Poking, Visiting, Designing and Dreaming

classy Kathy closeup

classy Kathy notecardNow don't get me wrong, I enjoy football I really really do. And I must say there are football games playing in several rooms in my home tonight. I made lots of snacks for them, and sat in front of my computer with a nice cup of coffee. I was catching up on visiting places in Blogland.

classy Kathy notecardI had to leave a few more comments on the One World One Heart event. OMG can you believe there are eight hundred participants, giveaways and still counting. So, I meandered around there for a while, and then I was just joyfully looking around. I added skatey-eight more blogs to follow. You know how that goes!

sophisticated sabrina closeupI then took my stash of fabric out to design some more handbags. I am really enjoying this. When I get finished designing one I name it. What fun. Here is Sophisticated Sabrina.

Sophisticated Sabrina

wool purse closeupAnd here is Elegant Samantha...

Elegant Samantha

classy kathyAnd of course there is Classy Kathy

classy kathy

My creationI adore paper, especially nice stationery. I have forever and when I found these lovely enclosure envelopes,

Pink-Handbag-paper-easel-set

My creationI had to find something to create. When I lived in Hong Kong I used to do this with frames. Frames were just pennies there, and I would fall in love with one and paint something to go inside.

Pink card easel set

My creationEach handbag I am designing will come with a lovely tall very French white enclosure envelope, a gold outer mailing envelope, two heart seals and the card easel. I put all the handbag designs on a shelf in my little shop.

Pink card easel set

classy Kathy notecardI live near a dreamy stationery shop, where I found these card easels which measure 7 1/2" x 5 1/4", and are called table tents. They are designed to use for weddings, showers, parties, to display table numbers, menus or photos. Can you imagine the possibilities?

pink-handbag-card-easel-set-8

classy Kathy notecardMy handbag creations are all original designs, using fabric, paper, gold leaf paint, metallic copper paint, egyptian gold paint and winsor and newton watercolors.

Pink-Handbag-card-easel-set-5

classy Kathy notecardTonight I have been working on some vintage prom evening purses and a Wedding handbag too. So much fun, it's like paper dolls, only connecting with my fashion design spirit.

Today's Handbag

I am having so much fun with these, and it is so much fun working with fabric.

The song How Deep Is Your Love, flashback. I am sitting in my apartment on 72nd and 1st Street, staring out the window watching the people walk by. A woman wearing a BIG fur coat walking her Afgan passes by like a scene from 101 Dalmations. I am single, in love and totally enjoying my career at Xerox Corporation.

New York New York

Goldie Hawn was starring in Foul Play, which was playing in the theater across the street. They're Playing our Song was playing on Broadway, and I had just gone to see it for the third time.

New York, New York

I was working in Midtown, going out dancing whenever I could and trying my hardest to learn the latest disco dance.

New York, New York

high heel shoeWe were two single girls in New York dating, shopping, dreaming and having fun. My roommate and I once danced for so many hours, wearing very high heels, that the balls of our feet were swollen and we had to crawl to answer the door for pizza delivery. But we loved every minute of this chapter, and laughed for hours.

I Love New York

DanceWhat were you doing when this song was popular? For those of you who weren't born yet, or too little to remember, then go out dancing often, laugh all the time, and look in the mirror and enjoy who you are. Because someday you will be so glad you did.
Blondie's Journal said...

Hi Karen!

First off, love your purse designs and the envelopes. Do you sell them online? Just gorgeous. I don't know how you find the time to blog! :-)

Your little narrative about living in New York was just so cool It reminded me of when I was single & living in a studio apartment in Lincoln Park (a trendy & hip neighborhood in Chicago) Yes I was in love and yes I went our dancing with my girlfriends til 4:00 a.m. What great memories.

The song you mentioned was by the Bee Gees I think from the movie Saturday Night Fever. I had the album. I think it was 1978, the year I graduated high school.

What a great walk down memory lane for you & I. :-)

xoxo
Jane

Anonymous said...

KAREN,
I LOVED THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF NEW YORK....SO EXHILIRATING.....AND THOSE PURSES ARE JUST PRECIOUS. MY DAUGHTER, MY MOTHER, MY SISTER, AND ME ALL LOVE PURSES...I BET YOU REALLY SAW THE PURSES IN NEW YORK...I LOVE THE UNUSUAL PURSES...AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE NAME BRAND...I HAVE FOUND SOME AWESOME PURSES AT THE THRIFT SHOPS...I CAN SNIFF OUT A PURSE A MILE AWAY...LOL
YOURS ARE TOO PRETTY FOR CARDS...I WOULD HAVE TO PUT THEM IN FRAMES.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THEIR CREATION...
HUGS
debbie

LiLi M. said...

