April 2024 – Karla's Cottage

Neuner & Hornsteiner 1800s violin, my extremely lucky find

By Karla Nathan / April 27, 2024

This is a violin I found at a garage sale a couple weeks ago, and I was drawn to the beautiful inlays on the back.

With a quick, online search, I found a translation. But it took Sugarwings to explain to me that it meant the tree itself was silent til its wood was used to create this instrument. That part went right over my head.

The case it came in is also lovely.

To find out more info, I took the pretty piece into a local music store. I knew it was not in very good condition, but could also tell it was very old and well made. They agreed that the shape it was in was pretty bad, and said it would take thousands of dollars to restore it.

Which wasn’t in my game plan at all. I’m not a musician, I bought it for its delightful looks. And the appraiser agreed it was worth a few hundred as is, just for its antiquity and style.

He said it was made in the late 1800s in Germany by Neuner & Hornsteiner. If in playing condition, it would be a $10,000 violin.

I gather things for their beauty, not their worth, and have been lucky to be given a couple of old violins to Foof up with Guncle Randy. And now, here I find one so gorgeous, it needs nothing but admiration as is.

As a spectacular bonus, I found out that the music store often has old, trashed violins they want to get rid of! I might have a source for more that I can decorate! I am thrilled, because they make such an inviting basis for reinvention.

At present, I have one beat up, cracked fiddle to remake. I’d love to have a few more to do a holiday display with at Juju, along with white trees and angels. I cannot part with the two I already redid, so I need to have a few more to create with to complete the display. I will be bringing the fabulously vintage one in then also, as the star of the show.

It’s much too nice for me to keep, it should go to a true music lover.

Rescheduled free time

antiques/junking, dogs, family, jewelry

By Karla Nathan / April 24, 2024

We’ve had a pleasant month, even with all of the ups and downs, changes, and the flurry of selling the boat. I was supposed to drive to Indy to watch the full eclipse but was too exhausted from all of my previous travel and from getting caught up with my booth.

And I was supposed to go to Florida to meet up with lifetime friends, but due to some serious health issues in their families, the travel plans were tenuous and I cancelled a few days in advance to get my flight refund. (Their loved ones are doing better, by the way!)

So my hectic month of travel turned into sitting by the dragon table’s fire pit and roasting marshmallows a few nights with friends or with Sugarwings and having days suddenly without plans that I could now fill however I liked.

Rich tracked down some morels out in the woods and we fried up those on our evenings spent enjoying wine with buddies on the patio.

Rich also brought back ticks on those mushroom hunts. This poor girl had HUNDREDS on her. Seriously so, so many. We discovered them while out on the boat relaxing. That trip soon turned into Sugarwings and I tossing ticks overboard after plucking them from these black curls.

While I was sad to miss out on my trip to visit my family and watch the moon cover the sun, my car was glad for the break. Its odometer was piling up miles quickly over this last winter. And look, it hit a lucky run of all fives!

I have taken some of my bonus time, when I should’ve been gone, to make jewelry. I’d gotten some gorgeous stone pendants at the gem show and have enjoyed adding them to strands of beads I’ve strung.

I made a few more book page drawings, then came up with an idea to display them on this dilapidated, wicker chair. It seemed to be beyond saving, and had even been partially run over by a truck. I wrapped it in some vines, then added a mossy seat cover (spending more on supplies than the chair is worth, of course, but hey, that’s just how projects go sometimes). Now, it has a new purpose as an easel.

After being out of town so much, I appreciated some unplanned downtime to putter around, go to garage sales, float on the lake, do some crafting, catch up with friends. But I’d give up every moment of my lazy days if it meant I could spend more time by Bobbie’s side. Those months of her illness were so sad, but it was also such a treasure to have those days by her side.

I'd hop in the car, pile some more miles on that odometer, and visit her in a hot minute if I had that option.

The end of an era for us

family

By Karla Nathan / April 20, 2024

Last weekend we took advantage of a way above average Spring day and hit the lake for a ride. We needed action photos of our boat to get her sold, and that was an ideal day to do it.

For this shot, Sugarwings and I were dropped off at the shoreline. Which isn’t as simple as that sounds. The water was cold and there is no dock, only a rocky, slippery shallow spot. The boat only has seconds to pause for us to jump out before it has to back out and avoid rocks.

We managed. I had no worries about the nimble Grandfairy, it was my old lady qualities that made me leery about making a quick go of leaping down and not falling with a big, freezing splash. I was fine, all went well, plus it made me lose any lingering doubts about selling our boat.

Even after 28 years of pontooning, I still stressed about what could go wrong. Because things can go wrong. We have hit our propeller on rocks before, lost ladders, had engine trouble and were stranded, it all happens no matter how capable and skilled you are at handling the big, ole, floating thing. So, I’d often have nagging stresses during many maneuvers, and not be relaxed like a person should be while out on the water.

But this day? It was a very nice one. Honestly, 99% of them are, gliding across the lake while kids giggled on a tube has been a major pastime for us since this one came into our lives. Sugarwings was raised as a lake person.

