December 2014 – Page 2 – Karla's Cottage

An early start to the decking of the halls, yay!

By Karla Nathan / December 10, 2014

I was so happy to get my home decorated before Thanksgiving.

(For the big dinner itself, I had white pumpkin center pieces, so I did tip a hat toward the current holiday too) Our Elf on the Shelf made her first appearance on Thanksgiving day, and was part of the centerpiece.

I'm using a fairy from my Birdsong class for Santa's spy this year and we've been finding her everywhere since she got to work. Some mornings, she is just creepily watching Sugarwings sleep and is waiting on the pillow when she wakes up. Those are the mornings when Grammie forgot to pose her somewhere cute and hurriedly plopped her down.

I hope your Thanksgiving was a good one. Ours sure was, and no one seemed to mind that I'd jumped the gun and got the Christmas stuff out. Personally, I was relieved that I'd got that off my list of things to do.

First of all, I had a lot going on and time was at a premium. Second of all, I've had a bad case of sinusitis and asthmatic bronchitis keeping me in slow gear and I needed the extra time.

But honestly?

I just couldn't wait!

Those boxes of sparkly things were calling out to me from the closet. I had to set them free and let them shine!

I've been making a lot of little ornaments too. But sadly, being sick and being busy, I haven't tried to sell them like I should. My shop didn't get much of an update beyond the kits that I made for others to create their own pretties.

This little shoe is one that Dewdrop wore as a baby.

This is the before shot of it. Cute as can be, but not exactly tree ready.

The first step was to paint it white, cover it in glitter, and stuff it, then embellish. I've done this with a few of Sugarwings's shoes too, I love seeing them on the tree.

The tree on my dining room buffet is filled with all hand made, or hand painted ornaments. More of the little pipe cleaner fairies, bird cages, and some family ornies or gifts.

This is from one of Beth's lessons in our Romantic White Christmas online class from a few years ago.

This is a deer I painted for my husband the year we were married.

And I've got some hand painted rose ornaments too. The sheet music star piece with Dewdrop's photo is made with vellum paper. I love the way the light shows through the vellum.

Here is a simple how-to for making these, if you are interested. Just scan sheet music and print on vellum to get this look with the project.

One thing I always do on my buffet, is to set out a mirror as a tray, or base for the holiday decor, add a string of lights onto the mirror, and then cover it with lace. The mirror reflects the lights and adds extra sparkle to the display.

And who doesn't need more sparkle???

PS- Kits from Romantic Cottage Christmas are available here and here.

Romantic Cottage Christmas,extra Kits, and Using the Good Stuff!

cottage, fairies, holiday decor, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / December 7, 2014

As you can see from this winter wonderland of fairies, when I plan a class, I make a TON of the pieces before I teach them. These fairies are from Birdsong 4. And not only was I trying to work out the kinks in the project before sharing the steps, I got hooked. I loved making them.

There were also plenty of sprites to add to the silver tree on the kitchen buffet. (on the right)

I tend to go over board with kit making too.

I whipped up dozens of holiday ornament kits for our small gathering, knowing that they would be great for gift giving and for adding to my online shops.

Our day in the studio was so much fun! I enjoyed having a reason to get the room into its full on holiday glory and then to spend time out there with nice people, listening to Christmas music, and making sparkly creations for our trees.

Here is one of the projects we made that day. If you'd like to make any of these ornies or fairies, the kits are available here and here.

We also made these stuffed, felted stocking with vintage lace.

These are from Shan and Rebecca.

Laurie's was Tiffany Blue. She was my inspiration for making up kits in that color too. (I also had red, white, and pink)

Beth added glittered ballerinas to hers and made one for each of her little nieces.

The kits contain everything you need to make the pretties, but I also had a big table full of extras.

With lots of little embellishments, wallpaper, ribbons, and lace.

Once we had finished the three kits, and had some lunch, we spent the afternoon "freestylin"

Everyone had plenty of supplies and inspiratins to make all sorts of pieces.

From tags, to garlands, to embellished little trees.

(once the glue dries on this one, it will be a glittery masterpiece)

I like the way Rebecca made this paper mache ornie into a mosaic of sparkling papers.

