January 2013 – Page 2 – Karla's Cottage

Collaged Cell Phone case

By Karla Nathan / January 10, 2013

Last spring, I bought a camera that I just love. I think it takes wonderful photos, and it slips into my jeans pocket, it's light and compact.

But in November it broke, for no reason. I sent it into Cannon for a repair and without a receipt, they still fixed it for free.

I was thrilled to get it back and working again. Its a Cannon S100 and does photos every bit as good as my Rebel, without all the bulk of that heavy piece. But now its broken again!! I mailed it back to Cannon, and hope it is home in time for my dream of a lifetime trip to Hawaii next week.

Just in case it isn't, I did an ATT&T upgrade and got an IPhone 5 for a great price, and I am so glad that I did, it takes nice, sharp photos. Not as good as my little S100, but much better than the early IPhone that I had. It felt very decedant to get a new phone when I had a perfectly working phone already, and I'm still a little guilty about it all. But, if we are splurging on a trip like this, I want pictures! And I made myself feel better by giving my old phone to my son, whose phone was broken.

Debbie was here for craft day, and we both had clear cases for our phones. We took some of the papers we were working with and lined the cases for a custom look. The top one is mine, bottom is hers.

I'll have more pics of our craft day projects later.

HOW TO:

Easy peasy- I layed out my case over the paper I wanted as a background, and traced it. Since the case was clear, it was easy to position.

I trimmed along the inside of the drawn traced line, since it was traced around the outside of the phone, I knew I needed the paper to cut a bit smaller to fit inside.

Once it was cut, I placed it inside to check fit, and traced around the camera hole. I thought about using an exacto blade to cut out the piece for the eye of the camera while the paper was inside the case, but then decided against it, in case I slipped and sliced the silicone. So, I settled for tracing, then took the paper out, and cut it with the exacto knife with the case safely out of the way.

After the background (French ledger paper) was cut, I laid it out and positioned embossed text across the bottom, flowers cut from an old post card in the middle and a strip of lace across the top. Over the lace, I added a tiny, flat velvet millinery flower.

And of course, I was too impatient to wait for it to dry, so I put it back together with the glue wet. You can see a white blog along the top of the flower.

Debbie chose a piece of paper that was cool as is, a receipt from the 1800s from a dry goods store. She just traced it, cut it out and popped it in.

Poor Beth has had pneumonia and couldn't make it to craft day, she was missed. She and I got together a week or so ago to have a junking day and lunch after a delayed Christmas gift exchange (look at all the goodies she stuffed into this old wallpaper covered box for me!). But, that was the day her cold began and we barely made it through the first part of the day we'd planned, and cancelled the junking part.

She and I need a do over day to hang out and play.

A person can only go so long between friend get togethers. Luckily, I had craft day today and book club tonight to hold me over. So, I can give her time to feel better before I coerce her into a play date with me again.

Hawk of the Week

Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / January 8, 2013

At Sugarwing's school, they have a program where each student gets a special day. The kids bring in things they love to fill a display case, and family gets to come to lunch then hear the child talk about why those items mean something to them.

The grandfairy and I made photo boards of family and things she enjoys doing. She took those in for her display box as well as a few fave toys.

After her talk, the teacher said she could call on three friends who could ask questions about what she brought in. Her teacher said to the kids, 'try to ask something other than "where did you get it," because you all always ask the same question.'

So, of course, Sugarwings called on someone and was asked where she got the pink elephant.

I don't know how that teacher can function all day with so much cuteness around her. I was having the best time watching all the serious silliness that goes on in a kindergarten class.

The prettiest food ever

By Karla Nathan / January 7, 2013

When we went to DC in December, I got to visit one of Twinkle's pups who now lives in VA.

HIs name is Buddy and he is a furry ball of delight.

He has a sister named Lola, from a previous litter of Twinkle's and she is a beauty.

While visiting the grand dogs is always a highlight of any trip I take, we also were treated to a fantastic holiday dinner at Rivercreek Country Club on the Potomac.

Not only was the food and wine fancy, there was also a sense of humor served with it. The courses were created to represent all the markets in the country that my husband's region held.

For Tennessee, the chef whipped up moonshine martinis!

I'm not a good drinker, two glasses and I start giggling or snorting, so I figured I shouldn't drink it. I just ate the olive instead.

The liquor soaked, strong olive. It was pretty tasty, but almost made my head spin.

