swaps – Page 3 – Karla's Cottage

Embellished bottles and tins

By Karla Nathan / May 30, 2014

We have a small group at Birdsong, so I thought that just a few swaps would do. We are swapping banners, Altoid tins, and embellished bottles.

Swaps are a blast to watch. The ladies come up with such spectacular gifts for each other. I rarely have time to join in at most events I go to, but love watching them.

This year, one swap was not partnered up. Instead, participants bring an embellished bottle, and draw names to trade. Since it was open ended, I figured I'd be able to join in if time allowed. And it did. Or I forced it to, by making time to do it.

I had this cool, old bottle, with kind of wavy glass and decided to fill it with a bird and nest. I used a picture of a meadowlark on the inside, since that is the state bird of Kansas. First, I drizzled glue down into the bottle, then with a narrow dowel rod, I arranged moss and turquoise eggs to make a nest. After that, I added the bird picture and a twig.

While the glue was wet, I dropped in a few little millinery blooms and sprinkled glitter over the nest. I drizzled more glue over it all to hold it in place, then left the lid off for a week or so, till it all dried.

I decided that I needed a little meadowlark info from a vintage birding book, and glued that to the inside of the bottle too.

Which was dumb. It was so hard to do, trying to get it straight with the stick. Like building a ship in a bottle.

Trouble is, after all that effort, it could have just as easily been glued to the outside of the bottle for the same effect. Oh well. You don't learn if you don't try.

I had to add some paper to the back of the bottle anyway. So, should have just glued the meadowlark paper there in the first place.

The bottle is further decked out in aqua velvet ribbon, and a pink velvet flower, plus some other tidbits.

While I was at it, I did a couple more bottles.

And tried my hand at an Altoid tin. I'd never decorated one before and soon realized that with the moving lid and hinges, paper wasn't the best choice for it all. So, I spray painted the box, inside and out first, and then distressed the paint with sandpaper.

I was able to use ribbon, paper, flowers, and other embellishments on the non moving parts.

Doing something out of my normal type of colors and materials was a challenge that I enjoyed, I'd been so busy with cleaning, entertaining, getting ready for Birdsong, that my soul needed a little creative break.

As much as I love doing this event, it does take a lot out of me, and I miss my time just to sit and make stuff.

But- soon, I'll be sitting with my Peeps, and crafting away. Can't wait!

Bye Bye Fairies, Hello Ghosts!

dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), fairies, family, free images, holiday decor, Romantic Gothic Ghosts, swaps, Tutorials, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / September 23, 2012

Isn't this fairy from Linda sweet as can be?

It's sad that the Faery Book Swap is over! I made a couple more pages, as thank yous to some sweet people. And I have extra covers that I hope to list on Etsy or in the Boutique. If I ever get a spare minute to do it!

In the fairy frenzy, I'd made up about 16 pages for the swap, and didn't need them all of course, so I'll have a few of those to list too. But I didn't want to use any of those as thank yous. I thought "thanks" deserved something made special just for it.

I still have my family's books, they weren't mailed because we are going to open them all together when everyone gets here to visit for Romantic Gothic Ghosts.

I'm so glad that Guncle Randy, Sissy, Bobbie Sue and Terry can come out to play with us for the classes! We hope to go to see the annual Lawrence Zombie walk if everyone arrives in time, it will be on Thurs. the 4th and family is flying/driving in from Utah, Florida and Indiana.

Then, Friday is shopping at the West Bottoms district, with all the once a month junk and antique stores, as well as Bottoms Up.

Saturday the 6th will be our ghost filled craft day, with Gypsy spells and ravens. Sunday we plan on hitting the Renfest, all decked out in our fairy attire. A perfect little reunion!! Plus I get to have my blog friends meet my family, that will be nice. I'm glad that we are having a workshop while the relatives are in town.

Along with the thank you pages, I mailed out hand made envelopes stuffed with tidbits. To make these, I looked at a regular envelope to get an idea for the pattern, cut it out from an old book page, folded it up and glued the edges. Simple, and kinda cute. I might need to do more of these!

I've gone straight from sweet fairies to gothic ghosts.

These images (provided in the online Romantic Gothic Ghost class) are printed on transparencies and hung around the room.

And the room is a WRECK! I've started cleaning and decorating, but need to get all the chaos and clutter out too.

I started decorating at the ceiling first, then the cabinet tops around the room. I'm sure most people would have cleaned the whole room, put away the mess and then started fixing up. But I got too excited about making the ghosts and had to do the fun parts first!

See how they are hung from tattered tulle on the ceiling? (I'll have more photos later)

**********

Speaking of photos, I've noticed that no matter how good my camera is, and how well I edit pictures, they NEVER look as good on my blog as they do on my computer files.

I wish I could fix this…. I also noticed that if you click on one to open it in a bigger window, its sharper.

**************

Another instance of backward preparedness- instead of cleaning and making kits, I wanted to make some ghostly images to set around the room. This collage is an old trinket box with a glass lid that Beth gave me. I took out the image that came it in, turned it on its side and made it a shadow box.

