Karla Nathan – Page 246 – Karla's Cottage

Presents from the Lollipop lady, Loot from the trip, and a SALE in the Boutique

antiques/junking, Etsy Goodies, Miss Frenchie's, Moving to DC, Sugarwings, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 6, 2009

There is no place like home! Especially when I come home to this little girl. And waiting for us was a lovely box from my pal, Barbara. It was filled with fairies and treats and crafting supplies, and on and on and on!! She really went over the top on this "Just Because Box". Sugarwings and I will be serving PINK hot chocolate at our next tea party, thanks to Barb.

(There is nothing wrong with the fairy grand baby's eyes, that is a weird editing problem that happened when I tried to get rid of red eye, so don't worry that she got into some horrible glitter accident and was blinded)

Did I mention that I found a couple of hats in Virginia? The Hat Whisperer strikes again! I swear, I can sniff these little vintage nuggets of blooms anywhere I go. And JACKPOT, these are mostly roses. And all were bargains.

Of course, on Wednesday, I had the help of another hat lover, Andrea. She took me to all of her haunts in Frederisksburg. I was able to snag a couple there, but most were found in Manasses.

One of the very first things I unpacked when I got home, was the floral egg that Andrea gave to me. Its under a cloche in my bedroom now. Bethand I always say that things look more important under glass, but this little poof of foof looks very important even without the dome!

Another of my favorite purchases was thanks to Andrea too. She took me to a shop that was holding a pink sap bucket for her, and after she picked the one she wanted, she was fine with me buying the rest. Have I ever mentioned that I can't stop at just ONE of anything? Or did you notice without me mentioning it?

I'll use these buckets at my Miss Frenchie's sale, and what ever is left over, I'll be happy to keep in the studio.

By the way, Deb has updated the Miss Frenchie's Blog! Check it out for new photos and a list of the artists and dealers.

Andrea sent me this photo of our luncheon at Pinkadillys. Next time I go, I'll want to play dress up with the stash of millinery in the back room that is available for tea parties. And yes, I'll be going back, for sure!! Maybe I can organize some sort of blogger tea party for a group of us in that area? If you live out that way, let me know if you are interested.

On our way to Gettysburg, I was able to squeeze in a sneak visit for a few minutes each at Luckettes and at that pink polka dotted shop down the road from it.

Sorry, I can't remember the name of the shop, but I know that if you have ever been to Luckettes, you have also stopped at the polka dotted barn. If not, you must be so excited to be heading toward Luckettes that you have tunnel vision. Not that I blame you, that place is special, but look at this one!

Every time I go, I see the prettiest stuff. But this time, I noticed (as leaving, and already too late) a sign that said NO PHOTOS. oops…. I'm thinking that these are grandfathered in, since I had already snapped them??? Rude of me?

On the other hand, why would they object to me telling hundreds of people how beautiful their shop is? Maybe because I can't remember the name of it?

Downtown Leesburg, on the way home from Gettysburg, I mentioned to the other people in my group that there was a cute little Irish pub around the corner. They all immediately were ready for a break and pulled over. I ran down to the antique mall that Sue has a spot in and had a few minutes there before it close up at 5:30, while my traveling companions were swigging their beers.

Sue (Vintage Rescue) had the BEST daily blog postsfrom Rountop.

Well, I'd better get back to work. Today is my catch up day. Looks like I will probably need a few more, one doesn't cut it.

I'm adding to the Etsy Shop and to the Boutique, but mostly, I have been marking sale prices. To get ready for Miss Frenchie's and the aftermath (lots of new listings from that huge pile of inventory) I'm clearing things out of the Boutique. Today, I marked clearance prices on over 30 items.

This one is all about the FOOD

celebrations, Food and Drink, Moving to DC

By Karla Nathan / April 5, 2009

As wonderful as so many things about my week in Virginiahave been, I have to say that the food at the Tower Club was one of the highlights! Right up there with the day we spent in Gettysburg (no, I'm not a Civil War buff, but man, that Cyclorama!!! What a painting, that painted battle scene was like magic, it comes to life with a light show).

