vintage paper/collage art – Page 51

Paper Doll Fairies

fairies, Food and Drink, paintings, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / June 3, 2007

What a wonderful day! It started with a big birthday brunch for my husband. I made biscuits and gravy along with eggs, bacon, fruit salad, and fresh muffins. Then, since it was officially brunch and not breakfast, we were required to have dessert. Every good brunch has yummy desserts!

Ours was a yellow pound cake topped with fresh strawberries, then a layer of vanilla pudding and cream cheese, and on top of that, whipped cream. Sugarwings enjoyed her first taste of whipped cream!

(I cook with as many low-fat products as I can, but even with skim milk and low fat sausage, this was still a, shall we say "filling" meal.)

Afterward, we took our pontoon and my brother-in-law’s ski boat out on the lake for the afternoon with our kids and all the nieces and nephews. Most of us are a bit sunburned, those cloudy days can trick you. Besides the slightly pink noses and red shoulders, we had a great time.

I had a couple hours between boating and when company came for dinner. (a crock pot full of roast and veggies, that cooked itself while we played)

So, I made up my 3 fairy swap pieces to get into the mail tomorrow to Natasha, http://natashaburns.blogspot.com/, Heather http://prettypetalsboutique.blogspot.com/, and Holly http://hollydoodledesigns.com/WordPress/

We are each making 3 items that fit into an envelope and are fairy inspired, so I made three tags. I started with a regular manila tag, rubbed with aging inks. I glued a pretty bit of scrapbook paper on each one. Then, painted a fairy on watercolor paper and snipped it out like a paper doll and glued it down.

The wings are cut from photo copies of vintage butterfly post cards than I encrusted with glitter.

Vintage posies were added to each sprite’s hands for a 3-D effect, and one of my hand painted charms was tied on with a bow of polka dot ribbon and pink tulle.

Natasha was so nice to set this up for me, I was complaining about missing out on the fairy jar swap and she offered to do this mini swap. I had a great time with it and hope they enjoy their hand painted fairies. I’ll have to look around and see what little thank you I can add to Natasha’s package. I appreciate her doing this. And I can’t wait to receive my fairies from them!!!!!

I joined the tiara swap that is being hosted by Holly too. I might just becoming a swap junky.

Last week, I showed you pictures of Sissy’s magical cottage while I was visiting her in Indiana. Here is a picture she sent to me of what she found at GOODWILL. What a beautiful platter.

Someone always ends up being a fairy

fairies, jewelry, paintings, Travel, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 31, 2007

I’m in a fairyswap !!!!!!! I am so excited about it, I am a fairy-aholic. I was disappointed to see all the fairy jar swap people, knowing I had missed it and was too late to get in. Taking pity on me, (or maybe wanting to stop my whining?) Natasha Burns http://natashaburns.blogspot.com/ set up a mini swap with some talented bloggers, Heather http://prettypetalsboutique.blogspot.com/, and Holly http://hollydoodledesigns.com/WordPress/.

This will be my 3rd swap, and I am glad it is a small one, the charm one I am in is a doozy. I need to make somewhere between 15- 22- 33?? I need a final count, I am confused. I also need to start making them…….

I’ve spent the last two days making scrapbooks of my trip to give as thank yous to the people we stayed with. For my sister-in-law, Sandy, I found a clearance journal for 50 cents and foofed up the cover with vintage goodies and scrapbook paper. Hers has no photos yet, I need to finish it tonight so I can think about doing some charms……

For my brother-in-law, I bought one of those mini,ready to go scrapbooks, this one is from Studio K, love that line!!

I added more papers, copies of my paintings, some hand drawn doodles and writing, stickers, then the photos. I like to make pockets to slide the pictures into. I make the pockets from card stock so they are sturdy.

The ready to go books are so nice, since the background is already printed, they make simple gifts, just with a few personal touches and pictures, they are ready to go.

And of course, in every book I make, someone always ends up being a fairy. This is Emily, she is a tiny, dainty little 15 year old who has a natural fairy quality about her. She makes a lovely sprite.

Oh- I have been having inquiries about my hand painted charms. If anyone wants one, here are few to look at, I can send close ups, or photos of more. They are $18 each plus $2 shipping. Thanks!!

Sisters Junking Day in Indy and MORE $1.99 roses!

antiques/junking, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), fairies, flowers, Travel, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 29, 2007

What’s one good thing about being back a day early from vacation? Being at the local grocery store for the Monday markdowns on flowers! $1.99 bundles of roses are almost enough to come home early for. (But I also got a day with Sugarwings!)

I bought the roses in a lavender pink color, and got a $1.99 bundle of snap dragons to match. Then it just so happened that the color of the flowers looked so beautiful with the mail I happened to be opening- look at my presents!! I received a bundle of pretty cards and papers from Vickie at Stampin’ Up and a dainty little rose scented candle that came all the way from Norway and http://brittarnhildshouseinthewoods.typepad.com/brittarnhilds_house_in_th/. She gave the candle as a prize for her Caring Bloggers Rose Day and I was lucky enough to win it. But, I think I have mentioned before that I am a lucky person. Thanks to you both for the pretties!!

