Karla's Cottage

The Snow Princess

Things are still icy around here and I am still too big of a wimp to go outside.  If it is below 10 degrees, I just don't think a 3 year old needs to be in and out of the car, and even though I am feeling better and over my bug, I didn't want to be in and out of the car either.

So we decided to make the most of a snow day, and have a Snow Princess Tea Party.  We got all dressed up for it.

Well, kind of.  One of us did at least. I'm wearing my husband's long johns, two sweaters, hair that hasn't seen a fixin in days, and a black lace "wicked witch" jacket.

The idea came about when we were out in the studio and I realized that cabin fever was really getting to both of us, if I was letting a baby play with power tools.  So, I started to make up a story about snow and princesses and fairies, and it turned into a 3 hour adventure for us both.

(Notice the new chandelier? It was out in the studio, I used it for lighting for above my jewelry display at shows, now it is staying in the kitchen. My son and I hung it last night- More Zero Dollar Decorating!!)

We scoured the studio for props, and made up the story as we went along. I covered Sugarwing's little table in layers of white and slipped pillow cases over our chairs.

After creating a snow princess crown, she decided that I should wear it instead of her.  Sadly, she isn't a hat person.  But that is okay, she usually indulges me in so many other ways, that I can forgive her for not playing with all of my vintage hats with me.

And what do you serve a snow princess?  All white foods.  Snow ball candy (yogurt raisins) were the hit of the day.

Here is the story:

Once upon a time there was a golden haired, happy little princess who loved to dance and sing in the sunshine.  Every where the sweet girl went, flowers bloomed and birds sang with joy, just to be near her.  Butterflies and fairies flit about above her just because she was so fun to be near. And her warm, kind heart always drew them to her.

One day, a nasty gnome who liked to spend his days in darkness and gloom heard the boisterous laughter of the happy little princess and all of her flying friends. This nasty gnome hated happiness and his ears ached from the sound of glee that was coming from the friends dancing and singing in the blooming garden.

He crept closer and peeped through the hedgerow to see where this hideous laughter was coming from. And he saw the pretty princess twirling and leaping in the flower beds.  The sight of such playfulness brought pain to his eyes to match the pain in his ears.  He couldn't take seeing and hearing anything as beautiful as this little girl. To him, it was not beauty at all- it was torture! He had to stop it.

So, he pulled out his crooked, magic wand and waved it through the air, then pointed it right at the happy little princess and cursed her with a spell to put a stop to all the singing.

The sweet princess suddenly felt a chill. She looked to the flowering ground beneath her silk clad toes and saw the flowers wilt and frost form over them. Quickly, the pond that was filled with long necked  swans started to turn to icy slush, then freeze into a solid sheet of ice.  As the princess looked up, a fat flake of snow fell right onto her once rosy, now pale cheek.  She smiled at his sparkling crystal beauty, even as she felt herself growing cold.

 

All around her, the birds, and fairies, and butterflies flapped their wings trying to warm themselves as their world became covered in ice and snow and the sun was buried behind a gray cloud of doom.

As the nasty gnome still peaked through the ice-crusted hedges, he almost smiled. But he couldn't because he had a heart colder than any block of ice.  But his ears no longer ached from the sounds of song and his eyes were no longer in pain from the sight of joyous dancing. 

Because, the pretty little princess who loved playing in the sunlight, slowly turned into a snow princess. Her golden hair became as white as a blizzard and she was as frozen as the ice on the pond.But as she became a statue of snow, her face froze in an expression of wonder and delight as she saw the sparkling snow flakes fall.

He trudged away, feeling satisfied with his spell, knowing that her friends would fly away to someplace warmer, leaving the princess cold and alone like he had been his entire life of 568 years.

But as he left, he looked over his shoulder, expecting to see a flight of fairies, butterflies, and birdies deserting their princess.  Instead, he saw something different!  All the creatures fluttered around her, staying close to bring her what little warmth they could.  The littlest fairy gathered herbs to make tea to warm her, as the swans plucked their down feathers to cover her frozen limbs.

