"Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself."
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Friday, April 23, 2010

I'm gonna come clean...

& tell you how long I've been stalking Karla Nathan @ Karla's Cottage. Now don't be alarmed...I'm not dangerous (Karla, please don't retract your invitation to come to Kansas & have tea some time...I promise I'm not dangerous! LOL) but I LOVE Karla! I love my life & I love being me (I really do!) but if there was anybody I'd want to trade places with, it would be Karla. She has amazing style, even more amazing talent, a wonderful sense of humor, an open heart, a great love for dogs, a supportive husband, a fantastic farmhouse & she's very devoted to her family....plus she gets paid to do what she loves to do. All the must-haves on my Dream Life list! Don't get me wrong, I am also fortunate to be endowed w/ several of these must-haves...I have a supportive husband, a good sense of humor (at least I crack myself up sometimes!), my little doggies & I'm very devoted to my own wonderful family. I'm very thankful & blessed to have what I have, don't get me wrong. But ooohhhh, to have Karla's style, her artistic talent & that fabulous farm house would just be the cherry on my sundae of life!

I've been an admirer of Karla & her work long before she had a blog or I even knew who she was. See, I have a magazine obsession. I've gotten better as some of my favorites have dropped out of sight (Country Homes, Mary Engelbreit *sigh*, etc) & since I've discovered Somerset, I'm much more selective. Anyway, I keep all copies of Romantic Homes, Romantic Country, ME *another big sigh* in tact (as well as "the expensive but worth it" Somersets) but all others, I clip out the article that inspires me & save it in folders, all categorized according to season. And every season I go through them, seeking inspiration for my seasonal decorating. Time after time, I came across Karla Nathan's name in my clip-outs, & in the other magazines, but it was still some time, after I discovered her blog, before it hit home who she was. When it did, I became uncharacteristically shy & didn't comment on her beautiful posts that so inspired me. And then one day, I did leave a comment....& she visited my blog & left one for me! Sent me all into a tither...it was like having the movie star you're crushing on, write you back!!!! (Don't give me that look...I don't feel that way about Karla *grins*...mine is a purely platonic crush) And then I became realllllly shy...was afraid to leave a comment cause I didn't want to make her think she needed to return it to a lowly blogger like me. I mean she was a busy professional, living my dream life...I didn't want to bother her. But Karla made it very clear that she didn't feel bothered. In fact, she was flattered & humbled by my "crush"...telling me that she wasn't a pro, she "just piddled around". And then I didn't just admire her work, I really liked her too.

Why am I telling y'all this? Because I wanted to share another wonderful perk of blogging. How else would I have met, & become friends, w/ a professional designer whose work in magazines, I had been inspired by for years? Only in blogland!

Here's a scan of the oldest (I think!) magazine lay-out I have w/ Karla's work. I don't have the cover to tell you how old it is but I know it's from Country Almanac & Karla thinks it is circa 2002. Told you I'm a long-time admirer! She cracks me up...her work has been featured in magazines for 1o years & yet she's "not a professional". How can you not like & admire down-to-earth goodness like that?

You can click on the pictures (& then click again) to enlarge them to read the article.





Karla hosted the Alice tag book swap I was in recently & I can't tell you how much I treasure my tag book! To see her wonderful art & mine, in the same book, just tickles me pink! And one day, I'm taking her up on the invitation to visit her & have some tea. Ain't blogging wonderful?

19 comments:

Annie Joy said...

Thank you for leading me to Karla's cottage! I agree with you about favorite magazines disappearing (especially ME's Home Companion and Country Home) and am also a fan of Somerset magazines. Remember that your feelings of admiration about Karla are the same that new bloggers (like me) have about you. BTW, I also enjoyed your post about your granddaughter and Cinderella. I have three granddaughters about her age and only wish they lived close enough to me for more frequent special outings. All my best, Annie Joy

Anonymous said...

I have these same pictures cut out of Karla's home! She has such an amazing talent and I love her blog too!

bee blessed
mary

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Karla is a true sweetheart! And I just thought I'd known her for a long time ~ you've got me beat!! I stalk her often, too! And she always always leaves me sweet comments, never too busy even tho she is so well known! I just love her style, Sugarwings, & Twinkle!!

