March 2009 – Karla's Cottage

A little too smug?

antiques/junking, fairies, Miss Frenchie's, Moving to DC, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 28, 2009

Oops, I spoke too soon. Remember my smug bragging about being set up for the big sale 3 weeks early, before I leave for my trip? Well, that self imposed, fake deadline didn't fool me. I know that I have 3 weeks and every pore of my being is telling me that I have plenty of time…. go ahead, have some fun, the stuff can get packed later!!

Practice Table #1 is tagged and boxed and ready to go, so I am not a complete slacker. Practice Table #2 is set up in a dry run display waiting for tags and packing.

But, we are having an ice storm, with snow forecast, and my packing tubs are in the detached garage.

Who am I kidding! This second table is not packed up yet because tags and packing are BORING.

So, I took Sugarwings to a movie (Monsters vs Aliens, very fun!), baked and played in the kitchen (had to have fresh, homemade organic granola bars for the trip), surfed blogs (I'm going to miss visiting while I am away!), and finished some projects for the sale.

I also learned a new trick. I am enamored with sewn paper ruffles now! As much as I hate sewing, it just might be worth doing, to get more of these.

They are vintage pattern tissue, and I love the dimension they add to a piece.

Some of the tissue ruffle is used on the bottom of this ATC too. (yes, another side track, I took some cutting and gluing time off to make this)

The card is made of vintage wallpaper, with a cut out of a girl from an old greeting card. I've added glitter ink and white ink details to her, and made 3-D butterfly wings from a page of text from an old book and markers. When I found these words on some sheet music, I just had to draw a teacup in the little fairy's hand!

Then, I added an old German die cut and the ruffly tissue I love so much, topped off with a millinery posey.

In the midst of all the crap I was doing to avoid tagging bagging, I also made some slide shows. I saw one on Carol's blog and had to give it a try.

One, of Twinkle's pups, is on the lower left hand side bar of my blog.

If you'd like to see a larger version, or one of Sugarwings, you can click on the slide show and it will take you to the home site.

We leave for Virginia on Monday and will be going to see a friend's art opening. Here are details if you are in the area:

Constance Ehrlich will be showing her work from April 3-24 at the Arts Club of Washington in DC. The opening reception is Friday April 3, 6:30 – 9 pm.

Headquartered in the James Monroe House, a National Historic Landmark, the Arts Club of Washington was founded in 1916 and is the oldest non-profit arts organization in the city. Its programs and activities focus on promoting public appreciation of, study, and participation in the arts through ongoing educational and cultural programs.

In the show Constance will be displaying 17 paintings that document the fun-filled adventures of a group of friends as they visit famous museums around the world. During these travels, each character poses in front of their favorite masterpiece creating a perfect Kodak moment.

The winning comment for March's Giveaway, of a hand made Spring inspired necklace, will be drawn and announced from Virginia. You still have time to enter, the winner will be announced on Tuesday.

Meet Miss Pansy, that is, if you can stand listening to my smugness about being prepared for the show 3 weeks early!

antiques/junking, Miss Frenchie's

By Karla Nathan / March 25, 2009

With Miss Frenchie's show still a full three weeks away, I'm pretty proud of myself for getting ready early! But since I will be out of town for a full week, and finishing up taxes after that, this is the only way I could leave on vacation and get any sleep at all while I am away.

My plan is to set up my tables and figure out my displays, get all my lights and cords and bags together now. Then, I am making price tags and packing things up as the tags go on.

If all goes as planned, I'll have the goods packed up and stacked by the door by this weekend before I leave on the trip. I'll sleep like a baby, and enjoy my trip knowing that I am set and ready to go for the sale when the time comes!

Tomorrow, I am meeting some friends for coffee, and will bring a bucket of jewels to tag while we chat. That should finish up the wares on table #1. It feels really really really good to be on schedule. And -that is with playing hooky to hang out with Sugarwings, too! She's been here some extra time this week, so I have to be productive when I get the chance. Although, my work table has been very tempting…. I'd much rather be creating than tagging and planning a sale.

That is just why artists are rarely wealthy.

Sugarwings and I dropped into the antique mall while playing hooky and I snagged a slightly dirty dress form. Her cloth was all smudgy, plus her ta-tas were in not so great shape. I'd have photographed that, but it was a bit scandalous, it looked like she might have been drug across the floor face down, and the fabric was worn off on the two highest points, if you get my drift. But not quite evenly. Poor girl had a slightly lopsided look to her with the highlighted spots off kilter.

