magazine pictures or articles – Page 8

Romance and Ballgowns- Time to Party!

Etsy Goodies, give away, Hand Painted Furniture, holiday decor, magazine pictures or articles, paintings, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / September 24, 2007

Today is the Bloglandia Ball and I am all ready for it, with garlands of paper doll dress ball gowns.

Since I am gearing up for a Christmas photo shoot (any minute now, I am writing while I wait for the photographer) I decided to show some Holiday Ball Gowns.

The gowns are all made from vintage wallpapers and trims.

And of course some Glitter for a bit of festive flair!

This one is the one I would chose to wear myself, if I were fairy sized. They say horizontal stripes are not flattering, but if I was that tiny, it shouldn’t matter.

Here is a real fairy who is coming to the ball, all decked out in a rose petal dress, and some pink highlights in her hair for the occasion.

This teeny tiny fairy has a glittering gown of white.

I’ve added glitter to a vintage bride cake topper doll and placed her in a foofed up peat pot to hang on the tree.

I hope to get around and visit all the balls in blogland today after my photographer is done.

And I hope everyone is keeping their party spirits going and will be back tomorrow for our Romantic Country Party here at the cottage.

What to do? Post a photo of What you LOVE about your own home. Then leave me a comment and I will add you to our list of links to all the party goers.

If you don’t have a blog, please leave us a comment about what you LOVE at your home and you’ll be entered for a drawing for a copy of this issue of Romantic Country (plus a surprise little present from me)

And what do I LOVE about my home today?

I am thrilled to have entertainment centers to put the TVs in! I used to have them sitting out and hated it. It is so nice to shut the doors on those ugly things.(ugly but beloved – I AM A TV ADDICT AND WILL ADMIT IT TO ANYONE!! I can’t get enough of it)

This one was tan, I lightly sanded it, white washed it, then added some little rose buds and changed the knobs, all the day it was delivered from the furniture store.

I couldn’t stand to have anything so brand new looking and generic in my house!!

This one was painted white and distressed the day it was delivered too. I don’t buy much in the way of "new" stuff from furniture stores, but it is really hard to find antiques sturdy enough to hold a heavy TV and also be the right size and shape.

Another thing in my house that was "new" is this bathroom vanity. It was a cheapo builder’s grade one that we put in when we remodeled the first time, 17 years ago. When we added granite counter tops to our kitchen 4 years ago, the contractor cut them wrong and I got to keep the mistakes, and had part of it made into a top for this vanity, for the cost of having it re-cut only.

I doctored up the cabinet to look older with glazes and paint, added embellishments and painted those to match.

The mirrored handles are from the clearance basket at Anthropology. They have the coolest hardware and the best prices, if you wait for the sales.

Enjoy the ball today! Hope to see you (and photos or stories of your homes) tomorrow.

EDIT- I am wrong!!!!!!!!The ball is Wednesday. What is wrong with me?? I hope I have the right day for the photographer today. I could be sitting and waiting all day and he’ll come next Monday.

Some Captured Spirits and a Rockin Date

antiques/junking, Etsy Goodies, holiday decor, magazine pictures or articles, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / September 23, 2007

Aren’t these guys cute? They are part of my Garage Sailing treasures from Saturday. Adorable little vintage clothes pin people (and pets)!

I tried to list some on Etsy today and I kept getting booted off the site, mid-listing. Sometimes that happens to me on Etsy, I don’t know why. It certainly is irritating.

But can’t you just see these little clothes pin people used in all sorts of craft projects?

What do I love about my home today? My best deal from Garage Sailing — this new set up for my studio porch.

Two vintage black wicker rockers (with fall colored pillows) for $50.

My husband and I like to sit on the porch with coffee and newspapers in the morning (we both work at home and can take our time relaxing when we get up, how lucky is that???). Now we have romantic matching rockers for our 8am dates on the porch.

This ghost cage was at the same garage sale for $2.50. I filled it with spirits as a little break from all the Christmas decor I am in the middle of right now for the magazine pictures tomorrow.

The ghosts are cut from that soft foamy type kid-craft paper, simple, quick to do and 79 cents.

