May 2016 – Karla's Cottage

A new fairy garden

By Karla Nathan / May 30, 2016

Last spring, Sugarwings and I created a fairy garden in a pot outside my studio's back door. Sadly, Honey loved it even more than we did, and dug the whole thing out. She has a thing for flower pots, and if left unsupervised around one, will empty it out and try to wear the pot on her head like a hat.

So, this Spring, we made Fairy Garden Number Two, and placed it by the front door of the studio, outside of the fence, hopefully where the dog won't find it.

This one is even better, but still needs some creative touches, like painting the house and adding props.

I can tell how much this girl has matured in a year just by seeing her style of gardening. This time, the pot is more of a garden design than a toy to her.

She made the trench filled with blue marbles to create a river, and asked me to make a bridge for the pathway from the house, and over the little creek. One of the pink, plastic flower pots that the plants came in was perfect to cut into an arch to fit over the water way. Sugarwings planted each flower herself, and even took the wheelbarrow to the massive piles of dirt in our front yard from the construction project, and dug up soil to fill the planter herself.

Dewdrop is becoming a gardener too. She was in charge of the marigolds in her grandfather's veggie garden.

A spa day for Dewdrop?

Dew Drop, family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / May 27, 2016

While I was out in the garden, Sugarwings was playing King of the Hill on the mound of remodeling dirt while Dewdrop was supposedly napping.

At least, that was the plan. I came up from the garden to find this scene. Sugarwings had woken her sis up, fixed her a snack, and decided to treat her to a makeover, complete with a foot soak in a toybox full of water and glitter.

She even brought a mirror outside so that Dewdrop could watch her transformation.

This girl is infatuated with Kitties and has been asking to have her face painted as one quite a bit recently. This is one rendition that I did for her.

Now, Sugarwings has found the face paints and has decided to do the job herself, as well as setting up an outdoor beauty salon to create in.

This week is the last day of school. I expect many more elaborate set ups to come.

Although, it won't be the same without our tiniest fairy. She'll be heading to her mama's soon. And having her own special times there.

Looking for Luck, 4 leaf clovers in the grass

cottage, dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers)

By Karla Nathan / May 24, 2016

When I was a kid, finding a 4 leaf clover and learning how to do a back flip into the pool were two driving forces in my life. I'd sit in the yard for hours, fruitlessly searching through the patches of green, desperate to find my own lucky charm.

And as for the flip? I'd put on a heavy sweatshirt, to deaden the pain of slapping the water with my back, and relentlessly, toss myself off the diving board, trying to learn that trick. It was a good thing I had the sweatshirt, because my back got a lot of slaps, I never once made it all the way around into the turn to land feet first in the water.

I gave up on ever learning the flip when I was in my thirties, but never gave up on my hope of finding a 4 leaf miracle.

When I saw my friend, Angie, and Dewdrop's gypsy mama both gathering handfuls of 4 leaf clovers in a matter of moments, I doubled my efforts with some hints from them both.

What I discovered is that discovering one is kind of like those magic pictures that were so popular in the 90s. It's a way of looking at it, not simply searching. They are out there, if you can focus your eyes in the right way to see them.

Happily, I can now find one anytime I feel the need for a piece of luck to hold in my hand. But mostly, I just let them grow, and not pick one unless necessary. It is nice to know that the grass around my cottage is filled with Luck.

I've been known to scratch at the grass with a rake, and sprinkle clover seeds all around the yard. These plants are so much more interesting than typical turf. And the hope of a flock of four leafers spreading through the lawn, is a nice thing to think about.

Hmmm, now that I've learned the clover trick from two experts, maybe I should tap the knowledge of my circus performer family and finally master the backflip???

Somehow I doubt that I'll do that… but if I do give it a try, I'd better fill my sweatshirt pockets with as many lucky clovers as I can find!!

A few more of my own Downton Abbey swap pages and a little swap ettiquette

swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 22, 2016

This is what things have been looking like in my studio lately. Now, all the covers are done and ready for the pages that come in. A few boxes have already arrived, and I'm waiting to open them until I'm ready to start stacking and sorting. It is safer to keep them packaged up until I can get organized and have a space to spread them out and my check lists ready to go.

