Karla's Cottage – Page 257

The Cuppy Cake Song works magic

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), magazine pictures or articles, paintings, redos, Sugarwings, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / August 27, 2008

Sugarwings loves her new play dough from Robin! She spent about 3 hours in the studio with me while I worked and I was able to get a lot done, as long as we sang and talked and I sat down to make things with her here and there.

She sculpted play dough for about an hour, then was ready to move on to an hour of markers, then an hour of paint. I was amazed that a 2 year old could be as obsessive about working in the studio as I am! We are definitely related.

Robin scented and colored the play dough with Kool Aide, so there was a lot of sniffing, and calls for "Mell this one Grammy!"

By the 3rd hour of artwork, she was wearing only a diaper and war paint, with stickers up and down her arms and play dough in her hair. She started out cute though.

We played in the garden hose a while after this.

While the fairy grand baby worked on her crafts, I redid Lou Wanda and Lucinda.

They’ve been with me forever, used as jewelry displays. I’ve tried to use them for blog photos, but they are so dark, it never works well.

So, I decided to go for a lighter, brighter look, but wanted to keep their feet as is, I had painted flowers on them years ago and still like that part.

This is a remnant of a favorite fabric of mine, it was the last little bit left, but not quite enough. So I decided to do a crazy quilt look, with different shaped patches cut out and glued down. I left frayed edges showing, and was happy with the look.

I’d cut a piece of fabric, then glue it on and trim off the excess, till I filled in the whole form.

Then, I lightly sanded the black knob on top and painted it shell pink with crackles, added vintage beaded trim and a millinery flower.

Now, Lou Wanda is dressed in that prom dress I couldn’t zip up. And seeing it on her, I understand why!!

Yes, that is a dog sitting on my dining table, but actually, the table is for work, not food.

And yes, that is an extremely thick layer of filth on that mirror on the wall. I just bought it for $2 and it needs cleaned up and repainted. Its on the wall now to get it up off the floor and out of my way.

Of course, not a lot of the fabulous fabric shows while Lou Wanda is wearing the prom gown, but she won’t always be dressed, so I am glad I covered all of her up.

Lucinda got the same treatment, but with an assortment of creamy upholstery fabrics left over from a slip cover project.

She also has some cut up doilies stuck to her and a spray of old, perfectly smooshy velvet leaves.

I dressed her in an old half slip.

I’m still shocked that Sugarwings worked on her projects the whole time I worked on mine. I have to thank Jennifer Hayslip for some help, she has a song playing on her blog right now, that the baby loves. We looked it up on line and played it over and over and over for hours.

And I still can’t get the words right. I am hopeless at learning lyrics. I always end up making up my own.

After Sugarwings went home, singing her own version of the Cuppy Cake Song, I made up a few wallpaper journals and packed up tidbits to sell along with them for the new owners use to for embellishments.

Jenny Doh might be interested in them for Somerset Life, but of course, that is never official until she sees them in person and makes up her mind then. Some things they use, others they send back. I certainly don’t take it for granted that they will be used, and I also don’t get hurt or sad when things are not accepted.

I’ve juried art shows and craft shows myself and understand the process. "Not accepted" rarely means "REJECTED", in the negative sense. It just means, "not what we were looking for this time".

But I did get some good news! My studio will be in a future issue of "Where Women Create"! This is a new magazine coming out from Somerset (don’t they have the most diverse and interesting selection of publications?) based on the book by Jo Packham.

So, I decided to do something about my seating in the studio. I found a cheapo computer chair and slipped a cover over it and tied a rose from Holly to it.

Who knew that a slipcover meant for a dining chair would work??? I had one (from a garage sale) in my linen closet and thought it was worth a try, and hey, perfect fit and length, I don’t roll over the hem at all.

And it is so comfy. I used to have just a hard backed chair from a garage sale to sit on, and if I sat there too long, my legs fell asleep.

While Sugarwings crafted, I not only covered the two dress forms and spiffed up my chair, I also got this gift wrapped up. It is the 1950s House Wife Kit for my August giveaway, already to be mailed to you. Well, to one of you. Just leave a comment and it might be YOU.

Tomorrow I am going to Sparks and White Cloud with my BFF Beth to shop at our favorite Flea Market. Maybe I’ll pick up something there for September’s giveaway.