Fun to see earlier versions of her home! Thanks for sharing!

Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

The Old Parsonage said...

Hi Cami

It seems we have another thing in common. I actually went back through all of her posts and read the entire blog. I think it's because she is so real with all of us.

Enjoy!
Leann

Beth Leintz said...

I first met Karla about ten years ago when we had booths across the aisle from each other at the antique mall. One of the first things I thought about Karla was "I bet I can learn a lot from her"- and its true. You can spend hours wandering through her house and yard (and now the fairy trail) finding inspiration and special touches everywhere. She brings creativity to everything she does.

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

Oh my. Well, I have to rescind my offer of tea now. My head is way too big to get through the studio door and into the kitchen to fetch the teapot.

Thanks for the extremely kind words, buddy!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Cami, this is such a nice post! thanks for sharing this fun article! I really enjoy Karla, too- she is so down-to-earth, talented, and friendly and I have been inspired by many of her posts!

Inspired-Simplicity said...

Cami,
That is one of the cutest posts I've seen. You really have a talent for writing. She sounds like a really nice person. So glad your paths crossed.
Blessings,
Carolyn

Lisa said...

Cami,

This is one of the coolest posts ever! Oh, an ode to Karla. Yes, you DO have many of her traits. You even have your own little 'sugarwings' & yes, you crack me up too! I agree with it all tho. I'm right there with you on the mag hoarding issue. Have every single ME published, every Romantic Homes & I saved every Country Decorating Ideas, Cottage Style & all the other Harris Publications from 1999 till they canceled them. I also was thrilled when I discovered the Hat Hoarder herself on Type-pad in 2005. Karla is a real down to earth person, willing to answer any questions & very generous. She is a real example of what blogging is about, for me anyway. Love your post Cami, make me VP of the fan club. Lisa

Recycled Rita said...

I love Karla too! I read her blog every weekday morning before work...she is used to me visiting! I can't wait to look at that article...karen....

Cindy said...

It is the beauty of blogland! One of the great many things about it that I love! Great post!

hugs,
c
yapping cat

Katy ~ said...

Cami, this is the way I feel about YOU!

Claudia said...

I'm a big fan of Karla's, as well. She is an amazing person - so creative and talented and full of fabulous ideas.

And those cute puppies!

xo
Claudia

Romeo said...

WOW! I remember that article - I was impressed that she could sell EVERYTHING and start over!!! There are so many things that I just LOVE and don't know if I could part with - so without knowing who it was, I still admired her and thought "wow"....and that she "piddles" in this?!?!?! Yes sure, talk about humble and sincere!!!! So glad that you have met your movie star - that is worth every minute of blogging isn't it?

Have a great week!

"Her" and Romeo

Burlap Luxe said...

Your blog is so cleaver so cute and perfectly you!!!

I may become your stalker!! LOL! I am safe, not to worry trust me, come over for a visit you will see!

~Dore~

Burlap Luxe said...

Hi cami,
Thank you for stopping by my nest.
I have a grandson named Cole, and my brothers son who passed away as an infant I was the one that told them to name him Conner and they loved it so they named him that.

I tell my soon the be 17 year old daughter to name her son when she gets married and has children to name her son Noah and one Jack so you see we love all the names in your family.

Come by to visit anytime, I would love to hear from you!
How old is your daughter who does not love vintage, shabby or junking? :)
work on her a bit she will come around, show her some bloggers get her involved, she will fall in love with it.

XX
Dore

Karin said...

I adore Karla!! She is amazingly talented..

Auntie Cake said...

Blogging is the best! And I am going to check her out, looks like another great blog!
Kate

Natasha Burns said...

Karla is just fabulous! I consider her to be such an amazing and humble artist. She's truly an amazing and beautiful fun person to be around too! I was lucky enough to have stayed with her in her incredible home, and got to see her life, her studio and her wonderful family. She really does have a great life, and she deserves it. Your post is so sweet, I am sure she is blushing :) xo