A transparency spider image is across the glass, and a ghostly girl is layered over a gothic arch (from the albums full of pictures and images and backgrounds and patterns that were scanned and added to the online class) and glued to the back of the box. I then added some tatted trim and some very old, beat up flowers.

Its very small, and I seriously doubt that it adds a lot to the over all decor of the room. But it was something I really wanted to do.

We had lots of projects made up for the online class that I pulled out to use around the room too. This tag is pinned to my new curtains, hung just for the occasion. The tag is one of the "ready to go" bonus images from the class. All you do is print it and cut it out.

The curtains are from the Sparks Flea, and were $1. When I bought them, they were a hideous, fleshy peach. But I liked the over all pattern and the flocking was cool, so I gambled that dollar and bought them any way, hoping a bowl of dye would take.

It did and now I just love them.! Thing is, though, I bought them thinking I'd cut them apart to use in projects, and to test the dye, I cut a hunk off the bottom of one to dip. I loved it so much, that I dyed the rest of the panels and hung them up, even with a hunk missing at the bottom of one.

In the window, is a banner also made from the Romantic Gothic Ghost online classes. There are tons of projects, decorating ideas, and printable images in the class. I'd forgotten how much there was in it, and had a lot of fun looking through it with fresh eyes.

Everyone coming to the class at the studio gets the online class free too. We still have a couple spots open for our one day party in the studio if you'd like to join us.

You could hold a puppy on your lap while you work…..

A thank you, an apology, and a clarification

swaps

By Karla Nathan / September 18, 2012

This luscious bundle of ribbons, still on my desk because they are too pretty to use, is from Becky

All of my Faery Swap books have been mailed! (well, except two late people who missed out, but I am trading with them one on one)

I
want to thank everyone who left a comment about the person complaining
about the page she hated and threw away. Thoughtful, heart felt comments
came from the crafty world of swappers, and lots of private emails
filled with caring came too.

The
one thing I want to clarify is that the page that she complained about
was NICE. Really nice. Quality materials, done well. I didn't mean for
anyone out there to be feeling bad or having second thoughts about
their own work!!

This
shouldn't cast a shadow over this amazing swap, the work that came in
was top notch, filled with creativity. I was so impressed.

The only reason I brought up the whole issue, is that I was hoping she would read the comments you left and be too embarrassed to bring up the subject on her blog or Facebook. If she hurt the feelings of the person who made that page, it would break my heart.

And now I need to apologize to all of you, whose feelings I hurt by making you wonder if your page was the one in the trash. I should have kept the complaint to myself, but she was so ANGRY that I wanted to do what I could to make sure she didn't speak out publicly about this and name names!!!

Thank you all once again for being supportive. There is a wonderful arty community out there and I'm honored to be a part of it!

The tail end of the Faery Book Swap, I’ll miss it!

fairies, swaps

By Karla Nathan / September 17, 2012

Last fairypages 035

The Faery Book Swap is winding down, thanks to all of you for your patience in me getting them mailed out.

As I was putting together the very last one, I felt sad to think they were all going to be gone and my studio would feel so empty. I've loved assembling each and every one of these special pages of art.

As a farewell to the project, I stopped what I was doing and made one more page to include as the very last page in the very last book I was tying up with ribbons.

Every book as been put together now, all I need to do is slip them into their padded envelopes and make labels. Now, that sounds simple, but that is a lot of labels to make, so I'll be at it most of the day, and hopefully will have all of the goodies ready to go to the Post Office by Monday afternoon. Wish me luck!

There was a set back earlier in the week, when my old printer shot craps on me. Usually, I make a few books, make some labels, and mail a tubful, then repeat. But without a printer, I just went ahead and made all the books, now I need to sit down and make all the labels at one time. Ugh, boring. Its more fun to take breaks from labels to go and play with pretty fairy pages!

Office Depot recommended this HP86000 plus printer to me, I was told that it will print 2000 some pages for the same amount of ink that my old one would print 200. That sold me. It was a bit more expensive, but I got a $50 trade in on my dead one, it came with ink, and it was on sale. So, I was glad to get it.

Till I got home and had to try to figure out how to set it up. There went a precious hour of my life…. but all is done and ready now, I'm off to type away the rest of the day!

I'll leave you with some of the last books.

And a thank you to all of the kind hearted, talented swappers who were so generous with their time and skills!

And who were so patient with the time it took me to get these made and mailed.

I'm sorry that I don't get photos of all the pages, I randomly shoot some books that I have laid out on the table before I stack them up to hole punch.

There is a Pinterest board here that I've tried to add pictures from my blog to. If you have pictures of your pages that you'd like to pin to that board, please request an invite to become another pinner on it.

Also, feel free to add your names to the Pinterest photos that you are in, you can do that in the comment section. I will be pinning these photos to it later on after I get your books mailed.

