Karla Nathan – Page 77 – Karla's Cottage

Disney Magic

celebrations, family, Sugarwings, Travel

By Karla Nathan / March 5, 2019

During my many segmented trip to Florida, Sugarwings and I spent some time at Disney while my husband took off with buddies for a Guys’ Golfing Getaway.

And we made the most of every moment.

We were up extra early to spend time at the park while it was quiet. I love the atmosphere before the herds of mouse eared tourists arrive.

Speaking of mouse ears, these are what Sugarwings bought with our little bonus for turning down Mousekeeping.

If you decline having your room cleaned, and set your own trash outside the door, calling for extra towels as needed, you get a gift card.

She bought the Purple Potion ears with the card, so she was responsible for helping with the room. They were cute and sparkly, but I don’t know how many times those sequins scratched my face when I was getting a hug.

And I got lots of hugs! That was one happy kid.

We splurged one night for the fireworks dessert buffet, and we were both pretty dang happy when we were led to the never ending treat buffet!

I don’t know if I’d pay extra to do it again, but I was glad we treated ourselves on this trip. The park was crowded due to a Princess 5K, and we probably wouldn’t have had such a good viewing point without the special seating.

While the parks were pretty crowded, I felt like we were blessed with some sort of magical pixie dust that luckily led us through our days with no hiccups

Somehow, we stumbled into being at the front of dance parties,

And with up front, personal seating for the parade.

We just happened to be at the beginning of lines to see characters, not even realizing that they were setting up for a line to form.

We also seemed to end up in places where crowds were not. Maybe because we like to linger over decor and details.

We took time to enjoy the little things, like shining a flashlight over your hand on the sidewalks in Pandora to leave a glowing pattern behind.

We took our time as we liked, but then hurried onto the next activity, used the ap to schedule fast passes on the go, and do mobile food ordering.

Some of our timing was planning, some was luck. Often, we came around a corner just as something fun was happening and joined right in.

We didn’t realize we’d be able to see Epcot fireworks from our hotel, that was a pleasant surprise!

A fun photo op was never passed up, either.

Maybe because it was just two of us, it was easier to maneuver the park?

And the fact that we preferred playing with statues to standing in lines made the day easier. We didn’t care about the big name rides. We enjoyed our fast passes, then only went to attractions with no or little waits.

Instead of waiting two hours to be frightened by a Yetti, we joined the Wilderness Explorers and earned badges while walking along shady trails. We always took time to talk to the Cast Members (employees), and got lots of tips about where to go and when.

And when we got back to the hotel too late to suit up and swim, I let her jump in, as is for a few minutes the pool was still open.

I’ve been to Disney World many times, and it doesn’t always go this smoothly. It was one of the higher crowd days, and should’ve been harder than it was.

But our theory of zigging when others zag, taking our time, enjoying what was right in front of us, and planning out what we could, sure made this a perfect visit!

Or was it pixie dust, after all? Possibly, Tinkerbell recognized a fellow fairy and shared her magic to make our days go smoothly?

The Last Foof of February

cottage, paintings

By Karla Nathan / March 3, 2019

Well, it’s almost Spring, and in the meantime, while waiting for flowers to bloom and save me from the horrors of winter, I’ve surrounded myself with flowers indoors.

Besides a tiny bit of online shopping for the quilt and shams in previous posts, most of my “rosy-up the house” make overs have been switcheroos from one area to another. Or digging things from cabinets to bring out and reuse.

These roses are some that I painted years ago, and the tiny framed pieces had been on a shelf in another room.

There is a new piece here. My BFF, Beth, gifted me with a folding mirror for Christmas. It has a gorgeous picture on the front, and I’ve sat it up on the cabinet top, nestled behind some greenery.

This cabinet top got shuffled around and I added some projects made in classes over the years. They are sat in front of a watercolor I’d done ages upon ages ago, but will never be tired of.

There are always happy memories tied up in the decor when I can incorporate pieces from past art events!

