Karla Nathan – Page 206 – Karla's Cottage

How to paint a cement floor

By Karla Nathan / February 25, 2011

The other day, I drove into Kansas City to spend the day with Beth. Whenever I go to her house, I always start peeking around to explore her latest finds. I had some time to kill while she finished something up, so I entertained myself by poking through her stuff. You know you have a good friend when you don't think twice about wandering around her house and making yourself at home.

I could poke around for days and not see it all.

And this isn't even in her craft room. This is a small portion of the stuff piled in the guest room, waiting to be tagged and sold or photographed for Ebay and Etsy.

I'm always attracted to doggie brooches and at first really liked this one. Then I took a closer look, what is going on with the poor creature's mouth? No wonder his eyes are popping! But still cute.

I like the blue fur. I think this dog has been flocked.

This is a pile I could really delve into. Can't you picture a collage in that old watch? It could be like a mini shadow box.

Recently she hit pay dirt at an auction and got a lot of watch bits and pieces. Hmmm…. if I invited myself over for a craft day, I wonder if she'd let me play with some of them?

Beth and I are driving to Texas together for Paper Cowgirls in June and are trying to figure out if we have enough space in the car to take along stuff to sell on vendor night. We'd share a table, so wouldn't need a lot of inventory each. Heck, if she just threw a couple of these boxes from her guest room into the back of the car, the shoppers would be thrilled.

We both drive Scions and they are shaped like a little box on wheels, so have lots of space in them for a small car. But by the time you pack suitcases, tools for the classes, my class kits, etc., things do start to fill up.

I think that we can make a couple of tubs of vendor goods each fit into the car though. I'd want to take some millinery flowers and wallpaper packs. Not anything that takes up much space.

Guess what!? My class at Paper Cowgirls is filling! The site has it marked as full, but there is actually a space or two left due to some sort of paypal button error. So, if you tried to sign up for my class but didn't get in, let me know and I'll see if there is a spot still there.

The reason why I went to Beth's in the first place was to help her with her booth at Mission Road Antique Mall. Years ago, that is where we met- we were neighbors with booths across from each other. Then, we started to share spots as well as each having a place of our own there too.

I was pleased to see that my old booth still had the hand painted floor that I did.

The mall owner let me pull up the carpet in my space and paint over the concrete below. I've done this in homes too, back when I was a full time painter. I've also tried this look on wooden floors and used the same steps. One area that did NOT work was an outdoor patio. And that was because of the temperature fluxuation here in Kansas. The winter freezing and summer heat, caused contracting and expanding that ruined the paint job.

Here is how I do it:

Cut the carpet in strips with a box cutter. Change the blade often, a dull blade makes the job much harder. Pull up the carpet.
After the carpet was gone, I cleaned the space well, getting up any fuzzies left behind from the rug. I didn't bother to sand down the glue marks, I just painted right over them. I kind of like the texture it gives the floor.
Before painting, always use a good bonding primer. Bonding is the key! Not just Kilz. You have to always read the labels, there are a lot of primers out there and they are made for different uses. A bonding primer lets you paint right over any surface without sanding and allows your paint to adhere and grip where you want it to. Look for the words "bonding" or "will stick to glossy surfaces". I prefer water based primers such as Glidden Gripper.
I painted the cleaned floor with a base coat of latex house paint, over the primer, and then did the art work with acrylic craft paints. I used a dark brown for the base, and a sponge roller to create the stone texture in lighter colors over it. Then splatter painted over the rocks before adding the details.
Top it with polyurethane. For the top coat, make sure you have plenty of ventillation, and stay off of the floor for a couple days.

As you can see, this floor has held up great, and it has been there for years, surviving shoppers and lots of furniture being moved around over it.

Here is a link to one of my very early posts, with another cement floor tutorial in it, complete with the arty steps:

Pond Scene on Guncle Randy's floor

Registration is open for Paper Cowgirls!

antiques/junking, bird song art event, how-to projects, magazine pictures or articles, Tutorials, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / February 23, 2011

Paper Cowgirls is open for registration!

I've already signed up to take a couple classes and am really looking forward to the event. Over the last couple years, I have heard so many good things about it and have wanted to get down to Texas to give it a try.

And I am thrilled to be one of the teachers this year. Well, that is IF ten people sign up for my class…. If ten don't sign up, it gets cancelled.

Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

Personally, its a class that I would sign up for, if it wasn't my class, I mean. I really like the piece we'll be creating. I spend lots of time working on the prototypes and figuring out the steps on how to make these mini dress forms.

An idea can be the easy part. Making it work isn't always as easy! It took me a while to fine tune the process and get it down good enough to show others how to do it. I had a practice class with some friends before I submitted the project to Paper Cowgirls. And I'll do a couple more practice classes with two other groups of friends before I head to Texas to actually get paid for showing people how to make them.

As I've visited my favorite antique stores, I've been keeping my eye out for great pieces to add to my kits. Last week, I came across a few bags full of these insulators. Won't they make cool toppers for these dress forms?

Here's another pile of toppers I've assembled. My plan is to have a wide variety for the students to chose from, so that all the end products are unique.

When I go to a class, I always take my extras. And usually from the Bestie pile I've been talking about lately. Because I like my own piece of art to look like MY OWN piece of art, not just like the teacher's.

Oh, I get a lot from the classes and enjoy and use the kits. And I seem to learn a lot from everyone sitting at the table with me. But- I do like my creation to look like I was the one creating it, so I bring supplemental goodies to add to the kit the teacher provided.

So, for Paper Cowgirls, just like I am with Bird Song, I am giving the students the opportunity to make their own choices. There will be kits of course, and they will be filled with lots of vintagey goodness. And since most of the stuff is vintage, not all will be just the same in each kit.

For some of the supplies, I want to have piles on the tables for everyone to pick through.

I'd rather they didn't have to bring their own unique things unless they really want to. I'd like to provide enough to make sure that while we all follow the same steps and instructions, everyone has the chance to veer off the beaten path a bit and art the piece up in the way that calls out to them.

And with all my classes, the students will be Using the Good Stuff! Look at these great laces I bought yesterday from Beth. She gave me a deal so wonderful that I can afford to treat all the students to nice, old lace.

We spent the day together, she let me help her redo her antique mall booth, and I'll have some photos of that for the next post. And she bought me lunch, then hauled me to Costco so I could mooch off of her membership and buy plates/cups/etc for Bird Song and for another gathering I have coming up.

Over all, this has been a great week. Well besides the awful cold that settled into a sinus infection. But now, I have myself heavily medicated for that and the pounding in my sinuses is just about gone. I had Sugarwings a few nights, which makes any week wonderful. Even though, at my age with a sinus infection, chasing a 4 year old and getting up with her in the middle of the night isn't as easy to do as it used to be. Its worth it.

Besides lots of Fairy Grand Baby time, and getting to spend a day with Beth to play decorator in her booth, and signing up for classes at Paper Cowgirls, I also got this copy of Somerset Apprentice in the mail.

I've never been in it before, and honestly had never seen it, I wonder if it is new? But it is GOOD. I read the whole thing cover to cover while I was in the Dr.'s office waiting room and was impressed with the photos and the layout, not to mention the directions.

The whole magazine is step-by-step directions from many artists. It was well done, easy to read and follow. I got some good tips from it! And it made an unpleasant visit to the Dr. go much better.

Hey, thanks for all the comments and emails about Using the Good Stuff. I think the subject was close to the hoader's heart in all of us!

A few thoughts on Good Stuff

Books, give away, show and tell, vintage paper/collage art, wallpaper, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / February 21, 2011

In honor of our challenge coming up, I delved deeply into the Good Stuff yesterday. I had a stack of chipboard rectangles covered in fantastic old wallpaper, that had been on the shelf above my desk for about a year, and I'd never used them.

Now, I have tons of wallpaper, and plenty to chose from. In my mind its all great stuff. But weirdly, there was something just a little special about these covered boards, all set and ready to go that held me up. I kept thinking that they were too "nice" to just use for nothing special.

So, I decided that if they were all that nice, it just meant that they deserved to have other great supplies added to them! Each little book that I made was done with only the best stuff in my stash.

There are different ways to attack the Good Stuff pile of accumulated supplies you are afraid to touch.

You can ease into it, just using one nice thing to elevate your creation. Or you could sprinkle them throughout, for a nice mix. (my typical plan) Or you can just go for it and use all Good Stuff. I chose the latter when I made these and went whole hog.

Every bit that went into these journals was from my Besties pile.

Including inside the books. Why have a boxful of French post cards if I am just saving them? I never see them inside the box on the shelf (although it does feel really good to know that they are there, near by and sooooo pretty).

But you know what? It feels just as good to know that there is a beautiful French postcard inside this ephemera book!

