Karla Nathan – Page 250 – Karla's Cottage

Love Birds

By Karla Nathan / January 25, 2009

Wow, I actually made time to make things yesterday!!!!! It felt so good. Seems like I have been busy with so many other things lately that there has been very little time to be creative.

These love birds were something I had been wanting to do for a while. The had been on my desk since way before Christmas, when I thought they might be a tree decoration. Since I waited so long, I had to tweak my recipe and add a pinch of Valentine's glitz when I finally got around to foofing them up. I like them even better this way, so am glad I waited. sold thanks!

And I REALLY, REALLY needed some time to work on pretties. I've had the fairy grand baby a few extra hours here and there, which is a pleasure, but still…. I have to have my pretty time too. Especially when she decides to pretend her diaper is full of playdoh, not typical diaper goo and tries sculpting with it all over her crib. Yes, that certainly called for some recovery time afterward.

one left, thanks

One thing that I like to do, when I don't have time to actually make something, is to make up kits for others to make something with. There is something about sorting the colors and handing the vintagey pieces that is soothing. It is almost as good as creating the piece myself! Well, not quite the same, but still, its comforting to pull together coordinating packs of pretty things.

Especially after putting in so much time cleaning and rearranging my studio, chasing a fairy baby, and deciphering how to set up a web site!

both sold, thanks!

And I just love to play with the old wallpapers. I made up a few packs for the Boutique at Karla's Cottage and also decided to restock my Etsy page. It has a way to go yet. I like to keep about 50 items for sale in it, and after adding a few and "cleaning it up" I'm not even half way to where it needs to be. There are a lot of sale prices on the Etsy page, as well as new wallpaper packs and the "Love Birds".

The Boutique also got a cleaning up. Thanks to you guys, there were a lot of "SOLD" items to delete! Thanks so much!!!

I added a lot of new things while spiffing around in there too.

Some were kits that I could play with and pull together from my stash, but others were "Flea Market Finds".

Aren't these shell flowers cute? I remember when my Grandma Smith used to make them. She'd paint hers with red nail polish when they were done. I wish I had one of her old shell roses.

sold, thanks!

There is one more item that needs to be listed in the shop, another Valentine Love Bird with a heart and key. But I am out of time, will have to get to it later. My own sweet, love bird of a husband is taking me on a date. We are going to see the new werewolf/vampire movie that is out. He sure knows the key to my heart, doesn't he?

Sugarwings and the puppy

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / January 23, 2009

Sugarwings and the puppy
Originally uploaded by Karla's Cottage

Sugarwings found the tutu that I bought for her from Holly up at Silver Bella Vendor night, and has worn it all day today.
I thought I'd do an experimental video from Flickr. Please let me know if you had any issues with it or if it slowed down my blog? Here is another one, if you want to see the little Fariy grandbaby showing off her tutu. She's pretty pleased with it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlascottage/3220199271/

I'm going to try to get some more items added to the Boutique at Karla's Cottage. Like this crackled glaze collage in an old frame. Thanks so much for your shopping trips to see me! sold thanks

Now, I hear Sugarwings stirring over the baby moniter, I don't think she is going to nap after all. Maybe I won't get that picture listed in the shop until later tonight…..

Sunshine??? Honestly??!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies

By Karla Nathan / January 22, 2009

What a day! It is in the 60's and we are taking full advantage of this gift of sunshine. Sugarwings got to go to the park and the babies got to go outside for the first time in short lives.

Looks like the bright day and the interesting new sights and smells made this princess attempt to play with that tiny spotted creature she stumbled across.

Playing didn't last long. A few moments of looking around, squeaking, and tripping over wood chips, and these guys had enough.

Then, it was time to curl up for a nap in the soft, lamb's ear.

I hope these pups enjoyed their outing, tomorrow, the temps go back down to the 20s. I know I have enjoyed every second of this glimpse of sunshine, and will certainly miss it tomorrow. It has inspired me to do some spring cleaning and right now, I have my studio turned upside down while the fairy grand baby and the passel of pups are napping.

I have also used the sunshine to get some photos taken and got more flowers and brooches listed in my shop. If I can finish cleaning my studio in a decent time, I'll try to take sunshiny photos of wallpaper packs and get them listed too.

Thanks again to everyone who visited my Boutique! I hope you'll be coming back?

doll and large brooch sold, thanks

The Boutique at Karla’s Cottage is OPEN!

Uncategorized

By Karla Nathan / January 20, 2009

Edited note: Oh, my gosh! Thank you, to all who came by and ordered from the new store already! I will add more vintage floral packages in the next couple of days, and I have added two more Tag Book Kits and two more Bingo card sets, in case those were out when you checked in.

