy meals, took a few walks, had a wonderful time with everyone under one roof.
Dewdrop will be with us for the rest of winter break, so there will be more family fun time to come.
Sugarwings has plans for surprising her lil sis with elf pranks every day. We will see some movies, hang out in the studio to make things with all the new art supplies they got, and of course, snack away on those beautifully decorated cookies.
I hope your holiday was a blessed one too.