Gathering Dust

Puppy Talk and Party Pretties

Last weekend at Karla's Romantic Gothic Ghosts Workshop, I took a lot of pictures but considering it was a crafting event, I really don't have many pictures of our projects. I was more caught in up in getting pictures of some of Karla's clever little decorating touches, and of course taking pictures of puppies.

The picture on top is the set up table for my class.  The wings in the middle of the picture are from Dawn's Angel Wing Tutorial.

The wings didn't have anything to do with my class, but I had so much fun making the wings, and was so happy with the way they turned out that I wanted to show them off.

This is Karla's treat cabinet, complete with witch hat cookies.

Karla's Sissy made these candle holders for everyone.  She printed images on vellum and glued them on a clear votive.

Even the bathroom was decorated- with a Witches Ball towel...

...and flowerless roses.  When I first saw the vase and stems, I thought "Oh, that's too bad, I wondered what happened?"; and then I realized that was a clever little bit of Halloween decorating.

Everyone had fun snuggling with puppies.  Look at those faces... I can barely resist bringing one home with me.

Laurie got to hold all NINE puppies at once.

Keeping up with NINE six week old puppies is a lot of work, but Karla has set up a deluxe suite in the garage next to the studio to meet all the puppy's needs.

Even with such spacious accomodations, the puppies spend most of their time snuggled together in their sleeping crate.  That's ok...it makes it easier to pick up one (or two) for a cuddle.

Gypsy Spells & Songs Felted Book and Romantic Gothic Ghosts

Karla asked me to teach a class at her upcoming Romantic Gothic Ghosts workshop.  The theme behind the workshop is a romantic Halloween look, no bright orange pumpkins or scarecrows; instead projects you could leave up year round.

I'm not sure how most teachers come up with a class project- there is probably a more efficient way to do it than what I do.  I knew I wanted to make a fabric book and I thought it might be fun to put a gypsy spin on it. 

I went to The Graphics Fairy blog, downloaded gypsy and Halloween images, made some collage sheets, and printed them on paper, fabric and scrim.  God bless Karen, the Graphics Fairy- what a wonderful resource!

Then I got some trims, trinkets, charms & lace and started to play.

This was the first book I came up with- with a tin type on the cover.  After looking through my tintypes, I realized that even though I had enough tintypes for the whole class, I didn't have enought PRETTY tintypes. 

This project needed something more attractive than a tintype with an old man with a pointy beard and scruffy hat- so I tried to figure out how to make my own tintypes.

Here are some that I came up with.  They aren't as dark as the real thing, but I think they do have a spooky look.

The book is made of walnut stained felt.  I'll have plenty of images, doodads, trinkets and lace so that everyone can make their pages unique.

Karla still has a few openings left for the event- it's Oct 6 at her cottage.  If you know Karla, you know that just seeing her decorations, house, studio and landscaping make it worth a trip.  She'll have a delicious lunch for us, and you can pet a chicken or a puppy.  Her Yorkie (and my Button's mother); Twinkle, will have 6 week old puppies right about that time. 

Oh, and you get two craft classes, too----this one and Karla's Ravishing Raven.  Here's a link for more info and to sign up:  Romantic Gothic Ghosts Workshop. 

My original tintype book is now listed in my Etsy Shop Gathering Dust, along with some awesome 1940's penmanship magazines.

Miss Bird Song II & Her Apron

I started stitching this little bit when I was in Texas with Karla for Paper Cowgirls.  At lot of the Texas gals were coming to Bird Song, and as we talked about it, I thought it would be fun to turn this into something I could use as a door prize for Bird Song.

It's ended up being an apron.  We'll have a drawing during my class and some lucky gal is going to have the pleasure of wearing this apron all weekend...well, only if they want to...

Besides stitching, I added a bird printed on fabric, and charms and buttons.

The top is finished with the edge of an old table cloth, some millenary flowers and a rhinestone heart.

I've wanted to stitch up an apron for awhile, so it was fun making this and then decorating it.  I think my next stitching project will be making myself an apron to wear at antique shows.

But right now, I have to put the finishing touches on the  display for my class- of course, Miss Bird Song II will figure prominently in it.

On the Road to Paper Cowgirls

Tomorrow, Karla and I are on our way to Paper Cowgirls in Texas.  This will be the first time in years that I've been in Texas when the temperature is under 80 degrees.  I'm hoping we can see some blue bonnets.