You knew I was going to do this eventually, right? I love puppies, I love hats, the two had to be together sooner or later!!

Aren't the little cuties getting BIG? When they were born, they didn't even fill up a hand. Now look at the size of this little princess!!!

I have to admit, they are not easy to photograph. 95% of my pictures are a blur. Anyone have tips on taking pet pictures? Of wriggling little pets?

And guess what???? I did it!!! I figured out the problem with my website and have it open and ready to shop in. I'll be adding a button back to the side of my blog, just click on this picture (on the right hand side bar) to enter "The Boutique at Karla's Cottage."

As a thank you for coming by to visit, the first ten shoppers will receive a vintage valentine in their package.

Please, let me know what you think of the site, if you get a chance.

And don't forget, I do have a January giveaway present for you all comments on this blog, all month, are entered.

I will leave you with some photos of the inventory I am featuring in my brand spanking new web shop.

Read any good books lately?

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers)

By Karla Nathan / January 19, 2009

Now that the puppies are getting more interesting, Sugarwings has become totally infatuated with the babies.

And who can blame her? I'm smitten too. Soon, I will move their nest out to my studio so we can spend the days together while I work. The more the pups are snuggled, the better dogs they will be when they grow up. I raise puppies to be loving and social, so that involves a lot of lap time. Its a tough job, but some body has to hold the dogs all day!

On a less fun note, I'vebeen cleaning my house, uck.

Tonight I am hosting book club, so I wanted to kill two birds with one stone and take photos of the house while it was cleaned up, since that rarely happens! I'd show you some of the pictures, but they are for something else- I was invited by Sandra to be featured as her "Jewell of the Month" for February. Wow, Miss February! As much as I hate the cold and winter and the doldrums that go along with that, I love February. Mostly because of the 75% off clearance chocolate on the 15th.

Might explain why my house is Miss February, but I will never be that….

Besides slaving away over housework and puppy holding, I also was knee deep in website set up this weekend. OMG what a disaster I had with that. I was all done, ready to open and for some reason, all my photos scrambled up.

So, now a redo and a clean up before I can open. I'll let you know when it is ready. I'll throw myself a big ole grand opening bash when it is ready! Although, that might just mean me sitting here at the computer with a glass of wine and a few puppies in my lap. Well, that isn't such a bad way to celebrate!

Okay, I'm off to make up trays of food and light candles for book club.

Here’s looking at you, kid!

antiques/junking, Etsy Goodies, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / January 17, 2009

Hmm, I don't know if you can tell from this photo, but the puppies have opened their eyes! For some reason, I was thinking they weren't due to be looking back at us yet, so I was surprised when Sugarwings held one up and said "he can see me!" She was pretty excited to be the first to notice, but up till now, she had been worried because the puppies wouldn't look at her.

Probably because, in this house, that is all we do is, Look At Sugarwings. Its our favorite pastime.

Although, lately, another regular pastime of mine is cursing at Papashop. That is the web hosting site for my new online store, and my friends have been over-the-top helpful in setting it up, and I can see where it will be really easy to use once I get it fine tuned. But— I keep finding glitches. I thought I was ready to open and discovered that I had NO LIMITS on my inventory. If a shopper wanted to order 1,500 of a one of a kind option, there was no stopping them. Not that I get those kind of sales…. maybe a more reasonable illustration would be that if a shopper wanted to order TWO of a one of a kind item, I couldn't stop them.

This is an item that I have three of, one is listed. Since I can't open my shop yet, I figured I should tell you about it here. So many people have inquired about the swap tags, that I made up a kit with the copies of the ones I made.

The kit includes 6 of the collage/painted tags copied onto card stock and then their backs were covered in vintage wallpaper. Two red flocked, two pink flocked, and two rose patterned.

Snippets of wallpaper scraps, some ephemera, lots of rick rack, ribbons and bows, three sprigs of old millinery blooms, and a scattering of vintage buttons are included too.

Plenty of pretties to deck out the tags and make your own Puppy Love Tag Book if you didn't get into the swap. Or, if you are a swapper, these would be fun to add to your book and double the size of it!

The kits are $25 each (plus postage. Postage is free if the kit goes out in the mail with a completed swap book to a fellow swapper) and as I said, only 3 available. If you are interested, please contact me by email. I can't open my web boutique yet, but hopefully will soon! I have other Valentine's goodies there too!

Like this piece. It has a pink flocked heart on it, so it would be nice to have for sale by Valentines Day! I'm sure I'll be able to get the store figured out. Heather and Beth have been so kind and have taken so much time to give me advice. I'll let you know when I have my GRAND OPENING.