But how many restaurants have a view like this?

And special treatments like this? Our name was on the mints when we got to the table. Now, I might just be a country hick, but I was sure impressed.

And yes, a country hick would photograph all the food. The waitress remembered me from the last time I was there a year ago. Apparently, not a lot of people take pictures before they take bites.

I had scallops as a starter, followed by Caesar salad prepared table side. Anything made table side is always extra good!!!

See why I pulled out the camera? Lobster and fillet, nothing prettier. Not even the foofiest of flowery hats! (oh, and I have been in top hat whispering form, and filled a SUITCASE with flowers! photos when I get home)

Since I'd been there before, I knew what a treat the coffee was. So I had the Baileys and coffee in place of dessert.

Was it rude of me to dip my spoon in the whip cream, then in the chocolate shavings and eat both little bowlful?

Then, yippee!! Treats to go with the coffee, as a surprise! (That mini hamburger looking thing was really tasty)

Rainbows over DC

Moving to DC

By Karla Nathan / April 4, 2009

I don't think we're in Kansas anymore! Look, we found the flying monkeys! I wish Sugarwings could have been here to see this painting at the James Monroe Gallery, she is as big of a flying monkey fan as I am.

On second thought, a 2-1/2 year old really wouldn't fit in so well at an art opening in this historic home! What a wonderful location for an art show, I was floored by the history and beauty of the building. Itmight have been a challenge to convince the fairy grand baby to look with her eyes, not her fingers.

How intriguing to be able to wander about and explore this home, while enjoying the mix of antique pieces original to the past president and the wonderful art on display by artists from all over the world!

And imagine how proud I was of my buddy, Connie for having her work on display there!

We've had a blast this week, not just pretending to pick the nose of James Monroe, but also exploring DC, Gettysburg, Leesburg, and all the junk stores we could manage to fit in.

DC is beautiful, especially during the height of the cherry blossoms, and we were lucky to time our trip to see them. But it was all the details of the statuary that captured my eye.

We visited all the important spots, like where Forest Gump ran across the reflecting pool to meet his sweet Jenny and where Lincoln was replaced by a Damn Dirty Ape in the Planet of the Apes remake.

And look! A rainbow over the Washington Monument!

If you are in the neighborhood sometime this month, I certainly recommend dropping by to see Constance Ehrlich's show at the James Monroe home. Not only is the work quirky and fun to see, this house is amazing. It was surreal to peek around the place, like being behind the scenes in a museum.

Pinkadilly-icious!

antiques/junking, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Food and Drink, Moving to DC, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 2, 2009

What a wonderful trip! Lots of friends, lots of fun, and I've been to visit two of my grand dogs.

Yesterday, I took a trip to Fredericksburg to meet Andrea Singerella for some junking downtown. I would have been happy just spending the entire day in her perfectly pretty studio and watching her cute kids play, but downtown sure wasn't bad.

Did you see the decorated eggs she had in her shop for such a BRIEF time? Those eggs flew out within minutes of her listing them. She mentioned in her blog that they would go on sale at 4pm, and when I went to look at them about 5:30, they were long gone. But when I got to her home yesterday, look what was waiting for me! A little treasure egg of my own.

I'd brought her a wallpaper journal ready for her to fill with pictures and some homemade, organic granola for the boys. Then, I realized that in today's day and age, you don't just hand someone a bag full of nut goodies, there are so many people allergic to nuts anymore. Luckily, she said nuts were fine in her family, so I didn't cause any anaphalactic shock, because that isn't the best way to start a good junking day.

Shopping in Virginia is different than in Kansas. The buildings in downtowns here are so old, that it is fun to simply walk the sidewalks and enjoy the views even if you don't have any thing to buy. Fredericksburg was every bit as quaint and inviting as Leesburg, where I had gone on previous trips out this way.

This sign is above the oldest soda fountain still in service in the US. I fell for it, because the bright red of the Coke sign had faded out to such a nice pink.

And while I am mentioning pink- look at this lady!

