Travel – Page 25 – Karla's Cottage

At the Gunkles/ 40% off in the Boutique/ and a May Day announcement

celebrations, family, Food and Drink, holiday decor, Sugarwings, Travel

By Karla Nathan / January 7, 2011

Any trip we make to Florida has to include a visit to the Gunkles. (Gay Uncles) They have a home filled with magical decor, vintage treasures, sweet puppies, and lots of love.

Plus great food and laughter!

The guys are such good cooks, we never take them out to dinner as a thanks for having us stay with them. Instead we get fresh seafood for them to fix for us. This time lobster! Last time we were there, we had lobster tail on the grill with some fish too. When Sugarwings saw it cooking, she asked what the fish was and Gunkle Kevin told her it was flounder. So, she looked at the lobster tail and asked if that was Ariel.

Gunkle Randy sets up elegant dining in the back garden. This year, they'd had a freeze and told us that it looked awful. To me, they were wrong, any time there is something blooming and some green left in January, its quite beautiful to me! Plus the layout and design of the yard is so interesting and full of little surprises stashed amidst the plants. Its always a treat to sit out in the gunkle's garden.

Even better when there is a big plate of fresh seafood in front of me.

He makes a mean mac and cheese too. With chopped peppers, onions, white wine and dijon.

This little guy didn't care for Sugarwings, but the other dogs cuddled up to her. Bella, the Bichon especially took a liking to her.

So much so, that the two girls decided to draw with markers on each other's heads. Well, at least that was Sugarwing's story. That Bella drew on her head too. They both did it to each other.

We'd brought WASHABLE markers that were supposed to be invisible unless used on the special Color Wonder paper that came with them, but the Crayola company needs to change the label to say that the colors will show up on dog fur too. And that they don't wash out. At least not all the way.

Just ask Yella Bella.

Ollie managed to avoid any of the marker play. He's not a puppy like Bella, he was interested but kept his distance while the two girls drew on each other.

One of the best things about the garden was the fruit trees.

Nothing tastes better than fresh orange juice and lemon-aide that you get to make yourself.

I ate way too much good stuff while staying there. After the holiday treats and the vacation food, I'm afraid to wash my jeans. You know, how you wear them a couple days and they stretch out to fit nice and comfy, but if you wash them, they shrink up and become way, way too tight? It might be a while before I can wash mine again, if I want them to zip.

Christmas goodies were everywhere we went on the trip. And decorations were still up all over. I was so glad that Randy and Kevin still had theirs up, they have such a flair with decorating, and their house is so festive.

Its extra special to get to be at a family member's home while it is all decked for the season.

Although, I am sick of my own holiday foof and ready to see it go, I loved being at my bro's home and seeing his.

When I got home from the trip, I walked into a house still overflowing with not only my Christmas decor, but the holiday mess from opening gifts and having lots of company. I didn't have a chance to clean before I left, and it was a shock to come home to such clutter after staying at Randy and Kevin's perfectly clean and decorated house.

(all of these photos are from their lovely home)

Not only was my house messy, it was dusty and just felt deserted. I vowed to never go out of town and leave a dirty house behind again. Its worth the extra effort to pick up and spiff a bit before leaving. The end of a vacation is sad enough without being depressed about coming back to an unwelcoming house.

And it hasn't helped that my furnace bit the dust while I was gone. The house was freezing cold too. There is a repairman here now, and I've got my fingers crossed that its a simple repair and that we'll have some heat soon.

Luckily, the studio has a separate furnace, so I'm staying out here till the main part of the house warms up. Its a good excuse to avoid cleaning it or taking down the Christmas decorations too. I'm not ready to face all of that yet.

So,I'm hanign out in the warm and toasty studio and I'm slowly but surely packing up all the purchases made during my BIG clearance sale. Thanks so much for shopping with me!

I'm going to extend the sale for a few more days. If you want anything for 40% off in the Boutique, please use this link to go there to shop.

There are big plans for redoing my Boutique and the less I have in it, the easier it will be to redo. I'll be making new labels and categories, so will be starting from scratch.

