Plucking some blooms

antiques/junking, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, swaps

By Karla Nathan / April 30, 2008

Thanks for all of your kind birthday wishes!

I am soaking up all the birthday goodness I can get and enjoying every minute of it.

This cute card is from Robin, as if the clock/frame she made wasn’t enough?!

The picture is so cute. It reminds me of Sugarwings, I am teaching her how to cook, and of course, the beaters are her favorite part of the process!

My suitcase is still sitting in my studio, filled with vintagey purchases from my trip. I am trying to focus on getting ready for Art in the Park on Sunday and ignoring the other stuff piling up around me.

But I just HAD to pull some of it out to play with.

All the photos and birds are from the Cottage and were only $1 each. The cute bird collage is from an artist there too, look at how she has used the snap for an eye!

The hymn book was $2 from Lucketts and the old toy mirrors were $1 each at the thrift store Robin took me to.

The first three hats on the back left are from my trip to Virginia, but the rest are from a day out with Sugarwings yesterday. She and I did a bit of junking and I bought these four floral beauties for $30!

Look at the load of red velvet roses on the middle one in the bottom row- jackpot!

And even though I know I need to get ready for the art show this weekend, I spent the hour I watched American Idol last night sorting flowers.

(Our local Kansas City boy, and my favorite, David Cook is still blowing them all away on Idol, and I think he has a good shot at winning)

The blooms are sorted into boxes by color then I put them into my big storage box that is covered with old wallpaper.

I even made a separate box of an assortment of posies to keep by my worktable, ready to grab when needed.

Getting ALL the flowers pulled off of hats and sorted felt like a major accomplishment, till I turned around and realized I still had a table top full of flowers I was using as a center piece.

I’m starting to think I might have a few too many. Maybe.

Lori and I had been talking about a mini- swap like I did with Lili last week.

But since she sent me that sweet collage of my fairy grand baby, I told her that was already way too much.

So, I bundled up a few pretties and have them ready to send to her.

Still had more than I could use. What to do with all these hats and flowers???

I put Twinkle in one, but she is a little too big. Unless I get some smaller dogs, this isn’t going to be a good use for my hats.

So, I made 5 packets of pink and white to sell on Etsy. It isn’t even a drop in the bucket. I think that once I get past this art show, and the rest of my upcoming 50th birthday parties, I will wrap up some more to list and sell. edit: only two left, these are selling fast

edit: oops, those sold too! I added more to the shop, thank you all so much for stopping by and snapping those flowers up so quickly!

Twinkle was relieved that I decided to sell some.

Today is the last day to enter my April Giveaway, but you still have 5 more days to enter my birthday giveaway.

Any comment, on any post gets entered.

Vintage Bling- Day Two and the pliers are flying through the pile of scrap

jewelry, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 21, 2008

Spring might actually be here! It hit 70 today and I worked with the studio doors open. I love this time of year before the flies come, when there is a slight breeze to open the house up to have all the winter blahs blown out the doors.

While enjoying the fresh air and listening to Twinkle run in and out of the house to chase bunnies, I worked my way through a desktop of jewels and made quite a bit for "Art in the Park" on May 4th.

Lots of charm bracelets and earrings today, and a one necklace (the cameo one pictured).

Then, the mail lady knocked on my door with an arm load of bundled mail and I was done being productive, it was time to play!

Lili sent a package filled with delight from The Netherlands, for our mini swap. All I sent to her was millinery flowers and a few post cards. She went wild and filled a bag with wonderful European goodies for me!

Look at these book pages, won’t they be fantastic collage backgrounds? and these teeny little aqua bows are so dainty and sweet, they remind me of baby butterflies.

Did I mention Rose Wallpaper?????

Everything, every single thing, was delicious and fun and I can’t wait to dig in and create lots of somethings with it all!

Thanks, Lili!

Cards for Caroline’s 100th birthday arrived in the giant bundle of mail too. Cindy sent this cute as a bug one. I like the way she layers and embellishes, don’t you?

Jessica created this iris card, and I wish you could see the detail in person, this little purple flower should be framed. My mom always called iris "flags." I don’t hear that any more. Its a nice, old fashioned term.

Soon, the swap screens will be coming in too. Of course, they are going to Beth’s house, but I will run over to visit and check them all out. I can’t wait!

You can still join if you hurry. Lots of free download images to use, door prizes (well kind of, I guess that is what you’d call them) and great artists in the swap already!

I’m off to flickr to post photos of the cards. Come by and look if you get a chance. http://www.flickr.com/groups/679216@N25/

Artists have been loading their cards there as they make them too, so I always get a surprise when I go to check out the site, new things are added daily.

