Karla Nathan – Page 35 – Karla's Cottage

More hearts

By Karla Nathan / October 11, 2022

We all need someone to lean on sometime, don’t we? Ryan was my rock, and I used to lean on him a lot. These hugging, rock hearts made me think of how he used to be that for me.

I mentioned in my last post that the puppy sitting job was good for my soul. Besides the wreck and worries about the horrendous hurricane, I have been missing my boy so much lately.

I always do.

He is there in my heart at all times. Some weeks, grief is just a low key, background noise. Other times, it’s an all encompassing heartache, and others, a sweet little smile to myself over a memory or a moment I know he would have enjoyed.

Lately, his loss has been heavy. I try to pick out reasons why this happens, like waking up in the morning and piecing together what that weird dream I’d just had was about.

The stirred up grief can be from so many elements. I think they are now called triggers, but I dislike that term. It sounds harsh and scary.

After feeling extra bereft, I decided to take a walk on his favorite trail, which I had been avoiding for months. As I turned the corner around the pond, I remembered why I never go that way. There is a wet area that never dries, even in a drought, that section of the path remains slimy and slippery. Ryan always took my elbow as we crossed there. Now, I know I am getting older, but I’m not a frail little old lady and I used to tell him I didn’t need any help. He responded the same way each time- “You are my mom, and I love you.”

As I stepped across the mossy slime this day, without Ryan by my side, (and sobbing because he wasn’t) Sugar spotted a goose and lunged for it, pulling the leash and pulling me behind her as I hydroplaned through the gucky spot.

It was surprising that I didn’t fall and get yet another concussion. And as I was thinking how lucky I was I looked out at the pond and saw many floating hearts made of clumps of algae.

Maybe Ryan had still been protecting me after all. And left a sign that said he loved me.

Puppy Sitting was just what I needed

dogs

By Karla Nathan / October 8, 2022

Before I went on my many legged trip, I had a little baby sitting gig.

A friend was called out of town and needed a puppy wrangler.

Since I have such an ideal set up for a back yard dog nursery, I offered to watch them.

Tending to little ones was just what I needed! I miss having little doodles around and these 7, little (big) Great Pyrenees help fill that gap in my heart since it has been too long since we’ve had pups of our own.

It had been a particularly rough week, after watching the devastation in Florida and worrying about people and places I love there.

Also, the day these guys arrived, I was in a terrible wreck. I was not injured, my car is pretty jacked up, but the event itself was devastating. A 16 yr old boy on a dirt bike, was speeding through an intersection, whipped illegally around a car in a round about and slammed into my car. He was taken in an ambulance, but was up and walking before he left. I have no idea how he is and it haunts me to think of him.

It only takes a second for a life to change. Sugarwings and I were together, and were happily planning a Hocus Pocus watch party, when out of the blue, our car was hit. Seeing this child on the ground after the collision was just awful and such a contrast to our laughter from a moment before.

I was extremely proud of my grand fairy and the calm way they called my husband, talked to the police, and to other witnesses while I help tend the injured motorcycle driver.

You can see why I was so ready for the uplifting puppy snuggles.

Too bad I can’t fill my bag with pups to take with me to Florida because they could use some puppy hugs there too.

I debated whether or not I should even follow through with my plans. Vacationing in an area that just missed being wiped out by a hurricane like the surrounding areas felt wrong. On the other hand, I know that tourism dollars are important there. And Siesta Key is up and running, ready for guests, we won’t be in anyones’ way.

The pups left the day before my flight, and I am very glad I had the trip to distract me from their loss.

A new career in junking for a surprise helper

antiques/junking, Good JuJu

By Karla Nathan / October 5, 2022

This week is First Fridays at the West Bottoms and Good Juju will be open for business.

I’m afraid I will be missing it!

But my stuff won’t. It is all set up for action, I took care of that before I flew off on my multi legged adventure.

First leg is North Carolina to see my grown up, baby boy.

Second is South Carolina to participate in Jenn Hayslip’s fabulous Bridgerton event.

And the third leg (because it’s spooky season and time for three legged monster type critters, and this is a monster of a trip) I’ll be jetting down to Siesta Key to be with my sissies for part of the annual Sister Trip. They have two weeks, which I just couldn’t do, but I managed to squeeze in a few days at the end of my journey.

When I get back to Kansas, it will be time to pack up my Halloween leftovers and start setting up the November show. Which I look forward to being a part of, it’s always such a fun time there.

Who is watching the store while I am away? Well, I’ll have my buds, Beth and Angie there for most of the time, but Beth has some obligations. While she is out, I have an all star replacement lined up.

Rich!

Yep, my husband is being extra supportive and covering my shift for me. He might be a bit overwhelmed and in over his head, but he is willing to go for it.

