Travel – Page 26 – Karla's Cottage

Frickets

celebrations, parties, show and tell, Travel, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / July 16, 2010

Its been Mermaid Madness around the studio getting ready for my BIG weekend in California.

I'll be in Manhattan Beach for a sea side art escape hostessed by Kim. Who, I've heard, is the world's best hostess. From spending time with her in the past and hearing her stories about preparing for her events, I believe it. She is dedicated and does it all with devotion. I know we are in for a good time.

And from looking at the class descriptions, I can tell that the projects will be just wonderful. I'm sure they come with lots of goodies, but I like to pack extras to give the finished products my own touch.

These two mermaids might end up on the journal or the crown… not sure which, but what project wouldn't be appropriate to add a sparkling little merperson to?

I've made these sprites with vintage cake topper ballerinas. I doubt if this would work with the reproduction ballerinas, the plastic they are made of is too hard and would crack if you tried to cut into it. The older ones are of a softer material and were easy, well not easy, but semi-easy, to cut with jewelry clippers.

I cut off their skirts and legs (remember the movie "Boxing Helena"?) then made a tail from paper clay, let it dry, glued it on and glittered it.

The silver one has a bit of a chunky butt going on, because I didn't trim enough skirt off. But I can't hold it against her, I do too. So, I added an accessory to draw the eye away from her extra wide hips. All those years of watching "What Not to Wear" have taught me a little something.

Besides supplies, and gifts for my swap hostess, (tomorrow's post) I wanted some extra little gifties to pass out here and there. So, I made a mermaid from a girl cut from a Victorian scrap book, and added a wallpaper tail.

Then, I glued her to this pink underwater wallpaper (how cool was that to find in my sample books!?) and made copies on card stock.

After cutting them all out, I embellished each with metallic inks, ribbons, ruffles, and trims.

Each one got a Mother of Pearl button and a little shell.

To the top of each, I tied a small vial filled with teeny shells, crystals, and pearls.

If you'd like to make your own mermaid, here is the original scrap art that I used. If I have done this right, you should be able to click on it to make it bigger. Then, print the larger one to cut out and use in your art. If you print it directly from the post as is, it won't have enough pixels to make it usable.

And here is the girl with her tail on the back ground if you'd like to print it this way to use. I hope I've done it right. If not, let me know and I'll try to redo it when I get back from my trip next week.

Another perk for the upcoming weekend, is the parties. Beyond the event itself, there are bonus parties thrown by some of the attendees. One is a cupcake gathering, that can't be bad.

So, I used a couple of my hand painted cup cake pictures and made up gift tags as thanks for the ladies who are treating us to the frosty goodies.

Another couple of ladies are hosting a welcoming cocktail party. I wanted a little thank you for them too, so made up these vintage test tubes filled with shells and baubles to use during the weekend. I topped them off with these plastic mermaids that hang on the side of a drink.

I think they are fitting for a cocktail party. By the way, I saw new ones like these at World Market, if you need some.

And last but not least, a room mate gift for Beth.

Did you just gasp with awe at its beauty? Or shriek with terror? Yes, its a gag gift, and about as tacky as anything could be.

Its an ucky story behind it. Sugarwings got herself a head full of lice. She says they hop like "Frickets". I think she means crickets. But to me, lice will always be frickets. And she said it in a very upbeat, cheerful way. Frickets!!!!!!

My head itches just thinking about it. No matter how many cleanings the house gets and the heads get, it still freaks me out and I itch. Of course, I already have chigger bites, but not on my head.

Gee, don't you love coming to visit me and hearing about chiggers in my drawers, lice, snakes, and rats? Maybe I should change my blog title to "Karla's Creepy Crawly Cottage".

Its brave of Beth to room with Creepy Crawly Karla, so I wanted to give her a little thank you gift too, a glittered and foofed lice comb of her very own.

Since I'm in CA as this posts, I won't be able to answer emails, comments, or ship packages till I return. But please do leave a comment, I'm giving away some pretty pearl earrings for this month's gift.