Before I leave for the day, I hope to post something for this event, a tribute to Tasha Tudor.

Check out Clarice’s site for info.

I’d like to paint a little tribute to Miss Tudor, since I am supposed to have my paints out to work on another project. Man, my days are not long enough…..

Pretty Pretty!

fairies, give away, paintings, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / August 25, 2008

A box bursting with happiness just came to my door! I swear, this Pre-Bella Swap is one of the most fun swaps, ever!

All of the women involved have extraordinary style and the packets of goodies they made up show it.

This came today from Jennifer. And it is sweet, sweet eye candy indeed, plus some real candy!!

And, oh my gosh, look what Holly sent!!!!!!!!!!

Those velvety flowers are amazing, lovely, and lush.

Not all the packages are here yet, but the table sure looks filled up, huh?

New homes have already been found in the art studio for some of the presents Holly and Jen sent along to me, I’ve used them in this centerpiece.

And when I cleaned the studio this week, I found the perfect storage spot for my unplucked old hats. (the plucked flowers are already sorted and stored elsewhere). They are all smooshed into the glass doored buffet in the alcove. The one with the crookedy candlesticks.

These sweet girl from Jen is actually a bell. I see fairy wings in her future…..

Look at that heart shaped little smoocher.

Her sis is nestled into a compote of flowers I received from Andrea.

And Taaa Daaa!! My studio is cleaned! I’m done, I’m done!! Just in time for Sugarwings to have a sleepover tonight and play in her new mini studio.

I’ve been working on this for almost a week. Hopefully, having this hopefully more functional arrangement will make me more productive and hopefully make up for the week I spent on it…. hopefully….

Everything is out in the open, easy to see and find, or at least the drawers have tags so I can remember what is where.

I don’t know that I am crazy about having a plastic table cloth over my folding tables, it might just get in the way. I think I’ll remove them, but for now, don’t the pink clothes brighten up the room?

While I was cleaning, I cleared out drawers, boxes, and junk. Ever notice how much stuff you forgot that you had? I came across this little painting from about 10 years ago, and decided she shouldn’t be shoved into a dark drawer, poor fairy.

So, I glittered up a mat for the painting, and added millinery, ruffled wallpaper, and a sparkling butterfly.

Recently, I was asked to post a how to on ruffling, but this is the first ruffle I’ve glued down in a while, and the light wasn’t good last night at midnight when I decided to make it.

I’ll show the steps next time.

While cleaning, I also found some pearls, as I promised to add to my August giveaway, the 50’s Housewife Kit.

leave a comment to enter

By the way, here are a couple of Before the Great Clean Up pics.

Still redoing the studio

antiques/junking, Etsy Goodies, holiday decor, how to's, I do tend to run on, don't I?, Sugarwings, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / August 24, 2008

Brenda is hosting a tour of "Where Blogger’s Create" today and since I have some studio pictures here, I thought I’d join in. For a list of other bloggers who are showing their studios today, go HERE.

And please, remember that all comments are entered into my August Giveaway, the 50’s housewife kit- jewels and a frilly vintage apron!

I’m still plugging away on the studio redo. It is taking so long because I stop and make things as I go and spend too much time on fixing up the storage areas. Like this little hutch, that I am storing glitter supplies in. (it still needs glass knobs)

Here is the before, sitting outside my studio’s back door.

1-I primed it with Zinzer Bullseye spray, bonding primer, then a spray coat of aqua.

2- Let it dry, then sanded it quite a bit with a palm sander.

3- Topped it with a black walnut stain/poly mix and wiped it down.

4- As a finishing touch, I dipped the brush back into the stain mix and flicked it over the hutch for speckles, then dabbed the more pronounced ones a bit with a rag.

So, things like that get me side tracked, and instead of just making the room cleaned up and functional, I do projects.

Like this one. I bought an unfinished pine folding screen at a garage sale for $10 last weekend and decided to make a mini studio within my studio for Sugarwings with this as walls.

The side facing out is covered with my floral papers and trimmed in white paint top coated the same way I did the little hutch. (which I had bought to use in Sugarwing’s studio, but it ended up in mine!)

