Karla's Cottage

Whisked away

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!)

Painting roses and a balloon hunt

Thanks for all the happy birthday wishes for Sugarwings! I think she had a fun day, at least I know that I did!!

She and her daddy picked us up at the airport, and that was the best homecoming ever, to see her face light up as she ran to us. Well worth getting up at 4 am to fly home to spend the day with her.

When we got back to the cottage, she and I baked some cakes.  I used a regular brownie mix, but added a can of pears in light syrup (whirred in the blender) and a cup of applesauce, and 2 eggs, no fat or water.  She got to push all the buttons and do all the mixing herself, so she didn't care if I was trying to healthy it up a bit.

We also "painted" roses. We used some clear corn syrup and food coloring, then she got to dip away, and add colored sugar sprinkles to each one.

 These are the white icing roses that I saw  Andrea show on her site, and had her take me to find some for myself when we were out shopping one day, the are really pretty and I just love using them!

. 
When her little cousin, Pixie Pie came by to help decorate, they got pretty serious with getting the cakes  just right.

But it is hard to stay serious when there are sprinkles to shake! Most photos are a blur of hands whirring through the air and sprinkles flying everywhere.

And so much for adding healthier ingredients to the cake itself, the tops were so goobered up with colored sugars, three kinds of sprinkles, marshmallows, squeeze tube icing, and painted roses that you could explode in a burst of sugary happiness just looking at them!

Sugarwings took her cousin on a walk along the Yellow Brick Road, but most kids her age aren't as informed obsessed  about Oz as our fairy baby, so Pixie Pie wasn't too impressed with that after all the icing fun.



She did enjoy the Fairy Berry Trail, though.  There was a butterfly balloon for each of them tied to branches out  in the woods.

But first, they had to search for them.

The balloons were from the Dollar Store and I don't think there could be a better bang for the buck than the joy we got for $2 out on the Fairy Berry Trail with these balloons.

It was certainly a fun way for me to spend my fairy grand baby's birthday.  I can't imagine a better party. Not big, not flashy, just some simple sugary pleasures and a walk in the woods.   I think I want to spend my next birthday on the Fairy Berry Trail too....

A fine feathered mess and some mosaic madness

  

Sugarwing's Princess bed is coming along... but there have been a few hold ups. Its painted and pretty, that part was easy.  But- a regular crib mattress wouldn't quite fit, so I am custom making one.  Now, I might have mentioned that I hate to sew- but I seem to get stuck doing it a lot.  Well, as long as it is a straight stitch and there are no zippers or buttons involved, I can do it.  But I complain a lot!

Add in two bags of feathers and 3 bags of poly-fill fluff, and I have to tell you, it does become any more fun.  I am sewing a giant, fluffy pillow for her out of waterproof, flannel backed fabric and trying to get more feathers in it than on the floor.  (I bought two down filled pillows on clearance for $7.99 at Tuesday Morning and am using that for part of the stuffing. The pillow cases that came on them are going to be cut up into ribbons, they are silk!)

After that, I'll need to custom make the sheets!  I think I'll go with giant size pillow cases.

 

Oh, but she is worth it!

 

Before our trip to the zoo, we threw a fairy tea party for Sugarwing's little cousin, Pixie Pie, who just turned two this week.

 

Then, all the grandparents took the cousins to the zoo.  Because the heat was so bad and there had been storms earlier in the day, the place was deserted, like a private playground for these little fairy babies. 

 

I don't know why this was set up at the zoo, but we came around a corner and there sat a jump house.  Like I said, the park was our own private play ground, so we wriggled in under the flaps and jumped away.  Mostly we just fell down and laughed till our sides hurt.

There is nothing more fun than being a grandma.

 

Well, garage sailing is pretty fun too.

I had sugarwings till almost noon today, so could only get to a couple sales. But I found some goods, and at one estate sale,  I had a long conversation with the family after seeing a billion old patterns. Now, I am not a pattern person myself, but I love old trims.  I figured if there were patterns, there were sewing supplies, and they said yes there was.  They just didn't think anyone would want them!  They said they would give me a call and get a box to me.

For the July Garage Sale Giveaway Prize Pack, I found  a little bit, not much.  A doily, a bag of buttons, and a pretty button card.  I also bought a bunch of ribbon roses, not new, but still nice to use. I tied up a bouquet of them to add to the giveaway.  All comments, all month are entered, and I will add more to the package each week.