I am thinking about painting my front doors Robins Egg Blue and adding some hydrangeas to the roses I have painted on the shutters. (Like I have nothing else to do.) Wouldn’t that be a pretty update for my white cottage with black trim?

Here is the ‘Wheres Waldo’ Wreath that was hidden in last night’s photo in case you couldn’t find it in the middle of the pile of 25 cent garage sale flowers!

Well, durn, this is a bit blurry, isn’t it? I think that my camera does better in the day light than in in the evening.

I painted another dozen ornaments today,then had a mini family reunion and made a big pot of chicken tortellini soup for dinner.

Tomorrow is the Bloglandia Ball, and I have ball gowns made up and am ready to celebrate.

Then, Tuesday is our Romantic Country Party, here at the Cottage.

With all the family get togethers this week, and all the blog parties, I am feeling like quite the social butterfly! Hope you all come by to join in the party on Tuesday, and remember I will be giving away 2 copies of Romantic Country, plus each comment is an entry to my Sept. Giveaway Drawing.

Its 3am and little old ladies like me should be tucked in and sleeping

antiques/junking, Etsy Goodies, flowers, hand painted signs, holiday decor, how to's, magazine pictures or articles, swaps, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / September 23, 2007

I was pleased to see that Romantic Country is out on the stands and this issue of the magazine is just beautiful!

There are a few fellow bloggers featured and they will be joining in on the party Tuesday. Come by to meet them and see more of their homes!!

Here is my favorite page!

The photos of my home are from almost 2 years ago and nothing looks the same now. My living room has been through 3 changes since then and I am planning another soon.

But the biggest change was done by the photo editors at the magazine,thanks to them, my kitchen has a completely new floor plan. It’s been fun to show the pictures to people today and ask what is wrong with the kitchen. They all stare a few minutes, then yell- "Its backwards!" Looks like the editors must have cropped a couple of photos together and then flipped them so it is a mirror image of the actual room. Really, it looks pretty cool, it makes me feel like I have gone through the looking glass.

If my photos seem a bit blurry today, it is because I am blurry myself. My SIL is visiting and we have had a whirlwind day, starting with garage sailing at 7am. It is almost 3am and I am working in my studio now, still decorating for my magazine shoot on Monday.

Here is a detail of a painting I did on glass to make a sign out of an old cabinet door.

Oh, no, this one is extra blurry. Or am I just too tired to tell the difference? Maybe it is clear and I am the one messed up.

We made paper doll dresses tonight, I finished a garland of them for over the window in my studio.

This little dress is made from some cute old wallpaper.

I’ve been scooping up wallpaper like crazy, and so has Beth. We decided to share our finds with each other, and she brought me these pieces the other day.

Beth and I are in a mini swap of paper doll dresses with Debra and with Betty.

Debra sent a wonderful Halloween assortment to me.

And Betty sent some sweeties.

If you’d like to see all of the swap, you can check out our flickr page HERE

These are something different that I made tonight. I hate to waste anything. So when a stained glass lamp broke, I took it apart and turned it into sun catchers.

I cut each section out with scissors, took out the glass, tied a chandelier prism in the opening and added a bow. These could look good on Christmas trees too.

Another 2am project was making a wreath. It is hiding in this "Wheres Waldo" style photo of a pile of silk flowers I bought today at a salesman sample garage sail.

Think I got enough flowers???? They were a quarter a stem and were such nice ones. I bought $17 worth, how ever many that is!

If I am able to get out of bed tomorrow, I’ll show more garage sale finds. A granny like me should not be up for more than 20 hours straight!! I’m way too old for these kind of hours. Good night!!

Tranquility

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, fairies, give away, magazine pictures or articles, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / September 21, 2007

Christmas is still under construction here at the cottage. Almost there….

Today, I made a few hand painted ornaments while the baby played with her Aunt Sandy and her Pop Pop.

I didn’t do as many as I would’ve liked, maybe a dozen.

I’ll do a few more before Monday, then I have until November to get more done to sell. I usually do a few dozen every Christmas. I give tons away, and sell a few here and there.

When I was a single mother working as a waitress, I financed all my little boy’s Christmas gifts by painting ornaments and selling them. Back then, they went for $3 a piece. Now I sell them from $12.

