Karla Nathan – Page 202 – Karla's Cottage

Happy Birthday Rich

celebrations, family, Food and Drink, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / June 7, 2011

My husband had a birthday this week and Sugarwings helped me bake him an ultra healthy, low fat cake to celebrate. He has high cholesterol and really works hard at keeping the numbers down, but he also has a sweet tooth. So I came up with a guilt free cake for him. Well, semi-guilt free, at least, healthier than a double fudge chocolate cake anyway.

We took fat free, cranberry/orange muffin mix, and added 1/2 cup of applesauce, 1 cup of blueberries, 1/4 cup of ground, golden flaxseed, 1/2 cup of shelled and finely chopped pistachios, 3/4 cup of chopped pecans, and 3/4 cup of toasted coconut, then about 1/2 cup of water.

While it was in the oven, we cleaned and sliced strawberries. Then, I covered them with 2 spoonfuls of organic brown sugar and a 1/4 cup of lime juice.

After the cake was cooled we poked holes all over it and topped it with the strawberries and lime juice. (It was an ooey, gooey, moist cake!)

Over that, we added this mix, which is what really made it yuumy:

1 cup of Dannon Greek 0 fat plain yogurt- That stuff is so thick and rich, you'd never know it was low fat!!
1 block of low fat cream cheese
1 cup of fat free sour cream
1 tsp real vanilla
1/4 cup organic powdered sugar
splash of lime juice

That was fluffed with the blender and dolloped over the berry covered cake, then spread. To top it off, we served it with low fat Cool Whip.

Sguarwings had 3 pieces and shared a bite of hers with the birthday boy. I didn't feel bad about her eating so much cake since it was mostly fruit, nuts, and yogurt.

She also shared some messy kisses.

And thought it was funny to wipe the cream cheese topping off of his face afterwards.

Maybe all three pieces didn't make it into her tummy, she looked like she was wearing quite a bit of the dessert, so went right into the tub after.

Ps- all of the bird cage charms I listed in the Boutique sold out right away, so I have replenished the supply. If you are in the Bird Song Tag Book Swap, don't worry, I have plenty of pretties to adorn the books with! I've ordered more charms to paint too.

By the way, we are at about 120 swappers. I have room for a FEW more, since I haven't started making the covers yet. Email me if you are interested. Details HERE.

(I will be away, so please forgive me if I don't get right back to you)

Sweet Charlottes

the Boutique at Karla's Cottage

By Karla Nathan / June 5, 2011

While packing up for Paper Cowgirls and deciding what to sell on vendor night, I decided to divide up the Charlottes that are heading to Texas and add some to the Boutique too.

These are the BIG ones, four inches and more. I've never carried these before, but I sure see lots of possibilities for things to make with them.

I also restocked some of the smaller gals while I was at it. So, there are plenty of sizes to choose from. I even made a whole new catagory just for these girlies so they are easy for you to find.

Please note that if you order multiples at The Boutique at Karla's Cottage that sometimes the shipping rates add up really fast. I will refund the excess shipping if it is more than a couple bucks. Heck, I've seen the shipping go up to $14 or so for a little box that cost $5 to ship. Don't worry, I won't let you pay double for shipping, I'll refund the difference to you.

But I can't see a better way to configure the shopping cart. Its hard to be accurate ahead of the game.

If you have a better way, I'd be happy to hear it. And would love the advice.

Caged

redos

By Karla Nathan / June 3, 2011

Of course, I couldn't do anything else till I painted these bird cage charms that I showed you in the last post! I know there is a ton of stuff to get ready for my trip to Texas and teaching at Paper Cowgirls, but sometimes its nice to take a mental break from all the real work and do a fun job instead.

EDIT– so many people asked about these charms, that I added a few to the Boutique

It was a quick little project and a much needed, pleasant, side trip to my busy day. All it took was a spritz of bonding primer (both sides) a dab of blue paint on the birdie, done with a teensy brush, then a slap of glue and a sprinkle of glitter.

This might not have been very high on my priority list for right now, but it made me happy to do. Now, I can go back to my boring kit making. All of the ribbons are dyed and everything is arranged, trimmed and ready to go. All I have to do is the packaging. Ugh. That part is no fun at all. I'd rather be making stuff.

Hmm, maybe I can make some cute tags to tie onto the packets….AFTER they are all packed up. That will give me something to look forward to as a reward for getting it done. Okay, back to the drudgery. Have a good weekend!

