My Handsome Husband whisked me away to Chicago for the night to see our favorite musician, Lucinda Williams in concert!
Typically, I'm not a concert goer. Too bad, my husband loves them, and would really appreciate it if I'd go with him to more shows. But Lucinda is such a favorite of ours, and the setting was a more intimate club, not a big convention center or stadium. We had great seats, and she is so real and down to earth, I'd go to a lot more concerts if they were as nice as this. Not too loud, not too crowded, just right. Geez, do I sound like an old fuddy duddy? But, I've always been like this even in high school. I'm just not a concert person.
Even though the hall was all black and set up with typical stage lighting and paraphenelia, I had this pretty view above our table. The building used to be an old theater and they were smart enough to save the intricate plaster work on the ceiling when they remodeled it.
Before the concert, we went out to dinner at Art Smith's cozy little restaurant, Table 52. I'd seen him on Top Chef Masters, and if you've ever read my blog, you know what a tv junkie I am, so I was excited to go to a place I'd heard of on one of my regular programs. I was as excited as Sugarwings would have been if she'd gone to Arial's grotto for dinner.
And not only was it a lovely place to eat, the food was amazing. And I do like good food.
The next day, I flew home just in time to make it over to my friend, Angie's house to be a part of a surprise party for her. She had NO idea that we were all in her home waiting for her, it was so cute to see her reaction and to see all the love and caring that her family put into the planning.
See the painting behind us? She
got it at an estate sale, and took it to Antiques Roadshow. She was
told it is worth $8,000, not bad for a $30 estate sale piece, huh?
Why do I show bad photos of myself? Yes, I was pretty tired, (and look it, too) after two days of travel and being stuck in Chicago traffic, and waiting at the airport for hours on standby, trying to get back a bit early so I could be home for the surprise.
But honestly, NO ONE would look good next to Angie, she is such a beauty.
I guess you could say she is the fairest of them all.
Tonight, Sugarwings and I are having a girl's night. Its just the two of us and we are going to spend it watching Snow White and making caramel apples. She loves to act out her favorite parts of movies, so I bought her this gown to wear and I am prepared to be the wicked witch. I am always assigned the scary parts, the wicked witch, a flying monkey, or the big, bad wolf.
In the meantime, I have a few hours before she gets here for our Snow White Festival and will start assembling the Grumpy Fairy books. I'm extremely happy with the paper quality, and color. But am not so happy with the mountain of work ahead of me, binding them all myself.
Especially since I decided to hand glitter highlights on the pages. Stickles is a wonder product, and the sparkles won't rub or flake off like gluing down regular glitter, so I think this is the answer to getting Sugarwing's wings to look sugary and not having glitter all over the reader's hands.
I'll let you know if I ever get any ready to sell… I hope to have them in the Boutique in time for holiday shopping, and also have some to take to Silver Bella. But I will for sure have one ready to give away for the October Giveaway.
All comments all month count for the prize. (I do appreciate your comments!)
I have got to place my order now for a sweet book! Gina would LOVE it!!!
DONT YOU LOVE THE THINGS WE DO FOR OUR GRANDBABIES…MINE ARE 17..18..20..NOT EXACTLY BABIES LORRAINE
love the idea of a girls night :o) My little lady decided that she needed a tea party this afternoon, and demanded pink cake. Luckily I was able to find some in the supermarket this morning!
Well, I think you photograph just fine. I always have a face like a bag of spanners (hence the lack of piccies of me on my diary!), the worry there is that supposedly the camera never lies!!! ha ha ha! I beg to differ!!! ;o)
I’m not much of a concert goer etiher, never have been. I went to Earls Court once to see Paul McCartney (an 18th bd pressie), it was fab, but I haven’t been to a concert since. And that was 20 years ago now.