Ps- These are all paintings that I have done myself. The watercolor marker tricks I will be sharing at A Song of Spring are meant for art journaling, or smaller projects. But the techniques behind them are universal. Learning the basics for cute doodles can be the start to learning how to paint something to hang over your mantel.

details for the class are here:

https://karlascottage.typepad.com/karlascottage/2019/03/a-song-of-spring-sign-ups-are-open.html

A Song of Spring, sign ups are open

bird song art event, flowers, Food and Drink, paintings

By Karla Nathan / March 1, 2019

Registration is open for our Springtime class at the cottage, with Karen Hillman and myself.

I will be showing you how to use watercolor markers to create sweet, little images in your art journals or to frame. And speaking of framing, everyone gets a small frame to embellish and pop your finished painting into.

Also included is a set of watercolor paint markers, a watercolor notebook to practice your techniques, and I will draw a little bluebird for each guest to use as a guideline. (Or you can ‘wing it’ and draw your own.)

My talented friend, Karen, will be making “Felicity the Flower Fairy” with us. Everything pictured is provided, (including the darling, bisque dolly) you will need only your glue, tools, and any personal bits you would like to add.

Karen will also walk us through sugaring violets and mint leaves to enhance your holiday baking. You will need to bring a food safe paint brush and will go home with a prettily wrapped, vintage plate to hold your scrumptious flowers.

Date:

Saturday, April 20

Place:

Karla’s Cottage- Lawrence, KS

Cost:

$115

Includes:

Lunch, beverages, goodies

Karen’s kit for making Felicia the Flower Fairy

Fresh cut violets and mint leaves, and the ingredients to transform them

A set of watercolor markers, a hand done drawing, a watercolor notebook, frame and embellishments, and an instructional chart

I hope we will see you there! The class size is limited to the amount of antique dolls Karen has on hand. Anyone who has contacted me already will be given first priority, in the order that I heard from them.

Please email me at:

karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

to join in on the fun we will be having Easter weekend in the studio!

as before, return guests, (Peeps) get a ten percent discount)

I had so much fun teaching at Karen’s that I invited her to teach here!

bird song art event, fairies, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / February 27, 2019

I just adored my time at the Cozy Castle with Karen Hillman and her guests! So much so, that I needed more time with this fabulous, stylish lady and I invited here to come to see me and teach a class here.

If you’ve spent any time with her, you will understand why I wanted more of her company.

Good idea, huh? She will be creating Felicia theFlower Fairy here on Saturday, April 20th, along with a tutorial on these delectable, sugared violets.

You will be going home with sweet, edible flowers and mint leaves just in time to enhance your holiday goodies on Easter Day.

She is a darling sprite, isn’t she? Here is what Karen has to say about her:

Welcome Spring with Felicity the Flower Fairy!

Mounted on a vintage shaker and posed in a shimmering rose bloom with her flower wand, Felicity will now work her Spring magic making all of the flowers in the world bloom!

All pieces including vintage bisque baby are supplied for you! Just bring anything special of your own if you wish to use such as any small rhinestone bling.

The day will include lunch lunch and treats, as well as a class from me also- details to come. I’m working on prototypes today, but wanted to get the news out as soon as I can since this date is quickly approaching and the classes occur on a holiday weekend.

Class size is very limited, please contact me for more info:

karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

Another February Foof, small change to beat mid-winter drearies

cottage

By Karla Nathan / February 25, 2019

A while back, one of my old, wallpaper covered cabinets apart. This one was meant for shoes, it had slanted shelves with a bar on them that held the heels in place. The outer shell became a case to stack paper in, out in the studio. And I saved the shelf pieces, knowing they were too pretty to toss.

Now, they are picture holders.

I’d hoped that bar would be enough to lean a small frame on, but it wasn’t. I had to add a nail above it to hang to pictures on for stability. But they still rest on the little bar.

This picture is a vintage metal coaster with a circle of wallpaper and a diecut centered in it. I glued the ribbon onto the back.

This frame has been stashed away forever, waiting for me to find just the right place for it. It is wonderfully gaudy, isn’t it?