 

See, these ribbon roses aren't the same as the vintage millinery that I love so much, but they aren't bad at all. I'm just a bit spoiled by finding old ones so often.

 

 There was a big bag of buttons at a small sale that didn't even look like it was worth stopping at.  But since I hadn't been to many at all and it was late in the day, I wasn't being picky, and I stopped anyway. I was glad I did, not because I particularly need more buttons, but because they are always nice to find anyway.

I listed this bunch in the Boutique.  There are some sweet ones in the group.

 

These miniature farm animals too. Aren't they cute?  I kept part of the set, some little wooden houses. I want to paint them up and glitter them to use in Christmas decor.  I think they are pretty old from the looks of the other things at that sale, but can't say for sure. The person selling them said they were her Mom's and she played with them as a kid.

OK, gotta go. stupid Typepad keeps locking up my screen! Plus, I can't ignore that giant pillowcase waiting to be made so that Sugarwings will have a new Princess bed waiting for her.  (I found floral king sized sheets for 15 cents each today too, and am using those to make the sheets for the new bed).

Heading to Leesburg

 

What a fun group!  Here we are in front of Prom Dress Central, other wise known as the "Anti- Hope Room", (Hope is such a funny person to be with, and she came up with that name, since it is pretty over whelmingly beautifully stocked with froof, and she doesn't care for that stuff)

Pictured in the back row is: Jessica http://www.suchprettythings.typepad.com/

 Pamelahttp://www.suchprettythings.typepad.com/

 Lori myfaeriewindow.blogspot.com/>  

 Amy http://www.inspireco.blogspot.com/

 Heather prettypetals.typepad.com/>

   Andrea http://www.velvetstrawberries.typepad.com/

Front is: Hope http://besottment.typepad.com/

 me

 Beth http://bethleintz.typepad..com/

Stephenie justalittlebitpink.blogspot.com/>  

 and Robin http://thriftymissprissy.typepad.com/

We were at On a Whim, a place of pink polka dot loveliness (that I don't have the web address for right now, sorry).  One room there is nothing but vintage gowns and hats.  I've been there before and have made the appropriate sqeally noises when I first saw the room, so really enjoyed listening as each new person came in and saw it all for the first time.  There might have been a happy squeal or two...

The owner, Donna Trexler has done a breath taking, squeal producing job of displaying her gowns.

And her HATS!!!!!  I was in love with the hats!!

 

What better backdrop for a group photo of this group?

By the way, I am loving my new camera!  I'm getting used to it, and learning a few tricks.  Plus, I downloaded Picassa photo editing and have had a chance to experiment with that.  I'd love to learn how to add tint to a sepia photo, wouldn't it be pretty if I had been able to add a blush of pink to the roses in this one?

  

The Cottage ( www.cottageatleesburg.com ) was  as cute as a bug, just as its welcoming front porch implied.

 

There was lots to talk about all day, and you might think it was complicated for a big group to shop together, but we all had such similar interests we had an easy time staying together while we poked around here and there in Leesburg.  There was time to mingle and talk one on one too, and talking to Amy and Andrea and hearing about thier toddlers helped my homesickness about missing Sugarwings.  (only 4 more days till I get to hold my little Fairy Grand Baby again!!)

Here is Andrea, Hope, and Amy.  I've met them all at Silver Bella, but never really got a chance to spend time with Hope or Amy till yesterday, and am so glad I got a chance to hang with them both. 

This year have been lucky enough to get to visit with Andrea once in April, then again in May, and now here in June. We both have husbands that travel a lot, and she joked that we might see each other more than we see them. 

Amy has invited me to come to a craft day at her home when I "head" back this way again.  Can't wait.

Most of the things that I was really attracted to, like this statue, weren't feasible for my suitcase. I guess the shopping part of the day was more for social than for buying purposes for me.  The stores in Leesburg will always be some of my faves, but on this day, I was too busy chatting to be seriously shopping.

 

Although, this little guy might have fit into my suitcase...

 

We did manage to buy a few goodies, and Pamela provided the cutest travel folders filled with pockets for receipts, business cards and custom tags with our names on them to tie onto our shopping bags so we could tell whose was whose.  When Beth, Robin, and I loaded my trunk, Beth saw this and said we had to snap a picture of the tagged loot. 

If you travel with bloggers, there is one photo op after another!

