A random rambling and a secret surprise giveaway

Do you have a favorite children's book author? Mine is Stephen Johnson.  He is a local, Lawrence, KS artist who has done a series of interactive kid's books.  Now he is working on one called "The Princess Purse" and came over to my studio to borrow sparkly things, vintagey boxes, and pretty wallpapers all to use as props. 

Stephen brought this taxi book for Sugarwings as a gift.  She's going to have a whole collection of his books, lucky kid!  His latest is about fire trucks and will be out very soon. You can find it and his others at many major book stores. And they are really cute!

Some of you were asking about the mudding I had to do for the dry wall. Well, we took out a closet and used the space to enlarge my husband's office.  The new dry wall was smooth and the old walls were textured. I had to fake a texture to blend it in.

After the dry wall guy (my sweet brother-in-law) got the walls done, I used a sponge roller (meant for faux finishes) to roll on joint compound. Then, took a trowel and knocked the points and highest spots off of the rolled on mud.


After painting, I think it looks pretty good.

What I don't like, is that Home Depot gave me the wrong box of floor covering!  I had picked out a grayer color that blended well with the existing carpet.  But instead I got this dark sienna, that the guys didn't realize was wrong and installed anyway.  I should have looked in the box myself.  It matches the walls ok, and isn't horrid, it just isn't what I wanted.

When we get the room all put back together, I'll show you some more shots. I'm also redoing Ryan's room, it was his walk in closet we stole to make the office bigger. So I owe him...


Just how hodgepodgy can I make this posting?? I'm flitting about from one thing to another even more than usual!

Sweet Zita  offered to mail an old French magazine to me after reading my last post about how I loved working with that kind of paper.  Did I call her sweet Zita? I meant Adorable, Darling, Generous, Magnanimous, Delightful, Kind, Gracious, and Wonderful Zita!!

So, I made her one of the prize ribbon medallions that I was using the French ephemera to make.


While I was at it, I made up 3 more for the Boutique.  Each is made of vintage ribbon, French paper, millinery flowers, and old crepe paper.  I added parchment cardstock to the back for stability, and also made a small diamond out of it to add your initial to.

The initials are hand drawn, no patterns or stencils.



No two are exactly alike, but all are the same, if that makes sense. When things are hand made from vintage goods, you get some variation.

I've also added a brooch pin to the back, so the ribbon is ready to pin where ever you'd like to use it. 



And maybe you can help me with this? I've listed these in the shop as sports medals, but I really am not sure if they are or not. I wondered if they were military medals? They kind of look like track and field prizes to me, especially since there is silver, gold and bronze. I doubt if the Army gives out 1st, 2nd, and 3rd when they award a medal.


The old ribbons with the pins on the back are great! I used a few to make these crown pins.


 I took the medals themselves off to save for another project. Maybe a charm bracelet?


One of the medals could be clipped to Twinkle's collar, she is missing the rhinestone piece that she used to wear.  I could award her a gold medal for being such a good dog. 


Well, the month of September is more than half over already! You still have plenty of time to enter the giveaway for this month.  The change of seasons has inspired me to fill this little sparkled witch's caldron with brooches.  When fall comes around, I am always looking for cute brooches to wear on my jackets. 

One is an enameled butterfly in fine fall colors. Another is a leaf in the same tones.  To that is a flower petal wreath and a rhinestone pin that reminds me of a snowflake.  I'm not exactly a fall person. I can't enjoy the season without dreading snow that comes soon after.

Leave a comment, any post, all month to enter.  I do enjoy hearing from you, but I know that leaving a comment can be a hassle. I had about 1500 hits yesterday, but only 20-some comments on the post!  I certainly don't leave a comment on every post I read either, especially since I started using Google Reader. It is so easy to zip through one blog after another, that I don't pause to go to the site and comment much. Sorry.