I do take special orders, by the way………

This morning I gave my $8 garage sale mirror a tan glaze so it will look better above my mantel/headboard.

I am keeping the holiday decor simple in the bedroom, 2 white trees, and 2 feather wreaths.

Here is a dilemma I sure could use help with-

Where do I find a PRETTY electric alarm clock??? I’d love to have one and have searched online, estate sales, department stores, all over!!! What does your alarm clock look like??

Today’s "What I LOVE about my home" is my tranquil bedroom. The colors are so peaceful and the room is a quiet retreat in a household that can get a bit crazed at times.

Reminders:

Romantic country party on Tues. the 25th!!

Leave a comment/enter the drawing for a Romantic Country magazine, and for my Sept. giveaway prize.

Family Chaos and a Jingly Bed Plus MORE Christmas In September

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, family, holiday decor, magazine pictures or articles, Sugarwings, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / September 20, 2007

My SIL, Sandy, is visiting from Tennessee and the whole family came by tonight to see her.

We hadn’t made any plans and next thing I know I am trying to figure out how 4 salmon fillets will feed 11 people, while trying to convince Sugarwings not to wrestle on the stairs with Twinkle or put spoons in the potty.

We played with babies and laughed a lot, and found a turkey tenderloin to go on the grill with the salmon and everyone pitched in chopping up potatoes and making salads and brownies.

What do I love about my home today? Not a color choice or an item, it is the fact that everyone feels at home and comfortable at my cottage and can show up at any time knowing that they will be fed and we’ll have a good time.

Before the dinner rush, Sister Sandy and I went out shopping this afternoon. Tuesday Morning has 50% all clearance items and I found this throw for the day bed in the baby’s room.

Its pink on one side and pink and ivory flowered on the other and seems to look right at home with the other floral quilts and pillows.

I bought these silver metal letters on clearance at Restoration Hardware last year at the after Christmas sale, and have added glitter to them (of course) and hung them from sheer pink ribbons to the day bed to spell Leandra’s nickname, Lee Lee.

She is too little to sleep in this bed yet, but I know she will love it when she is older. The letters clink a little against the metal frame and it sounds like wind chimes when the bed moves. When she comes to stay all night with me and have tea parties, I will ask her if she wants to sleep in her jingley bed, and give it a little shake when I tuck her in, to make the letters tinkle against the bars.

Sugarwings will be able to lay in her jingly bed and look up at the sky her grandmama painted just for her. I will make up fairy stories to tell her at bedtime and have her be the heroine of all tales about the sparkling fairies playing in the forest together.

Yes, I love my home, quite a bit and love the things in it, I have gathered them or made them with a lot of thought and care. But the family that is in the home gets a big chunk of love from me too.

I am looking forward to seeing photos of what other bloggers love about their homes during our Romantic Country Party on the 25th. The magazine was supposed to be out today, but I couldn’t find it yet. If anyone sees it, will you let me know?

And now, some Christmas in September – how wrong is that????

I have plans to make some hand painted ornaments to hang up for the pictures on Monday, but haven’t seemed to have time to get it done yet…..

These are some that I collaged with vintage papers. I also glittered up vintage birdies and added them to mini wreaths with old millinery flowers.

Vitnage doll parts are on display on white iron with some charm jewelry I make from old pieces.

I’d like to have time to make more paper doll dresses to hang on the trees too.

I’ve been hanging tags onto the trees and made a garland of them to hang over the window. Karen. I added a vintage butterfly spray that I glittered up.

And of course, there are tussie mussies all over the place! The tree topper is a bouquet of flowers from my first ever swap and were given to me by

Speaking of glitter, I should be making something sparkle. the house is quiet the guests are settled, the babies have gone home. Late at night might be the only time this old granny has time to get any glittering done, so I am off to work!

Let’s see, what do I love about my home today? Well,today it isn’t a thing or a decor choice, it is the fact that everyone feels at home here, and likes to gather here.

