January 2012 – Page 2 – Karla's Cottage

Good bye Sparkle

By Karla Nathan / January 11, 2012

Well, little Sparkle was just too sick to hang on. Its heartbreaking to say goodbye, but we knew it was coming, just not this soon. Thanks for your kind words and encouragement for our family right now.

In happier news, Sugarwings is doing well with one arm and its not slowing her down one bit. Even though the Dr. says she needs to be slowed down…. that kid is hard to stop. Her teeth and toes are always ready to help out that left hand when needed and so far, she doesn't seem to mind not using her right hand.

Today, she came out to the studio with me to decorate her ugly, navy blue sling. We played around with gutting a stuffed animal and making that into the sling, but I was worried that I wouldn't get the angle right, and that we should stick with using the one that was provided by the hospital. Now we have an empty plush dog that Dewdrop thinks makes a fine puppet.

She might seem to have a lot of energy right now, and is tough to keep at rest, but she cries out in pain while sleeping, so I know that it must really hurt.

My husband's leg is doing well, and he says it hurts enough to remind him just how dumb he was to be careless with the chain saw.

Okay, enough sadness and fear for a long, long while.

Sparkie Jo (my mom called me Karkie Jo, and I called Sparkle, Sparkie Jo) was a sweet girl, and the most gentle dog you could meet. She had lots of puppies in her life and of all the mama dogs I've ever owned, she was the most loving toward her pups. She treasured and cuddled and spent much more time just playing with them than most mother dogs. She was like that with everyone, always ready to show caring and sweetness.

I choose to remember how lucky we were to have her with us for the ten short years she was part of our family. And also to count myself lucky that Sugarwings and my Handsome Husband were not hurt worse than they were and that we will have them around for many more decades and decades.

Next post, I hope to have some more fun things to talk about. In the mean time, the sale is still on in the Boutique (40%) and the Etsy shop (50%). I haven't had a chance to take it down. You can get some good deals on millinery, doodads, pretties, and other stuff. Tutorials are also on sale!

It was the best of days, it was the worst of days

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family

By Karla Nathan / January 9, 2012

French by Design

Saturday started out Great. Extra Great. So wonderful that I wouldn't shut up about what a Great Day it was.

Seedbox

Beth and I met up to go to Bottom's Up. The BEST antiquing experience in KC. Gwen and Terry find the most intriguing dealers whose displays and talent are crammed to the brim with inspiration and wow.

Raised in Cotton

But best of all, we kept running into friends and spent lots of time chatting and catching up with fellow junking buddies.

I'd had a bad cold and a back ache for a couple of weeks, through the busy holiday time, and kept pushing myself to pretend I was fine and to keep enjoying the jingle bell season instead of letting myself get rested and over it all. Plus, Sugarwings had been sick before Christmas and I'd been traveling, and well, you know how worked up a person can get at that time of year anyway, add a few tasty little tid bits like that and moods can really turn dour and sour when the whole after Christmas let down period kicks in.

Yep, I was down, and tired and not quite myself. I've been trying to get my examples for the Birdsong Two classes done and nothing was clicking, because of my mood.

So, I took some time off from trying to be creative, eradicated all trace of holiday decor from my house, and zipped off to KC to Bottom's Up and to hang with my BFF.

Did I mention that it was a Great Day? And I was so happy, I was obnoxious about it. I desperately needed a day of pure fun.

And not only did I visit with friends, see beautiful old stuff, I BOUGHT a lot of beautiful, wonderful, old stuff. At beautiful, wonderful prices. Yep, Bottom's Up is a top-of-the-line place, but there are deals to be found there too. You can find exquisite, one of a kind, high dollar items, and you can also find exquisite, one of a kind, great deals!

What really made me happy was that I found just the ideas and supplies I needed to make my Birdsong projects for the classes!

Yep, not only did I come up with a plan, I found enough to make 25 kits, plus extras for examples and to practice on.

I hope to get them done soon and get the photos up.

I'm so pleased with the registration for Birdsong Two. Its filling up quickly. I've been away from my computer, so don't have an exact count, but its getting there. (you can still join us the last weekend of April if you'd like!)

Yes, a Great Day was just what I needed, Beth and I went to BU, as well as all the other pop up stores that are only open one weekend a month in the Old West Bottom's region of Kansas City, tucked into warehouses and abandoned buildings. The backgrounds of the stores are always interesting.

Look what we came across at one of the places, I can't remember which. There are LOTS of them now, all within a few blocks. Maybe it was at Bella Patina?

Anyway, its a buffet that I painted years ago and sold at my old antique mall booth.

Its always cheery to see one of my pieces out in the world. And I was feeling so cheery by then, I was almost punch drunk. I think I told Beth that I loved her a few times.