I've been working on a few pages of my own to trade with swappin' buddies. And I am DYING to see what the swappers have sent in to trade for their own books. But, like I said, I'm biding my time til I can do it right. If I started peeking into boxes, I could mix the pages up and have a real heckova nightmare set up when it is time to make the books.

Proper swap etiquette means I have to treat those pieces of art like they are precious, and of course they are. So, I need to be patient till the end of the month when the rest of the boxes have made their way to my doorstep before I begin opening them up.

Speaking of swap etiquette, I know that things come up, and people can't always meet the commitment they have made in the excitement of the moment. When the deadline to send in your art is months ahead , it is easy to think, "of course I'll have plenty of time to make those."

Then reality hits and life gets in the way, and sometimes you simply do not have the time you need to create, even if you have the desire.

Which is the beauty of a collaborative swap. If someone drops out, others are not left partnerless. This is a group thing, so there are plenty of pages to go around, you send in a number, you get that number back.

But, in the meantime- I have spent time making a book cover for each person, whether they had time to make the pages or not…

So, as one kind swapper has done when she was forced to drop out, please #1- let me know so that I can keep my count correct and so that I'm not waiting on your pages.

And #2, consider purchasing the book that I have made for you. You can fill it with art at your leisure later on. It would be much appreciated by me, and I'm sure you wouldn't have joined if you didn't have interest in the subject and a desire to have a book in this theme, right?

A few more tips in swapping- please sign each set of pages, the new owners love to know who created something so special for them.

And remember, kindness matters. We all have different skill sets and tastes, but we all put in a lot of time and care to send our work out in the world to share.

So, please know that while every page that you get back might not be your very favorite thing in the whole world, a lot of love went into making it for you. And since it is a collaborative swap, hopefully there will be some favorites in your book too?

I try to put the pages together for each book with some flow in the colors and styles. I do my best, but please forgive me and understand that all were done by different individuals and that the pages will vary quite a bit.

Which is of course, exactly why we love doing swaps so much, right????

We want the variety of styles and to share our art with each other.

With that in mind, I hope everyone enjoys their books and appreciates the care that went into them.

I have tons of appreciation for the artwork, thought, time, resources, money, and creativity that each person puts into the parcels of art they entrust to me to turn into books.

As well as for the trust that is given to me, to give each treasure sent in, the proper respect and treatment it deserves.

Thank you, to all who are in this swap, and to those who have been in past swaps (and perhaps in some future ones?)

Angie’s castle in the sky

friends, Travel

By Karla Nathan / May 20, 2016

Beth and I recently spent an afternoon with Angie at her apartment on the Plaza. She has an enchanting place on the 8th floor within walking distance of the museum and overlooking the grand shopping district.

Personally, I've never been a city person, but after visiting this lofty space, I was pretty taken with the idea of living in the city.

We explored the Kaufman Gardens

and had lunch at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. I felt like I was on vacation, and the day was a getaway from my regular life, not a typical meal and shopping with friends.

When we arrived, Angie had a fruit plate for us.

And a thoughtful gift.

This apartment is only temporary, Angie is a country girl too and is looking for a home with some land after her wedding date in August. Although, with that vista from the living and dining rooms, this apartment doesn't feel small or closed in like most apartments I've ever lived in. The view is such an expansive space, that her rooms feel larger because of it.

And of course, they are filled with beautiful things. Her decor is light and airy too.

I don't know how I've lived in this area for so many years and have never explored the Plaza, except for a few shops here and there. The Nelson has this gorgeous dining room, that truly made me feel like I was a world traveler.

It was a quite a special day, with special friends.

I hope I get another day to visit and pretend to be a city girl before Angie and her fiance buy their dream house together.

Graduation Day for our Hippie Chick!

celebrations, family, Food and Drink, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / May 18, 2016

Sugarwings' mama is a full time RN, and working her way up into higher degrees until she reaches her goal of nurse midwife. She conquered another step of the journey this week as she graduated from KU's school of nursing.