Gosh, the studio is going to be empty with all of these gone!! I've had 2 dining tables filled with pages, a folding table to open packages on, another table filled stacked with covers, my work table stuffed with books in progress, and two other tables set up for wrapping and shipping stations.

Wow, this had taken over the whole room!

But it is less than 3 weeks until Romantic Gothic Ghosts, so its a good thing that the room is clearing out! I need to get that set up, make name tags, kits, and decorate. I've got some ideas that I hope will turn out cute. Beth has some too, and offered to come over to help.

By the way, that class is filling up. I have 3 people who are "maybes" and only 4 spots left. That means if the maybes are yesses, there is only one spot. Contact me if you are interested before its too late!!

Big Cedar and a BIG error in Swap Ettiquette

swaps, Travel, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / September 13, 2012

Last week, we were invited to share the Governor's Suite at Big Cedar Lodge.

That resort is beyond wonderful anyway, but man- that suite is really something! This is the master bath, look at the mosaic surrounding the tub area.

The room has a TV behind the mirror in the bathroom too.

And the resort is located near Branson, smack dab in the center of some beautiful scenery. Its very relaxing and was a much needed getaway. Although, I'm even more behind after being gone for a couple of days.

It was certainly worth being behind, though. Our friends have a time share there and we have joined them in the past when they've rented cabins, but wowzers, this suite was something! I'm glad I didn't turn down the invitation because I was swamped in the studio.

Plus, it was such a fun group! When I wasn't napping by the pool, we were laughing nonstop. All of us had aching jaws from too much smiling.

Since I've been back, I'm still working on the Faery Book Swap. Its a big job, but a fun one. I love assembling the books.

Here are some of the pages I put together for the books on Craft Day last Tuesday.

I am SO PROUD of the swappers. What a great swap! There has been one issue, that really upset me, though.

One lady contacted me to say that there was a page in her book that she threw away at the curb. I was shocked.

Honestly, there is not a page sent in that I wouldn't be proud to have in my own book, this swap was amazing. But everyone does have their own ideas about what art is.

My swaps are not juried, they are open to everyone. And there is a wide range of styles and skills, but you can tell that lots of love and time went into each page. I love the effort and the care that everyone puts forth.

And no, I can't guarantee that each recipient will adore each page in her book, but I do think that politeness would ensure not being mean spirited about it and saying the pages should have been sent back to the artist, not to other swappers!

Simply set that one aside if you really are not happy with it. Don't be hurtful.

Doing a collaborative swap means that you get a variety of pages back. Its much better than a one on one swap, where you could get totally burned if your partner sends something completely not your style. That has happened to me, so I never do one on ones, unless I know the person.

I like to do these big swaps, knowing that no one gets burned. Lots of people drop out at the last minute, some with no notice, others with heartfelt apologies. But in a big swap, that doesn't hurt any of the participants, you send in your amount, get the same amount back, no matter if there are 10 or 100 other swappers.

Hopefully, you will like most of your book. I made an effort to match up the pages so that they flow nicely together.

But if you don't like one of your pages, please be a lady about it. So what if one person's work isn't up to your high standards? Who are you to judge? Lots of time went into these and it hurts me to think that someone could be that angry about a page that they received that they would send me a rant about it.

I begged the irate swapper to not go public and mention this on her blog or facebook. No one needs to know the details. No one deserves to be singled out by someone who doesn't like their work. It would break my heart if one of our swappers was hurtful to another one of the ladies about her pages.

Especially since, it was a nicely done work with quality materials. Done by a person who knows what she is doing, not a newbie, and it was done well. I of course, will not point it out. But I have posted photos of it (not saying which one) in one of my posts about book assembling. And no, I would never embarrass the person who complained by naming her either.

My point, I guess is this. Please be nice. Just because something is not to your taste, doesn't mean others don't like it, or that it is bad art. Quietly remove a page from your book if you really don't care for it, but please be considerate of the work and care that someone else put into it. You would appreciate that consideration from others about your own work, wouldn't you? If you are that easily angered by the standard of work in a swap, maybe you should rethink swapping.

And thank you SO MUCH to the 99% of the swappers in this group, it was a fabulous feast of fairies and I'll miss them all in my studio. And thanks for your patience in me getting them mailed to you, its not a quick process. There are quicker ways I could do it, but I really do my best to make sure that each book is well coordinated.

Faery Book Swap page sets

Books, fairies, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / September 8, 2012

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

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

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

Its a joy to make the books up!

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

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

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

Gorgeous, huh???

Knee deep in Fairies

Books, fairies, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / September 6, 2012

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fairys and Happy Thoughts

fairies, swaps

By Karla Nathan / August 23, 2012

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I probably should order some tissue paper.

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

Isn't the page she made beautiful?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yep, still making fairy pages!

Books, fairies, swaps

By Karla Nathan / August 20, 2012

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

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

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

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

The card is embossed, and flocked.

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

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

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

This little hen hugger was in the same box.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Karla Nathan / August 16, 2012

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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