Karla's Cottage

A Book of Enchantments

The weekend in CA at An Enchanted Affaire was filled with fun and friendship-from so many nice people...

People like Charlotte, who I've known a long time through blogs...

And my husband's sister, Terry, who came along to her first big art weekend...

And goofy gals who I am lucky to meet up with again at various getaways like this...

And tables full of new people to get to know. 

Teaching at one of these is the best way to meet people, I was flitting from one end of the room to the other, pausing to talk to everyone at the tables. 

Here is part of my table.  I took classes as well as teaching this time, and asked to have "newbies" sit with me if they wanted. It was fun to get to know some different people. At most events, I sit with my same friends every time (and really LOVE that) but I realized that I'd met them all at these kind of places and I should open myself up to meeting some more new friends. 

Good idea!!

This is another one from the class I taught. Being up and moving around during class made for a good time to get photos of everyone at work. Normally, during class, I'm so involved with the project, I don't get to see what everyone else is doing.

Hopefully, the ladies enjoyed the class.  The first half of it was pretty much busy work, tons of gluing paper to card stock to create the background of the book.

After making the pages, we crafted the cover and assembled the book.

It looked like most people at least got that much done, not many were able to start decorating, though.

But I provided an overflowing kit full of goodies, so they had plenty to play with later when they were ready to start embellishing.

If I teach this again, I think it would be better in an all day class, so we can do the decorating of the interior of the book too.

There were lots of examples for interiors, and many ladies took photos inside of my own books for later on when they finish theirs.  

Here are some completed covers by the students.

Here is another.

When they started working, I'd told them that it was absolutely impossible for any two of them to have the same book when they finished, even if they tried their durndest.

With vintage supplies, and a big page of collage images to chose from, the completed books were bound to be filled with variety!

Since my book was titled, " A Book of Enchantments" I decided that I needed a few enchantment spells to add to it.  So, I wrote 4 little poems about finding joy, happy dreams, a true prince, and hope.  They are printed on vellum and are part of the embellishment package.

(by the way, I made extra kits, if you want to buy one for $65, there are a few left. Many ladies bought a second while there, so I think that means they liked them)

EDIT:  my email is down, if you could leave a comment or contact me on FB, I'll check those to see if anyone is ordering kits.  They are selling, but there is still a few left.

Kim had asked all the teachers to provide a prize for the drawings, so I brought this assemblage.

It was won by my pal, Natalie, another teacher.

I LOVED HER CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I used a smokey quartz and ruby on my own creation.

I'll leave you with a few more photos from my class, and still have some more pictures of the event to show you later.

Gloating in my Early Birdness

Well, I still don't have the piles of extra wallpaper photographed and listed for sale in my Boutique. But the KITS ARE DONE!!!

  As I was cutting up hundreds upon hundreds of pages, I thought it was going to seriously deplete my supply.  But, I think I'm safe there... (I have two more storage places for papers too)

The fairy tale books that I have been buying went up on top of the Treat Cabinet for storage.  I like having them separate from my other hoarded piles of old books, so that I don't accidentally use the pages for wrapping paper.   These are special! 

My poor, poor studio, still has not recovered from kit making for an Enchanted Affaire.  But look! The kits are DONE.  Two giant boxes are filled up and ready to mail when the time comes. What a nice feeling to have it all packed up a month early.

Well, mostly all of it.  I still have to box up examples, extras, etc to take along.  I'll probably add those to  my suitcase.  These boxes are heavy...  what makes me decide to make such elaborate, complicated, heavy kits to ship all the way across the country??? I tend to get carried away by what would be exciting to do, not by what is practical to do.

The kits are wrapped in papers and ribbons that can be used when creating the project. And what is fun about these packets of goodies, is that no two are just alike. It would be impossible for two people to make the same book.  And they are chock full of The Good Stuff. Yummy!

There is only so much time in the day, so I try to make the most of it!

There is not much new around here, I'm still wading through piles of Snow White books and items to stuff into the kits.

See what I mean?  Every table in the studio is heaped up with carefully sorted (even though it doesn't look like it) goodies to do with the kits.  I even set up two extra tables, and also filled tubs. 

But hey, there is HOPE! Look at the stack of wrapped kits on the far table, in front of the window. Yep, the packaging is almost done.  The rest of the room is just littered with the detritis of making the kits.

