Karla Nathan – Page 214 – Karla's Cottage

A Tulaya tutorial- or how do you say that name???

Books, celebrations, family, give away, holiday decor, Silver Bella

By Karla Nathan / November 18, 2010

Just breath taking, aren't they? I'm starting to feel the need for a baby fix, I haven't seen her yet today. Its been almost 20 hours since I got to hold her…

Look at all that dark hair! I just want to kiss the top of her little head.

Everyone has been asking me about her unique name. So, here is the story. Her momma's family has a Hungarian Gypsy background and a tradition of a 2nd middle name. Apparently, you never say all the names out loud at once. No matter how mischevious the child is being!!

A lot of thought and love went into her name.

Here is the pronunciation:

My- R- uh * Two- lay- uh

Mayara means "holy trinity"-

ma= divine mother Mary

ya= universe

ra= divine father

Tulaya is from some ancient city full of fairies. And Zen refers some how to the sign on the Mayan calender that she was born under.

A big name for such a teensy, 7lbs 4 oz, cuddle bundle, huh?

I still don't have a nickname for her… I'm leaning toward TuTu, but after sitting in on listening to the parents find a proper 3rd name, I'm kind of liking Sugar Star. Goes well with Sugar Wings, and she was almost named Star instead of Zen. (I was voting for Starla, kind of half star, half my name but both of them looked at me like it was a joke.) Heck, maybe that is my nick name for her!! Sugarwings and Starla? How does that sound? Oh well, just talking out loud at this point, I need to get to know her.

Any thoughts?

She has no idea that over two thousand people checked online to hear about her birth. What a lucky little girl to have so many people who cared about her. Thanks so much to all of you who came by to wish us well and congratulate us. We're extremely happy!! And after all the worries, its wonderful to hold such a healthy little baby in our arms. (well, except for the little tummy ache she has, that is)

Here are the random names I drew for the angora roses and nest brooches I made while waiting for the baby's birth:

Stephanie who has a brand new baby too!

Debby

Shawn (no blog)

Seven winners for 7 pounds of baby.

The felted flowers are from a class at Silver Bella. This was one I was whining about and was sorry I had signed up for, and almost dropped at the last moment. But, I was so glad I went!! It was outside of my comfort zone and color palette, but I got so much from the teacher, Betz White. She was an interesting woman and since it was a small class, she sat right down with us and told stories about Martha Stewart's show.

Here is what the class project was supposed to look like, but I changed mine up a bit, and found variation on the roses that looked more like my own style.

I can't tell you how to make the roses themselves- they aren't mine to share, but she has a book and I have to tell you that they are so simple, you'd LOVE making them! Buy the book!!! You'll be glad you did.

I can share my variation with you. I cut my sweater strip kind of curvy and scallopy, then pushed in on the center once it was made. After that, I added extra petals to the bottom, for a more full blown rose look.

EDIT: the rosettes are NOT in the book! Betz got them originally from Martha Stewart and from this blog.

Here is what my completed frame looked like. Betz was nice enough to tell me how she did nests too.

(the vintage Christmas card opens up, I'll put a baby photo in it)

I've got plans to make one for each person who signs up for my May Day celebration and classes here at the studio next spring. Won't these be ideal for pinning to the goody bags???

This week has been crazy/exciting. There are still lots of other Silver Bella photos to share, but I've been busy with baby stuff this week. I've been trying to help out with the big kids (oh man, now all of a sudden my little Sugarwings is a big kid????!!!!). I'm giving them rides back and forth to school, and last night had a sleepover with 3 of them. Sugarwings has stayed with me all week too.

Yesterday afternoon, I cooked and baked for the new parents. A good friend is going through chemo, so I fixed her some meals while I was at it. I made vegetarian white lasagna with fresh mozzarella, stuffed manicotti with tomatoes from the garden, black bean burritos with peppers from the garden, and a big fresh spinach salad. Then, some home made granola and muffins for snacking on too.

These last few photos are of new items in the Boutique and Etsy shops. This box is made from the papers available for downloading in the Romantic White Christmas class, using Beth's directions for making her Pretty Pixie. (I changed it up a bit)

Beth and I are doing some videos for the workshop tomorrow, and we are having some goodie bag giveaways on it too.

It was nice to have some "normal" time today to take photos and list things for sale. The last couple of weeks have been quite extraordinary! All wonderful, but still, I enjoyed a having a plain old, boring day today after all the excitement lately.