Procrastinating and Nit Picking

Etsy Goodies, Hand Painted Furniture, holiday decor, housework, I do tend to run on, don't I?, jewelry, magazine pictures or articles, Sugarwings, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / September 17, 2007

These cute little peat pots are on Etsy now for $9 a pair. They have portions of a poem I cut out of a Victorian book tucked into the flowers, and a pansy picture from the same book on the front.

Now, why would I be listing on Etsy instead of working on my upcoming photo shoot? I listed a few things this morning,even though my shop is well stocked.

Maybe I am avoiding this?

And this? Both of these rooms have to be cleaned up and Christmassed up by one week from today.

Its more fun to fine tune the decorating I already started in Sugarwings room.

Playing with her pretty little pink things and fussing around with rearranging and adding to it, is so much better than taking a shovel to the studio and the library to clean them up!

Beth gave my fairy grand baby this little angel night light.

I haven’t decorated her doll house yet- just a little bit of decking the halls so far. I am waiting till she is older and we can do it together.

A peek-a-boo angel is in a window.

A pink and white reindeer is on the roof, and that is enough for now.

I added a few more ornaments to her tree.

And I did a bit of rearranging in the guest room too. Just added a few little details to the room.

I moved a few of the things that I’d brought in yesterday after looking at the photos I took.

I like to take snapshots of a room when I have rearranged it, then look at those to critique and see what needs changing. The photos never look as good as the room does in "real life" and are a great tool in getting it right!

(can you see the glitter in the paint on the walls?)

I only made a few small changes and added a couple of things, but I am happier. What do you think compared to yesterday’s pictures?

I added more decorations to Grandma Nathan’s foil tree too.

I made a star for the top of it, with an old photo of my mom.

I got the idea from Beth who made

this star for part of her Silver Bella Swap.

These sheet music Victorian boots are from a couple of years ago and I found them when I attempted to get started cleaning my studio. So, I used that as a good excuse to stop cleaning and took the boots over to the guest room and fussed around with them.

I put another under the glass tray top of this side table, with old post cards over a piece of rose patterned gift wrap.

Here is a close up of my Wilton Cake Decor crowns with old jewelry on this tiny tree. I bought a big box of mixed cake toppers for $5, and even if these 6 crowns are all I use out of it, I am happy with the box!!

I think I might be procrastinating a bit right now.

But I do see things that need changed in some of these photos, maybe I should go back up to the guest room and futz about again!

I don’t want to deal with THIS!! It is something I DON’T love about my home, the way the library becomes a catch all and books never get put away.

But, I’d better get to it, that mess won’t clean itself, and there are cameras on their way here in a week.

Thanks to all of you who are interested in participating in my Romantic Country Party on the 25th and will be showing photos of your homes that day too!

ps- Phyllis has a blog anniversery coming up, lets all wish her a happy birthday!

Christmas Comes Early-way too early- and a visit from Dusty

Etsy Goodies, fairies, Hand Painted Furniture, holiday decor, I do tend to run on, don't I?, magazine pictures or articles, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / September 16, 2007

Thanks for all the people who are letting me know that they will be part of the party!!

Here are the rules again, since there have been questions-

For fellow bloggers:

1- Take photos of something you love about your home.

2- Comment on my blog about your post Tuesday Sept. 25th and I will list all the participating blogs and link to them, so our party guests can mingle.

3- If you’d like to let people know that you will be at the party, you can add the button invitation to your side bar

4- All participants will be entered to win a copy of Romantic Country

For readers:

1- Leave a comment the 25th about something you love in your own home and you will be entered to win a copy of Romantic Country

Thanks! I can’t wait to Party Hop from blog to blog and see your homes!! And don’t forget, that every comment you leave throughout the month, enters you in my Sept. giveaway drawing, for either a Cottage Collage Kit with old wallpapers, or something made by myself from one of the kits.

What do I love about my home?? Well, love and care goes into every inch here at the cottage and I love it all. That is, until I get tired of it and have to make a change!

Right now, I am prepping for a photo shoot.

I am decorating the guest room for Christmas, and will just leave it up for the Holiday Homes Tour first weekend of Dec.

Its not done yet, these are the in progess pictures.

I’m trying to keep this room Romantic and lush, with gold, silver and roses.

I’m adding some angels, and vintage postcards of lovely ladies.