She had lavender and green sisters too. Sorry, I don't even remember what store this window display was in, but I love the mannequins and will probably ~~steal~~use this idea! It is similar, but not quite what I had in mind for my new dress form. Miss Ta Ta (yes that name stuck!)is headless, and neutral toned, but I have big plans for an exciting floral display in place of her head. Now, maybe, I'll drape her in tulles too.

Andrea treated me to a tea party luncheon at Pinkadillies. I didn't even care what the food was, I loved the name of the place so much, the meal wouldn't have mattered. But it was really tasty and the place was cute as a bug. We shared a pot of Peaches and Cream tea and had a good meal.

We weren't the only ones having a good time there. These ladies had no idea how near they were sitting to an obsessed millinery collector or they would have been holding onto their hats! Luckily, my hat whispering skills were in fine form and I was able to find a few good deals this trip, so didn't have to resort to mugging little old ladies.

And did I mention grand dogs?! Here is Lola. She goes to the office everyday with Mary, who works with my husband.

Doesn't she have quite the set up? Here she is in her box, with a stack of mail on top of it. I wonder if it is her job to lick the stamps? From all the kisses she gave me, I'd say it would be a good career move for her.

Lola's big sister lives nearby and we saw her last night. She seems like she could get a part time job as a stamp licker too.

This little one is twice the size of her baby sister! She is growing like a weed and is sweet as can be. Both recognized me (I'm positive) and seemed to be as happy to see me as I was to see them.

Today, I've taken a day off to stay in the apartment and work. Mostly paperwork for tax preparing when I get back home, but I also brought along these gloves to paint on. They started out way too vibrantly colored, so I soaked them in bleach for a day, then tea dyed them before I packed them up for the trip. Today, I drew vines on them with a fabric marker, then painted in the leaves. I've got a few pair of them, I thought they'd be a nice accent to the gardening display I am doing for my Miss Frenchie's booth in a couple of weeks.

I'd love to do some pairs with some real embellishment, but seriously, that wouldn't be feasible for using them. Rhinestones and millinery blooms would sure be pretty, but not useful if someone actually wanted to garden in them. At least not the way I garden, I get filthy when I work outside.

Oh- before I go and tackle that horrid paperwork waiting for me- here is the winner of the MARCH GIVEAWAY:

Kana

And remembber, the APRIL GIVEAWAY started yesterday! All comments, all month count toward the drawing. I'll let you know what the prize is, as soon as I come up with something good!

A little too smug?

antiques/junking, fairies, Miss Frenchie's, Moving to DC, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 28, 2009

Oops, I spoke too soon. Remember my smug bragging about being set up for the big sale 3 weeks early, before I leave for my trip? Well, that self imposed, fake deadline didn't fool me. I know that I have 3 weeks and every pore of my being is telling me that I have plenty of time…. go ahead, have some fun, the stuff can get packed later!!

Practice Table #1 is tagged and boxed and ready to go, so I am not a complete slacker. Practice Table #2 is set up in a dry run display waiting for tags and packing.

But, we are having an ice storm, with snow forecast, and my packing tubs are in the detached garage.

Who am I kidding! This second table is not packed up yet because tags and packing are BORING.

So, I took Sugarwings to a movie (Monsters vs Aliens, very fun!), baked and played in the kitchen (had to have fresh, homemade organic granola bars for the trip), surfed blogs (I'm going to miss visiting while I am away!), and finished some projects for the sale.

I also learned a new trick. I am enamored with sewn paper ruffles now! As much as I hate sewing, it just might be worth doing, to get more of these.

They are vintage pattern tissue, and I love the dimension they add to a piece.

Some of the tissue ruffle is used on the bottom of this ATC too. (yes, another side track, I took some cutting and gluing time off to make this)

The card is made of vintage wallpaper, with a cut out of a girl from an old greeting card. I've added glitter ink and white ink details to her, and made 3-D butterfly wings from a page of text from an old book and markers. When I found these words on some sheet music, I just had to draw a teacup in the little fairy's hand!

Then, I added an old German die cut and the ruffly tissue I love so much, topped off with a millinery posey.