Then, things started to fall apart. I dropped Beth off at her home, just as the phone was ringing to tell me that Sugarwings was in the hospital, not far from Beth's house, luckily I was ten minutes away.

When I got there, I heard the story that she had been at one of those big, indoor play places at a birthday party, and had fallen from the top level, luckily hitting a bouncy slide on her way down before plummeting to the ground.

Her mommy was the hero that day. She couldn't find anyone to help her or to let them out of the play area, through the canvas sides. So, she had to scoop up our little fairy with her broken wing and carry her through the rest of the kid's obstacle course to get her out of the building! Up and down a slide, through the ball pit, etc, she ran while carrying her daughter. No employee came to help her or answered her calls to let them out a short cut.

All of the family gathered as soon as they could at the hospital. Her Daddy's truck wouldn't start, and he took off on his bike to meet my husband to get a ride from Lawrence, leaving his bike in a ditch when he finally met up with his dad and hopping in his truck.

When they arrived, my husband was limping. And wouldn't tell me why, said it could wait till we got our fairy baby transferred to the Children's hospital for surgery.

Apparently, he knew I had needed a fun day out and hadn't called me earlier to tell me that he'd stood on a dead log that broke in half while he was using his chain saw, and that he gashed his leg open with that saw. Well, that is my nightmare come true. I hate those things and have been dreading this for years.

Thank you all for your kind words and prayers while I was staying up at the hospital with our girl, who is much braver than I am. She is feeling better and uses her left hand and her toes to do about anything she wants to.

We are home now, and its hard to keep her quiet. It was a very serious break, and she is not to play outside for a while. Somehow or another, we are supposed to keep that little fireball tranquil a few weeks so she can heal. She has 3 pins in her elbow and some nerve damage in her hand, that the Dr. says should heal within a year. But its important to not bump or move it all around much for right now.

So, we are watching movies, and movies, and more movies. Today we all went to see TinTin in 3D.

I'm doing better now too. That first night, I concentrated on not fainting or letting my thoughts dwell on chainsaws. I was in more than a bit of shock, and didn't cope well with either accident. But both patients are sturdy and doing well. And I think that my Great Day with Beth helped me quite a bit and gave me the boost I needed to cope.

Sadly, while we were staying at hotels near the hospital a couple of days, our little Sparkle's health has deteriorated. Her kidneys have been failing, but now its beyond that. I came home to floors covered in, well, we won't go into that, you've heard enough. I bathed her, sanitized the floors, and called the vet. If you have any well wishes left to spare for my family, I'd appreciate some sent to "Special Sparkle" as Sugarwings calls her. She's frail and not doing well at all.

Thanks again for caring. I was too shaky to read any of my book, and newsprint just blurred in front of my eyes while I was in the waiting rooms. It was nice to have those sweet, caring Facebook and blog comments to read. Some people don't understand and wonder why I care what strangers have to say. But these weren't from "strangers".

Some were from our family, some were close friends, some were blog friends, some Bellas, some art buddies. All were people who cared. And reading those caring words really did help.

Thanks so much.

Uncategorized

By Karla Nathan / January 8, 2012

Sugarwings fell yesterday while at her cousin’s birthday party at a big indoor playcenter. She has a broken arm and is now going into surgery.

She has been much braver than I have. Her therapist father and nursing student mother have been great. I just cry.

When the Dr. asked her how she was she said she was ok but her grammie was not.

Earlier in the day my husband gashed his leg open with a chain saw. He is doing better and our fairy baby will be soon.

No sanding, no stripping, no paint, custom painted furniture, plus a sale and another upcoming class

Hand Painted Furniture, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / January 6, 2012

The sale in the Boutique and on Etsy is still on!

Use this link

and type in the code:

2012

then hit recalculate, and save 40% in the boutique!

for Etsy, type in the code:

happy2012

to receive 50% off!

Thanks for all the clearance shopping you have done with me! I've been boxing, packaging and shipping all week. Now, I'll be cleaning up and deleting all the "sold" items, rethinking some items, and restocking soon. In the meantime, you still have time to take advantage of these prices!

My visit to California to stay with my pal, Kim, was such fun. Did I mention what a PERFECT hostess she is?? Her family made me feel very welcome. Their house is beyond pretty, but is also comfortable and homey too.

I'm the kind of person who likes to be doing stuff, so when I stay with someone, I'm always happy when they let me play with paint and redo something in their house. Once while visiting the Guncles, they let me repaint all their kitchen cabinets, and on a trip to Indiana, Sissy let me redo her bathroom. I enjoy the process and like to see the changes, and when the host or hostess works along side me, its good chatting/bonding time.

