October 2009 – Page 2 – Karla's Cottage

Whisked away

Books, fairies, family, give away, paintings, parties, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / October 17, 2009

My Handsome Husband whisked me away to Chicago for the night to see our favorite musician, Lucinda Williams in concert!

Typically, I'm not a concert goer. Too bad, my husband loves them, and would really appreciate it if I'd go with him to more shows. But Lucinda is such a favorite of ours, and the setting was a more intimate club, not a big convention center or stadium. We had great seats, and she is so real and down to earth, I'd go to a lot more concerts if they were as nice as this. Not too loud, not too crowded, just right. Geez, do I sound like an old fuddy duddy? But, I've always been like this even in high school. I'm just not a concert person.

Even though the hall was all black and set up with typical stage lighting and paraphenelia, I had this pretty view above our table. The building used to be an old theater and they were smart enough to save the intricate plaster work on the ceiling when they remodeled it.

Before the concert, we went out to dinner at Art Smith's cozy little restaurant, Table 52. I'd seen him on Top Chef Masters, and if you've ever read my blog, you know what a tv junkie I am, so I was excited to go to a place I'd heard of on one of my regular programs. I was as excited as Sugarwings would have been if she'd gone to Arial's grotto for dinner.

And not only was it a lovely place to eat, the food was amazing. And I do like good food.

The next day, I flew home just in time to make it over to my friend, Angie's house to be a part of a surprise party for her. She had NO idea that we were all in her home waiting for her, it was so cute to see her reaction and to see all the love and caring that her family put into the planning.

See the painting behind us? She
got it at an estate sale, and took it to Antiques Roadshow. She was
told it is worth $8,000, not bad for a $30 estate sale piece, huh?

Why do I show bad photos of myself? Yes, I was pretty tired, (and look it, too) after two days of travel and being stuck in Chicago traffic, and waiting at the airport for hours on standby, trying to get back a bit early so I could be home for the surprise.

But honestly, NO ONE would look good next to Angie, she is such a beauty.

I guess you could say she is the fairest of them all.

Tonight, Sugarwings and I are having a girl's night. Its just the two of us and we are going to spend it watching Snow White and making caramel apples. She loves to act out her favorite parts of movies, so I bought her this gown to wear and I am prepared to be the wicked witch. I am always assigned the scary parts, the wicked witch, a flying monkey, or the big, bad wolf.

In the meantime, I have a few hours before she gets here for our Snow White Festival and will start assembling the Grumpy Fairy books. I'm extremely happy with the paper quality, and color. But am not so happy with the mountain of work ahead of me, binding them all myself.

Especially since I decided to hand glitter highlights on the pages. Stickles is a wonder product, and the sparkles won't rub or flake off like gluing down regular glitter, so I think this is the answer to getting Sugarwing's wings to look sugary and not having glitter all over the reader's hands.

I'll let you know if I ever get any ready to sell… I hope to have them in the Boutique in time for holiday shopping, and also have some to take to Silver Bella. But I will for sure have one ready to give away for the October Giveaway.

All comments all month count for the prize. (I do appreciate your comments!)

Spa Day for Dolly

Uncategorized

By Karla Nathan / October 16, 2009

As promised, here is the tutorial on dolly do-overs. Also, a reminder about the

October Giveaway of one of my GRUMPY FAIRY books.

I've figured
out the printing problems and will have some ready to sell soon. As
thanks for all your inquiries and interest (and patience!) I'll give
one away in October to a commenter.

Helpful tips:

Keep a baby wipe or Wet One handy to de-glue your mucky finger tips reguarly

To use the light bulb for ironing, you need at least a 60 watt bulb

Pull the dress tightly over the bulb and run it back and forth, go all the way around the skirt

You can use the light bulb for ironing ribbons or flowers too

Sometimes, you just need to dip your fingers in water and dampen a ribbon that is already tied to the doll, to pull on it and straighten it out.

Keep your embellishments in scale with the doll. No giant buttons or jewelry, they all need to be small bits.

Try to use items the same age as the doll. You don't want to add brand new embellishments to a vintage doll.

