April 2015 – Karla's Cottage

Earth Day

By Karla Nathan / April 29, 2015

Around here, school gets out at 1:30 on Wednesdays. And if I'm lucky, that is my day to play hooky from work in the afternoon and pick Sugarwings up. Since this Wednesday was Earth Day, we decided to plant something in honor of our planet. And what better to plant than some poppies along the Yellow Brick Road that we had been fixing up?

Sugarwings was excited to see the Lily of the Valley crowding its way out of the ground, she thought it looked like mini cornstalks and decided that when we got our Scarecrow made, it should go right there in the midst of the lilies.

She also had some ideas about getting yard art gnomes to use as munchkins, which sounds do-able. But when she started in on some sort of idea about big emerald gates, I told her it might be out of our reach. I was answered with, "You are an artist, you can make it work, just think about it."

hmmmmm……

This tutu was $2 at a garage sale recently, it is actually a dance costume for a much older girl, but with a few safety pins, it made a lovely Glenda gown for my little sprite.

I think this was the first time I'd ever seen her give up the role of Dorothy to play another part when she is imagining Oz. It didn't last long, though. Soon, the story became that Glenda (or Ga-linda if you are a Wicked fan) gave Dorothy a magical gown, and Sugarwings was back playing the starring role, just not in blue gingham.

A Daphne’s Diary Surprise

collections, cottage, magazine pictures or articles

By Karla Nathan / April 26, 2015

A while back, Fifi and Mark styled and photographed my home. The pictures were in Romantic Country and Country Sampler Home Tours. When you sign a release, you have no ownership of the pictures and it is a good thing for the photography team to be able to market them and use them as much as possible. It's also flattering when the pictures are popular and resold.

But…. it is nice to know when they are going to be published. I know, I know, I know, that once the team leaves my home, I am out of the loop. That is just how it is. They are on to the next venue and not looking back. That is the industry.

I've done dozens of articles, sometimes as writer or stylist, this time just as the home owner.In the past, I've seen a picture of my bedroom from one article show up years later in another article featuring 5 or 6 different bedrooms. Same thing with my bathroom, or other pictures here and there.

It was always a sweet,little surprise.

But I've never had a whole entire article published in a magazine without knowing about it before. This was a huge surprise.

A friend mentioned to me on FB that she had enjoyed seeing the article. I was flummoxed. What article?

Now, I'm not saying that I'm pissed or that anybody did anything wrong, because no one did. This is just how the publishing industry works.

BUT… it would have been nice to get a heads up.

When you open your home to a photo shoot, it can be a TON of work to get ready. And when I spend time on getting my home ready, I neglect the rest of my work. So, it not only doesn't pay, it takes away from time I could be working and earning some moola.

I think of it as a lark, though, and do enjoy the experience. And I adore my home, it is special to me. So, it is a delight to see it in print.

That is why, it would be nice to know if and when it is printed. Seeing the house in print is the only perk you get from all the prep and hard work, and from the chaos and mess of the day. After photos are taken, the house looks like it has been through hell and back, from all of the moving, shifting, and redoing that happens all day long.

From looking at the article, I'd say that the writer took a glance at one of the other articles the pictures had been used in. And what they didn't get from that, they just made up. Like saying the ceiling was plaster, not pressed tin. Or saying that I recovered a sofa with worn upholstery. Nope, the sofa was in great shape, I just covered pillows in vintage fabric to change it.

Not that these details really matter at all to anyone, nothing earth shattering or rude or unpleasant.

Just incorrect.

Because no one asked me. They just wrote what they wanted to.

Although, if I really had a piece of Chinese pottery, I'd be hiding it in the back of the closet, because I really dislike that stuff.

And while my son did build my cabinets, they are far from plain, I added ornate embellishments to all of the cabinet doors.

It was very kind of Daphne to compliment me on my painting, but the piece of furniture that she added to the page was not anything I own, painted, or have ever seen before.

And I didn't exactly horde a special roll of wallpaper for years, I am an avid (obsessed) vintage wallpaper collector and can open a cabinet in the studio to pick up a roll anytime I need one.

So, attributing the statement that I held onto it, knowing it would come in handy someday, is pure fabrication.

As is saying "that Karla had so much fun doing it."

Not that it wasn't fun to redo the old farm house. Well, some of it was fun, I guess. But I didn't tell her that it was so much fun. She made that up.

Maybe some of the meaning was lost in translation. It is a magazine from the Netherlands. And it is a very, very pretty issue. It is an honor to be a part of it.