A box full of Mermaids

fairies, how to's, magazine pictures or articles, parties, Travel, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / June 28, 2010

Do you love Lisa as much as I do? I'm kicking myself for not going to Paper Cowgirls. It would have been great to have a chance to hang out with her in person. If she is half as much fun as she is on her blog, she'd be a blast.

So, of course, I was happy to participate in her soap box challenge. The box is kind of like egg carton texture, and to me looked like a perfect little shadow box frame.

Since I'll soon be heading out to Kim's event in California, I thought I'd get myself into a mermaid mood and turn my mini shadow box into an under sea treasure chest.

I've heard wonderful things about Kim and her art affairs. I'm so glad to finally be going to one. My husband will be flying out with me and going on a brothers golfing trip for the weekend while I am with the arty crowd. Then, he and I are meeting up for a spa get away. The company he works for owns some luxury resorts, and we were able to score some rooms for fantastic employee rates.

I'm going to feel like a princess. Or at my age I should say Dowager Queen? And an itchy, poison ivy crusted one at that. If I don't get this crud cured, I won't be doing much spa time.

Since I am soon to be treated like royalty at a couple top of the line resorts in California and spend an entire weekend filled with creative fun with friends, I'm already feeling a bit royal with the anticipation of it all. That influenced me to add a "crown" to my shadow box.

The sparkly topper is made of a corner bracket from an old photo album with a rhinestone necklace glued over it, and a rhinestone clasp underneath.

My sea creatures are made with two sizes of frozen Charlottes, with the smaller one in back and glued directly to background, and a larger one in front, raised up by gluing her to a button and shell. I thought this might give it some depth.

The Charlottes have mermaid tails made up of paper clay, that has been painted and glittered. I added crowns of German foil and crystals to their heads.

Each is glued down pretty solid, but their sea horse friend is suspended from a wire, so that she sways a bit. The seahorse charm was gold toned, and I drew on it with a black sharpie, and wiped that off a little, then wiped some white paint over that. I also swiped a swatch of white paint over her wire so it didn't stand out so much. If I were to do this over again, I'd use fishing line instead of wire, because the wire is still prominent even with the paint.

The box sits in a plate stand that I wrapped in vintage ribbon. For a touch of extra gaudiness, I tied an aqua ribbon to the front of the stand and dangled a star fish charm from it. Because by the time I'd got to that stage of creation, the gaudiness was already pretty thick and I thought I should just go for it and gaudy it up even more. Once you've crossed the line of over doing something, there's no turning back and you might as well just revel in it.

See what I mean? There is a LOT of foof happening here. The inside of the box perfectly fit an old button card with the words "Mermaid Pearls" on it, along with two buttons.

Along the inside walls, I glued ruffles sewn from pattern paper, then I edged it with a strand of pearls.

Then, the cut out on the lid was lined ink, glitter and a lace ruffle.

The large parts of the box were covered in aqua wallpaper that has a nice sheen to it. The sides of the box have a raised edge where the lid meets the bottom, and it looked just too hard to cover in paper. So, I ran a bead of glue around it, and wrapped a ribbon around it, gathering as I stuck it into the glue.

Yep, this project was just what I needed to start feeling like a Mermaid Princess and get me in the mood for my trip. Its been a rough week, and I look forward to a get away.

Thank you to everyone who shared scary pregnancy stories with happy outcomes, that encouragement helped. And thanks for all of your well wishes and prayers. I'm doing my best to stay distracted until we get news from the Dr. about the newest member of our family.

And a big thanks to Lisa for hosting this party! It was a fun challenge and a well needed distraction for me.

I'm sending Lisa a had that I thought was suitable for her palette of colors. She always seems to appreciate my hat whispering skills, so I thought I'd share.

Puppy Not Included

Today I was also able to finish up my articles for Somerset Life. One is about this altered book.

The other was about my Peat Pot Pretties with frozen Charlotte fairies. And remember, that this one is the giveaway for June. All comments all month are entered.

I'm also giving away another present from my followers. So, please join in on my list if you'd like to be in the running for that gift, a pair of vintage rhinestone earrings.