Mayara is here!

celebrations, fairies, family

By Karla Nathan / November 16, 2010

Mayara Tulaya is here! After a long, six weeks of her poor tired momma going through almost daily contractions and trying to be on bed rest, the parents had to give up on thier plans to deliver at home.

They checked into the hosptial this morning, and let me spend the day with them. It was such a magical day. Soft music playing, sweet Christee, the momma, being so tough and brave throughout the labor. She managed to nap through a lot of the day.

While she was busy creating the little cuddle bundle, my son and I kept busy, each of us had packed a supply bag were creating too.

He was wrapping crystals in silver wire (talented guy, huh?)

I was making roses from a felted angora sweater. Both were ideal projects to pass the time while we waited for Mayara to come.

It looked like it was going to be a long haul, so in the afternoon, I took a break to pick up the big kids at school, and bring a pizza to the hospital for dinner. When I got back and walked into the hall, I saw the doctor running by, so took off after her.

Both of us arrived after the baby came. So did the nurses! My son and his beloved delivered the baby by themselves, just like they had planned on doing for the home birth they didn't get to have.

We are all thrilled for them. It couldn't have worked out better. I'd say it all happened fast, but it was six weeks of worry and pain leading up to these last few minutes of birthing time, so I won't insult the mom by calling it a quick delivery.

I really don't understand how she did it, but the new mother managed to look completely beautiful and serene through it all. I, on the other hand, look awful. But I posted this photo anyway, because you can see just how happy I am, make up or not.

Thank you all for your concerns and caring during the pregnancy. To let you know just how much all your inquiries and comments and personal emails meant to me, I'll give away a few of these angora roses to celebrate the baby's birth.

Please leave a comment on this post if you'd like to win one. And thanks again so much for caring and being excited for this new baby in our lives!

Bella and Baby news!

family, Silver Bella, vintage paper/collage art, wallpaper

By Karla Nathan / November 15, 2010

Silver Bella was better than EVER. You can maybe tell just how much I loved my classes? I wanted to give all the projects a big hug! Teresa changed the format of the event a bit so that we had a wrap up party on Saturday night, and it was the most perfect idea. I'm so glad she did it.

We were told to bring one project to show everyone, but I just couldn't chose one, so brought them all. How could I chose one class I liked better than the others when all were so freakin wonderful? Great teachers, great table mates, great projects to make.

I'll have some closeups of the stuff later, some without me draped all over them.

While I was away, the newest grand baby was a good girl and waited patiently for me to return. But her poor momma has had enough. She had a flu bug all weekend and is weak, tired, and losing weight. She looked frail last week, after 6 weeks of off and on contractions and trying to be on bedrest with 5 kids running around. A fever and some all night upchucking sure didn't help.

So, we all went to the Dr.'s office today and got the news that she needs to be induced. Tuesday morning at 6am, it begins.

My son was heartbroken that the home birth is off. The Dr. is letting him be the catcher in the delivery room and they are going to be doing things as natural as possible, with little interference. But still, not what they hoped for. (I hate to admit it to them, but it sure is what I hoped for, I feel at ease now)

Please forgive me if I don't get to answer emails or comments for a few more days. I'll be helping with the existing grand kids while the parents are working on producing the upcoming fairy baby. (Sugarwings says she will name her "Sugarwings Two").

Tonight, I'll get all the orders that were placed while I was away filled and boxed up to drop at the PO tomorrow, then I'll be sitting in the waiting room all day till its time to go and get the little ones at school.

There are a million and a half Silver Bella photos to share too. But hopefully, I'll have to wait until after I share baby pictures with you….

We had a kick off brunch at Carol's farm house before heading up to Omaha, then two carloads of us went to Wallpaper Heaven, so I have pictures from that too. Hannah's Treasures had giant scrap packs on sale for $7 each, so I bought enough to share with each class. When I went down stairs to the work rooms each morning at the hotel, I was carrying my overstuffed supply bag, my purse, camera and a few giant bags of scrap packs of this vintage paper. At least the paper wasn't heavy like the bag was.

Well, I have a ton to do tonight. Its time to tuck in Sugarwings and read some stories, then I've got to do a post for Romantic White Christmas. I think we'll have a giveaway for all of you who have signed up… maybe a bundle of nice old wallpaper?

By the way, thanks for joining the class! When I had a roomful of Bella Buds here visiting we sure enjoyed doing Beth's project. I hope all of you who signed up will enjoy it as much as we did. In these, we mixed and matched the provided images and added some flowers and bottle brush trees to it. I love seeing the variations on the idea!

Please wish us luck tomorrow. Next time I see you, we'll have baby pictures to see!!