Luckily, we had some of the world's prettiest food coming to soak up the liquor I'd just chewed up in that olive.

Usually, I'm not a fan of rare beef, but this was beyond amazing. It was cooked sous-vide and perfectly done.

And I don't think I've ever had a dessert this good. The disc thing on the bottom? I have no idea what it was made of, but when I bit into it, the thing disappeared into an explosion of flavor. Really, it disappeared. Like eating some sort of tasty ghost. But it was more like powder, not like cotton candy, although a similar principle. Delicious air.

It was all just perfect. So good that, looking at these pictures has made me sad about dinner tonight, and I had been looking forward to homemade pot pies in the oven before I started thinking about this meal. It was quite a special treat.

Top Chef style dream food and a great night. I even made it through the evening without snorting after imbibing the moonshine.

How to Create a fairy garden and some mini terrariums

flowers, how to's

By Karla Nathan / January 5, 2013

Its snowy and blowy outside as I write this, and to cheer up some winter blahs, I've added some fresh greens to my home. Sugarwings helped me with it, and while we were at it, we made a few to give as gifts too.

This one is in an antique serving bowl. When making an indoor fairy garden or a terrarium, you can use pretty dishes or bowls and not worry about drainage holes, like you'd need to for an outdoor planter. Just use proper layers and the plants should be fine.

We filled quite a few of these glass ornaments.

After the holiday, I took the ornies off the tree, pulled off the top, and exchanged it for a cork. Then, set the balls on top of candle sticks.

Maybe you can see through the glass and tell what I mean about layers?

Here is how you layer:

1- small rocks for drainage

2- charcoal for keeping the water filtered and fresh

3- soil for a growing medium (use soil meant for the type of plants you chose)

4- plants, with roots down in the soil, then a bit more soil over it

5- moss to keep in moisture

A crystal creamer was properly layered and planted with baby's tears. That is the same plant I used in the balls too. This one is perched under a vintage dome with a tattered velvet base.

Sadly, this one didn't live, I thought the rusted metal tea cup was cute. But it wasn't under glass. I think the baby's tears are too delicate for the dry January air in my house without a covering to hold in the moisture.

If you are planting succulents, use a cactus soil over the rocks and charcoal.

In this one, I added a wrapped wire "garden arch" and pinned a vintage butterfly brooch to it. Below the arch is the plant and an old fairy figurine.

It's accented with millinery blooms that match the sugar bowl it's planted in. The top of the cactus soil is sprinkled with rose quartz chips.

When making a fairy garden, keep scale in mind. Use small plants that compliment any little figurine you add to the mix. Also, try to create a scene with the rocks and plants, like the pathway leading to the pewter fairy in this bowl.

I found some great crystals at a rock shop to use in this one since it was a gift for someone special. Sugarwings and I also gathered up some pretty stones from the yard, but I wanted a few meaningful chunks in there too.

The sign is a bit of brown grocery bag. I cut out a large square, folded and glued it in half, then did that a second time, so that it was sturdy. The second time, I glued it over a bent wire that was stuck into the dirt after writing the message.

Something I noticed while assembling this, was that the cactus soil is very loose and dry. The pieces and plants wobble around easily, since the dirt isn't compact, it doesn't anchor anything very well. So I had to wedge a rock over the base of the fairy to keep her from toppling over.

Behind her, is an extra pretty crystal to help keep her in place too, and her base is buried in the sandy, rocky dirt.

The pathway is made up of peridot and moss agate chips. Sugarwings chose these and sprinkled them over the top of the soil to make the walkway for our fairy.

Tiny bottles of semi precious stones can be found at rock shops for $1 each. I used two for this garden path.

Mixed media with watercolor tips and tricks

dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), drawing, free images, holiday decor, how to's

By Karla Nathan / January 3, 2013

Well, the holiday season is winding down, time for getting on with the New Year. If you aren't all Santa-ed out, I've got some how tos for the painting I used as our Christmas card this year.

First step is the drawing, in pencil on watercolor paper.

Second, I draw with ink over my sketch, then erase the pencil marks.

Since I want the background to have a soft, faraway look, I don't draw it in ink, only pencil.

Next, I wash in the sky and shadows of the snow, carefully keeping the drawing in the foreground clean and dry. Keep in mind that the color is deeper at the top, and gets lighter toward the horizon line, along with a touch of blush tone above the ground and trees.