Because the sweet princess had such a loving and kind soul, no one would leave her.  Even though they were so cold and had wings to fly away from the frozen garden back to sunshine, they stayed with their snow princess.  They would not stray from her side no matter how cold and miserable they were!

Maybe it was the tea that started to warm her. Or the fluffy swan's down?  But she knew that it was the love her friends showed her that warmed her heart and melted the ice that held her captive.  All the love and caring freed the happy little princess and broke the evil spell the nasty gnome had cast.

He saw the sun coming back out through the clouds and the flowers shaking off their frost and reopening their petals.  He heard singing, even more loud and joyous than what he had heard before!  This time, he ran as fast as his stubby, gnarly legs would take him, far, far away from the horrid sounds. He ran straight to a cave deep inside of a hill where he could hide forever in the darkness and gloom where he belonged.

A rainbow appeared in the sky as the ice storm cleared and the snow princess thawed. She felt the sun on her skin, wiggled her toes in the soft dirt of the garden and grinned the biggest, happiest grin she'd ever grinned before.  But from that day on, her hair stayed white as a blizzard and was never the color of sunshine again. 

When she saw her reflection in the pond, she was reminded of the nasty gnome and his evil spell. But she was never frightened when she remembered that day. To her the white hair was the color of the downy swan feathers that her loved ones tried to warm her with.  Her memories of that cold, cold day were of the love and caring that she shared with her friends.

 

Better late than never

 

Before leaving to go on my trip to Florida, I pre-posted some pictures of my garden  to show while I was away.  Now, I am wondering if these are worth showing... I got such a late start in planting that these are not very lush plants yet.

But they were all half price!  By being a month (or more) behind, I was able to buy clearance priced plants.   I just hope they are going to live till I get back, since they are not well established, I hated going out of town and leaving all the "babies."

 

The perennials that were planted years ago, will be fine, of course.  Especially things like yarrow.  The weather could be 100 degrees and no rain the whole time I am away and this plant will thrive.

 

Just like all the ground cover here.  I like to use perennial plants that do well in Kansas with little care, or water.  Then, I scatter annuals around in pots to brighten  the garden.

Begonias are always a favorite here, because I can depend on them. They aren't fancy, but they grow well in my soil and need very little attention, but provide lots of pink prettiness all summer long.

 

Well, they don't look like much yet. 

 

I set out about 3 flats of pink begonias, 1 of pink rose moss, 1 of mixed rose moss, and 2 flats of bright pink vinca.  Along with that, are some lavender dahlias, two colors of sweet potato vine, and lots of herbs.

 

This planter used to be the water heater of this old farm cottage.  I set out the herbs earlier than the flowers, so most of them are filing out now and looking good.  These are right by the back door, so I can snip what I need for meals.

 

This Rosemary topiary tree was a treat for myself. Since it was a late season purchase, it was half price and I thought $20 was a good price for it.  I also got a planter box filled with herbs half price (we can't have too many around here!) and divided them up to plant around the base of this topiary, and added some to a few other pots too.

 

This basket full of herbs was a birthday gift, and I set it down into a larger pot and planted some begonias around it.

 

But some pots stayed empty.  I kind of like the look of stacked terra cotta pots.

 

Especially in groupings. 

 

And I love to fill my yard with junk I buy at garage sales. This chandelier was $5, because it's wiring was all cut out.  I'll add a candle to it for evening garden parties.

 

This 1960's wall plaque was multi colored, so I primed and painted it white, then hung it on a garden wall to age, about 5 years ago. I had no idea it would last this long.  But I only paid $1 for two of them at a yard sale, so it was worth the gamble.  Sometimes, I just use things outdoors knowing that it might only last a season or two, and enjoy them while they last.

 

This is a cabinet door that I painted on, and hung by the back door to my studio.  I know that the weather will rot the wood eventually. 