We have Extended the Deadline for the Swap, I wish I could extend the Deadline for my upcoming art show so I could have more time to goof off, since I can’t, I’ll just whine about it.

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), jewelry, show and tell, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 20, 2008

Its show and tell time again, and the subject is a timely one for me. Vintage jewels!

Twinkle has agreed to model this pink jeweled bracelet, and doesn’t seem to be too embarrassed by her choppy haircut, although she isn’t looking at the camera like she usually does.

I have an art show to get ready for and one of the things I take to shows is my redesigned old jewelry.

Thing is, it has been a while since I organized my sparklies and made anything from them, so I had an hour or so of prep work to do to even get started.

Just because I hadn’t been making jewelry, doesn’t mean I wasn’t buying stuff to use as supplies for the last year!

The pieces needed sorted out so I could find what I wanted to put together. I sort by era, style, color and lots of different criteria that mostly boils down to a made up system that doesn’t work anyway. I end up looking through each of the 8 or 9 plastic containers sitting on the desk for that perfect bead that I knew was just there a minute ago…..

So, what did I make today?

A charm bracelet first.

A few necklaces next.

A couple more necklaces, then moved on to earrings. I prefer making earrings, they just fly through my pliers and almost make themselves. Necklaces and bracelets take a lot of time and trying on, measuring the weight of the charms to be sure they hang straight.

Balance is so important when making jewelry. Both visually and weight wise.

I only use sterling or 14kt gf French hooks for the earrings and buy them wholesale through Fire Mountain, for the best prices.

The rest of the pieces are all vintage, including the beads. Sometimes I do use some new semi-precious beads, but I prefer older things.

To tell the truth, it was not a fun transition from my tag marathon to jewels today.

I know I have to make the jewelry for the art show I am going to on May 4th, that is what my clientele expects there (along with hand painted things) and luckily I always sell it well there.

But I am still feeling like making more tags! I did a few this morning and was zipping along, humming to myself and having a great time.

When I got the jewelry out to work on in the afternoon, that is what it felt like- WORK!

Probably, I should shut up and not complain. Poor Karla, had to stop gluing her endless parade of tags and put aside her Vintage Workshop papers to play with sparkly jewels instead.

That isn’t going to get me much sympathy!

So, the papers are on hold, while I put together old jewelry for a few days, then make price tags for it. If you think I am complaining now, wait till you hear me whine about pricing items!

But in the meantime, I will play hooky from all of it and go blog surfing and see what everyone else has for Show and Tell.

Its always a treat to visit other bloggers and see their collections. Hopefully, I won’t run into anyone else who complains and whines about it like I did today.

Before I go, I wanted to announce that "due to popular demand" Beth and I extended the deadline for our swap. So, if you haven’t joined yet, hurry up and come play with paper with us!!

The curse of “I CAN DO IT MYSELF”

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 20, 2008

Why do I always think I can "do it myself" no matter what it is? Poor Twinkle is the latest example.

I cut her hair today. She looks awful. I doubt if there are two hairs on her entire body that are the same length.

The other day I dug a thorn out of my husband’s knee with an exacto blade craft knife. His knee didn’t look much better than Twinkle’s hair style.

A few weeks ago, when Ry’s truck broke down, and he was late to work, I figured I would handle it myself after dropping him off at his job. I had a big old four wheel drive truck and a rope, I’d just haul it home instead of calling a tow truck.

Well, I had some trouble trying to figure out how to hook the rope under the truck, I knew that it had to be hooked to the frame, but how can you tell what is frame and what is just random truck parts? So I called my brother-in-law for advice, and he was there within minutes, telling me that you cannot pull a vehicle alone, you need someone in the pulled vehicle to steer and brake. I had been worrying a bit about the hill on the way home. Being a do-it-yourselfer leads me into trouble sometimes.

I’ve been known to try to carry a large dresser up the stairs alone and get stuck halfway with it balanced on my shoulders yelling for help.

Its a rare thing for me to think a task through before starting in on it, I just always figure I can do it.

So, I am extremely proud and surprised at myself for not trying to do a birthday party here at the cottage for my 50th on May 5th. (the same week of a major flea market I HAVE to go to, and an art show I am a part of) I am having it at a restaurant!! That is not like me at all. Letting professionals handle something I could DO MYSELF??!! never!!

Last year, we had my 49th here, and invited 60 some people, and I cooked goodies for it, cleaned, fixed up the yard, etc, etc.

Maybe at 50, I am grown up enough to let someone else take over a job? Or am I just tired???