Kim's bedroom was filled with a set that she'd had since she was a little girl and it was sentimental to her, but needed an upgrade.

While I was there, we had two classes for all the ladies who attended her day long gathering, one was a wire wrapped wreath with a nesting bird.

I'll be teaching this one again at Paper Cowgirls in Texas if you are interested- or please email me if you'd like to come to my studio to make a Valentines Day version on Sat. Jan 28th, I'll do a class here in my studio for the afternoon- $65 includes all materials, lunch and dessert. It will start at 10am, and everything needed to create the wire wreath with two nesting love birds will be included.

After we finish the wreath, we'll make some Valentine cards, I'll have some collage sheets made up for you to cut and paste.

And you know me, it will be the Good Stuff! All filled with vintage goodness.

The other class we did in California was a faux finish and paint technique lesson that I showed on a small box.

Kim and I used the same ideas from the painted box lesson to redo the nightstands in her bedroom.

No sanding, no stripping, no paint!

Yep, NO PAINTING

We had Glidden Gripper, a water based, bonding primer tinted to a color she liked (Martha Stewart's "glass of milk"), and painted two coats of it onto the pieces. Right over the hardware and knobs.

Then, we scuffed it up with sandpaper to distress the corners and edges.

To jazz the nightstands up, she covered the tops in vintage sheet music. To decoupage ripple free, we painted the glue onto the table top, then dipped the paper into water to soften it, laid it into the glue, and then did a coat of glue over the top.

In the front corners of the table tops, we hand painted some sweet little vines for a special touch.

So, at this point, its primed, distressed, and decoupaged.

Over that, we brushed on a creamy brown glaze, and wiped it off. We glazed over the sheet music too.

Apply the tinted glaze heavily in corners and around the edges of the piece, and wipe away toward the centers. You want to leave the corners, cevices, and edges darker than the flat, smooth parts and centers of the doors, top, and sides.

The last step was Minwax Polycryllic, a clear, water based topcoat.

For more short cut furniture painting tips, look under "tutorials" on my side bar.

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(you can click on this, open it in a larger window, save it to your computer, then print it)

This Sunday, sign ups are open for Birdsong! We filled up halfway this week, but still have room for new friends to come and play with us here at my cottage studio.

If I don't see you then, maybe I'll see you for the Valentine Wreath party? I do love company!

Song Of Love Wreath workshop for Valentines Day

bird song art event, flowers, holiday decor, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / January 3, 2012

Well, I have had some feedback on the Song Of Love, Valentine wreath class that I am offering. Ladies are worried that the date is too close to Christmas and that they had too little warning to make plans. After the holidays,all of us (and our bank books!) seem to be recovering from the hectic times.

So, I decided to switch the date to later in the month.

Saturday January 28th from 10 till 5.

And to lower the cost a bit. $65 instead of $75.

But I'm not lowering the value! I'll still be providing lots of vintage goodness to embellish the wire wrapped and beaded wreath with two ephemera covered, nesting love birds.

We will spend the day together, creating in my studio with lots of pretties and vintagey supplies.

Lunch, beverages, and dessert are included.

It will be a small group, and seating will be limited.

No two finished projects will be the same, you'll get everything you need to complete a wreath, plus fun piles to dig through to personalize your own piece. If you get finished early, plan on hanging out for the rest of the afternoon and making Valentines with us.

I'll have plenty of supplies out for you to play with.

All you will need to bring is a basic tool kit, everything else will be waiting for you.

And if you are one of the people who were considering coming on January 14th, and that date works out better for you, please let me know, I'd be happy to have you then if your plans are already set.

And if you'd like to come for an entire weekend this spring, Birdsong Two signups are open now for previous guests. This weekend we will open registration to new friends.

Plus, don't forget, there is a sale in the boutique and in my Etsy shop. Thanks to all of you who keep Sugarwings and Dewdrop supplied in fairy wings and glitter by supporting my stores!

Use this link

and type in the code:

2012

then hit recalculate, and save 40% in the boutique!

for Etsy, type in the code:

happy2012

to receive 50% off!

Generous and talented friends

swaps, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / January 2, 2012

The sale in the Boutique and on Etsy has gone so well that I am amping it up for the new year!

Use this link

and type in the code:

2012

then hit recalculate, and save 40% in the boutique!

for Etsy, type in the code:

happy2012

to receive 50% off!

When I was out in California at Kim's house for her holiday gathering, I had a lovely surprise. All of the attendees treated me to swap gifts even though I hadn't joined in on the swaps myself!

One of the ideas for a swap was really unique, I think it was called the Smelly Swap. It really is better than it sounds. Everyone creatively packaged up either a home made or a favorite store bought cream/lotion/bath salt type item.