 

The hot pink watering can came with a pink gerber daisy in it, and was half price too. But Sugarwings immediately claimed it as her own, so I removed the plant and let her have the can.  It seemed more important to her than to me.

Plus she lets me use her tools.  Last year, we got pick plastic garden tools meant for kids, at Target.  But her little shovel is my favorite one to use, so we take turns.

 

My favorite flower this year, is this Knock Out Rose topiary (also half price).  First of all, Knock Outs are miraculous roses, they are the only ones I have ever been able to grow.  But I didn't know I could have a topiary one! I was thrilled to find that.

 

But my over all favorite of the yard? The veggie garden!  I'm hoping to have some tomatos soon, the plants are looking great so far. It shouldn't be too much longer.  Can't wait!

Lighten up! (or how to paint a chandelier)

 

Yesterday was  a junking day, and a really good one at that.  We all bought stuff we loved and at good prices, you just can't beat that! One of my purchases was this $58 brass chandelier. I needed one to light up my space at the upcoming Miss Frenchie's sale. 

Today was definitely a perfect springtime day!  70's and sunny, and not too much of that Kansas wind.  So, I took advantage of the sun, and took this chandy outside for a do-over.

Here's how:

1- Wipe off the dust, if it is really dirty, use Windex.

2- Now, this might sound like odd advice, but it really is smart and works. I've painted dozens of chandeliers and have found that this is the easiest way to go- screw burnt out light bulbs into the sockets before painting!  That keeps the paint from getting into them, and is much simpler than using tape to cover the sockets.  Really.

3- Spray with a BONDING primer.  The label MUST say "bonding" or "will adhere to shiny surfaces."

4- Spray into all the  nooks and crannies, let dry, turn over and spray that side.  You will probably need to turn it around at least 3 or 4 times to get every angle. 

5- Double check and see if you missed any spots!

 

6- Mix a deep brown paint (acrylic craft paint, like Apple Barrell or Delta) with some clear glaze.

7- Dab on the brown with a small, soft  brush, doing one area at a time. Make sure you get it deep into all the cracks.

8-Lightly wipe away paint with a wet rag, leaving it in the recesses.

 

9- Repeat all over and all around the light.  Just like when you sprayed the primer, turn it every direction and make sure you didn't miss any spots. 

10- Go for an uneven, messy kind of finish, darker in some places than in others.  You don't want it to look like it was done perfectly at a factory!

   

11- When dry, spray with a poly clear coat.  And remember about flipping it over and going for every angle!

12- Add crystals, I prefer to use different sizes, not all uniform.  If some of the holes are plugged with paint, poke through with a toothpick or small nail to clear it out.

Ta Da!  Only 12 steps to a whole new look! 

And please note, I didn't use just any spray paint. If you do that, the glaze will wipe off. It has to be a BONDING PRIMER for the water based glaze to stick!!!

I've lightened up

   

Typepad just ate my post.  A LONG rambling post, like I tend to do, and with LINKS.  Lots of links that took me an hour to do.  I'm so sorry I don't have time to replace them, but I will show the photos with apologies to the artists who contributed.

 

This is the book I made for myself from the tags, and cards I got as gifts in the swap.  Robin did this one, and it has a "K" stick pin on it, how cute.

Many people made extra tags for me, and I really enjoyed collecting them into a bundle. This one is from Susan Goffman.

 

Some were vintage tags tied to the packages, others were extras from the swap.

 

Then others were made up special as a gift! Like this one from Marilyn.

 

This is from Brenda.

 

For the swap, we were each meant to make 6 tags to share.  I added my six to various books, (plus I made the 65 covers).  So, I picked out 6 tags from the group to keep for my own book. but one of them, I kept out to tie to the key for my new cabinet.  I saw this one from Andrea and scooped it up immediately!

Once, again, I am sorry that Typepad erased all my work in adding links to artists who made all of these.  Tell you what- if you were in the swap, have a blog and are going to show photos of your books- please send me a link to the post and I will post the list of them all together so everyone can come and visit each other and see their work spread out into all these little tag books.