Don't be afraid to glue everything directly to the doll, her clothes don't need to come off to be washed or changed, so just glue everything permanently to her!

She doesn't have to be perfect. You want her to still look her age.

If her rubber band that holds her head and arms on is loose, just glue the body parts in place. She really doesn't use her arms, or turn her head and look around anyway. But do it after you fix her up, if the arms are glued solid, they might be in the way. Add them last.

PS- adding lots of flowers to her hair covers up any bald spots that couldn't be corrected!

Altered muffins/ altered dolls

collections, flowers, Food and Drink

By Karla Nathan / October 14, 2009

Today, I had a mini craft day with my friend, Angie. I'd made some muffins for us, and we talked for hours, while we worked. It sure brightened up our gray, cold, rainy afternoon!

I used a box mix for the treats, but changed it up a bit:

One box of cinnamon muffin mix

2 eggs

1-1/2 cup organic cinnamon applesauce

1 cup of dried mix fruits (blueberry, cranberry, cherry)

1 cup of roasted sunflower seeds

3/4 cup milled flax seed

Angie had brought some old French postcards, that we scanned, printed, and glued to some little wooden plaques that I spray painted cream. They have a touch of glitter to them too, but it doesn't show much in the photo.

And look at the vintage glitter that she gave to me!!! I love the can it comes in, too. She says she also has a giant vat of OLD german silver glitter that she will bring over next week. Can you hear me squealing with joy??

My job today was dollie do-overs.

(Isn't the lamp fab?)

Over the last couple of years, I have been collecting neglected, old, washed up beauties to rejuvenate.

Don't you think that the girl in the back probably resents the one in the front? If they were sisters, she'd be the big boned, "handsome" one who watched her flirty little sis attract all the men.

I really should have gotten a before pic of this bride. She was so spooky looking, that I was tempted to use her as a Halloween decoration as she was.

I did get a before of one of the pink dolls, and wrote up a step by step how to for the makeovers. I'll post that Friday if you are interested.

Also, geez, here it is mid October and I haven't announced the OCTOBER GIVEAWAY yet!!

Don't worry, I thought of something fun for you. Remember, all comments, all month count, there is always a monthly giveaway. I was just so busy with other stuff, I forgot. But I have it figured out, how about one of my GRUMPY FAIRY books?

I've figured out the printing problems and will have some ready to sell soon. As thanks for all your inquiries and interest (and patience!) I'll give one away in October to a commenter.

Hansel and Gretel

Uncategorized

By Karla Nathan / October 13, 2009

A big part of today was spent making kits, packs, and organizing. I sorted through tons of old papers to package up for Silver Bella Vendor Night, but I also made time to do some special orders of old wallpaper and assemble some other bits of ephemera for the Boutique while I was at it.

If you are doing Artist Class, I have added 4 kits with goodies to make your doll dresses extra special, including some nice flocked papers that would make lovely party dresses to hang on a Christmas tree.

There are also some regular wallpaper packs available.

This is my all time favorite border, I put a 12" strip of it in some of them.

My nephew is now stationed in Iraq, I can't help worrying about him and his sweet little family. His kids (who remind me of Hansel and Gretel- they both speak German as well as English) received these "Daddy" dolls with their father's photo on the face. Cute and comforting, but sure not a real daddy to hold.

Please keep him and the other soldiers in your thoughts and prayers.

And remember the redo I did on my husband's office? His new desk arrived and all is done now. I found one on sale, normally $1,400, now only $400. Now, personally, I'd have preferred a $30 one from a garage sale, but he is pickier than I am.

He didn't even notice that the desk was from the scratch and dent clearance area of the store. I figure that its going to get scratched up and look used once he gets to work at it, so why pay full price for a perfect one? And who pays $1,400 for a desk anyway??

He's enjoying the addition to the room. Now, the office part of his man cave juts back out of the rest of the space and leaves him plenty of room for lifting weights and watching golf on TV.

Ooops, gotta run, my son has finished dinner and has called me in to the dining room. On Sugarwing nights, we have family dinner hour where we all sit down together and talk about our days. I can't keep them waiting!