I found this tiny tree at a garage sale this summer for a nickel. I added vintage Wilton cake decorating plastic crowns that I sparkled up, and some old jewelry.

I’m also decorating Sugarwing’s room.

I spent part of today making tags and paper doll dresses to hang on her little pink tree.

They were fun to make, since I had rolls and rolls and rolls of new -old- wallpaper to play with!

I also am hanging vintage ornaments in pink, aqua, and soft green.

And of course, I hung all of the sugar coated fairies I made (from inspiration by Holly.)

They are so dainty and sweet.

Here are some of my great new wallpapers! I spent a huge chunk of my day yesterday ironing and cutting and packing the papers up for Etsy.

As much as I love it all, no one could use that much, even me!! So I am making up packs of it, since I also spent a huge chunk of money for it all.

I also made up specialty packs, like this chocolate and roses pack. I only had enough of the right colors to make two of these.

And since I am in the throes of Christmas, while every one else is enjoying fall, I made up some vintage Holiday packs.

My friend Becca bought one of these Cottage Collage Kits of my pretty wallpapers, and I made a blue bird tag for her in honor of her blog name "Bluebirds and Roses".

And speaking of friends,look who came to see me, Dusty. His mother, Lady, used to be one of the horses we boarded for a few years. She lived with us while pregnant, but her family built a barn for her right before Dusty was born. I almost felt like I was his grandma, or at least his great aunt. It was so nice to see him.

Maybe I have run on long enough now??

Beths’s Button and what I love (besides loving Beth for bailing me out)

antiques/junking, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, give away, Hand Painted Furniture, magazine pictures or articles, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / September 14, 2007

URGGHG!!

That sums it up. I struggled over and over trying to make a button for the Romantic Country Party on the 25th, I must have loaded it (incorrectly) 20 times or more. Then I gave up, and posted my blog for the day, those long rambly, take my time, things that I do, and as I hit save, Twinkle (or shall I call her STINKLE) stepped on the power strip and turned off the computer.

I have forgiven Stinkle and Beth created the button for me, so I am off to re-do my post for the day.

If you want to put the party invitation button on your sidebar so people will know you are showing photos of what you love in your home on the 25th, please do. If you need help, you can try to ask me, but I might have to send you to Beth!

I thought I’d start showing some things that I love about my house, maybe a few with each post till the party (I love everything about my house!!)

This pitcher is from one of my first trips to the annual flea market Beth and I go to. It was only $5 and I use it to keep my remote controls in.

This little side table that I painted is another favorite thing. It was part of a set of 2 night stands, 2 twin beds (gorgeous with curved foot boards) and a dresser with big mirror that I got at an auction for $140 all together. I painted them up and sold them one at a time, but kept this as a living room table, its narrow shape makes a perfect fit in a small room.

Sometimes, it is the little things that can make a room. I LOVE my curtains and tie backs. I usually change my curtains with the seasons, but these Shabby Chic (Target) drapes have been up for over a year and I am not tired of them at all.

I tied them back with white velvet ribbon edged in pearls and held that in place with a vintage buckle.

The interior of my home is done in soft and calming colors, but the breezeway rocks! I love to walk in the doors and be welcomed by this cheerful green color.

The azalea pink and black accents really make the colors pop. I doubt if I’d be comfortable with these shades to live in, but as an entry way, it always makes me smile walking through.

And there is big LOVE for this piece. My son took this old table I had in the shed (garage sale $10) and made it into a sink for me.

I’m looking forward to seeing all the things my blogger friends love about their homes too, during our Romantic Country Party. If you don’t have a blog, you can leave comments and tell us what makes you smile in your home!

What have I been up to today besides pulling my hair out over computer woes?

Glitter up to my eyebrows.

Hobby Lobby has theirs on sale half price this week and I bought a bagful.

I’ve been making all of my vintage cake toppers into Christmas decor and at my cottage, that requires a bagful of glitter!

Did I mention I have to have part of my house decorated for Xmas by Sept. 24th for a photo shoot???? And that I have a sweet house guest this week? I think I’ll put her to work stringing lights!

Today I turned little peat pots into ornaments by filling them with vintage yarn nests, little angels, millinery flowers, buttons and GLITTER, GLITTER, GLITTER.