I'll have some pictures of the little (did I really say little? I meant extravagant and generous) gift exchange as well as the haul from shopping later on.

 

Thanks, Heather for pulling it all together for us to meet!  What a fun group, and a beautiful day.

Homesick before I even leave, but just ask Beth, I'm kind of a whiner about things

 

Since I'm going to be away for over a week, I thought I would "pre-post" a few entries that would come up while I am away. 

As much as I love travel and look forward to meeting up with good friends and having adventures, I'm basically a homebody. I'm homesick already just thinking about being away. So I thought I'd show some pictures of my house.   Probably more for me than for you, I'll be able to turn on the computer any time and take a peek at my sweet home and not feel as lonely for it.

Here are the front steps, that I mosaic-ed in a vining pattern. I wanted something organic looking, in honor of my Dad, who was an avid gardener. I was working on these steps while we waited for the test results that diagnosed his cancer.

 

My favorite place in the house, though, is Sugarwing's room.  I'll never forget when she was old enough to talk and she told me, "Grammy has pretty things".  I told her, "No, baby, this is YOUR room, these are YOUR pretty things".  The look on her face was one of the most special things I have ever seen.  I will always treasure that moment with her.  Its a joy to me to know that she loves her room as much as I do.

 

My kitchen is extra special to me, because my son, Sugarwing's Daddy, custom built these cabinets for me.

 

He is a talented carpenter, but no longer does that work.  He has to take good care of his hands now, since he is a massage therapist.  Which is also a handy skill to have in a son!  Especially when my back goes out like it did last week.

 

I can still get him to do a special project for me here and there, though. He and I ripped out the old stair way and rebuilt it last year. 

 

It will be hard to be away from my little Dorkies for 8 days too.

 

But those 8 days will fly by fast, and soon, I'll be walking through my front door again to a house full of barking dogs jumping up and trying to sniff out where I've been all week.  And honestly, I have a GREAT week planned, with my best friends and so much fun to look forward to, so I have nothing to complain about. But like I said, I'm a homebody and will miss my house and my gardens, and my fairy grand baby, and all the dorkies.

 

In the meantime, Andrea will be having a "Show me your Crown" party and there is no way I could miss that.  I might have a few around....  So, please join in on Wed. the 10th for that, and please link up and show your royal head gear too.

 

I've been very lax all week in returning comments and emails. Since I hurt my back, my time in a computer chair has been limited. I've read and enjoyed each and every one of them, sorry if I didn't get back to you. Also, with this trip, I will be even further behind.  Please keep in contact, I do read them all, and each is entered into the monthly drawing. This month's prize is a vintage wallpaper covered journal that I made.

More En Le Jardin with Jenn

 

Everyone is asking what we made at En Le Jardin.  Here is my flower pot, I didn't exactly follow directions.... They are supposed to be covered in chicken wire and then the embellishments added to that, but I left off the wire.  I also went a little crazy with the foofs, its about as gaudy as can be, huh?

 

I'd brought lots of goodies to embellish with, plus we were given loads of treats to use in our swap bags.  But when I saw this vintage gift wrap paper that Jenn had out for us to use, I had to go for it.  Its actually two different papers, the little ladies were cut out and glued onto the floral paper.  All the glue is still wet in this photo, so it looks a bit murky. 

The day started out blistery, smelty hot. But then, the sprinkles came, not bad, just a little steamy. We were all having so much fun we didn't even notice, really. But, then the skies let loose! There was something about being under the tent, all together working away while the rain poured down around us that was kind of intimate and cozy.

 

But not so cozy, that I didn't want to get out and splash around in the "water slide" with Tiffany!

I think that if Tiffany and I were neighbors, we could get into some trouble.  That girl is a blast.

 

Our other project was a fairy ball.  Cheryl had the idea of adding the streamers, so Kim and I both used it.  Mine is the one in the middle, the left is Kim's and the right is Cheryl's.

 

Mine is a little different. Instead of a little girl's photo made into a fairy, I used a fairy ballerina perched on top of a faux cupcake.   Then, I drenched it in rhinestones and jewels and millinery.

Just like the photo of the planter, this one still has wet glue. The rain might have been fun, but it made the air so humid that my creations were still slightly damp when I packed them up the next day. 

 

Since this was the fairy's nest, I added some pastel eggs to the top of the cupcake too.