Piles and piles

Tutorials, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / June 2, 2011

I've been gathering stuff lately. Making piles all over the studio. This is a heap of bird cage charms that I bought to use on the tag books for our swap. There are over 100 swappers making tags, and I still have room for more if you'd like to join us. Most will get a bird cage charm, but I have a few other tidbits to tie on some here and there too.

This pile is just a few of the toppers I've gathered up to put into the kits for the Dress Form Tutorial kits I'm making for sell and for Paper Cowgirls. I can't believe I don't have all the kits packed and ready to go. It makes me slightly ill to procrastinate. But there has been a lot going on lately, between the long, holiday weekend and fun with babies.

The charms might look cute painted like I painted the key holes and doo dads for the kits. (In the foreground of the previous photo) They were shiny brass, I sprayed them with bonding primer, added a little Tim Holtz white crackle paint, then after they dried, I rubbed an ink pad over them to deepen the crackle effect. That might be a bit of work to do for 100 charms, tho…. but worth it, I think I like this look better. Oooh, and the birdie should be blue! Says the person who still doesn't even have her kits ready for next week.

Well, maybe. Sometimes, I need to reign myself in, I tend to over commit. And this is boating and travel season, so I should watch what I plan, making over 100 tags and putting the books together is a tad overwhelming on its own. Hmmm, maybe just white, not crackled and inked? But with a blue bird, of course!!!!!!!!

This week, I have pulled apart 6 hats to harvest the flowers for kits, torn pages from 4 books, cut circles from old rosey wallpaper, and decimated a few necklaces too.

Now, I just need to pull some of those piles together and slip them into bags. All the directions are printed, stapled, and piled up on the table next to lengths of ribbon and lace. But I have a feeling that as soon as I leave the computer, I'll be heading for the spray can of primer and spritzing those cages….

Freebirds and a lifetime supply of lace

free images, Sugarwings, swaps, Tutorials, vintage paper/collage art, wallpaper

By Karla Nathan / May 31, 2011

I hope you all had a memorable Memorial Day weekend! We went to a family BBQ and graduation celebration, saw a movie, planted the garden, I worked in the studio, and we also got to spent two afternoons on the lake. And even though the boat died in the water and we were stranded for a while, it was still a great time.

On Friday, we had both of our fairy babies over, it doesn't get any better than that. Not a bad kick off for a 3 day weekend.

While my husband played golf on Saturday, I was able to work in the studio a while. I'm making up some books to take to vendor night at Paper Cowgirls, but while I was at it, I made a few dress form tags too, since these gals have been on my mind so much while I am getting ready for the class in Texas and setting up the online tutorial. (by the way, that gorgeous wallpaper is one of the papers provided in the online class)

Details are in the previous post, or you can find them on my side bar, by clicking on the Dress Form Workshop button.

Thanks to all of you who already purchased the class!

Today, I start packing up my kits. And just in time, I got this order of vintage lace! Hundreds of feet of it. I think I might have plenty for the kits, huh?

There are 3-1/2 giant sized rolls of the stuff. These two are my faves. The others are a bit mundane, but useful anyway.

I'll be making up kits for the class itself, some to sell on vendor night, plus extra for the Boutique. I'll let you know when I get them done. Each kit includes a free entry to the online class, as well as vintagey goodies to make your dress form. No two will be exactly the same, since I am using ephemera, but each will be of equal value and style.

I'll be able to use up some of that lace to tie the Birdsong tag books together too. We are over 100 participants, but I still have room for more. If you are interested, details can be found on my side bar by clicking on the Bird Song Tag Book button.

Here are some scanned French chocolate cards with birds on them, for you to print. Click on them to save as a larger size first.

ps-My pal, Mary is having a sale on her online tute, and she is the queen of gluebooks if you are wanting to learn. Check it out here.

A few roses for you

flowers, free images, Tutorials, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / May 27, 2011

Lately, I've not taken advantage of the great garage sales in the area. But last week I hit one that seem to suck at first, but then I delved into the jewelry pile and found this Victorian gold ring with a date of 1892 inside for just a couple dollars! Kind of whets my whistle and makes me want to get out and treasure hunt some more.But there aren't many sales during a holiday weekend.