The third project for the day was, "On Gilded Wings" this angel on the left. ( Her skirt is netting I tore from a 1940s bride gown, included in all of the kits.)

One thing we talked about while we glued and glittered, was one of my favorite topics. No, not the grand fairies, although I probably blathered on too much about them, too.

No, we talked about Using the Good Stuff.

I can't emphathize enough, that a project worth your time is worth your best materials. Why save them for something better? Just by using the vintage bridal gown lace, or the soft, old flowers, you have made THIS project better.

I am a big believer in using the good stuff in every day life too. And that doesn't mean it is top of the line expensive stuff either. My china is from an auction for $10. My vintage napkins are from a toss away bag of stuff Beth didn't want. The vases are from garage sales.

And the layered tablecloths (which don't really show here) were hand made by my Great Aunt Caroline and my Great Grandma Nellie. Why keep those things in a drawer, never to be seen? I like to get them out and use them. I added sheet music and a vintage, new stock doily under each plate to protect the cloths, but I figured if they get spilled on, I can always soak out a stain. Or set a vase over the spot next time if can't get the spot out.

But stuck away in a drawer, never being enjoyed and used? That would be too sad.

I feel the same way about my stash of vintage supplies. Why would I buy them to use as supplies if I just decide to hoard them away and not enjoy them???

That is why the tiny crystals on the Santa hats I made for my guests are vintage old stock from the 30s. And the felted wool is hand dyed. The trim is wool roving, not just dacron, and all of those ingredients make the piece just a little more special, even though it is a simple little, silly thing.

Another way to look at it, is that Using the Good Stuff is a gift to ourselves. Women tend to think of everyone else during the holidays. Maybe you need to stop and think of yourself, take the time to open your stash of special items, and make something wonderful for yourself or as a gift. The act of just using the Good Stuff is such a happy feeling, and making presents with your beloved goodies is even better.

This is the season to thing about sharing the bounty.

Don't be a Scrooge, hoarding it all away! Take that special button out of the glass jar, or cut away a hunk from the back of an old gown, or slice into that butter soft velvet and USE IT!

A personal holiday tradition

holiday decor, jewelry

By Karla Nathan / December 6, 2014

Typically, I'm not a red or a green person.

But for the whole month of December, I wear red and green stones for Christmas.

I've had this ring for – aack! a LOT of years! – since my twelfth birthday. It was a gift from my sister, Bobbie Sue.

And these emerald earrings were a gift from my pal, Shanna.

The peridots were my Great Aunt Caroline's. And the ruby was my Mom's. It's a sentimental time of year, so it is extra nice to have Christmas colored jewelry that reminds me of family.

Or fun days out with friends. The garnet and diamond ring in the back is from a flea market buddy trip. the very vintage rose gold one in front was from a garage sailing day with friends, and was only $4.

I think any of the pendants go wonderfully with the pearl necklace Sissy made for me from Great Grandma Nellie's pearls. (Notice that I cropped my wattle out of the photo?)

For the last few years, I've also worn this red velvet coat from Victoria Trading Co. during December, along with this pretty scarf that Jenn Hayslip gave to me for teaching at one of her events.

The coat could be considered a bit much. I either look like I am wandering about in my bath robe, or am Mrs. Claus escaped from the North Pole. I've heard Red Riding Hood too.

But when I put it on, I feel festive. It's warm, it's soft, and I don't think looking like Mrs. Claus is such a bad thing this time of year.

Do you have a personal tradition that makes you feel all Christmassy?

Letting down the kiddos

Dew Drop, family, holiday decor, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / December 3, 2014

We have the sweetest, most forgiving, grand fairies. I let them down, big time, by forgetting an important item on our Holiday To Do List.

We have BIG plans for the holiday season this year. I want to do something special every week of December with them. (these gold flecked sugarplum dresses will be getting a workout for this month)

Between holiday crafts, gingerbread house building, and cocoa parties, we are also going to Breakfast with Santa at Lionsgate Country Club, to the Lawrence Community Theater's showing of Mary Poppins, and to see Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer at the Coterie Theater in Crown Center, plus the Festive of Trees, and some other fun outings.

One item on the list that I'm really looking forward to is following a map of holiday lights around town.

