antiques/junking

Road Trippin’ with Junkin’ and Craftin’

antiques/junking, friends, sewing?, Travel

By Karla Nathan / May 4, 2021

My friend, Angie, invited Beth and I to visit the old farmhouse her grandma lived in.

She and her mom have been restoring it for years.

It’s a great mix of original pieces and beloved collections. (Angie had the very old, still functioning fridge stocked with deliciousness for us)

The drive south was as much fun as the staycation itself. We hit every thrift store between Lawrence and Chanute.

And got photos of the most unique offerings.

While making some friends along the way.

And eating some of the freshest home cooking you could ever be lucky enough to find at a roadside cafe.

At one stop, there were baskets of $1 packets of old lace. I bought more than my fair share, but couldn’t stop thinking about them so stopped on the way home to buy more.

Beth happened to bring craft supplies too, and shared her 1800s era quilt pieces for us to embellish with some things we found along the way.

Impromptu creations made with just what you have with you can be an inspiring challenge. We all managed to get a few pretties done.

But mostly we just laughed. And then laughed some more. Then we ate and drank wine and did more laughing.

It was perfect!

Beauty in Blue

antiques/junking, bird song art event, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / November 1, 2019

It is exciting to announce that I will be teaching at Karen Hillman’s Beauty in Blue event at Stacy Seely’s ranch in Texas!

Crafting these birdcage angels for the holiday themed Snowbird’s Song has been so much fun, that I thought I’d use the idea to make a springtime, fairy version in shades of blue for Karen’s gathering.

She is now “Blue Bonnet Belle”.

A few years ago, my Sissy, Randy, and I were lucky enough to be invited to an event at Stacy’s with Karen. Oh my, what a lovely spot! And amazing food! It is a big slumber party, with gourmet food and lots of special attention, plus shopping at the Canton Flea AND crafting?

Yee haw, what a shindig! (Hopefully that sounded Texan?)

If you would like to join us in April, here is Karen’s info about the party. See you there?

ABOUT THIS all inclusive Art Retreat gathering FOR creative women

Karen Hillman of Cozy Castle Events invites you to join her, deep in the heart of Texas for this all-inclusive, creative, and inspiring weekend. This will be the third “Beauty in Blue” retreat presented by Karen at Whitworth Ranch Retreat. It is a celebration of Spring themed in shades of blue, inspired by the Texas state flower, the Bluebonnet. Karen strives to make each class or event a beautiful, detailed, and unforgettable experience.

Our home for the weekend is The Whitworth Ranch Retreat, a full service shabby chic art retreat located about 45 minutes outside of Dallas. (book your air travel into Dallas Fort Worth Airport). Stacy Seely is our chef and hostess at this wonderful retreat, which is a working Texas cattle ranch! Visit Whitworth Ranch Retreat to learn more about this exclusive retreat.

This event includes your accommodations, ten meals, three gorgeous art projects, Champagne party and personal portrait in the bluebonnets, Canton Flea market and Mineola shopping adventures, and more.

This is a weekend escape for creative-minded women who enjoy and thrive being in a group setting. The only rules are to leave the real world behind you and relax, escape, and create in this positive and upbeat atmosphere. The meals have been chosen according to the theme of this weekend, and we will have salad options available, but food selections have been pre planned therefore we can not accommodate dietary restrictions.

Registration Information

This is an all-inclusive event, and the cost covers your accommodations, meals, and instructed art projects.

The total cost is $775; at least half must be paid to reserve your spot with the remaining balance due by March 1st, 2020. PLEASE NOTE: A deposit secures your spot for this event and is NON-REFUNDABLE. Should you need to cancel, an effort will be made to find a replacement to fill your spot, but we cannot guarantee this. Once you are registered, you will receive paperwork to complete and return to Karen by email.

Click here to register on-line!

If you wish to pay by check, make checks payable to Karen Hillman Designs and mail to:
233 West Rich Avenue
DeLand, FL 32720

Beauty In Blue Art Retreat
Scurry, Texas (near Dallas)
April 1-5th 2020
$775—all Inclusive!

Look what we’ve got planned! Attendees will
receive a detailed itinerary and supply list
once registered.

Wednesday, April 1st Arrival 4 PM
6:30 Dinner
7:30 Hand Coloring Portrait Demonstration
with Karen Hillman

Thursday, April 2nd
Continental Breakfast
Canton Flea Market Shopping Adventure
Dinner
Chambray Shirt Design Class with Karen Hillman

Friday, April 3rd
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the retreat
Happy Hour Champagne Party in the
bluebonnet field and portraits
with Jennifer Hayslip
Completion of Chambray Shirt
“All that Glitters” embellished picture frame
with Karen Hillman

Saturday, April 4th
Breakfast
Town of Minneola shopping day
Lunch at Southern Fried Restaurant
Dinner
“Blue Bonnet Belle “Class with Karla Nathan