For now, I will stick to making tags for our swap, and getting ready for my art show (the day before the party).

This tag is made with the downloads for the swap from Vintage Workshop, that I edited to be in sepia tone. Then- I used some pastels to add color and glued dark pink roses from an old greeting card onto it for another splash of color.

For our swap, we have 3 collections to use from Vintage Workshop, and I think you can see from my last few posts that you can do a lot of different things using the same images. I am excited to see what all the other artists come up with.

Adding other elements, like the greeting card roses, and the pastels, or ribbons and jewels adds variety too.

Besides butchering Twinkle’s fur and making what seemed like a thousand more tags today, I doctored up this old photo with paints and pastels, then added ribbons, old wallpaper, and flowers to it. I plan on sending it to Pam.

Her sis is ill, and there is a fund raiser coming up. Pam is needing handmade items to fill a basket for the raffle.

I want to send three things, a gift for Pam, something for her sis and something for the raffle. This is my first item, tomorrow I will make some more things for the box I am sending.

More items are needed, and if you would like Pam’s address to send her something, let me know.

I know how generous you all are!

Cards for my great aunt’s 100th birthday are pouring in!

Colleen Cavanaugh sent these two pretty pinky ones, and they showed up wrapped so lovely, along with an Eiffel Tower card for me too!

Three more came from Heidi Woodruff, Phyllis Covington, and Pam Warden. (blog addresses available on my previous post)

See what I mean about generous? Pam has health issues herself as well as ill family members, and she took time to make a card for my aunt!

OK, it is 2am and I need to get to bed, but first a little Earth Day reminder to be kind to the planet! Today is Earth Day, well, actually, I am up so late that yesterday was Earth Day.

I went to a fashion show tonight where vintage and recycled clothing were the highlights on the stage.

I try to redo and reuse as much as I can, personally,with antiques, furniture and art supplies, but I never thought of remaking clothes from old prom dresses and men’s ties like this gown. Hmm, I think I could do this myself…..

Count down to the big birthday bash, but Oh-Oh, what bash?????

antiques/junking, celebrations, Etsy Goodies, parties, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 18, 2008

Once again, I got very little done today. Sugarwings and I snuck out for lunch and a trip to the nature center to look at snakes and fishies.

Before I left, I did make a few tags, I wanted to try something new, I kind of made a big collage sheet, glued tags to the back of it and cut them out, so that they were parts of a crazy quilt type pattern.

The first step was to print my Vintage Workshop images for the swap Beth and I are co-hosting, after editing them in sepia tones.

Since I use an ink jet printer, I always spray my copies with matt finish clear coat before I work with them, so the ink doesn’t run.

I made multiple copies of the same images in various sizes and cut off the white edges so they wouldn’t show in the collage.

Here is my collage sheet, everything is glued to one of the wallpaper patterns printed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper.

And if you think my odd collection of tags that I glued to the back is kind of unusual, you are right.

I save all tags that come on stuff I buy, and cover them in paper. Yep, there is a tag from a garden trowel, a file box, and a pair of jeans, among typical shipping tags.

After they are glued into place, I cut around them with an exacto knife.

This was a pretty quick process, I did a whole passel of tags in one swoop!

After cutting them out, I darkened the edges with a walnut ink pad, and started to embellish the tags with millinery flowers, crystals, velvet ribbons, jewels, and some complimentary wallpaper.

Beth had shown me some brown and blue things she was working on and I loved it so much, I wanted to try to keep my palette simple, with just these colors too.

This one is done with the same collections of images, but printed in color instead of sepia. I’ve really had a good time with the printer and changing settings to try new tricks.

If you want to play with Vintage Workshop images too, you can join our swap. Everyone gets the pictures from the 3 collections we are working with for the Birds and Bonnets screes, plus one free download of your choice for signing up!

Did I mention there were also lots of prizes? I’ll be giving out some of these tags, there are purses, and gift certificates, and who knows what all we’ll be giving away. We like presents!

Join up fast, the clock is ticking!!

Here is what the backs of the tags look like. Some were done with the left over patch work pieces cut to fit, others are of a single pattern. Mostly, I was using what ever scraps were on the table.

The blue velvet is from the bow on an old hat.

I stopped to visit a friend’s shop today after taking the fairy grand baby home, and look at the goodies I found! For $24 I bought these photos, 4 rolls of old ribbon, and a bagful of blooms!

And these are perfect blossoms, I love working with the tiny ones.

Since I had way too much ribbon (well, honestly I have to admit that it does happen, I keep buying more than I will ever use!)- I made up some packets of it to sell on Etsy.