Those stacks of cut wallpaper on the table?  Some of those are sorted into piles, ready to photograph and add to the shop.  My son and I got just a tad carried away on those chopping and ironing days we had.

But the truth about why nothing else is happening around here, is that I am soooo hooked on the books themselves.   I've made up four examples for the class, including one that I'm am keeping for myself and personalizing with family fairy tale photos.

On this page, I've taken a page from one of the children's story books, and cut Black Beauty from it, with another page behind the horse as I cut it out so that I ended up with a second animal shape.  (it was an accident, but one that I am glad that I did!)   I added a unicorn horn to each, flipped one over, layered them on the paper, and tinted them with glitter markers.

Dewdrop adores "honies" above all things.  She is a "My Little Pony" addict, and calls them honies.   So, this page is for her.

There are other things I could be doing, but this is more fun.  Plus, I thought the students  might appreciate having samples in different stages to look through.  This one will be almost complete, but I am saving space in it to add pictures from the event itself.

There has also been some Birdsong3 behind the scenes details to tend to.  It's funny how much time such things take up, even when the event in months away.  Oh, but how worth it! I'm really excited to know that I have both of these fun weekends to look forward to.

Hopefully, once I get all of these kits boxed and ready to mail, I can concentrate on making Birdsong projects and kits.  And selling that pile of wallpaper. And doing my taxes (Beth offered to help!! Yay, there is nothing better than having an accountant buddy at tax time. And all I have to do for her is redo her antique mall booth.  Heck, that is a pleasure to do, not a hair pulling, tear inducing, fork in the eye, task like tax prep).

There are also extra kits from last year's Birdsong that I forgot about. And need to add to the Boutique. I'd planned on listing them last year and haven't yet. I also found a stack of surplus Fairy Book covers that I'd planned to sell too. 

But there is only so much time in the day.  You know what I have noticed?  I can keep going full tilt and workiing my backside off (not really, it actually seems to grow, not diminish) and never really get ahead.  Because there is always more to do, and only so much time in a day.

I've noticed that my income seems to level out, no matter what I am working on, because nothing is "extra", it ends up taking the place of something else.  So, if I do shows, I am ignoring my shop.  If I concentrate on the shops, I am not having time to make things.  And on and on.

You just can't do it all. At least not at the same time. But that is what is such fun about my so called job.

I can switch it up, go from classes, events, creating, selling, shows, one to the next.  It certainly never gets boring!  When I focus on one area, it does very well, especially the Boutique. But my life would be very dull if all I did was photograph and list and ship every day.  So, I'm glad I can stretch out and try different venues and take breaks from the online shop.  It's still there, still selling, but not as much when I'm not adding to it reguarly.

Yes, changing my focus might not be getting me ahead financially, but it sure keeps me hopping and happy!

 

The Love keeps going after Valentines Day!

My Valentine Journal is still under construction. What is fun about these books, is that you can just keep adding and layering as much as you'd like. 

When the postman delivered some beyond beautiful mail to me, I saw that all the cards that came were  perfect additions to my book.

This heart shaped collage was from my pal, Lori.  It's meant to hang, and I had it hanging up till the holiday was over, then I decided to glue it into my journal as a pocket.  The slight over hang to the side is nice, because she has used pretty papers on the back of the heart too and I'm glad that they peek out.

I've always admired Lori's work and am excited to have a special example of it in my Book of Love.  

What's in the pocket?  Love notes from Sugarwings.  She wanted her artwork included in the book too, so she made some hearts and notes for me to slip into pockets and envelopes.

Guncle Randy made this card for me. He is a thoughtful guy who whips up cards for every occasion to send to everyone he loves.   That, plus working 60-70 hours a week as an award winning, top salesman for his employer. And taking care of his family of 4 pooches, cultivating a floral fairy garden, and making gourmet dinners with his husband, Guncle Kevin. 

He is a guy who seems to be able to do it all.  And who always thinks`` of surprising others with special treats in the little spare time he has. Which makes the cards he sends even more special.