On the fairy grand baby’s side of the screen, I painted the trim in pink and blue and white polka dots with chalk board paint in 4 of the areas, and some Care Bear wallpaper in the others.

Then, perfect timing- (but is there ever BAD timing for a lovely gift???)

Robin sent a huge, overflowing box of goodness our way!!!!!

I had admired the apron she had posted on her blog, and look- here is one for Sugarwings!

Not only did she send the apron that I admired, she made up scented play dough, this sweet tag, and this cute little collaged box too.

As well as TONS of other surprises. The birdies are from her too, I added one to the top of the screen, by just looping it’s wire around the hole in the picket.

All of her packages in the box were wrapped so cutely, and she used old greeting cards to make up tags for each package, then included the play dough recipe on one too.

That box of goodness was jammed packed full of fun. I’d also admired one of these ceramic hands that she showed on her blog, and Robin sent one of those too. I was sad to see it had broken into a million pieces in the bottom of the box.

That hand was definately worth putting some time into fixing, so I glued it all back together, then decoupaged it with pages from an old French book to cover the cracks and gaps that were stuffed with tissue paper.

Robin lives in the same city where my husband and I keep an apartment out East, so I will keep this hand on my desk, as a friendly wave from a neighbor.

I’m embarrassed to say that Robin’s box was part of a swap we did. She had bought a hat covered in tiny pink flowers and I offered to trade a handful of her pink ones for a mix of a bunch of my other colors, so she’d have a variety to work with.

And because the pink ones she had were so perfectly pink!

And yes, she sent the pink flowers, I have them tied to the storage box. And what did I send to her?

Just a handful of flowers. And I haven’t even shown you all of what she sent to me!!! Like I said, that box was jammed full of goodies!

Thanks so much, Robin!

And thanks also to Carol. She sent in her swap boxes for the Pre-Bella Get Acquainted Swap that I am hosting, and included this giftie for me.

That K is going onto my chandelier filled with collected Ks that hangs right over my computer.

I didn’t peek into her swap boxes, they are just too darling to open. I am afraid my photo of them wasn’t as good as it should be, but the one on her blog is. She owns one of those Canon Rebel cameras I whine about all the time.

You should look at her photo, she is a talented stylist and every picture she takes is a beauty.

I forgot to mention that the flowered china in this picture is a gift from Beth. She thinks of me when she is at an auction and is always bringing me pretties she gets there.

I tried re-taking this photo (same as the last post) in daylight, but unless I have direct light, my photos are never good.

That is why every photo I take of something for Etsy is in front of the French doors in the light. I try to use different papers and table clothes as backgrounds, but it is always the same location, since it has the best light in the room.

This Witch’s Boot might be my only Halloween offering, besides black and orange millinery. I won’t have time to do much for Halloween, I am going to skip straight to filling up my 10 x 10 booth at Silver Bella for Christmas and making things for Lollyshops.

thoughts of Rebelling….

Chandeliers, Etsy Goodies

By Karla Nathan / August 22, 2008

My studio had been getting buried in one mess after another. Now, honestly the blame is mostly my own… but also, I have to blame the inconvenient set up, at least a little bit.

I am hoping that by rearranging things a bit, it will be easier to keep organized.

Well, its a hope I have.

Not most clear photos, are they? Sorry.

This big bowl of blooms is now smack dab in the center of my work station, so I can always have the perfect flower within reach when needed.

While I was at it, I even cleaned up the office and filed away the piles of crap spread out on every surface.

Major accomplishment there!!

All of my Etsy shop items are now organized, instead of heaped on that blue desk. I hung a lot of the pieces on the screen door that makes up one of my walls. I like to have the artwork out where I can see and enjoy them until they go to their new homes.

Not the best photo, once again. This is the chandelier over my computer. Originally, it was just multicolored crystals. But as I get cute gifts in the mail, such as the "Ks" and some tags and dolls, I have been hanging them on the light. Now, it is kind of a glowing bulletin board of things I like to keep nearby.

The room itself is a bit odd. My studio is one big space, almost 1,000 sq ft, not quite. But I have broken it up into different areas and "built" walls with old chippy doors, a gazebo, and big pieces of furniture. That makes it flexible, so I can rearrange it all to suit whatever my needs are at the time.

