Karla Nathan – Page 91 – Karla's Cottage

Problems with pups

By Karla Nathan / February 19, 2018

Albie hasn't been happy for a while. He felt displaced when Honey came to live with us as a baby 2-1/2 years ago. They had some major problems, as did Dorothy and Honey. Little Dorothy went to stay with Auntie Beth for a few months till Honey was old enough to know her own strength and have some control. When the tiny girl returned, she had lost all fear of the big dog and both seem to be friends.

But Albie didn't leave, and they had some MAJOR issues. The kind where he had to go to the emergency vet at 1am.

Honey grew up, she had some training to avoid "resource guarding" and was judged by trainers and vets as non aggressive, not dangerous. She is not a problem, she is a sweet girl, and very smart. We had to train her that she couldn't snap at little dogs who tried to get near her food, and all has been fine.

At least from her point of view and from ours.

Not from Albie's.

It has been great to have Dorothy back in our lives, and she gets along just fine with the big dogs, will even sit under Honey and steal bites of food as Honey eats.

Albie shakes in fear when he sees Honey. Or he attacks her like one of those fighter planes going after King Kong. He became much worse when the puppies were born, and when we decided to keep Sugar, it went downhill from there.

We aren't quite sure what to do. I have a vet appointment for him, to talk about calming drugs. We had a personal dog trainer to the house who says he needs a diaper (he knows to pee outside, but goes on anything the big dogs have been near or that they use, so bad that if they have been sleeping under the dining table, he will jump up and PEE ON THE TABLE. Ooops, I will probably never have a dinner guest again after sharing that bit of news no matter how much bleach I use).

The trainer suggested a diaper and meds or a new home with NO other pets. She says the marking isn't a housebreaking issue, it is nerves and fear.

I'm torn, thinking I've made this poor little guy's life a hellish nightmare of terror. Even though the golden retriever hasn't bitten him in over a year, he is still overwhelmed by it. PTSD? but, when I see him with his baby sis, being hugged by a grand fairy, running out in the woods, swimming in the lake, or resting by a fire, I know he has a pretty good life.

It can't be all bad for him, right?

Five dogs are a lot, especially when they are mostly in the house. We kept the bigs and littles separate for a long time unless I was working with them on the resource guarding problem. But they can't live apart forever. They are part of this house and have to get along.

Which they do at times. Albie and Honey often pair up down by the creek to go after a creature that the just know lives in a sneaky hole under a log and they are sure that if they try hard enough, they will get him someday.

Funny, though, after teaming up to hunt, they become adversaries as soon as they get back to the house. Honey dismisses him like a pesky fly, he acts like he wants her dead, or at least gone.

So, I'm not sure. How miserable is he? Does he need a loving lap of a person with no other dog? I've tried smothering him with attention and he just becomes more worried looking. Does he need Rescue Remedy or another natural treatment like hemp oil? Or something stronger from the vet? Doggie Prozac? Or even Xanax?

Anyone have a problem like this, and how did you handle it? Will meds just mask the problem he feels or actually help him handle it? I'm up for finding the perfect home for him, if there is one. But will feel very guilty about letting him go. Of course, I already feel pretty guilty about the situation now.

EDIT-Update on Albie’s anxiety issues: he is wearing a “belly band” which is kind of like a Velcro fastened ace bandage around his middle to keep him from lifting his leg on things. He actually seems calmer. Someone asked me, if it was like a thunder shirt, and you know, I just have to wonder if it has worked for him in that way?

He has been affectionate and less worried, not flinching and hiding or shaking. And of course, he can't pee on anything, so that is a plus. He actually walks over to me to have it put on, as if he knows he feels better while wearing it.

And more Galentines!

cottage, friends, holiday decor, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / February 16, 2018

Our Galentine's party was such fun, I threw a second one! Some friends came by to hang out and create with me. At Snowbird's Song, I didn't have time to work on my bird from Lesa's class, and pulled out the kit to get started with a Valentine's point of view.