But- you never know when I'll have a double secret giveaway prize waiting for you!  Ta- da! Here is a little tag book ready to embellish that is going out to my 20,000th comment.

And guess who the 20,000th commenter was??  Remember when I had a prize for 12,000 and my husband was the commenter? Well this time, since Typepad was doing that wierd comment response thing and my replies were going into the comment log, the winner is:

ME

Yep, I win.  So, I went to number 20,001 and the real winner is my pal from Macon, Angela

This is a tag I made from a French game card to send out to a shopper in the boutique, Melissa. She bought this jewelry from me and I knew this little matching rose needed to go to her.

The thing is, why did I spend extra for FRENCH EPHEMERA, when it is a single letter?? Not a word, no one actually knows it is French, now do they?
Well, I need to go back upstairs to the torture chamber my husband's office and finish painting the walls.  Its a BIG room. 

Comments

[angela]

GET OUT!!!! I WON?!?!?! Holy crap, (now imagine a short, chunky girl hopping up and down and twirling around all excited, screaming I WON, I WON!!!!) I cannot believe it, WOOHOO!!! Karla...thank ya, thank ya. I told you I always thought you were gonna be sweet, :)))
love,
angela

[LiLi M.]

Hey Karla, what a different type writer letter, I love it! That book looks cute too, please show us the one he is making with your trinkets and vintage wallpaper and stuff when it's ready. Congrats to Angela! Have a great weekend! And remember: getting comments is the cherry on the cake!

[Jessica Canham]

How cool that someone is using your vintage stuff for a kid's book! I know a four year old boy who would love a firetruck book and will have to keep an eye out for it.

Don't feel bad about not commenting b/c of Google reader, I'm the same way. I have soooo many blogs I skim through on GR. But I do read and enjoy every post of yours! Especially the puppy and Sugarwings photos. :)

[Heather A.]

Hi Karla!!! I want to buy one of your crown ribbons - where can I find them at? You know me and crowns... what's a bella to do, right? :)

[Deborah Woodrow]

Karla :
Love all your new lovely creations !
You're SO TOTALLY SUPER TALENTED !
The tile actually looks quite nice, like you matched it perfectly ! :)
The French Ephemera Medallions are Lovely !
Still enjoying my Ink Bottle, with lovely Buttons and trims ! B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L !
LOVE,
DEBORAH

[Jane]

You sure can get a LOT into a post, Karla! That's interesting about doing the drywall. I think you should definitely give Twinkle a medal. She looks so regal in that photo & she's sitting up straight like she's waiting for the award ceremony!
Jane - Jacksonville

[RockerJewlz]

I found you via Daisy Cottage. I almost got lost in your blog because the items you photograph pulled me into nostalgia mode and I just roamed around quite happily...almost forgot to leave this comment for the giveaway!

Thanks for the dive into something other than a day's drudgery.

[Karla Nathan]

TypePad HTML EmailWhat a nice thing to say, thanks so much! And I appreciate you taking the time to make a comment.

[Karla Nathan]

TypePad HTML EmailThanks, Heather! I haven't listed them anywhere yet, but they are for sale for $10 if you'd like one, you can send pay pal. They are very "bella" aren't they?

[Kerryanne English]

I'm back in blogland and just catching up on all your news - you always have sooo much going on.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne

[Zita - Mlle Magpie]

Sweet Karla, I LOVE my customized prize ribbon! Thanks so much!

[kana conger]

You are a very busy and diverse woman....drywall to ribbon and bling! I love reading about all of your stories.

[gail]

Love the office color you painted! And although the floor may not have been what you picked out, it looks great!!

[LORRAINE BELL]

Morning again from Canada Karla..I love thise little crowns where can I buy one? Ihave an American address in Desert Hot Springs ...any easier to sent there, instead of Canada? Lorraine

[Lori]

Karla, your crown ribbons are adorable!!!