If you are around, please check on him for me.

He will be feeling like a fish out of water. But I have faith in his skills. If he could run dozens of golf courses in his past life, I’m sure he can sell some beat up, old junk and crappy crafts.

I will miss being there myself, but it will be in good hands.

More mini makeovers

antiques/junking, redos

By Karla Nathan / October 2, 2022

My garage sale days have provided soooo many redos lately. These mini pumpkins and gourds got a coat of glitter and paint.

They started out gray. And free. I’ll take free, ugly gourds any day. The jewelry stand was $1 and also on the ugly side.
Or just tacky?

Ta dah! A quick makeover, because paint is just plain magic, isn’t it?

I thought of adding a layer of decopauged lace onto the torso, but then worried that it could snag any jewelry hung on the piece. So, I’ll leave it as is and am happy with the look.

Dolly do-overs

friends, redos

By Karla Nathan / September 28, 2022

The Halloween witches and zombies that I showed you previously started out with a bag of old dolls. I sorted them into categories-

beyond repair became zombies
sorta bad shape, witches (if the skin was messed up, I repainted them green like Elphaba)
decent shape, but needed work, angels

It is not even Halloween yet, but I zipped through my ghoulish gals in time to take into Good Juju’s September and October sales am now sparkling up some angelic babies for the November First Friday.

This one is actually a tree topper from the 60s. Her base is a cone to fit on a Christmas tree. I reused her wings on the smaller girl and made new ones for her from curled feathers. Both had their hair replaced with wool roving.

My pal Tami invited us over for a craft day and offered styrofoam pumpkins to make over (mine is covered in lace) and tart tin dolls for the projects. I also whipped up my two angels and a few lil schroomies.

She went to a lot of trouble with her sleepy eyed doll. It required sawing it in half, and gluing in a cork that was also cut in half to the doll could be put back together with the tin in the center.

The tin makes a cute skirt top, doesn’t it? Thanks, Tami, for the fun day filled with lovely projects!

My year of embracing orange and a redo-rescue

antiques/junking, cottage, holiday decor, redos

By Karla Nathan / September 25, 2022

For the first autumn of my adult life, I’ve been drawn to fall colors. It kind of coincides with my attraction to the mix of warm woods that I’ve now blended in my house along with the existing whites and creams.

For decades if was just the whites. But I sure am enjoying the wood textures we have added. Also the dark leather chairs by the stone hearth.

Did it start with this dining table? Maybe. I’ve added quite a few touches of wood around our house since.

The hutch is painted white, but has a natural top. This has been my new, go to move. There are a few pieces with this paint on the bottom, wood stain on the top look in the last few years.

But orange? That is brand new for me. And I like the pops of brightness that color brings to the season.

For a while now, I have loved red accents on a white background at Christmas. Having a neutral background means that I can switch things up lot lot with just a few changes of color splashed around the room.

This over blown monstrosity was at a garage sale for one dollar, and typically, I’d have walked right by it. Or paused to wonder how the basket would look spray painted white (probably very nice, filled with roses).

It is actually a very nice shape and looked good with a pot of mums as is.

Instead, I decided to accept the orange and see what I could do with it.

It had a lot of big, velvet pumpkins inside, two I added to the urns in the top pic. The rest I set aside along with about 50% of the crazy, over the top amount amount of leaves and berries and bows.

The abundance was pared down to a more reasonable amount in the basket, and I still have a lifetime supply of leaf and berry picks to use for something else.

So that makes three more palatable arrangements and a leftover bag of supplies for $1, plus the 50 cents each I paid for the urns at the same garage sale.

Plus, plenty of stems leftover to fill this caldron (also from a garage sale).

All filled with my new enjoyment of autumn tones. I won’t be changing over my entire decor to pumpkin colors, but I am liking the hints and peeks of them I have scattered around.

Under a magic spell

Good JuJu, holiday decor, Romantic Gothic Ghosts, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / September 22, 2022

I really, really, really loved making things for Good Juju for Halloween!

I have collages, dolls, witchy hats, jewelry, mushrooms, ballerina bats (yes, that’s right, ballerina bat skeletons), signs, painted pumpkins, and my possibly fave- magic potion bottles.

For years, I have been tossing any vintage items I find that seem fitting for this season, into a drawer. It was quite full of tempting treats to turn into my fun creations.

I found it so inspiring to have an eclectic mix of ephemera and goodies to dig through.

No two came out the same, since I was working with so many originals bits of vintagey goodness. I had some photos that I’d copied, but the rest is all aged.

While I was at it, I whipped up a few hand made pumpkins too.

Here are some used as bottle toppers.

I went overboard.

A bit.

As I do.