How I spent my summer vacation

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, Sugarwings, Travel, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / June 15, 2010

Bringing puppies with us on the trip was such a good idea. I went back and forth up to the last minute on whether or not I should take them. I talked to a friend about babysitting them, I wrote everyone who had shown an interest to see if they wanted to buy one CHEAP before I went out of town, I fretted and fussed and worried about them getting too hot in the car or peeing everywhere in my sis's home.

Sissy said she'd be disappointed if I didn't bring them, and I hated the thought of missing the last bit of time with them before they were moving on to new families, so I decided to pack them up.

It was the right decision. We spent a lot of time outside enjoying Sissy's lovely garden and patio, and the pups could run and play with Sugarwings.

And since I had litter box trained them (smartest thing I've EVER done!!) they were safe to leave at home, penned up with their box nearby while we went out and explored.

We took our fairy girl to the June Jamboree in Pendleton, IN. It was an event I impatiently waited for all year when I was growing up there. I really thought she'd love it too. And yes, she had fun and rode some rides, but my little nature girl was much more interested in the park and waterfall we walked through to get to the rides. Walking along the creek and watching the waterfall was mesmerizing her so much that we had to convince her to come along to the flashing lights and carnival music up ahead.

Smart kid.

She is realizing at a young age that true happiness comes from the simple things.

We also spent time in Mounds State Park. When I was a kid, we were taught in the Indiana history books that it was an Indian burial grounds. Now they know that the mounds were built for some equinox reason.

Its been 30 years or more since I've been there, and I'd forgotten what a beautiful place it was. Sugarwing's Daddy, Mr. Zen Master really loved it there.

Leave it to my family to go hiking in white clothes and barefoot. But aren't they pretty that way?

Yes, very pretty. What a sweet, happy couple these two are.

White didn't work out so well for me. My sisses and I went to Sephora while out shopping and I leaned up against a sample lipstick display and ended up with a series of pale pink through plum polka dots along my skirt.

Any hints on how to remove lipstick from white cotton?

That is, if there are any of you left out there to answer after making you look at all my family vacation photos. I promise, next post will have some arty or old stuff in it.

Lucky charms

antiques/junking, collections, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, flowers, Sugarwings, Travel, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / June 14, 2010

We had a great trip to Indiana! Traveling with 3 puppies and one 3 year old made the drive challenging, but unique. Instead of stopping for typical roadside breaks, we needed to find spots for all the little ones to stretch and play. Lunch was a quick trip to Trader Joe's in St Louis to pick up a picnic, then take it to a city park to eat it and play for an hour or so.

And for one break, we found a giant field of clovers to run in.

Adam's loved one has magical four leaf clover hunting skills. I've spent a life time trying to find just ONE. She says its all in the way you look at them. I consider myself a lucky person, and I have sharp eyes, but I can't find a lucky clover for anything. And I search!!

Its been a quest of mine since I was a little girl. Other goals, I've had to leave behind. Like trying to go one full mile on a pogo stick. I spent an entire summer when I was about 8 years old on that one, and had to give it up. Or the summer I tried to learn how to do a back flip into the pool. My body just doesn't do those and I gave up that dream too.

I'm not giving up on the clover search, and now I have a Clover Master to teach me her skills.

My poor little car was filled to the brim on the way there, and we had to half unload it every time we got the pups out.

But it was not too full to add some purchases along the way! My hat whispering skills were in fine form and I found so many (cheap!) along I70, that I am almost embarrassed to tell you about it.

These are just a few that I have unpacked so far. The rest are in my suitcase with all the dirty laundry and I am avoiding that. Its hard enough to admit a vacation is over, doing up the laundry and unpacking is just too much to face.

(The wallpaper covered box is full of old corsages. I got a bag filled with them for $11.)

So, I maybe my lucky charm isn't a four leaf clover its a millinery flower?

All the puppies are settled into their new homes now. We are down to Agnes Rose, who I am calling Rosebud instead of Rose now. She is just too little to be a big flower, she's just a bud.

I'm adjusting to the fact that we actually KEPT one. A couple days ago, she was one of the pups, now she is MY dog.

Well, that point is debatable. Someone else claims Agnes Rosebud.

They kept each other company for most of the drive home.