 

All of the tag books are assembled and sent! So, my table is now cleared, but here is the view I had for a few days, tags and booklets everywhere.

That is my new cabinet, found last weekend at my favorite second hand store for only $150. I'd love to redo the whole studio with "fancy" furniture. 

 

Especially pieces like this that are so functional.

 

Plus, this one has space for display too.

 

This chandelier ($130) is from the same store. I'd had my eye on it for a while, and finally went back to get it, and the cabinet had just been brought in.  So, I ended up with both. Happily!

 

The best thing about it, isn't the bouquet of porcelain roses, it is that it has SIX bulbs, and makes a huge difference in the lighting above my desk!! I can see!!!

Now the swap is over, the studio is illuminated and all cleaned up. I'll be excited about getting back to work. I've neglected my Boutique and Etsy shop while working on the tag swap.  As soon as I get them re-stocked, I'll let you know.

But Sugarwings comes tonight, and we will need to do some coloring, that has to come first! She got the cutest crayon carry all from Ele.  This weekend, we'll be playing with all the art supplies she received in the swap, thanks again, everyone!

That is, when we can get a break from these guys! 

Here is a link for a short puppy video on Flickr. You know how I say, that Twinkle thinks the camera is always out just for her? Here you can see what I mean. And please ignore the dirty floor....

 

Also, all swappers are welcome to add any puppy love photos to our flickr group and everyone is welcome to look through the photos. I might have added more than a few myself.... I hope others add also!

The ZONE

Aren't these yummy colors?  I just listed two packs of these luscious old trims in ice cream colors.

It seemed fitting to add these Neapolitan colored old buckles to the shop too.

I hope some the same person buys both, I just think a project made with these would be so pretty. all are sold, thanks, and yes, the buckles went with the trims!

You probably don't hear me mention thread and needles much around here, but yesterday I actually got some out and sewed this old millinery bloom to this vintage silver bag!

My mom would have been so proud of me!  I used thread instead of glue. 

Supposedly, yesterday was my tagging and organizing day, but I ended up making stuff too.  (and I did get some tags made, by the way)

Ever had one of those days when you just are in the zone? I had no interruptions, no phone calls, no family around.  So, I was in my studio from about noon till 11pm. I didn't even eat, I just focused. 

Those days don't come by very often. Good thing, because the day after, I feel like I have a hangover from it all and can't get anything done at all.

Aging sucks. A super productive day means a lazy day coming up next.

Let's see, how did those zone hours go? I made these two fairy dancers, finished up and tagged 6 wallpaper journals, bagged and tagged a lot more millinery blooms, drug out my Christmas decor items that are for sale, dug through vintage Xmas cards, and sorted some jewelry. 

Well, that doesn't sound like it was worth missing dinner for does it? It felt like I got more done than that....

There was some blog hopping, and Ebay shopping involved in my day too. As well as a few little things here and there, clean ups and touch ups and so on.

Basically, the day just flowed. It was great. One thing after another, I was like a machine cranking out work and completing jobs left and right.

Before I got swept away with studio fever, I hit a couple of garage sales and did a little shopping.

I found this doll house/bookshelf at a local cool junk store.

Great Silver Bella display, huh? It will add much needed height to my table tops, and I can turn it on its side and use it for a box to pack stuff in to get them up there.

And how cute is the back of it?

I was thinking about covering the shelves in vintage wallpaper, but I will most likely be giving the  piece to Sugarwings for her dollies when I am done with it. 2 year olds and vintage papers don't mesh well.

See this note, "just because"?  It was from Scrappi Jessi and was a package with the cutest and most thoughtful presents. "Just because" she is a punkin!

Two cute ornaments were in the box, and both went immediately onto the chandelier that hangs over my computer.