Once you get going, its a very liberating feeling.

Of course, there are limits, and you don't want to waste your best things on projects that aren't good enough. Well, maybe that isn't how I meant to say it. I believe that everything I make needs to be good enough, everything should be done to my best abilities. When I make something I picture someone picking it up, looking at the details, turning it over.

I want it to be well constructed and properly finished as well as pretty.

But- I also figure price. Would I make a tag with a $5 piece of jewelry on it? No, but I'd make a tag with the best supplies I could afford to put into it and still make it at a reasonable cost.

Also, knowing what the piece is going to be used for plays into the supply decision. A special gift deserves an upgrade, right? But the label or tag on the gift itself should be looked at as possibly thrown away later on by the recipient.

Another thought, for artists who sell their work, is "Can anyone afford to buy this piece???"

Its tempting to layer on the Besties, but there comes a point when the cost factor comes into play. Luckily, I find good bargains on my pretties, and also the things that I often consider my best stuff aren't exactly high priced items.

Its not always the price that makes something wonderful, of course. Like the ruffle on this tag. I trimmed the fabric off a very old pair of curtains that were falling apart. The curtains weren't worth a fortune, that isn't what makes it special to me. Its the perfectly faded old pink color, and the softness of the old fabric. And the fact that I can't just run to Hobby Lobby to buy more if I run out.

Sometimes it seems like we artists tend to work for the cost of materials. Our time isn't always covered in the price of what we sell. But when the creations are from the heart, it just feels so good to have someone care enough to buy them, that we just keep on cranking the stuff out.

Beth and I like to quote Jenny Doh's speech from Kim's mermaid event last summer, when she spoke of why we make art.

"It's the process"

She meant that as artists, it's often not what we get out of selling the piece we've created, it's just the process itself of making it that counts. So, why not treat ourselves to making our art with the best possible stuff we can?

I take a lot of joy in using beautiful and special materials. It elevates not only my artwork, but the process itself. It makes me happy to play with pretties. What a great job I have!

I may never be rich, but I sure do like what I do for a living!!!

If you'd like a chance to win a packet of my Good Stuff supplies, please leave a comment on any post (or all of them for more chances) between now and our challenge link party on March 6-7.

And if you'd like to do a little show and tell of creations you've made using your Besties, please come to our link party on Sunday March 6 and Monday March 7.

That gives you two weeks to get up the nerve to dig in to the Good Stuff. Believe me, you'll be glad you did!

A giveaway, a challenge, and “the good stuff”

sewing?, show and tell, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / February 19, 2011

There were a few plain bags left over after Beth and I made up all of the goodie bags for Bird Song. So, I foofed them up with trims and flowers and pretties that I had stashed in the studio, to use for another event I have coming up soon. This rose image is printed on canvas and it is one of those things that has been waiting for the right project.

Now, I'm a BIG believer in "using the good stuff" as I've mentioned before. But also, I believe in not wasting it and using it willy nilly either!

I hang on to things till the right project comes along. Its not hoarding, no way. Its establishing a catelog of supplies so I'll have what I need when I need it.

There is a fine line between accumulating too much and having plenty to chose from when you are ready to work on something, though. I don't think I can define that line…

But when my pal, Kim, asked me to be a sponsor for her Moulin Rouge event in March (which I can't wait to go to!)- I was at a loss for a moment when she said she needed SEVENTY items for the goodie bags.

That sounded like a lot. But once I glanced around the studio, I quickly came up with plenty of pretties that I had plenty of. What I settled on, was a few tidbits in a glam color palette tucked into little pouches that I made with metallic flocked wallpaper.

While I was at it, I made an extra one up too, and over stuffed it with some fun "good stuff". I realized that I had missed out on my 4 year blog-o-versary and needed a gift to draw a name for.

Then, my blog friend, Mrs. Staggs, commented on my previous statement about always using the "good stuff". She said that like many artists, she struggles to actually use her best supplies.

We decided that what we need is a challenge! Want to join us? Everyone should delve into their best supplies and cut, chop, glue, and enjoy them, then show us what you've created.

I'll host a Linky party so you can share your post about your best supplies.

How about in two weeks? That should give us time to make something good. Of course, a week of that might be spent staring at that great paper and getting up the courage to cut into it….

I'll draw a name for my package of good stuff that day.(Leave a comment on any post between now and then, as often as you'd like, to enter)

You can use this button on your blog so that everyone knows you'll be participating.