I like her on the dining table as centerpieces with the gifts Randy sent to me. But I think I will add some feathers to her arms and turn them into wings. That is not Lesa's style to do that, but that is the fun of creating rom a kit, right? You get the knowledge and info from the artist, the supplies to put the piece together, and also the opportunity to make it your own with a spin or two.

For my first workshop in February, I'd bought fresh roses for the table. Then, though I planned to replace them, I'd had some issues (lots of issues, really) with back pain and never made it to the store to buy more. So, I let these dry as is and I think I'll just enjoy them this way for a while.

Valentine's Day has been almost like Christmas for me! The table runner is a cut velvet scarf from my SIL, the candy box and card are from Randy.

Here are more of the dried roses, next to a candle gifted to me by my pal, Nora.

And Beth created this rug, knitted from fabric!

It is a lovely touch for my pink and glitter walled bathroom. I've been thinking about adding some pink roses to the hand painted floor too. Right now the floor is neutral flowers, so the walls can be changed at any whim, but I sure am wanting some pink roses….. For now, those back problems I mentioned are stopping me. Painting a floor isn't easy even when your back is feeling wonderful.

This lil cupid was captured in this glass heart by Tami.

She also treated me to a vintage honey pot that I am storing our jar of home grown honey in upside down.

Aren't the bees on it super cute?

Thanks for the thoughtful gifts, everyone!!

And thank you to Lesa for the great kit to build!

Galentine’s Day Workshop

celebrations, Food and Drink, holiday decor, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / February 13, 2018

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm still relishing rosy thoughts from my party last week.

It was a seriously, lovely day for me.

We had two projects to do and the rest of the day was spent on freestyle crafting with a table full of supplies. Back in November, at my Snowbird's Song event, I provided free time and it seemed really popular, so I thought I'd give it another shot.

When you have creative people together, they simply want to create. Kits are important, and so is learning a few tricks, but it is also good to nurture and explore individual tastes.

Just being in a room with other artsy types and having lots of new (vintage) supplies to play with can spark some great ideas.

Here are a couple of pretties that Alice-Anne made up.

With the kits, I included some variations so my guests could personalize their projects, with a choice of words and photos to use on the pieces, and some options for the ruffles.

I'm always happy to see the different ways my kits become art in the hands of the attendees.

But the best part? The atmosphere in the room, with all the happy gluing, cutting, chatting, and creating.

It did my heart good to see ladies who had just met here in November, back together and hanging out as friends.

There were 8 of us, an ideal size group for getting to know each other while making pretty things.

Thanks to everyone who attended and to those who bought kits to make at home!

I hope your Valentine's Day is filled with love and friendship.

A visit through my mural photo album

Hand painted, Hand Painted Furniture, hand painted signs, paintings

By Karla Nathan / February 11, 2018

While cleaning up a bit in the studio, I came across my old photo album of murals and painted furniture. I'd forgotten I had it and enjoyed looking back over the years as I flipped through it.

Which is why we do scrap books and albums right?

I apologize for the blurriness of most of these pics, they are photographed through the plastic covers on the pages.

And taking a photo of a picture isn't always the best (or smartest) way to do a blog post, huh?

But please forgive me as I indulge myself in showing some of these old pics. They were glued down, and if I had to remove and scan each one, it wouldn't have happened.

So, instead, you get a quick and crappy trip down memory lane with me and my smeary pictures.

Some are from antique mall booths, and of painted furniture.

This is from a baby's room.

This as well.

And here is a master bedroom painted a deep color that I was asked to paint blooming flowers all the way around the baseboards.

The iris "bloomed" all around the room.

This was for a boy's room, with all walls done in a planetary theme.

His sister's room got dolphins.

Extra blurriness for this one, it is in a dining room and is part of a scene that filled all four walls.

I can't even remember painting this one.

But back in the day, I did do a lot of pets on walls. Often, the furry little guys would pose for me in person.

This is a Velveteen Rabbit scene for a niece.

And some frogs for another little girl who had actually saved up her own money to hire an artist to come and paint her bedroom. She loved frogs.

