Karla's Cottage

A bonus bead show

While I was in Indy, the gem show was also in town!  Great timing!

My Sissy and her two girls took me there and we made a day of it with lunch, shopping, then home to create with and play with our finds.  I guess we made a night of it too, we played with beads til bedtime.

 I am thinking about a project that requires some neutral tones, so I grabbed these beauties for it.   Quartz, citrine (but not the typical canary yellow), and pearls were ideal for what I am making.   

I have been on the search for these gold rimmed stones for over a year.  I know they can be found online, but for more than I wanted to pay.  Plus, I prefer buying my gems in person so I get exactly what I want.   There wasn’t a wholesale area at this particular show, but I always ask if there is a volume price.

 Some dealers say yes, some no, but you gotta check it out right?

 Luckily, if I bought multiples of  these, they were half off, even better than I’d hoped.   Glad I asked.

When my boy and I were at the gem show in KC, we wanted opals and spent time picking out a few strands, just to find out we had read the sign wrong and what we thought was an “each” price was actually a gram price. 

oops

The opals went back to the table instead of home with us.   But we regretted not getting at least a few.  At the Indy sale, they were priced by strand, so I knew upfront what they cost.  Sticker shock was still in effect, but I braved through it and purchased one anyway.  They have more rainbow colors in them than what shows up here. I’m looking forward to crafting with Adam and using the opals I splurged on.

This doesn’t look like my typical haul, does it?  I usually go for the genuine stones, or find vintage pieces to take apart if I’m using crystals.  But for the craft I had planned, these multi colored, multi faceted strands of various shaped crystals were exactly what I went there for.

Rainbow colors were perfect for the sun catchers I was making to take into Good Juju for the spring sale.

I’d brought all the supplies needed to make the ones with ring shapes for a family craft, but for myself, I just wanted the simple ones to hang on a suction cup in a window.

Here are a couple my neices made with the rings. 

Silly me, I didn’t get pictures of the rest.   The girls made some beautiful pieces.

And did I mention they were beautiful girls?  And such fun to be with.  I had the best week, and miss them so much already.

While we were together, we tried to plan a beach adventure in October that is still up in the air, but might work out.  Although if it doesn’t, I’m every bit as happy hanging out in Pendleton, IN with my family- beading, crafting, laughing, and being silly together.  I love the Florida trips, but I love simply being with them even more.

 

An Indy Visit

This doll baby is Keifer and he is a thoughtful, introspective young man with a sweet nature.  He’s Sissy’s doodle and is keeping me company while I’m in indiana visiting family.  I offered to help my sister move into her new home and have done a bit of unpacking, but mostly I’ve just been enjoying family time with her and the neices.

As well as some doggie snuggle time, of course. Plus, I got to see some life long best friends and catch up over Pinot Grigio and salmon.  Why didn’t I take photos?  Dang, I was just talking too much.  They looked so beautiful, I really should’ve made an effort to take pictures because no one will believe me when I tell them how unchanged these pals are.  My heart is still full this morning after our evening together last night and hearing stories about their lives and families.

Ahead this week is antiquing, attending (and most likely over shopping) at the gem show, and a fancy dinner out with the girls.  

You know what going to a gem show means, right?  Craft days!  There are a couple of those coming up too.

I miss him already

My boy came to see us!  He brought his dear mermaid pal with him for a visit, then they scooped up the grandfairy to go to North Carolina for spring break.


The couple swung by Good Juju on Saturday to see me at work, then tried Cafe Gratitude for lunch.  It was so tasty, they made another trip later that day for dessert, then took me there on Sunday after the KC gem show.

Yep, that’s right- I had a perfect weekend!  Good Juju, my boy, AND a gem show!



Add to that, some glorious springtime weather, and some time down by the Kaw River, and I just don’t see how things could be any better.

Oh, but did I mention that they cooked for me?  And we got to eat the meal outside on the fire breathing dragon mosaic table?  



To top it off, we stayed up late every night and played with the beads we got at the gem show.  (This is my KC Royals collection for Juju)



Our time together ended way too soon, but I loved every moment of it.

It’s still February, so it’s not too late to celebrate Valentine’s Day

I had a Galantine Party planned for before the holiday, but the weather cancelled it.  Too bad, because with this dreary, cold, endless winter, we needed a break to be together and have some fun.

After the February Juju sale, I brought home my leftover inventory with a heart theme and decorated with it to make the cottage festive for my friends.

