December has only been gone a few days, and it seems like ages. We’ve been so busy trying to set up a new apartment in a new city, all from scratch.
Sissy had this pretty book set out in my room when we visited on our drive Eastward. I’m afraid we didn’t get to stay long, one night, with a family get together, then on New Year’s Eve, we had big plans for crafting all day, then having a champagne toast and homemade veggie soup (like my Daddy used to make) welcoming the new year quietly with family and friends.
Crafting started well. I made this page (it still needs words, Sissy will add them with her lovely writing). I took inspiration from the book above.
It is so much fun to delve into someone else’s craft supplies! Like the first day of school and a brand new box of crayons (or crins, as I called them)
The background was done with those eye shaped chalky ink pads (Sissy had ALL the colors to play with!!!). I used pink, periwinkle and white to make swirls, with the white over the top to blend. Then "aged" the edges in brown.
I drew the bird and branches in glitter ink and got to try out her embossing glitter on the branches.
This one was done with the same chalky inks, smeared around and then blended over the top with a gold ink pad.
Then, I stamped green fern like fronds onto it, edged the sides in brown for aging again, and drew swirls and vines around it in brown ink.
My niece, Shelli, brought a calender we could cut fairies out of, I added a naked sprite from it, sparkled her with shimmering gold ink, and drew gold swirls around her head, accented with rhinestones.
Shelli used glitter and images from the calender for this page.
Then, she did a similar chalky ink pad background on this one. I drew some swirls on it for her and she added pictures from the calender.
My other sister, Bobbie, brought us an embossing tool to try out and Shelli did the design across the top with that.
Then, her husband came in and mentioned an ice storm on the way. I shot out of my chair, packed my bags, ran down the stairs and to the car and was GONE before the storm hit!
We had a safe and dry drive and were glad we cut our visit to Indy short, as sad as it was to leave. I don’t even remember if I said goodbye or not, you should have seen me rush out of there. No veggie soup, no champagne toast, I didn’t even get to finish my pages!!
And here we are- my new (part time) home, sweet, home!
The huge load we carried out in the car didn’t go very far in filling up the space. It isn’t easy starting from scratch, this week has been a shop-a-thon.
The big, ugly recliner that my husband has daydreamed about his entire life arrived. But the table was missing hardware and the couch was the wrong one. More deliveries tomorrow.
My husband doesn’t shop, but made an effort to buy a bedroom set on his own last time he was out here. For his very first shopping trip, it went well. Mission style, really nice. But- the wrong size. He didn’t realize beds came in different sizes????
Oh well, the new mattress I bought will go in the guest room and I’ll buy another one for that set, in a larger size. I’m just proud that he shopped all by himself and bought something really interesting.
I’d been hearing that IKEA was the best things since sliced bread (oh my,that phrase makes me sound old).
We didn’t much care for it. Some things were a bargain, others were just CHEAP. Thin towels, rickety tables. And not my style at all.
What was sweet, was that it wasn’t my husband’s style either. I thought he wouldn’t care, but he really did, and wanted homey, not stark, like they carry there.
We loaded up on simple things, like 49 cent dish towels, 99 cent trash cans, 99 cent toilet bowl cleaners, 42 rugs, and a $2 sieve. A few 59cent mugs and bowls too.
Then, we drove around the wharf in Baltimore searching for a good restaurant. Lost, in the dark, looking like tourists, with the light on in the car, looking at a map instead of the road.
We found a place called the Rusty Scupper. I thought, it had to be good, it had a hand painted shark in the lobby!
And I was right, plus the view was even better than the food.
We managed to spend every thing we saved at IKEA by eating a $100 crab cake meal. I figure we broke even, since we had saved so much on toilet bowl cleaners!
I’m afraid my camera doesn’t do justice to the beauty of the wharf at night, and it was so cold out there, I didn’t really care to adjust it. I snapped a photo and ran to the car.
Well, more shopping tomorrow, then home on Sunday. I’ll get some photos of the end results of our buying binge!
Your scrapbook pages are just beautiful! I’m glad that you didn’t get caught in that storm. Seems everyone was hit pretty hard in the midwest. I have been considering going to IKEA for tables for my workspace (because they’re cheap) but now you have me reconsidering! I think I need to hit second hand shops and antique stores instead. I think it’s so cute that your husband is trying to buy furniture on his own…you obviously do all the shopping in Kansas!! I had to laugh out loud about the bed size! :))
It’s good to hear from you, Karla! I’ve been wondering how it was all going for you. Shopping for furniture sounds like fun, to me!