Karla and I are both teaching classes.  It's my first time teaching a craft class and my first time putting together a craft kit.  It doesn't sound hard, counting buttons, cutting ribbon, but it is.  I mean, it's not hard work like mining coal or pouring concrete, but I didn't realize how much went into it.

I followed Karla's advice and made extra kits.  She said "It's just as easy to make thirty as it is twenty".   When I get home from Texas, I'll be listing the extras in my Etsy shop.

Thank goodness BOTH Karlas helped me put my kits together.  Karla the artist figured out my presentation- tieing the papers and cloth together, and Karla the accountant meticulously cut ribbon and counted buttons.

And what did I do?  Mostly I whined "this is hard......"

One think I've learned about craft classes from both Karla and Lisa is that it's fun to have extras supplies so everyone in the class has a chance to customize their project.

I was planning on packing my supplies in a vintage suitcase- something I usually have "in stock"- but I sold my last suitcase a couple weeks ago, so  I decided to substitute this artist's case.  It's kind of like a wooden brief case- made to hold an artist's paints, brushes and canvases.  But it was UGLY plywood, so I did a little decoupage on it, using some of my favorite old papers- dictionary pages, old magazine, catalog and ledger pages.

Inside, I have lace, scraps from a stained Quaker tablecloth, ribbon and buttons.

Underneath, I've stored my class samples, extra background papers and vintage wallpaper.

The last time I was at Karla's she had her class kits stacked all together and they were so pretty- I had to get a picture.  That is some vintage goodness!

 

Chirp with Us: Birdsong II

Last year, one of the most fun times I had was the weekend I spent at Karla's Birdsong art retreat. Laughing, crafts, great weather, great decor, great scenery, old and new friends- it was wonderful. I wrote about it here.

Karla is doing it again and this year and I'm excited (and nervous) to be teaching a class.  This a peek at my project.

If you'd like to attend, there are still a handful of places open.  You can find more information here.

Lisa will also be teaching a class and Karla will be teaching two classes.  Here's a look at one of Karla's projects.

Karla's other project most likely will be jewelry- the last time I saw Karla, she was playing with beads- she has a plan for a beautiful and one of a kind piece.

If you're on the fence about attending or haven't been to an art event, feel free to email me and I'll try to answer your questions.  I think those last few places will sell out fast.

Paper Cowgirls Miscellanea

 
I haven't been able to figure out how to tell the "Paper Cowgirls Chronicles" in an organized way- should it be divided by category- crafts, parties, sightseeing, antiquing etc?  Or should it be chronological?  I don't know, so I just picked some random pictures I thought were fun.

First, I had to show one of the MOST amazing creations I've ever seen- Ann Denise Anderson's luscious frothy concoction of crepe paper, coffee filters, tissue paper, butcher paper and a lot of time.  Several times during Paper Cowgirls, I found myself just staring at it in amazement.

 
Dawn's shadow box collage and Dorthe's doll (all the way from Denmark) were raffle prizes.

 
Karla dressed up for the Paper Cowgirl's Prom.

 
Lisa, not dressed up for prom.  ( I didn't dress up either, we both dressed for shopping.)  In the background you can see other Paper Cowgirls shopping the streets of Waxahachie- what a darling town- and a lot of the stores stayed open late for so the Paper Cowgirls could shop.

 
There were a lot of great prom dresses, but Kristi's has to be one of my favorites- the skirt has cabinent cards under the tulle- kind of like a walking portrait gallery.

 
My two roomies, on their way to the prom- if only we'd had a fairy godmother to turn that luggage rack into a coach.

 
Lisa's shoe collection- not counting the ones she was wearing, because everyone knows that you need at least five pair of black shoes for a two night stay in Waxahachie.

(I hope that pictures doesn't put me on the banned for life roommate list.)

More pictures to come- of classes, crafts, swaps and the vendor night.  Can you tell I had fun?

Bird Song- Behind the Scenes

 
 
I've always know that Karla was a great hostess, but last weekend at her Birdsong event she outdid herself.  The decorations, the classes and the food were wonderful. Karla's Cottage, studio, fairy trail, garage, gardens & courtyard  and even bonfire pit were all put to use.

