June 2011 – Page 2 – Karla's Cottage

The good, the bad, and the ugly

By Karla Nathan / June 15, 2011

Paper Cowgirls was very, very Good! The Bad? Well, my computer fell ill the day I was trying to pack and leave, and was supposedly ready when I got home. But not really. 4 trips later to visit the Geek Squad again and again, it is running again, but- the Ugly part is that ALL of my email contacts are gone and my name is now Karla Natjan. Apparently something odd happened while it was away visiting the Geeks.

But all in all, the Good outweighs the Bad. Mostly, I just liked that title, it seemed very "wild west" and suited for a Texas post.

After my horrid day, where I spent 6 hours trying to get my computer to function before I could pack and leave for Texas, Beth showed up with a gorgeous art journal that my Bird Song peeps created for me! Talk about a cheer up.

I threw it in my bag and as soon as we got all settled in our hotel room, and got jammied up, I pulled it out to admire and examine. Its a masterpiece, thanks Bird Song chicks!

My roomies were the best. Both are extremely talented artists and junkers, so there was lots of interesting piles of stuff to look through in the room. Lisa brought goods from home to sell at vendor night and for a big parking lot sale Friday morning. Beth was vendoring too, and we all got first dibs on all the coolness before the big sale.

There was a huge talent pool at Paper Cowgirls. And each person was as nice as they were talented. Ann Denise created this life size paper dress to welcome everyone.

Lisa Pace gave a helpful talk on our welcome night, but I was having camera issues when I got there, so have very few pics of that night. I was feeling like the Tech Gods were out to get me. First my four month old computer goes all wonky on me, then, my camera refuses to focus.

But all is well and I was rescued by a helpful cowgal that knew some camera tricks. Everyone was soooo nice, about 6 different ladies tried to help me get it to focus, and that many more were suggesting people that could help. It was a quick way to get acquainted to quite a few of them at once!

Welcome night was also swap time, and once again, I was kicking myself for not joining any. There were some beauts, this was from the name tag exchange.

And I was around when Beth made this apron for Ann Denise, so I felt like I was kind of a part of it. I was so excited to see her open the package, you'd have thought it was my swap. I love to watch and see what everyone comes up with, because at Swaptime, no matter what event you are at, all the generosity and skill comes out.

Everyone uses the Good Stuff. Actually, for swaps, they dig even deeper and use the Best Stuff.

I've got a couple billion pictures that I can show you, but for now, I seriously need to get to work. I've been without my lifeline computer, for 8 days and am seriously behind.

If you asked me about joining in on the Bird Song tag book swap and I didn't get back to you, can you please re-email me?

A velveeta box/ jewelry armoire

By Karla Nathan / June 12, 2011

At Paper Cowgirls, there will be a fund raiser where transformed Velveeta boxes are auctioned off. I was happy to join in and make one, even if it meant I had to eat some fake cheese. It had been so many years since I'd had any of the artery clogging stuff that I forgot just how creamy and decadant it was. I could easily slip back into my old trailer trash ways and start making pots of mac and cheese with it again… but NO, it was a one time slip, and I'll not be buying any more of that, no matter how tempting it is. I ate it growing up and I raised my kids on that goo when I had a near zero dollar grocery budget, but now Sugarwings gets to eat some good, healthy foods and I've never fed it to her. (but honestly, is there anything creamier when melted over macaroni??)

But I digress with my love/hate cheese saga. The story is really about the box itself.

Anyway, I turned the box into this.

The lid and the bottom are turned on end, side by side and covered in paper, inside and out.

It has feet made up of 4 Scrabble tiles covered in old velvet ribbon.

Shelves are chip board and the "hinges" are ribbon.

There is a chipboard drawer too.

Its topped with a beautiful, old rose, and decked out with lots of laces and trims. I added a heavy antique clasp from a vintage photo album to the chip board door.

(rhinestone chain sold for $3.50 per foot available here, to make your own trims!)

The clasp was hefty and made the piece top heavy, so I balanced it by hanging lots of pretties on the side, a key, a chandelier drop, and jewelry.

Speaking of jewelry, I filled it up with some jewels too, just in case no one guessed it was actually a jewelry armoire instead of a cheese box now.

So, is this a case of making a silk purse out of sow's ear, or just slapping lipstick on the pig?

ps-The Dolled Up Dress Forms online tutorial is available here.