But, do to a major effing-up on my part, our schedule of fun events didn't get off to a smooth start. The girls and I talked all week about going to see Rudolf. Then the night before we planned to go, I discovered that my tickets were for that day,not the next.

Yep, missed it.

But see Dewdrop's sad face? That isn't about the play. She simply gets tired of too many hugs sometimes… and Sugarwings is a full on, heavy duty, non stop hugger.

Those girls were soooooooo sweet when I explained that I'd made a huge mistake on the date and we missed the show we were looking forward to. I didn't hear one single complaint, and no tears fell down cheeks. I was so pleased and proud to know how understanding and appreciative they are. We do a lot of fun activities together, but if I thought they were acting like spoiled brats over these outings, we sure wouldn't be doing them.

It is good to see that my grands are big hearted and that they felt bad for me because I was sad about mixing up the dates. Neither of them felt bad for themselves. (So of course, I felt even worse about my major mistake!)

So, we decided to find some fun out there some where and headed to Kansas City, even though we were not visiting with our favorite ruby nosed deer.

Those little fairy girls didn't care where we went, they were thrilled to wear their new gowns (from Ross Dress for Less for only $18 each) and hang with the old folks for the day. Especially hanging with ole Mr. Claus.

He is set up at Crown Center in Crayola''s Santaland, with lots of giant crayons to climb on.

And a little crayon house to twirl in.

We went out to lunch, walked around the mall, (where neither one even asked for a toy) and did crafts at the Crayola store. Then, later a movie. All in all, a fantastic day.

( this is the photo before doctoring on picmonkey, where I used bokah stars to lighten it, wrinkle remover to take out the background, eye tint to remove the last bit of fuscia from Sugarwings' hair, eye tint to soften the banner and the red lights, plus some snow.)

Making a package as special as the gift inside

holiday decor, how-to projects, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / December 1, 2014

It's that time of year, when gifting is on our minds. Sometimes, the wrapping just about does me in. One year, I did the smartest thing, I used ONE GIFT BAG for the whole family!!

It really was a lifesaver that hectic year. I made a pile of pressies for each person, in the room right next to the tree. Then, I took a large gift bag back there, put one present in it, and brought it out to be opened. Then I went back and refilled it, with something for the next person. It was funny, and we had a great time, with me playing Santa one bag at a time.

But if you are not rushed, and would like some special presentations, here is an idea.

I love these plain, wooden or paper mache boxes from Michael's and Hobby Lobby. They are great to decorate and fill.

One issue I have with them, though, is if you try to decoupage them, the lids don't always fit right. I've learned that it best to paint the area under where the lip of the lid will fit on. You can goober up the sides as much as you want, but stop your ornamentation right up to where the edge of the lid will be.

And don't forget to decorate the interior too. I usually paint the inside of the bottom part, and then do something unexpected inside the lid. (Do be careful not to have your embellishments get in the way of the lid closing, though)

This whole thing was pretty quick and simple. And nice to take the time on for wrapping notable gifts. The majority of my giving will be done in paper bags, but I do like to whip up a few extra nice packages here and there. The small boxes are only about a dollar each, and the decorations can be done with scraps, a little bit of paint, and glitter, plus an embellishment or two.

Here are the steps I followed:

Paint the inside, and outside of the box metallic silver.
Paint the outside rim of the lid also. And the bottom of the box.
Brush glue onto the top of the lid, adhere and burnish decorative paper (I used vintage wallpaper)
Buff the edges of the paper with a sanding block to make it smooth. I then ran a metallic silver ink pad along the edge.
Brush Elmer's glue along the bottom of the box, about half way up, and over the entire top of the lid, then sprinkle with crystal clear, fine glitter. I like Martha Stewart's glitter for this, it is very sheer.
When the lid dried, I drizzled glue on the inside of it, and laid two layers of ruffled wallpaper into the glue and added a flat millinery bloom to the center. (You could use lace, or other ruffles, and a sparkling, old gem for the same effect)
For the top of the lid, I simply added a millinery bloom from my garden of floral hats. You can decorate the top as ornate or simple as you like.
Run a bead of glue around the bottom of the box and press a ribbon or trim into it, cut to fit. I added a second layer too.