I'm also working on setting up the sale site for my "Bird Song" art gathering on May Day weekend. I've had lots of inquiries and promise to have the sign ups ready soon. Sadly, we've lost Dawn of the Feathered Nest, she had to drop out as a teacher.

But, the timing was good for asking my friend, Debbie Dusenberry to join in her place. Her fabulous store, Curious Sofa, is closing this weekend, and she will be branching out into different ventures (and you can still shop online with her). I'm so thrilled that she agreed to do a class at my workshop!!!!

Things are really hectic for her at the moment, so I told her not to worry about photos of her project yet, just a YES was all I needed from her. I have a feeling that anyone who signs up for the classes will agree with me. We'll all be happy to learn from her, no matter what she teaches!

Thanks for all of your interest. Its going to be the BEST, with Lisa and Carol as teachers too, I'm feeling pumped about the weekend!! Plus, Beth and Mary Green will be setting up vintage goodies for sale.

As soon as I get project ideas settled and menus priced, I'll open it up for enrollment.

Hiccups, glitches, and bumps in the road on the way

family, Sugarwings, Travel

By Karla Nathan / January 6, 2011

We're back! What a trip. Not everything went as planned, but all was good. Sometimes you just have to roll with it and let it all turn out which every topsy turvey way it will.

No matter how carefully you plan the details, life happens and changes develop. There is no use pouting or being sad. Instead we looked for the good parts and made the most of them.

On the first leg of our journey, our free hotel room disappeared and we had to stay elsewhere. We found a room nearby at a good price, and it was fine, just not the freebie, 4 bedroom guest house at the ritzy country club we thought we'd have. But the friends we met up with and the fun we had made up for any inconveniences along the way.

Then, in Hilton Head, where these shots were taken, our ocean view room disappeared too. We stayed at a great resort and were able to get a half price room, but we had a roof top view instead. Our plans of tucking the fairy in early and toasting the New Year while sitting on the patio,sipping wine, and watching the ocean didn't happen.

But Sugarwing's comment about the ugly view of hotel roof tops and parking lots as far as the eye could see- "Why would anyone do this to our world??" was so funny and heartfelt that it will be 1,000,000 times more memorable than any glimpse of the ocean that we could have had.

And the hotel was still on the beach. The weather was chilly, but that didn't stop Sugarwings from running headlong right to the waves as soon as she saw the water.

If we'd stayed in a room facing the water instead, I might have missed that awed look on her face as she walked over the hill toward the beach and saw the Atlantic waiting for her.

While the weather wasn't perfect, it was plenty good for a Kansan, and good enough for me to decide that there is no place better to be on New Years Day than a misty beach with my fairy grand baby!

I think this little sprite agreed with me.

We'd packed a portable DVD player and a stack of movies for her to watch during the driving parts of the trip, and it stopped working as soon as we turned it on. So, I pulled out my magic phone, looked up children's DVD players online, and then found the closest place was to buy one, and 15 minutes later, she was engrossed in the adventures of Pooh and Piglet, and we were only out $99.

Which, if you've ever travelled with a 4 year old drama princess, you will understand that is a small price to pay for her entertainment. And the sanity of the adults in the car.

Her only souvenir from Disney World was a balloon, she isn't a child who demands anything or needs to shop. When we took her to the Disney store in our Orlando hotel, she ran straight to the coloring books and crayons set out for kids to play with and was content to make pictures. No thought at all about the merchandise around her.

And one of her favorite things at Disney was chasing bubbles in the dark.

I think she has her priorities straight in life. So, I don't think it hurts to spoil her a bit by treating her to a new pink princess DVD player.

My husband's vacation got cut short and at our Baltimore layover on the flight back, he rented a car to drive to VA to work. I flew the rest of the way with Sugarwings on my own and was so happy to have that "princess computer" as she called it. Although she was perfectly happy pretending that the seat belt was a snake and my fingers were baby snakes, I am old, tired and was ready for a break. The DVD player was much more important to me than to her.