I listed 5 of them, if you are interested.

I made one more stop at an antique shop where I had a fascinating discussion about flocked wallpaper with the store owner. He thinks he knows where he can score some for me.

I feel like an addict with a new dealer.

He sold me this grab bag of jewels for $12, as a "taste". I’ll be going back, I can’t stop myself.

Yesterday’s post was my 300th and I didn’t even realize it! Blogging has become such an everyday part of my life, I don’t even notice the landmarks anymore.

Another landmark coming up for me is my 50th birthday. I am throwing myself a party, but have no details yet. I should have planned it sooner.

It will be a hectic week, I have to pick my husband up at the airport, go to the best flea market in the area, participate in an art show, have a family birthday celebration and throw a big party for myself too.

I’ve been making calls to various places to figure out where I want to have the party, because I just don’t think I want to try to fit in cleaning my house to the rest of that schedule.

I’d like to do something special and unique, but the fact that I forgot to plan anything till 2 weeks before, kind of puts a dent into that idea.

Here are some suggestions from Beth for the event. Do you have any ideas?

Ps- most of these are private jokes, that probably won’t even make any sense to you, but hey, it is my birthday and they entertained me, so I am showing them!!!

Chuck E Cheese
Skateland
Cruise the Kaw
Rent Saturday Night Fever
Build a Bear party at the mall
Dairy Queen
Rent a red convertible
BBQ party catered by Vermont St BBQ
kegger & a bonfire
grown up sophisticated cocktail party
party with ballon animal man
rent a stretch hummer and party while cruising the Flint Hills
antiquing in Texas
OK, antiquing in Sparks
all you can eat desserts at Andres
call yourself queen for a day and make everyone curtsy before you
glamour shots
paint ball party
Outward Bound experience (don’t invite me!)
ask Padma and Tom if the Top Chef crew can cater your party
fly to Paris on the Concorde
change your name to Karkie
ok, just change your blog name to Karkie
rent an inflatable bounce house for a party
do whatever Oprah did- I think she devoted a whole magazine to it
have a party and make everyone wear bunny ears
put you business card in 500 helium balloons with a message that tells the finders that if they comment on your blog, you’ll enter there name in a drawing
start training for a triathlon
rent a chocolate fountain
paint your house pink
OK, just help your friend paint her booth
square dancing party in your barn—oops, too late
snipe all the good wallpaper auctions ending about 10 days before your birthday, so you get a butt load of wallpaper on your birthday
Weiner roast with marshmallows

Granny Panties full of Rocks

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, Sugarwings, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 17, 2008

I’ve had a fun couple of Sugarwings days this week. We had some gravel delivered and before I get out the shovel and start spreading it, the fairy grandbaby and I decided to play a little king of the hill.

Or "princesses" of the hill. Sugarwings and Twinkle had a blast in the rocks. So did I. We climbed, rolled, slid, dug, and fell all over them. And I may never get all the gravel out of my socks and clothes. I was downright crunchy by the time we were done.

If you are asking yourself why Karla has a dress hanging out the window of her chicken coop, well, good question. I really should clean that building out, it hasn’t been used since an antique sale TWO YEARS AGO! The other day,there was a big wind storm (yes this is Kansas), the window blew open and a vintage dress blew out.

For all of you who think I get so much accomplished, this is proof that a lot of things just go by the wayside and never get done! That shed sure could use a cleaning out.

Anyone want an old dress or should I haul it to Goodwill?

I could save it for Sugarwing’s dress up parties, she can be a fairy and I can wear that ugly old thing and be Auntie Em!

Beside playing with the baby, and picking rocks out of my granny panties, I did make time to do a few tags for the Birds and Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap that Beth and I are co-hosting.

We will be having a drawing for presents for the participants. So far, we have:

2 clutches with a set of pearl beads, one from Beth, one from me

6 $25 gift certificates from Vintage Workshop for free downloads

Some tags from me

And now, here is a new one!!

Not only is Vintage Workshop providing all these cool images from 3 of their collections for us to use in the swap, plus the 6 gift certificates, everyone who enters will also receive a free download collection of their choice!

I thought that was a nice little bonus!

I made all of these tags from the wallpaper backgrounds collection that we have available for the swap.

To the backgrounds (various wallpaper patterns that I printed in different sizes then glued down in a crazy quilt way) I added some roses cut from my stash of wallpaper, some ladies from the Vintage Workshop collections, old seam binding ribbons, buttons and jewels.

And of course- millinery flowers!! My projects don’t feel ‘done’ until I add a flower.