Although, what do fairy eggs really look like? These might be pretty pastel colors, but they are a bit blah to have been laid by a little sprite.  I should have tied little ribbons onto them and added millinery flowers. (Ouch-that might be a bit painful for the fairy to lay, huh?)

 

To the top, I added a vintage chenille bee, and one of my plant markers, this one says "Fleurs" in honor of the event.

 

The day in the tent was remarkable and the craft projects were really interesting. But, my favorite part of the trip was in our downtime, when we chatted for hours.  Evenings went on way into the morning hours, and the sharing never slowed.

Lots of the attendees have been posting photos, if you'd like to see more, Jenn has a really good sampling on her blog. She has complied photos from our Flickr site and used some from different photographers.  From her blog you can follow links to other people who have posted pictures, if you'd enjoy seeing more.  I gotta tell you, the details that went into the weekend were pure perfection!

 

And while talking about details, I have to tell you how much I am loving my new camera!!!!!!!! Tiffany and Carol both gave me priceless tips on how to use it better.

They convinced me to be brave enough to venture on from the point and shoot options, which I figured would be all I could handle and since I refuse to read how to manuals, thought I'd be stuck with just doing that.  I learn much better from Show and Tells, and these two always took time to show me. 

Look at the center of this partial roll of vintage crepe paper! yep, I LOVE that camera!!!!

I've been adding a few odds and ends to Etsy and to the Boutique.  I'm plugging away at it. I have a goal, to get 50 items back in Etsy, mostly craft supplies.  As far as the Boutique goes, I really don't know what works well for it. I'll experiment with inventory levels and see what works best.  I know I prefer fuller to emptier myself, but I'll see.

Look what I saw today, on the Vintage Workshop newsletter- a project I did for Amy last year:

 

NEW DOWNLOAD COLLECTION - Garden Collage The Vintage Workshop would like to introduce a new type of multi-image collection called Elements . These collections will contain a series of coordinating elements including single images along with background images.  The number of images in an elements collection will vary.  Elements collections will still come in two versions – the resizable Designer's Choice and the pre-sized Click-n-Cut (all backgrounds in click-n-cut version are sized 8.5” x 11”). The first collection in this series is Garden Collage - emt100. This collection contains four vintage seed packet images, two sheet music backgrounds, and four different vintage wallpaper backgrounds. The sample note cards shown here use images from our new Garden Collage collection.  Use these as inspiration to create your own projects. Click here to view more garden imagery.

Happy little Garden Fairies

 

This past weekend at Jenn Hayslip's home was over the top beautiful, just like she is.  Every inch of her home is swathed in gorgeousness.  She never missed a detail of making our visit the best it could be.

 

It was all such a pleasure, that this is how I felt all weekend, ready to burst with joy!

 

We weren't just treated to Jenn's graciousness, we were treated to a giant dollop of Southern Hospitality by her neighbors too. They offered up guest cottages for some of us to stay in.  Here is the view from our balcony.

 

Not a bad scene to wake up to each morning, huh?

 

You guys might have heard me gush a few times about Silverbella and how much I love going there? Well, of course, I love that event and always will, but this trip to Macon was even more special.   I always say that the best part of Silver Bella isn't the classes(but of course, they are interesting and its great to meet the talented bunch of instructors).  My favorite part of Silver Bella is the camaraderie, of meeting like minds and spending time with a group of women who feel the same way.

 

Jenn's classes were adorable, her home, the treats, the day trips, the limo, all of it was abso-freakin-lutely special.  But most of all, it was the time to just hang out and talk, bond, and laugh for hours that made this so remarkable.

 

Jenn never missed a detail, and provided for all of our needs in her own extraordinary way.  And I love details!  Her attention to our care and happiness created a magical time, where we could forget about "real life" and be silly, happy garden faires for a few days. 

 

Thanks, Jenn, for bringing together such a delightful group for such a memorable weekend!

A Table Top Party (I've danced on a few tables, haven't you?)

Its been a long time since I attended a blog party! Today, Cindy is hosting a Center Piece party.

 

Which is fitting for me, because my very first post was a picture of a Valentine brunch I was having that day for my friends, 2 years ago Feb. 14th.

 

Also, Cindy was one of the first, "WOW" blogs that I came across. And she just gets better and better all the time.

 

Join me in attending her centerpiece party, and go check out her blog for addresses of other table scapes to see. I'll bet there will be some romantic inspirations for this weekend's Valentine celebrations.