Here is a pile of the loot I found on my Sisters Junking Day in Indy.

Southport Antique Mall was HUGE, it had wings, upstairs, downstairs, back alleys, hidden rooms, and felt like a maze that went on forever. Why aren’t all antique malls built that way????

I accidentally left with the clothespin that was used to mark my pile of purchases. It said "Carolina" on it, and I had just been in N. Carolina a couple days ago, seemed fitting. My niece was given a clothes pin that said Loo Loo, but she insisted it was 007 007. Bobbie Sue had one that was just a number 3, so I asked if they would trade it in for a pretty name. She got "Peace" in place of #3, much better!

A favorite find was the cute jar with the pink lid, that was full of rhinestone buttons for $6.

I found 2 of these albums, for $12 each. Both in decent shape, but one a bit better than the other. I will probably make one into an art journal and use the 2nd for parts.

The dish with pink flowers is actually tin! very pretty. I also got a big bundle of china flowers for $12. I never really like the plastic stems on these things, and often just use the buds in mosaics. Not sure what this bunch will be yet.

We had a mini shopping trip the day before, a stop at Goodwill and a spin through TJMaxx. I found new towels at the Maxx, Sissy found the new sheets and the chocolate bars wrapped in pretty papers, as well as the 3 sisters mug.

She found the blue skirt with pink roses (a Ralph Lauren) at the Goodwill along with the pink basket. I got the soap dish at the thrift and plan on painting it ivory to use in my kitchen to hold the sponge by the sink.

I’m jealous about the basket Sissy bought, it was just the right size to fit 3 Dorkies in. I loved the skirt too, but my sis is about a size minus zero and that skirt would have ripped in half just holding it up to my hips.

Tonight I started working on my vacation scrapbook. (Walgreens has a special now for 15 cent prints by email, ready in an hour). I thought I’d turn some little nieces into fairies, this first one is Hannah. I was lucky enough to be in Indiana while she was having her nursery school graduation and got to attend. Hannah and her friends sang and danced for the crowd and it was so cute, I laughed till I cried.

Her cousin, Mikaela is a couple years older and loves pink and princesses and fairies. She makes an elegant little flying sprite. Their grandparent’s last name is Valentine, so I added some hearts in the pictures.

Homesick before I even leave

flowers, jewelry, Travel, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 16, 2007

I am leaving on vacation tomorrow and need to work my butt off today to get ready. First of all, I need to mail the May Bucket prizes.

I should be kicking up my heels with excitement over my vacation, but I am more worried about being ready to go.

I have a baby shower gift and a sign to paint and ebay boxes to pack and a magazine article synopsis to write and send off too. Did I mention that I have 2 painting jobs that need bids and a garden to plant and sprinklers to set up and PACKING before I leave tomorrow too????

Here is one thing that needs mailed today. I chose a 2nd place gift for Michelle Ward for the May Bucket drawing. Her style isn’t as pretty-foo-foo as mine, so I made her a special gift, something a little funkier. This necklace is made from an old piece of hardware I picked up at the flea market a couple weeks ago. I love the old green paint clinging to it.

Well, I should be starting on my mile long list for getting ready for my trip. I am such a homebody, I hate to travel or think about leaving. I miss my flowers, my pretty house, my wonderful studio, MY COMPUTER. But I always have a great time once I get where I am going.

I will have to pack up my flowers that are still looking fresh and give them away before I leave. How could I just leave all these pretty roses from the party last week to die alone while I am gone??? I’ll have to find someone to take them home and enjoy their last days. That is the kind of thing that I worry about before a trip, I can’t leave my pretty flower arrangements!!

And Sugarwings!! How can I leave Sugarwings for TEN DAYS???? I’ve never been away from her for that long in her entire life!!

She is coming over today to say goodbye. And I am going to finish a few more pages in my art journal about her, to keep with me in the car, so I can stare at her pictures.

My roses have started to bloom, finally,after the terrible freeze that I thought had ruined them.

I will miss them, and every inch of my fairy cottage. I love my home down to the smallest details like the vines I drew in the cement as the new sidewalk was poured.

And I will miss all my bloggie friends. What if you all forget about me in the 10 long days I am gone??? What if people get out of the habit of coming here to look because there is nothing new for sooooo long???

I won’t even think about that.

Off to work, I have more to do today than humanly possible and here I am playing with Typepad. Geez, sometimes I wonder about myself. But, I know I’ll be back today to write more… can’t help it.

Feeling Sentimental and LAST CHANCE FOR THE MAY BUCKET

flowers, give away, jewelry, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 14, 2007

Still basking in the glory of my marvelous Mother’s Day, my thoughts are on family things.

I never knew my great grandmother, but found out that when she was 18, she went away to art school. Not something a lot of young girls did in 1906.