Speaking of my vintage wallpaper stash, I just added a bunch for sale on Etsy. And it is flying out of there! If you are needing wallpaper, this is a good time to check out the shop, before it all flies away.

And what is flying in to me? CARDS! CARDS! AND MORE CARDS!

This is from Shawn Behrends and her daughter Bethany (3 yrs old)

(Shawn do I have you on the list??)

And this is from my pal, Scrappi Jessi, one of the liveliest people in blogworld. Using one of her terms, "you rock, girl!"

This tasty cake is from Kathy Algonzzine

Pretty pink roses from Betty Bates.

Lovely faded flowers and portrait embellished with Caroline’s initial from Debbie Doughty.

Old fashioned romantic style from Kathy
Maximo.

Here is a photo I received of a card on its way from Nancy Burns. Ooo La la!

And this one is being sent in by my East coast buddy, Robin (Thrifty Miss Priss).

I am so excited about the beauty and generosity pouring into my mail box!

But, I do need to warn all you nice people that are sending in cards. I tend to screw things up. Bad lists, mixed up piles. So, if I make a mistake on saying who sent what as I post the 100 cards or so that are coming in, please don’t be offended, and please correct me!

I already accidentally deleted half the flickr file and am going back to reload it after I do this.

Please check it out when you get a chance, but give me a few minutes to correct my screw ups.

Here is the updated list of contributors. If you are not on it and should be, please tell me, because this is the list that I am drawing names from for prizes.

The clutch is one prize. Maybe some vintage wallpaper and millinery flowers? A card kit to make some more cards?

You are doing me a big favor and a sweet thing for my aunt. What would you like to get as a gift for helping out?

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
Rhonda RhondaMum.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

Buttons, Blossoms, and Beauties

family, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 15, 2008

Thanks to all of you generous souls who signed up to make a card for my Great Aunt’s 100th birthday.

I am close to getting enough cards, but could still use a few more to make up 100. And it wouldn’t hurt to have a few extras in case someone isn’t able to after all.

This is the one I made for her. I copied her photo, and added color with pastels, then glued it to a vintage card with roses.

After that, I cut out a cake from another old card, glued it down and sugared it up with glitter.

To add some sparkle to her lace dress, I used a Gelly Roll Stardust pen to highlight the scrolls and flowers in the lace.

Aunt Caroline is in wonderful health, even for a much younger woman.

Here is a photo of her at 91 in her home in front of a painting I did for her.

She is sharp as a tack and will really be tickled by all these cards. As a person who has made hand crafted things all of her life, she will appreciate the work that is going into this bonanza of mail for her.

She told me once that she lives by this motto, and it has always stuck with me and I try to live by it as well, "Think Right, Live Right, and Do Right".

I will be having a drawing for a prize to give one of the 100 card creators before I pack up the cards to take to her in Florida this June.

This Vintage Workshop clutch is covered in in a printable fabric and I will give it as a thank you gift to the winner. I just wish I had 100 of them to give, I really appreciate all your work and help with this surprise!

I will also be giving a 2nd purse to a drawing winner from the swappers in the Birds and Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap that Beth and I are co- hosting.

We have a good number signed up already, but there is room for more! The more that sign up, the more presents we’ll offer for the drawing. So far we are up to 10 gifts.

Speaking of swaps, I am in a mini swap with my friend, Lili in The Netherlands. She said she has a hard time finding millinery flowers where she lives, so I am sending her a few.

Living here, deep in the Bible Belt of the Midwest, I am in millinery heaven. My theory is that there wasn’t a single, good God fearing woman in the state back in the good old days, who didn’t own a flowery hat to wear to church every week. And since Midwesterners also believe in "waste not want not", most of those hats were saved.

So, this bunch of blossoms is on its way across the ocean right now, hope you like them, Lili! Thanks for swapping with me. (I can’t wait to see what she surprises me with, she has exquisite taste!)

And while on the subject of millinery flowers, Jenny Doh of Somerset Life asked me if she could use this photo in an upcoming issue. I was happy to have it in there, of course!

If you would like to post this button about Aunt Caroline’s 100 cards for her 100th birthday, feel free to do so. I’ve also got a flickr site for it, if you want to make a card and upload it there.

I plan on loading the photos myself when the cards arrive too. Here is the site for Aunt Caroline’s cards:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/679216@N25/ (and people have already added some cards to it!)

And here is the site for our Birds and Bonnets swap:http://www.flickr.com/groups/702816@N20/

Remember to sign up for the swap!