We are pretty dang proud of her.

It was a beautiful day to watch the procession of graduates down the hill. I'd never been to a KU ceremony before, it was quite a celebration and a festive parade. Hundreds of grads walk down the hill while families line the sidewalk applauding, then all file into the stadium for the speeches and diplomas.

Nursing was a later group, so we picnicked on some popcorn and pretzels while we waited. (I didn't realize until editing photos, that I'd dressed Dewdrop in rival, K State's colors, she was a purple speck in the sea of blue and red).

Our girl had the BEST cap! It was all rainbowed-up, like the rest of her life. She topped it with a sunflower, a symbol of our state.

Schools of Nursing and Education had the most fun hats, and we noticed that the business students didn't do much decorating on theirs. There was a variety of students, of all ages and ethnicities. Some people had their children walk with them, some carried dogs. Many girls in beautiful dresses had bottles of champagne. Families rushed out onto the sidewalks to hug and photograph their loved ones, grads squealed and ran to the ropes to squeeze friends they saw in the crowd. One group had an old school, boom box and sang together, and we saw a few Go Pros filming the whole march too.

This was quite a fun filled, moving experience, and even though I only knew one of the people in the procession, I enjoyed every bit of the parade of black robed people marching down the hill together toward their futures.

Dewdrop called the grads "Hogwarts people", and liked the robes a lot.

Afterwards, we had a party at the cottage. Sugarwings wasn't happy with the display and said that it wasn't a celebration without streamers. And of course, my studio is magic and can provide any craft supply needed at any time, so I had red crepe paper on hand for the sisters to decorate with.

Her idea was to use bandage streamers, since her mom was a nurse, but I couldn't come up with that.

I was able to provide some bandaids that she wanted to stick onto the balloons, though. Cute idea, huh?

We put the decorated cap on an easel in a place of honor on the food table. The lace curtains came down and I found some red rose curtains to hang instead, since our girls like things colorful. There are two different, vintage curtains with red roses on the windows now, and I kinda like it. I might leave them up for a bit. I see no reason to change the curtains again, since that wall will be torn out soon for the remodel anyway. I'll enjoy a splash of color for a while.

Caike said she felt like she was at the Mad Hatter's Teaparty in this dress anyway, and that it seemed like she was the red queen while I was the white queen, painting the roses red for her.

Things got colorful outside too.

The kids at the gathering made use of the boxes of chalk I'd set out for them.

When they weren't blowing bubbles in the woods.

Or hula hooping and jumping in the mulch piles.

It was cute to watch the kids at the buffet table. I'm impressed with hippy family kids. They load up on veggies and fruits and honestly seem to love them, taking them voluntarily, not being bribed or forced. Every kid there filled up a little tin pail with healthy foods, and carried them down to the Fairy Berry Trail to have a picnic in the tree house.

Of course, I'm a grammie, the one who spoils the littles, so I came out into woods and brought a tray of cupcakes for them.

All day long, I was afraid the weather was going to turn bad, but we lucked out. It did cool off a bit, so we lit the bonfire and that was fine. You never know in Kansas what to expect weatherwise, especially in the spring.

We had our air conditioner moved for the remodel project, and in doing so, the furnace was unhooked too. I didn't think it would be a problem on that beautiful 80 degree day when the workman were doing the job. But, after a week of chilly nights and drizzly days, I'm missing the thermostat! I've had to tell grand fairies they couldn't stay all night with me because it is too cold in my house at night.

Brrrrr!

But for the special day of the party, the weather was lovely, the rain held off till after everyone had left. And while my house got cold that night, my heart was warm with memories of the day.

A Mother’s Day gathering

celebrations, cottage, family, Sugarwings, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / May 15, 2016

Last Sunday was Mother's Day and we had a crowd coming over to celebrate with us. I'd planned on keeping it simple, and using paper plates outdoors. But Sugarwings was spending the day with me and she LOVES a special occasion as much as I do. She wanted to do something nice for all the mothers, and that seemed like a good thing to encourage.