So to recap, here is what I'm trying to say:

I'm honored, it is a lovely article
I wish I'd known about it
I wish someone had interviewed me
No one did anything wrong, or violated copyrights, I'm not angry, and hopefully I don't sound bitchy about it
Thanks to Diane for letting me know I was in this, or I might never have seen it
I hate Chinese pottery and do not use it along with jugs when entertaining
I didn't paint that green piece of furniture

ps- If you're interested in seeing a few of the other publications I've been in, I have some listed here. I recently updated it, this page had been neglected for quite a while.

A simple, easy, enjoyable Easter (its kind of late to post about it though)

celebrations, family, Food and Drink

By Karla Nathan / April 24, 2015

We had a laid back Easter, pretty simple and lots of fun. With time for crafting and egg decorating in the afternoon, which is alway a plus for me. Walmart sells these plastic eggs that are great to embellish and also take paint well. They can be cut open to create an interior scene too. I poked two holes in the top to feed a wire through, and dangled a butterfly on, then made a glittered, moss nest with genuine pearl eggs. It is mounted on a tiny tart tin and has vintage millinery covering up the holes on top.

Since Dewdrop was away, Sugarwings was our only small child for the annual egg hunt on the Fairy Berry Trail.

But she had a little help from a friend.

When I got a new convection oven a few weeks back, I was so excited to try it out, I baked a turkey, and stuck some in the freezer, which was great to have waiting and ready to go for the holiday. I might do that more often. I made noodles with most of the frozen turkey, and saved some of it to make gluten free noodles for Sugarwings. Since we have vegetarians at our table, I also made noodles with Swanson organic vegetable broth. I've found that by adding poultry seasonings to that brand of broth, I get a nice, traditional flavor that works well with noodles. Other brands haven't done as well for me.

Our family has a tradition of eating egg noodles over mashed potatoes at holidays, something that started with my mom.

While it might sound complicated to make three different kinds of noodles for one family, it really wasn't a big deal. And I prepped those along with fruit salad, green bean casserole, and roasted veggies the day before, so all I had to do was pop pans into the oven, warm up the noodles, make mashed potatoes and bread on Easter Sunday. I was happy with myself for getting so much done the day before so that I could relax and enjoy my day with the family.

We had plenty of time to sneak out and go to a movie, "Home". And if you've seen it, you'd know how perfect a choice it was for Easter, those "booves" changed colors with their emotions and the little aliens reminded me of Easter eggs.

Lots of crafting got done by part of our group, while others worked in the garden, and our dinner cooked away pretty much on its own.

I am going to remember how much I enjoyed this day as I get ready for Birdsong. It is entirely possible to have a delicious meal mostly made up ahead of time, so that I don't have to spend as much time in the kitchen, and I can have fun being with people I enjoy.

Birdsong is so special to me, but I often run around so busy, I don't get to hang out the way I really want to. Well NOT this year!! I'm doing some serious planning ahead.

Updates along the Yellow Brick Road

cottage, Dew Drop, flowers

By Karla Nathan / April 22, 2015

You know what I love most about Spring? That the views change daily. Just a bit ago, I posted about repainting the yellow brick road, and the flower bed was dull and gray. Spring popped out some colors and brightened the place up for us in what seemed like overnight.

I also was inspired by my uninspiring, dull photos to do a bit more work in that neglected bed. First of all, by cleaning out the old dead things, like some spireas that were hanging on by a leaf or two, and some overgrown brush that had seen better days. Then, I straightened up the rock border, and added mulch. Dark brown to the raised part of the bed, and regular cyprus to the main part.

After all of that, I still wasn't happy, so made a run to the garden center, and came home with 2 dwarf fruit trees, 2 rose bushes, and a reblooming azalea. I also bought a hydrangea at the grocery store floral department that was on sale for 99 cents because it was done blooming.

I've not had a lot of luck with azaleas in the past, but I have my fingers crossed for this one. And it doesn't really show in the photo, but I"ve got it centered in a shady spot while the roses and fruits are in brighter spots in the bed.

We already have lots of fruit and nut trees in the food forest, but seriously, can you have enough? We added a couple more to the courtyard behind the house too. Home Depot had the small trees for $29. Heck, I think I spend that much a week on fresh fruit already. How wonderful it will be when I can just take a walk in the garden and pick my own fruit instead of having to go shopping for it.

Now, why didn't I do this 20 years ago??? Well, at least it is done now. It's never too late.

We spend a lot of time sitting on the studio's porch and reading, or watching the grand fairies play, so the yellow brick road bed is always right in view. Plus it is one of the first things a visitor sees as they pull into the drive. For some reason, it has always been slightly (some years mostly) neglected.

Not this year! I might even plant some annuals out there, I rarely have, because well, as I said, it hasn't been well cared for. But since I have new trees that will need water, I'll be tending the area better and can keep some flowers watered too.

