Last Tuesday, Amy, Carol, and Debbie came over for a craft day and lunch. It was a fun day of catching up, creating, and chatting.
Amy's friend, Cindy, came by for a while, it was nice to meet a local Lawrence lady who was a big shot blogger (Skip to my Lou). I had no idea. Wow, 2,000,000 hits a month?? Not only was she a big time blogger, she was sweet as can be, which is appropriate since she has a store called Sweet.
In the kitchen, my dining table was set with a drop cloth cover, white mismatched linens, cream plates, and white salad plates with tiny rosebuds. I added matt white pottery vases with bright roses (on Mondays, my local Kroger marks leftover flowers down to $1.99 so I snaf up armloads, then feel greedy and put back all but two to take up. Happens every time. I see the sale price and start grabbing, then stop myself).
The look of the room inspired me to get out some Valentiney themed and colored papers to add to the all neutral books we were making. I loved the look so much, in the room and in the book I made that I thought it would be fun to have a workshop to create Valentine journals. The details are in the previous post and I'll have some photos coming up in a couple days with more info.
Knowing that
Carol and Debbie were both fans of "low color" style,I'd set out a
studio table full of neutral ephemera so that we could sift through and
pull together pages that we wanted to use in our books.
I'll be providing similar for the books we will make in class. As a matter of fact, I probably won't be putting these away, I'll leave the piles out for us to work with.
At a flea mkt last fall, I scored an 1800s receipt book stuffed with fantastic writing and logos. We all used pages of it in our books that day.
Of course, an afternoon with these three ladies is pretty durn inspiring in and you know that they can put together something scrumptious no matter what supplies they have on hand!
I had some ticking stuck away and pulled it out knowing that Debbie would use it in an interesting way, and she did, fraying the edges of strips to make ribbon, and lining some pages. She generously left the book here to use for ideas during the workshop.
Amy's book is a sweet pink tone.
And she generously left some of her books behind too. These are copies of two of her latest books and she gave them to me to offer as giveaways.
Vintage Notions and Fabric Flowers.
While I am away in Hawaii, I'll have some fresh posts done up ahead of time for you, so please come back. Leave a comment on any post between January 14 and 28th for a chance to win one of two books.
The third will be given away during my workshop on Saturday, Feb. 2nd to an attendee.
I too have the ‘it’s reduced therefore must by all’ gene :-).
Amy’s book cover is so elegeant, a talented lady. I’d love to do the craft day, if only there wasn’t an ocean and a big chunk of land between us!
Have a lovely time in Hawaii. Looking forward to seeing your pictures.
Hi Karla, Hope you have a wonderful holiday in Hawaii. Spare a thought for us in the UK sheivering in the wind, rain, snow and sleet (often all at the same time. lol) Lots of pics please and you can be sure we’ll all be green with envy….but in a nice way of course. luv and hugs to the fairy babies. Blessings
Wow what a fabulous gathering of talent!
Would love to have been a fly on the wall! Of course in low tones…
Such a generous offer! Thank you to you both!
Would love those books! Pretty stuff you made!
I’ve already won a Karla giveaway, so I will take my name out of the running and let someone else have the joy! Those books do look wonderful!
Your creative gatherings with friends must be so much fun!
Oh, and I’m afraid I’m guilty of the, “Wow, these are sooo marked down!” multiple toss toss toss into my shopping cart. Only mine occurs at craft stores!
Its horribly cold here too, I cant wait to get to the island!
Karla Nathan
http://www.karlascottage.typepad.com
http://www.karlascottage.com
What a magical day we had! Thanks for letting us use that incredible ledger for our project:) Everyone should come to your studio for a “Craft Day with Karla”
(((Hugs))) Carol
Great times with great creative friends can be hard to beat!
The books look fab and I’d love to win.
Have fun in Hawaii!
Leann
Wish I was close enough to attend your craft day!! Thank you for all the inspiration you provide to us blogger friends. Have fun in sunny Hawaii.
ooooooo… (jumping up and down)….pick me, pick me!!
Karla,
Enjoy the sunshine friend.
Gloria in Virginia
Can’t beat creative time with friends. So wish I could be there on Feb 2nd for the workshop… I know it will be fabulous! Have a great time in Hawaii and thanks for the chance at the lovely giveaways!
Those book peeks look wonderful ~ wish I lived closer!
Have a wonderful time in HI (you lucky girl!)
bobbieatc {at} cableone {dot} net
I wish you could be here on the 2nd too, Sheila!
Karla Nathan
http://www.karlascottage.typepad.com
http://www.karlascottage.com
Looks like such a fun afternoon! Hope you have a wonderful time in Hawaii, Karla. 🙂
love rosie
The craft day made me jealous, but the Hawaii part makes me green with envy. The fabric flowers book would make it all better! Have fun, Karla!
Karla, I am still taking down Christmas decorations…Had bronchitis, so am just getting around to doing things…but I had the same thoughts as you did while I re-decorated…why not sprinkle a little St. Valentine’s Day cheer around? A touch of red makes all the white and cream things pop! Patty in Kansas.
Dear Karla,
I would have loved to have been there with you lovely ladies creating!! (sigh) Love the books you all created and love the books for the giveaway!
hugs
Karen B. ~ Todolwen
Your table looked lovely – what a glorious day of inspiration you must have had. Would love to win one of the books – they look great.
Once again, I’m inspired by your post today! I’m having a lunch/crafting party next week and perhaps we will do a book!! The table looks gorgeous, too! Have a wonderful time in Hawaii and say “hi” to my friend Waverly !!
Thanks again for your fun posts!
Wow! You have some friends in high places.
The altered books look great!
Hope you are having a wonderful time in Hawaii, it is so beautiful there. Oh yeah, please enter me in the drawing too. Thanks!!
These are so pretty, Karla! Sounds like a wonderful day with great people. Drawing? Did I hear drawing?!
one of these days Karla, I’m going to have to fly over to your house and take a workshop from you – they always sound so magical.
any word of another bird song this year ?
as always, thank you for sharing so much of your art and heart here. you’re an inspiration.
I hope you do, Jill! Yes, Im planning birdsong for a bit later this year, June 8 th weekend. Hope to see you there.
Karla Nathan
http://www.karlascottage.typepad.com
http://www.karlascottage.com
Oooh! What beautiful things you create! Would love to win one the books!
Wow, you had a great dat. The books are beautiful.
I love the cover of the book Amy made. I would love to come to your workshop too. It sounds like such fun.