Bella swap

Silver Bella

By Karla Nathan / November 14, 2010

This post was done before I left for Omaha. I won't be answering emails, please do leave comments, I will be reading them. Forgive me for not returning them. Each comment will be entered into the November Giveaway.

The very best things about Silver Bella is the people that you meet, and the inspiration you get from all your new friends. Every year, I am blown away by the talent on swap night. But I don't really participate since I usually am busy with a vending space.

This year, I joined a swap, plus participated in a private one too. A few of us were talking about how much we admired some of the work we see there and decided to ask these artists if we could have some of their stuff. they would join a side line swap with us.

Like I said, you meet the most wonderful and talented people up there! I'm lucky enough to be swapping banner pieces with:

Lori Oles

Amy Powers

Carol Spinski

Suzanne Duda (my roomie for the weekend)

Danielle Mueller

Each of my pieces are basically the same, a triangle with a Charlotte fairy. But I've changed each up a bit so that no two are just the same. And I ranged from VERY neutral for Carol, up to PINKY PINK for Amy with a hint of pink for Lori in the middle ground.

I am sooooo excited to see what these guys make! Aren't swaps cool? What a perfect way to collect art from people whose work you drool over.

Hats on Parade

Silver Bella

By Karla Nathan / November 12, 2010

The theme for Vendor night at Silver Bella is Hats on Parade. Well, that is right up the Hat Wisperer's alley, of course! But, since I have millions of hats already, I felt like I needed something a bit more special than just one from the piles in my studio.

When Lori Oles came up for a play date in the studio in Sept. and we made crowns/bird cages with the group. She decided that she didn't like this one, silly girl. I told her I'd take it and embellish it for my hat for the event.

First, I had to make it fit a head. I stacked two old hats on top of each other, and stitched them to the frame and started to foof them up, with flowers, birds, butterflies, and a frozen Charlotte fairy.

In the top, I made a nest from shredded vintage paper, lace, and a glittered egg. Then, I painted 2 old, spun cotton, redbirds.They were red, I put on one coat of white, and the red peeked through as pink. To one I added a crystal eye and a hand made crown to complete the mama bird watching over the nest.

Papa bird got crystal eyes, and a fancy sparkled top hat.

Although, I'm not sure if he is really a "he". Maybe this is a case of "baby has two mommies"?

These words were on some sheet music lying on my desk, and were perfect to add to the hat.

There were big plans to dangle things from these loops, but the whole piece was getting pretty heavy, and I decided to leave it as is. I have a chin strap to keep it on, but it still sways a bit.

With this kind of towering magnificence, a little sway is not unexpected!

I have a feeling that I'll be carrying it most of the night, I should bring another hat to cover up the case of hat hair I'll have when I take this off.

Dinner with Bellas

Silver Bella

By Karla Nathan / November 10, 2010

What a great kickoff to Silver Bella "Week". Well, it seems like it goes on for a week now, which I love. A short little weekend is not enough. Its good to get an early start. A couple of bonus days of fun.

I was touched that everyone came so far out of their way to visit and have dinner with me. There was a big traffic tie up between here and KC and I guess it was a horrid trip, took twice as long as it should have.

But we had so much fun once they got here. After dinner, we took a flaslight tour of the Fairy Berry Trail and then made some projects from our Romantic White Christmas classes. I printed a bunch of images up, set out the supplies and then got to enjoy seeing the various takes on idea from everyone else.

Right now, I'm worn to a frazzle. I'm off to bed, sorry, no names or links. More later after Bella Time!

Welcome to the Pastel Jungle

family, holiday decor

By Karla Nathan / November 8, 2010

They're done! 240 bleached, hand dyed, and glittered trees are ready for the holidays in all of their sparkly festiveness.

Some are in the Etsy shop, more will be listed soon. I have them sorted and photographed into 15 different packages of sizes and colors, so it will take me a while to get them all online for sale.

Plus, its SILVER BELLA WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So far, I've not got much done to be ready. Packed? nope. Supply list looked? nope. I'll throw some stuff in a bag Wednesday morning and just hope I didn't forget anything.

I did sit down and make this necklace to wear. It was a bracelet that I made during the French General class at Silver Bella in the past. But, I never wore it. So, I redid the piece to make it a necklace.

It only took a little tweaking, and adding the chain. I slipped on a few more charms and rearranged the ones there. Because on a bracelet, you want them all evenly spaced, with the big ones spread out. With a necklace, it hangs differently and you need the heaviest and longest at the center.

Every charm on here has a special meaning. Well, so-so special. Some are slightly generic, but still chosen for a reason. It reminds me of someone or someplace, or was from the original French General class.