Before the sky dries, I add color to the tree line and a bit to the shadows of the pines.

When the sky is starting to dry, and the paper shows a slight sheen of dampness, I sprinkle salt lightly over it.

As the paint finishes drying, the salt absorbs moisture, along with that, color. It makes a pretty snow speckled look.

I let dry completely and brush off salt before proceeding any further.

Here is where the watercolor cheating comes in, by adding white paint. (so I just call the painting, "mixed media") First, I paint in the bare branch trees, with faded browns and purples. Never deep or harsh or bright colors for a background, they have to look faded and distant.

I do save the white of the bare paper, as you should in watercolor, but I really like a touch of pure white over it for even more depth. I use white acrylic paint for snow and highlights.

Next, the foreground gets painted. When working with watercolors, the trick is in knowing that the color flows wherever the paper is wet. You have to be careful to paint small areas at a time, with drawings like this, and not do adjacent areas until the first section dries. So, I wet a segment, such as this part of the jacket, and drop in bright red. While still wet, I add darker red along the shadowed areas.

I would do the other side of the jacket, waiting for that to dry before painting the sleeve or belt, since they are right next to what I just painted. If I were to paint the belt right away, the red paint would run right into it, as well as some of the black flowing into the red, where that was still wet. Water pulls the color.

Black is always more interesting if you mix it yourself, using a dark brown and dark blue, never use black watercolor paint.

When the painting is done, I dip a wet brush into white acrylic paint and flick it over the picture for more snow.

I take my finished paintings to a copy shop and have them shrunk down and printed four per page to make into Christmas cards.

The trick then is to get them signed and mailed…. I am afraid I didn't send a single Christmas card this year!! After all this work.

My husband did send some out to his co-workers and we used a few on bags of home made candy that we gave away along with a bottle of wine to some friends.

My husband works in the golf industry, so likes the club swinging Santa. I was more into puppies for this season. After Twinkle's nine babies in August, I thought a pup was a good theme for family cards. But once again, I didn't get these mailed either.

At least the cards got made. Maybe I can add hearts and call it a Valentine? No, I think I just missed the boat this season and am out of the time window to mail anything this Christmassy.

Let's call this a belated Christmas card from me to you. You can click on the image to open in a larger window, save to your computer and print it.

Happy New Year, and some Zero Dollar Decorating

celebrations, cottage

By Karla Nathan / January 1, 2013

Happy New Year!

I'm starting off mine with a little bit of a redo. My husband has had some vacation time, and we've been enjoying reading by the wood stove in the kitchen. Since we have spent so much time there, I shuffled some things around and set up a comfy spot for us to relax in.

There is something about this time of year that compels me to rearrange, redo, lighten up, edit. Over the course of a year, as I scrounge flea markets and garage sales, I tend to accumulate and add cool, beloved junk to our home. When cold weather hits, and the January 1st marker of new beginnings rolls around, I start to rethink my look.

I still love my junk, and always will, but feel like I need less of it around in January. Maybe its partially the excesses of Christmas that make me crave tranquility.

Being cooped up indoors so much makes me want less stuff around, cleaner lines. And a new view.

Combining my urge to edit, the compulsion to redecorate, along with our love of roasting our toes by the fire, led me to a drastic, but FREE change.

I took the leaves out of the table, and turned it around, moved the island (that is why I built it with wheels!) and shopped in my own living room for a recliner. The second chair in our Archie/Edith setup is just one from the dining table, with a soft pillow for the small of my back and a footstool.

When Sugarwings came over, she loved it and said that my table was soooo cute, since it looked so tiny with no leaves. I doubt if she has seen it set up this way before, I like having a huge table.

Does the room look fantastic this way? No, not really. To me, its all just a little off, and a bit odd too. But its very functional, comfortable, and only temporary for the cold spell. (but heck, if I wanted perfection and high gloss style, I probably wouldn't have a wood stove in the dining room to start with)

And I am enjoying the change.

Change is a good word for the 1st. This is the perfect time to look around at things we've grown accustomed to, or complacent with. It's a time to think about what really works and what we can do to make it better.

A time for looking at things in a new way, to see what makes us and the ones we love more comfy in our every day lives, whether its as simple as moving a recliner to an unexpected spot or totally rethinking some bigger issues. Getting rid of old habits that don't make sense today, things that you are doing by rote, just because that is how you've been doing it that way.

Could a simple change in the New Year bring pleasure or ease to your life?