Sunday, April 5th
Farewell Breakfast

Three published artists will lead you in creating special keepsake projects

Karen Paige Hillman will give a demonstration of the timeless art of hand-colored black and white portraits. Also, bring along a blue chambray shirt, and Karen will help you design and embellish it into a whole new creation using lace, trims, and unique textiles. Each attendee will also create an “All That Glitters” 5×7 picture frame using rhinestone findings, vintage bling, and Swarovski crystals. Learn more about Karen’s art, classes, and events on her website, thecozycastle.com

Published photographer and artist Jennifer Hayslip will work her portrait magic among the Texas Bluebonnets! Bring along a special outfit for your personal photo. Check out Jennifer’s fanciful website, jenniferhayslip.com

And the amazing Karla Nathan of Karla’s Cottage will help you bring to life your own beautiful Bluebonnet Belle in shades of blue and white! View Karla’s incredible studio and art on her website, karlascottage.typepad.com

Living like a Queen at the Cozy Castle, plus Kit and Class info

antiques/junking, bird song art event, celebrations, Food and Drink, friends, Travel, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / March 11, 2019

This is my buddy from my weekend at the Cozy Castle.

Queen Satine, is as gentle and sweet as she is glamorous.

I felt as queenly as Satine looks the whole time I was with Karen.

From the very first night, walking up to her welcoming home, I was wrapped up in comfort, caring, and luxury.

It was heavenly!!!!!

These wings are painted on an alley wall in Deland, FL. Karen took me out for a night of exploration of the cute downtown and we stopped to check out the artwork.

The workshops that I taught were hosted at her event space nearby, and she has it every bit as pretty as her home.

We had a group of fun ladies there to make angel wings and a memory book with me, and they came bearing gifts.

After this leg of my journey, I was meeting Sugarwings and my husband, and they were very happy to see me the chocolate when I picked them up at the airport.

The wings were the same kits from the class that I had at the cottage for Valentine's Day, A Lovebird's Song.

But we put a Karen style spin on it, and had frozen Charlottes and bisque babies available for purchase to add to the wings. (Karen will be teaching a class using the sweet bisque babes here at the cottage if you'd like to join us on April 20th)

The kits I provided were neutral with soft pink, but I always enjoy seeing what goodies people bring to add some extra touches to their own projects. My friend, Becky gave her wings some Florida Flair.

We had two rooms set up for the students, and I was busy flittering about between the two. It almost made the teaching go a little easier than the same amount of people in just one room, because when they are at separate tables in the same space, I still have to repeat the instructions to each table, but this way, I didn't feel like I was bothering one table to say my spiel to another table.

After the morning's class, we were lucky enough to be guided to the Cozy Castle for a lunch break, to dine at a beautifully appointed table Karen had prepared for us.

And to be treated to the world's best cake!

Last year, Karen baked one for my birthday, and gave it to me on a surprise visit. I was quite happy to get another taste of one of her specialties.

After our schmancy luncheon of deliciousness and beauty, we went back to the workspace for round two, and made these memory, or autograph books.

There are some extra kits, (I always make plenty) I just haven't had a chance to get them listed in the Boutique because I am in the middle of BLECK! taxes BLECK! and in getting kits made for the Once Upon and Easter event that Jenn Hayslip is hosting on Jekyll Island. (I am making extra for those too)

I will have more time when I return in April, after the OTHER CLASS that I am also prepping for here at the cottage with Karen.

Whew! That is a lot of classes in a row!

You can inquire about the wings and autograph book kits now, ($40 each) or wait until all are listed in mid April. Sorry I'm not on the ball for the kits yet. But soon, there will be a slew of them. You can be crafting away up to your knees is kits if you feel like it. (ha)

Or maybe I will be seeing you at A Song of Spring and you can be treated like a queen by Karen too? She brings light and love and happiness and glamour and style and sincerity and beauty everywhere she goes, and I think you'll enjoy the classes.

Her only free time, while in Kansas visiting, is Easter weekend. Soooo…… it is not an easy time for people to get away for a workshop. Looks like it will be a smaller class, which means we have plenty of space available if you'd like to join us?

Lunch, treats, 3 classes, and lots of laughing, foofiness, and fun.

Sorry, I wish I could offer poodle hugs, but Queen Satine will not be attending. She must have an appointment with the Easter Bunny too.

email me at:

Karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

if you are interested in one of the kits from my past workshops or attending a future one.

I will leave you with a couple more photos from my royal weekend with Satine and Karen. It was the BEST! She even took me to Mt Dora's famous flea market.

Yep, it was the BEST.

Great news for Good Juju lovers!

antiques/junking, friends

By Karla Nathan / February 8, 2019

And who wouldn’t love shopping there?

Beth, The Other Karla, and I went to the Old West Bottoms to shop during the February show.

As we’d expected, there were valentines galore.

With a mix of hand crafted items, salvage, restored furniture, and vintage decor.

I always like the variety.

And the display inspiration.

But as great as the place is, it is about to get even better….

Beth has joined the team of fabulous vendors! You can find her on the first floor starting on the first Friday of March. You’ll know what booth it is, by the crowd of thrilled bargain hunters filling their arms with cool vintage goodies!