[Freda Butler]

Hi Karla

My grandaughter's favorite author when she was little was Kevin Henkes. She loved Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse plus all the others he wrote. I bought all of his for her and when she would stay over we would always read a few of them.

Take a look at your library. I think Sugarwings would really like them.

Hugs

FredaB

[Jingle]

Karla, for some odd reason I can't read your text at all! It's a bunch of gobbledy gook jumbled up letters! I'm sad! Your photos look great, though, as usual! I've been reading blogs all evening, so I'm not sure why yours isn't showing up all of the sudden! Hopefully things will look right later on. What is odd, is that I can read all of the comments just fine, I just can't assemble the text in the post.

[Sandy]

Karla,
Maybe your family is just blessed with luck! I love that drywall technique. Now I need to figure out where I can use it!

[Bev]

oh Karla....you have done it again:)I love the madalions...and the ribbons, and the charms and the tag book..and...and...!

[sadie]

you've got an amazing decorating talent. Bad luck with the floor not being exactly the right one that you wanted - I've done that kind of thing so many times before - but at least it looks nice :o)

Enid Blyton is my favourite children's author. I'm still a fan, and if I ever find time again, will be re reading all of my 'Malory Towers' and 'St Clare's' series of books. I'm so glad I collected them and kept them, now my Humbug will be able to read them in order when she's old enough. I've also got almost the entire collection of the 'Famous 5' books, I think I'm missing one, so must get it. Thing is, I know exactly why I love Enid Blyton books so much, yes the stories are fab, but it's the food descriptions I just love! Whenever I read about the midnight feasts with 'thick slabs of chocolate cake, pork pie, bars of chocolate and lashings of ginger beer', I have to go and make myself a snack of similar nature! Perhaps it's just as well that I don't have time to pick them up again yet, not good for my waistline!
;o)

[Tiffany]

I am glad I forced you to splurge on the french magazine!! I LOVE what you did with it!!
xoxo, Tiffany

[DeniseLynn]

totally nuts about the tag book you made to give a way. (Bless your heart!!) and Wow that card you made for Melissa to match the jewlery: hello! I love it. your mind works in beautiful ways and your heart is soooo generous. and for broches ... so fun. I too go searching for them and wear them on sweaters and jackets. I even put them on my zipper pulls sometimes - just for a little bling instead of a boring zipper.

[Brenda]

Hi Karla,
You need to show us what Mr. Johnson did with all the pretties he used for his book. Millie also lost her rhinestone charm I had on her collar. Like mother , like daughter I guess. Great post, thank you for a glimpse into life at Karla's cottage. :)

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

Oh my gosh Karla! So much in one post! I love children's books and I will definitely want to see Mr Johnson;s book when it is available. How lucky Sugarwings is that she gets her book straight from the author himself. As for the office floor. I think it looks great with the wall color. Maybe it will turn out to be a happy accident.

[Heidi]

Your crown ribbons are so lovely!
I may have to try that wall texture in my home office when it is time to paint. The walls currently have a smooth and slightly bumpy texture and it drives me nuts. I think someone once tried to do a stucco effect on the upper part of the walls and it didnt go well.

[Karla Neese]

Your "sports" medals have me curious so I'm researching them. I know that the military did used to (don't know if they still do) give out medals in different colors based on rank. I'll let you know what I find out.

[Laurie]

Sugarwing's little pink dress in the above post was to die for! And that ice cream looked yummy! GUESS WHAT? My friend who I showed the wallpaper book and other goodies I'd recently bought from you remembered how giddy I was and shopped your store for my birthday presents! My birthday was this weekend, and I got the most wonderful ephemera! When I opened it, I said, "Wow, this looks like something Karla would do (the wrapping)" ... and it WAS! :)

[barb]

what a sweet post!!! i'm never disappointed visiting...

[Kathi]

Love the medallions!!!

[Andrea - Faded Plains]

Your prize ribbon are beautiful...and the hand drawn initials make it even more so.