Hope sent me a card from her company, Paper Relics, and after gluing it onto a page, I added the words:

Hope

Love

Faith

All three of these sweet cards came from friends who I don't see nearly often enough, and that I enjoy so much when I do.  My Valentine Journal started out as a love note to my husband, but as I worked on it, the pages became filled with family and friends.  And puppies. Even a chicken.  There is just toooo much love out there to limit the pages. 

Its good to know that there is room for the book to grow too.  When I think its done and full, there is still space for more heartfelt sentiments, the more I layer and add, the better it looks and the more meaningful it becomes.

ps- if you are into journalling and are sometimes stumped for the ideal quote to add to your pages, Hope has an app for that now!! I purchased it and it's a fun one. 

Vintage Fairy Tales

Right now, my world is filled with up with fairy tales! Yep, I'm getting kits made for the April shindig that Kim is throwing. (she has had a cancellation and has TWO spots open if you'd like to join us there!!)

My project is a journal, called the Book of Enchantments.   I decided to do a journalling page for it.  Here is a snippet. It's  a drawing, with the words and doodles, over a page from a 1940s Snow White book.  I'm copying it before adding the markers and inks, so the guests can either glue it into their books and tint it as they wish, or they can use it for ideas to create their own doodles.

I've colored in about 6 or 7 so far, its kind of addicting. I sent one to Beth too, and she said that coloring books for adults would be fun to have. I agree, its soothing to do.

For the last few months, I've been collecting old, old, fairy tale books to use for this class. I've been lucky to find lots of Snow White and Rose Red in them, so that each student will get originals from those stories.  I'm also including other fairy tale and princess pages in the kits.  Everyone will get an assortment along with the old wallpaper, lace, ribbon, and trims.

So far, I've torn out and stacked up hundreds of pages.  As I go through the books, I'm setting aside the Cinderella pages, since there are so many. I'd like to do some thing special with those later on. (a class, a swap book with kits, not sure what, but something lovely and princessy)

I've also saved all of the Jorenda and Joringle stories.  My sister named her youngest daughter JoRenda, after this tale.  I thought I'd save those pages for a family craft project next time I get together with my sisses.

Okay, back to work.  Or maybe to do some more coloring....

 

At the Valentine Journal Workshop AND some free images

I had such a nice time at the Valentine Journal workshop. There is something wonderful about a Valentine theme, that always makes me happy. Roses? Hearts? PINKS? All of it!

We had a small group, so only needed to use half of the studio. I used this half to set out extra supplies.  So, not only did we have kits stuffed with Vintagey goodies, I had enough extras to make dozens more books.  One table was just used to display previously made books as examples. I showed my travel journal, my samples for An Enchanted Affair, the Valentine book, as well as a couple of books from swaps I'd been in. 

By the way, Kim was able to squeeze in one more table at her arty event this spring, and has sold all but one space at it! If you are interested, better jump in fast! Hope to see you there.

Another table held lots of extra pretty papers, while a third was all tidbits, ribbons, lace, and embellishments.

I should do fresh flowers in my studio more often, its a nice treat.

Our local grocery store usually marks a dozen roses down to $1.99 every Monday, but for some reason, they were on sale this Friday too. So, I was able to set out flowers all around the house.

When prepping for the class, I spent about 14 hours making kits, and thought I might just end up running away from home to get away from them.  What was I thinking, waiting till the last day to make them???? That isn't like me.  I sure learned a lesson, and will be getting a jump start on spring time class kits so this won't happen again. 

Kits can be fun to make, and I enjoy playing with my piles of papers and deciding what to include, but not at the last minute.  I had to write instructions, edit photos, sort papers, plus dozens of other things that make the kits successful and well thought out. It shouldn't be done the day before the workshop!! 

I made up what I thought were lots of extras, but not quite enough. They sold out in one day, thank you to all who bought them!  It is never any more trouble to make an extra 10 or so while putting together enough for a class, so I always make some to sell. Plus one for myself, so that I can pull things out during class to demonstrate and know that the kits are functional and have what they need in them.

The best part of making a kit, is seeing how it is used.

Of course, since they are vintage, no two are exactly alike, but still I love the way everyone changes things around so much and puts their own stamp of uniqueness on their work.

And its very pretty to see how far some go to change it up.

We do mini workshops for holidays throughout the year, just for my friends and their kids to come over and play, and of course, I have Birdsong too. (Which I have not done a single thing for yet this year! I need to gather my thoughts and get the website done for sign ups!!)