I painted this landscape in my mud room, hated it, and painted over it. My home is layers upon layers of painted over murals. My son's rooms changed every couple of years as they were growing up.

A friend had me do this for her, and the best part was hanging out and laughing together as I did the work.

I did public spaces too. Here is a basement laundry room at an apartment building near the KU campus.

And a bar in Louisiana. This was huge, the whole thing was 20×60'

The sunset was done with spray paint. I'm trying to remember why there was a desert in Louisiana, but I just can't. It was a cowboy bar, and the guy roping the moon was the logo.

The little guy in the beer bottle was the logo for another bar, and I painted a wall of him in various poses all over the place. A larger version of him is holding the bottle. It was like a big, drunken hallucination and was such fun to come up with.

I painted this restaurant wall to brighten up a narrow space. (I did the faux finish too)

And I was hired to paint tropical plants at a country club in Florida.

Funny, years and years later, my husband is working for this company now and is actually a VP. He wouldn't ever have hired me, that would've been nepotism, so I'm glad he got the job later on. This was one of the most fun paintings I've done, I had a week to stay at their private hotel at the club, order room service, and sit by the pool contemplating what to paint next. I had free reign in the dining room and snack bar to create on the walls.

Guncle Randy always gave me free space to decorate his walls too. Everytime I visited we would paint together and add more to his art room.

I was lucky enough to get to do some Design Showhouses too. This was in a music room of a very old, wonderful home. The walls are bronze, gold, and copper. The piano bench is covered in sheet music and is used in front of the bench my son built and that I now have in my studio.

Some of these, I really enjoyed seeing again, others are slightly cringe-worthy. I always painted fast, most walls were done in less than a day, and at the time, I kept pretty busy with daycares, hotels, and so many other spaces. It makes me a bit sad that digital cameras weren't around and I don't have better photos of most of the work. Painting murals was quite an interesting job and I got to travel, experiment, and really loved the work.

Valentine’s Decor at the Cottage

cottage, holiday decor, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / February 8, 2018

Our Galentine's Day workshop was the best! What a fun day, with fun ladies.

And how nice to have a reason to decorate for Valentine's Day. It is easy for me to overlook this holiday, so a little nudge doesn't hurt.

Plus- CANDY!

The yummiest of decor.

Speaking of candy, I found some sugar cookie flavored Peeps to give out to each guest. Since my main workshop is called "Birdsong", I have nicknamed all of my guests, my Peeps.

I also made hearts from cherry tomatoes and baked individual chicken pot pies with heart shaped puff pastry on top. Which I forgot to photograph, but I'm sure you get the idea.

My pal and SIL surprised me with this cut velvet scarf, which I used as a runner. It was just what the table needed.

While it is still wintery here, and we have snow to prove it, I was ready for my spring time slip covers that are blooming with roses. I figured that Valentine's Day was a good time to get all rosy and cozy on the sofa.

And I added handmade hearts gifted to me from some of my favorite artists, Beth Leintz, Lori Oles, and Andrea Singarella to my chandelier.

Beth asked me if my bathroom was pinker than usual, but the only difference was a hand towel. Maybe it was just the rosy mood we were all in that made the powder room seem pinker?

I did add some pink liquid soap too.

Because if you can't indulge in extra pinkiness at Galentine's, when can you????

Quick, cute, and easy ways to decorate with vintage Valentines

holiday decor

By Karla Nathan / February 5, 2018

After Christmas, I decided to leave my lace angel wings up through Valentine's Day, and wanted another little sumpthin that would add to the lovin theme for the mantel. But it had to be quick and easy because I was…. well, I guess I was lazy.

After all of the taking up and putting away of the Christmas foofery, I might have been slightly burnt out on decorating.

Previously, I'd cut up some holiday heart and polka dot drinking straws and slid them onto a string as an example for a banner class years ago. I tucked the ends of this pre-made banner string under stuff sitting on the mantel, and clipped vintage cards to the string with curtain hooks.