This chandelier  is filled with mix matched colored crystals, and lots of sentimental things. A picture of my mom on a glittered star, tags and gifts I have received, a stuffed Dorkie from Sissy,  my collection of K's, a picture of my fairy grand baby on an ornament from Barb, a wooden angel from Beth.

If I keep adding to it like this, soon, all the pretties will drown out the light!

thoughts of Rebelling....

My studio had been getting buried in one mess after another. Now, honestly the blame is mostly my own... but also, I have to blame the inconvenient set up, at least a little bit. 

I am hoping that by rearranging things a bit, it will be easier to keep organized.

Well, its a hope I have.

Not most clear photos, are they? Sorry.

This big bowl of blooms is now smack dab in the center of my work station, so I can always have the perfect flower within reach when needed.

While I was at it, I even cleaned up the office and filed away the piles of crap spread out on every surface.

Major accomplishment there!!

All of my Etsy shop items are now organized, instead of heaped on that blue desk. I hung a lot of the pieces on the screen door that makes up one of my walls. I like to have the artwork out where I can see and enjoy them until they go to their new homes.

Not the best photo, once again. This is the chandelier over my computer. Originally, it was just multicolored crystals. But as I get cute gifts in the mail, such as the "Ks" and some tags and dolls, I have been hanging them on the light.  Now, it is kind of a glowing bulletin board of things I like to keep nearby.

The room itself is a bit odd. My studio is one big space, almost 1,000 sq ft, not quite.  But I have broken it up into different areas and "built" walls with old chippy doors, a gazebo, and big pieces of furniture.  That makes it flexible, so I can rearrange it all to suit whatever my needs are at the time.

Geez, none of these photos are really very good are they? My camera does much better in close ups. Yet another reason, to moan and complain that I don't own the Cannon Rebel camera that I have been dreaming about!!

The camera I use really doesn't do badly when the light is perfect.  And like  I said, better with close ups.

These two padded hangers decked out with vintage millinery flowers were just listed on Etsy.

My camera did a great job with this picture. (See how I am trying to make myself feel better about not owning the wonderful, life changing, dream come true, Canon Rebel?)

For those of you who were asking for more Halloween colored millinery packs, I was able to list this one

and six of this one.

Thanks for asking, and for snapping up all the previous packs!!

I'm off to get Sugarwings, we are going downtown for a street festival, then she will be having a sleepover.  If I had a Canon Rebel, I'll bet I'd be getting great photos of the jugglers and puppetiers at the festival...

Teaparties and presents

  I am getting ready to put together the Sweet Treats and Roses swap books with Beth tomorrow and luckily two of the books are being mailed to people I am sending gifts to, so I thought I'd slip these into the packages.

The purple flowered pendant with the amethyst drop goes to my buddy, Barb, who also shares my birthday. 

She had surprised me with this Fairyland ornament for Christmas and I wanted to do something nice for her.  I am keeping it up year round, and hung it from the chandelier above my computer, so I always have my Sugarwings close by.

The other necklace goes to the winner of my 5558th comment prize, my pal, Heather.  Having gotten to know Heather through reading her blog and exchanging emails, I think that she will like the colors I have chosen for her pendent.

    Speaking of presents, Sugarwings got this wonderfully cute skirt in the mail!

I'd entered a giveaway on Clarice's blog a couple of weeks ago and won this skirt for the fairy grand baby.

The skirt was made by Christy Misty and she has some adorable pants on her website too. Thanks Christy!

This skirt is a 3-4 and is a bit too large for my little sprite yet, but she'll grow into it.

She loves to play dress up and for now will wear it as a tea party dress.

When I take her up the stairs to her play room, she always hands me something pretty to dress her in.  She expects her special play room to be a formal occasion and can't just wear any old thing up there where all her favorite bears and dolls will see her!

And of course, she likes to see others play along.  Its a good thing that little Twinks is a happy dog who will do anything for her "litter mate"                                                                                                                                                                                            .  These two grew up together  and are inseparable. 

The wings were a gift from Carol, and I can see they will be getting plenty of use in the future!  I think it will be my turn to wear them next. 