Your artwork is so beautiful and inspirational, thanks for sharing!
How deep is your love can beam me right back in time too. I'm 16 and I really like this record. Having my first boyfriend who is more of a hard rock/heavy metal fan, not my kind of music, but my love for the Bee Gees is the best kept secret of that time. This friendship didn't work and I was planning not to have any boy friends for a long time, as I thought it was unwise to give up your personality!

Vee said...

Those envelopes...wow! And to start designing prom night purses now is perfect timing.

I so enjoyed reading about your adventures in NYC. By the time the disco craze hit, I was already married with a toddler and a newborn so the only dancing I was doing was when George Hamilton appeared on Good Morning America to show the latest steps. =)

Dana and Daisy said...

Hello Karen it is nice to meet you! I was in high school when that song was popular. And still dancing BTW! Thank you for visiting my blog, and your kind comments. I loveyour little purses.In fact it gives sme an idea. How is that? Artists inspiring artists! I also wanted to give you a link for more paper items, which you may already know, but it is www.paper-source.com. they have lovely paper and envelopes in many colors and they ship promptly, too! Have a wonderful day!
Dana and Daisy

Kathleen Grace said...

Adorable cards Karen! My youngest daughter and I love paper too. We have been known to be found in the paper aisle at the craft store just feeling the paper, ok, I know that's weird but true:>) Where was I when that song was playing? I think graduating from high school and going into college. Fun years:>)

xashee's corner said...

i LOVE your designs!! they are WONDERFUL & soo CREATIVE!! GREAT job! hmm, what was i doing then? i was definitely raising my oldest son and probably learning the new disco dances! lol oh i hated them but my best girlfriend would look so LOVELY just spinning on that dance floor! hehe oh the MEMORIES!! :D Thank you SOOOOOO much for sharing your blog! Hope you have a MARVELOUS day! :D

Anonymous said...

Hello Karen,

Super Bowl creativity! Love what you were making.
And love your great memories in New York City...got to get myself there soon...:o)

~ Gabriela ~

Anonymous said...

Hello Karen,

Super Bowl creativity! Love what you were making.
And love your great memories in New York City...got to get myself there again soon...:o)

~ Gabriela ~

Debbie said...

Thanks, Karen, for your encouraging comment on my blog. I grew up in New Jersey and worked in Manhattan, lived in Brooklyn for a while. Also during the Bee Gee years, the late seventies, etc.! Sure do miss it!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Your handbag creations are so wonderful! I love that you name them too. The names fit perfectly.

How Deep Is Your Love....I was falling in love with my now husband. We would go out to the nightclub and disco the night away almost every Saturday night. We will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary in June.
Hugs,
Penny

Tara said...

Karen

I am loving your new card creations, how gorgeous and with the Karen touch!

When this song was popular I was in high school and snuck off to see the movie when my Mom said no--my guy cousins picked me up (after I begged) and when I got caught I blamed it all on them (of course!!)

Hee-hee! I think they have forgiven me!

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

The purses you created are so awesome!!! I love our New york trip.
I too adore paper . We have been making Valentines in Sunday school for the children to give to their parents and to shut-ins. They have pretty much gone through my stash of papers. I bought some more things saturday and we have used those. They are making some beautiful cards and are having so much fun spreading God's love all around...m,...

Duni said...

Karen,
you handbag cards are amazing! I love them all!
I know all about the inexpensive framing services in Hong Kong. It was always so much fun choosing them for my artwork.

MARIA said...

Thank you dear Karen for your kind

Each your handbag card is amazing! I love your artworks.
Excellent job!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful memories. I enjoyed it very much.
God bless you!

Rue said...

Hi Karen :)

Your life was much more exciting then mine back then. I was 8 or 9 years old and Grease was the word LOL My mom was always practicing her disco moves with her friends and I used to love watching her get all dressed up to go out and dance :)

Thank you for all the sweet encouraging comments on the new house and the move. It's been exhausting, but so much fun :)

hugs,
rue

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