Last Tuesday, Amy, Carol, and Debbie came over for a craft day and lunch. It was a fun day of catching up, creating, and chatting.
Amy's friend, Cindy, came by for a while, it was nice to meet a local Lawrence lady who was a big shot blogger (Skip to my Lou). I had no idea. Wow, 2,000,000 hits a month?? Not only was she a big time blogger, she was sweet as can be, which is appropriate since she has a store called Sweet.
In the kitchen, my dining table was set with a drop cloth cover, white mismatched linens, cream plates, and white salad plates with tiny rosebuds. I added matt white pottery vases with bright roses (on Mondays, my local Kroger marks leftover flowers down to $1.99 so I snaf up armloads, then feel greedy and put back all but two to take up. Happens every time. I see the sale price and start grabbing, then stop myself).
The look of the room inspired me to get out some Valentiney themed and colored papers to add to the all neutral books we were making. I loved the look so much, in the room and in the book I made that I thought it would be fun to have a workshop to create Valentine journals. The details are in the previous post and I'll have some photos coming up in a couple days with more info.
Knowing that
Carol and Debbie were both fans of "low color" style,I'd set out a
studio table full of neutral ephemera so that we could sift through and
pull together pages that we wanted to use in our books.
I'll be providing similar for the books we will make in class. As a matter of fact, I probably won't be putting these away, I'll leave the piles out for us to work with.
At a flea mkt last fall, I scored an 1800s receipt book stuffed with fantastic writing and logos. We all used pages of it in our books that day.
Of course, an afternoon with these three ladies is pretty durn inspiring in and you know that they can put together something scrumptious no matter what supplies they have on hand!
I had some ticking stuck away and pulled it out knowing that Debbie would use it in an interesting way, and she did, fraying the edges of strips to make ribbon, and lining some pages. She generously left the book here to use for ideas during the workshop.
Amy's book is a sweet pink tone.
And she generously left some of her books behind too. These are copies of two of her latest books and she gave them to me to offer as giveaways.
Vintage Notions and Fabric Flowers.
While I am away in Hawaii, I'll have some fresh posts done up ahead of time for you, so please come back. Leave a comment on any post between January 14 and 28th for a chance to win one of two books.
The third will be given away during my workshop on Saturday, Feb. 2nd to an attendee.
I too have the 'it's reduced therefore must by all' gene :-).
Amy's book cover is so elegeant, a talented lady. I'd love to do the craft day, if only there wasn't an ocean and a big chunk of land between us!
Have a lovely time in Hawaii. Looking forward to seeing your pictures.
Posted by: Louise Oakes | January 14, 2013 at 03:57 AM
Hi Karla, Hope you have a wonderful holiday in Hawaii. Spare a thought for us in the UK sheivering in the wind, rain, snow and sleet (often all at the same time. lol) Lots of pics please and you can be sure we'll all be green with envy....but in a nice way of course. luv and hugs to the fairy babies. Blessings
Posted by: Lesley UK | January 14, 2013 at 04:43 AM
Wow what a fabulous gathering of talent!
Would love to have been a fly on the wall! Of course in low tones...
Such a generous offer! Thank you to you both!
Posted by: Vicki | January 14, 2013 at 05:50 AM
Would love those books! Pretty stuff you made!
Posted by: Beth smith | January 14, 2013 at 06:09 AM
I've already won a Karla giveaway, so I will take my name out of the running and let someone else have the joy! Those books do look wonderful!
Your creative gatherings with friends must be so much fun!
Oh, and I'm afraid I'm guilty of the, "Wow, these are sooo marked down!" multiple toss toss toss into my shopping cart. Only mine occurs at craft stores!
Posted by: Linda P. | January 14, 2013 at 06:36 AM
Its horribly cold here too, I cant wait to get to the island!
Karla Nathan
www.karlascottage.typepad.com
www.karlascottage.com
Posted by: Karla Nathan | January 14, 2013 at 09:19 AM
What a magical day we had! Thanks for letting us use that incredible ledger for our project:) Everyone should come to your studio for a "Craft Day with Karla"
(((Hugs))) Carol
Posted by: Carol Spinski | January 14, 2013 at 10:50 AM
Great times with great creative friends can be hard to beat!