Here is a partial photo of her before state. What would have really been an interesting photo, is me trying to carry Miss Ta Ta and Sugarwings both back to the car.

The nude toned stretchy nylon was pretty ugly even if it had been unsmudged all over and unscuffed in those two strategic spots. As I was contemplating what to glue over the support stocking fabric, I noticed that there was this cool, cotton knit cloth underneath! So, I snipped off the nylon and she was a whole new gal.

I hope to trim out her neckline with something a little tidier. But if I don't have time, a blooming plant in a small pot would be pretty there. Pansies are nice this time of year and always say "Spring" to me. Plus, it would give me a reason to change her name, Pansy sounds much nicer than Miss Ta Ta.

A Pufik Day

fairies, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 24, 2009

Do you ever make ATCs? I rarely have, but just recently, a friend asked for one, then I saw that Donna had a call out for swappers of ATCs on her blog and I offered to do one for her too. For me, it is always easier to get started on something if I have more than one to make. I guess I hit my stride and get going once I get into it and hate to stop at just one of anything I make.

Or buy… but that is another story. And you don't want to hear about the jelly beans sitting on my desk right now. I mean, what is left of the jelly beans.

Also, sometimes the first one I make isn't always a keeper. Like this one. I should just keep going till I get a better one, huh? The problem was that I like to use authentic vintage pieces when I make something like this and the only old photo I had in the right size was of a little boy. I tried to transvestite him up into a little fairy girl, but just might have missed the mark with this one. That foofy, millinery petal skirt doesn't really go well with the lumpy sweater and knee socks. Its kind of like a sorry mix, and I am sure that this kid will grow up to have issues.

Sorry, Vicki, you deserve better than this! I'll make another. Trouble is, that is GREAT wallpaper, some that Heather and Natasha shared with me after we visited Wallpaper Heaven. Its a shame to waste a teeny square of that one. I'll salvage this card to keep for myself. Or as a gift for my gay brother-in-law. He'll love it.

This little boy is a different story. Although his clothes are a bit over the top, he is perfect just the way he is ( I barely did anything to this card that was part of a set given to me by Mary. )

This morning, Sugarwings said that about me, out of the blue, she told me that I was perfect! Although it sounded more like "you pufik". Then, she added, "just the way you are". Now, has she been watching Bridget Jones? I asked her where she heard it and she told me Jimeny Cricket told her that. Well, if crickets are going to talk to you, that is a nice thing for them to say. And I'll take a compliment like that any day, she sure made me feel good.

This is the back of Donna's ATC. I made it on one of Mary's cards too. Gosh, I wish I had a lifetime supply of these, aren't they gorgeous???

At the grocery store today, I couldn't resist this bundle of roses. How springy! I was lucky to get them, the flowers go on sale every Monday for $1.99, and there aren't usually any left on Tuesdays. This is my lucky day, first, my fairy grand baby tells me I am perfect, then some very important documents I have been trying to get a hold of finally come, and now $1.99 roses on a Tuesday. Man, what else can this day have in store for me??

This too! My mom's old watch, hasn't worked in years. I took it in for an estimate and found that it only needed a cleaning and a battery, nothing major. Now that is lucky, Mom loved this watch and I will enjoy wearing it and thinking of her. I splurged and got a new band for it. I wouldn't usually be attracted to white leather watch bands, but today, it just looked right. I think it compliments the opals and amethysts.

My husband and I will be heading out East for an art opening and a visit to our apartment out there for a bit, on the 30th. But, you still have till the 31st to enter the drawing for this springtime floral necklace that I made. I'll draw a name from out computer there, and mail the gift when I get back.

Feeling less than sparkly

Etsy Goodies, jewelry

By Karla Nathan / March 22, 2009

Doesn't this little lady look happy? I could use some of her exuberance! I've been in bed ill, with yet another bug of some kind.

Now that I am up and about, I am taking it easy with some simple projects, like sugaring babies. I've also been cleaning old hardware to get it ready to take to Miss Frenchie's sale. Some of the things I found in the boxes of knobs and handles were these glass discs. They probably went to part of a knob at one time, but now they are perfect little "stages" for my Sugar Babies.

I should keep a bigger stash of mini crowns ready to go. They do come in handy. I had one for the sweet baby on the left, but not enough to go around for everyone.

Another crown went on this sugared bird nesting in millinery flowers and vintage beads.

The nest is perched in this old German mug.