Here is the list I have so far for the Cards for Caroline Creators. If you have signed up and missed you on the list, would you please let me know? (or if you see any other mistakes, I do tend to make some)

Thanks. And thanks for the help, she will be so pleased!

EDIT- I have 100!! But, if anyone would still like to send one, I’m sure she would love to get it. I will add another prize to the drawing since I am now over 100 people. Thanks so much for helping me do this fun surprise for Aunt Caroline!!

100cards

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:
http://oodlesandoodles.typepad.com/
Carol Spinsky RaisedInCotton@aol.com
http://soinspired.blogspot.com
Lori http://pinkfadedroses.blogspot.com
Janine http://angelgurl.wordpress.com/
http://emmaspaperpatch.blogspot.com
Liane Tatum
http://bluemuf.blogspot.com Karen
http://simplysage.blogspot.com Mahala
Beth http://bethleintz.typepad.com
Debbie Doughty http://queendebbee.blogspot.com/
Alice Wingerden http://www.paintedwhite.com
Karoline http://www.cherishedvintage.blogspot.com
Joyce Rodli
Lili http://lilimsadventures.blogspot.com
Mandy Blake
*Heidi* http://journals.aol.com/hwoodred/everyday-cookies/
http://www.bonoramamama.blogspot.com
Kirstie http://adelinecountrycottage.blogspot.com
Phyllis http://shabbyinthecity.blogspot.com
Sherry (Edie Marie’s Attic)
Pinkie Denise
Marilyn http://marilynbutler.blogspot.com
Melissa http://melissaburford.typepad.com
Lisa Russell
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
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
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
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/
Joyce
Kathy
Samantha
Karen http://karenharveycox.blogspot.com
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
Gail http://boutiqueginabeana.blogspot.com/
Cindy http://yappingcatstudio.typepad.com/my_weblog
Rhonda http://rhondamum.blogspot.com
Irma http://irmasrosecottage.blogspot.com
Rhonda RhondaMum.blogspot.com
Alison Gibbs
Paula Kay
Jeanette http://scrapnchick-keepmeinstitches.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

Birds And Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap with Karla and Beth

swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 13, 2008

Here is your official invitation to join our latest swap!

You can sign up at Beth’s blog, Gathering Dust, and she will send you the file full of images provided by the Vintage Workshop to use for your creations.

Please feel free to add this button to your blog, and upload photos to this flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/702816@N20/

The images provided by Vintage Workshop are pretty as a, well, a picture!

You can embellish, redo, add to, paint, ink, stamp, cut, crop, glue, foof, what ever you want to do to the panels you make.

It will be so cool to see what each artist does by adding their own touch to the theme. Check out Beth’s examples on her site too.

You will be decorating 4 panels, each side. Here is the flip side of mine.

Some of the tricks I used on mine were printing the images in multiple sizes and printing them on different textures of paper.

Crackle glaze, diamond glaze and crystals made good accents too.

I also added some hand painted details like the gilded bird cage and the tree branches the birds sit on.

This is two of Vintage Workshop’s back ground wallpapers that I painted branches onto, then cut out and glued a bird on.

The bird is wearing a bonnet I printed on fabric paper and cut out and she has a black crystal eye. The hand painted branches are accented with flowers I pulled off of an old hat in my stash.

Here is a mistake I made- DON"T glue anything too near the edge where the hole punch needs to go for the connecting ring!!

By putting this cool, old button in that spot, I ruined this panel and it doesn’t quite fit right. I’ll have to make another one.

We’ll let you know the measurements of where the punches will go so you don’t make the same mistake I did.

Did I mention the PRIZES? We will have a drawing and pick winners from all the participants.

Beth and I each made a clutch from these cute purses that Vintage Workshop sells.

Amy, the owner, gave us a bagful of fun things to make up, and I will be making a couple more presents too.

Plus– Vintage Workshop is providing SIX gift certificates!

This purse is embellished with a vintage pink rose and bow of velvet from an antique bonnet as well as crystals and images from Vintage Workshop that I printed onto their fabric paper.

I am including the pretty hanky and the string of pearls since they look like they are all meant to be together.

Beth is including pearls with her purse too.

Ready for the official rules and guild lines? I hope you sign up! Here is the info you will need:

Karla & Beth’s Birds & Bonnets

Vintage Workshop Swap

To introduce its beautiful and versatile new printable wallpaper collection, The Vintage Workshop (Thevintageworkshop.com) is teaming up with Karla and Beth to host a swap.

Decorate both sides of four 4” x 5 1/2” panels using at least one image or background from The Vintage Workshop collections on each panel. After you sign up for the swap, we’ll send you a link and log on to a website where you can download, resize, digitally collage and print the images you’d like to use. You can make your panels all the same or each one different.