(You could use any pretty cards, or wouldn't it be adorable with cards that kids had made? And wooden clothes pins, or other clips would work as well. I used those old, metal German ones)

Of course, special, old Valentine cards are always lovely as can be. This only took a few moments, and as a bonus, will take even less time to take down again later.

I thought about adding some roses to the white vases on the mantel, but remember, I was feeling lazy. It would have looked nice, thou.

I took the rest of the stack of Victorian Valentines and stuck pins through inconspicuous spots to add them onto my dress form. She was still wearing her Christmas angel wings and layered aprons. A couple cards went into her pocket and the others were stuck on in a semi pattern.

Not much time, very little trouble and (I think) pretty dang cute.

(The wings are from Victorian Trading Company's outlet store, and I spritzed them with blue Glimmer Mist)

A Redo for Ryan

cottage, family

By Karla Nathan / February 3, 2018

My son, Ryan turned 40 last weekend. We celebrated by remodeling his apartment on the side of our house. When he moved in, he was younger, and shall we say….less careful… with his surroundings. The combo of not cleaning the bathroom enough and our hard, well water left the shower more than slightly, well, hideous.

He is a different person now, and has taken a lot of pride in the new space, working along with his brother to gut it and helping me repaint it. I have a feeling that this room will stay nice now.

Here is a mid rip out picture, I didn't get a before because those two guys dug right in before I got a chance.

There had been a kitchenette area that Ry never used, and he wanted it out so he could make better use of the space.

For the resale value of our home, I didn't want to eliminate the plumbing. There might be a use of the sink hookups later on. So, Adam figured out a way to cover them up by building an entertainment center for his brother.

Ry got a custom built cabinet to house his electronics!

When we first built the addition, 13 years ago, we went bare bones, cheap as we could. This time around, we gave it an upgrade because we discovered that you get what you paid for. The vanity was in bad shape and the laminate floor was coming apart.

A new floor was put in the living and bedroom areas, and tile was added in the bathroom.

The shower, potty, and vanity were replaced with better quality pieces. I especially love that sink top! Black quartz with a coppery vein through it.

Nice!

I'm so happy with how it all turned out for him, and he can't stop gushing. We are lucky to have a talented handyman, Adam, to do the work for us and in what seemed like no time at all. It took about a week total, which is pretty impressive.

Living through a redo like this isn't easy, but when the family chips in to help, it goes quicker than you'd think. And I loved seeing my boys working together, getting this done. Well, "working together" most of the time. There were a few arguments that reminded me of the good old days when they were much younger.

It was pretty nice to have the two grand fairies staying here all week while their daddy did the job too.

With the work done, it seems too quiet around here with no hammering, and kids playing. I even miss the little spats between the guys.

But I do NOT miss this awful shower. We tried everything under the sun to clean it, but no way. It had to go! Thanks to Adam and all of his skills, the place looks great. And thanks to Ryan for his design choices and good ideas as well as all of the work he did to keep this job rolling.

We came in under budget too!

Valentine Kits Available

holiday decor, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / January 31, 2018

I've been working away on cleaning up the studio, and getting kits ready for myparty on Saturday to make some Valentine projects.

Pulling together the supplies for a kit is a joy for me. I love compiling the pretties needed to create with. A couple of years ago, I found this box at a garage sale, and it has been ideal for sorting my goodies and packing up kits. And it sure makes getting one of everything into the bags.

Plus, doesn't it all look yummy pulled together like that?

After setting aside a package for each guest, I've got a few extras if you'd like to make one.

The kits can be found in the Boutique.

And here is a sample of what is included:

a painted candy box ready to decorate
vintage, silk brocade wallpaper in cream and tan to cover the lid
a selection of tiny millinery blooms
a snippet of rhinestones
5 images from vintage photos printed onto high quality matte photo paper for you to chose from
various tidings of sweet phrases and words printed in different fonts and sizes
hand dyed crepe paper sewn into a ruffle for you to trim the box (the box I created does not have the ruffle on it, but the instructions show how to add one)
two strands of lace
one wide, one narrow velvet ribbon
vintage French text
hand illustrated instructions

The box is approximately 4×4" and the kit includes all you need to finish it as pictured, including the option of using different pictures or phrases in place of the one that I used on mine.