The books look fab and I'd love to win.
Have fun in Hawaii!
Leann
Posted by: Leann | January 14, 2013 at 10:56 AM
Wish I was close enough to attend your craft day!! Thank you for all the inspiration you provide to us blogger friends. Have fun in sunny Hawaii.
Posted by: Gail | January 14, 2013 at 01:58 PM
ooooooo... (jumping up and down)....pick me, pick me!!
Karla,
Enjoy the sunshine friend.
Gloria in Virginia
Posted by: Gloria McAllister | January 14, 2013 at 03:33 PM
Can't beat creative time with friends. So wish I could be there on Feb 2nd for the workshop... I know it will be fabulous! Have a great time in Hawaii and thanks for the chance at the lovely giveaways!
Posted by: Sheila R | January 14, 2013 at 03:37 PM
Those book peeks look wonderful ~ wish I lived closer!
Have a wonderful time in HI (you lucky girl!)
bobbieatc {at} cableone {dot} net
Posted by: bobbie | January 14, 2013 at 04:36 PM
I wish you could be here on the 2nd too, Sheila!
Karla Nathan
www.karlascottage.typepad.com
www.karlascottage.com
Posted by: Karla Nathan | January 14, 2013 at 05:03 PM
Looks like such a fun afternoon! Hope you have a wonderful time in Hawaii, Karla. :)
love rosie
Posted by: rosie lange | January 14, 2013 at 05:22 PM
The craft day made me jealous, but the Hawaii part makes me green with envy. The fabric flowers book would make it all better! Have fun, Karla!
Posted by: Cindy Is Crafty | January 14, 2013 at 10:42 PM
Karla, I am still taking down Christmas decorations...Had bronchitis, so am just getting around to doing things...but I had the same thoughts as you did while I re-decorated...why not sprinkle a little St. Valentine's Day cheer around? A touch of red makes all the white and cream things pop! Patty in Kansas.
Posted by: Patty in Kansas | January 15, 2013 at 12:45 AM
Dear Karla,
I would have loved to have been there with you lovely ladies creating!! (sigh) Love the books you all created and love the books for the giveaway!
hugs
Karen B. ~ Todolwen
Posted by: Karen Bailey | January 15, 2013 at 08:02 AM
Your table looked lovely - what a glorious day of inspiration you must have had. Would love to win one of the books - they look great.
Posted by: Lori | January 15, 2013 at 01:52 PM
Once again, I'm inspired by your post today! I'm having a lunch/crafting party next week and perhaps we will do a book!! The table looks gorgeous, too! Have a wonderful time in Hawaii and say "hi" to my friend Waverly !!
Thanks again for your fun posts!
Posted by: Kate garfield | January 15, 2013 at 02:18 PM
Wow! You have some friends in high places.
The altered books look great!
Posted by: Erica H | January 15, 2013 at 02:32 PM
Hope you are having a wonderful time in Hawaii, it is so beautiful there. Oh yeah, please enter me in the drawing too. Thanks!!
Posted by: Kimberly Budash | January 15, 2013 at 02:36 PM
These are so pretty, Karla! Sounds like a wonderful day with great people. Drawing? Did I hear drawing?!
Posted by: jeanie | January 16, 2013 at 10:06 PM
one of these days Karla, I'm going to have to fly over to your house and take a workshop from you - they always sound so magical.
any word of another bird song this year ?
as always, thank you for sharing so much of your art and heart here. you're an inspiration.
Posted by: jill | January 17, 2013 at 12:05 AM
I hope you do, Jill! Yes, Im planning birdsong for a bit later this year, June 8 th weekend. Hope to see you there.
Karla Nathan
www.karlascottage.typepad.com
www.karlascottage.com
Posted by: Karla Nathan | January 17, 2013 at 12:22 AM
Oooh! What beautiful things you create! Would love to win one the books!
Posted by: Marlys Shields | January 17, 2013 at 05:29 PM
Wow, you had a great dat. The books are beautiful.
Posted by: Joan Gadonniex | January 21, 2013 at 07:18 PM
I love the cover of the book Amy made. I would love to come to your workshop too. It sounds like such fun.
Posted by: Deborah | January 22, 2013 at 03:14 AM