You can use more than one image per panel, and you can use other collage materials, too. In other words, feel free to use your own accents, buttons, and trims to compliment the images we’ll send you. All digital collage is great, too. Or you can work digitally and embellish copies. Just about anything goes, as long as you use at least one of the Vintage Workshop images or backgrounds we send you.

Send the panels back to us, and we’ll assemble the panels into unique decorative screens using ring binders.

We’ll be photographing the finished screens for The Vintage Workshop, so please be aware that by participating in the swap, you are agreeing to let The Vintage Workshop use your panels on its website or in future publications.

The Details

The Images- The images for the swap will be sent to you via an emailed file. You will need to size and print the images you select to use to use make your panels.

The Panels- 4” x 5 ½”, made of something in weight similar to chipboard or book board. The cardboard back of a tablet works great for this. Whatever you use, it has to be substantial enough that it can stand up as part of a screen, but thin enough to be hole punched.

Sign Up Date- Sign up by emailing Beth, using the email link on the upper left side of her blog. The deadline is April 18.

On Apr 20, we’ll send a confirmation email with the jpeg image file with to all participants.

Receive by Date – We’ll need to RECEIVE your panels by May 19.

Cost- The cost for a padded envelope, mailing and materials is $5. The $5 needs to be included with your panels.

What You’ll Get– A unique four panel screens, with each panel made by a different player. We’ll mail the screens by Jun 1.

Remember, there is not a limit to this one, so there is room for everyone. So far we have 8 prizes, but if we get a lot of people we will add more gifts to the drawing. You know I LOVE to give presents! Every comment you leave is entered into my monthly giveaway.

Birds and Bonnets (Please join us!!)

swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 12, 2008

Curious_sofa_006 Beth and I had a fun day Thursday, one of our stops was Curious Sofa. Deb Dousenberry has such wonderful taste, her shop is an experience.

So many simple ideas, and simple everyday objects are made special just by the way Deb puts them together and displays them.

We also went to see Amy of Vintage Workshop, then treated ourselves to bakery goods from Andres to sort out ideas about our next swap.

Vintage Workshop is providing the images for our swap! Here are a few of them.

I like to download the pictures, then print them in multiple sizes.

Especially the wallpaper backgrounds. I print those in at least 3 sizes. Having the same image in different forms is really fun to play around with.

Sugarwings stayed all night again last night and I am afraid I didn’t get finished with everything I wanted to show you for the swap we are doing, but here is a sneak peak.

I made these four "panels" from the Vintage Workshop downloads and then doo-dadded them up.

I haven’t decorated the backs yet, that needs to be done so they can fit together like a screen.

This screen is one that Beth has made (hers is finished, unlike mine!)

Here are some of the details of the swap:

Everyone will make 4 of these panels using at least one image from Vintage workshop.

You can decorate it up as elaborately or simply as you’d like.

By everyone using the same 3 Vintage Workshop collections, we’ll have a cohesive look, so that all the panels will look lovely together.

But by having so many artists do the work, then putting 4 different person’s work into one screen, they will be eclectic and fun.

By using the various sizes of the pictures and printing some of it on textured paper (the lovely lady is printed onto fabric paper that Amy sells. She gave me some to try and I have to say I am hooked on it now!) you can get lots of different looks from the same imgages, so the choices are limitless!

Mine are done with using some added millinery flowers, crystals, pages from an old book, then crackle or paper glazes for texture. On this one, I outlined the details in a shimmering ink (shows up better in person) and then used paper glaze over the central design, rubbed the edges with a walnut ink pad and glued down crystals to the pattern of the paper.

This one wasn’t much more complicated, I layered the different papers I had printed out from the wallpaper background collection, then added a page from an old French book, inked the edges, glued them down, and cut a bird out of one of the collections.

She is nesting in the scraps from cutting out the French book page, and is accented with crystals and a couple old buttons.

I’ll get more examples made up, and also some panels made so I can swap too!

What I am trying to show you with these, is that you can do a lot of different styles with these 3 collections Vintage Workshop is providing for us (We get to play with her fun papers for FREE! YAY, Amy!)

Amy is also supplying us with PRIZES! We’ll have a drawing from all of the entrants in the swap and 6 will get gift certificates to download more images to create with.

Vintage Workshop sells these purses to embellish, and I got a few to foof up with the printable fabric, sticky back paper.

One, I will give as a drawing prize for the swappers, and the other will be a drawing prize for all the kind people who are making a card for my Aunt Caroline’s 100th birthday.

