March 2015 – Page 2 – Karla's Cottage

My classes for Birdsong 5

By Karla Nathan / March 8, 2015

For quite a while, I've known what my 2 Birdsong classes will be, but I have had to wait till I pulled together all my materials before I could finish the examples for the class.

When I take a class, I like to see a full photo of what I'll be doing, not just a snippet of a corner. It's good to plan for variations and extras that I'll want to pack to personalize the project.

And when I teach a class, I have to know that the examples are accurate. That I'll be able to find enough of each item needed to make sure every kit is equal and of the same quality as every other kit.

But while I do want the kits equal, I do like them to have some flexibility and choice. So, I've got options for the students. These books can be made with the canvas as the outside cover, or as the lining. I've got a few selections of vintage fabric to use along with the canvas.

And I have been hand dying velvet ribbons to coordinate with the vintage curtain fabric and barkcloth that I've purchased to create the covers.

As well as hand painting little charms to dangle from the ribbons of each book.

(back of the book)

There was no problem with finding plenty of old lace, I have it by the bucket load out in the studio. I'll be measuring and cutting it to stuff the kits with, and since it is vintage and the velvet is hand dyed, no two books will turn out exactly the same.

That is my favorite part of a class! I adore looking around the room and seeing all the individual takes on the project.

(backs again)

This class will show step by step how to create a journal from a provided pattern based on an old cabinet card photo folder.

And will include some old photos to add to the books.

After we have assembled the books made of old, floral fabrics and canvas (no sew), the foofing will begin, with lace, velvet, millinery, ribbons, charms, and a vintage picture.

This book has the floral fabric used on the inside cover, instead of on the exterior of the book. All the books will tie shut with soft ribbons topped with sparkly bits of rhinestones.

On day two, for my second class, we will fill the pages up. I have pages of tips on doodles, lots of vintagey goods, and plenty of images and wallpaper to provide to make each book a work of art.

But that isn't all! Beth and Hope will each pitch in for part of the class with their favorite tips on art journalling. It's a three for one class!

Each student should be able to leave the weekend classes with a completed book, some finished pages, and lots of ideas on how to complete the journal at home, as well as a fun bag of supplies to work on the rest of the pages with.

Classes are at my Lawrence, KS studio, here at my cottage on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6. More about the event can be found here and here.

The other two classes will be taught by Lori Oles and Lesa Dailey. How lucky am I to snag this magnitude of talent to come to teach here???

Aging a picture with crackle

Hand painted, Hand Painted Furniture, hand painted signs, how to's, how-to projects, paintings

By Karla Nathan / March 6, 2015

I was asked about this picture in my new guest room, so thought I'd give a quick how-to.

First, find a botanical, or other picture you like. Glue it to a canvas.

Next, tear and collage old papers around it. I chose a background of sheet music with an oval "frame" of roses torn out of old wrapping paper. All are rough, torn edges, different shapes, and glued down with white school glue.

When dry, I clear coated it with water based Polycrylic from Minwax.

I let that dry, then brushed on a weathered crackle finish by McClosky.

After that dried, another coat of Polycrylic went on.

The next day, I wiped on a sepia tinted glaze, let it settle into the cracks made by the weather crackle, and wiped it off.

Weathered crackle finish usually is applied over paint, then a second coat of paint is used over it to create a crackled paint finish.

But, water based clear coat is much like paint without color, and creates the same effect. But this way it is tone on tone, and clear. So, adding the sepia glaze shows off the crackle and ages any paper or canvas you do this over.

Here is a picture I used this technique on years ago for a Romantic Country article. The teapot is a photo copy of one of my original watercolors.

For this one, I glazed over it after it was in a white frame, concentrating the sepia tone heavily in the corners, and also using it on the frame too.

I sincerely hate the look of crackle applied as it is supposed to be used, it is soooooooo fake. But I love it to use in aging a picture. And in aging other things too. The trick, to me, is to keep it tone on tone, to add texture.

Here, I took an old piece of scrolly metal. It was antique, but it was not painted and I didn't want the paint I added to look too new.

So, I painted the piece white, did the crackle, then a clear coat, then the glaze. Over that, I did the hand painted roses.

Same technique was used here on this canvas before painting roses.

Instant age for a brand new painting!

Craft day with friends

bird song art event, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / March 4, 2015

Three very talented and interesting friends came to join me for a craft day in the studio. Lesa Dailey is going to teach at Birdsong, and it was nice to get a chance to catch up on details about the upcoming party. Although, it was hard to fit in business talk when Carol and Debbie have such fun stories to hear, it's always fascinating to hear what is going on in their world of design and vintage goods.