Disney, and all of the rest of the trip was fun, but it was the little things that were the best about the trip. Laughing with family, visiting friends, watching the joy in Sugarwing's face as she fed the seagulls from this restaurant in St. Augustine.

Yep, feeding pigeons and seagulls meant as much or more to her than any ride at Disney. Here is a couple seconds long clip of her laughing at the birds. See what I mean? Kids know that its not what you spend, its what you do that counts.

We believe!

celebrations, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, holiday decor, Sugarwings, Travel

By Karla Nathan / December 29, 2010

Was Santa good to you too?

We had the best Christmas morning ever, even though it was a couple of days after Christmas….

Sugarwings and her mommy stayed all night after the big family dinner on Sunday, and Santa came to see us that night. Apparently, he came by my house on Christmas Eve, but Sugarwings was not here, so he came back another day.

Kids are happy with any story that you tell them, as long as it ends in them getting presents.

He brought her a new art table, and lots of supplies. Plus, the little girl who sang "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" a few hundred times a day, got the game, Hungry Hungry Hippos.

I had it when I was a kid, and it is every bit as much fun now as it was then. We sat on the floor and played it for quite a while before even opening the other gifts. She was so sweet and cute with her presents. Just one would have been plenty for her. She was happy to sit and play with the first thing she opened and seemed surprised that there was more.

I think she was more fascinated by Santa's empty cookie plate than by the gifts themselves.

She also got a fairydoll that lights up with a pretty rainbow glow. It will be just perfect to play with on the airplane when we go to DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, that gift is for me. I get to take my Sugarwings to Disney. She is the perfect age to go, she is in her princess prime. She believes.

Her parents are very anti-commercialism, but love me and indulged my whim to take her there. They know that I love princesses and fairies as much as their little girl does.

We are staying at the park itself for two nights, and I can hardly wait. I've told Sugarwings that we are going, but she doesn't really get it. She does like the idea of taking an airplane trip with us. When I went to DC, she was heartbroken to be left behind. And being 4 years old, plus very dramatic, when she says her heart is broken, she MEANS it.

So, this time, we are cashing in the Southwest airline points and taking her along. One of the great things about SW Airlines is that you can fly into one city, rent a car, travel around and fly home from another city for no extra cost. So, we are hop scotching our way across the South.

We're going to Atlanta first to meet up with friends, then driving to Savanah for cupcakes on our way to stay at Hilton Head for a night. Then on to my baby brother and his husband's house in Jacksonville before our couple of nights in Orlando. Lots of driving time for a 4 year old, but she travels well with us.

Sugarwings is not a low key type kid, but when she gets one on one time, she is a joy to be around. Now, if I try to do something that doesn't involve her, things can get complicated.

We are meeting up with Jenn and her fairy Vivie. I'm hoping that our little Tasmanian Devil won't scare that sweet little Southern Belle away…. We are having lunch with them and with my pal Suzanne who lives in Atlanta too. And my husband has given up a round of golf to come along and help with Sugarwings so I can chat with my friends who I rarely see.

She is a wonderful, sweet, loving, caring child, but she can be a handful. There is just way too much personality to fit in that tiny little body of hers, so sometimes we have to do tag team child care with her. One person can't always manage alone in public. She has a way of going off into a land that only she can see and doesn't hear anything that is said to her.

Sugarwings and I are so close because I understand her and can find her when she goes off into her make believe world. But if I am distracted, she has trouble dealing with it. So, bringing my husband along will help.

A week is a long time to be away from my other babies, all the grand kids and the dorkies. I have a feeling I'll be homesick about half way through the trip. But then, we'll hit Disney World and that will get me over it!

Not only did I get a trip to Disney for Christmas, I also got this pretty pillow/wall hanging.

Beth made it for me. Look at the detail in the embroidery!

My oldest son gave me some candles, which is his standard gift. He keeps me supplied for every holiday and has it timed just right, so that I run out just as the next occasion arrives.