These clutches are so fun to make, I made up the 2 of them, with the fronts and backs different.

I lined the bottom with a wide velvet ribbon in the best shade of faded pink on both of them, and added some old rhinestone buttons, millinery flowers and crystals.

Beth will make a prize too. And knowing me, I will make more. I like to give presents!

Exact details of the swap will be added later. Beth has it all written up and ready to go, and sign ups will be on her blog.

So, I hope we get a lot of sign ups! This will be a pretty swap, who doesn’t love Birds and Bonnets?

And I want to thank all of you who have offered to make a card for my great Aunt Caroline’s 100th birthday.

I have 68 so far, am almost to 100, so could use a few more people to surprise her with 100 cards.

I will be showing the cards on my blog as they come in, so we can all enjoy them, and will draw a name from the 100 people who help me out and send one a Vintage Workshop clutch.

Here is the flickr site if you want to post a photo of a card you have made:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/679216@N25/

Time to preen your feathers and Bling that Birdhouse!

Etsy Goodies, fairies, parties, swaps, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / March 27, 2008

sk! What do you LOVE about your Birdie’s home??

Welcome to our Self Linking, Self Swapping, Self Marketing party! Yes, Beth and I are lazy hostesses, she says this is the equivalent of inviting people over and asking them to bring all their own food and drinks, then clean up after themselves.

The rules are simple: you can buy, sale, or trade, if you like, just let people know in your posts, or on the flickr site if you want to moving the real estate.

I will be giving one house away today to someone who leaves a comment.

The rest are FOR SALE!

And for a special price too, any of these cuties, big or small, simple or ornate, blingy or elegant (who am I kidding, these are all blingy and gaudy!!)—if purchased this week from this post— are only $15 each plus postage.

Ok, so those are my personal specs for sales. Make sure you state yours if you want to sell or swap a home during the party. I am also up for a swap…… I could use a special bird house for some fairies to move into up in Sugarwing’s bedroom.

The birdhouse with the kitty is sold to Louisa

Now, for the party linking rules. Like I said, we are pretty laid back about this one!

All you do is leave a comment, on my blog, Beth’s blog or BOTH.

In your comment, tell people that you are inviting them over to see your creations. Birdhouse_201

Make sure you leave the URL or link to your blog, or you can show the birdhouse on our flickr site if you don’t have a blog.

Everyone is invited to play along! Flickr is free and easy to do, so jump in and give it a try.

Birdhouse_203 Simple huh? Leave a comment, join the party!

Now, if you want to party hop and visit all the homes on display for our feathered friends, all you need to do is read the comments on my blog and Beth’s blog.

Not everyone who reads my blog leaves a comment and if you haven’t because you don’t know how, here is what you do:

At the end of the post, the small print says the time it was written, a list of categories, and then "comments". Click on that word.

Then, you get to read all the previous comments. Usually, you can click on the author’s name and it will take you to their blog. Sometimes, you can’t.

If there isn’t an active link, then you can copy and paste the URL that the birdhouse blinger has left for us to find them and see what they have made.

Any questions, feel free to ask. Email me or Beth and we’ll do what we can to help you get to visit everyone or to help you invite people to visit you. Fairy Banner house sold to Betty

Fairy houses count too, right? I’m sure that if a bird wanted to share the rent, they’d be allowed to move in.

The postage might be a bit higher on these fairy homes I have made. A couple of them are covered in stones, glass, beads, and trinkets, which tends to weigh more than the vintage wallpaper I put on most of the houses.

All the fairy homes come complete with a nest ready for the fairy to curl up on.

As you can probably tell, I got a bit carried away, like usual. I tend to make more than one or two when I try something…. I might have a done a couple dozen houses or so.

I could just keep going and going, these are such fun to decorate! I hate to have this challenge come to an end.

But I am sure I will feel exactly the same about the next project I take on. Don’t you just love to experiment? In the last year of blogging, I have had opportunities to participate in so many fun swaps and challenges and each one I did, the nests, matchboxes, tiaras, doll hats, all of them, I just wanted to make more, more, more!

Blogworld is such an inspiring place to be. Always a new project or idea to sample.

So, Beth and I decided to sponsor another swap. Details to come, but it will be through Vintage Workshop and we have permission to feature their images and offer free samples to our swappers to use!

We’ll let you know when we get it all worked out and are ready for sign ups.

Please check back later if you are interested in our Spring Swap.

And for today, thanks so much for coming to Our Bling Your Birdhouse Day and please go and visit some of the other bird abodes that our friends came up with!