Karla's Cottage

Pretty Pendleton for Thanksgiving

Last year my home town, Pendleton, IN, had a fun FB trend of people photographing their cars, tractors, mowers, etc in the lights of this beautifully lit bridge.  The joke started as serious pics of cool cars shining under the lights and turned into photoshopping weird, silly things.

I enjoyed every post and had to drive by and see this pretty backdrop in person when I visited over Thanksgiving.  Maybe (if I ever get a free moment) I’ll do some photo magic with it myself.

We had hospital cafeteria food in the guest lounge for Thanksgiving dinner.  While I felt bad leaving my  husband and out of town guests back at my house to turkey wrangle, and the reason for my visit was not a happy one, I still had a wonderful time with my sister’s family while eating grilled cheese instead of a more traditional meal.

My sweet boy hadn’t seen his aunt Bobbie in a while and hadn’t been able to drive all the way to Kansas from North Carolina for the holiday, so he took the opportunity to meet me in Indianapolis.  Much closer!

I rarely get time with my son, this was precious to me.  It’s been a good year for spending days with him.  In August, Rich and I saw Adam in NC and I got to go rock and mushroom hunting with him.  Then in September, he came to KS to put in a studio floor for me. Now, an Indy trip too.

And soon, he will bring Dewdrop for Christmas!


He and I weren’t Bobbie’s only visitors, by far.  Every time a doctor came into the room, he’d do a double take at the size of her entourage.

The room was always so full, that seating was scarce.  You know that Netflix show, “Is it Cake?” I was always playing, “Is it a Chair?” in the hospital room.  We sat on many non seats for seating.  Bobbie one time mentioned we could use the beeping from her machinery to switch seats in a musical chair game.

My witty, kind hearted sister is keeping good spirits through her illness.   I admire her for that, just as I have always looked up to her and learned so much from her all of my life.

 

I adore my sissies, what wonderful friends they are to me.

 

 

 

Kick starting the season

My favorite season is here and I’m taking advantage of every fun offering available, to soak up as much holiday joy as I can.

One annual tradition is to view the Holiday Home Tour with friends.

This year had a banner crop of festive flair to walk through.  Every house I got to see was a winner.  But I didn’t get a complete tour, I’d over booked myself (I just can’t say no to any holiday event- if there is Christmas fun going on, I’m in the middle of it!)

Sunday was no exception to my seasonal excess, we started the day with a coffee date with friends, then the home tour, next A Christmas Story musical with Sugarwings, and finishing the night with a holiday movie with the kiddo.

Was it too much for one day? Welllll….. probably, but worth it.  

A couple days before, friends invited us to Snow Globe for dinner, and even though I was already swamped, we said yes.

Ounce again, worth stretching out my time to add some extra fun.  It was a great night out.

Plus, I’ve had First Friday weekend at Good Juju which was two long days of excitement that felt like a party itself.

We’re  barely into December and I’ve been blessed with so many glittery get togethers, that I’d  consider myself lucky and fulfilled if these were all the festivities that I got to experience.

But lucky me- I’ve got a craft date with friends this week, our Book Club dinner and gift exchange coming up, and I’m trying to find a good time to have some friends over.  Not to mention my cocoa parties in front of the tree with my grand fairy, and the way that sprite makes every day feel like it’s special.

Yep, beyond blessed.

And maybe a tiny bit tired.

Nellie Faye’s in Pendleton

Pendleton, IN has changed since I grew up there in the 60’s and 70’s when it was a simple, but ordinary little town.   It’s always been friendly and quaint, but has grown into a place that should be a destination for someone who enjoys unique shops and specialty dining.

And this shop?

OMG!

It certainly deserves a road trip to go see.

There is a cozy, overflowing room full of vintage pretties and handmade goods, with a sunny greenhouse/garden space attached.

Shelli lives in Pendleton, but had never been inside, but Sissy is a regular.  She took us to this darling, old, cottage tucked away from downtown across from the park.  When I stepped in the door, I felt like I was in some upscale shop in a tourist area.

Not in the sleepy, little town that I’ve known all my life.

While it might have felt like I was in some nationally known California shop, it still had those good ol midwestern prices.

The displays were delightful and the arty stuff was all things I wished I’d made myself.  Right up my alley.

If you are ever in central Indiana, driving along I69, you should stop in.

And please tell them that Sharon’s sister says hi.

 

 

 

First Friday Weekend in December at Juju

Good Juju First Friday Weekend is coming up! 

I got my booth all spiffed up and ready to roll before I left for Indiana to visit my sisters.

I’m still visiting family as I write this.

So I’ll leave you with the rest of the photos and get back to sister time.

 

 

 

Mosaics with genuine stones and some beading

While visiting sisters in Indiana, we of course, did some crafting.  These are mosaic pendants made with genuine stones. The top photo is freshwater pearls and crushed opals.

Sissy made this one.  Emerald, garnet, labradorite, Ruby, sapphire, citrine, and smoky quartz, I think. We top each with a mix of crushed opals and moonstone.

This one is mine.  It has rainbow sparkle from some of the bigger chunks I left when I was hitting opals with a hammer.

When I ran out of bezels to mosaic in, we turned to beading bracelets.  They still need the knots trimmed, glued, then tucked into the spacers.  I have enough beads left to make a couple more.  

When I get back to Kansas, I’ll be delving into my beads and gems to keep crafting, I do love making both styles of jewelry.  In the past, I have used memory wire or wove beads on to leather cords, the stretch cords are new to me.  Yep, I know, I’m rather late to this game, huh?  They’ve been around a while.  But it’s a brand new addiction for me!

(Like I needed another one!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow!

For me, Thanksgiving is just a speed bump on the way to Christmas.

It’s my husband’s favorite holiday, though. So over the years, Sugarwings’ and I would say, “We must respect the bird” and not go full on sparkle, tinsel explosion over the house til after the turkey is served.

For various reasons, I’ve had to decorate early any way, like a Snowbird Song event or a Holiday Home Tour and once that floodgate was open, I didn’t even pretend to have any tiny bit of respect for that dang turkey dinner.

I love my decorations and trees and want them up for the whole season, so I start the first week of November and enjoy it for as long as I can.

Our new chant? “We must respect the pumpkin!”

Also, being in retail, it’s smart to get a really early start on making stuff.  This year, I’m way behind due to my studio make over and a few other things going on.  I had big, big plans to fill my Boutique, but, oops.  That didn’t work out.  I made some goodies for Juju though, and am sure there will be things left.  But it might be too late to market them for this December.