Geez, none of these photos are really very good are they? My camera does much better in close ups. Yet another reason, to moan and complain that I don’t own the Cannon Rebel camera that I have been dreaming about!!

The camera I use really doesn’t do badly when the light is perfect. And like I said, better with close ups.

These two padded hangers decked out with vintage millinery flowers were just listed on Etsy.

My camera did a great job with this picture. (See how I am trying to make myself feel better about not owning the wonderful, life changing, dream come true, Canon Rebel?)

For those of you who were asking for more Halloween colored millinery packs, I was able to list this one

and six of this one.

Thanks for asking, and for snapping up all the previous packs!!

I’m off to get Sugarwings, we are going downtown for a street festival, then she will be having a sleepover. If I had a Canon Rebel, I’ll bet I’d be getting great photos of the jugglers and puppetiers at the festival…

After the shoot

Etsy Goodies, holiday decor, Silver Bella, swaps

By Karla Nathan / August 20, 2008

My bedroom photo shoot went well, Diane and I finished in record time.

My Queen Anne’s Lace was tinted perfectly blue over night and was ready to go into the bottles on the mantel in time for the pictures.

Normally,we count on about one hour per photo, but yesterday, we had sparkling sunlight shining through the windows and that made the whole process go so much easier! We had all 7 photos in 3 1/2 hours, that is a record for us.(although these blog photos were taken at night with a flash, not nearly as pretty as the ones with sunlight for the magazine)

By the way, this trick of using food coloring in the water to dye white flowers works with blossoms other than this weed. Try daisies or carnations too. It is a great teaching tool for kids so they learn how flowers soak up water through their stems, too.

Here is a snippet of my first paragraph:

"A romantic retreat with morning light dancing through lace curtains and reflected from antique mirrors will make you want to linger in bed with a tray full of treats while sinking into plush pillows."

The first time I did a photo shoot, I thought it would be a perfect time to have a party, afterward. I thought that my house was at its most spotless and foofed up best and I should invite people over while it looked good.

But, at the end of an exhausting day of hard work, my house looked like some one had picked it upside down and shook it!

During a shoot, all throughout the day, furniture and knick knacks are shifted here and there, moved out of the way, switched around, taken in and out of the frame, and moved away to make space for the camera.

Kind of a mess, with stuff piled up everywhere to get it out of the sight of the lens!

Not the best day for a party! Since then, I have learned to not plan anything else but sitting down after the shoot ends.

I wait and put it all back together and write the article the next day when I have recovered. No matter how much fun it is to do, there is a lot involved and it does tend to wreck the place.

But today, all is back to normal, my piles of books and bottles of water are back beside the bed and all the clutter is spread back out where it usually lurks.

I’ve been adding to my etsy shop this afternoon.thanks, this one is sold

Nothing that I have made, but creative pieces for others to use. I keep seeing Halloween projects popping up all over blogland and thought the timing was right to make up some millinery flower packs in these colors. sold

Making up kits and supply packs is almost as much fun as actually creating a piece. I just love picking out items that go together prettily and imagining what they will become when they go to their new homes.

If you have ever ordered anything from me, you’ll notice that I love to wrap and make the package pretty. One thing I don’t do though, is use brand new packing boxes. I do my best to recycle and reuse, and don’t much care if the outside of the envelope has past addresses marked out.

all Halloween packs are sold, but I am listing more. I will have maybe 8 more to list, then am out of black and orange!

It is important to me to make the presentation of the item itself pretty, but the envelope, I’d rather reuse and keep my shipping prices down while helping to save the world in my own little way.

But after receiving this box, that was perfect from the outside, in, I might have to change my practices!

Oh my, it was delightful. Even the outside was pretty, every detail was gorgeous.

The box was from Andrea, and was filled with her goodies for our Pre-Bella swap.

Oh my.

Did I say that already? Well, this gift box was so pretty, I might have said that a few times while gazing at it, trying to decide if I should open it or place it on a shelf and enjoy the box as it was.

Of course, I opened it!! And once again, OH MY! Look at the prettiness involved in this box.

This pile is gifts that Andrea sent to me, as hostess. Oh my, I haven’t even opened my swap box from her yet. I am waiting till all of the packages are in from the rest of the swappers.