There is probably enough inventory for next year too. I should add some to my online shop, but I will be teaching at Jenn’s fantastic event in Charleston mid October, so might not have time to get any listed in time for Halloween.

Now it is time to halt my spooky endeavors and switch to Christmas.

Which isn’t a problem, I adore creating sparkling pretties for that holiday too.

It is hard to put away all of the supplies for October, and to stop myself from making way, way, too much of this stuff. I’ve been on a roll.

Knowing me, I will be every bit as much obsessed with as happy to make things for the next holiday.

I’ve been saving up Christmas ephemera and supplies too. I have a feeling that crafting with those is going to be taking over my life soon.

I’m excited just thinking about it!

And it is extra nice to have a reason to make things, after quarantine and Ryan’s death. I hadn’t had much inclination to create in volume like this.

Hidden Hearts

dogs, family, Hearts, Ryan

By Karla Nathan / September 19, 2022

I have always enjoyed finding shapes in nature. Especially hearts. Or fairy wings.
Typically, I take a photo of the heart and leave it, but some I pocket, like this one from the dog park.

They have taken on even more meaning since we lost Ry. He used to be enthusiastic about the ones I’d see when out on our walks together. I can hear his voice every time I find one now.

“That’s so cool, Mom!”

So this broken heart really stood out and caught my eye. It shows how I’ve felt since Ryan left. Still holding it together, but forever broken.

And lookee here at this one! On Molly’s hip. She’d had an ouchie and as it healed, the hair grew back as more golden retriever hair than poodle/doodle hair. And a darker color too.

“That’s so cool!”

Queenie

Hens

By Karla Nathan / September 16, 2022

If you are squeamish, you shouldn’t look at these pictures. I’ll tell the story, then leave a gap and have pics at the end.

Poor Queenie, the other chickens pecked her head raw after her foot was injured and she was weak. I named her that because they messed up the crown of her head, and also in honor of the passing of Queen Elizabeth.

We were babysitting the neighbors flock while they were away. This young chicken got her foot stuck in the fence and hurt it. Rich got her down and put her back in with the others after contacting her family. But wanted to put her out of her misery, he did not think she would make it.

The next day, she was discovered with the horrible wounds from hen pecks, and he brought her home, made a special pen for her. She was hand fed, and pampered. Her poor leg was swollen three times it’s normal size and her head was raw. Rich, again thought she might need to be euthanized. But I thought that her eyes were bright and inquisitive, and she seemed happy for attention.

Then, a door was left ajar, I think it might’ve been me. Sugar got out, knocked over the pen and ran away with Queenie. The poor bird was terrified and my husband was crushed. He cares so deeply for our pets, and any small creatures he finds around here. He and Sugarwings had a big adventure with a box turtle named Sonny just the other day, and they still talk about that rescued turtle like he was part of the family.

Once again, I looked into Queenie’s eyes. They still seemed bright and friendly, even though her body was limp. There was no blood on her, just a lot of dog slobber and a few missing feathers. Rich felt little hope for her after pulling her out of the dog’s mouth, but he set her special pen back up and he caught her a few grasshoppers. She has an appetite, and he has been cutting up pork chops, fresh veggies and other treats for her, which she seems to like.

I think she will make it. Our friends do not want her back, but I don’t know if our flock will accept her either, she might need to be someone’s single chicken as a pet. Other hens always seem to bully the younger, weaker girls. Until her head heals and re-feathers itself, and she can walk again, we will keep her safe and segregated.

I think she is a lovely bird, with her jet black feathers and sparkling, black eyes. All of our other ladies have orange or yellow eyes, these shiny, black ones are lovely. And she seems to like us. Fingers crossed that this sweet little gal does okay!

See what I mean? What a pretty face she has! Even with her injuries, she is a very, pretty chicken.

Halloween Jewels

antiques/junking, Good JuJu, jewelry

By Karla Nathan / September 13, 2022

For Halloween, I went all out on the theming for my booth at Good Juju. Including some necklaces I made.

Lots of them!

Most are just kinda themed for the spooky season, but would be fine all year, but some are full on ghostly or witchy.

See what I mean? Very nice as a moody piece to wear with a black dress in October, but still pretty for the rest of the calendar.

A nice accent to wear for for Halloween.

For this season, I planned to have enough of this type of merchandise for the September and October sales weekends.

Oh, and if you need the perfect dress to wear with this jewelry, I have that too.

I’d never have had the audacity to paint blood splatters onto a Victorian silk dress in such beautiful condition myself. But I was thrilled to see that someone else did and I snapped it up to add some atmosphere to my space. It’s pretty cool, I kinda want to wear it to the annual zombie walk here in Lawrence.

Author name: Karla Nathan