This first table I am showing you is in my studio, and I've gathered up pretty Valentine themed (or colored) gifts from my sweet swap friends.

 

To the gifts, I added a cherry covered old hat.  Isn't it supposed to be bad luck to have a hat on the table? If so, I am in TROUBLE, I do this a lot, but then, I just love old hats.  Sometimes, I think that old wives tales and superstitions started for a reason. Like, maybe it was unsanitary to have a greasy, dirty hat on a table where people eat. Or if you walk under a ladder you could knock over the person standing on it and hurt them.  Or a broken mirror was sharp and dangerous and telling kids they were bad luck to break maybe kept them from play ing with them?

But maybe that subject is better for Friday the 13th coming up tomorrow?

 

In my studio, I have two dining tables.  I use them for "clean" work, like sorting or sewing, or piling crap up.  Not painting or gluing. I actually try to keep at least one set up nice for when company drops by to visit me in the studio.  Since we've had puppies out here, I've had lots of visitors come by lately.

(I really should clear off the top of that buffet a bit, I end up piling pretties there and it gets to the point where it is just a jumble)

 

Table scapes need to look good from each side!  I plan them out, so that each person sitting at the table has something interesting in front of them.

 

The tables in my studio are usually filled with things I happen to have around, supplies, millinery flowers, jewels, pulled together with a color theme onto a tray, mirror, or series of doilies.  I like to have my supplies out where I can see and enjoy them.  Out of sight, out of mind, is a true saying. If I put things away, I never use them.

Thanks, Cindy for hosting this get together! I look forward to getting around to the blogs she has links to and seeing all the inspiring tables.

 

Of course, it is hard to beat a center piece that is all crafting goodies! My friend, Angie, invited me over last night for a Valentine making party. 

 

She supplied wine, cupcakes, chocolate and all the Valentine's supplies you could ever need!

 

There was some gorgeous rose printed fabric to cut into, so I tried something different and clipped around the roses, then glued the fabric to sheet music that I had covered this mini journal in.

Then, I outlined the fabric's edge in soft tan marker to make a shadow, inked the edges of the book and tied it all up in a ribbon with a small tag and a flower.  This was my Valentine to Angie for hosting the party.

 

Then I made a couple blank note cards. (these are listed on Etsy, $8 for a pair)

 

This tag is going to my pal, Heather, for some help she gave me on my website.  I could not have set it  up without her. Or without Beth. I really OWE her a big one too, she deciphered the web speak of the site and explained it all to me. 

The little tags tied to this project and the mini journal came from Beth too. She'd made up a bagful for me to use, and I tied quite a few to the Puppy Love Swap tag books.

 

This darling little Sugarwings pen was a gift from a swapper too! How cute is that?  I hear that the books are arriving, and everyone sounds pleased so far. As soon as I get a list of blogs that are showing the books, I'll post links here.

 

Saturday the 14th is my 2 year blog anniversary and I will be having a drawing for one of these Millefiori glass heart charms.   This one is listed in my Boutique, along with 3 others.   I have one more for the February giveaway too.

 

Now that the swap is over, I actually had time to list some stuff to sell in the Boutiqueand on Etsy!

 

Mostly, I added lots of millinery.  I noticed that I was low on wallpaper too, and hope to make some up for next week.  Thanks so much to all of you who shop there!

Now, go check out Cindy's Romantic Home and her beautiful table tops!

Am I losing it?

  Even puppies agree- there is nothing more cuddly than a puppy! These guys are hugging each other.

     

And they aren't the only ones who feel this way. We had a "Puppy Party" yesterday, and my friends brought their kids over for cookies and milk after school, to hug puppies.  I'd say these pups will grow up to be well socialized and kid friendly.  A lot of small dogs don't like small people and can be afraid of kids. But these little ones have been handled by kids since the day they were born and should grow up to be outgoing, friendly dogs.

Typically, I don't post recipes, because I make stuff up as I go along when cooking. But I was soooo happy with these cookies that I paid attention to how I made them, so I could tell you- here  it goes:

Kansas Style Oatmeal Scotchies

MELT one cup (organic) butter

mix with a beater, the butter and 3/4 cup brown sugar, one cup natural sugar

add 2 (organic) eggs, a teaspoon of real vanilla, and continue mixing with the beater

In a separate bowl, fluff together:

1 cup whole wheat (organic) flour

1/2 cup flax seed

3 cups instant oats

dash of sea salt

1 teaspoon of baking soda

Stir the dry ingredients with the liquid mixture and then add 1 cup butterscotch chips and a cup of sunflower seeds (the Kansas State Flower, of course!)