The shrubs on the outside border of the bed probably need to go. I had hoped they would grow into a hedge to block the view of the highway, but they never get any bigger and just turn brown. Any ideas on what I can plant in their place? We live right on I70 and the turnpike could use a good blocking!

My very favorite thing about this flower bed is how it attracts fairies. This little, curving path is a magnet for sprites, whether they are pretending to be Dorothy Gale, or just skipping along for the fun of it.

If you are wondering why I slurp and spit when I talk…. and some thoughts on aging

Dew Drop, family, paintings

By Karla Nathan / April 19, 2015

Yep, this is me right now.

Ouch!

And Uck!

A while back, I carelessly jumped up on a stool to get something out of a cabinet (without realizing the door had been left open) and whacked myself in the face. I had a bloody nose, black eye, but my mouth looked fine, even though that is where it hurt the most.

Then, one day, weeks after the incident, I took a bite of a popsicle. And my front tooth flew out of my mouth, bounced off a door, and ricocheted across the room. Apparently, I'd damaged the root when I smacked my face into the cabinet door, and the tooth was just waiting for a reason to fling itself of my mouth.

My dentist gave me a temp that was my own tooth glued to something that looks like a bleach tray, which I had to take out if I wanted to eat. Then, he had this temporary partial made, which I was quite happy with even though I don't talk, or eat well with it. I've been practicing saying "Five, fat fairies in the food forest sat sipping cider slushies."

My "f"s have gotten a little better, but my "s"s still sound slurpy.

Since then, I've had some reconstructive surgery, and hopefully will have the two front teeth redone this summer. Somehow, messing with one, messes with the other front tooth too. Sadly, I had just gone through major repairs on these two teeth and surrounding gums a year ago. And now am paying for the same two teeth to be redone again. And the specialist has warned me that I won't get the same look, that it can't look as natural as before.

I keep telling myself that I am extremely lucky to have good dental insurance, and money to pay the deductible. That while this is unpleasant, much worse things could happen, and if it doesn't look as good as before, at least I don't have to be without a tooth forever. Since I've lost my own tooth, I've noticed other people without teeth, and I have a feeling that they might not be as lucky as I am, and are not getting theirs fixed any time soon. Or getting such a nice looking, temporary solution like I have.

Still, I've been a bit down about it all. I'm really trying to not let this gap in my smile stop me from smiling. I've also been nervous about the dental appointments, which isn't like me at all. I don't mind dental work, but this time, I've been thrown by it.

I'm not as vain as I should aspire to be. I go out without makeup, I don't dress up as nicely as I should, or take my gym membership seriously.

And while at first, I was horrified when Dewdrop started playing with the crepey folds on my neck like I was made of play dough, I soon got over it and laughed with her and realized that this would be a happy memory for her, that she would always think of her Grammy's neck as something entertaining, and that that Grammy's lap was a good place to be. And I know how much she loves play dough.

My tooth will be fine, my smile will be fine. I have a lot of reasons to smile and a lot of people to smile with.

So what if it doesn't look as good as it was before, most of me isn't as good as I was before anyway. It seems like weekly, I see or feel something age, slip, ache, or change somewhere in my body.

Still, I do have some vanity that is bothered by all of it. The tooth trauma has been a little quite depressing. But I'll get over it.

And the grand fairies kind of like it. I can play Nanny McPhee or be a wicked witch when I slide my temporary tooth out. I'll just need a stick on wart to complete the picture. Or just wait a few weeks and see what nature provides as my sun loving youth comes back to haunt my aging skin….

And more sponsor gifts

bird song art event

By Karla Nathan / April 17, 2015

What a darling bunny doll!

She came with a boxful of friends from Elaine Kerwin to be given as door prizes for Birdsong.

Some of the girls are called "spoolies".

For a very good reason! Thanks, Elaine!!

Some of our Cottage Critters

cottage, dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), kitties

By Karla Nathan / April 14, 2015

These shrubs were planted in front of our farm house decades ago, and bloom abundantly in the spring.

The rest of the year, they are just overgrown bushes that are a bit overwhelming. I used to cut them back to waist high every fall, but they grew so fast, it seemed like a sisyphean task, and I decided that I should just grow to enjoy them as they wanted to be- giant and shaggy!

These two kitties are soul mates, Pumpkin and Joy Joy are the best of friends. While their cuddling looks adorable from inside the window, I'm not thrilled about their choice of snuggle spots.

And neither is this newly planted lavender in the window box. Their habit of using this box as a perch might not be an easy one to break.

Unless I plant cactus? Nah, probably not a good idea…

Sometimes, you just have to let it go and give in to nature. Giant, overgrown shrubs might be a bit much, but the blooms they share in the spring make them worth it. And while I'm not pleased about the kitties taking over the planter box, it sure is funny to see them up there taunting the short, little dogs and it is cute as a bug to watch them curl up together and purr.