I love your pages, especially the bird one. He has a great expression in his body language, like he’s just about to fly off into the sunlight.
I feel the same way about Ikea. I’ve found some really good things I can use that are a bargain, then again, most of the stuff is not well made, or way too contemporary. Now Homegoods, that’s another story. Congrats on the new apt.! Jen R
Pretty Pretty Pretty Karla!! Lovely scrapping and an amazing view!
xo
Mary
I’m so happy you managed to get in a post. I was wondering how things were going.
ITA about Ikea, but it is good for things like candles, housekeeping goods, hangers, etc. That glass storage container with the silver lid is one of the items that I do like.
I can’t wait to see your pictures. I like Mission style furniture and it is great for a man or for a Zen look.
~elaine~
Beautiful pictures!!! Good luck with your new home. Yes I was very disappointed on the latest IKEA catalog. Everything in modern style, plastic etc. A few years ago they had lovely 18th-century printed fabrics and even a gustavian furniture collection. You get a better quality buying at secondhand stores and for the same price. /linnea-maria
Yippeeeeee!! Welcome back and Happy New Year!!!
So happy that Yall had a nice safe trip and are there and SHOPPING already!!!!!!
Your artwork pages are so very beautiful and that talent certainly runs in the Family!!!
Thanksfor the lovely post!!
The other day my 13 year old said “Mama sliced bread really IS amazing isn’t it?” So no, you aren’t old.
ANDDDD!!! Goodness those papers you did!!! Not only do I want them…Stampington better be all over those! They are gorgeous.
Oh~And that Country Diary…that is my everyday dishes…I have also cross-stitched those birds.
What fun to be with your sister again. Albeit, a short visit, but productive and full of joy. Have fun decorating and I look forward to your return.
Hugs Karen
You have a busy start to the year! Sounds like part-time home is going to be lovely and I’m sure you will get your touches in! IKEA is hit or miss to me. I just got a really cute lamp and emroidered shade there – they have some good accessories and the kitchen stuff is usually a good buy – but you are right on the furniture. Though I did see a set of nice bookcases recently in a friend’s house. They looked like built-ins but turned out it was two IKEA bookcases (the white ones) anchored into the wall and then framed out with crown molding. The extra touches made them look great!
Best of luck with the new place!
Karla
Karla
It was good to hear you made it to Washington. I thought I was the only one on the planet that didn’t “get” IKEA I would much rather spend all that time walking, searching for good ole crusty treasure!!
Have fun with your hubby!
JOY!
Glad you all made the journey without incident and “ice storms!”
Can’t wait to read more updates. We don’t have an IKEA store in our city but…I hear they are something to “Behold.” Saw one in Texas this summer but didn’t go in.
Not sure I would like them but wouldn’t mind checking it out next time I see one.
Joyce
I agree with whoever said that IKEA can be hit or miss. I have gotten some really great things there (a flower picture that I just love, a nice chandelier and some bedding that is still going strong from when they had Cath Kidston stuff), but a lot of it is not really my style either. Way too modern.
We still go there every year though! LOL
Karla, love your pages! My son just left to work in DC (my hubby took him and got him situated). I HOPE to visit sometime this spring. The book you received from Beth is just so lovely. It looks like something she’d make. How wonderful to have atsy friends. The crab cakes sound really good. Good choice!
Your new digs look nice.
Thanks for the heads-up on IKEA, I’ve always felt somewhat deprived because I’ve never been to one. I feel better now 🙂
I had read about the clock search for your bedroom and just had to share…while Goodwill Hunting the other day my eyes landed on a beautiful clock. It is a Howard Miller mantle clock, key wound w/ Westminster Chime, German guts, made in Mich. What a blessing!!! I cradled it and figured it was worth a few hundred. Googled it and it’s worth over $700. I have always dreamt of that soothing tick-tock sound and now I have it-well… once I get the key. Those cost from 2 to 8 dollars. My daughters furniture color stick on a few minor knicks and TA-Da, clock of my dreams. Now I wish you a similar story for your bedroom clock…if you have not found it already.