Who is the Dork?

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), fairies, family, Sugarwings, Travel, vintage paper/collage art, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / June 8, 2010

We are heading out of town again, this time to see my sisses in Indiana where I grew up. I've decided to take the pups with me, Sissy is being brave about a house full of little Stench Monkeys, as we call them sometimes. I should be packing, especially gathering up the dog paraphernalia and stuff to entertain Sugarwings on a 9 hour drive.

Instead, I'm playing in the studio. This photo of Sugarwings at the water park was just calling out to me, I had to turn it into a fairy collage for my photo album.

Especially after Beth pointed out that this water spray looks like a dorky! I printed the picture and drew over it, following the dog shape in the water, then cut out the puppy.Okay, so now you know what you suspected, I am totally dog crazed. Maybe I am the dork, not the dogs. But Beth saw it first, so its not just me.

Between playing with the dogs and imagining dog shapes in water fountains, I listed some new things in the Boutique.

But since I'll be away, I can't mail any purchases till Monday. Thanks for your patience!

All the pups are spoken for now. I decided not to sell ANY of them after all!! Each is going to family or friends. I'm delivering one to Indiana to my niece, and another will go to my MIL in Utah. This will most likely be our last litter ever, so I wanted to keep them as "family". I just got too attached.

Between listing and gluing this morning, I also made some puppy pillows. I had a pair of rose patterned flannel PJ bottoms that had ripped, and I couldn't bear to toss them. So, I cut the legs into squares and stitched up little pillows, then tossed them in with all the pups. I'm hoping that when the pups go to their new homes, taking a pillow that smells like their siblings will help with the transition.When Teresa picked up her Lily a couple weeks ago, I sent a rosy pillow home with them too. I'm NOT a good sewer, and the pillows are simple as can be. But I think they are a cute idea for the babies.

Twinkle and the other big dogs will stay behind on this trip, with Ryan to watch them. Its great to have a grown son around to dog sit! Plus my dogs have a fenced in yard with a doggy door to let themselves out whenever they want. Ryan only has to fill their bowls once a day and say hi to them.
He lives in an apartment above my studio, so when I am away, the house is not empty.

Well, as much as I dread packing, it can't be put off much longer. I'd better start wedging stuff into my poor little car. I have 3 adults, a preschooler, 3 puppies, luggage, puppy gear, toys, and a cooler to fit into a Scion. My car is roomy for a small car, but this could be pushing the limits!

Alice and mermaids and magical things

paintings, swaps, Travel

By Karla Nathan / February 20, 2010

My Alice Tag Book Swap covers are coming along. I did a small painting of Alice and of a door, then glued them onto a page from the Alice in Wonderland book printed in 1923 that Beth gave to me. Then, I took it to the copy store.

I hope that isn't considered cheating? I'm doing some hand work to each copy. The door is cut open, and behind that, I'm gluing a small rose picture. To the back, I've added blue flocked wallpaper.

For a title, I kept it simple, and just wrote "Alice" in blue metallic ink on red labels and glued those on. How nice that Kathy

sent all those boxes of labels to me! Perfect timing, and just what I needed for these tags!

I've also ordered little bottles and heart shaped keys to tie onto each tag book.

Since I want a book to keep for myself, I need to make up some tags too. I think I have more than 6 done now, but its hard to stop! This is such a fun theme, the possibilities are endless.

For this one, I painted the tag metallic gold, then painted the mushroom with watercolors, markers, and inks. I cut the text from the book to make the "ground" for Alice to stand on. She, the pipe, and the caterpillar are cut from a colored page of the book. I glued them down, then drew in the tube for the pipe. It was just too tiny to cut out.

But of all the tags I made, this is my favorite. Its very simple and flowery, and the illustration that I cut from the book was just so pretty as is, I didn't do much to it. I simply glued it to flowery wallpaper and added trim, velvet millinery blooms, and a heart charm.

My plan was to limit the swap to 60, but I was hit with a ferocious bug of some kind and didn't move off the sofa for 24 hours, and in the meantime, the swap numbers grew. So, I've decided to keep it open a bit. The More the Merrier! I will allow in a few more, if you haven't joined yet.