Finally, I attacked some of the Christmas decor that was still lurking upstairs. While the baby played with the puppy and the dolls, I took down the decorations in her room.  Not all of them made it to the box, a lot just got shuffled around the room to live there year round, like these fairies that I put on the chandelier over the day bed.

I don't know which of them came up with this idea, but they both seemed to enjoy it.

Twinkle is a good hearted dog and I think I see lots of doll clothes in her future.  I hope she enjoys dressing up as much as the baby does, because I doubt if she'll have a choice in the decision in the next few years.   

Making more space and making money stretch

I have been hearing that Romantic Country has been hard to find for a lot of people.  I've seen that with these Harris Publications before. They have great magazines and people love them, but it takes some searching to find them sometimes. 

So, today, I am mailing a copy to my sweet and tiny little mother-in-law out in Utah and my genteel and gracious great aunt down in Florida (who is turning 100!!).   I made them each a book mark with their initials.  I used some pretty scrap booking paper and brass charms but didn't delve into my stash of vintage wallpapers and old ribbons. I knew they would just think it was old stuff and would probably appreciate the new papers more. 

I redid the little corner of my studio that I call my office this week.

The rug is a linoleum remnant I painted for a magazine article "how to" story a couple of years ago. I switched from a larger table to this petite one and now the rug shows more.  I'd almost forgotten it was there. 

I use doors that are hinged together to make the partition that creates the space, and even though the doors have windows, the spot is dark.  So I repainted the big hutch from black to pale, icy blue, and added another chandelier.

The table lamp is from last weekend's garage sailing, $2.50- with the shade!!

Its hard for me to make an office a pretty spot, too many functional things, electronics, papers, BILLS, that I need to keep out.

Of course, the piles of Etsy stuff on the little blue desk doesn't help the clutter, does it? 

I might have mentioned a couple (or a thousand) times that I like fairies.  I make my own from old dolls, or paint them, or transform vintage photographs into little fairy kids, but I also buy store bought ones.

TJ Maxx has these sparkly babes in with their Christmas decor for $5 each. I added these warm colored ones to my fall centerpiece in the dining room.

The velvet rose is from a bundle of the quarter ones I got at a garage sale, I glued it and some moss into a creamer from another garage sale that was only 15 cents because it was chipped. 

My house doesn't usually have fall colors. but I wanted to do something to celebrate the season and still be true to my own palette and style.

Fresh flowers are always welcome here. These are from last MONDAY at my local grocery store's $1.99 clearance bin. 

A vintage table cloth with roses in autumn colors, that Beth was selling for $3, and just gave to me instead, a basket from garage sales last week for 50cents, some of the vines and flowers (with lots of sparkle to them) from garage sales for a quarter a stem,  and an 80% off after Christmas spray of glittered fruits from Hobby Lobby are part of the display.

I also added a gold carnival glass dish that was my husband's grandmother's and filled it with china roses that I collect for mosaic projects. Oh, and a bag of white pumpkins for $2, and a beaded pumpkin for $1.  All of this, for what it normally costs to buy a flower arrangement!

Even though the flowers from last week's sale bin are still thriving, I bought a dozen roses for $1.99 yesterday.  Look at the deep reds and the wonderful striping of greens and yellows!!

The grocery store had a pot of white hydrangeas for $1.99 too. I hope to plant it outside as soon as we get a good break in the weather. 

But for now, the pot looks good on my studio porch with the fall display there.

I might have saved a ton on flowers, but I went slightly overboard at TJMaxx on the fairies.

I bought one in every color they had for the baby's room.

Even though I am decorating for the Christmas Parade of Homes, I don't think these will come down after the holidays, they look like fairies that should live here year round to me.

One more bargain, before I go make things. I'd hate to only have 2 book marks and a rearranged room to be all I accomplish today.

My friend was having a yard sale and I bought this desk from her for $30. If I had bought it from a stranger, I would have offered $25, but very politely, I am never pushy or rude when I wheel and deal!