She did a handful of pieces while there, then came home to be a farm wife. No more time for art when there are chickens to feed and a family and garden to tend. Thinking about it makes me realize how lucky I am to have so much time to make things pretty.

I was given these two pictures done by my great grandmother, Nellie during her short time away at art school I think that if I had known her, we would have had a lot in common.

Sentimental days are good for scrap booking. I’d made a book of my husband’s family earlier, but didn’t care for the way I’d done the cover. So, I added a faded and torn old piece of red velvet from an ancient album and glued a vintage oval framed family photo onto it.

Rich (my husband) is the dapper young man in the bow tie.

At the top of the oval frame, I added a brooch that belonged to my sweetie’s grandma. I used to wear it, but the clasp is broken, so I thought this would be safer.

Since I had my glues out, and was thinking family type thoughts, I made a couple more Sugarwings pages in my journal/scrapbook. I was never a scrap booker until she came along. Now, I try to add a few pages a week, as I take photos of her.

When she grows up and looks at my book, do you think she’ll roll her eyes at me, and say, "Oh, Grandmama, wings- again??!"

I also did a photo shoot today at my house with my pal, photographer, Diane Guthrie, who did the Romantic Homes layout with me last year. We got half done and will finish tomorrow. I’m afraid that I can’t tell you any more about it for now, but here is a teeny peek from my camera- not hers.

We did 3 photos in 2 hours, that is not a bad rate. Maybe 3 or 4 more tomorrow and we should be set.

Well, maybe one more teeny peek.

You know a photo shoot sounds glamorous, but in real life it is a mess. I had cords and lights and equipment all over, plus I had all the ordinary, everyday, useful things piled up out of the way of the camera, so that only pretty things were in the shots. I did run across town to Walmart before Diane arrived so I could get 2 white toothbrushes in case they showed, I wanted them to match the bathroom! Sounds silly, but those little details matter.

My bathroom is still all topsyturvey and will be until we are done.

Don’t forget about the MAY BUCKET!!

Today is the last day to enter!! I will be shipping it off to its new home tomorrow.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your kind comments and entries. I had over 500 entries, what a surprise for me!!!!!!!!! I counted each and every comment you made as an entry and will continue to do that for the COTTAGE CHARM GIVEAWAY.

You can enter the Cottage Charm Giveaway as many times as you would like. I love getting comments and will bribe you anyway necessary to get you to write to me!!

I am making the $1.99 a dozen roses I bought a week ago last till the very last petal curls up and turns brown. I keep trimming the stems and making them a bit shorter each day. But I might like them this way better than any of the other arrangements so far.

Remembering Mom and Missing Dad too

vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 12, 2007

Sunday is the 1st anniversary of my dad’s death. When he fell ill, my sisters were with him in Indiana, taking him to the doctor. I was here in Kansas, waiting to hear what the tests said.

I needed a project to keep me from falling apart. So, I mosaiced the steps into my kitchen from the breezeway. Doing mosaics keeps the hands busy and the mind calm but still gives you time to think and reminisce.

My dad was a gardener his entire life, from working the farm as a kid to planting veggies and working his garden plot right up till the day he went to the hospital.

At his funeral, I brought a tomato plant instead of flowers.

My steps are a tribute to him, I tried to give them an organic, growing feel of newly sprouting garden vines. He died 2 weeks from the day he went in for testing and was diagnosed with cancer. I think of him when I walk across these steps.

I’ve mentioned this before, but when I talk about Daddy, I have to bring it up again- when I was born, he filled out my birth certificate while my mom was still under anesthesia. His name is Hubert, so he named me Huberta Josephine. My mother changed it as soon as she woke up! Who knows, I might have liked being a Berta, not such a bad name. I wonder if I would have had a different life if I had grown up as Huberta?

Sunday is also Mother’s Day, so I got out the scrap book that I made with old family photos.

My parent’s song was "Always", so I have added that word to this page of the two of them together.

Mom loved butterflies.

Here we are together. (my family calls me Karkie Jo, or Aunt Karkie to all the little ones).

My wedding- with Mom on the end in pink and her mother in the gorgeous silk Sari. And see my handsome husband, so young and skinny? Now he is a weightlifter and you should see his arms! I just hate him, its not fair, he gets better and better looking, I just get older. And fatter.

Here is a photo of "us girls" as we’d say back in Indiana: Bobbie Sue, Sissy, Karkie Jo and Marty Jo. Don’t our names sound like we come from Petticoat Junction??

My mom’s favorite flower was the iris. I think partially, because I used to do so many iris watercolors (like this one of mine). She was sweet that way, she loved her daughters and would adopt their favorite things as her own favorites.

Its sad to be an orphan on Mother’s Day. But I have my boys, and my little Sugar Wings, and her sweet mama, who is a daughter to me. Hopefully some day, they will all have happy memories of me, like I do of my mom.

This is a pencil drawing I did of my dad’s mom. I know that my dad missed her the rest of his life after she died in the early 70’s.

You never get too old to miss your mommy.

I will always miss mine.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for all the love.