If you don't have any plans for the 3 day weekend, maybe you'd enjoy making some dress forms? My tutorial is up and ready for purchase at $15. Soon, I'll have kits for sale for $40 and those will come with a free link to the online tutorial.

If you buy the tutorial now and want a kit (filled with vintage goodies!) later on when they are available, I'll refund your $15 after your purchase of the kit.

The class includes all the directions, with photos and videos, plus papers to download and print and lots of ideas. Please click on the button on my side bar for more information.

I'll leave you with a couple of images to print. Just click on them to enlarge, save to your computer and print from that.

Hope you have a lovely holiday!

Good stuff, messy stuff, odd stuff, new stuff

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), magazine pictures or articles

By Karla Nathan / May 25, 2011

Its always nice to see an article with one of my pretties in it. And how nice to see two together here in Somerset Studios Gallery. (summer issue)

The cover had me drooling. What a gorgeous selection of art work and colors.

And even better news, my bud, Beth, is in these two magazines- and she says she'll teach a class from one of the projects at my studio next time I have an arty weekend here for students.

Here is a not so attractive photo. Agnes Rosebud has a habit of scrounging the studio for playthings (some that are NOT hers) and piling them up in this area. I guess I should be glad that she doesn't do this any where else, just this corner of this one room.

She seems to think that anything on the floor, or near the floor (a low shelf, Sugarwing's doll house) is fair game. And if nothing is close enough, she'll hop right up on the work table and steal from me. Luckily, she isn't very destructive, just messy.

And she is smart enough to be embarrassed by her mess. Look at her try to slouch away. Of course, Twinks saw me get a camera out and had to pose. Any time she sees a camera in my hand, she stands ready for her close up. Even if I am taking a picture of the ceiling, she is at my feet posing and thinking its all about her.

Which kind of explains why I call them Dorkies. They are such silly, funny, little dorks.

Sugarbaby $12

While talking about studio oddities and messy stuff (no, not related to this photo, its of something added to the Boutique)- I have a computer bug.

Not a virus, a real LIVE bug. I saw a tiny gnat crawling on my screen and tried to smash it, only to find that it is living under the glass.

I hope it is full grown and not one of a billion tiny eggs that just hatched. I can live with one teensy little critter hanging out with me, but I hope this isn't the start of something.

Beaded clutch $8

I'll leave you with a few photos of some new stuff in the Boutique and on Etsy.

Don't forget, there is FREE shipping on all millinery for May Flowers (US only). There are 6 days left to have flowers delivered free of charge.

Vintage playing cards, 8 for $3

Pair of vintage tea towels $8

Shopping at the Habitat for Humanity Restore

family, Food and Drink, parties, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / May 24, 2011

What a lovely weekend we had, but then any weekend with our Sugarwings is just the best. We spent Saturday morning at the Farmer's Market where I loaded up on fresh veggies and Sugarwings found a little "house" to play in.

At my cottage, I try to cook healthy things, local ingredients,vegetarian a few days a week, chicken and fish the rest, organic when I can afford it, or when it really matters. I think we eat okay around here.

But no matter how hard I try, I'll never live up to my son's family's guidelines for healthy eating. These guys are all natural. Recently they have gone vegan. So, we tried out some vegan doughnuts at the market, and I just don't think they were all that great. Just because its vegan doesn't mean its good for you, it was still a deep fried, greasy hunk of dough.

Sugarwings liked it, but she loves anything with pink icing.

Her parents are nice about letting me bake with her and give her treats, and don't insist on me following a strict diet for her at our house. I think they trust me to not let her fill up on Koolaide and junk food, and to feed her stuff that is good for her. So, they'll let me give her some sweet treats or a piece of chicken when she stays with us.

I like it when people are true to their own beliefs but don't try to force them onto others.

I like my kids.

Adam is working on opening an energy/healing center. He has the spot rented and is fixing it up, as greenly as he can. So, after the Farmer's Market, we went shopping for supplies. At the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, he found big rolls of carpet for only about $10 each, and will be stapling those to the wall for sound proofing.

Now, that sounds a bit like a shagadellic 70s look, doesn't it? But that is only the first step. Over the carpet, he will mix tinted plaster and clay-mud and trowel it on. It should look really nice, I'll get some pictures of the walls when it is done. Its "dirt cheap", green, and arty. I'm looking forward to seeing the process.