This attic room is in its beginning stages, you don't want to see the rest of it yet.

And one more "one more thing" this is what I sent to Priscilla, who won the Sept. giveaway.

The tag is one that I made by cutting up my Romantic Country party invitation.  I thought it looked fitting for her, as a Flea Market Queen.

I added her initial and a charm that I had made with old papers.

The charm can be worn as a pendant if she'd like.

I hope she enjoys her throne.

Please leave a comment to enter the Oct. giveaway. Maybe I will keep it as the Sept. one was, custom fit to the winner?

Some more LOVE

This week has been a lovely party week, with sharing our homes on Tuesday,then the creative and glorious ball on Wednesday.

But today, caring bloggers are getting together to support Amy from 4 Sisters in  a Cottage and her brave struggles with breast cancer.. If you are interested in saying a kind word of encouragement to Amy, go over  Mary to find out more.

I thought I'd show a few more pictures of what I LOVE about my home.

When Sugarwing's Dad moved out on his own, we ripped out his bedroom, used half of it as a large master closet/laundry room and the other half as a master bath.

A private laundry room in your bedroom closet is a great idea for an empty nester couple.  We filled the room with shelves and baskets, so  that the clothes went straight from the dryer to the shelf , no baskets- no hauling- so simple.

Then, of course, we had the kids move back in. And out, and then in again.  And a niece stayed with us for 8 months.  Our laundry room and the bedroom leading to it, became grand central station!

But it works out, and I still LOVE that we remodeled and added this area.  I'm not showing you a picture of my closet, because it hasn't been tidy since the day it was built.  But hey, its a closet! I shut the door and don't care.

These cabinets used to be plain, and are meant to be for guns.

I added trim (me and my saw and nail gun!) to make them look built in and we actually designed the size of the room to fit them.  We were a couple of inches off- you can see to the right side. Oh well, with the walls dark, it seems OK.

I cut these pieces to fit around the door too.   They are from Home Depot and are made of a Styrofoam, and can easily be cut by an amateur like me.  They sell all sorts of trim pieces to mix and match and use to foof up your home. I'd say I spent about $100 on what I used for this door.

I found the rose tile at a carpet and tile warehouse clearance center. It still wasn't dirt cheap ($190), but it adds so much to the room. By using an accent tile around the tub, I could go with a generic tile on the floor. It was from the same clearance center for 99 cents a tile.

The sconce is from an auction and was $15.

I'm thinking about painting the sink cabinet. I don't have much natural wood in my house and even though it works well here, my paint brush fingers are getting itchy every time I walk by it.

To make a round tub fit into the rectangular box it needed to go into, I came up with this mosaic. There were two of these little square tiles left and the person at the store just gave them to me.  One is a rose, the other is a bundle of wheat (for Kansas!). 

I used the decorative tiles on the front two corners of the tub, the back is a simple mosaic of the small pieces of travertine that are used as background for the decorative tile mosaic.

This iron table is from a garage sale for $22. I loved it because it has a shelf to put books and magazines on while I soak in the tub.

Three colors of white and tan were used to paint the cabinets and give them an aged look.  I added these wooden embellishments and tied keys on the handles with sheer ribbon.

The chair was free.  No one bought it at a sale and it was about to be thrown out!  The fabric is frayed on the top, but I don't care one bit.  The fabric underneath seems every bit as pretty, but I love the cabbage roses so much, I won't let myself be tempted to pull it off and see.

I lined the back of the shelves with sheet music.

And yes, I know, I spelled cotten wrong on the jar!

I made my Grandma Downey's old floor lamp into a towel/robe hook, since there was no convenient spot for a towel bar. 

I tried to use pretty containers for the practical things needed to be stored in the room.

Well, I'm off to get Sugarwings for the day! This makes the 4th day I have baby sat her this week, if you are wondering why I have no "new" projects to show you.  Did I mention she has had a flu bug all week? Poor baby. She has needed lots of cuddles.