While the wallpaper is a different tone than the sofa pillows, I’m still happy with the rosy-ness of it all. The Euro shams are from Pottery Barn, and meant to be used as bedding. They were on deep clearance, and I thought they were just what I needed to spruce up the couch.

I like to have an assortment of pillow cases and shams to change the look of my room. The couch has a loose pillow back, and one large seat cushion. Sometimes I slip the seat into a duvet cover and tuck the excess underneath. Sometimes, I sew (blech!) covers.

I purchased the matching duvet in king size, on sale for $58. (Pretty cheap for that much material!) It’s too much to use the duvet with all of the pillows on the sofa at the same time. But there is so much fabric to it, that I can cut it up to make seat covers for the recliners and still have plenty for the seat of the couch.

Then, I’ll spread the pillows around the room and break up the pattern with some plain pillows.

But that involved more work than I was interested in doing for a quick changeover. Slipping on some fresh shams and hanging pictures was plenty for this February!

The bargain fabric is packed away til I get the nagging need for another change up.

More February Foofing, another small change

cottage, dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers)

By Karla Nathan / February 22, 2019

When I bought new recliners for the living room, I opened a Pottery Barn charge card that gave me cash back to spend in the store.

Pottery Barn isn’t my typical shopping venue. I’m pretty cheap on the frugal side, and usually go for second hand or discount stores. But those chairs, were the exact perfect pieces, because I do not care for recliners, but they are all my husband wants.

These were ideal, cottage seats that secretly reclined.

So, I splurged.

And happily poured through the online catalog, planning my bonus purchase.

When isaw this quilt, in colors that would warm up a drab February, I knew it was just right for my room.

First of all- roses and birds?

With old fashioned, faded looking squares?

Yep, perfect! I’m a sucker for cottage quilts, my mom was a quilter, and I’ve got a soft spot for them. Plus, I like the way they feel, layered on my bed.

It came in the mail the same day that my Sissy sent this robe to me as a gift. I felt like I was meant to be wrapped in those warm, rich, flowery tones when I found both boxes on the front step in the middle of that awful, polar vortex of cold that had settled over much of the Midwest.

They both made me feel pretty happy, and knocked the mid-winter blues away.

Little changes can give me a big lift

cottage, Hand Painted Furniture

By Karla Nathan / February 19, 2019

There is something about this time of year that makes me want to redo and spruce up my home.

Is it just that I miss the sparkle of Christmas?

Or that everything is so gray and dingy outside, and I crave some color inside?

Or am I just cooped up and tired of seeing the same things over and over?

On the other hand, there are some things that I never tire of and still very much enjoy having around, like the hand painted mirror and vanity in my bathroom.

But It still needed a freshening up. I satisfied the urge for a redo, by doing a deep cleaning and emptied the drawers, threw away expired items, regrouped others.

I added the larger, white set of mini drawers from the studio, and stacked it with the others already there in the corner. Then, I put cotton swabs and pads into the little, aqua tin from another room. I’d had the Qtips in a glass jar, which was fine, but like I said, I needed changes.

These are all little switches that I’d probably be the only one to notice. But they did the trick, and I felt pleased.

The necklaces and bracelets even got cleaned and resorted.

Making the most of a getaway

celebrations, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, Travel

By Karla Nathan / February 17, 2019

I’m using my mini work trip to teach a couple of pretty projects at the Cozy Castle as the perfect excuse for a Florida vacation. Sugarwings and her Pop Pop are joining me tonight for a trip down the coast to stay on the beach a few days.

After sunning and swimming, we are headed back to Orlando to drop off my Handsome Husband for a golfing weekend with his buddies.

Then, the grandfairy and I are free to run amuck at the Magic Kingdom til it is time to meet up and fly back to Kansas.

Well why not? I was already going to be in Florida anyway… with airline points and companion passes, all flights were free. Hotel points went a long way too, not quite covering the beach stay but helpful. I have a Disney Credit card that racks up points for discounts.

I love wringing as much as I can out of a getaway, and putting the week together like puzzle pieces to see just how much I can squeeze into one flight. And of course, how could I not try to wrangle a trip to Disney in while I’m sooo close to the Happiest Place on Earth?