We also went to see the Doo Dads over the weekend. They are a band that plays rock for kids. And they have TWO bubble machines on the stage. Sugarwings and Pixie Pie were entranced by the bubbles.

And all the girls danced their hearts out.

Very little work got done this weekend, and Paper Cowgirls is fast approaching. It will get done, I still have two weeks, but I am starting to feel a little wriggly worry in the back of my mind. Once I get something completely done, like all of my kits packed, or the instructions written for the class, that feeling will pass. At this point, I have a lot of started, but not completed things going on.

The mini dress forms class that I am teaching in Texas, will also have an online class. I'd like to have it online before I go to Paper Cowgirls so I can give the link to all of my students there. That way, when they get home, they will have access to a refresher course if they need to finish their mannequin later, or make a few more of them.

My plan is to offer the class two ways. You can buy a (limited supply) kit in the Boutique and get a free link to the online classes. Or you can furnish your own supplies and just buy the instructions (they will include some images of vintage papers to download).

I'll let you know when its ready to roll.

But for now, I'd better get back to work on it while I can, because I never know when I'll get an opportunity to go play with the grand fairies. When that happens, all work stops!

How To Alter a Book Cover with vintage pretties

flowers, how to's, Tutorials, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 23, 2011

Here is an altered book I made this week. I thought I'd do a simple, quickie tutorial about the cover.

The wallpaper covered cardstock is attached by gluing ribbon to the edge of the front cover and to the back also. Leave the center of the ribbon alone, not glued to anything, that leaves space for the cover to open and close.
The pages can be stitched together and sewn to the center of the binding ribbon. Use a heavy duty ribbon, like the velvet one I chose.
I cut girl from a hand tinted, old photo, and added it slightly off center to a medallion cut from wallpaper. At the bottom of the medallion, I used my Exacto blade to cut a slit to slide the photo under, so she looks like she is framed in the oval.
I glued down the oval/medallion, and the photo of the girl.
With a dark marker, I outlined the girl, and also the OUTSIDE rim of the oval, for shadows and depth.
Leaving the outside ring of the oval "frame" alone, I spread crackle glaze (from Tim Holtz) over the entire center of the medallion and over the girl too.
After drying, I topped it off with a bouquet of flowers and ribbons at the bottom and lined smaller flowers along the top of the frame.

Packing it up

flowers, Tutorials, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / May 22, 2011

The April Showers bring May Flowers sale is still going on in the Boutique and Etsy. I've added a few more packs of millinery flowers, and you'll get free shipping for the month of May for all flowers (USA only, sorry)

For the boutique, pay as usual, and I'll send a refund. For Etsy shipping is already marked free.

I've also been busy packing some up to sell at Paper Cowgirls next month. Lisa and I are sharing one table, so I'm trying to be smart about my space and what I'm packing to take along. Beth is good at figuring what items pack the most punch for the space they take up and I'm listening to her advice.

I tend to think that I can just take it all, and that isn't so smart. So this trip, I am trying to FOCUS on a few items that look well together, pack easily, and are affordable, but still worth my time to take.

This is my first Paper Cowgirls event, but Lisa has given me some tips on what the shoppers might like on vendor night too.

Here's what I have so far, some little Charlotte dolls (I have a few hundred more ordered, I hope I get them in time. If not, it will be a small basketful tagging along on this trip)

Lately I've been experimenting with paper clay fairies too, so I might bring those. On the other hand, they might be too hard to pack, since they are fragile… I'll only have one tub to fill, Beth and I are driving and neither of us have a big car. I have all the kits for my class that I need to take too. Beth is vending and will have a full table to fill, so space is limited.

And I think that some of my class kits for making dress forms is a good idea.

(by the way, I am making up extras to sell in the Boutique too. Along with an online tutorial.) I'll let you know when I have them ready to go.

Yesterday I made up some foofed journals to take along to sell. This one is an old diary, with a locking clasp.

These two are tiny little bank books I've given make overs to.

I'll probably have room for a few more little books. I wonder if that is a good idea? Any of it is a gamble, you just never know any time you plan to sell things.

But I'm going for the pure joy of being there, I've heard such wonderful things about Paper Cowgirls. Anything I sell is just icing on the cake!

We are over 80 participants in the Birdsong tag book swap, but I've got room for more. If you want to join us, details are in my blog post about it. You can get there by clicking on the button on my sidebar.

Hope to hear from you!

Author name: Karla Nathan