Make anything you'd like. Just use some of your treasures to make it!

Retail therapy

antiques/junking, bird song art event, collections

By Karla Nathan / February 17, 2011

Thanks for all your well wishes, Sugarwing's arm is just fine and my cold is fading. I woke up this morning trying to figure out what was different, then realized that I was breathing through my nose again! What a wonderful feeling.

I had a day of shopping therapy, I think I owe my recovery to that. I followed a spur of the moment whim and took myself to the Rusty Chandelier and Jesse James in St. Joe, MO and found a lot of little treats, mostly for upcoming classes.

But this OLD lace jacket was a splurge just for me. Its not practical, and will probably shred and fall apart as I wear it, but I convinced myself it was worth it. And I think I was right. It was only $22, and after it falls to pieces, I can always salvage it for art supplies.

And look at these little velvet posies! I love old flowered hats, (I might have mentioned that a couple times here and there) but I love VELVET flowers best of all. Especially the teeny ones like these. I do tend to spend extra when I find flowers this great. This hat was a bit over the budget line for what I usually allow myself to spend on flowers, but these were such wonderful flowers!

And there are lots on here. So, for $20, I think I'll get my money's worth out of it.

And since I got a couple of other hats for much cheaper, I figure it all averages out.

The cabinet that I keep my hats in is overflowing at this point, but the levels do go down. So, I never turn down hats when I see them at good prices. Once I get my boutique re-opened, I'll list packages of flowers for sale. And I use them. By the handful.

I live by the credo, "Use the good stuff!" Because why put all of your artistic effort into making something and using half ass goods in the project? I believe that a good piece of work deserves good supplies going in to it.

Or am I justifying an obsession? Maybe I buy too many hats…

Nah.

My pal, Lisa, made a joke on her blog about the guests at Bird Song guessing how many hats I own to try to win a prize. Actually, I think it would be a good idea to do.

After a day in the studio, I'll have all the students guess how many hats are in the room, and give one of the hats as a prize to whoever is closest. It will be like that game where you guess how many beans are in a jar. (which I am usually really good at, I've won that game more than once when I enter a contest)

When I got back from shopping, a package was waiting for me! From Kay Ellen Hammer. Her mother invented this great double tape, and they sent 25 rolls of it to give away at Bird Song too. Our goodie bags will each have a pack in them! Thanks Kay Ellen and Jodee!!

While in St. Joe, I also found a stack of old pamphlets from the government for farmers. They were published in the 30s and dealt with everything from how to grow strawberries to how to treat TB at home. I bought about 40, non-disease ones.

And I am stocking up on vintage ribbon for the classes I'll be teaching this year. I believe that my students deserve to use the good stuff too!

By the way, we have a few spots left for the May Day weekend event at my house. I'd love to see you there. Meeting blog friends is always a treat. If you are interested, email me for an invoice. Details can be found HERE.

EDIT- One spot left!

I'm going to be adding a link for all the Bird Song attendess who have blogs, onto my links page "pretty places". Today, I cleaned it up a bit and made it look spiffier and easier to read.

Links are how we all get to know each other in blogworld, and I am always happy to share. If you'd like to exchange links with me, please let me know and I'd love to add you to my page.

My funny Valentine

family, Food and Drink, holiday decor, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / February 16, 2011

Did you have a good Valentines Day? We sure did, we had Sugarwings for the night and my husband whisked us away to see a romantic chick flick. Gnomeo and Juliet. And it was really pretty cute. First of all, I have a thing for yard gnomes. No, not a romantic thing, I just like them.

And second, the music was all Elton John. Can't beat that.

On the way home we scooped up some to-go food and served it on the good dishes when we got back to the cottage. After, Sugarwings and I whipped up a quick, festive dessert.

We skewered mini marshmallows onto red toothpicks, melted a hand full of Belgian chocolate chips in the microwave for a minute, then dipped the marshmallows in and quickly rolled them in sprinkles.

It took minutes to do, and she could do most of it all by herself. Plus they were tasty! The trick is to use the good chips. What a difference it makes to upgrade from Toll House chips.

In the last year, I switched over to the Belgian chips and they are make any thing I bake better. They cost a bit more, but are such better quality. If I am making cookies, I put the chips in a blender and chop them up, so they go further. I only use half as much that way.

I hope your Valentines Day was a sweet one too!