Mr. Zen, Sugarwing's Daddy, found me an old fashioned pop corn popper along with some organic coconut oil and local popcorn for it. I tried some of the corn he makes with his and have not had microwave popcorn once since then. YUM I was thrilled with his gift!

Yep, my family and friends know me well and spoiled me rotten. I know I say it a lot, but its true, I am very lucky!

My talented son, made wire wrapped charms for all the kids in the family, this one went to his brother RyGuy. There was a lot of hand made and heart felt gifting going on around here, the best kind of presents! I hope your Christmas was a jolly one too, with gifts from the heart and lots of family time.

Save room for dessert!

antiques/junking, Food and Drink, Travel

By Karla Nathan / October 5, 2010

The Dorothy tag books have kept me so busy that I almost forgot to show you one of the BEST parts of Roundtop- Royers!

This yellow brick road was right up my alley. And it leads to some great food.

On our first evening at the flea market, a food stand was pointed out to me and people mentioned eating there. Well, I'm not big on fast food, or fair food, and really wanted to sit down with a nice meal and some air conditioning and was glad when my friends agreed, that a cocktail and cool air was tempting. So we went to a steak house instead.

The next day, they wanted to eat at the food stand for lunch, even though the line was a mile long. I'm usually pretty easy going and can fit in with whatever plans everyone has, so I said sure. Thinking that I could always just eat a power bar if the food didn't look all that good.

But DANG! It was amazing. I had a grilled shrimp salad that was so good it could have been served in a fancy dancy restaurant with starched white tablecloths.

Now, I knew why everyone was raving about Royers. They had a shack set up in the midst of the flea market, as well as their main restaurant down town. So, the next day, we decided to try the main diner, and went early before it opened to put our names in. Good thing we did, when it opened, it filled. In a snap.

Its colorful, funky, funny, charming, and delicious. The second lunch was even better than my first. I had the same grilled shrimp, but this time on top of a tender hunk of salmon. With black eyed peas and fresh vegetables. Lunch wasn't cheap, but it was worth it, and the service was great. Happy, smiling people at both establishments.

I want to go back next spring just for another piece of their peach pie….

Gifts for me and gifts for you

antiques/junking, celebrations, Food and Drink, parties, Travel, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / October 1, 2010

As wonderful as the shopping was in Roundtop, the best part was the people. Of course. I just love meeting up with blog buddies, and finding out that they are even more fun in person than I expected.

Lisa and Jodie came with gifts too, that's always a big plus when your buddies are artists!!

And I got to meet the beautiful Elizabeth, who'd I'd heard so much about on her Mom's blog.

Sandy also brought her cute daughter, Jen, who I had wanted to meet. Sandy and I have shared stories and worries about our kids and hate it that we live so far apart. If we didn't, I'd be playing matchmaker for Ryan and Jen!

Lisa and I got into the theme of the night for Sweet T's party. We were supposed to come up with unique serving ideas made from junk.

I brought my crown "cloche" for a plate of crackers to go along with her doll head dip holder. The winner was a pair of mellons in a bra, but there were some great ideas. The lamp shade behind our dishes has a plate of treats on top of it, and there was also a chandelier with the votives filled full of strawberries.

And Yay! I got to meet Cindy. Who is not only talented, she has the prettiest complexion you'll ever see. If I ever get down to her Paper Cowgirls event some day, I'll have to drag her skin care secrets from her.

Sandy made these cheerful booties for my new grandbaby. Tonight we are going to the baby shower, so I'll be bringing them to the expectant mom, she will just love them!

And there were gift bags filled with treats from the French Cupboard. From all the gifties and treats, that everyone was giving out, I could have gotten by without doing any shopping at all. But….

Of course I shopped! At Cole's, Lisa found these French net curtain panels, but didn't get them. I scooped them right up as soon as she turned them down.

Heck 2 years ago, I didn't know what French net was, but now I can't get enough of it. I guess I'd always seen it and loved the look, just didn't know the name. Its a very delicate lace, with flowers over a fine netting.