We rescheduled our gathering for after the 14th and I did not mind savoring all of my roses and hearts in the kitchen for an extra week.

Our party was right before more snow and hideously cold temps were beginning to rage across the plains again.  So I salted my sidewalks, had logs blazing in the fireplace, and lit lots of candles for a cozy evening and we made the best of it.  Our timing was pretty good, snow started falling later that night, we had our evening together before it hit too hard even though it was bone chillingly freezing already.

Originally, I’d planned mostly snack type foods.  With the never ending cold and the dismal forecast, I figured we needed a more hearty meal and whipped up a beef stew casserole topped with Duchess potatoes, and set the table for a dinner party instead of a casual hang out evening.  I was glad I did that, it’s good to enjoy your pretty things and spoil your buddies sometimes, isn’t it?  I eat off of paper plates a lot, and completely forget I have these lovelies.

The day before, I made a chocolate cake.  But not just any old cake, this was Bobbie’s buttermilk cake, a trademark, family favorite, best cake ever cake.

I’m not a recipe person, but I got out Bobbie’s cookbook where she’d complied recipes from our entire Downey clan and followed her directions to a tee to bake her cake. 

Between Valentine’s Day being the adoption date for my sons, and Ryan loving that holiday so much, my sister’s last name being Valentine, and the 16th being the anniversary of her death plus her daughter and our mom’s birthday, well, I desperately needed that buttermilk, fudgey delight.

And it was sooooooo good.  It tasted like home.

I was glad to have my friends to share it with, and served it on my grandma’s plate.  Which I did not put away back in the high cabinet.  That chintz floral pretty is going to stay out year round and get the use it deserves.  We never forget the ones we lost, but I think honoring them in small ways keeps them close.  Like using their things, making their favorite foods, doing things they loved.

For me, sharing these moments and talking about them with others I love is healing.  Thank you to my buddies for indulging me.

 

 

 

At the Guncles

While the reason for my trip to Jax wasn’t the best (poor Kev was under the weather and I went to help out) my time there was as delightful as ever.


The Guncles’ home is colorful and welcoming, the company is hilarious, and the food? Amazingly delicious.  


On this visit, I tried to make myself useful by helping Randy take down Christmas and replace it with Valentine decorations.

We created a mushroom and fairy wonderland.

He had been crafting a lot of schroomies, so the ones that didn’t go into the fabulous birdcage got popped them into flower arrangements.


He let me redo his craft room too.  I love a good sorting out, and a session of label making.


The Florida temps were mild, but after the cold January I’d survived in Kansas, it felt downright balmy.  Wearing a sweater to go out is a treat after the layers upon layers I’d been bundling into back home.  Olivia and I went for strolls around the neighborhood multiple times a day.

 

We saw hearts in the sidewalk and pavement every time.

This one was a unique find, it’s a ding on a car’s door.

The best part of the trip was seeing Kevin get stronger and stronger.

I wished I could’ve stayed longer.

That is what I say every time I leave their lovely home.

An unexpected treat in Jax

When visiting Guncles in Jax to be of help while Kevin was not feeling well, I got to spend time with Terry’s family too.

While chatting back and forth about when and where to meet up, Terry mentioned they were going to the Jacksonville Zoo.

I promptly invited myself along!

We knew it was featuring a lantern festival, but we did not know what to expect.  What we found, blew us away, we had the best time exploring the interactive, light up exhibits, chasing bubbles filled with smoke, enjoying the sights and an acrobatic show.

We were also quite pleased to find out how tasty the food at the snack bar was.  My goat cheese and spinach pizza was not what I figured on finding there.  


Not only were they kind enough to let me tag along on this fun night out, Terry and Dale drove back from Amelia Island the next day and gave me a lift to the airport.

Our time together was too short, but treasured.  I always do lots of smiling when spending time with that family.  Thanks again, Neibaurs!

 

Our Valentine’s Day and the loved ones we remember

Sugarwings and I cannot resist a holiday themed cocoa party.

So we picked out some special mugs and coordinating Jammie pants to be ready to celebrate in style.

I gathered up hearts and roses to decorate our cocoa station. But, the  bottles of flavored syrups that I’m hooked on had ugly labels that did not look festive, so I made some prettier ones on my computer for them.  

We also dug out the recipe book that my sister, Bobbie had compiled with family favorites in it.  Her specialty was a buttermilk sheet cake.

