Scents, Roses, and a Drawer full of Bubbles!

99 posts, almost 4 months, 11,912 hits and counting! I had no idea when I started this blog what it would turn into, or mean to me. I thought I'd use it only to show more of my work to clients. (like this rose painting that I did and then turned sepia in photo editing and this yard long rose painting I did on a door panel)

But, I soon learned, that not only did I get to show and sell my work, and have my family living in other states keep up with what I am doing, I was now in a wonderful social network of people who enjoy, crafts, art, junking, and just plain old surrounding themselves with pretty things!For my 100th post, I think I'll do list of what blogging means to me

I can tell you right now, though- I LOVE GIVEAWAYS!!!!!

Not only winning them (yippee) but doing them. I think I will try to have one going all the time.

For June, I am giving away one of these hand painted charms.  Out of the 30 that I made for the charm swap I am in (I LOVE SWAPS TOO), I have these 3 left over.  (The other two are for sale $10 each plus $2.50 postage, if you are interested)

Oh, I forgot to show you a few gems from my garage sailing trip with my life long friends who came to visit this weekend. 

I found this book to read to my fairy grand baby, for $3.

We will both enjoy the pop up flowers on each page, but I might save reading it to her for when she is better at looking at things with her eyes instead of her mouth.

And CRYSTAL BUBBLES silver ware!!! A huge box full, maybe 3 sets? Or more, I didn't count them, for mearly five buckaroos.

So many that my drawer barely closes.  I will need to weed a few out and save aside for later.

I often get comments about how much I can get done in one day. Well this silverware drawer is one of my little ways of prioritizing my life.  Why sort silverware??? I dump the whole basket straight from the dishwasher to the drawer.  I'd rather spend time on something else.

The silver ware, the book, all the fun things I bought out junking with my buddies will always remind me of them. Much as a song will bring you back to the first time you heard it, or a scent will remind of of what you were doing when you smelled it.

Michelle Ward http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that/ brings up that subject in this month's challenge: "Whats that Smell?"

It is a coincidence for me that this is the challenge for June. I have recently started using scent on my packaging.  If you received anything from me lately, and still have the envelope, let me know if it still smelled pretty when it arrived!

I went downtown Lawrence, KS to a cute shop that allows you to make your own scented oils.  I mixed up a few old fashioned flower and vanilla ones.  For years, I would add a single drop to the inside of an antique dresser before I sold it to combat mustiness and add a happy smell.  Now, I am using a drop on the corner of each envelope I send out to someone who purchases my work, hoping to bring a smile to the recipient before they even open the package.

Comments

[michelle]

karla - cool idea to add scent to your packages! a reminder of the days when letters were sent with a spritz of perfume. you enhance the glory of your gift giving or orders with your lovely oils, clever! love that pop-up book!!! and those viles....great score! thanks for playing in the crusade :)

[Lori]

Love, love the book and the sparkle silverware, great finds. Lori

[Lori]

Love, love the book and the sparkle silverware, great finds. Lori

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

Wow...whats the odds that one of my favorite blogs would be turning 99 at the same time as me. LOL I love, love, love that book. so pretty. I put lavender sachets in the box that I store my purses in. I love the smell. I'm so glad you have made it to 99 posts along with me...Here's to 99 more!

[Jessica]

That's awesome that you dump your silverware in a drawer. For some reason it just made me laugh! I hope I win one of your charms! :D

[clarice]

Ohh great finds Karla. I am soo glad you blog xoxoxo Clarice

[Hope]

Karla, I love the flower book. I love any pop-up book but flowers are special. And BUBBLES IN A DRAWER?? That is just too cool. I've never, ever seen those before!!

I am not a neatnick by any means, more toward the slob side. But I can't dump my silverware. Each piece has it's little section in my drawer. My mother always did the dump thing but she was sooooo busy all the time so she probably felt like you...there was more important things to do!!

I'd love to be the winner of one of your wonderful charms!! Please put my name in the pot!!

Hope

[Felicia]

Its odd how blogging shapes our worlds isn't it? Congrats on 100 posts. I love your garage sale treasures :)

[Gumbo Lily]

Love that pop-up book! Glad you're saving it for later so she can use her eyes to enjoy it.

Congratulations on your blog!
Jody

[Elaine]

I see by your previous post that you had a "blast" with your friends. At our age we need to have fun more often.

I would love to know what oils you have used that go well with each other.

~elaine~ for SoCal

[Eva Agnes]

Thank you Karla for visiting my page. And yes, the roses are canded. If you go back and click on the photos you can read the recepies which are in English. I cut it out many years ago from an English Country Living or something.
I love your finds today. Especially the bubble cutlery.
Love and hugs
Eva Agnes

[Fran]

Great ways to add scent to things, and that book is adorable! :D

[eb]

hi Karla - I am visiting you via my bliss sis - such fun here - and the 50's get even better - love your junking stuff and please include me in your drawing - and come visit if you like - I have a creative guessing game on

xox - eb.

[Sonia]

What a sweet post... I love your pop up book. Like you I never knew what I was getting into when I started blogging. But whatever it is, I love it. Its like publishing my own magazine...on a blog!!
Keep it up gal,
Sonia

[Karla]

Karla,
I love the scented packaging idea! Not only have you made friends you didn't realize you would make - we get to enjoy all of your wonderful art and creations and your reflections!
Karla

[Nicole]

Oh this post is just fantastic, love the oils, the idea with putting secnts to your envelope and the book looks great either. Thanks for sharing dear. ;)

[Marie]

Hi Karla, Thanks for visiting my blog. Congratulations on your 100th post. I have been scenting tissue paper with rose oil to wrap my customer's orders, as I think that it is such a pleasure to receive a scented gift.

I love the rose theme of your post and those pretty hand painted charms.

Marie

[steff]

Ooh! Scents on packaging is a really cool idea! what a nice touch!

[Stephanie]

I hope to someday win one of these adorable charms of yours! In a scented envelope!! You amaze all my senses!

Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

[Crafty Green Poet]

Love the little charms and scented packaging is wonderful!

[Tera]

What a wonderful idea, thanks for sharing.

[carlene]

The only thing better than getting a pretty package in the mail is getting a pretty SCENTED package in the mail!