That kind of lace can run really high, but I've been lucky. These were slightly damaged, but I didn't care. The four panels were $125, which is cheaper than buying lace panels at Target. And these are Victorian. Since they were made for some old, elegant, turn of the century mansion (well, at least that is where I've pictured them) they are LONG. Like 9 feet or so. I've just draped them over a tension rod and clipped them in place with a curtain hook.

There was a tent in the "fields" that had vintage linens in mounds on table tops, for great prices. They also had them for sale by the pound too.

I bought decorated scarves, some as gifts and a chiffony one in gray with rosebuds to use as a runner on my dining table. It was 5 bucks!

I found a few more odds and ends, as I unpack I'll take some photos. But the biggest bargain of them all was this basket of flowers.

I'm choosing two winners from the guesses, no one got it exactly right. There were 89 bundles of flowers, and Sue guessed 88.

But if I count the individual blooms, there were over 250!! Cheryl guessed 135, that is the highest guess I got, so she'll get a corsage too.

Thanks for taking the time to guess. Its surprising to see just how many there were. I was shocked when I actually counted them out.

Wow, is it really October? I have to announce the winner of my September giveaway, one of the projects from Romantic Gothic Ghosts. The tutorial is still up and running, you have time to make some Orange-free, romantically inspired Halloween decor for your own home.

Or if you just want to win something to decorate with, leave a comment any time this month. I'll be giving away another one of my creations for October!

September's winner is: Elaine (Etta Rose)

The Hat Whisperer takes on Texas

antiques/junking, flowers, Travel

By Karla Nathan / September 29, 2010

Roundtop was even better than I had expected, the trip was just the best. Of course, with Jodie hauling us around, it had to be good. That girl knows everyone. And everyone just loves her. I can sure see why.

It was a fun group to be a part of. Beth and I had been wanting to meet Lisa for the longest time, and just knew that she'd be wonderful, and an instant buddy. And yep, she was!

This is Jodie, the Cajun Queen Bee, Lisa, Beth and I. Beth is doing everyone a favor and holding my eyes open because we all get tired of taking photo after photo with my eyes shut.

For some reason, I tend to ruin a LOT of pictures by closing my eyes as the shutter snaps-Beth, Anne, and Jodie both have photos posted of me with my eyes closed!!

We saw some great displays and over the top booths, and we didn't even get to stay for the Marburger show, which is legendary for its originality and showmanship.

One booth that I just fell in love with was Seed Box.

Their style seems so effortless.

Oh, and Miss Sweet T….. so much good stuff to dig through!

Anne of Fiona and Twig joined us for the afternoon, with her charmer of a husband.

Her darling Mr Twig, not only snapped photos of us all together, he watched our shopping carts as we puttered around. Plus entertained us with his sparkling conversation. That guy is a keeper.

Are you wondering why I chose to wear such an unflattering dress ?

(It would be pretty on someone young, tall, and thin, but on me- it looks like a cross between something that Bette Davis wore in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane and an old dress an escapee from a polygamist colony would wear)

I wore it because its made of a gauzy material that was so comfy and cool that I was able to survive the unbearable Texas heat.

The dress is 20 years old and I know I am too old to pull it off, and usually it is only worn during fairy dress up parties with Sugarwings.

But, it is so comfortable, I couldn't help myself.

Beth and I were warned we'd have sticker shock in Texas, just like we were before we went to California. But what I've learned in travelling and shopping around is that prices are unpredictable. They vary so much in booth to booth or mall to mall that it doesn't matter what state you are in, you can find sky high prices and bargains too.

Its all in the digging.

And in asking politely for the best price. These flowers and multi flowered corsages were all marked $5-8 each, which were some of the cheapest ones I'd seen in Texas. When I asked for a "volume price" she sold me the whole bunch for….oh, I'm embarrassed to say…. its such a good deal!

Okay, you drug it out of me.

FIFTY DOLLARS!!!!!!

That is a bargain in any state. I had been happy to find a couple floral hats under ten bucks to start with, but this? The mother lode!