In the midst of all the crap I was doing to avoid tagging bagging, I also made some slide shows. I saw one on Carol's blog and had to give it a try.

One, of Twinkle's pups, is on the lower left hand side bar of my blog.

If you'd like to see a larger version, or one of Sugarwings, you can click on the slide show and it will take you to the home site.

We leave for Virginia on Monday and will be going to see a friend's art opening. Here are details if you are in the area:

Constance Ehrlich will be showing her work from April 3-24 at the Arts Club of Washington in DC. The opening reception is Friday April 3, 6:30 – 9 pm.

Headquartered in the James Monroe House, a National Historic Landmark, the Arts Club of Washington was founded in 1916 and is the oldest non-profit arts organization in the city. Its programs and activities focus on promoting public appreciation of, study, and participation in the arts through ongoing educational and cultural programs.

In the show Constance will be displaying 17 paintings that document the fun-filled adventures of a group of friends as they visit famous museums around the world. During these travels, each character poses in front of their favorite masterpiece creating a perfect Kodak moment.

The winning comment for March's Giveaway, of a hand made Spring inspired necklace, will be drawn and announced from Virginia. You still have time to enter, the winner will be announced on Tuesday.

Meet Miss Pansy, that is, if you can stand listening to my smugness about being prepared for the show 3 weeks early!

antiques/junking, Miss Frenchie's

By Karla Nathan / March 25, 2009

With Miss Frenchie's show still a full three weeks away, I'm pretty proud of myself for getting ready early! But since I will be out of town for a full week, and finishing up taxes after that, this is the only way I could leave on vacation and get any sleep at all while I am away.

My plan is to set up my tables and figure out my displays, get all my lights and cords and bags together now. Then, I am making price tags and packing things up as the tags go on.

If all goes as planned, I'll have the goods packed up and stacked by the door by this weekend before I leave on the trip. I'll sleep like a baby, and enjoy my trip knowing that I am set and ready to go for the sale when the time comes!

Tomorrow, I am meeting some friends for coffee, and will bring a bucket of jewels to tag while we chat. That should finish up the wares on table #1. It feels really really really good to be on schedule. And -that is with playing hooky to hang out with Sugarwings, too! She's been here some extra time this week, so I have to be productive when I get the chance. Although, my work table has been very tempting…. I'd much rather be creating than tagging and planning a sale.

That is just why artists are rarely wealthy.

Sugarwings and I dropped into the antique mall while playing hooky and I snagged a slightly dirty dress form. Her cloth was all smudgy, plus her ta-tas were in not so great shape. I'd have photographed that, but it was a bit scandalous, it looked like she might have been drug across the floor face down, and the fabric was worn off on the two highest points, if you get my drift. But not quite evenly. Poor girl had a slightly lopsided look to her with the highlighted spots off kilter.

Here is a partial photo of her before state. What would have really been an interesting photo, is me trying to carry Miss Ta Ta and Sugarwings both back to the car.

The nude toned stretchy nylon was pretty ugly even if it had been unsmudged all over and unscuffed in those two strategic spots. As I was contemplating what to glue over the support stocking fabric, I noticed that there was this cool, cotton knit cloth underneath! So, I snipped off the nylon and she was a whole new gal.

I hope to trim out her neckline with something a little tidier. But if I don't have time, a blooming plant in a small pot would be pretty there. Pansies are nice this time of year and always say "Spring" to me. Plus, it would give me a reason to change her name, Pansy sounds much nicer than Miss Ta Ta.

A Pufik Day

fairies, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 24, 2009

Do you ever make ATCs? I rarely have, but just recently, a friend asked for one, then I saw that Donna had a call out for swappers of ATCs on her blog and I offered to do one for her too. For me, it is always easier to get started on something if I have more than one to make. I guess I hit my stride and get going once I get into it and hate to stop at just one of anything I make.

Or buy… but that is another story. And you don't want to hear about the jelly beans sitting on my desk right now. I mean, what is left of the jelly beans.