Snot, Elbows, and some Vintage Valentines for you (the images are for you, that is, not the snot and elbows)

celebrations, family, free images, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / February 14, 2011

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope that you are having a day filled with love. Around here, this year's holiday is more about tissues and Nyquil than chocolates and champagne.

My husband and I usually celebrate Valentines Day as a family because it is the anniversary of him adopting our boys. So, we take the kids out to a nice restaurant and toast each other. Because of everyone's busy schedules we weren't able to do our dinner on the 14th, we spent Sunday evening at our favorite Italian place instead.

The food was so good and the company so wonderful, I was able to forget about this nasty cold I have, and had a spectacular time. The only bad part was that I was trying to avoid holding the baby, so I wouldn't spread my germs to her.

Can you imagine how hard that was for me??? Look at that face! Don't you just want to scoop her up and squeeze her?

She was being extra cute too, giving everyone big smiles. Usually, she is very serious, so seeing all those grins made it even harder for me to stay away.

When we got to the restaurant, I asked the hostess to seat us out of the way, so my nose blowing wouldn't gross out the rest of the guests. It all worked out fine, I timed my cold medicine to be at its peak through the meal and I was glad I didn't cancel to stay home and blow my nose in bed, like I almost did.

The cold hit me extra hard because I'm just getting over the flu. And on Saturday night I got no sleep at all. Poor little Sugarwings was in pain, and I had her sleep with me to take care of her. She cried out in her sleep from a sore arm, and I felt so bad for her that I didn't get much rest myself.

Finally, the next morning we took her to the ER and found out that she had a dislocated elbow. You have no idea how bad I felt by making her wait over night to go to the Dr. But her daddy had thought she should wait till the next morning to see how she was, and her mom was tied up. Its hard to be the grandparents sometimes. You have to respect the parent's wishes, and try to follow their guidelines and rules for raising the kids, even if it goes against your own ideas on what to do.

But luckily, all was settled on Sunday morning and we got our little one to the hospital where she was fixed up so quickly that it was like flipping a switch. Once that elbow got twisted back in place, she perked up and was her old self again, bouncing around like Tigger.

The whole time she was in pain, she was so brave and so sweet. I have to say, that she is the happiest kid I've ever met, even when suffering.

Have you ever heard of nursemaid's elbow? Apparently, its very common for kids under 4 to dislocate their elbow when someone is holding their hand and they twist away from them. She had happened to be holding her mom's hand and threw herself to the floor, and pop! There it went. We were told that once it happens, it can recur quite often for a couple of years.

At least we'll know next time to get her to the Dr. immediately!! Since she waited over 12 hours to get treatment, it wasn't easy to fix due to swelling. The nurse tried a couple of times, but no luck. So, a Dr. was called in to do it, and she had to give the arm a good wrench. My husband, Sugarwing's Hippy Chick Mommy, and I all had tears on our cheeks when we heard our fairy baby cry out in pain.

It just hurts so much more to see a little one in pain than to be hurt yourself.

She put it all behind her quickly, and then proceeded to let loose all that pent up energy that she had felt too bad to use since the day before. If only I could recover that fast! This cold is kicking my butt. Too bad they don't make chocolate truffle cough drops for people who are sick on Valentines Day.

Somehow this holiday mostly got away from me. I didn't make a single thing for it, or do any kind of romantic decor in my house. There is not a heart to be seen, except these few bits of jewelry that I found in my supplies to show you.

Between illnesses, injuries, and just plain old being busy, I seem to have missed out on getting all geared up for Valentines Day.

But, its not all about the hearts and flowers, is it? I might not have decorated or created anything with a Valentine theme, but there has been plenty of love in the household. And while dinner out with the kids and a big box of Kleenex, while I had a nose that looks like Rudolf's and eyes that are glowing red like a demon's, doesn't sound so romantic- my sweet husband still took my hand, looked into my runny red eyes and asked me to be his Valentine. And our dinner out with the kids was so much fun, that we laughed and talked for over 2 hours.

Yep, its not been a traditional holiday. But its a good one. Even with the snot.

I'll leave you with a couple of Valentines from the 1930's. You can click on them to pop up in a larger window, then save them to your own computer to print.

ADHD time in the studio

bird song art event, show and tell, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / February 11, 2011

While I had the sewing machine set up to work on goodie bags for Bird Song, I decided to work on a few other little sewing projects. I wanted to make some crepe paper ruffles to have setting out as extra supplies for anyone who wants to use it on their project for my class that weekend.