I need to order more little stoppered bottles for the cover, I only had 60. Since the swap numbers passed 60 while I was zonked out, I am ordering more. And I'd be happy to have even more swappers join in.

Here are the details, if you want to make 6 tags for a book.

If you are already in the swap, please upload your photos to this Flickr group.

And if you need some wallpaper to complete your tags, I have added some really pretty ones to the shop.

I also listed some millinery tid bits. I don't waste anything! Hey, there isn't any more old stuff being made, what is left in the world is all there is. So, I use odd petals here and there, and thought I'd share some in case you like to do that too.

Because there is nothing like using the good stuff. This bit of lace was just a remnant, but isn't it pretty tied to a package I sent out this week? A little bit of something pretty, and old, magically transforms a plain package into something special.

Have you seen this!!???
We get to be mermaid sirens! Kim is throwing another one of her fantastic art affairs. And I have said to myself over and over that I really need to attend one of them, but the timing has never been right. Well, this time it was! I signed up today. My pal, Carol is going with me, and I have my fingers crossed that Beth will too.

Anything is more fun if Beth comes along.

I hope you'll be there too? Info here, if you want to come!

New in the Shop and a super sweet Sunday

Etsy Goodies, flowers, holiday decor, Moving to DC, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, Travel

By Karla Nathan / November 24, 2009

In case you hadn't heard, Mary is extending Artist Class by selling the classes individually. If you'd like to order one or more classes, check here.

Our trip to Virginia was a nice break, that included a lazy Sunday where we just took off for a long drive to see what there was to see.

We ended up in Annapolis, and in this adorable neighborhood. It was late in the day by the time we got there, so I didn't do much shopping, but that wasn't the purpose anyway. We were just out looking around, enjoying the sunshine and each other.

And of course, lunch! We found buttery crab that we could eat while enjoying this view. As delicious as the seafood was, any meal is improved with a view of the water!

Since we got home, I've tried to get caught up with the Boutique and Etsy.

I know, I know, you are waiting for floral wallpapers! I promise, they will be ironed, cut and packed up soon, but that is such a big job, I need an afternoon to devote to it, and today, I was only able to snag a bit of time here and there, so I listed a few little things in both shops.

Thank you so much for your interest in the gorgeous old papers! I love hearing that you understand and share my fascination with beautiful wallpaper!

In the Boutique, I've added some tussie mussies filled with a prettily packaged bottle brush tree.

And I came across a big stack of vintage Christmas cards, so will be including one with each purchase from either shop.

Some of you asked about the crystal crown rings that I had for sale at Silver Bella. There are some of those in the Boutique now, in assorted sizes.

And I have a few bottle brush trees listed too.

There is more to add, so please keep checking back!

Traveling, again??? How can she afford that???

collections, Moving to DC, Travel, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / November 22, 2009

If you were interested in doing my Paper Doll tutorial from Artist Class but didn't have time to sign up for all 12 classes, Mary is now offering individual classes for sale. You can purchase one, two, or more tutorials HERE.

Years ago, I used to have a sign by my front door that read,

"Creative Minds are Seldom Tidy"

Maybe I should dig that out and hang it back up… Lately, I've been going from one complete mess to another.

One end of my studio is still torn up from moving furniture around, and redoing the Treat Cabinet for Thanksgiving. The Silver Bella goodies have not all be unpacked and I am still trying to get ready for Miss Frenchie's.

I have wallpaper to iron, cut, and sell, (people are waiting for me and asking about my pretty new (old) papers!!), I seem to be knee deep in bottle brush trees, and I am leaving to go out of town again!

I do seem to travel a LOT. Almost as much as my friend, Jessi, she amazes me with all of her trips. Thing is, even though each trip I took this year was wonderful and I wouldn't give any of them up, I am such a homebody,that I hate to leave.

Once I get where I am going, I'm fine. Its the leaving that hurts.

