Today is Present Day! I get to announce the winners of not one but TWO May giveaways!
and
Remember, I ALWAYS have a giveaway going somewhere, some how. All comments are entered into the monthly drawing and the prize is always something different. A new one starts now for June.
What should I have for June’s giveaway? Last month was popular, maybe I’ll do another prize pack.
I know!! It can be a June Garage Sailing Extravaganza Pack! I’ll scour garage sales and find some good presents for you.
Carol and I set up our fall photo shoot for Romantic Country for Fifi, and Sugarwings dropped by to help a bit.
I see a future photo stylist in the makings there!
And you know, we could use all the help we could get. Its not simple to turn a neglected corner of a farm field into a romantic picnic!
Luckily we had a beautiful, perfect day, sunny and no wind. Shooting outdoors is never easy. Diane Guthrie (our photographer) had to run an extension cord across the field so we could set up some lights for a shadowy corner.
The other day in our "dry run" to set up and see what needed to be tweaked, we came up with lots of changes.
One being the planks on the ground under the table legs, so that when we loaded the table, it didn’t slowly sink into the mud and tilt sideways so that things fall off and break (yep, that happened in the dry run).
To create an outdoor room for our Autumn picnic, we hung some curtains from the trees. Vintage French lace curtains from Carol’s stash!
But, halfway through the shoot, they were just not looking right to me on the screen. Great in person, very romantic. But haunted and ghostly in the film, so we had to take some down.
We had hung this Gothic arch window of Carol’s (she has great stuff, check out her website) with more French lace behind it, and that was plenty for atmosphere. Sometimes just a touch of something is all you need. (can you believe that I said that, Miss Gaudy actually said that a touch is enough???)
Oh but, don’t worry, there was some gaudiness! But tastefully done, not over the top like I tend to do, because Carol is magnificent and this article is featuring her creations and ideas.
See the purple brain in the urn? Hmmm, it looks better from the front angle instead of this one. It is a red cabbage is embellished with ribbons and rhinestones and I just thought it was the cutest topiary ever.
I can show you some snippets, but not all of the set up, it will have to be a surprise when the fall issue of Romantic Country comes out.
Carol made these mini crowns from gutter screening, and we set votive cups inside to hold the water and flowers.
Our colors were rich purples, plums, and cream, with contrasting greens.
Neither of us are purple people, but everything looked so pretty together, we might have converted ourselves.
The table was set with such an inviting style, we were tempted to pull up a chair and start the party. But instead we sat on the bumper of the SUV parked in the grass to eat our sandwhiches. After all that work, we couldn’t risk messing the disply up!
The field felt like it was miles from the house ( I guess I was feeling my age today, plus it was so humid that Carol’s glasses steamed up). So, I got out the John Deere and made my hauls back and forth with props the lazy way!
Speaking of lazy, that last load of stuff is still in the wagon, I’d better go get it put away, then treat myself to a relaxing evening with nothing else to do but finish a good book I am near the end of. Maybe in the jacuzzi. With lots of Calgon. And a glass of wine.
Yep, perfect ending to a fun, but tiring day.
Looks like so much fun! I can’t wait for that issue to come out, I always wondered what happened behind the scenes. 🙂
karla, i’m so happy that i won something from one of my favorite blog – yours! thank you so very much. it looks like the photo shoot went well, aside from the curtain thing. are the photos going in a magazine?
jenny
i’m sorry, i guess i missed that romantic country was a magazine. i’m not sure i’ve ever seen one before.
Winner! Winner! Chicken dinner… yeah for me!!!
thanks, thanks, thanks!
Karla, it looked like a fun day. But, the ending sounded so very good.
Karen
Sounds like a lot of work! Question is, would you do it again just to have a picnic there yourself? lol!
Does Romantic Country have a website? I’ve only seen the magazine once at CVS and thought it was a little pricey at $6.95 for such a skinny magazine. I’m curious to know more about it.
Just found your site, looks like you had a grand time. I love the magazine Romantic Country, it always has beautiful ideas. I also think it is neat that you always do a giveaway. How fun is that? Can’t wait to see the fall issue. Thanks for sharing.
what a beautiful “fall” picnic, it’s so romantic.
Congrats to the winners!! Wow…what a great behind the scenes peek! Looks great!
Congratulations to Jenny and Dede for their win in the giveaway!!!
The photo shoot looks like it was so much fun to set up!! I don’t think I’ve ever seen that magazine, but now I’m definitely going to have to pick up a copy!!!
Michele
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com
Sure Miss Gaudy ‘a touch is enough!!! – I don’t think so.
Sounds like you had a fun time with the shoot
Alison
Thanks for the sneak peek. I can’t wait to find that magazine for sale near me. It looks like there will be at least one beautiful story in there. I know, I know they are all beautiful but yours will be the best I’m sure.
Joanne
The shoot looks like so much fun… thanks for the sneak peek. I’m excited there will be a card for subscriptions AT LAST to Romantic Country. It is hard to locate here in my area, and I sometimes have had to order it from a local Barnes and Noble….. yay…. Can’t wait to see your picnic through the lens next fall.
Oh, you tease!! Everything I can see looks just lovely! Is that an earring placed as a napkin ring holder decoration? I just LIVE to read the next Romantic Country. I SURE do wish they would let us subscribe! Put in a word about that to Fifi!!
