My little fairy dolls are flying out of here! I will miss them, but I just bought a big bag full of Nancy Anns that have fairy wings in their future!
One thing that is fun for me about my Etsy shop is wrapping up the purchases. I try to put some time and creativity into each package.
This little sprite is going out in a tulle bag topped off with a hand dyed vintage rose.
I’d bought a hat filled with yellow roses, which aren’t my fave, so I thought I’d try getting them wet and spritzing them with dye to see how it turned out. I’m pretty happy with the results.
Whille I had the dye out, I thought I’d try it out on these shoes.
I found them at a garage sale for 50 cents yesterday. My feet are so fat it is hard to find shoes and I love to find some already broken in!! These were comfy as can be, but an ugly orange. I thought I’d be happy wearing them around the studio, but then decided to try the dye on them.
The dye has some gold sparkle to it, very shiny and glinty in the sunlight! I added some more glitz with a few charms, and now I think these might be my vacation sandals for my trip to Florida this week to see my Aunt Caroline and take her the big old bag of 100 (plus!) cards.
Will my feet turn colors from the dye? Maybe…. 
One of last week’s garage sailing purchases was a stack of folders for 5 cents each. They are perfect for packaging my Cottage Collage Kits on Etsy.
Also, I think that the person who buys the papers will be happy to receive a storage folder for them, as a surprise.
Although it looks like I am finding plenty of goodies on garage sailing days, I feel like I am losing my mojo.
Besides toys, and clothes for Sugarwings, I am finding very little lately compared to my past shopping. Maybe I am more selective?
I do like this 25 cent chandelier drop bowl. Its not old, but has the ‘look’ anyway.
And I can’t wait to serve something tasty from the $1 green compote at my next tea party!
This compote is a pretty one too, I paid a bit more for it, not typical of me, it was $4.
The cute kitschy kitchen utensils will be included in my June Garage Sailing Giveaways Prize pack. They will look pretty with the green and white theme I have going on in the gifts.
I am still receiving cards for Aunt Caroline’s 100th birthday. This one is from Kathy at Kathyscottage.blogspot.com, how cute!!
Hopefully ALL the cards are photographed and loaded on Flickr. I chose a diefferent vintage wallpaper background for each card, to set them off.
I would hate to leave any out, they are so thoughtful and unique!!
If you sent a card, please check out the Flickr site and add any comment to your card, more info, such as blog address, home state or country, or anything at all will be appreciated. Also, some have no names, so if you see one that doesn’t and know whose it is, or if it is yours, please do leave a comment under the photo on Flickr and let everyone know!
Another fun thing to look at is a doll gallery that Bethany is hosting on the 25th. I entered this one, oh, and she is for sale, of course! $15 if you are interested.
She is painted with crackle paint, and decked out in vintage wallpaper, flowers, rhinestones and ribbons, with fairy wings sprouting on her back.
I think I am about caught up on things I need to do before my trip. This week I:
painted a pole on a business downtown
listed things on Etsy
photographed and posted over 100 cards on flickr
repainted my bedroom and rearranged my living and dining room
bought new shorts to wear to FL (ugh, not fun, after 50 years old)
I still have to paint two shutters, go through a HUGE stack of bills, and pack.
I should have done some of that earlier, since Sugarwings will be staying with me tonight. Oops. I’m sure she’d love to help paint those shutters!
The store owner was happy with her pole. She had at first wanted red flowers, but I tried that and from across the street they looked like blobs. The flowers needed more depth and red is hard to get that with. So, I changed them to shades of pink with red centers, which stands out nice on the color she chose for the background.
I used lots of blue undertones in the leaves so they would pop against the peachy color. Contrast is important with big, outdoor art projects.
I feel so good about getting all this done before my trip, it is a relief to have those cards on the site, they are so precious, I want everyone to see them!
I won’t be able to mail any more packages after Monday, till next week when I get back, but there are a couple of dolls still on Etsy if you are interested.
The few times I have dyed stuff it seems like baking it out in the sun helps “set” it. Love all the pretties! I didn’t see our cards on flickr but I’ll look again and upload a pic if it’s not on there. 🙂 Have fun in Florida we can’t wait to see you when you get back 🙂
Oh good! I am so glad that the card got to you in time to take to your Aunt Caroline!:>) You get more done in a week than I do in a month! Have fun in Florida!