This week, I have been in a sorting mood. Not just hardware, I also cleaned out my jewelry supplies. After making up a big batch of jewels for the sale on April 17th (and to get me through the rest of the year too, I usually make all my jewelry once or twice a year, in big marathons) I cleaned up the odds and ends and bits I had too much of and am listing them on Etsy.

Aren't old beads so much more interesting to work with than new ones from Hobby Lobby or Michaels? I never use those. I'd much rather find necklaces at estate sales to take apart.

Luckily, the other day when I cleaned up from the Jewelry Making Marathon of 2009, I went ahead and made up bads of beads to sell. Because today is a perfect day to sit in front of the computer and add bead packs. It doesn't take much brain power or energy to do. And I have laid in bed TOO LONG. I need to be up and doing something, so this is just the right task for today.

While adding bead packs and charm packs to Etsy, I thought I should put a little something in the Boutique too. I didn't want it to feel neglected!

But I just felt like the de-stashing packs were a better "fit" for Etsy, so that is where they can be found if you are needing any!

Hopefully, I'll be back to feeling sparkly tomorrow.

I’m a Flower Fairy!!!

antiques/junking, Etsy Goodies, flowers, paintings

By Karla Nathan / March 18, 2009

I'm a Flower Fairy!!

Have you seen this yet??!! Wowee! I am so excited to be going to it! Jenn Hayslip has invited us to stay at her Southern Belle's Palace (that is how I picture her home and I am pretty sure that I am correct about that). Here is the site with details, the event looks like it will be amazing.

There is a button for this on my left side bar.

And did you notice this button on the right hand side bar? Along with the hand painted knobs?

I've decided to add these links to my tutorials, so you have a short cut to them if you ever need the info. Hopefully, I'll be able to add some more as time goes by.

For now, there is: How to Paint a Chadelier and How to Paint a Nest

This hodge podgey post is meandering around, huh?

Luckily, I heard the whisper of these flowers calling to me this weekend and followed it to this jackpot! Well, some were a gift from a friend (who knows me VERY well) and some are the ones I had to hunt down. I KNEW there were flowers waiting for me downtown at a store that I used to find some in all the time. That shop hadn't had any new (old) hats in months and months, but I felt like I needed to run downtown and check.

Yep, the Hat Whisperer strikes again! I found a gold mine of flowers.

Here is a bit of the detail from one of those murals that kicked my butt yesterday. I'm glad I kept at it and got them all done, today is chilly and wet. It was worth the exhaustion to get them finished while the sun was shining.

These two will be the backdrop of my booth at Miss Frenchie'ssale on April 17th. I am still tired today from the job, and very discouraged at how exhausted these two paintings made me! They measure about 5' x 6' and really weren't that complicated to do. I don't know why the job did me in so much.

After all your encouragement in the comments about not being old and that 50 is the new 30, I guess I will stop blaming my age and blame the sun! I am not old, I had heat stroke. There, that sounds better.

I also went to the beauty shop and got my hair done today. That helped too. My hair has not looked so good for a while and that doesn't do much for the old (oops, I'm not going to use that word) self esteem. I was telling Beth that my hair was looking like June Allison's. And not in the days when she was a pixie like star in films with Van Johnson, but when she was doing adult diaper commercials. Not a good look.

Further meandering around, here is something I listed on Etsy today after getting back from having my new do done. This vintage doll dress in a vintage frame on vintage wallpaper, is decked out with vintage jewels and vintage lace and was made by vintage me. (sorry, I am still feeling OLD, no matter what I say about heat stroke and exhaustion, and how un-June Allison-like my new hair style is, I am feeling OLD)

Last night, I soaked in the jacuzzi and then crawled into bed to fall asleep while watching Australia. I was pretty tired, but that movie could have put me to sleep, even if I wasn't. Today, I'd better perk up, because Sugarwings is coming over and I'll need to start chasing her around.

She keeps me young! It takes some energy to run after that little flitting fairy.

Don't forget, you still have the rest of the month to enter my March Giveaway for this springtime floral necklace! All comments, all month count.

My friend, Gretchen is having a giveaway too. I've been lucky enough to get one of her necklaces, and know you would love one too. Please tell her I said hi, when you go to enter her drawing.

51 is so much harder than 50

Miss Frenchie's, paintings

By Karla Nathan / March 17, 2009

It has occurred to me recently that I am about to turn FIFTY ONE. Really?? how did that happen???? Now, 50 is cool! Its fun, its a big deal, it is half of a century and deserves months of parties.

51?

Its aging.