We did a Halloween gathering and then this little Valentine party, and I really enjoyed both. I would like to do more small, one afternoon workshops if possible. Its so much more intimate than a big to do. Of course, even Birdsong is not big at all, compared to most arty weekends, its 25 people and all cozy in my studio. 

Still, it would be nice to do a smaller class like this and have them quarterly or so.  Just a thought.  10 people or less, hanging out, chatting  all together instead of broken off in groups around the room.

Either way, no matter how many come, I love having company in my studio.  Its not that I don't enjoy a good day alone with my creations, but since I have soooo many of those days, working all alone, its nice to have some company.

I can't imagine any other job than the one I do (although the thought of one that pays better, is pretty tempting), but it does get lonely. Which is why having a blog and all of my blog friends is so nice.

Of course, these guys too! They are great company when they aren't stealing things from me to shred.  Dorothy can't jump or climb because of the injury she had when she was tiny, but Albie is good at getting on the table and grabbing something fun for them to rip up.

Auntie Beth brought them some Valentine tees, and even girlie-ed up Dorothy's with some lace.

She also brought this. Beautiful, isn't it?

One of my guests brought this lovely, old image, and I was asked to copy it to share. I thought maybe you would like to have it too.  Just click on the image to open it to a larger window, then save it to your computer to print.

And this one was in one of the kits and I was asked to copy it also. 

When scanning it, I took a few moments to edit it in a romantic way.  Please save these the same way as the cabin picture.

Valentine Workshop

It's been fun to make a Valentine journal for the upcoming workshop.  The books are stuffed with vintagey goodness, and lots of fun, romantic details.

Since it's a journal, I decided to add some "journaling" which I have never done before.  Of course, leave it to me to decide to teach a class about something I've never tried.  But I think I worked out the basics on what to do in which order for a balanced effect. How to fix mistakes (they happen, for sure!) and some other tidbits of advice. 

Seems to me that journaling isn't any different than other art forms that I do.  It needs to be pretty and looked at as much as an arty creation as it is a written paragraph or phrase.

I'm printing out some prompts for students to use, and will have some basic guidelines to help get them going too.

I've been gathering up piles of pretties for supplies.

  I've got lots of old Valentines,

Victorian postcards,

Charms,

and German die cuts of roses, plus tons of ephemera  to use as the pages themselves.

We will build a book from scratch from old papers in neutral tones, then fill it up with lots of rosy toned hearts and flowers.

The cover will be decorated similar to an old fashioned box of chocolates, with a flocked heart, ruffles, and a millinery rose.

We'll add love notes, and envelopes to save romantic souvenirs from our sweeties.  In my own book, I'm making places for photos too.  All students can email pictures to me, and I will size, edit and print them for the books and have the pictures ready when everyone arrives.

The class will be all day, at my studio in Lawrence on Saturday, Feb.2nd. 

Lunch and luscious chocolate treats are, of course, included!

Cost is $100 and covers everything you will need from cover to cover. 

And we will be using The Good Stuff to make this book! 

Its a small, intimate class, and we should be able to get the book completed that day.  But remember, with a project like this, they sometimes never end!  You will want to continue adding adornments and doodlies after you leave, too.

 

I'm away from my computer on a dream trip to Hawaii right now, but please check back for fresh posts left for you before I flew off.  If you want to order from the Boutique, all orders will be shipped on the 30th. If you'd like to enter the drawing for one of Amy's books, please leave a comment on any post.

  If you'd like to sign up for my Valentine workshop, please email me for an invoice at:  karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

Dewdrop's first craft day

Dewdrop came over with her mom to do a practice class for Romantic Gothic Ghosts.  The babies came outside to play since it was such a beautiful afternoon. I left the studio door open and made a pen for them  right outside.

The little guys played so hard, they tuckered themselves out and just fell asleep where they stood. It looked like the aftermath of a fraternity party.

One even fell asleep with his head in the food bowl.

Dewdrop was perfect at her first big girl craft day. She decided she needed an apron to wear while she worked.  Her favorite part was the pockets, she filled them with so much she could barely sit down.

Her Gypsy mama created one of Beth's books for the upcoming class.  Beth is providing lots of great materials, and I got out some of the images from the online class too.