We moved the kitchen island out of the way, set up a folding table with extra chairs, got out the pretty table cloths, and I let Sugarwings set the table.

One of her special touches, was a colorful ribbon around the plates where moms would be sitting. (no that isn't Grammy hitting the wine bottle early in the day, that is actually sparkling water, although, I did switch over to sparkling wine at the dinner party)

Her Hippy Chick mama loves colorful things and rainbows, so instead of white roses, she got a fiery rose in a red vase, and an LED light stick that changed colors as it flashed in place of a candle.

Sugarwings took all of the photos after too.

Being able to set a nice table is a good skill to have. Our dishes, silverware and glasses are all mis-matched, but my grandfairy knows where each piece goes and makes it look nice even with the hodge podge we use.

It is always cute to see her use this tip, and make the a-okay sign with her hands to remember where the bread plates and drinks go.

Her finishing touch before guests arrive was to sprinkle some rose petals up the walkway.

Which was 100% her idea, she loves the over the top flourishes to make things special.

Rose petals lined the way to her mommie's seat.

Twinkle looked a bit confused by the whole thing, but will follow her girl on any adventure.

Farewell to Downton Abby art journal pages, using the good stuff

Books, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 12, 2016

This week, I made some time to do a few pages for the art journal swap. And of course, I used The Good Stuff!

The era and the show is sooooo lush and luxe, that I had to use only the best supplies to meet the quality of the subject. Of course, I love using the Good Stuff on a regular basis, but this was a fantastic excuse to pull out things I'd been saving for something special, like this ancient, beaded trim.

The finished journals are supposed to be functional for their new owners, so some pages are meant to be finished or used by the person who receives them. To fulfill that function, I've added some blank stationery, tied in with a pretty bow and accented with that beaded trim I'd been saving.

Other pages are supposed to be completed as art journal pages.

This picture is from an old fairy tale book, and is meant to be a princess, but it reminded me of Lady Mary waiting for breakfast in bed. I've trimmed it out with velvety flowers and ribbon, along with a sheer lace. You can't tell in this photo, but the picture is accented with clear glitter ink, too.

Here is another page that can be used by the book's owner. I've lined a very old envelope with card stock to fortify it, then opened one side to make a folder before gluing it down. It ties shut to hold in special items tucked away inside by whoever gets it in their book.

The show has so many themes that can be explored, from the era, the gowns, the people, the occupations, and on and on. One of the storylines I loved was about Mary becoming a hog farmer.

And she did it without losing her elegance.

I tried to show that in this, by using all the frills, flowers, and gems along with the pig pictures. Although, Lady Mary never looked as sweet as the girl I cut out of an old book, did she? Still, it had a slight resemblance to her, so I thought it would work.

For this "Women in Business" page, I used an actual photo of Lady Edith that I'd got online and printed.

The text is covered in old, lace netting, then I've snipped ads from a magazine with work opportunities for women of that era, and glued them over the netting along with some gilt trim, and a bit of beaded lace, in metallic gold.

Here is another pocket page, with the storage created from a very, very vintage wallpaper, and decorated with velvet, gold trim, and a sparkly top hat over a picture of ladies at the hunt.

The covers are about finished and ready to add the pages after the swap boxes fly in. All are cut out, this stack is the last few that need trimmed up. The other supplies to finish them are ready to go, all the pictures are printed, frames are painted, and the lace is sorted. More "Good Stuff" for me to play with and enjoy working on!

A playdate tea party

fairies, family, Food and Drink, friends, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / May 9, 2016

Sugarwings has been wanting to host a play date, and asked me for help. We decided to turn it into a fancy tea party with crafting and a walk in the woods after.

She and Dewdrop worked on the food, making these grape caterpillars with googly eyes, after a mini lesson from me on how to do it. We used blackberries for the heads and simply pushed the googly eyes (meant for cupcakes) down into the berries after we had them on the sticks with the grapes.

And see how nicely the table is set? Sugarwings did it all on her own.