Time to replant the lavender, I guess.

Beth’s Birdsong Sponsor gifts

antiques/junking, bird song art event

By Karla Nathan / April 12, 2015

A couple weeks ago, I had an estate sale morning, then lunch and craft day with Beth. Poking around her home and checking out her latest auction and estate finds is always fascinating. This is a little pile of interesting things on her side table.

And woo hoo, lookie here! She scored this watch cabinet full of lenses. Or are they called crystals? The glass parts of a watch, no matter what you call em, are good to craft with!!

She has so many that she offered to share, and we are packaging some up for the "Tweet Bags" for our Birdsong guests.

Beth has been beyond generous with Birdsong, each year she creates an apron to use as a door prize. Here is her latest, under construction. What a delicious gift for some lucky Peep.

Or as Beth said, "Another apron for Tami". Well, odds are that Tami might win, she has TWO of these prizes from previous drawings!! And after visiting Tami's studio for craft days, I have to say, they have found a good home, and look gorgeous hanging up there.

Her boy, my grand dog, Button, didn't think I should take his picture, so I pretended to take it only of the apron.

I didn't fool him.

It was a good day, for estate sale shopping (I got a $10 vintage wedding dress to cut up and new pans for my kitchen), lunch with friends, visit with a grand dog, a mini redo at Beth's booth at the antique mall, plus I got to paw all of her vintage finds.

PS- if you'd like to be a sponsor, for the goodie bags or for the drawing, please email me at

Karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

I'll add your link to my sidebar until the next Birdsong and you'll make our Peeps very happy!

Refurbishing the Yellow Brick Road

cottage, family, Sugarwings, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / April 10, 2015

Sugarwings got her love of all things Oz from her mom and Nanny. I've always been a fan myself and have done my share of encouraging her interests. When she was little, we'd go to this sidewalk at a nearby shopping center to do some skipping and pretending.

She enjoyed that so much, that I painted our flower bed's stepping stones yellow so she would have a trail here to play on.

And over the years, she has spent a lot of time along this short path.

Dewdrop loves dressing up as Dorothy too. (her mother sent this to me from her new home, looks like she is pretty happy and having a wonderful time there!)

Seasons of harsh weather has taken its toll on the pathway, our yellow bricks faded out and returned to the blah red bricks they started out as. I'd used latex house paint on them before, I think. Or was it craft paint? It has been awhile. I doubt if there are many paints that would hold up to Kansas weather, especially on bricks.

Sugarwings and I decided to give them a make over. This might not last much longer than the other paint did, but redoing is fun, so we won't mind freshening it up again if needed. This time, we worked in tandem, I sprayed them yellow ahead of time, then used a gold glitter spray over that after it dried. Sugarwings got the bottles of glitter ready to sprinkle over that as it was still wet.

We tried different shades of sparkle, but I really didn't care for the red or green as much, so we layered over it.

Sugarwings also helped out by running in to get her ruby slippers to try out the path, and by arranging our Toto yard art nearby.

Although, we have our own, live yard art Toto/Twinkle that worked just fine.

Sugarwings thinks we should add a scarecrow. Maybe. What we really need is some blooming plants. Spring is here, but not in this little corner of the yard yet, it's still pretty dull, even with the bright yellow paint.

But not in her mind. She sees the whole land of Oz ahead of her.

Farewell to a furry friend

dogs, paintings

By Karla Nathan / April 8, 2015

Miss Pearl, best friend to Debbie Dusenberry was a Kansas City antiquer's icon. Debbie is a queen of the vintage scene and everywhere she was, there was Pearl. I'll miss seeing her fuzzy little face around town.

Here is a photo of her when she was a visitor at the cottage one time. Pearl always came along when Debbie visited us here.

My heart goes out to Debbie for her loss.

I used my Hello Watercolor ap on iPad to do this finger painting of Pearl..

The ap is very interesting, and you can more tell from the rough sketch that I started with, just how much it looks and acts like real paint. Except with no brush. You use a fingertip or stylus to paint with. You can chose different brush-like features, and sizes, and whether you are using wet or dry, to get just the look you want. My problem with it, is that I can't quite get the paint detailed enough, so I switch to the colored pencils function to add the finer details and sharper lines at the end.

I think a lot of people get to this point of a painting (the sketch) and think it looks awful, or nothing like what they want it to. Sometimes newbies don't realize that most artwork is all about the details or the layering. There is often a point near the beginning when you are horrified at what is on the page and think about stopping. The trick is to not give up, and to not judge the end by the early stages.

This painting has a heavy use of white pencil over the underpainting. In real watercolor that doesn't really happen, you need to save your white paper. The ap can be much easier to use than real paint. It even has an eraser.