I am so lucky to be a part of this talented group of artists who agreed to be in this swap with me. Here is the list, if you’d like to visit any of them, they all have wonderful blogs! I know I have posted this list before, but it is a fun group and definitely worth you going to visit.

A Get Acquainted- Get Inspired

Pre- Silver Bella Swap

1-Heather- http://www.prettypetals.typepad.com/

2-Cheryl Dack- http://roseyposeyconfections.blogspot.com/

3-jennifer Hayslip- http://sweeteyecandycreations.typepad.com/

4-Jessi Nagy- http://www.scrappyjessi.blogspot.com/

5-Kim Caldwell- http://www.artisticbliss.typepad.com/

6-Holly- http://www.hollydoodledesigns.com/shop/

7-Natasha- http://www.natashaburns.blogspot.com/

8-Analisa- http://www.leesiebella.typepad.com/

9-Andrea- http://velvetstrawberries.typepad.com/andreasingarella/

10-Cheryl Stoneham- http://www.insidethebubble.typepad.com/

11- Tiffany- www.shabbyscraps.typepad.com

12- Carol Spinski – http://raisedincotton.typepad.com/

And don’t forget that every comment is entered into my August giveaway. Heck, maybe I’ll even wrap it up in a pretty new envelope to send it out!

The truth behind the photo shoot

give away, housework, jewelry, magazine pictures or articles, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / August 19, 2008

I am busily getting ready for the photo shoot of my master bedroom tomorrow morning. It was a last minute project that came up just a few days ago, and I have had the fairy grand baby for a few days, so I didn’t get a chance to set up till tonight.

I’m making up the bed nicely and sleeping on the couch so I will be ready and not have to rush in the morning!

The truth is, when I have a photo shoot, I do a lot of extras that aren’t involved with every day life.

I certainly don’t get a breakfast in bed tray complete with roses every morning!

The tray is all set up, all I need to do is add a muffin, coffee and juice for the pictures.

I also did a quickie project, and dolled up these lamp shades. That was about 1 minute per shade, all I did was wrap a bit of vintage trim around it and secure the trim with a rhinestone shoe clip.

The three shades each have a different trim on them, I like the non-matchy look.

The window frame had nails sticking out of it from a past curtain style. Those had to be covered before pictures, so I swagged a bit of lace that I usually use as a table runner in the dining room over the nails to hide them.

The biggest change for the shoot was moving out my husband’s comfy chair. He is out of town for now and won’t even know I messed with it, it will be back before he is.

But, in rearranging the chairs, I had a gap in the room, so brought in a stack of picnic baskets from the studio. They are all filled with ephemera for projects, but I’ll write a cute little paragraph about storing extra linens or something like that in a stack of baskets to save space.

We will pretend they are useful, not just filling a gap till they go back where they belong!

Most of the time, the shelf of my mantel piece headboard is bare of junk.

But to foof it up for the pictures, I added a row of old bottles, that simply have some text cut from an old book tied on with pretty ribbon.

Tomorrow morning, I will add a single flower to each bottle.

For now, the flowers are soaking in blue food coloring. I used to do this as a kid, pick Queen Anne’s Lace and place it into colored water. The stems draw up the color and tint the flower.

It was hard to find the pretty weeds, most around here are finished for the season. I drove around until I found a decent patch to pick where I wouldn’t get chewed up by chiggers in the weeds, luckily, these were along a parking lot of an abandoned car dealership. I could snip them from the pavement and not even have to walk out into the tall grass.

A police car turned in the lot and parked behind me, but the officer never got out of the car or said anything to me. I guess it isn’t illegal to pick weeds at a closed business. Although it might be considered trespassing, and it was dark out.

I guess I am about ready for Diane to show up with her camera tomorrow. I’m off to the couch to get some rest. Chasing Sugarwings has worn me to a frazzle. It was fun, as always, but she is a busy bee.

Before I go, I’ll show the apron I added to the August Giveaway, which I will call my "50’s Housewife Kit"

You get a frilly, sheer apron, a pair of pearl pink clip on earrings, and a lovely old brooch with a blue stone, all to wear as you spiff up your home while waiting for Mrs. Dickson to call. (her calling card is included in the kit).