Since i have used many vintage pieces, some kits will vary, although all are of equal style and value.

Surviving winter, sort of.

family

By Karla Nathan / January 28, 2018

I've officially decided.

I hate winter.

I've always known it wasn't a good time for me, but this year, mere dislike has become a pure, burning hatred.

Maybe the accelerated loathing was from being cooped up in the house with 5 dogs, some who don't like each other, two that need to be seperated due to a hot spot that won't heal and the other wanting to "help" with it, and one who sheds buckets and buckets of hair.

There hasn't been that much snow, just a few dustings, but there were a lot of days with single digit and below temps. Not good when your art studio has cement floors. I felt like that cold had invaded my bones, right up through the soles of my feet, and I spent a some time just shivering and feeling sorry for myself. Then, I decided, to heck with trying to work and flung myself deeply into Netflix and a couple of good books, and so much hot tea that my brain was zinging with caffeine.

Just when I thought I wouldn't make it, or that I'd turn into a jittery couch potato with no interest in leaving my cozy blanket and TV, the weather broke.

And in a spectacular way. We had bountiful sunshine, warmer days, but still, oddly, kept a covering of snow for a bit.

We were able to shoo the herd of dogs and girls outside to get some fresh air, and exercise. The kids used leftover tie dye colors that I'd saved from coloring bottle brush trees, to draw pictures in the lingering snow.

There is nothing like some sunshine to perk me up. End of funk.

Not the end of the season, but I feel the will to go on.

I CAN MAKE IT TIL SPRING. I think I can, I think I can. I think I can.

How to hand dye and ruffle crepe paper

Tutorials

By Karla Nathan / January 23, 2018

I have posted about how to do this a few years back, but figured it wouldn't hurt to write it up again, as I was in the process of making ruffles for my Valentine kits.

The color tipped ruffles are pretty any time of year, but seem extra fitting for holiday crafts.

These rolls are from Walmart, about $1 each. I add some color to water (food coloring, teabags, dye, whatever you want to use), in a bowl just big enough for the roll to fit. A few inches of water in a plastic tub that lunch meat comes in is great. Or a cereal bowl. Anything along those lines.

Add more dye for deeper colors, a slight amount for softer tones. You can add a little, check the color, then add more if needed. It is best to start with a smidge of dye, and then pour more in if you'd like. If you get too much, you can always add water, but you might soon need to move to a bigger bowl if you' ve added too much color in the first place.

I like to dip a roll of crepe paper into clear water first, then the colored water. It will make for a softer tone.

You can also dip more than one color, or spritz the wet roll with Glimmer Mist for some sparkle.

While the roll is wet, I rub an ink pad along the top ridges for more depth of color, and defined edges.

The rolls need to dry completely, and I give them at least 3-4 days. And while dripping and drying, I set them, colored side down onto paper that I want to cut up and use in my art journals.

The imprint looks like a peony, doesn't it?

Once the paper is COMPLETELY dry, I sometimes ruffle it by bunching it up as I sew along one side.

When you unroll the crepe, at first it will tear. Try to smoosh the roll a bit to loosen it up, it dries a little crunchy and stuck together. But once I squeeze it, and tear off a few outer wraps, it seems to always unroll just fine.

Often, I skip sewing and simply pinch and push the paper into a bead of glue on whatever project it is being used in. But for this batch, I took the time to sew the strips, so I could use the pretty ruffles in kits for the classes.

Either cut long lengths to sew, or unroll 5-6 feet at a a time while sewing. Try to keep it straight as you feed it into the machine.

The cream ruffles I made today are for the back of the Love Bird tin. But I like them all so much, I'm thinking about adding them to the kits for the candy boxes too. They'd make a pretty addition to the bottom of the heart shaped box, wouldn't they?

Author name: Karla Nathan