I asked Carol to get a snap of Lesa and I together for the Birdsong blog, but I'm afraid, besides that, I didn't have my camera out for much of the day.

I just took a couple of photos. Debbie brought jewelry to work on, while Carol and Lesa did some coloring.

I've been making "doodle pages" for Birdsong 5, to include with the journal kits filled with old papers, and vintagey goodness. My friends were kind enough to try them out for me.

I've colored in a few myself too.

I've made a few of these, some are examples of ideas on how to make one yourself, along with some tips on elements you can use on your own page. Others are completed pages, ready to color, to get the feel of making one.

And really, just because it is fun to color. How often do you get to do that as an adult??

I had to force myself to step away from the markers, after a point, because I was putting way too much time into these pages and could have sat at the kitchen table and colored away for weeks. I did spend an entire single week doing it, before I came to my senses and was able to move on.

But I still feel the draw of the markers, and would love to sit and doodle away….

So, I was extremely pleased to see that my friends understood the lure of the markers too and had a good time coloring themselves.

These ladies also brought presents!!!!!! Lesa made this hanky/brooch bracelet and the glittered basket.

Pretty, isn't it? And such a simple and sweet idea.

Deb brought gifts from her store, which is a wonderful shop. And an even bigger gift, she has offered to be a Birdsong 5 sponsor, with a gift for each of our ladies who come to visit her at Top Hat Mercantile. It is in the Old West Bottoms Antique District.

And while about half of the shops will be closed on the Sunday of Birdsong weekend (our classes are Friday June 5th and Saturday June 6th), Deb's store is one that is open. And to tell the truth, there are SO MANY shops there now that I usually can only make it to half anyway.

So, if you are planning on coming to Birdsong (by the way, I have a couple spots left), you might want to plan on spending Sunday in KC. The shopping is pretty durn good there!

Carol brought me a hyacinth, in the same pink as the tulip I had on the table. What a perfect pairing!

And what thoughtful gifts. You know what the best part of getting little hostess gifties is? After my friends are gone, I have these momentos of the fun day.

PS- If you'd like to be a Birdsong Sponsor, please contact me for details. My "Birdsong Ladies" (as Sugarwings calls them) would love to have your gifts in the goodie bags, otherwise known as "Tweet Bags" or as a door prize.

A little luncheon for friends

cottage, Food and Drink, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / March 2, 2015

One of my favorite things is a day in the studio. Throw in friends and the day is ideal! It isn't always easy to get everyone together, with all of their busy schedules, so when we do, it is even more special.

I went out to the coop and gathered up some very fresh eggs to whip up little mini quiches (because any food looks more special when baked in individual pans), baked some rosemary garlic rolls (because rosemary makes anything seem fancier), and set the table with my favorite old dishes (because, DURH! Birdies!!!).

For the quiche, I tried something a little different and used puff pastry instead of pie crust. I liked it, and it was even better for leftovers, sometimes quiche pie crust can be soggy on the second day.

I thought I'd try to make a flourless chocolate cake too. It really fell apart pretty bad when I took it out of the pan (the trick is to have the right kind of pan, instead of just a cake pan, I think). So, I drizzled it with lots of dark chocolate syrup, dusted it with powdered sugar, and sprinkled a few chopped choc. chips over it. That did some camouflage work. Plus, no matter how crookedy a cake is, placing it under a glass dome works miracles.

Beth taught me years ago when we shared an antique booth, that anything looks better under glass. She could set the oddest bit of junk under a cloche in the middle of a pretty display, and it would be the first thing to sell every time.

We still had some Valentine decor up. Around here, holidays linger.

Since I had company coming, it was a good reason to spiff up around the cottage. And to take some photos, because I don't think the place has been cleaned up much since I put away all the previous holiday decor.

The trapeze like swags of cobwebs even got wiped away. Those are the one downfall I've come across from the tin ceiling. The uneven surface tends to attract cobwebs. And I end up not noticing them until there are enough for a full fledge circus performance overhead.

But I discovered the perfect way to get rid of them! A quick brush with the cinnamon broom that I got at Trader Joe's over the holidays snags each little web easily.

My tables are always a mismatch of pieces. I've given up on silverware. Who knows where the forks disappear to???? sigh

I've discovered that I can replace cutlery for 10 cents a piece at Goodwill, so I just don't worry about it anymore. Most of my house is a hodge podge, why should my table settings be any different?

Mostly, I was just happy to have a break from my house looking like this. I love a reason to clean up, because if I don't have one, this is how it stays.

But messy or clean, there is no place like home! And I love having company come to join me here.