Y’all look so cute & happy out in that Kansas field!!!
Big Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
I drag stuff around w/ the aid of my riding mower ALL THE TIME! Too funny! Although I’ve never hung curtains from trees. Eagerly awaiting fall and the fall issue of RH’s. How did that Calgon work out for you?!
It sounds like a truly fun day! I can’t wait to see it in the magazine. It’s something I’ll really look forward to.
Wow, your “give-a-ways” are getting better all the time. Lucky Jenny and Dede!
~elaine~
Hi Karla!
I just saw that you won the Giveaway at A Lovely Thing! I wanted you to know that when my son plugged in the numbers on Random.org, you were second… I know this isn’t going to make you do cartwheels, but I did find comfort that you had won another Giveaway!
Congrats to the winners of your Giveaway!
Hugs, KJ
Hi Karla,
Congrats to the winners of your May giveaway. It looked like you had a very busy day, looked like a lot of fun though, I hope that you will post the resulting photos when the mag comes out as I am unable to get Romantic Country over here and I would love to see the end results.
Cheers Linda
Wow! Beautiful- I’m not a purple person either but you made it look great!
What fun, what work…
I am looking forward to see all the wonderful magic in the fall issue…
Louise
I cannot wait to get that issue! Lovely lace backdrops…thanks for the preview!
everything looks so beautfiul! i’ll be excited to see the finished product!
This must have been so much fun. I am anxious to see all of the pictures.
Congratulations to the winners.
Hi Karla!
Congratulations to the winners!!
I cannot wait to see your feature in Romantic Country! It is so funny, because when you look at a magazine, everything seems so perfect, you would never think a thing could go wrong, lol! I just know it will be beautiful! And Sugarwings will love knowing that she helped create those beautiful picturea!
Hugs,
Amy
What fun to get a behind the scenes look….it’s amazing the amount of work involved. I’ll be sure to look for this issue. Linda
Oh Karla you crack me up! I can just picture it all, isn’t it the learning lessons while doing something that make it all fun?! Sounds like a good time, both with the photo shoot, and this evening with the wine, a good book, and the jacuzzi!
Dede
looks like you had great fun Karla 🙂 congrats to the winners xxx
Sounds and looks like you had fun! I can’t wait to see the pictures in the fall magazine. Hopefully by then, I will have a subscription of my own so I don’t have to chase it down at the book store!!
It truly is so much fun to see what you are up to!
Karla
What fun to look behind the scenes – we never know what’s gone on before and after those beautiful magazine spreads.
Congratulations to your winners!
Lorrie
Congrats to Jenny and Dede!
The photo shoot looks like a good one, but, they always are. I can’t wait to see it in print! I love Carol and her blog as well. How fun would it be to work with the two of you all day?!!!
Have a great week!
Ahhh, it’s already looking so good! Can hardly wait to see that issue of Romantic Country!
Hugs
Cielo
How fun! There is a whole world behind the scenes, isn’t there? And illusion is everything! Well, it looked absolutely gorgeous and like great fun! So glad all systems were go!
….hasn’t time told you that CALGON lies? been there tried it..and you don’t go ANYPLACE!
….I’m enjoying the visuals of the shoot…thanks for sharing…I sent off Aunt carolines card to you today…hope you enjoy it!
hugz
Everything looks so beautiful. I know lots of hard work went into all of this. You deserve to put your feet up with that good book…Smiles…mary
It all looks so glamorous in the magazines but I can see it’s a lot of work–especially on a steamy day like yesterday! Thanks for sharing some behind-the-scenes with us…looking forward to seeing the results in the fall!
How COOL is this Karla! So neat seeing behind the scenes like this!
Joy
It takes so much work to look so grand! You guys are blessed to have such a creative streak! I love the little flower holders – good idea! I’d like to be at the party around that table!
Hi Karla!
I can hardly wait to see everything you do for the magazine shoot! How exciting!! Have fun!
Hugs, Sherry
Thanks for sharing your story on what goes on behind the scenes! It looked like a lot of fun.
FANTASTIC!! wish we didnt have to wait so long for the USA magazines to get out here in Australia :0(
Alicia ~ time worn style
You are such a slacker. Always off relaxing. j/k!!
Seriously, the photo shoot looks amazing! Thanks for giving us the inside scoop. It’s nice to have friends who are so well connected, lol!!
Wow, that is so amazing all the work that goes into a photo shoot. Thanks for sharing all that beautiful and hard work with the rest of us in blog-land.
Hi Karla,
Thank you so much for sharing these neat behind the scenes glimpses! Can’t wait to see the magazine 🙂
Hugs,
Dena
Wow..I’m so envious. I hope to have a day like this! I loved the Antique curtains in the trees. Too bad that didn’t make the cut. You have the best job in the world!
What an awesome shoot!! Carol is the sweetest and seems to have the best stash. Can’t wait to see the issue.
Karla,
Thanks so much for the behind-the-scenes peek! Can’t wait to see the finished product on the fall issue… looks like a thoroughly fun, exhausting, exhilarating day!
Yay to Jenny and Dede! woo hoo!
I can’t wait to see it. I know how much work that all is!
It looks like great fun, Karla! Whenever I come to your blog, I always get myself comfy because I KNOW I’m going to be here a while trying to take in all of it, you’re fascinating! xo Holly