We made the the place cards together. I cut a strip of died coffee filter, rolled it up, pinched the bottom and added a staple to hold it in place. Then gave her two leaves cut from scrapbook paper. She wrote the names on them and stapled them onto the rose buds.

The guests seemed to appreciate the efforts. One girl kindly told me that the tea was "divine".

We used cookie cutters to make the french fries into flower, butterfly, and bird shapes, then cut the hot dogs to make octopi.

Of course, any food looks special when you use the best dishes.

And it all tastes better when eaten with friends.

The girls explored the Fairy Berry Trail, before heading across the creek for a walk in the woods.

The creek was low, it was a good day to cross.

For me, the cutest part of the day was watching them sit in the Fairy House and point out all the sprites they imagined flitting about. The girls had full descriptions and stories about the little winged creatures they saw.

It was adorable to watch them build tiny homes from twigs, leaves, and ribbons for their new imaginary friends to live in.

This part of the day was so much fun, we ran out of time to do any crafting.

Looks like we will have to invite them back for that part, huh?

A new look for the bathroom with a sunburst faux finish ceiling

cottage, paintings

By Karla Nathan / May 6, 2016

I've been tired of the walls in the bathroom for a while, and have longed for a deeper shade of blue there that would transition with the paler blue tone I had on the adjoining bedroom walls. I'd put off redoing it because I'd originally painted the ceiling a faded pink, back when the walls were a deep chocolate brown.

And that pink ceiling, while a subtle tone next to brown or cream, looked like cotton candy when I held up any blue paint chips near it.

And I hate, hate, hate to paint ceilings. Especially white. Not only do I get a neck crick, I become snow blind, miss spots, and am constantly up and down the ladder to double check and see where I have skips.

So, I decided to make the existing pink work with a faux finish. I lazily thought this might be quicker, and actually it was. It was not any harder than washing the ceiling with a rag, there was no cutting in, rolling, or going over it with multiple coats.

I poured some of the blue paint into a cup of clear glaze, and did the same with white paint .

Then took a damp rag, and heavily covered the outside edges of the ceiling near the walls with the blue, blending in a washing motion as I went. As I got further into the center of the ceiling and away from the walls, I added the white, also washing the color on with an old rag, and also rubbed white over some of the blue I'd already laid down.

Away from the walls, I added paint and glaze with a much lighter application, so more pink showed through.

Around the chandelier, I wanted the pink to shine through like a sun burst, so stopped using any blue at all when I got close to the light fixture.

My neck hardly got bent out of shape at all, but I still I celebrated finishing the job with a nice, long soak in the tub.

My view of the finished room while soaking was exactly what I wanted. I'm loving the blue walls, and the cloudy ceiling makes me happy. (the curtain doesn't fit well, but that is another day's worry, for now it will do-)

While I had the walls bare, I'd taken the opportunity to change things around to a more springy look, with roses and little bird pictures.

I dug through the studio to see what I could bring in. I'm not sure it is all just as I want it, but for now, it is working. And I'm pleased with the colors.

Here is a before. While I am a fan of white on white, I always felt this room just looked washed out. Though, "washed out" is probably fitting for a bathroom, it just wasn't quite right.

This was the original color, and I always liked it. A deep color makes the cabinets and wood work stand out more than the tone on tone version I thought was washed out looking.

Changing a paint color can certainly change a room, even when everything else stays the same.

The color is Valspar, April Rain, but I had it mixed in Behr, because I prefer working with that brand.

Do you ever have a room that bugs you, and while there is nothing "wrong" with it, you just aren't satisfied? That is how I'd been feeling about this bathroom. I've been busy prepping for the remodel we have planned, and am slowly but surely making the Farewell to Downton journals, but this was something that I had a nagging itch to do, and squeezed the painting job in even though it wasn't necessary, and other issues had a higher priority.

Because I'd had enough of being bugged by it and decided that it needed to be done.

NOW.

And I'm glad I did. Other things will still get accomplished as needed and will be easier to face since I took time to do a project that I'd really wanted to tackle.

Well, at least I hope so… But for now, I'm very pleased with the new look.