My flock of red flocked birds are now sugar coated and ready to grace holiday decor.

I feel even more like it is Christmas, because not only have I made a few dozen decorations today, I have a gift! These are from Michelle, I won her give away and she geared the gifts towards what she knew I would like- yep, she was right, I LOVE them!

Don’t forget I am having a few giveaways that you can enter by leaving a comment:
One is my regular monthly giveaway and the prize is your choice of a Cottage Collage Kit or a piece I have made from my vintagey stash of goodies.

.The second is a copy of Romantic Country magazine to a blogger who participates in the party and a copy to a non-blogging reader

And now for a mini parade of tussie mussies that I made today from my new toys- vintage wallpapers I ordered!

Seconds, anyone? Plus another Party Announcement, a Giveaway Announcement, and a parade of tussie mussies in honor of my wallpaper addiction

Etsy Goodies, Food and Drink, give away, I do tend to run on, don't I?, magazine pictures or articles, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / September 12, 2007

Thanks for coming to my tea party on Monday- ready for another cup?

Also, I’d like to throw a celebration of another kind and am inviting you to join in. The issue of Romantic Country with my home in it will be out soon,and I’d like to invite my fellow blogging friends to show everyone what they LOVE about their own home. I will design a button to use as an invitation, and you can link to me on that date with pictures posted of your own lovely homes.

The date will be TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25th.

I will give away one magazine to a participating blogger and one to a non-blogging party goer.

Make Mine Pink is hosting a tea party all week, so I thought I’d play along and have another day of tea sipping. Its better than finishing my book for book club tonight, I really am not into it and have given up. I’d rather have a party!

(The Power and the Glory by Grahm Green- not my cuppa tea)

Thanks for all of your kind comments, out of the 39 that were left for Monday’s party, I drew Maria Ellena’s name for the present. Maria, please send me your address and I will mail you this refrigerator magnet.

Many people were asking about the embellishments on these cabinets my son built for my kitchen. They are from a company called "Elements" and can be ordered online, the company is in Chicago. They are made of glue, and you simply steam them and stick them on to the surface. I’ve also seen these type of things advertised in the backs of many home decor magazines.

Today’s party is in my breakfast nook, in the sunny corner of my kitchen.

Of course, I had to invite some pixies!

These guys are sitting on a wooden tray I found at a garage sale for 50 cents and painted with roses and stripes.

And I made a trip to the $1.99 clearance floral area of my grocery store for some posies. I was delighted to see they were selling dyed Queen Anne’s Lace! I used to pick these as a kid and put the stems in glasses of water tinted with food coloring. Shasta Daisies were fun to do that way too.

A friend gave me a zucchini the size of a baseball bat, and I sauteed some of it for supper last night, and the rest I chopped up to freeze and to make muffins. I didn’t have a recipe for that, so here is what I made up:

2 1/2 cups zucchini
1/2 stick butter (melted)
1 cup applesauce
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 t baking soda
1 t Cinnamon
2 eggs
1/2 cup flax seed
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 buttermilk powder
whole bag of milk chocolate chips to counteract the healthy stuff I added

Mix it up together and pour it into paper muffin cups and bake it at 375 till the tops crack. Place on a dainty plate and garnish with a china flower.

For something a little different and totally impractical, but still cute, I used tussie mussies to hold the napkins and silverware.

I spent yesterday making the tussies from my new wallpaper stash. So far I have made tags and tussies from each type of paper, but I still have 6 new rolls that I ordered that aren’t here yet! And tomorrow, Beth is coming over to share some of her new (old) wallpapers, and we will do a swap.

OK, now time for the parade of cones.

Most have a Christmas theme, but not all.

I love adding special little details to them.

Everything on them is vintage, except of course, the glue and the glitter.

No two are ever alike, or I would be bored making them!

Aren’t these some of the prettiest wallpapers you have ever seen???

Especially this paper, how lovely!! I am crazy about this flocked green vintage paper, and not only is it pretty, it was a gift! From Sandy , plus she added some other cute goodies to the box.