Also, sometimes the first one I make isn't always a keeper. Like this one. I should just keep going till I get a better one, huh? The problem was that I like to use authentic vintage pieces when I make something like this and the only old photo I had in the right size was of a little boy. I tried to transvestite him up into a little fairy girl, but just might have missed the mark with this one. That foofy, millinery petal skirt doesn't really go well with the lumpy sweater and knee socks. Its kind of like a sorry mix, and I am sure that this kid will grow up to have issues.

Sorry, Vicki, you deserve better than this! I'll make another. Trouble is, that is GREAT wallpaper, some that Heather and Natasha shared with me after we visited Wallpaper Heaven. Its a shame to waste a teeny square of that one. I'll salvage this card to keep for myself. Or as a gift for my gay brother-in-law. He'll love it.

This little boy is a different story. Although his clothes are a bit over the top, he is perfect just the way he is ( I barely did anything to this card that was part of a set given to me by Mary. )

This morning, Sugarwings said that about me, out of the blue, she told me that I was perfect! Although it sounded more like "you pufik". Then, she added, "just the way you are". Now, has she been watching Bridget Jones? I asked her where she heard it and she told me Jimeny Cricket told her that. Well, if crickets are going to talk to you, that is a nice thing for them to say. And I'll take a compliment like that any day, she sure made me feel good.

This is the back of Donna's ATC. I made it on one of Mary's cards too. Gosh, I wish I had a lifetime supply of these, aren't they gorgeous???

At the grocery store today, I couldn't resist this bundle of roses. How springy! I was lucky to get them, the flowers go on sale every Monday for $1.99, and there aren't usually any left on Tuesdays. This is my lucky day, first, my fairy grand baby tells me I am perfect, then some very important documents I have been trying to get a hold of finally come, and now $1.99 roses on a Tuesday. Man, what else can this day have in store for me??

This too! My mom's old watch, hasn't worked in years. I took it in for an estimate and found that it only needed a cleaning and a battery, nothing major. Now that is lucky, Mom loved this watch and I will enjoy wearing it and thinking of her. I splurged and got a new band for it. I wouldn't usually be attracted to white leather watch bands, but today, it just looked right. I think it compliments the opals and amethysts.

My husband and I will be heading out East for an art opening and a visit to our apartment out there for a bit, on the 30th. But, you still have till the 31st to enter the drawing for this springtime floral necklace that I made. I'll draw a name from out computer there, and mail the gift when I get back.

Feeling less than sparkly

Etsy Goodies, jewelry

By Karla Nathan / March 22, 2009

Doesn't this little lady look happy? I could use some of her exuberance! I've been in bed ill, with yet another bug of some kind.

Now that I am up and about, I am taking it easy with some simple projects, like sugaring babies. I've also been cleaning old hardware to get it ready to take to Miss Frenchie's sale. Some of the things I found in the boxes of knobs and handles were these glass discs. They probably went to part of a knob at one time, but now they are perfect little "stages" for my Sugar Babies.

I should keep a bigger stash of mini crowns ready to go. They do come in handy. I had one for the sweet baby on the left, but not enough to go around for everyone.

Another crown went on this sugared bird nesting in millinery flowers and vintage beads.

The nest is perched in this old German mug.

This week, I have been in a sorting mood. Not just hardware, I also cleaned out my jewelry supplies. After making up a big batch of jewels for the sale on April 17th (and to get me through the rest of the year too, I usually make all my jewelry once or twice a year, in big marathons) I cleaned up the odds and ends and bits I had too much of and am listing them on Etsy.

Aren't old beads so much more interesting to work with than new ones from Hobby Lobby or Michaels? I never use those. I'd much rather find necklaces at estate sales to take apart.

Luckily, the other day when I cleaned up from the Jewelry Making Marathon of 2009, I went ahead and made up bads of beads to sell. Because today is a perfect day to sit in front of the computer and add bead packs. It doesn't take much brain power or energy to do. And I have laid in bed TOO LONG. I need to be up and doing something, so this is just the right task for today.

While adding bead packs and charm packs to Etsy, I thought I should put a little something in the Boutique too. I didn't want it to feel neglected!

But I just felt like the de-stashing packs were a better "fit" for Etsy, so that is where they can be found if you are needing any!