Roll in balls and bake for 11 minutes on a non stick cookie sheet at 350

I made half on one of those air-bake pans and half on just a plain cookie sheet and honestly, the air bake pan was much better. I don't use it often because it is too big to fit into my dishwasher, but I will re-think that one, it does make a difference. The cookies on it were more evenly cooked and crisper.

What I liked about these cookies, was that I could lie to myself and pretend they were good for me.  Sunflower seeds, flax seed, and organic ingredients made me totally overlook the butter, sugar and chips!  I only used about half the amount of chips usually called for too, so that made me think I could eat twice as many.

While the kids were here, we started the Puppy naming contest. I took down their ideas and began a list.  Are you ready to play? Here is Puppy #1, the first born and the tiniest. I'll get some photos of the other 5 girls and in my next post, you can start sending in the names.  Details upcoming.

 

 I've added my hand painted fairy box to my Etsy Shop.

 

The inside was in amazing shape for an old box. The exterior showed the wear you'd expect, but I wonder if anything was ever stored in it? The interior was about perfect. Of course, I had to foof anyway, I used flocked wallpaper, millinery flowers, crystals, all  my faves on this little "royal emblem".

This box is listed in my Boutique.  I plan on using both stores and going back and forth. Here is my criteria to decide which store to list what in (besides wanting a variety in each)- if the item looks better in a non-square shape, the photo will go in the boutique.  If it needs more than the 3 photos allowed on the website, it will go in Etsy.

 

Okay, now if this post isn't already random enough, here is more.  Am I going crazy? Lately my computer screen has been speaking to me through comment word verifications.  Does this mean I am schizo? I don't actually hear it talk, if that makes a difference.  Sometimes the words are very clear, like this one, "BLESS".  Other times, they take some deciphering.

 

Like this one. To me, it says "mothering". 

I might just be losing it.  First, an actual, written recipe, not guesses and abouts, actual measurements. And now my computer trying to get messages to me? 

An Elf Celebration

   

Today we had an Elf Celebration.  Sugarwings was so excited, and talked about it all day yesterday, she just couldn't wait. She thought it was the elf's birthday  and sang Happy Birthday all morning.

She and I drew an elf, then painted and cut it to copy onto this little rhyme that I wrote about the party's theme, then we made up gift bags for the kids who were coming over.

 

Each small guest got some treats, a black and white copy of the elf picture to color, and an elf of their own.

 

I have had a fondness for these cuties since I was a kid and have a big collection of them, that I was happy to share with my friends today.

 

We started with edible snowflakes, cut from soft flour tortillas.  The idea was to saute the cut tortillas in butter and add powdered sugar and color sugar sprinkles, but my little fairy grand baby enjoyed snacking on the corners she cut out of her creation.  She also really got into dumping colored sugars onto the finished product.

 

There were lots of other goodies to eat, along with sparkling fruit juice in glasses you could toast with.

 

At Michael's after Christmas sale, I bought lots of supplies to make elf hats for 75% off, and rolls of snowman wrapping paper to use as table clothes.

 

The work could be pretty serious at times.

 

But at others, jumping up and down was called for. Sugarwings was a blur most of the day. My friends are a bit shocked at how much energy that little one has coiled up inside of her. She is always on the go!

 

But, with her buddy, Julia's help, she slowed down enough to get a elf hat completed.

 

Shawn's daughter, Bethany made a really cute hat. She is an accomplished crafter and when Shawn comes out for a craft day, I always know that Bethany will create something sweet.

 

Max made a snow guy hat. And asked me to paint a matching snowman on his face.

 

 

When it was Sugarwing's turn for some face painting, she turned the tables and painted me instead.

 

We both ended up painted, although, most of my paint is on my saggy, baggy, old lady neck and when I look down, like in this photo, it is hidden.

I just can't imagine a more fun way to spend a morning.  Time to sit and talk with best friends while drinking coffees and eating quiche, hot Cinnamon rolls and crunchy snowflakes, then crafting elf hats with some of my other, smaller pals.    This is a good start to the new year, I can't wait to see what other fun is waiting for me in 2009!

edit- Shawn has a great camera and just sent me photos from today, so I am adding them on-