Artist Class Project

Uncategorized

By Karla Nathan / October 11, 2009

My project for Mary's

online tutorials, featuring 12 projects, daily posted tips and tricks, called Artist Class

is done and ready to go!

I've made a paper doll, and include scanned ephemera, patterns for a sun dress, a school dress with apron, and a party frock with tips and instructions for making the garments.

If you sign up for Artist Class and use MY $10 Discount Code: Karlascottage

I will enter you into a drawing to win the original doll I drew for the tutorial.

Plus for every 10 people who sign up using the Karlascottage code, I will give away one ephemera pack full of tid bits to make your doll dress cute as a bug.

Its a good feeling to have the Artist Class project done and ready to roll. I enjoyed the little break from my Sliver Bella and Miss Frenchie prepping to play with paper dolls.

But now, back to work, I've been tagging the earrings I made last week and hanging them in this old trunk.

If all goes as planned, these teeny clothespins will hold the earring cards on the wire. So that when I get to the show, all I have to do, is open the trunk and set it on the table. Of course, there is always the huge possibility of all of the earrings being strewn from one end of the truck to the other and jumbled up when I open it. I'll have my fingers crossed.

It hasn't been all work around here. I hit a gold mine of a garage sale this weekend and found my hat whispering skills in full force. In such fine shape that I got a head vase wearing a hat and a cool old picture of a lady in a hat too.

Over at Nice and Easy Antiques

There is a Junking Monday show and tell, that I thought I'd join, since I had a great haul over the weekend! Check it out for more great finds in blogland.

How wonderful are these??????

I am always ruthless about ripping the flowers off and gluing them to anything I can get my hands on, but I'm wavering on these beauties.

Its like a whole English country garden on one head.

I found a giant scrapbook of vintage holiday cards, some are pretty pastels, but most feature lots of red and green. I plan on taking this to Silver Bella and selling the pages full of cards individually. People can look through the book and tear out the pages that interest them.

Speaking of hats, isn't this sweet? If you'd like to save and print it to use in your own projects, please feel free. I'd love to see what you make with her.

This old ring binder was from a garage sale too. I couldn't wait to start gaudy-ing it up. The gaudier the better, of course!

In the Sunflower Fairy House

family, flowers, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / October 8, 2009

Thanks for your interest in Mary's

Artist Class, I'm looking forward to not only my part in the class, but doing the projects that others will be teaching too. Not all the projects are listed yet, but she is planning 12, plus daily tips, tricks, and techniques.

Here is the $10 discount code that you can use to sign up for ALL TWELVE of the offered classes, plus be included in all of the prize drawings I will have to offer.

karlascottage

Thanks for using my code for if you sign up!

Personally, I am way beyond swamped right now, getting ready for Silver Bella, but I plan on catching up with all the Artist Class projects after the holidays. That is the joy of having an online class, I can look through them all in my jammies, late at night, whenever I get a chance to, not on someone else's schedule.

Of course, knowing me, I won't wait. I spend way too much time on the computer and will be too curious and excited about it all to wait "until I have time". Because "until I have time" is kind of like saying "once upon a time, in a land far, far away".

It is FICTIONAL. I never have time!! And never will have time to do what I want, but heck, I just do it anyway and it all works out somehow.

Of course, there is always time for Sugarwings! But then, she might be the reason why I don't seem to have as much time for other things…

When I drive her out to school, I love to linger and look around. The gardens and the play yard are so creative and fun! They grow food and flowers for the local farmers market and the huge (organic) garden is the first thing you see when you get out of your car.

As the looming sunflowers died out for the year, they were bundled up into a tee pee for the kids to play in, and Sugarwings calls it her fairy house.

And this thatched roof play house makes me feel like I am on Gilligan's Island. Or Survivor. Which is on tonight, and I have my fingers crossed that the evil troll man goes home.

How is that for a jungle gym? It makes me want to climb and play on it! I love that this school is against big plastic junk toys. They focus on all natural materials and lots of imagination.

She loves her school, and as much as I miss her during the day, I know this is a good place for her. Plus, I'm enjoying the short drive out to the countryside to get her there and back, its a reminder to me to stop and appreciate my surroundings and realize how lucky I am to live in such a pretty area.