Hopefully, I'll be back to feeling sparkly tomorrow.

I’m a Flower Fairy!!!

antiques/junking, Etsy Goodies, flowers, paintings

By Karla Nathan / March 18, 2009

I'm a Flower Fairy!!

Have you seen this yet??!! Wowee! I am so excited to be going to it! Jenn Hayslip has invited us to stay at her Southern Belle's Palace (that is how I picture her home and I am pretty sure that I am correct about that). Here is the site with details, the event looks like it will be amazing.

There is a button for this on my left side bar.

And did you notice this button on the right hand side bar? Along with the hand painted knobs?

I've decided to add these links to my tutorials, so you have a short cut to them if you ever need the info. Hopefully, I'll be able to add some more as time goes by.

For now, there is: How to Paint a Chadelier and How to Paint a Nest

This hodge podgey post is meandering around, huh?

Luckily, I heard the whisper of these flowers calling to me this weekend and followed it to this jackpot! Well, some were a gift from a friend (who knows me VERY well) and some are the ones I had to hunt down. I KNEW there were flowers waiting for me downtown at a store that I used to find some in all the time. That shop hadn't had any new (old) hats in months and months, but I felt like I needed to run downtown and check.

Yep, the Hat Whisperer strikes again! I found a gold mine of flowers.

Here is a bit of the detail from one of those murals that kicked my butt yesterday. I'm glad I kept at it and got them all done, today is chilly and wet. It was worth the exhaustion to get them finished while the sun was shining.

These two will be the backdrop of my booth at Miss Frenchie'ssale on April 17th. I am still tired today from the job, and very discouraged at how exhausted these two paintings made me! They measure about 5' x 6' and really weren't that complicated to do. I don't know why the job did me in so much.

After all your encouragement in the comments about not being old and that 50 is the new 30, I guess I will stop blaming my age and blame the sun! I am not old, I had heat stroke. There, that sounds better.

I also went to the beauty shop and got my hair done today. That helped too. My hair has not looked so good for a while and that doesn't do much for the old (oops, I'm not going to use that word) self esteem. I was telling Beth that my hair was looking like June Allison's. And not in the days when she was a pixie like star in films with Van Johnson, but when she was doing adult diaper commercials. Not a good look.

Further meandering around, here is something I listed on Etsy today after getting back from having my new do done. This vintage doll dress in a vintage frame on vintage wallpaper, is decked out with vintage jewels and vintage lace and was made by vintage me. (sorry, I am still feeling OLD, no matter what I say about heat stroke and exhaustion, and how un-June Allison-like my new hair style is, I am feeling OLD)

Last night, I soaked in the jacuzzi and then crawled into bed to fall asleep while watching Australia. I was pretty tired, but that movie could have put me to sleep, even if I wasn't. Today, I'd better perk up, because Sugarwings is coming over and I'll need to start chasing her around.

She keeps me young! It takes some energy to run after that little flitting fairy.

Don't forget, you still have the rest of the month to enter my March Giveaway for this springtime floral necklace! All comments, all month count.

My friend, Gretchen is having a giveaway too. I've been lucky enough to get one of her necklaces, and know you would love one too. Please tell her I said hi, when you go to enter her drawing.

51 is so much harder than 50

Miss Frenchie's, paintings

By Karla Nathan / March 17, 2009

It has occurred to me recently that I am about to turn FIFTY ONE. Really?? how did that happen???? Now, 50 is cool! Its fun, its a big deal, it is half of a century and deserves months of parties.

51?

Its aging.

Not too far in the past, I used to be a mural painter. Up and down ladders and scaffolding all day, with no problems. Now, after painting this 5' x 15' sign for Miss Frenchie's yesterday and two more canvas murals for my booth today, I want to sleep for a week. I'm too tired to climb into the shower.

Some how, I need to drag myself into the house and climb into that shower. It was 80 degrees today and I might smell about as bad as I feel.

Hmm, I wonder if I can just roll this computer chair into the house and not have to use my legs? See, 51 feels OLD!

Author name: Karla Nathan