Surprisingly, mid-April in KS proved to be a spectacular day for one last spin on the tube too. The water was way too frigid for a swim, but this kid is such an expert tuber, they were not going to fall in and were happy to have a good bye loop across the waves.

I got the boat sparkling clean, took lots of photos, then made ads on marketplace and Craigslist, thinking we’d be in for a couple weeks of haggles and tire (or pontoon) kickers. But nope, we were inundated with messages, that it was impossible to keep up with and that boat sold immediately! How lucky for us.

We had such happy memories out on that lake, my husband could pull kids and other family members nonstop for hours. I have packed tons of picnics, and we’ve had years of laughter out there. I was very surprised that Rich wanted to sell it, but with so much of our family moved away, it always seemed like too much work just for the two of us. And when we would go out with friends for wine and sunsets, coming home and putting it all away after dark was a hassle, and we enjoy our friends every bit us much having a glass of wine in the garden.

So it was time, at least close to being time. We wanted to sell while it still had value and we could get some cash out of the deal. In retirement, that matters more than ever.

I did feel bad for Sugarwings, that kid not only had a big chunk of the family move away, now we have given up the boat because they are gone. But that sweet child is so understanding and knows it was a tough decision to make and that some of the cash will go for trips and other fun things we do together.

We have been a boating family since way before I had a digital camera, so there aren’t any photos of our first years on the water.

But there are many special pictures.

And so many special moments.

Things that made me smile

friends, Good JuJu, Hens

By Karla Nathan / April 14, 2024

Last summer while out garage sailing, I came across a box of garlands for five bucks. There were more, and I shoulda bought them all. It was late in the morning, after hours of shopping and my purse was lighter than I’d started out, while my car was much fuller. I was being practical, because the flowers are just decor, not resale items or supplies.

But man, don’t they add a spring time feeling to the space? And they are a quick and easy change, I simply drape each one over the hanging hooks. And presto-chango I have a dramatic new entry to my booth.

I’m very glad I snagged these sweet roses, seeing them hanging makes me smile.

Another thing that brought me a big ole grin? Beth gifted me this spectacular apron that she made! Perfect for adding pizzazz along with practicality to my Juju work days. I tried wearing jackets with pockets, but honestly, nothing beats a work apron for carrying my essentials. And this one is so soft and pretty, plus, it’s pockets are quite deep.

Thanks, Beth!

My buddy, Angie, also had a gift for me. A big bag of broken and junk jewels from both her and her mom. I used the beads salvaged from vintage necklaces to create bracelets.

And look at this! A lucky four leaf clover, a gift from nature.

How can you see this firework candle coming across the restaurant and not have a big smile on your face? Wow, I was impressed by the spectacle this added to my friend’s birthday celebration.

Last, but far from least, our peeps are busy growing and being adorable. So far, so good, no deaths. It isn’t easy raising chicks, but we haven’t lost a single one. They are getting cute and learning to play chase, all of them crazily and frantically following the bird with a worm in its beak. It’s my favorite game.

I hope your week is full of smiles too. You have to find them wherever you can, those little things mean a lot.

A partial eclipse but a full day

celebrations, dogs

By Karla Nathan / April 11, 2024

Our eclipse experience last Monday was a laid back, quiet one. I had plans to drive to see the big show in indiana with family, but simply couldn’t get my body to follow through with what my heart wanted to do.

After 18 hours in the car the previous weekend, with a bad cold at the same time, then working two long days at Good Juju, I was beyond beat.

9 hours in the car plus possible traffic problems was more than I could gear up for. And our city wasn’t far off from totality, we were over 90%, that couldn’t be that big of a difference, could it?

Well yes, it was. What you see in a total eclipse is far, far different than a partial. We still could watch the slowly expanding then diminishing slices of moon and sun, the temps dropped and I wished for a sweater. The colors became sharper and eerily brighter. Rich and I had a very pleasant walk through the dog park and relaxing view of the spectacle. But it lacked the magic I’ve seen when I was underneath the corona of the full coverage.

Plus, I got to wear my new, favorite shirt! Designed by my buddy, Sam, at Juju.

Overall, our afternoon outing with the dogs had a peaceful vibe, and it was a lovely day. Sugar was a bit nervous, but the other girls didn’t seem to be affected by any of the changes in the sky. I sang Moon Shadow a lot (maybe my singing was what had Sugar upset, she would have a point if it was.)

Basically, it was more than one of those lemonaide days. One where you tell yourself to make the best of what you’ve got, turn those lemons into something better. It was a very good day on its own, so I’m not complaining. But I am promising myself that when I’m in my 80s and get one more shot at eclipse magic, I’ll not miss it. Getting the right view of the moon shadow is worth the effort.

Another birdie chair

Hand Painted Furniture

By Karla Nathan / April 8, 2024

The chair I’d painted for Sissy a few weeks ago, had been a lot of fun to do. So I thought I’d play with the style again.

Her aesthetic was very Scandinavian, but I added some of my own personal slant. This piece is similar, with even more of my own taste. Just a bit more cottagey?