And of course, I always know how lucky I am to have this pretty baby in my life.

Paper Dolls and other fun projects! Sign up to play along!!

vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / October 7, 2009

My pal, Mary, is hosting online tutorials that she is calling "Artist Class". If you sign up for her program, you get lots for your money, classes from a selection of artists, tips, tricks, photos, videos, downloads, patterns, on and on!

I'm lucky to be included in her group of teachers! My project isn't ready yet, to show you exactly what it will be, but you might be able to tell, that it will be paper doll dresses.

You can go to Mary's blog for details, but PLEASE use my code to sign up!!

karlascottage

(It has to be all one word, too.)

With my code, you get a $10 discount and I get paid per student!!

She will have lots of artists and all are doing something different.

Because I am going to keep track of "my students" and have special prizes and drawings for supply packs.

What will I have to offer for the lessons?

1. Detailed, step by step instructions with photos

2. Patterns of dresses to print and cut out

3. Vintage wallpaper scans for you to print and cut out to use for your dresses

4. One hand drawn paper doll, scanned for you to print

What are the prizes I am offering for those of you who sign up using my $10 discount code karlascottage?

1. Drawings for vintage paper packs and supplies to use for making the paper doll dresses. I will offer one pack per 10 people who sign up for Mary's classes who use MY $10 Discount Code karlascottage.

So, if 50 people sign up, I will give away 5 gift packs of ephemera. If only 2 people sign up, I'll give out one ephemera pack. But I really hope we get a big bunch!! I have plenty of old wallpaper, and am happy to share!

2. One drawing from the whole group of students who sign up using my $10 Discount Code karlascottage for the original hand drawn paper doll that I use to create the patterns.

I hope you will sign up and play along with me!

(Please note, that these dresses posted today, are examples of past dresses I have made, not the ones that I will be teaching you.) And thank you so much for using my $10 Discount Code karlascottage to join in!

A Farmhouse McMansion

collections, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, jewelry

By Karla Nathan / October 5, 2009

My house was empty over the weekend, just me and my dogs. When not parked in front of the DVR with a bowl full of popcorn, I spent time making some jewelry.  But mostly, I watched way, way too much TV.  
My TV addiction has become a serious problem.  I might need an intervention.  Or follow Beth's advice and get a job as a TV critic.
 
  
I was in a girly mood when I did this one.  Hmm, I think I'll switch the blue oval rhinestone with the rhinestone flower, this isn't balanced… I also think some pink crystal beads would be nice to add.
That is why I make my jewelry far in advance of an art show. I look it over, wear it, see if it hangs well and is comfy, or catches on anything. Changes sometimes need to be made.
 
Sugarwing's Daddy brought home a free dollhouse for her.  While I think it is magnificent, and actually kind of looks like our house (if I added some black shutters to it), its a bit overwhelming. Wow, it is huge!
"That's what she said."– see, I watch too many "Office" episodes, I am quoting Steve Carrell.
 
This mansion has hinges on each end so that a third of the house swings open, as well as part of the roof lifting up. I'd say it was hand made, with a lot of care. 
And big HEAVY ply wood.
 
My fairy grand baby already has a nice doll house in her room. This one is sturdy, wooden and hand made too, I found it at a garage sale for $20 a few years ago and painted it to match her room when she was big enough to play with it.  Its large, but not overwhelming like the white one her Daddy brought home to her.
 
Plus, it is furnished in just her style, with the blue flying monkey and rainbow haired troll dolls feeling right at home there.
 
There is a vintage log cabin with no roof that we use as a book case in her room too.  Its also from a garage sale, it was $10.  I lost the roof somewhere, and painted it white.  
It was probably worth something before I "fixed it up".
 
There is also a doll house in my studio.  This one does double duty, I dump her toys out and take it with me to shows, its a great display shelf. Its tall and lightweight and adds a visual impact to my booth. 
I certainly couldn't do that with the 2 ton, 20 room version that my son brought home this week.  Heck, maybe I'll use the new one for a dog house, its big enough for all three Dorkies to move into.
Notice how Twinkle automatically poses when I get out my camera? She thinks the photos are all about her. When I pick up the camera, she sits and waits to be admired.  The dog is turning into a bigger ham every day.
 