While you are dressed up for cleaning, and down on your knees, make sure you don’t forget to scour the corners of the floor with a scrub brush.

Trying a new trick

antiques/junking, family, give away, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / August 17, 2008

Before picking up Sugarwings to spend the day together for her birthday, I stopped at a couple of garage sales. One sounded promising, it said "fancy hats".

When I got there, it was not the kind of hats I crave, it was modern day Lady’s church wear.

BUT- since the people at this sale weren’t into vintage stuff at all, what they did have along those lines was dirt cheap.

I’ve noticed that non-vintagey garage sales have great giveaway prices on vintage items if there are any around. These aprons were 25 cents each.

This table cloth and apron were each a quarter too, and they gave me an idea.

A friend, who loves funky, kitschy things is going through a rough time. Her husband starts chemo this week, and I thought I’d make her a hospital survival bag and fill it with handy things to have while sitting with him during his sessions.

I included:

water bottles

coin purse filled with quarters and dollar bills for vending machines

a 1940’s magazine to read

granola bars

home made trail mix

Italian candies from 100 Wishes

Kleenex

and a book mark

Sewing isn’t exactly my top skill. I learned that pinning is important and so is keeping the sewing machine manual next to me at all times.

I cut out the table cloth to the size of the apron and PINNED it together, right sides facing each other (I was so proud to have done that correctly!).

So, I stitched the two pieces together, making the apron and is pockets one side of the bag.

I was zooming along so nicely, that I got brave and added a pocket made from half a doily and some trim to the table cloth side.

Then, the tie that was supposed to go around the waist of the apron, was tied together to become the handle of the bag.

Its big and slouchy and can hold lots of magazines or what ever she needs to take with her.

The only problem was my inability to put on a button to hold it closed.

I solved that by making a drawstring bag (also with trim on it!!) that pins (with a heart brooch) to the inside of the big bag, in case she wants to carry something that needs to be secured, like a cell phone or wallet.

The sugar bag and some of the trim came from the box-o-goodies that I won from Heidi. The doily that became a pocket is from Lori. Those gifts came in handy!

Sugarwings had a sleepover with us, so I had to get up early to make this while she was still snoozing this morning.

When she woke up, she thought it was for her. After a day of birthday gifts, she expected more presents. Plus, everything she sees makes her yell "MINE!" now that she is two. This sewing thing went pretty good for me, I was surprised. I might make a bag for her from one of the smaller aprons.

A group of friends is going to take turns supplying the hospital survival kit each week when our buddy goes in for chemo treatments. My suggestion was to have practical things in it of course, but to also throw in one odd thing that will make her wonder what on earth we were thinking when packed it. And maybe make her smile.

My little weird thing for this time? Just a tiny, yellow, plastic bird about the size of a thumb tack. It is in the coin purse with the change.

Sugarwings was her sweet self for her birthday party, that was a relief. What ever evil gnome had come and switched my little doll for the changeling child the day before decided to return her.

We had a simple party, in the park. She got to chase bubbles and play on the swing set.

Her uncle Steve got her a big girl bike and gave her rides on it!

We all had a lovely day, but it was enough to wear the little fairy girl out.

I decided to add one of the pretty 25 cent aprons to my August Giveaway along with this vintage brooch with the blue stone, and the pink clip on earrings.

Whoever wins can wear them all together and look like a spiffy 50s housewife as she cooks dinner for her family.

By the way, have you seen this post at Heather’s? I took the quiz and was humiliated to see that I am a SUPERIOR 50s housewife!! In today’s day and age that isn’t a compliment.

Leave a comment on any post, any time, all comments are entered.

Putting together a baby shower while babysitting a grumpy baby

celebrations, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, flowers, Food and Drink, Sugarwings, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / August 16, 2008

For a while today, I didn’t think I’d be able to pull off tonight’s baby shower!

Sugarwings spent most of yesterday and today with me, and while she was very helpful making birthday cupcakes for her mommy yesterday, today, she was a bit of a challenge.

That is not like her at all, and had me worried. I hope it is just a phase she is going through.

But I kept things very simple for the party and served ready made foods, like a mix of pink jelly beans in a cut glass dish.

And a basket full of mixed nuts with dried fruits.