Or leave a comment if you'd like a chance to win one. (if you already are signed up, and you win, you will receive a kit full of vintagey goodies to make the dress form)

A bag for Paper Cowgirls

paper cowgirl, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / June 11, 2011

One of the best parts about an art workshop/getaway, is of course the whole "getaway" part. Where you get to relish your time to do nothing but create, hang with creative types, and just be away from your every daywork and life.

I'm hooked on them. I've met the nicest people that way. One friend from Birdsong saw a cute cowgirl shirt at a garage sale and sent it to me to make something out of it for Paper Cowgirls.

My first thought, was why cut it up? Its a great shirt, I'll wear it as is! But sometimes I forget that I am no longer a "small". In my mind, I still think of myself as 30 years old and a size 6. Uhm…. that was over 20 years ago and that is a lot of time for opportunities to expand my waistline.

Small, schmall. Never again.

So, I cut out the Cowgirl lettering and some of the tee shirt around it and added it to a bag. It fit the bag much better than it fit me.

But my stupid sewing machine (I know it hates me, and plots against me at night when it is alone out here in the studio) refused to do any sewing today. So, I got out the Sealah Tape and Fabric Tack. Much easier!!

Don't forget, if you want a chance to WIN an online tutorial to make your own mini dress form, and embellish it (complete with vintage papers scanned for you to print and use) leave a comment.

The class is $15 if you don't want to wait and see if you win!

If your name is drawn and you've already purchased the class, I'll send you a kit full of vintage goodies to make your dress form.

Puppy lovin

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / June 10, 2011

Is there anything cuter than a sleeping little girl wearing pink ruffles?

Yes! A sleeping little girl with pink ruffles and hugging a puppy!!

Dress form collage patterns

paper cowgirl, Tutorials, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / June 8, 2011

While I am away in Texas for Paper Cowgirls, I have some new posts for you that I wrote in advance. I'll be back soon "live".

My bags are almost, very, very close to being ready to go to Paper Cowgirls. All of the kits are made and boxed up. I'm just adding tidbits to take along for the students to personalize each kit. And I had time to make some dress form tags too.

Its made up of ephemera and I also scanned it and added it to my Mini Dress Form tutorial site. So, if you are signed up for the classes online (only $15) its printable to use in your own art.

While I was making it, I traced the drawings I used and made a pattern too. That is now on the site as a little bonus project for the students to print and make their own dress form collages. (Just in case someone didn't want to try to draw the stand free hand like I did, I added a pattern for a stand too)

These print up nicely. I like to use matt finish photo paper for a really clear print. I cut them out and glued them to old repair tags, added trim and added one to each kit for the class in Texas.

Extra kits are made and ready to add to the Boutique, but I don't seem to have any time to take photos and add them. I'll let you know as soon as I get some ready for you. Thanks for all of your inquiries!

Ps- I'm going to have a drawing for a free dress form tutorial. Leave a comment if you are interested. If you already have signed up for the classes, the drawing will be for a free kit.

Happy Birthday Rich

celebrations, family, Food and Drink, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / June 7, 2011

My husband had a birthday this week and Sugarwings helped me bake him an ultra healthy, low fat cake to celebrate. He has high cholesterol and really works hard at keeping the numbers down, but he also has a sweet tooth. So I came up with a guilt free cake for him. Well, semi-guilt free, at least, healthier than a double fudge chocolate cake anyway.

We took fat free, cranberry/orange muffin mix, and added 1/2 cup of applesauce, 1 cup of blueberries, 1/4 cup of ground, golden flaxseed, 1/2 cup of shelled and finely chopped pistachios, 3/4 cup of chopped pecans, and 3/4 cup of toasted coconut, then about 1/2 cup of water.

While it was in the oven, we cleaned and sliced strawberries. Then, I covered them with 2 spoonfuls of organic brown sugar and a 1/4 cup of lime juice.

After the cake was cooled we poked holes all over it and topped it with the strawberries and lime juice. (It was an ooey, gooey, moist cake!)

Over that, we added this mix, which is what really made it yuumy:

1 cup of Dannon Greek 0 fat plain yogurt- That stuff is so thick and rich, you'd never know it was low fat!!
1 block of low fat cream cheese
1 cup of fat free sour cream
1 tsp real vanilla
1/4 cup organic powdered sugar
splash of lime juice

That was fluffed with the blender and dolloped over the berry covered cake, then spread. To top it off, we served it with low fat Cool Whip.

Sguarwings had 3 pieces and shared a bite of hers with the birthday boy. I didn't feel bad about her eating so much cake since it was mostly fruit, nuts, and yogurt.

She also shared some messy kisses.