 
 
I was able to take pictures before guests showed up- this is the courtyard- Sat was perfect weather for eating and visiting outside.  In the background you can see Karla's signature disco ball- because it really isn't a party without a disco ball, right?

 
Karla's mannequin, Luwanda was all "birded up".

 
Each workstation had a bird gift/goodie bag.

 
The table covers were decorated with Karla's drawings, doodles and quotes- "Use what talents you possess".

 
Prettinesss everywhere- this is Lisa's sample project- a woven purse that I know I'll be making more of.

 
Carol's fringed paper flowers and tree...

 
... and a fringed paper wreath.

 
Even the supply boxes were pretty- this is a "Jolly Pets" cigar box full of buckles and buttons for Deb's lampshade class.

 
My nature journal swap turned out great- I was so happy with all the different styles of pages that the girls came up with.

 
Thanks goodness I had "the other Karla" to help me put the books together.  She had never been in a swap, or even used a crop-a-dile, but I wouldn't have been able to get the books together with the right number of pages without her.

 
Just so you don't think that to make everything so special, Karla must have been on high alert, running the event with the precision of a military operation- I think she was able to relax and have some fun, too- because she wore her bedroom slippers all day.

 

Low Color Crafts for Christmas

 
I'm still in love with burlap, tea stain and tattered lace in "low colors"- my Christmas crafts don't have any of the traditional red and green- or even my old favorite silver and blue.

 
Today is Christmas craft day at  Karla's, and we're doing an ornament exchange.  I couldn't decide between the ribbon and tattered lace skirted angel in the first picture or this:

 
...two girls happily celebrating the chill with fur wraps.  I've dipped this wall hanging in tea and coffee so many times at different stages in the process of making it that I think it would work as a tea bag itself in an emergency.

 
 
I can't decide between the two of them, so I think I'll bring both. 

One thing I won't be bringing is sugared pecans.  I made them this morning to go on top of a salad- mixed greens,  pecans, craisens, feta cheese and a raspberry vinaigrette.  Unfortunately, I packed the hot sugared nuts in my box to go to Karla's and found out that dogs really like the smell of nuts- and don't mind eating them out of a Baggie.  Our salad is going to have to get its crunch from croutons...

 
By the way, I've added some estate sale jewelry to my Etsy Shop- SugarPinkMoon.

Christmas Goods from Curious Sofa

 
Thur night, Deb and her crew at Curious Sofa put together a fabulous and inspiring Christmas house.  Of course, I was drawn to this display with brown transferware- a perfect fall display that would take you all the way to Christmas.

 
I love this little owl guy- he'd be a wise addition to any table.

 
Lot of soothing whites and neutrals.

 
Including the infamous chair, in all its rusty glory- perfect paired with a linen script pillow- and perfect on its own.

 
Glitter sprinkled keys, sparkly fruit and a touch of pink.

 
Reindeer dancing around a bird cage.

 
It's not all neutrals- check out this collection of beautiful felted floral pins and pink cushions.  Yummy!

 
Sock birds, sock elephants and a sock moose- classics.

 
And what did I get?  I'm not usually a "retail" shopper- I get most of my home decor, craft supplies, office supplies and even clothes if I can, at estate sales and auctions.  But I couldn't resist- these sparkling slipper ornaments were calling my name- along with the beautiful bouquet of vintage cream millenary flowers.

 
And I had to get one of those wool pin cushions- I love how it picks up the colors in this vintage game board in the bookshelf in my living room.

And the Fairies Were There

Thanks for all the feedback from fellow junkers,  antique dealers and treasure hunters- it made me feel better to know I'm not the only person that had ever had a "lull".

Last night my other friend Karla (no blog) and I went to a baby shower for Karla's soon to be here grandbaby.

Of course the decorations were over the top cute- I wish I'd taken more pictures- but I did get some pictures of the darling fairy tree Karla made.

Little babies with wings and accessories perched on real branches.

 
And on the dining table, she had picture paper dolls of the babies Mom and Dad and brothers and sisters on branches for a real "family tree".

 

There's still time to sign up for Karla and my Romantic Gothic Ghosts Halloween online zine.  We'll each be having a giveaway of some crafty decorative doodads, and to be eligible all you have to do is sign up for the class by Oct 31.  The sparklies in the picture above are my giveaway.