The Grandfairy and I will be making that together in honor of Bobbie, whose last name was Valentine.  She passed on the 16th, my mom’s birthday.  And Ryan was adopted by Rich on the 14th, so we have loved ones to honor this week.  

There will most likely be a few tears when we clink our mugs together and have chocolate cake while thinking of  the ones we miss.  But my kiddo and I will be making new memories and traditions together that I hope will carry into the future.

 

 

 

Ryan’s birthday

The 27th is Ryan’s birthday which makes his birthstone a garnet.  I decided to make myself a garnet bracelet with a silver heart to wear on his day.

Bobbie’s last name was Valentine and the anniversary of losing her is two days after the holiday, so I made one in honor of her too.  


After losing ones I love so much, reminders aren’t needed, they stay in my thoughts.  Sometimes as a soft murmur in the background, others like a wail. Or a quiet giggle heard from across the room.  A constant reminder.

Still symbols and trinkets while not needed, can be pleasant to have.  With a glance at my wrist while wearing these, I can imagine Ryan looking over my shoulder while I am crafting and saying, “That’s cool, mom”.  Or sharing pictures of my creations with Bobbie, who loved making beaded bracelets too.  

Grief hasn’t left me, but it does take on different forms.  Since losing my sister in February, I’ve had some rough patches. There were some times when I simply didn’t care much about the world around me, and I was doing just the bare minimum to get by.  Some days, maybe I didn’t even get that much done.  

I might be in a better place right now, but who knows.  The sadness is always there, the missing them never ends.  

We lost a kind hearted brother this year too.  I grieve for him and his family who are experiencing a year of “first times without”.

I have no advice for anyone who has experienced death of a loved one.  All I know is that those I love will always be with me.  And I take solace in the little things, the sound of Ryan’s wind chimes, fixing his favorite meal, making a bracelet with he and Bobbie in my mind as I create.

 

 

A twist on traditions

One word describes our Christmas- Fun.  From the endless variety of mocktail and specialty coffees Sugarwings made, to the games and dances we did, to the parties and plays we attended.

We had laughter, silliness, and togetherness.

Plus kazoos.

After the huge bathroom remodel and foundation catastrophe, I was behind in my work.  When you’re in retail, the last quarter of the year takes over your world, and I had taken a huge break from the stuff I needed to do.  It took some energy to ramp up my inventory and be ready for the rush.

So as Christmas neared, I still hadn’t started my shopping.  Plus, I’d just spent an unplanned chunk of cash on the home repairs. 

My solution? Presents under the tree for only the two teens, games with prizes for everyone else.  Prizes were gift cards, cash and socks.

Soooo many socks.

An exception was made for the dogs, it breaks their hearts to see gifts unwrapped and not get one of their own.

One year, they did not receive anything to open and they were so sad, I promised to never leave them out again.

So of course, they each got a little something just for them.

Everyone else had to win a gift, but I had plenty  to make sure all got a couple.  Most games were of the red cup variety, seen on tic tok.  This reindeer game was a little different, and kinda hard.

The dogs found these antlers in the woods, and Sugarwings wrapped them in lights.  Then we used glow stick bracelets as rings, turned off all the lights and started a ring toss.

But the highlight of the night was our dances!

We paired off and made up interpretive dances to our favorite holiday songs. 

I got to be Rudolf and Rich played both Santa and Prancer.  He was pretty good.  And we did it with a straight face, a major accomplishment.

I might have just stumbled upon the best way for us to do Christmas. Experiences, not gifts.  Except for missing my boys, it was about the best holiday I’ve had.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A gingerbread village

We tried something new this holiday season.

We skipped the gingerbread and used chipboard houses or wooden birdhouses.

The fam makes some spectacular cookie houses every Christmas, and they get fed to the chickens when we are done.

Using wood and chipboard gives permanence to their creations so we can enjoy them year after year.


We already got a chance to display these homes for our cocoa party on the 25th.

Some people used a gingerbread colored paint for a background, others used royal icing tones.  I made my two blue, they are gifts for my sister and her favorite color.

On the back of hers is an “S” for Sissy and a heart for our lost sister, Bobbie.

The “icing” we decorated them with is tubes of puffy paint or glitter paint meant for tee shirts.

Sugarwings made polymer clay candy and cookie shapes to add to them, and I provided bowls of odd and ends I’d collected over time. 

New tradition?  I hope so!