Then, Beth brought a cheese cake and someone else made brownies and treats. All I had to do was set the table, make some herbal tea/punch and open wine.

Setting the table looks much more complicated than it is. I layered pink flowered table clothes (the baby is a girl!), and borrowed one of Sugarwing’s vintage doll cradles that I had painted roses on to hold the plates and napkins.

The plastic silverware is sitting in her fluffy bunny basket (from Easter) that is lined with a floral napkin.

I snipped a few flowers from my garden and tucked the blooms into child’s tea cups and popped a little ballerina in with the flowers. Since I didn’t have time to go to the store and buy flowers, these little rose buds and a handful of pink baby’s breath from my yard were the only bouquets I had.

I’ve found that, making myself be creative with what I have is much better than going out to buy something ready made. At least it is cheaper!

A few nesting tea cup birds from my Etsy stash of stuff for sale, and some birdies I got from Robin and Lori, and I was done.

I wrapped up a few more packets of bath salts to give as party favors.

Then, placed a doll crib in the living room to fill with presents.

Oh- and I also hung some pink glittered birdies from my Sissy on the chandelier along with a tussie mussie from my friend, Heather. I love the long, dangling ribbons on the cone, and might just leave it there for a bit and enjoy it.

Of course, the fun part was when the doll bed was filled with pretty pink presents for the expecting momma to open! (she was a good sport and wore the party hat I made for her too, even though it was kind of top heavy, but I think that at nine months pregnant, she is used to being off balance by now!)

Sparkle joined the party and spent most of her time on Aunty Beth’s lap.

Beth gave Shanna the cutest gift. She is planning on knitting a blanket for the newborn, but it wasn’t done yet, so she made a tiny one and wrapped it around a dolly as an IOU.

I gave Shanna my all pink version of the Sugarwings and Twinkle book, and added a hand painted cupcake to the teaparty page, along with a teacup that I drew onto rosebud paper and cut out.

I wanted it to have some special touches.

Here are a couple of the names that are being considered for the new little girl due this week:

Lizzelle and Audry– How pretty!! I like them together, Audrey Lizzelle.

Tomorrow is Sugarwing’s 2nd birthday, and I certainly hope she is back to being herself again so she can enjoy her party. It is so sad to see her unhappy and grumpy. I feel like we’ve been given a changling and someone is hiding our sweet little fairy girl!!

When it rains it pours!

Uncategorized

By Karla Nathan / August 14, 2008

Progress! So far, I have 3 books assembled. It takes a while, because I am embellishing each page, and all are a little different.

I’ve made two multi colored, pastel books with lots of glitter for a friend’s daughter and for Sugarwing’s birthday gift. (hers will be laminated, because she is only two). And one with all pink backgrounds for a gift I will give to the friend I am throwing a baby shower for tomorrow night.

Just in time to make a ruffle on this heart, I got a box in the mail from Heidi, full of goodies, including this pretty pink crepe paper.

Its sure fun to win a giveaway, even better when it is something that you really have a use for! Thanks, Heidi!

On the 2 books I mentioned for the older girls, there is a lot of glitter, all the wings are "sugared".

But on the 3rd book, for another friend’s expected new baby, I’ve left off the loose glitter, and only used Stickles, since it is not going to flake at all.

For the text page opposite of the picture where Sugarwings is holding a magic wand, I made a wand to tie to the page.

And on the page with the tea party painting, there is an invitation to come to a party, "in the playroom, after nap time".

I haven’t used my treasured vintage papers on these books, they are more scrapbook style. But I’d love to make a book that is all old stuff for the embellishments, just for me!

Beth and I have plans to get together and make ourselves each an embellished book, so I am sure those will be full of ephemera and special things.

But first, I have a job to do. I have written magazine articles here and there, and consider it a hobby. A very fun hobby, but not a real job.

I take the jobs as they come, and don’t really push it. If something interesting comes up, I consider myself lucky, but I don’t try to do this full time at all.

But, when it rains it pours!!

First, I have the inquiry from "Where Women Create" (not for sure, of course, just an inquiry, and I wouldn’t be the writer, or stylist on this one)

Then, Phyllis Goldstein, editor of many Harris publications asked me to do an article about a romantic bedroom. I’m guessing she’ll use this for Romantic Country and I’ll get to work with that Sweetheart, Fifi again.