(this is my journal project from Rebecca Sower's class at Silver Bella)

Here is where I've been this year:

4 trips to DC (including one for Beth's birthday to meet up with blogfriends)

1 trip to Florida with my sisses and to go to Aunt Caroline's funeral the day after her 101st birthday

1 trip to Florida to play with Sugarwings on the beach and go to Aunt Caroline's home one last time

Macon to Jenn Hayslip's home for En Le Jardin ( She is the ultitmate in Southern hospitality!!! There are spots still available for her next event, too.)

Indiana for my sister's 60th birthday party

Chicago to see Lucinda Williams and eat at Art Smith's restaurant

2 trips to Omaha to take Sugarwings to the fantastic zoo there and to hang out at the Holiday Inn's indoor water park

Sioux City to see Grandma Joan

Outer Banks for a mini getaway on the beach

Charlotte for a nephew's wedding

Omaha for Silver Bella

Geesh, I'm tired just writing these!!

(this is my project from Anna Corba's class)

And now, another trip out to Virginia, just for the weekend. No, I am NOT independently wealthy! My husband travels all the time, and racks up lots of points. He flew on Southwest so much this year that I received a Buddy Pass and could fly free any place that he was going.

When I travel with him, its usually business and he already has a room booked, so I just have to pay for own meals. And often breakfast is free at many hotels, if not, I keep granola bars in my suitcase.

Other times, we use Holiday Inn Priority Club points for buy a night get a night free, or other deals, and I have shared rooms with my sisses or friends to save on costs.

(here is my project from Denise Sharp's class)

Another trick for cheap travel is my Southwest Airlines Visa card. I get free flights from using it for everything I buy. I mean everything. Any where that takes a credit card, I pay with Visa. We get about 6 free flights a year that way, on top of all the other free flights.

If you do that, just make sure that you pay your bill in total at the end of every month, or your interest rates will beat out the savings you'd get in free tickets.

This bird is one of the hardest things I 've ever had to make at Silver Bella. I'm not much of a pattern follower, and this came with a gazillion steps to follow, and dozens of little tiny pieces to cut out.

Even though it was HARD to do, I'm glad I made myself do it, and got it done. I'm thrilled with the outcome. (and got a very nice compliment from Anna Corba on it!!)

I've named her Rosamund and she lives in my china cabinet now. Safe behind glass from tiny little Sugarwing fingers.

As I've looked around my house, I see a lot of neglect, since I've traveled so much this last year. Normally, I spend time on lots of little redos, or big redos, too. This year, its all been ignored, including touch ups that need attending.

My plan, after this last trip of the year, is to dedicate some time to pulling my home back together. I miss puttering and fixing and repainting. So hope to get some decor repairs done, and deck the halls big time for the Holidays.

I'm ready to settle into my nest for the winter and be cozy!

You still have plenty of time to enter the November Giveaway by leaving a comment. I'm sorry if I'm not responding to all comments that have been left, life has been a bit hectic lately, but I do read and enjoy each and every single one.

When I am not on the go, and Sugarwings is not here, I'm often alone for days on end, since my husband travels. Your comments are great company for me, and I treasure getting them. Thanks for being my buddies!

(this was pre-posted before I left)

Its just too hard to stop myself

antiques/junking, Books, Silver Bella, Travel

By Karla Nathan / November 11, 2009

While wrapping up some gifts to take to Silver Bella, I thought I'd gather up the gift for the November Giveaway. So many of you were hoping to win the bundles of vintage trim that I gave away earlier this month, that I thought I'd tie up a few more bits of it and offer that as the giveaway.

I'll be away for the weekend, and will be swamped when I return, so might not have time to answer your comments, but will enjoy reading them. And each one goes into the drawing for the prize.

The blog redo that Hope did for me, is so pretty and is exactly what I wanted. I'm loving the new look! So I wanted to thank her and bring a little gift to show her how much I appreciate her work. I look forward to seeing her again, its so good to reconnect with buddies at the event! The flocked wallpaper I glued onto the book is the same that she used for the side bars of my blog.

She keeps an art journal, and is a champion doodler. I thought maybe she'd enjoy an ephemera filled book with her name on it to fill up with her artistic ramblings.