(All attendees get the online class included for free.  I'll be printing off some of the images for them to use too. And if you are coming, mabye these pictures will give you some ideas on what you might like to bring to add to your own book)

I made a book while Beth made my Raven tea cup project.

It was fun to try the faux tintype technique.

No two books from the class will turn out the same, Beth is providing lots of goodies and tidbits, and some kits will differ. 

My book and Dewdrop's Gypsy mama's book looked very different from Beth's.  

I can't wait to see all the variations that the rest of the students come up with!

 

Of course, there were lots of breaks to play with puppies.

I'll leave you with some more of the pages our Gypsy created, she really had some nice ones.  She made it her own by adding some gypsy colored ribbons here and there. 

Faery Book Swap page sets

I'm so impressed with the art that has been winging its way to my door! Wow, what beautiful pages!

My job is to select pages that flow together in some way, whether color theme, or style. 

Of course, I can't match them up perfectly, but I make sure that the pages look pretty together.

Its a joy to make the books up!

Its not a joy to make the labels for the packages though. Ugh.  Oh well, its going ok.  This will take a while, but I sure got a good start Labor Day weekend. 

Not all the packages had arrived yet, but I had 50 some sets of pages, that was plenty to mix and match.

Sorry that I have not given you the names of all of the artists.  If your art is here, please do leave a comment and let us know.  These books are all done and packed up, so I can't flip them over to read the names at this point.

Gorgeous, huh???

Knee deep in Fairies

Earlier this week, I began to tackle the boxes and packages of Faery Book Swap pages that have been arriving.  Here are my steps:

• Each box needs to be opened, and usually the pages are individually wrapped.
• There is a master list with all the names, and I check off that the package arrived.
•  I salvage all bubble wraps and tissue paper.
•  I make sure there is a return address, if not I have to cut it off of the box they arrived in, then check off the address on my master list.
•  I check for payment, set that aside and mark the person paid.
•  The pages get stacked with the return address at the bottom of the pile.  When I make the books, that helps me keep track of who created those pages.  Then I slide the completed books into the padded envelopes and tape the address to the front.  I don't use this as a label, I make the labels online and look at the taped on address as I type in the info.
• All empty boxes get stored away for future use, I try to recycle as much as I can.

So far, I've made 52 stacks of 8 pages.  This table top has been cleared and all the packages are tended to.  What a good feeling!

I'll wait till the rest arrive to finish the stacks, and start making the books.  Since I extended the deadline due to Labor Day, they will be trickling in all week.

Want a peek of some of the gorgeousness that has been coming my way?

Its going to be sad when the avalanche of packages stops coming to the door every day. Its like little bits of blog friends coming to visit my studio.  Well, that sounds weird.  But I hope you know what I mean.

I'm glad to know that I have Romantic Gothic Ghosts planned, and that I can start gearing up for that.  Then, I'll have real live friends coming to see me here.  (there are a couple spaces left if you'd like to come to play with us)

Freda sent Sugarwings this sweet music box, I can't wait to see her face when she opens it.  We like to wind up a music box after I tuck her in sometimes, and she can listen to the music till it runs down.

I've always admired Robin Sanchez's work, and was thrilled that she sent me one of her pieces!! Look at that Charlotte necklace!!!

Charlottes are such a special little doll, aren't they? And so wonderful to use in projects. I adore what Terri Gordon did with this one.  When its folded up, its a heart. When its open, the sides are fairy wings!!

This was on someones box, sorry I can't remember who.  Cute,huh? I'm often blown away by some of the packaging that comes in. Wow, there is a lot of love and care that goes into a swap.  Which is just one of the many reasons why I love them!

I'll try to snag a few more pics as I make the books.  And I'll pin these from my blog to the Pinterest Board that I made.

 PS- a couple years ago, Beth and I did this online class, complete with every paper and image you need ready to download and print for the detailed projects. There are also lots of decor tips and pretty ideas.

It wsa the inspiration for our Romantic Gothic Ghost class at my studio, Oct. 6th.

There are a couple spots left in the workshop at my house, and if you sign up to come, the online class comes as a bonus!  If you can't make it to Kansas for the arty party, the online classes are full of fun and only $25.