Thanks for the email,
Pam
Forgot to tell you the clock cost $5.99 with a sign that said, “as is”. I asked about what the as is was referring to and the gal told me it was because the key was missing.
Pam
So nice to have you back!
I loved the bird picture. The swirls make me think of the wind and the colors of dusk!
Beautiful!
Have a great evening!
Hi Karla, such beautiful view from the restaurant! Can’t wait to see how you decortate the apartment, we are right in the process of doing so ourselves and it’s a challenge in a smaller space !! Jenn and Jacqui
WOW I am so glad you arrived safely! You wonderful Creative time with your sis’s IS amazing I adore these creations! WOnderful! detailed and fanciful!!!
You will make you new part time home just as lovely as you can You are so creative!
IKEA is an interesting place! Much like other stores some pieces fit well some don’t but boy can you fix it up…nothing like inexpensive items to satisfy the time ..My big girl when getting here new room since the twins were going to have hers (it was bigger for 2 cribs) we had to Create a Closet system…IKEA had a lovely simple armoire that was easy to embellish! and super cute hat oval and half oval hat boxes to further have fun with!
SO it depends on when they have things and if you want to spend a little time to see the next step some are just not suited to be just placed in the home…
SO any who
Glad tiddings to you!
Warmly,
Stacy~Creativemuse
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5023227
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52895107@N00/
Hi Karla,
So nice to see a post from you – I missed ya! Can’t wait to see the after photos of this new home of yours…
🙂
Karla, nice to see you and hubby arrived in one piece, I’m with you at IKEA, I think the only thing I bought from there, is fabric, and hubby grabbed a funky plastic ice cream scoop that dosn’t do the job “I hate the thing” lol, oh and ice cube maker (that’s what I use for my heart coconut ice bath bomb), go to my blog to view them. I sure with all your talent you will have your appartment looking beautiful, cozy and warm in no time at all. Oh another thing I went to go and purchase the rose collage pack from your esty, as the follow up to our e-mail, but it’s sold boohoo for me, never mind just hold on to the money, until I see something else in your shop. Hmmm OK………
Happy decorating!!!!
Warmest regards
Kirstie
Karla: You have begun the new year with much work! . I wish see the new home decor.
Hi Karla, I am sure glad you got there safely and I know you will have that apartment looking beautiful in no time. You will have so much fun exploring the Washington D.C. area. ~ Lynn
Hasn’t this weather been a pain? I totally agree with your analysis of Ikea. Sorry you had to miss the family festivities because of the weather but it sounds like your alternative turned out just great. Good luck with feathering you new nest, I have no doubt that you will have it picture perfect in no time.
Happy New Year!
Hugs,
Sue
Hi Karla,
Glad you and your son liked the book. I got it at a book fair at an English teacher’s convention.
Check out this absolutely heavenly store in the DC area on the inspireco blog http://inspireco.blogspot.com/
I thought of you when I read about it–I’m sure it’s close enough for you to visit on one of your trips to see your husband. It looks wonderful!
Stephanie
I am so glad you arrived in DC safely! Looks like you managed to fit alittle fun in with the sisters during your short stay, the pages you made are wonderful! I’m off to Michaels to find the chalky pads you referred to! The apartment looks nice and bright and ready for a Karla makeover! Can’t wait to see the after pictures! Really missed your blog, glad you had time to post something for us! You always do such a good job with your pictures, they are nice and big, unlike other bloggers who have such small pictures you can’t make out the details!
I took a peek at some of the recipe swappers flicker pictures and I felt so inadequate! I had mine all ready to go until I saw the amazing things others were doing; it sent me back to my craft table! This is my first swap ever and I want it to be good!
Hi Karla,
Here in Germany we have many Ikea in the
country.Today was shopping by Ikea ,have loveley things for decorationen buyed,But I
love secondhandstores.
Have a nice weekend Regina
I’m glad you arrived safe! An ice storm is certainly nothing to mess with. Your pages are beautiful. I just love the colors.
OH Karla, I just spend a Glorious 12-20minutes catching up on looking and reading here. I have been having a hard time getting to my “beloved” blog reading.. so I was enjoying every minute checking out everything over here tonight! Loved it!
I just found your blog and look forward to reading more of it. Happy New Year! That’s one sweet little fairy you have there.