And I have some very good baby update news! My Guru son's Gypsy Beloved was in labor all night AGAIN, with no baby appearing for all the effort and pain. So, today they went to the doctor. She and the newest little gypsy fairy are in good health, all is well. This on and off labor is not distressing the child. They are still planning a home birth with just the two of them. I'm much more relaxed about the event now than I was before.

Please forgive me for not answering comments or emails. I'm a bit swamped right now, have been babysitting the fairy grand baby instead of getting ready for the trip!

But do leave a comment, you'll be entered into the November Giveaway. And I love to read them, too!

Cinderella at work

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, Sugarwings, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / November 7, 2010

We had the best kind of weekend, one filled with a Sugarwings visit! I had a ton going on, with two dinner parties coming up before I head up to Omaha for Silver Bella this week, and all that entails for getting ready.

Plus, I wanted to get some bottle brush trees bleached, dyed, glittered, and listed for sale before I went out of town.

Luckily, Sugarwings likes to play princess. So, I told her that she was Cinderella and I was the wicked step mother and I was going to make her work ALL weekend.

She got busy unwrapping bottle brush trees right away. The whole time, she was singing, "We are Santa's Elves" from the Rudolf TV special that is on every year.

That is better than when she dresses as Snow White to help me clean house. "Whistle While You Work" is fine, but when she starts muttering about "Dirty, Dirty Dwarfs" its always a bit disturbing.

Every fall, I throw a couple packages of trees into the sink to soak, then dye and glitter them. And then go to the store for more and do it again. And then do it again. And again.

Today I had a better plan.

After filling the sink with two packages of little trees, we hopped in the car and went to buy more.

And came home with 240 of them to throw into the tub! (Just watch, this will be the year that no one buys trees, and I am stuck with all of them!) Well, at least we had plenty of fun working on them today.

I'll let you know when they are in the shop.

After all the hard work indoors, I took Cinderella outside to enjoy this unusually perfect fall weather and do some work outdoors too. We blew leaves (and maybe jumped in a few), cleaned out my car (with the leaf blower, that is such a handy alternative to vacuuming!), and then tidied up the Fairy Berry Trail.

Agnes Rosebud helped.

Sparkle just sat and observed. Twinkle chased off after a critter in the woods and was gone THREE heartbreaking hours. She came back so covered in filth she looked like she'd been digging the whole time. And of course, my tub is full of trees. She's sleeping in a kennel tonight.

After picking up sticks in the yard, Cinderella's work still wasn't done. We had to unload the sticks onto the bonfire berfore we could sit donw and enjoy the blaze.

There is nothing like a crisp fall afternoon by the bonfire. Especially when your marhsmallows are PINK.

And when I have my Sugarwings with me.

Her Pop Pop kind of likes having her around too.

Baby Update:

We are waiting impatiently for the new gypsy fairy grandbaby. Her momma was having serious contractions last night and we thought the time had come.

Once again, the contractions stopped. I think I might start calling this baby Peek-a-boo, since she has been playing this game with us for over a month and a half now!

Oh, and THANKS so much for all the sign ups to Romantic White Christmas!! I think we'll have fun working on it together. If you'd like to sign up too, click on the button at the top of the right hand side of the blog for more info.

Hope to see you there!

Redos and repairs

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), fairies, flowers, holiday decor, parties, Silver Bella, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / November 5, 2010

Wow, thanks SO much for the response to our Romantic White Christmas e-zine! I've been working away on it, and actually wrote 11 posts in 2 days. Whew! Plus making more stuff for it. I have a habit of not being able to stop once I get started….

I've got a couple of "bonus" projects made and a couple of other extras too. Just some simple little pretties for the holidays.

Today, I started cleaning up mystudio to get ready for a dinner party and was able to use some of the Romantic White Christmas things in my decor. These aren't over whelmingly screaming CHRISTMAS, they are just sparkly, vintage and festive.

Well, this one kind of does. At least it screams "NOEL"!

When Beth and I shot photos for the classes, we had all the things we made on display, and I liked the look of this up in the window so much, that I'm leaving it. I already missed the Romantic Gothic Ghosts banner, the window felt naked without it.

I might just be a banner adict now. I'll need one for every season.

We took everything off the top of this buffet and redid it in whites and silver as a back drop for the projects and I liked it so much, its staying this way. It had been a pink explosion before, now there is just a hint of blush here and there.