What a beautiful variety of sweet smelling potions!

II was also given one of each of the ornies from the silver/pink/tourquiose ornament swap. After seeing Kim's own tree decked out in swap pretties from years past, I was extra thrilled to get my own!

Everytime I go to an art event, I tell myself that I don't have time to be in swaps, then I kick myself during the exchange when I see what I missed out on. So, lately, I've tried to do one swap per event no matter how busy I am. But for this one, I just couldn't swing them and was already sorry before I even saw what everyone was bringing.

It was so touching to be included after all!! I'll treasure these beauties forever.

And the gifts just kept on coming! There were three swaps, and I was given presents for all of them! This will be my holiday necklace for 2012, I can't wait to jingle as I strut around in my pink and blue, jingle bell, snowman, chrystal, charm necklace.

Thanks ladies, I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!

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And if you'd like to make a Valentines Day's Love bird version of the wreath class I taught in California, you are invited to an afternoon workshop in the studio on Saturday Jan. 14th to make a wire wrapped wreath with two ephemera covered, nesting love birds for Valentine's Day. Email me for details, it will be $75 for all materials, and lunch included.

EDIT: The date and price for the class has changed to Saturday January 28th for $65

So nice, we are doing it twice- Welcome back, Birdsong!!

bird song art event, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!!

I can't think of a better way to start the year than by planning parties to look forward to.

Birdsong 2011 was sooooo fun, I just have to do it again! For 2012, we will gather at my cottage on Friday April 27 and Saturday the 28th.

Please feel free to add this button to your blog

I hope you can join us for the party!

Sign ups are open first to previous attendees starting January 1st.

After one week, the registration will open to new friends.

To join us for a weekend of creating, please check out the Birdsong webpage for the Pay Pal button, at the bottom of the post. If you would rather pay by check, please email me.

Cost for the weekend is $295

And if you can't wait till then, you are invited to an afternoon workshop in the studio on Saturday Jan. 14th to make a wire wrapped wreath with two ephemera covered, nesting love birds for Valentine's Day. Email me for details, it will be $75 for all materials, and lunch included.

EDIT: The date and price for the class has changed to Saturday January 28th for $65

You will get two, 3 hour classes each day, along with, lunch, drinks, and treats. You are also welcome to stay and finish up projects and talk with friends at the end of the day, if you'd like a bit more time to play.

Each morning we will have some mingle time with coffee and chatting before we begin our classes.

On Saturday night, we'll have a little swappin/shoppin party with pizza and wine, vendor tables filled with vintage goodies, and luscious swaps to trade artwork.

Please let me know if you would like to host a swap.

This event will be held in my studio in Lawrence, KS. The studio is at my cottage, on ten acres right on the edge of town. I live 50 minutes from the Kansas City, MO airport and ten minutes from many hotels.

This will be a casual event, down-home and comfy. No reason to wear a party dress to work in, I'm a tee shirt and jeans person myself. I want you to feel relaxed and at home while you are visiting. Remember, you will be a guest at my home, not just a student at a workshop!

Our theme for the weekend will be nature inspired, just right for a Springtime celebration. What better way to welcome Spring than being with a group of creative women and honoring Mother Nature with our art?

Photos of the classes and info about what we will be making are to come soon.

Lisa McIlvain will return with her bag of arty tricks for one class, and my talented buddy, Beth Leintz will also be sharing her skills for another class. I will be teaching one class each afternoon.

Lisa

Lisa McIlvain's work has been featured in mulitiple Stampington publications and she teaches at Paper Cowgirls as well as many other Texan locations throughout the year. You can see her work at:

http://tarnishedandtattered.blogspot.com/

Beth

Beth Leintz is an avid antiquer and sells her estate sale and auction finds at antique malls, shows and on-line. She enjoys using vintage paper, notions, trims & fabric in collage and quilting creations and her work has been published in Simply Handmade, Sew Somerset and Art Quilting Studio. You can visit her at:

bethleintz.typepad.com/gathering_dust

Karla (me)

My own work has also been featured in Stampington/Somerset publications as well as Romantic Homes, Romantic Country, Better Homes and Garden Paint Decor, and others. I've done over 50 articles as writer, stylist, designer, or artist. My background is in painting, but I have a love of all things vintage and pretty. I also love having company here at the cottage and look forward to seeing you here!

If you would like to be a sponsor for this event, please contact me at

karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

You will be listed on this blog, on my blogroll, and on Karla's Cottage on the sidebar for a year.

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And for more news, the sale in the Boutique and on Etsy has gone so well that I am amping it up for the new year!

Use this link

and type in the code:

2012

then hit recalculate, and save 40% in the boutique!

And in Etsy, use the code:

happy2012

to receive 50% off.