And thought it was funny to wipe the cream cheese topping off of his face afterwards.

Maybe all three pieces didn't make it into her tummy, she looked like she was wearing quite a bit of the dessert, so went right into the tub after.

Ps- all of the bird cage charms I listed in the Boutique sold out right away, so I have replenished the supply. If you are in the Bird Song Tag Book Swap, don't worry, I have plenty of pretties to adorn the books with! I've ordered more charms to paint too.

By the way, we are at about 120 swappers. I have room for a FEW more, since I haven't started making the covers yet. Email me if you are interested. Details HERE.

(I will be away, so please forgive me if I don't get right back to you)

Sweet Charlottes

the Boutique at Karla's Cottage

By Karla Nathan / June 5, 2011

While packing up for Paper Cowgirls and deciding what to sell on vendor night, I decided to divide up the Charlottes that are heading to Texas and add some to the Boutique too.

These are the BIG ones, four inches and more. I've never carried these before, but I sure see lots of possibilities for things to make with them.

I also restocked some of the smaller gals while I was at it. So, there are plenty of sizes to choose from. I even made a whole new catagory just for these girlies so they are easy for you to find.

Please note that if you order multiples at The Boutique at Karla's Cottage that sometimes the shipping rates add up really fast. I will refund the excess shipping if it is more than a couple bucks. Heck, I've seen the shipping go up to $14 or so for a little box that cost $5 to ship. Don't worry, I won't let you pay double for shipping, I'll refund the difference to you.

But I can't see a better way to configure the shopping cart. Its hard to be accurate ahead of the game.

If you have a better way, I'd be happy to hear it. And would love the advice.

Caged

redos

By Karla Nathan / June 3, 2011

Of course, I couldn't do anything else till I painted these bird cage charms that I showed you in the last post! I know there is a ton of stuff to get ready for my trip to Texas and teaching at Paper Cowgirls, but sometimes its nice to take a mental break from all the real work and do a fun job instead.

EDIT– so many people asked about these charms, that I added a few to the Boutique

It was a quick little project and a much needed, pleasant, side trip to my busy day. All it took was a spritz of bonding primer (both sides) a dab of blue paint on the birdie, done with a teensy brush, then a slap of glue and a sprinkle of glitter.

This might not have been very high on my priority list for right now, but it made me happy to do. Now, I can go back to my boring kit making. All of the ribbons are dyed and everything is arranged, trimmed and ready to go. All I have to do is the packaging. Ugh. That part is no fun at all. I'd rather be making stuff.

Hmm, maybe I can make some cute tags to tie onto the packets….AFTER they are all packed up. That will give me something to look forward to as a reward for getting it done. Okay, back to the drudgery. Have a good weekend!

Piles and piles

Tutorials, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / June 2, 2011

I've been gathering stuff lately. Making piles all over the studio. This is a heap of bird cage charms that I bought to use on the tag books for our swap. There are over 100 swappers making tags, and I still have room for more if you'd like to join us. Most will get a bird cage charm, but I have a few other tidbits to tie on some here and there too.

This pile is just a few of the toppers I've gathered up to put into the kits for the Dress Form Tutorial kits I'm making for sell and for Paper Cowgirls. I can't believe I don't have all the kits packed and ready to go. It makes me slightly ill to procrastinate. But there has been a lot going on lately, between the long, holiday weekend and fun with babies.

The charms might look cute painted like I painted the key holes and doo dads for the kits. (In the foreground of the previous photo) They were shiny brass, I sprayed them with bonding primer, added a little Tim Holtz white crackle paint, then after they dried, I rubbed an ink pad over them to deepen the crackle effect. That might be a bit of work to do for 100 charms, tho…. but worth it, I think I like this look better. Oooh, and the birdie should be blue! Says the person who still doesn't even have her kits ready for next week.

Well, maybe. Sometimes, I need to reign myself in, I tend to over commit. And this is boating and travel season, so I should watch what I plan, making over 100 tags and putting the books together is a tad overwhelming on its own. Hmmm, maybe just white, not crackled and inked? But with a blue bird, of course!!!!!!!!

This week, I have pulled apart 6 hats to harvest the flowers for kits, torn pages from 4 books, cut circles from old rosey wallpaper, and decimated a few necklaces too.

Now, I just need to pull some of those piles together and slip them into bags. All the directions are printed, stapled, and piled up on the table next to lengths of ribbon and lace. But I have a feeling that as soon as I leave the computer, I'll be heading for the spray can of primer and spritzing those cages….