And guess what? I need some of the ruffles to add to the kits that I am making up for these classes too! I get to teach at Paper Cowgirls!!!!!! Yee Haw! I'm a cowgal!

The classes are June 9th- 11th someplace in Texas. I guess I should be figuring out where.

I'll be teaching these miniature dress forms. I'm busily finding cool stuff to put in the kits for those too. Lots of old papers, millinery, and lace. Each kit will be just a bit different, when you are providing vintage materials, its different than going to the store or ordering a bunch of something online.

There are still a few spots open for Bird Song, if I don't see you there, maybe I will at Paper Cowgirls? Or at Jenn's event in Ashville?Sign ups haven't started yet for Paper Cowgirls or Once Upon a Dream, I'll let you know when they open for registration.

We still have a few spots left for Bird Song. Debbie and Carol have about a billion readers each, so when they mention it on their blogs, those spots will be gone fast. If you want to come, you should sneak in now before the big guns announce it!

PS- Carol has a new site too, have you seen it yet?

Ever notice how one project leads to another? After sewing up the crepe paper ruffles, I decided that the edges of the paper needed to be coffee dyed. So, I dipped it and then thought, why waste the rest of the coffee? Next thing I know, I'm scrounging for ribbons and trims to add to the coffee.

Then, I printed off some old French images that I'd scanned. I had a few extra bags un-embellished from my craft day with Beth and New Karla on Tuesday, so I thought that I would foof them up while the sewing machine was still out.

After printing the images onto the fabric, I dipped it in the coffee too.

I ended up making 10 more bags for another little party that I am having at my house, not the Bird Song event.

Some of the images I used on these bags were from Romantic Gothic Ghosts and Romantic White Christmas workshops that I did with Beth. So much of the ephemera that we scanned for those classes is good for more than just holiday decor.

For these bags, I used the fabric printed images as pockets, then glued on some embellishments and doo dads.

Its been a bit schizophrenic around the studio the last couple of days. Like I said, one thing leads to another and then all of a sudden, I've got a half dozen different things in the works. Like, when I was trimming up wallpaper to scan to print onto the fabric, I thought- why waste the salvage from it???

So, I got out the paper shredder and next thing I know, I"m shredding up all sorts of pieces too little to be good for much else. (they were still laying around from when I made up the kits for Bird Song). So, now, I have packing materials for shipping when I reopen the Boutique.

( I should be working on getting some inventory built up for my grand reopening, huh? Seems more important to have something to sell than shreds of paper to wrap stuff up in, at least it would be if I wasn't a schizo crafter this week! )

Did I mention that I am also writing 3 articles by the 18th, making 70 gifts for Moulin Rouge, and baby sitting my fairy grandbaby all weekend? No wonder you are NOT seeing any pretty Valentines on my posts.

Thanks to these kind friends who offered to be sponsors for Bird Song and help fill the goodie bags! Later on, I'll do a post with photos of what they send in, along with the rest of the goodies from the other sponsors. Its going to be one tasty, stuffed goodie bag, that is for sure!!

Queen for a Day

bird song art event, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), vintage paper/collage art, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / February 9, 2011

Yesterday, I had a studio full of helpers! Beth brought Button with her to work on the gift bags she designed for Bird Song.

But not only did she print out all the bird images on vintage fabric, she brought her friend, Karla, (who I call New Karla, although she and Beth have been buddies since they were just little kids) and the two of them helped me with my taxes.

Both are accountants and claimed that it was fun to sort through my Pay Pal info.

Fun?

It didn't sound like fun to me. It was wonderful to have someone get all the stuff ready for me to pack it up to take to my own accountant. I'd have worked on it for a week, but Karla did it in an hour or so.

But not only that, they brought lunch too.

And Beth brought me new velvet slippers. With an N brooch on them for "nest" or "Nathan", as well as a book of alphabet fonts for me to scan and print for the NEST banners we are making in Bird Song.

But wait- there's more! Not only did they do my accounting, feed me, bring me gifts and sew bags, they helped me push my son's car when it got stuck in the ice. And did I mention that it was a below zero day?

For once I didn't care how cold it was, it was a GREAT day! Aren't friends the best?? I felt pampered all day long. Especially since I was wearing new velvet slippers in a royal plum color- my feet even felt pampered.

Here is the bag that Beth made as a prototype. She hand stitched hers, but we used the sewing machine to make the 20 some gift bags.