Have a lovely weekend. Enjoy the girls night. Your books are look fab, by the way, and I’d still like to put my name to buy one please :O) xx
I love Lucinda Williams. She comes to Mpls/St. Paul fairly often (in fact, she just got married during one of her show here), so I’ve seen her a few times. I love the “Essence” album best, that “Car Wheels”.
What a lovely combination of parties you have had – romantic, friendly, and fairy tale party. Your book looks wonderful. Have fun putting it all together.
Karla, I would be intrested in buying one of your books for my grandaughters. You do wonderful work.
I don’t know if Sugarwings would be interested, but the dancer who modeled for Snow White, gave a very nice interview here. http://disney.go.com/inside/mainattraction/090929/index.html The dancer, Marge Champion was just a teenager when the project began and she talks about her experience.
Hope your girls night was wonderful.
~Marilee
Karla, you cracked me up with your comment about being assigned the scary characters! Have fun tonight!
Hi Karla,
I’m happy to read that you had a good
time at the concert and I love the Grumpy
Fairy book. I would definitely buy one!! : )
Sugarwings must be thrilled to have a special
night with you.
Hugs,
Janis
Karla glad you enjoyed your trip to Chicago. It is a wonderful tourist city but as usual people who live there do not enjoy it as they should. One reason is the traffic to downtown from the suburbs can run 1-2 hours depending on the way the wind blows. That restaurant does look enticing and maybe next summer we will try it. Did you get to see the new Millenium Park and the Jay Pritzger open air pavilion. It was designed by Frank Geary a world reknown architect – he did the Balboa in Spain and the Cleveland Rock and Roll Museum. I have to brag on him as he was born in Toronto same as I and went to the same public school albeit a few years ahead of me. Also if you haven’t been there in the summer for a while take the architectural river cruise and you will be amazed by all the construction and old buildings turned into condos along the river.
I sound like a travel agent.
Hugs
FredaB
Wow what a fun trip for you and hubby. Your family is very blessed to have you as a Wife, Mom, and Grandmother!
What fun you have had and you have a right to be tired! The pages for your book look so nice and I am sure the finished product will be wonderful!!
Karla,
You’ve become quite the jet-setter! It seems you are always on the go. Glad you had a great time. My daughter knows all the dialogue from the wizard of Oz so I bet Sugarwings will know all of her favorites, too. Have a wonderful “girls” night!!
Sandy
PS I signed up for art class today!!
You know… if I was going to be glittering a lot of the same things…. I would make a stencil of the wings and then use a foam brush and pounce the glitter/glue in the area. Super fast and less chance of making a mess. 🙂 Easy-peasy, neat and fast~
Ohhhhh and if your wanting to try this, simple cardstock covered on both sides with packing tape works like a charm in keeping the stencil lasting for hours!
~Cheryl
Sounds like you had a great time with your DH! Hopefully you get some rest!
Good luck with the mountain of work on your book, Karla. Just think how fabulous it’s going to be when it’s all done!
Congratulations on the great date! Such a treat to get a night out you both enjoyed.
And Angie’s surprise party looked like all sorts of fun. Plus Sugarwings gets to have a Snow White festival with you? Lucky girl!
Good luck with all those Grumpy Fairy books. Maybe for your next tutorial you could do one of tips and tricks on self-publishing? Or one on all kinds of glitter do’s and don’ts?
and now since princess maddy is in school…sirr maxx brings me the spatula…and asks what we are makin today….cuz “i’m ready, nonnie! let’s COOK!!” AH YES, chicago traffic…we are just 90 miles north of there buy my hubby goes thru it often for work…and when we went down for maddy’s bday celebration in august to American Girl…we almost didn’t arrive on time…and when i called to say we were almost there…they had no sympathy for us…like be here or change your plans…we did make it with 2 min to spare…whew!
Your adventures with Sugarwings brings back memories of my daughter. We would play Cinderella and I had to be the wicked stepmother. We usually played when I did housework or yard work. Hee hee, we got a lot done.
~elaine~