Heather and Beth aren't my only generous friends! Two Puppy Love Swapper's packages have arrived and Samantha Miranda sent coloring cards for Sugarwings and Dove chocolates! Ruth Flowers sent marvelous ephemera die cuts. Thanks, ladies!! And by the way, both of you both are so lucky to have those names. Don't they just roll off the tongue? Samantha Miranda…Ruth Flowers…. how pretty.

This photo should make you wish that you were one of the 65 people in the swap! Aren't these tags that Samantha sent in just beautiful!? (Ruth's are too, but my photo didn't turn out. Ruth, I know you wanted photos I'll get some to you when the light is better)

Hopefully, the swappers will be adding their photos to the flickr site so we can all see their creations…

I'll leave you with a couple photos from an antique show today. I met Carol there, and Beth had a booth, so I took her some treats. I have pictures of Donny and Sandy's booths, but they don't have blogs, although Carol and I tried to tell the Fabulous Donny that he needs one!!

Whiling away a day, when you can’t go outside to play

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / January 15, 2009

So, how do you entertain yourself on a day so cold that you simply don't feel warm no matter what you do? Well, you find distractions. Like arranging sleepy puppies into a heart shape. Well, kind of a heart shape, they are a tad wiggly to pose very well.

You can also see what happens if you add bubbles to a whirl pool tub.

We discovered that the jets create lots and lots of bubbles. And just as many giggles.

Here is a flickr video of Sugarwings splashing away: http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlascottage/

How long till Spring?????????

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), give away, paintings, swaps

By Karla Nathan / January 14, 2009

January seems like the longest month of all. Ugh, not only is it cold, we have severe wind warnings, which means that all of my lawn chairs (yes, maybe I should have put them away before winter??) are blowing around and it is too cold to go outside and pick them up. Well, they can't go too far, I'll pick them up on a nicer day.

This is a good time of year for indoor projects. I'm enjoying working on the tags, and am so glad we had such a big turn out for the tag book swap. I started a Flickr group for the swap, so if you would like to add photos of your tags, please do.

It is an open group, anyone can join or look at pictures. So, please, add your Puppy Love tags and spread the word!

http://www.flickr.com/groups/998886@N21/

This cold weather has me thinking about Spring time. I have this little painting hanging in an area where it doesn't show much, so I rearranged and brought it out where I can see it and day dream of springtime.

I've always loved vintage greeting cards, and did this acrylic painting about 30 years ago, inspired by an old card. Probably not the best painting I ever did, technically, but emotionally, I think I hit the mark with it! Every time I see it, I think Spring. Also, I had given it to my Mom, and it had hung in her house for a very long time. That makes it extra precious to me, now that she is gone.

Pockets of Springtime are all around my cottage. I am definitely NOT a winter person. I'd love to live somewhere with sunshine year round.

Of course, January does serve a good purpose for me. Its a great month for mini redos. Being cooped up indoors and staring at the same walls over and over, prods me to rearrange a few things here and there. Simple changes like hanging this old oval picture on my Gothic window frame give me a bit of a cheer up.

And who can have gloomy thoughts when there are little cuties like this around to cuddle up with on a cozy chair by the fire???

Thank you to everyone who inquired about buying some of the tags I am making for the swap. I still have about 28 to make yet just to fulfill my obligation to the swap! But I think I'll make a few extra to give away for some prizes too….. There are a lot of prizes, the January and February giveaways, as well as my 2 year blog anniversary on Valentine's Day and seems like there was another…. Oh, yes, we will have a name the puppy contest! As soon as they open their eyes and start to get some personality, I'll post photos of each and ask for names. Puppy Love altered tags will be prizes in that.

Guess I'd better get back to the craft table!

Tagging along

antiques/junking, Books, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), paintings, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / January 13, 2009

How is that for some puppy love? At this point the little princesses are mostly sleeping and eating. They curl up and they cry for mama and that is about it.

Beth came by to help with my website today, and we spent some time cuddling the puppies, although at first she thought they were too tiny to hold. But these little guys enjoy being held and Twinks doesn't seem to mind.

Although, she certainly doesn't take her eyes off of them once we pick them up! I could tell she was a devoted mother, when she went out to potty yesterday and a rabbit ran right in front of her. Instead of taking off like a shot into the woods to get tangled in cockle burrs, thinking that she might just catch the wascal this time, she simply turned around and came to the door to be let back in to her babies. Not even a glance over her shoulder to see where it might have gone to.

Worrying about your kids can sure take precedence over other things, that is for sure.