Do I look as gleeful as I feel??????

(and yes, I see that my eyes are closed)

If you can guess how many flowers were in the basket, I'll give you one of the corsages.

Leave your guess on THIS post. I'll announce the winner on Friday, the person closest to the correct amount will win.

You can also win one of my Romantic Gothic Ghost creations by leaving a comment on any post, I'll draw that name on Friday too.

And don't forget that I have a sale in the Boutique. If you use the coupon code " Roundtop " you will get a 20% discount on all of your purchases. The sale ends Thursday.

Here is a clarification: I will count EACH FLOWER. Corsages will be multiple flowers, not count as one.

edit- contest OVER

A mini Cinderella

celebrations, family, Sugarwings, Travel

By Karla Nathan / September 5, 2010

I hope everyone is having a good Labor Day weekend! Ours is jam packed with lots of Sugarwings time. Her poor Hippy Chick Mommy has strep throat, so she is staying with us. It works out well, because we have my sweet little mother-in-law here for a few days and these two have become buddies.

Yesterday, we spent the day at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. That place is beyond charming. Its tucked away into a hilly, shaded area that is a permanent location for the event, so lots of time and money have gone into the quaint little buildings. You really feel like you are in a fairy tale village when you go there.

And where else do you get to mingle with royalty?

There are stages all over the park with silly plays going on throughout the day. Sugarwings was picked from the audience to participate in one, and after that, she seemed to think that she was meant to be a star. That kid has some ham in her.

But at the end of the day, when I asked her what her favorite part of the festival was, she said, the play ground. There is a kid's area set up with a pirate ship, jungle gym, and lots of crafts. She would have sat and made magic wands all day if that had been an option.

Another favorite for both us us was this tent. It was such a simple thing, a floaty, diaphanous tent that hung from a tree. When you darted in and out of it, the whole thing would sway.

In past years, we have gone with big groups to the Ren Fest. This year, it was just my husband, his mom, our fairy baby, and me. We mostly followed the little one around and let her explore as she pleased. So, we were happy to sit and talk while she made friends with kids playing in the tent. She spent at about a half hour just hanging out there.

We've been to the park numerous times, so didn't feel the need to press on and fit the whole thing into the after noon. We paused to enjoy the little things and took our time watching a dragon fountain splashing against the rocks and contemplating some eggs that might just hatch into baby dragons.

The gown that she wore was just beautiful. It was a gift from a friend who shops estate and garage sales and found it for a couple dollars. The dress is vintage, and very nicely hand made, but since there wasn't a huge investment in it, I was comfortable in letting her run and play and get as dirty as she wanted.

Plus, why have nice things if you can't use and enjoy them?? "Use the good stuff" is my motto in life as well as in the studio with my supplies.

The festival has a different theme each year, this year it is Cinderella, so that is who Sugarwings pretended to be all day. And this gown was just perfect for it! Tiny girls all wanted to stop her and meet her, I think she made them think she was a real princess. She was Queen of the Toddlers that day.

Just the same way that she believed all the royalty that she met there was real.

This woman is my favorite, every year she has the most elaborate costume, and is so good natured and friendly to the little kids. For the Cinderella theme, she is playing Fairy Godmother this year, and is ideal for the part.

There are lots of games to play, too, including putting for unicorns. My husband works for a golf course company, but I'm afraid that Sugarwings and I just are not the Country Club types. I've never played a round in my life. But if we could find some courses that had horned Pan creatures as caddies and everyone dressed up like princesses, I might be able to get into the game.

And especially if country clubs awarded good putts with unicorns!

If you have a little princess or pirate in your life and live anywhere near KC, you really need to take them to this place. It goes on for 8 weekends every fall, and is $18.99 for adults, $9.99 for kids. But if you bring 5 canned goods to donate to a homeless shelter, you can buy one get one free.