See what I mean? She can't imagine I'd take a photo without her in it. If you've wondered why I call the Yorkies "Dorkies" its because of their silly, and adorable behavior, like this.
 
Yes, Twinkle is pretty good company, she is right at my feet all day while I work, and is endlessly fascinated by all that I do.  I find myself showing her what I am working on, and her little head tilts to the side like she really cares and is intrigued by what I came up with. 
And of course, she thinks some things just look like dog toys. She really wants one of these chicks.
 
Not that she is getting one.  I kept a few for myself to make some things, and the rest are listed in the Boutique.  I've sold a LOT of them, but there are still some left.  But I can't recommend them as dog toys, no matter what Twinkle says.

Dollar Day

Books, Food and Drink, jewelry, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / October 3, 2009

Yesterday, I had a mini craft day. Beth, Mary, and I all had things to do for Silver Bella, so we decided to hang out and do them together.  I had a few little gifties for them, some ephemera and a chocolate from See's Candys. 
Beth brought a giant tub of jewels, a big box of buttons, and a stack of laces to tag and sort, one of those boring jobs that goes better with company.  Although, the jewels weren't boring to me, I loved looking through and playing with them.  
She even paid me a dollar to sort them out.  She also offered Sugarwings a dollar to sort buttons. Maybe Beth comes to visit for the cheap labor?  
 
It was a day full of finished projects for me, I am thrilled to be getting long neglected things completed!
For a while, I have been buying sewing boxes, jewelry boxes, and other vintage containers to foofify.  And hadn't touched them, they've been piling up and overflowing from the tub I had them in.  I felt like they were going to bury me in an avalanche if I didn't get around to them soon.  So, it was a relief to take an afternoon to whittle down the pile and get a few foofed.
 
There are a couple million dolls waiting for my attention too.  Some things, I just can't pass up while shopping, even though I should… Old dollies can be pretty cheap, and all they need is a bit of love, care, glue, cleaning, millinery and ironing.  Well, that does sound like a bit of work, no wonder I avoid them after I buy a pile of them.
But yesterday, I grabbed a couple of dirty dollies and got to work. And learned a trick from Beth.  She said that ribbons can be ironed on a lightbulb!!!!!!!
I had no idea, but it sure makes sense and really does work.
So, I pulled off a lamp shade and rolled a ribbon across the bulb, and that took all the wrinkles out immediately. I didn't even have to get out the iron and the board.  
So, I figured I'd try it on a doll skirt.  That worked great too, just open the skirt, drape it over the bulb and rub it around.  It looks very, very wrong while doing it (because the doll was stil in the dress), and elicited a few off color remarks, (I'll leave those to your imagination) but hey, it was easy and the wrinkles are gone!
I just hope these poor dolls don't feel too violated.
 
I got a good start on earring making too.  During the summer months, I collect vintage bits and pieces to remake into pierced earrings, necklaces, and bracelets for the fall art shows I do.
 
So, I'm planning on devoting most of this week to getting my jewels made up, tagged and ready to sell.
 
Isn't this a PERFECT display for them!?  I hope to have it all filled up by the end of the week. Then, I'll just close the lid, set it aside and it will be all ready to go when I leave for Silver Bella.
 
Sorting out Beth's jewels not only earned me a dollar, I found this little girl pin that was perfect to put on the cover of the Alice in Wonderland book I'd been working on.  Beth also brought me the rings to put the book together with.  So I got that finished too. 
Not a bad day of production!
 
When I was done, my son had this meal waiting for me! Roasted red peppers from the garden, rice with cilantro, and grilled tilapia.
Not a bad day at all.  Plus I made a whole DOLLAR. There are lots and lots of days that an artist can't say that!