This whole type of painting has been around forever and goes many directions. You see folk art-ish pieces done up in Pennsylvania Dutch, Swedish, Taiwanese, Indian, and many more variants on the same genre.

My thought is to incorporate all of those ideas into my own designs and spiff up some old furniture I have around. Yesterday I painted a chest in the most soft, soothing, aqua blue and it’s now ready for its brushwork.

Photos to come!

Trying to appreciate what I can do, not feel bad about what I can’t

antiques/junking, Good JuJu, paintings

By Karla Nathan / April 5, 2024

Between being away so much, then coming home with a cold this time, I wonder how I even still have a booth filled with stuff.

Lots of stuff.

I even made new fairy dolls to bring in.

As well as jewelry. These bracelets are vintage charms I added to the chains. I made a couple of charm necklaces too.

A couple dozen new paintings on old text.
A bunch of old books, and cute creations.

With a rusty truck.

The upper shelf sometimes gets neglected, but this month, I took every single item down and started over with new merch.

Speaking of new merchandise, I’m trying something different. Here is a tray full of stone and silver rings. I hope my guests enjoy oohing and awing through them as much as I did when I picked them out.

The schroomies are restocked.

Mostly just in neutrals. I don’t know why I have so few spring toned ones.

Actually, the whole, overall feel isn’t quite as springy as I’d like. Although there are plenty of tokens of the season.

There is also a lot of neutral areas. More August than April.

While I am thrilled to have filled the space, and to have so many new items to fill it with, I am at the same time disappointed in the overall look of it.

Notice that I’m mostly showing you close up vignettes?

Because to get everything in there and ready before I went to Georgia and Florida, I had to cram the furniture into place and say “good enough” instead of taking my time and planning it out better.

Kind of a “make it work” situation instead of a creative process. I seriously need time to empty the whole spot and rethink it, like I did on the upper shelf. A clean start.

I don’t know if my customers would notice, or if it’s just me. Or maybe it’s just my mood? But I’d love to have a couple of days to switch it up completely, not just rearrange and add to what’s there.

Maybe May?
In the meantime, I’ll try to just feel proud of myself for pulling it together at all and getting new creations tucked inside. It’s been a rough, sad few months lately. I still cannot believe my beloved sister is gone. And so quickly from diagnosis to death.

Yep, I’ll go easy on myself as much as I can and just be glad I have any display at all.

A seashell fairy, mermaid, and tiny angel, along with some pirates and a few sniffles at Fernandina Beach

Uncategorized

By Karla Nathan / April 2, 2024

On our visit to see family in Georgia and Florida, we spent an hour or so on Fernandina Beach.

This wasn’t exactly a beach trip, between coolish weather and busy days with family.

When my sister-in-law and I saw a break in the clouds that coincided with a pause in our schedule, we grabbed our opportunity (and our jackets) and skeedaddled out to the sand to gather up shells, stretch our legs, and soak up any and all sun that was available.
My teen niece from Wyoming didn’t seem to think it was chilly, even ran out into the waves. My own feet, did not get near the surf.

It might even have been better weather back home in Kansas while we were on the coast. But the key words in that sentence are “we were on the coast”.

No complaints from me about time for walking on the sand! I was thrilled to be there, see family, and get this short but needed stroll to watch the waves.

Before hitting the shore for sandy toes, we walked through the town to have lunch. It’s a pretty little place and the shops are interesting.

The best part were the photo ops. Pirates and sharks galore! My sister, Bobbie, would’ve loved it, so I posed with each and every one.

For her.

The next day, I woke up with a sore throat, so we cut the trip short and headed home. I didn’t want to expose anyone else to my sniffles and since I’d been away so much since October, all I really wanted was my own bed to curl up in and blow my nose while getting caught up on my favorite shows.

This was my first cold in four years. Funny enough, I was in Florida for that one too.

We took a new (for us) route home, on highways instead of interstates. We decided it was the only way to go, we missed the traffic back ups in Atlanta, Nashville, and Chattanooga, plus saw interesting sights along the way.

I was able to drive a few hours on the first leg of the journey but by day two, I simply wasn’t up to it. Poor Rich had to do the whole day of driving while I sketched on old book pages. At least on the smooth stretches of road. On curvy or hilly parts, the pen needed to be put down. Between my dizziness from the cold and the somewhat twisty roads, I took some breaks in my work.

For the last two days, I’ve sat in front of the tv with my paints adding color to the stack of drawings that I made on the trip. My timing was pretty good, two days of sketching, two days of painting, while feeling my worst. Now I’m up and better, ready to hit the studio to mat and tag my doodles.

While I did get stuff done, I still am behind due to the faucet of never ending snot that I was dealing with. Good Juju weekend is this week, and I still have some things to tend to there. Luckily, my cold is ending in time to finish up and be there for customers.

There isn’t too much to work on, it’s pretty well ready to go, but there is still some fine tuning to be done, and photos to take.

I’ll show you the finished product next post.