The images she printed on to old fabric were from Dawn, the Graphics Fairy, Mary, and collages that Beth had done herself.

She used old linen from an estate sale, that she stuck to full sized Avery Labels, to run through the printer.

The bags are some that my friend, Andrea has used in the past and recommended on her blog. I Lightly dyed them in a small amount tan Rit dye, then soaked them all day in coffee. When they were dry, I threw them in the dryer to heat set. I like the crumply, aged look it made. And they are so nice and soft, too.

Beth had offered to make ribbon rosettes for each bag, like the one she did on her sample, but I just couldn't let her do it. She'd already done so much work on these.

I started to embellish bags myself with some different things. Old lace, brown velvet ribbon, millinery, jewelry.

Goodies are already starting to pile up to go into the bags for the students! I've got a few sponsors and am making some things myself.

So far, the sponsors are:

Beth

Dawn

Kay Ellen and her mom

Hope

Lonnie

Lisa

And if you'd like to be a sponsor, I'd love to have you! We would need either 25 items to fill gift bags, or a single gift as a raffle prize. Please contact me if you'd like to sponsor. I'll be doing a post showing all the gifts and linking back to the giver's blogs closer to the event.

Or if you'd like to come to the event itself, there are still spaces. Its the last day of April, first day of May and will be here in my studio. Two days of classes with Lisa, Carol, Debbie, and myself for $250 (includes meals)

I filled a bag with old millinery in colors Beth liked as a thank you, but I think I need to take those two helpers out to lunch, don't you? Not only did they do a ton of things for me, they just plain old made my day by being so nice.

There is no better way to beat the winter blahs than to be treated so royally by friends!

Speaking of treats, I need to announce the winners of the rhinestone bracelets that I'm giving away.

Natalie

Charlene

Cindy (who gave Sugarwings the cute dress she was wearing in the snow fort photos)

Rita Zink

Joanne

Battling the mid-winter blues and dreaming of Spring!

bird song art event, family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / February 7, 2011

The other day, I was cleaning my studio and doing some rearranging, with my spring time art event in mind, and just decided that I couldn't take it anymore, I had to MAKE something. Something quick and simple, but something. This weather has had me down, and not feeling very creative, so I needed a boost and forced myself to create.

Since I'd been cleaning up, there was a pile of papers I'd gathered up on the desk, so I used them up instead of putting them away, and turned them into a mini ephemera book.

I felt a little better about winter after doing something pretty.

Sugarwings came to spend the weekend with me, and both of us are feeling that mid-winter pinch. That cooped up, sick of being inside the same four walls dread. To beat the blues, we built a fort with blankets and curtains over the dining room table.

We discussed building strategy and felt like all white was the way to go, and that we'd call it a snow fort.

The floor got covered with a couple of thick, soft comforters, and we brought in pillows, a flash light, and art supplies.

And treats, of course! We snacked away all day and didn't even have lunch.

Yes, I did say all day. We were in that fort for hours.

We spent some of the time doing cave paintings. We used markers to draw fairies, clouds, hearts, and stars above our heads on the underside of the table.

Hopefully, she'll take my warning about never drawing on anyone's furniture unless an adult says Okay, seriously.

Hopefully, I haven't created an urge in her to marker up every table she sees… But I think that she understood that this was a special place and a special time.

After a couple hours of stories, drawing and snacking, she still wasn't ready to leave the fort. So I snuck out and got a book for myself and a DVD player for her.

This is our book for Monday night's book club and I hadn't had a chance to open it till Sunday afternoon.

So, I borrowed Sugarwing's flashlight and started to read while she watched Ariel. After a while my handsome husband got home, and he crawled in to hang out, and discovered just how cozy the spot was. He ended up taking a nice long nap in the fort while Sugarwings watched another movie.

Her Hippy Chick Mommy came over for Sunday dinner, and we made some Valentines, then the two of them crawled in the fort to watch a 3rd movie. I think that if she had her way, that kid would still be in that fort right now. She did eat breakfast in there this morning.

Thanks for all the sign ups for Bird Song! There are still spots left, if you are interested please email me for a pay-pal invoice. I can't promise you a snow fort while you are here, but please feel free to climb under the tables and draw on the undersides if you'd like.

Details about the event can be found HERE.

And if you'd like to win one of my bargain bag rhinestone bracelets, leave a comment here or on the previous post. I bought a ton of them for dirt cheap and will draw a few names to share them.

Author name: Karla Nathan