Sadly, when I started putting the tables together and pulled out my favorite table cloth, this is what it looked like. Its really old, and the fabric is just falling apart. I am too lazy to was afraid to try to sew it, and thought it was a goner. Then, I remembered Kay Ellen's Sealah Tape. The stuff is amazing!

Its a two sided tape that her mom invented and is so easy to use.

A few holes here and there don't bother me, but that was big enough to lose a dinner plate in. So I covered up the bad place with a few bits of lace and some tattered silk.

While I was at it, I covered up a few more rips with lace. (These girls don't realize I am taking a photo of the table cloth. Please don't tell them. They think cameras are only meant to focus on them)

Today I made time to finish up my hat for Silver Bella too. Here is a little bit of it. Its a bit different as far as head wear goes….

Romantic White Christmas is ready to go!

fairies, holiday decor, how to's, how-to projects, Tutorials, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / November 3, 2010

Beth and I worked on photographing our projects for the Romantic White Christmas class yesterday, and I was able to get the site up and running. I was being very flustered and scattered and was feeling the pressure of getting it all pulled together in time, plus getting ready for Silver Bella and a couple of dinner parties. Beth asked if I was OK, and told me that it wasn't like me to be frantic about getting things done. I usually take it all in stride.

But then, she asked me how the baby was doing and I realized I was totally blocking all my grand baby worries and focusing them on the other things. I'm not frantic about projects and parties! I'm really wrecked worrying about the new baby.

Sometimes it takes a good friend to calm you down and help you face your fears.

So far all is well with the baby, the due date is nearing and the new momma is holding up. The closer the date gets, the more relieved I should be, since the little one gets stronger and stronger as she grows. But 6 weeks of labor stopping and starting has left me frazzled. And no pre-natal care terrifies me.

But the momma is calm and cool and I need to follow her lead. Beth reminded me that they are following their beliefs and they are not stupid, if a serious problem comes up, they will go to the hospital.

So, I'm focusing on the good news, and looking forward to the parties and projects, and a new cuddle bundle coming soon. Staying positive can't hurt. Turning into a frazzled wreck will only make it worse.

Sorry, sometimes I use this blog as a daily diary to help me deal with things. Other times, its a kind ear to tell my problems too. But I'm sure you all would rather I just kept it a happy place to share pretty stuff!

So, on with the pretties!

The NOEL Banner is mine, and the patterns are hand drawn. I've also included an ornament and star pattern to use too. Plus, I have edited and sized the patterns to be printed 8 x 10" like the banner, or 4 x 6" to be used as ornaments.

Beth sure made some nice stuff for her side of the classes. This is a details of a white feather wreath she created and embellished.

And how sweet is this?

This one is from me, and I hope everyone likes it, they are a bit different…. but I had fun with them. Can't you picture this on a table top filled with mini silver ornaments and moss?

I have this shoe 2 ways, one has a bit more color to it. We've based the projects on White Christmas of course, but if it was all completely white, the papers would all be blank. We use a lot a of neutrals and a hint of soft colors.

I spent two weeks going through my ephemera stashes and scanned all my favorites, then edited them to sepia or black and white, and some with barely there colors. Then, I included some of the original colored papers in the catalog for you too, so you'd have choices. There are lots of papers and images to chose from, much more than what you will need just for these projects.

These photo album mats are a good example of images that you'll find in the catalogs that will be useful year round, not just for holiday crafts.

The image used on the bell is taken from an old postcard. I have hand painted wings onto her, then scanned and edited the picture to sepia. I wanted to add some touches that were one of a kind and you couldn't find anywhere else.

This little angel is from an old photo that I painted wings for too. She has a hint of some of those barely there colors in the wings and in the patterns I painted on her shirt, but over all, this stocking has a "white" feeling.

And I can't wait to make this little Pretty Pixie box from Beth! Mine might get wings….

And Beth had this idea for a song book. Its filled with all your favorite holiday tunes and simple enough to make that you'll want one for every family member to carry as you go carolling!

Plus, you know, we'll have more. I tend to go on and on and am unstopable. I think its a good thing for me to do two blogs instead of just one, because I do have a habit of saying wayyyyy too much. With two blogs, my blathering will be split in half. Oops, that really isn't a good selling point, is it?

What I meant, is that you should expect lots of extras on the Romantic White Christmas site, beyond just the projects listed. We'll have some projects that you just print and embellish, gift wrap and decorating ideas for Christmas, videos, plus a few presents here and there.

I hope you'll join us!

Today, I'm linking with White Wednesdays over at Faded Charm. I always enjoy her white party, but rarely have a white theme on Wednesday to fit.

Author name: Karla Nathan