Re-Do Day

vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / October 1, 2009

Yesterday was Re-Do Day.  I started with the white lady and Frenchied her up with the 1921 magazine that Zita sent to me. I saw a title on one page that said 
"Le Sphinx Blanc" and used it on the front, and added a white rose underneath that.
Now, I dont' speak French, but was guessing it meant the white Sphinx?  It seemed to fit her mysterious aura.  Unless of course, that isn't what it means.  I could be WAY off. But in my mind, that is her name now. "Sphinxy"

Hmm, does anyone else think that half circle shape on her neck looks like a hicky?  I didn't notice that before…

While in heavy duty re-do mode, I brought an accumulation of dark things outside to paint. I used my Lazy Woman style of painting, spraying with primer, glazing, then top coating with spray poly. (instructions on the side bar)
(Sphinxy got a coat of poly over her decopauge too)

When I saw this old clock, I was swept off my feet! My sister-in-law was the first to find it on our shopping trip to Rusty Chandelier.  The tension of waiting till she made up her mind on whether she was buying it or not made me twitch with desire to rip it out of her hands instead of standing next to her pleasantly and politely while she pondered her purchase.  

Its not easy to be a nice person sometimes.  But, my theory is, that there is a lot of junk out in the world and there is no reason to be grabby and mean about any of it. No matter how drop dead gorgeous it is, and no matter how much I think it is destined to be mine.
Well, she passed, so I picked it up and told her I'd buy it if she didn't but if she changed her mind, it would be OK.  I was lying through my teeth about the OK part, but would have made myself believe it was really OK, if I absolutely had to and she changed her mind.
I wanted to use it as a frame for a photo of my fairy grand baby, but when I got it home, realized that the clockworks were not coming out very easily, plus it was a nice clock, an 8 day wind up.

But even though the clock itself was cool, I wanted it to be a softer look for my house, so I covered the clock face with white and cream flocked wallpaper to match the paint job I did on the frame.

See why I wanted it so badly? Its ideal for this spot. Plus, did I  mention it was only $26, and really quick to redo?

Both of the statues got the same paint technique, white primer with cream glaze. I added another glaze coat of sage green over that. 

The (pink satin lined) suitcase from the Rusty Chandelier gold mine shopping trip was a really easy redo, too. I just covered up a black and orange picture on the lid. (why? why? What made the manufacturer put orange and black on the cover when the interior was a perfect pink???)

 I cut out a piece of pretty flocked paper to fit, glued it down, and used my paint can opener to pry up the rubber edges of the suitcase trim to tuck the wallpaper under.  It looks like it has always been there! 
The glass door cabinet was spray primed, then painted with a bisque colored paint that was left over from another project. After that, I distressed it with some sandpaper. I'm trying to decide on whether I have the patience to redo the interior… but I didn't get it done yesterday and now Re-Do day is over. 
Getting back to something is not easy. I try to finish a project immediately before I switch gears to something else.   And after doing all these things, plus a few others yesterday, I have to say, I am ready to move on.

Won't Sphinxy look great next to this hand covered in French ephemera?  I'm excited about my displays for upcoming shows now!
Here is some more of my loot from our shopping trip to St. Joe, MO.  My hat whispering skills were in fine form that day.

After cleaning up all my  Re-Do Day mess, Sugarwings helped me make dinner.  I cut up an eggplant, then gave her the "stump" of it, with the stem "handle" to use as a stamp.

 We used a butterfly shaped cookie cutter to made a design in the eggplant for her and she inked up her stamp with a washable marker instead of getting eggplant all over one of my stamp pads. 

And how do you get a 3 year old to yell, "Yippee!" when they see eggplant at dinner?  We cut the slices out with her butterfly shape before frying them and serving them over the top of penne pasta with lots of cheese.

Thanks for all your comments this month. The winning comment in the September Cauldron of Brooches giveaway is:
JANIS 
All comments on this post and every other post this month will go into the hat for the October drawing, what ever the heck that will be.
And on the subject of comments,   up to 250 comments  Kelee gets on her fund raising post will generate a dollar each towards a donation to the Northland Animal Shelter.  Visit her, say hi, and give those abandoned pets a dollar!
You can also win a $100 Hobby Lobby gift card.  Now, that could make me yell "Yippee!"