Not too far in the past, I used to be a mural painter. Up and down ladders and scaffolding all day, with no problems. Now, after painting this 5' x 15' sign for Miss Frenchie's yesterday and two more canvas murals for my booth today, I want to sleep for a week. I'm too tired to climb into the shower.

Some how, I need to drag myself into the house and climb into that shower. It was 80 degrees today and I might smell about as bad as I feel.

Hmm, I wonder if I can just roll this computer chair into the house and not have to use my legs? See, 51 feels OLD!

Lighten up! (or how to paint a chandelier)

Chandeliers, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), how-to projects, Miss Frenchie's

By Karla Nathan / March 16, 2009

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!!!

Watch out, its Pretty Time!

jewelry, Miss Frenchie's

By Karla Nathan / March 15, 2009

Did you think that I was going to show you nothing but sewing projects? I was able to get some jewelry made this week between stints at the machine and chasing Sugarwings.

Here are a few of the necklaces I put together. I've always had a fascination with old watches, the older the better. About 15 years ago, I made a bracelet for myself from old watch faces, and as much as I liked it, most people thought it was odd. The question I got asked quite a few times when I wore it, was "do they all work?".

Now honestly, is that the point? I would just say that they run on Pretty Time.

So, it does my soul good to see that this type of jewelry is popular now and that my blog friends "get it".

Some earrings got whipped up this week too. And all the jewelry that I had made previously got cleaned and and re-carded and ready for Miss Frenchie's sale April 17th.

Display matters!!! I was NOT happy with my previous cards, and the last two sales I went to, my jewelry looked neglected and dowdy just because of a crappy, unplanned display.

What I am using now is pretty simple, I took some old photos, aged and lightened them, then printed them onto parchment colored cardstock. All of the cards look nice together, are a uniform size, and have a vintage feel. I am much happier about my display now!!

(Sugarwings calls the little girls in this old photo her friends, and had me print some for her to color while I made tags)

My name is stamped on the back along with discription of the earrings, and the price is on the front in pencil. The sale is a couple of weeks before Mother's Day, so I am hoping some moms get a pair of my earrings as gifts, so it is nice to be able to erase the price on the tag before they get wrapped up. Those are the kinds of things you have to think of before going to a sale.

Things are getting checked off my list for Miss Frenchie's.

1- Hand made jewelry- DONE

2- tags and prices on hand made jewelry- DONE (I should have put these two lines together, but I like having extra things to check off the list)

3- table clothes made and pressed- DONE

4- boxes and shelves covered with vintage wallpaper- DONE

5- piles of antiques and vintage goodies piled up and ready for tags- DONE

6- cash box and tickets loaded and ready- DONE

Still to do:

1- one 15' x 5' and one 5' x 10' canvas sign for the side of the building

2- two 5' x 8' murals to paint for the backdrop of my booth

3- gather up supplies, a tool kit, lights, bags, etc

4- make some journals

5- tag my vintage jewelry and figure out a display for it now. Should I use the same cards as the homemade stuff? I should probably use that idea, but different photos. Yep, thats what I'll do.

6- gather up small planters and pots for a garden display

7- paint some garden signs to sell

See, not too bad! I'll make it. Sure I will. Some how, I'll fit doing taxes and spending a week in DC there somehow…

PS- I've added some more scrap packs to the Boutique.

The last ones went FAST. So now that I know you like these things, I added a bit more and beefed the bags up a little. There is ephemera, and wallpaper, and ledger paper, all tied up with vintage ribbon and topped with a color coordinating millinery blossom. Still a bargain, and perfect for having a variety of papers to use on small projects. If you are like me, you hate to cut into a nice big sheet of old paper to trim a 2" tag!

That Sewing Blog

give away, how to's, jewelry, Sugarwings, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage

By Karla Nathan / March 13, 2009

Yep, I sewed some more. Hmm. Something weird is going on here.

While going through my stash of old aprons for a swap I joined (details later, I only have a short time before the baby gets up and we start our day) I came across this gingham check one. Sugarwings is Dorothy's biggest fan, sings all the songs from the Wizard of Oz, and sleeps with a Dorothy doll. So, when she saw this, she wanted to wear it and "be Dorothy".

Whats a Grammy to do? I had no choice, it was sewing time again! That apron was way too big for her as is. So, I cut off the waist band and tie first, with pinking shears Beth left over here. I need a pair of those, they really are wonderful to work with.

But no, I don't!!! What am I saying??? NO MORE SEWING, I do not need more sewing supplies. What does it man when I start wanting my very own pair of pinking shears???