Don't forget to enter the drawing (details on the last posting)

Feeling like a Queen and having the Crown to go along with it

Look where I have been!  the Chase Plaza in St Louis has to be the best hotel EVER. Pure luxury. I feel quite quennly when I stay there.

These two photos are of the lobby, one from each direction. I am happy to just stand there in the hall like a rube and stare at all the marble, granite, chandeliers that are bigger than my living room,  and the gorgeous architecture.  I've stayed there many times, but I never get over my awe of the place.

The rooms are newly remodeled, but I loved it when they still had an 80s vibe to them too.  Now they are updated, streamlined and sumptuous. 

The restaurants are as over the top as the lobby, and "Eau" is our favorite when we are in town. 

I felt like I was visiting "Top Chef", I even ate an amuse boocsh or however that is spelled.  It is French for a one bite appetizer to delight your mouth. Mine was delighted. I've seen them served on Top Chef, so felt like I knew all about them. This one was a strawberry brushetta.

See? Delightful! 

And the salads were so pretty.  Mine had truffles. 

There are 3 restaurants in the lobby along with a movie theater.  When the movies are over, an attendant offers you chocolate on a silver tray as you leave.  

The pool is right outside one of the restaurants and I love to lay by the water with a good book (this time it was a Stephanie Plum novel) order lunch with a strawberry margarita.

And sometimes I just put down the book and gawk. I never get tired of the beauty of that magnificent, old building.   

Yep, I'm a rube. 

I should have packed my tiara!  This is one location where I would have felt properly dressed to have one on!

Barbara http://www.123lavenderlollipoplane.blogspot.com/ sent me this beaut, and not only was this wonderful piece of queenly head wear in the package, she sent presents!!!!!!!!

A hat box, vintage laces,  a sweet fairy for me and a fairy framed mirror for little Sugarwings!!!

The generosity of blogger/swappers never fails to amaze me. I think she really over did it. Thanks, Barb!

I got  this photo from Sissy, she has been making gift bags.  She doesn't have a blog, and makes such pretty things, I had to show you sicne she couldn't.  I am thinking about seeing if anyone wants to do a gift bag swap?  But later on this summer.  Or, hey, it would be a good one for getting ready for the holidays, wouldn't it? Let me know if you think we should do a holiday gift bag swap later on!

While I was in St. Louis, I didn't spend all my time eating, laying by the pool or gawking at the big city sites.  I spent a couple of hours working one morning. I did this little chubby cheeked fairy painting and also a commissioned pet portrait.

This is the beginning stage of the painting.  Whenever I do a portrait, the first thing I paint is the eyes. If you can capture life in the eyes, you know it will be a good likeness. If not, I throw it away and start over.

Here is the finished product along with the photo I was using to work from.

I always wonder what the housekeepers think when they come in and see the suite transformed into a watercolor studio. Or sometimes, I take jewelry to work on while I am at the hotel. I just can't stand to not get any work done at all for more than couple of days!

Thanks for all your input on my blog being slow. Typepad says that maybe I should try doing excerpts, but I don't want to do that.  They also said to try not having as many postings listed on the first page. I'll be keeping all but a few in the archives and see how that goes. Please let me know if that helps?

Today is the 28th, so only two more days to enter the giveaway for the hand painted rose charm.  (and yes, I counted all the "happy birthdays to Beth "http://bethleintz.typepad.com/ )

On Saturday I also have to write an article for the fall issue of Romantic Country and have little time to get it done, so my drawing might be late that day. So you'll have all day to enter.  And I will start a new drawing on Sunday!  Maybe a matchbox full of goodness?

As much as I loved living in the lap of luxury in St Louis at the Chase Plaza, it was good to get home. We went straight to see Sugarwings and took her out to dinner.  I think she wore more than she ate.  I still thought she was cuddly, even covered in some sort of goo that she was eating.  I couldn't get enough hugs after not seeing her for a few days!