So, I suggested my own, that I just redid recently.

Trouble is, I have to have the pictures and story done by August 25!!! Oh my.

My husband is home this week, I have a mess, a party, Sugarwing’s birthday, her Hippy Chick Mommy’s birthday, and whatever happened to my pact with myself to list something on Etsy everyday??

I need to get my friend, Diane (who shot the fall party pictures that Carol and I did for the next issue of Romantic Country) out here with her camera and equipment next week. She says she’ll fit me in.

I’m lucky that I can spend a day with a good buddy while actually doing a job. It feels more like playing that working!

Phyllis also talked to me about some Valentine’s photos Diane and I did 2 years ago.

The last time I had an antique sale at Valentine’s Day, I had Diane come over and photograph some of the displays.

Here are some snippets, I can’t show you the whole picture, yet.

The story will be "What is your Valentine’s Decorating Style?"

I came up with that idea because the three displays are so very different, I didn’t know how to tie them together, so decided to write how to tips to achieve these three looks:

Whimsical and Fun

Vintage Cottage

Glamorous Elegance

I think I’ll enjoy writing this one! Trouble is, it is due Sept. 14th, and I have a trip and house guests planned. Oh well, writing usually goes fast once I have an idea, and these photos are already done and ready.

And I am not complaining, just trying to figure out how to get it done. Whenever I do an article, I always figure it could be the last one I do, so I do my best to make it enjoyable and memorable. I know how lucky I am to have these jobs dropped in my lap.

Well, time to get Sugarwings, she offered to help me bake cupcakes today. First I need to de-glitter myself from making all these books. or we’ll have some shiny sprinkles on those cupcakes.

Babies, babies, babies

Books, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, fairies, family, paintings, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / August 12, 2008

I’ve been ensconced in my studio all day, and although the book is coming along, it is slow going.

So I took a little break from painting my baby to fix up this baby.

I had the perfect bittersweet colored silk dress for her, to match her auburn hair, but as soon as I put it on her, it shredded.

Sometimes, there is such a thing as TOO vintage.

So, I found this little silk number and gaudied it up for her. Here is what I said on Etsy:

"This darling little red head came to me needing some help, wearing nothing but a pony tail and a Made in Japan stamp.

I found a pretty silk dress in my collection of vintage play things, but it was a little boxy and didn’t really flatter her. So, I created an apron with old trims and pale pinkish seam binding ribbon, and it suited her much better. Custom fitted clothes are always so much nicer than "off the rack". (Although, I am sitting here in a ripped tie dye shirt and gym shorts, so I really wouldn’t know what custom fitted clothes are like)

Her long, flowing, pony tail was in good shape, but the hair on her head seemed a little sparse, so I gave her a ringlet of old millinery flowers. She liked them so much, I added some to the hem of her dress.

A few coordinating ribbons in her hair and a vintage, glass, floral button on her dress and she is all ready for her new home.

She is about 5 1/2" tall and her body is a very soft, pliable rubbery material. She’s Made in Japan, so is old, but over all has held up well for her age. Better than I have."

Four paintings are finished for Sugarwing’s birthday book. Two more to go.

Plus the backgrounds for the text.

I’ll take them to a copy shop tomorrow and start making up books, or at least I hope to.

This is my favorite of them all, its number 5. I need to paint it, and then do one more tomorrow morning so I can start working on embellishing the copies. I hope to make another one to give as a gift to a friend. I am throwing her a baby shower on Friday night, she is expecting her first daughter.

Or is that odd, to write a book about my own little girl and then give copies to another little girl? My friend has Dorkies too, actually puppies that are children of my oldest dog, Bookie.

I’m impatiently awaiting the day that Twinkle becomes a puppy momma, she should be ready very soon. And although Bookie is no longer capable of being the father, I have a neighbor down the road with the cutest little 4 pound Dorkie you’ve ever met and he has a bit of a crush on Twinks.

Maybe before winter comes, I’ll be a gramma again! I miss having little puppies running around, I just can’t wait!!

OK, back to painting. I’m running out of time, I’d better keep working. I just wanted to take another break and visit blogland a bit.

PS- I’ve had no time to add to the August giveaway, but promise to when I get caught up.