Making a book for Hope got me fired up to make a few more…

Mary had given me a stack of old book covers, and I am finding them very compelling. Little books filled with old papers has been something I've been making for a couple years now, and it is even more fun with these book covers.

Each is filled with with a mismatched assortment of papers, plus some tags that I like to trail ribbons and doodads from.

The last few days have been a hodge podge of little projects, as well as running errands, packing up and over all getting ready to go.

There is still a LOT left to do. So why do I get so side tracked? I didn't need to make books. I should have been packing up my supplies instead. Or why did I make myself a brooch to wear on my coat? That's just how it goes around here. I can't help myself.

My Sissy gave me this cubic zirconia pendant, that looks like a crown, and I thought it would be great on one of my vintage medal ribbons with the "K" pendant that was a gift from Carol, last year at Silver Bella. With a tiny millinery rose added, of course!

My table is filled with an assortment of things that I decided I need to add to my booth, so I still have some price tags to make and packing to do. The truck is loaded and ready, but there are always odds and ends that get added at last minute.

I almost envy the people who ship their vendor goods… they at least have to limit themselves and not go crazy with inventory. I went crazy with mine.

Baby Bella

fairies, how to's, Silver Bella, Travel

By Karla Nathan / November 9, 2009

At Silver Bella vendor night, the theme will be Night Of 100 Aprons, or something along those lines. I know that I need an apron! So, I pulled this one from my Boutique and doctored a shirt to wear with it.

To make the shirt, I scanned a post card, and used the Picassa editing retouch tool to remove the "Happy Birthday" from the picture.

Then, I wrote in my blog title, and printed it onto printable fabric from the craft store.

When I cut it out, I left raw edges that will fray when I wash the shirt. I sewed it onto a long sleeve, J. Jill, tee shirt that used to be my favorite, until I dribbled coffee all over myself while wearing it.

To get the picture on the shirt just right, I wore it while doing the pinning. The tee shirt was stretchy and the cotton piece was not, so pinning it on while the shirt was stretched over my chest was the way to go.

After sewing it on, it looked a little puckery, but that is fine, because it leaves room to expand for boobs.

I'm looking forward to a comfy night in a tee shirt and jeans, last year was a much more dressed up theme, Prom Dresses.

Of course, I'll still be wearing a tiara! It wouldn't be Silver Bella without a chance to wear my crown.

This one is similar to my own tiara, but is one that I just finished, to take along to sell in my booth.

And what else do I have packed for the trip? A new outfit for Sugarwings. Yep, I'm bringing the fairy grand baby! Actually, her Daddy and my Handsome Husband are bringing her, they are coming up to help me set up my booth, and using the trip as an excuse to go and stay at our favorite Omaha hotel with the water park that Sugarwings loves to play at.

We have plans for breakfast on Saturday with Beth, since she is coming up to Omaha just for vendor night to sell her great stuff. I was afraid we'd be so busy I wouldn't even see her, so we made plans to meet up and enjoy the Embassy Suite's free breakfast together.

I splurged and got a new outfit for the fairy baby, since we have a breakfast date. Even though the frothy skirt and flocked butterfly shirt are from Old Navy, and not real costly, it was still sticker shock to me!! I buy all of her clothes at garage sales and Goodwill or get hand me downs from cute little Bethany.

But when I saw this pink concoction of froth, I had to have this skirt! She'll be an adorable Baby Bella. I think she'll need a crown too…

My goods are finished and all packed up. I've borrowed my brother-in-law's big ole truck again for the road to Omaha. We own three farm trucks ourselves, but not a single one with a topper. And a 3 hour drive in the Midwest in November can't be counted on to be rain or snow free. Luckily, my sweetie of an in-law is generous with his vehicle so I don't have to rent something.

Speaking of sweethearts,look what Stephanie

sent to me! Roses, roses, roses! Just out of the kindness of her heart. So, I will share with you. For my November Giveaway, I'll add a pretty millinery rose to the bundle of vintage trims. Thanks, Stephanie!!

I will be away from my computer till I return, but will do some pre-posting, so please check back. I'm sorry I won't be able to return comments, but will read them all when I get back, and each will count toward the millinery rose topped bundle of old trims!