The place is just too charming for words. Of course, you wouldn't know by these pictures, all I've shown you is my little obsession grandchild. The site is picturesque, and there is a lot to do besides follow a 4 year old around with a camera. There is jousting, games, elephant and camel rides, great food (beer and wine too), parades, fairy dances, shows, plays, comedians and magicians. You can be as silly as you want and dress up, or just go as yourself and enjoy seeing all the other people's crazy costumes. (wear comfy shoes, no matter how dressed up you get!!)

The hat whisperer doesn’t even need any skills in PA,OH, and IN!!!

celebrations, family, Sugarwings, Travel

By Karla Nathan / August 29, 2010

What a wonderful trip! Its good to be home and we're exhausted from cramming so much into less than a week, but wow. It was the best. And not just because I return home with a bounty of blooms, it was all around, just a nice experience. We flew out to DC to pick up the car that my husband has had out there for a couple of years and drove it back, visiting friends and family along the way while my husband did some business here and there.

The states between Kansas and Virginia are so durned packed with pink and white hat bargains, that I had to be really picky about what I was buying or there wouldn't have been space in the car. There are BILLIONS of floral hat deals in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.

By the time I stopped in Missouri at an antique mall along I70, I was plain old burnt out and not even looking at hats any more.

At one little shop in Akron, I found boxes full of corsages. They were marked more per piece than I sell flowers for myself. So, I politely asked the store owner what her best price on a dozen would be and I was flabbergasted when she quoted me a little over a dollar each. I picked out some of the prettiest pink and white roses, some that still have the original tags on them.

While my husband worked a bit in each state we visited, I killed time at nearby antique malls, unless we were already checked into a hotel. If so, I sat in the room and glittered my Dorothy tags.

I also got in a lot of high quality nap time, plus got to visit my buddy, Heather while in the Pittsburgh area.

Since I had a few days to shop, I had to be really cheap to make my $150 last all week. And that part of the country seems to be THE place for stretching a dollar, I found some lovely things beyond the hats too.

For me, there is no better vacation than one where I get to visit people I care about, score deals on beautiful things, take naps, eat gourmet foods, PLUS get a load of work done. Ideal! Of course, I didn't get to turn on the TV at all this week and am wondering what happened on Top Chef and Runway, but hey, life was pretty close to perfect, so I am not complaining.

The highlight of the trip was our romantic dinner on Lake Eerie at the Shoreby Club. This Victorian stone mansion has been renovated and is now a dinner club with a spectacular view of the lake at sunset.

While sipping our wine and watching the sun sink into the lake, we misquoted Gordon Lightfoot and sang the Edmund Fitzgerald song. We didn't realize until afterward that the song was about Lake Superior, not Eerie.

We also discussed how much we missed Sugarwings. That is one of the reasons why we cut our trip short a day. No matter how great time away is, its still time away from Sugarwings too.

We are pathetic. We are so smitten by this little one, we couldn't stand to be away any longer.

So, bright and early on Sunday morning we scooped her up, and had a boating picnic on the lake.

There's no place like home….

Work was a secondary reason for getting back. Romantic Gothic Ghosts starts at midnight Sunday! I wanted to tweak some things and make it just right for you.

The first lesson is for 2 collages of my banner. The finish on this lady's portrait is one of the tips I'll be giving out on Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday will be finishing the banner, and then Beth does one of her projects later in the week.

She and I are planning some extras too. A few giveaways of vintage supplies, some videos, etc.

We'll be working on some unique Halloween decor ideas, and ways to display some of the art you'll be making in our class.

The classes are $25 and will be left up as long as I have a Typepad blog. And I don't see an end to blogging anytime soon…

And don't forget- you can still enter the August Giveaway for one of my completed Romantic Ghost projects.

Siren of the Seas gift packs

give away, Travel, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / July 19, 2010

Isn't this a sweet little mermaid? I was so happy to see these in a bunch of vintage stir sticks that I bought at a flea market. And then, I saw NEW ones sold at World Market just like these. They hang over the side of a cocktail glass for some added festive-ness.

These two green girls are tied to the packages of ephemera that I am donating as prizes for Kim's mermaid event in Manhattan Beach, CA.