Thanks for stopping by to visit me. Although my vocabulary may have something to do with my mental acuity, menopause has certainly taken its toll of vocabulary retrieval. It took me three days to think of the word “smoldering”; I didn’t need the word for anything, I just couldn’t think of it for the life of me.
Love the Poll out front of the store you did, you are at great artists. The little fairies are so cute have a great trip and in joy.
hugs
alaura
Oh my word! You are one talented lady! I’m so happy you left a comment on my blog so I had a way of finding you! By the way, I’m 51. To me the worst part is men-o-pause. Aside from that, it’s not bad. Well, the waist-that-went-away, that’s kind of bad, I guess. And then there’s the squinting at everything and having to make your fonts so big so YOU can read it while writing… Oh well, that’s life. Better than the alternative, huh! Anyway, I’ve bookmarked you and I’ll be back!
Brenda
Karla, you have been one busy lady. The pole painting looks great; it should attract a lot of customers.
I looked at all of the cards for Aunt Caroline. They are just awesome.
Karla, you are so amazing! Everything you creat is so beautiful! I LOVE your fairies and will have to have one to represent my secret garden 🙂
We are going on vacation starting Saturday 🙂 I hope you have a fabulous time and a safe trip!
Hugs,
Amy
Wow… if I’m gone I miss so much! I think your pole turned out perfectly! That looks so great. I could see you doing that all around the city! I love the compote you found too. I think this summer I’m going to start hitting all the second-hand shops and flea markets I can find. Everyone is pinching pennies these days so I hope I find something. Have a great time in Florida! I miss it already. Siesta Keys is a perfect beach…you were right! I didn’t make a card for your Aunt but send her a hug from me and tell her there’s a little Caroline here who is honored to share her name!! Thank you so much for submitting a doll to my show too!! I love it and I can’t wait for everyone to see it on Wednesday!! Take care! xoxo Bethany
Karla, you have been busy…took a look at all the cards and they are just wonderful. Your aunt will be surprised. Your altered sandals look great and comfy.
Karen
Oh I love the pole you painted, surely that will be a drawcard to that shop, I am sure I would go that way just to look at the beautiful pole!!! Have a magical day, kiss noises Linda Lilly Cottage.
When do you sleep? Do you sleep? You are an inspiration!
I love your yard sale finds. I find that I am being more selective also in my hunt for treasures. But maybe that’s a good thing. xoxo, Joanna
I loved your finds and the shoes look really great….Mary
The pole is beautiful! That will certainly draw people in to the shop! Have a terrific time in Florida. I looked at all the cards on flickr, they are wonderful!
Hi Beth,
Wow you have been busy lately, love what you did with the pole.
Cheers Linda
I absolutely adore this last photo with the fairy on top of the bottle. LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!
xo
Cath
What a super blog you have! I’ve been so enjoying it! Your kitten is adorable & I love the fairies too.
🙂
Jayne
I’m not sure how you pull it all off, but wow! Love the pole, by the way. The pink is perfect. And that scoop was definitely a blast from my past! I’ll check out the cards — enjoy your Florida sojourn in your snappy new sandals!
Well you certainly made those shoes fabulous and oh so you! I know what you mean about losing mojo – maybe it is the summer – I just want to be outside and not in my basement craft room!
Karla
Loving those sandal charms Karla!
xo natalea
LOVE the dyed shoes and how you decorated them. I’m off to rummage thru my closet and see what I can find!!!
wow! what a great post! Safe travels and have fun visiting your great aunt C.
Just thought I’d pop in and wave you on your way to Florida and Aunt Caroline’s Birthday bash and your vacation. Have an AWESOME time. Happy happies.
Karla, I absolutely love your handpaintings, especially your gorgeous roses. Your stairs are just beautiful.
I love how you dyed the rose! It came out so pretty!
I also think it’s so sweet that you make a special effort to create a work of art when packaging the treasures you’re mailing to your customers/friends. I know from receiving something recently from Etsy, my first time buying from them, that it was SUCH a special surprise to see how pretty it was wrapped. I’m sure the recipients of your packages really appreciate the extra effort you put into the packaging process.
I also think the pole you painted in front of the store is gorgeous! What kind of store was it? I definitely like the pink more than I think I would’ve liked the red……but I’m a pink fanatic!!!
I love the doll you have in the last picture!! She’s darling!!
Have fun on your trip!!
Hugs,
Michele
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com
I would never have thought to dye the shoes – you are seriously a creative genius!! 🙂
~Lolly