Luckily, at this point, my kids are doing well, so I can worry about tags! 60 some tags. Now that is a lot of worrying.

As I was blog hopping (instead of making tags) the other day, I saw a pretty hand painted tag by Suzanne Duda and used her idea as inspiration. I added hand painted designs to the vintage papers of the one on the right, and then added a bit of old papers to the painted roses on the tag on the left.

I think this one is my fave, though. I painted a floral heart wreath directly onto an old photo and added the words to the top.

And this one is about half and half, with some flocked wallpaper as a heart. I'm copying them all and then embellishing the copies with millinery blooms, lace, ribbons, glittery ink, etc. That sure helps me toward my goal of 60 plus.

This one is a copy I made of one of the painted tags. I think they copy well. I added lace and glittery ink in accents, then covered the back in wallpaper. By the time they get uber-foofed with charms and ribbons when tied onto the books, I think they will look fine.

Today's mail brought some sweetness from Sugar Sugar.

What a nice surprise from Analise!

Beth spent the day here in the studio with me, we worked on swap pages and website stuff, with a LOT of help emailed to us from Heather. Now, I am getting ready to head out the door and go see a movie with some friends. Looks like "Slumdog Millionaire" did great at the Golden Globes the other night, I am looking forward to seeing it. Last night, I went to see "Benjamin Button" and can't stop thinking about it. Maybe it is too soon to go see another flick, since the one last night was so good, my thought are still lingering on it.

Nah- its never too soon to go to another movie!! My idea of a great afternoon, is to see a double (or Triple!) feature.

So, before I head out, I'll leave you with a few pictures of this beautiful little book I bought in St. Joe the other day. It is signed and dedicated in 1922. I really appreciate those little written introductions in old books that were given as gifts years ago.

Oops, puppies everywhere in this house!!

Time to add the Buttons

antiques/junking, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / January 11, 2009

Thanks to all of you who joined my Valentine Tag Book Swap! We are at 50 right now, so unless I have communicated with you about joining and we haven't gotten back together about it yet, it is too late to join.

Or, if you have commented that you wanted to join and haven't heard back, please email me. I have some trouble with TypePad at times and can't always return comments. One that got returned to me was from Carrie, and I have no way of contacting her.

I've added this button to my side bar. If you are in the swap, please grab this and add it to yours too! Thanks for being a part of it all. Now, I just need to go and whip up about 50 tag covers….

Time does have a way of getting away from me- especially when I blow a day by going shopping and not working.

But shopping IS working for me, not just recreation. All these old watches will make gorgeous necklaces! The other goodies will be wonderful things to take to Miss Frenchie's April in Paris sale this spring.

Not the trims, though. Those were a gift from Beth (who was my partner in playing hooky for the day). She gave them to me to use in my new obsession to "Pearl Up" my home, after reading the Magnolia Pearl book.

Beth also made this pile of tags for me with her cuddle bug and a deck of cards. I'll make use of many of them in the swap book covers. Especially ones that have hearts on the backside!

Red isn't typically my color. I bypass it at Christmas, but at Valentines, I get sucked in by juicy redness. Especially when I see such a sweet baby doll dress with tiny flocked, dotted Swiss style hearts on it!! (I wish it fit Sugarwings)

I know I am not the only one who enjoys a splash of red for February, so if you'd rather have ruby tones for the blog swap button, please help yourself to this one.

My hat-whispering skills weren't focused during our jaunt to St. Joe to visit Jesse James Antique Mall and The Rusty Chandelier. (both worth the almost 2 hour trip). But I snagged a couple of flowery concoctions. Man, the one on the bottom left is just asking to be ripped apart. Some hats are so pretty as they are, that I don't take them apart until I need a specific bloom from it, but this one is just plain awful as is. Like some sort of smooshed up wedding bouquet made by a blind florist. Who designed this? It is one of every kind of flower, in each color, with no rhyme or reason to the placement. But good for me, because, did I mention- one of every kind of flower? Beautiful to use in other projects!

These grocery store price tags are nicely aged. But what I like about them is the holders. Can't you picture them as place card holders? I just can't wait for my next fairy tea party!!

This throw was found at the Rusty Chandelier too, it isn't all antiques. This isn't exactly new, but far from old. I fell for it, because of the soft, plush velvet and the metallic bronze vines that go so well with the ones I painted on the ceiling.

And see the blue rhinestone? They are scattered across the vines, and match the room perfectly! Nothing like a little sprinkle of added sparkle.

For those of you who needed a puppy fix, here's one of the teeny tiny babies. For those of you who are already tired of me posting dog photos everyday, we'll just pretend this is a picture of the blanket I bought.

Author name: Karla Nathan