(that's where I am right now, this is pre-posted before I went out of town)Doesn't the old print that I used as wrapping paper have a peaceful scene on it? Its not of the ocean, but I still think there could be a mermaid in that water.

As a Mid-Westerner, I'd like to think that mermaids don't just live in the sea. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there is one in the lake by our house.

When I was a kid, I was sure there was one in the swimming pool too.

I don't know when Kim will do the drawing for prizes, but I hope its early on in the weekend, so attendees can use some of these beachy themed supplies for the weekend's crafts.

I packed up old millinery flowers in oceany colors, and found pictures of boats in old books. I've added vintage wallpaper in blues and greens.

And I even found an old ad featuring a mermaid. But only one. The two packs differ slightly. I could have made copies, but I really prefer originals. Especially since this is a gift. I wanted to use the good stuff!

Most of it is loosely related to the theme of the weekend, but I tried. All of it is vintage goodies that I pulled from my stash. It was easy for me to find all this, because I sure had mermaids on the mind while getting ready for the trip!

"See you" when I get back. Please forgive me for not answering messages. But please do feel free to comment, to enter the giveaway, a pair of genuine pearl and sterling silver earrings.

Sirens of the Sea Swapping Sisters

celebrations, swaps, Travel, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / July 17, 2010

Swaps always sound like fun, but I always run out of time and rarely enter them. At Silver Bella, I usually feel left out because I didn't join in. So, for my trip to CA and Kim's siren of the seas adventure, I made sure to join up for one, and told my roomie, Beth the same thing. It can be sad and lonely on swap night to have no presents to trade with a friend!

When I saw that my buddy, Jessi was hosting a swap with decorated bottles, I knew I'd found the right one for me.

I made the mermaid from one of those china half dolls, and added a tail made of paper clay that I glittered and glued on after it dried.

Then, my buddy, Jenn was paired with me to swap bottles with and I knew I could make something extra foofed and she'd love it. She's even more foof-a-fied than I am, and that is a hard thing to be.

Isn't that chandelier drop a unique shape? Beth had some in her booth at the antique mall, so I bought a handful of them to make into charms. I glued a vintage bathing beauty picture to the back for this one.

The charm is hanging from a silk ribbon that I have tied to a message tucked into the bottle.

Part of the swap was to slip a recipe for a cocktail into the bottle, but I did something a little different. Have you seen Jenn? She is GORGEOUS. And I know that she is fond of champagne. So, I wrote this note for her and glued it to the back of an old add for champagne.

I've got the world's worst hand writing, I should have done the note on the computer- It says:

"Jenn- you are much too pretty to mix your own drinks! Bat those eyelashes and some handsome guy will bring you some bubbly!"

As a hostess gift for Miss Jessi, I made another bottle with a 1" Frozen Charlotte sporting a tail made from paper clay.

No recipe for cocktails in it, either. I filled it with pretty little shells, crystals, and pearls instead.

I want to make more of these girls!!

The first couple that I made were for the soap box challenge Lisa hosted. I'm big on being efficient when I can be, so I killed two birds with one stone by making the challenge into a gift for my pal, Kim for hosting the mermaid event.

Hopefully, the mermaids will travel well. I've got them all wrapped tightly in bubble wrap and tucked into lidded plastic containers in my suitcase. I packed the gift wrap separate so that I can pretty the packages up there after checking to make sure the presents arrived safely.

In all the trips I've taken, I've never had my luggage lost or damaged. But I have had it rifled through by inspectors, but no problems from that. So, I figured these will be okay in the checked bags instead of the carry ons.

I'll "see you" when I'm done gallivanting around the beach with the mermaids. Please forgive me if I can't answer emails, or comments till I get back. All purchases from the shop will be sent out after I return too.

But please do feel free to leave a comment, I enjoy them, and will be able to read them from my new Iphone toy, I just haven't figured out how to answer them from it yet… And each comment is entered into the drawing for the July Giveaway, these pearl earrings.