Now that the month is half over, I have decided what my giveaway for Sept. should be. Not too original, but how about the same as last month?? Your choice of a Cottage Collage Kit, or a hand made something or other that I have made with the vintage paper kits.

To enter, just leave a comment. All comments left this month are already entered.

I will be listing cones on my Etsy Shop for $20-$25 each, depending on how elaborate they are. I won’t have all listed, but if you see one of these that you like, you can order them directly from me, through comment or email.

A Romantic Country Article and then a bug that I wished would just KILL me and get it over with

Etsy Goodies, give away, hand painted candelabras, Hand Painted Furniture, I do tend to run on, don't I?, magazine pictures or articles, paintings, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / September 7, 2007

First of all I wanted to let you know that for some reason, my answers to comments are not all going through. About 1 out of 5 gets sent back to me with a failure notice. I really am answering them, I don’t know what the deal with Typepad is. Anyone else having this problem???

Karlascottage2 Tuesday night after the fairy grand baby went home to her parents, I finished an article I am writing for Romantic Country. Here is a teeny peek at one of the pictures.

The story is about tips to create a romantic style bathroom. I don’t know when it is to be published, I’ll let you know when I hear. Sometimes, I just check the stands when the new magazines come out and am surprised to find photos of my house inside! Barbara Jacksier used to be the editor there and she was so helpful, she used to always send advanced copies. Editors don’t always have a chance to do that, but she always made time to. She would even send a reprint of a photo from one story into a different magazine, not even an article I had written.

She has a new cottage book coming out, check out her blog for lovely details!

I enjoyed making the paper doll wedding dress for Stephanie as part of her August Give Away prize so much, I made a few more. Eventually, I will list them on Etsy for $6 each, plus shipping, but if you want one now, please email or comment and you can buy it directly from me.

And thanks to the nice purchasers of my hand painted buckets. The two rosy ones have been sold. The angel bucket is still available.

LEAVE A COMMENT IF YOU WANT TO ENTER SEPTEMBER’S GIVEAWAY!

You all know I tend to be a tad bit productive,(which is why I can keep my prices so low for what I do- I do a LOT) but the article and dresses are all I managed all week. I was hit hard with a BUG of some kind and spent the last two days wishing I would just die. I doubt if you need anymore details than that.

I had my old mural and painted furniture photo album out the other day, so I thought I’d show some pictures from that.

The quality might not be as good as it should be, since I have simply taken photos of photos in an album. Sorry.

I used to paint furniture on just about a daily basis. I kind of miss it, and I just drool over cheap, beat up bargain pieces at garage sales that are calling out to be saved. But I restrain myself and no longer have a double car garage, an antique mall booth, a garden shed and a showroom full of this stuff.

This cabinet was in my kitchen for a while. I used to constantly change out furniture, find something new, take the old piece out to sell. It drove my family crazy.

Here is my garden shed before a sale. The table cloth on the drop leaf is actually hand painted.

These palm trees were painted at the Tampa Country Club. That is the best job I ever had, I stayed at their private hotel for 2 weeks, with free room service (great food) and hung out by the pool or drove to a really cool movie theater nearby when I wasn’t working on murals.

I did research on palm trees before I went down there, to know what they looked like, but then, I realized once I got to Florida, all I had to do was look out a window for ideas!!

(Molding was added to the walls right under where the paintings stop)

This photo was in a Better Homes and Gardens magazine and was taken by Bill Mathews.

It is of a ceiling I painted to camouflage a missing piece of curved molding that the designer didn’t want to try to replace.

And this gloriously gaudy fruit picture is from my friend, Kari’s, kitchen. She is a hair dresser and I get my hair done for free when I paint for her.

My client for this mural wanted her whole dining room – every inch of the walls- painted in a scene she found in a book. She had me add the family pets to it too.

That sweet little white dog hung out next to me the entire week I painted at her house.

Looks like even when I don’t have anything new to say, I can still run on and on, can’t I?

****EDIT****

-ADD ON-

There is a Spring Party going on at this blog site on the other side of the globe. After feeling so sick and run down all week,I have been gloomy, thinking about fall and winter coming in- being cooped up, having colds, BEING cold. I think I will just pretend it is Springtime and go enjoy this party! Want to join me?