After cutting off the waist band, I cut the skirt part almost in half and sewed the waist band and tie back on. Then cut around the pocket, and used that square as the bib of the pinafore, sewed to the top of the replaced waist band. To that, I sewed scraps that I had cut into straps to go around her neck. That was the most simple way to do it, to attach straps that just tied behind her neck like a halter.

Sugarwings was pretty happy with the outcome. Of course, she isn't a big critic, anything she sees that is gingham sparks her imagination and transforms her into Dorothy. The other day she found a pair of pink gingham shorts that were about 5 sizes too large for her (in the hand-me-down box of things she will grow into someday) and was wearing them on her head, dancing around and singing Over the Rainbow. Apparently any scrap of gingham will do to "be Dorothy" as she calls it.

The short cut pinafore didn't take long to make, and I spent the rest of the day piddling around getting a few (not many) things listed in the Boutique.

Here is something you might like. As I work on a collage project, I can't bear to toss the scraps of vintage papers. I keep a box near my desk, trim the bits up and save them. Its handy to flip through the box for small projects, so I don't have to cut into a large sheet of old wallpaper if I am making something like a tag or greeting card.

I thought some of you might like having a scrap back of ephemera too, so wrapped up a couple of mixed bags with bits from what I made my journals from last week. They are $6 each, and I have two listed.

There are also some wallpaper journal kits, and folders listed. The journals will be in the next Somerset Life and the folders were in an issue last year.

Thanks for all of your kind comments about the necklace that I have offered as the March Giveaway prize. Its one that I made. This week, I have made a ton of jewelry and will show some photos later. I also came up with the PERFECT display idea for selling the jewels and was cackling out loud with glee last night after the fairy grand baby went to sleep and I was able to tag all the earrings that I made.

But for now, I have to run, I hear some one stirring over the baby monitor.

Gifts of Affection and the March Giveaway

antiques/junking, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), give away, paintings, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 11, 2009

Now, Beth might have just happened to include this sentimental bit of ephemera in with the gift pack she brought me, but in my mind, she added it with true affection! I know I just love her to pieces.

With affectionate thougths of my own, I'm offering this necklace as my prize for the March Giveaway.

This is the one I chose, because it is filled with rosebud and posy charms and seems to be just right for welcoming Springtime!

All you need to do is leave a comment to enter. As always, all comments, all month count.

Beth came over yesterday to finish up our sewing projects started last week, and as much as we both dislike sewing, sometimes you just gotta do it. Unless you have unlimited funds and can have hire a seamstress, of course. Which we don't.

And she showed up with gifts!! Well, she always does. Beth is a hunter/gatherer and is always on the prowl for goods for resale. While she is out, she picks up tid bits she knows I'd like too and since she knows me so well, they are always perfect!

Great stuff, huh?

But we didn't spend the whole day opening gifts and eating scones, we got some work accomplished too. The tablecloths are DONE. whew. And for some silly reason, who knows why (since neither of us enjoy sewing), we both started making bags from some vintage scrappy stuff we had around. Hers is from a quilt and mine is old curtains and doilies.

The bag I made is far from perfect, but looks OK as long as you don't examine any stitches or look too closely. I made up the pattern as I went along, to fit the doily I wanted to use. I think the bag would be better with a bit more embellishing, but I quit. While Beth was here, it was going OK, because we were at that slap happy stage, the one where no matter what you say or do, it makes you have a giggle fit. None of it would be in the least bit funny if I tried to tell you today what we were saying, but in the moment, we were hilarious to each other.

The tablecloth I'm using on my studio table now is a gift from Beth too. She brought it to cut up and I said, NO WAY, its too nice. So she gave it to me! Apart from it being really pretty, I love it because my great grandma made one very similar that I don't like to use, because ~~my family is a bunch of pigs~~ I don't want to ruin it. I call this one my "stunt double" table cloth, I can use it and be reminded of the one I have from my great grandma.

Some of you were asking about this bench I have made new pillow shams for. It was a Victorian heard board that I got at a garage sale, in bad shape. Sugarwing's Daddy is an accomplished carpenter and he made the headboard into a bench, and I painted the flowers on it.

Today, while avoiding putting away all the sewing paraphernalia, I cleaned up my Boutique a bit and deleted some SOLD items, added a few new ones.

As tempting as it is to hang out at the computer and list more things, I need to get back to work. That sewing machine and all the mess that accompanies it needs to be stashed away, hopefully I won't be getting it out again for a long, long time!