Good luck, Beth! I’m excited for you.

https://www.goodjujukc.com/

Christmas tag books in the Boutique and a sweet wedding, at the BEST weekend

antiques/junking, Books, celebrations, friends, holiday decor, vintage paper/collage art, wallpaper

By Karla Nathan / November 21, 2018

I'm still enjoying the bounty of paint pours from my creative binge this summer and am now using the pieces to make holiday tag books.

You can purchase them HERE, in the Boutique.

I seriously adore the technique and the look of the swirled paints. Acrylic flow painting is the BEST!

I'd gone with Beth to attend the wedding of The Other Karla's son in St Paul and brought crafty goods (including these painted tags) with me to play with in the hotel room, then found a bounty of beauties at a flea market on the way there.

Once I got started on making these, I couldn't stop. I was a bad friend and sent Beth out on her own to have lunch with her Minnesota nieces while I stayed in my jammies and made book after book after book that day, till it was time to get ready for the wedding.

Because- WOW- look at this paper I'd found!!!!! How could I leave it uncut, when I had all of these pretty, painted tags to make things with????

I'd also bought 1928-29 women's magazines from December with lots of helpful Christmas tips, along with an old book of hymms that included Christmas carols.

And stacks of holiday ephemera.

And did I mention that it was 13 degrees outside? And I'd driven through mini blizzards to get there. Yes, I was content to do hotel crafting in my jim jams and had a beautiful, wonderful, magical day.

It was the BEST.

Not only did I have a fab night with friends, then a day at a flea market on the way to the wedding, I had an entire day with the most magical of vintage supplies, topped off with a night of dancing and laughing til my sides hurt at the wedding.

Or did my sides hurt because I was way to old to dance that hard and that long?

Either way, it was a perfect weekend. Laughter, road trips, making things, attending a lovely wedding. Yep, the BEST.

I had never met Karla's son, but soon realized he was a catch. His wife won my heart quickly too, when she told us about the family tradition of using this vintage cake topper.

Karla made ribbon wands that were waved in the air when the couple entered the reception, and soon we were all dancing and waving them around out on the floor. Not only were they pretty to see flying about, but they had magical properties.

When we twirled them about, we were FANTASTIC dancers. We were the BEST.

And personally, I can't dance and have less rhythm than, well, I can't actually think of anything or anyone with less skill on the dance floor than I have.

Between the laughing and the ribbon wands, my dancing skills suddenly became amazing. Everyone's did.

Yep, it was the BEST.

A rare find- never ending rolls of old wallpaper on a junking day!

antiques/junking, Books, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 16, 2018

Beth and I had a morning out at estate sales and the Old West Bottoms antique district, and while out, I hit paydirt. Again, and again!

Which is pretty rare, to find such old, and wonderful wallpaper at an estate sale then turn around and find more at a shop, that wasn't even an antique or vintage store.

(Well, that scene isn't all that wonderful, is it? But the black, graphic background is really pretty, even though the drawing reminds me of the Sunday funny papers).

This makes up for the goofy cartoon scenes.

Most of the papers have metallic elements.

And many have GLITTER!

The only problem is that they are extremely old and fragile. I ironed a lot of it to use, and discovered that it is best for small projects. So I cut up some smaller, scrap packs to sell in the Boutique.

I'm in love!

I had to make something out of it, right away.

So, I covered this box, inside and outside with some of the glittery goodness.

These piles are the scrap packs I told you about. Some are for sale in the Boutique, ($14) one is for a giveaway to celebrate my find (details to come in my next post).

The rest will be included with the purchase of the art journals that I made with the fab papers.

You can find the books here.

As well as a few other finds, and some bargain markdowns that I put on sale.

But please be patient with me for shipping if you'd like to order something. I'm headed to Wyoming to see family and will be sending out boxes on Wednesday next week.

Restoring an antique table with no stripping

antiques/junking, cottage, Hand Painted Furniture, paintings

By Karla Nathan / May 4, 2017

I love my "new" French side table!

It started like this. $30 at an estate sale, good lines, ruined finish, missing a few bits of trim, but sturdy. The first thing I did was rough up the finish with a sanding block, taking off as much old varnish as I could, but not all of it.

I thought I could touch up and restore the flowers, but it turned out they needed completely repainted. The style was so pretty, I used that as a basis for my own painting, and tweaked the colors to suit my own taste, a little less purple and orange, a lot more pink and blue.

You can tell the varnish was still spotty, some came away when I sanded, but I didn't try to get it down to bare wood.

There are flowers on all three sides.

Next I painted the edges aqua with chalk paint from Hobby Lobby. And added trailing viney-swirly gold, and painted the beaded trim the same gold. I rubbed that gold paint over the raised carvings on the table legs with my finger tips.

After that dried, I generously brushed on dark wax, and wiped it off with a soft towel. A chip brush is the best tool for getting down into the crevices of the trim and carving. I added more in places where the bare wood still showed, and made sure it got soaked in to those spots. The photo above is with one coat of dark wax, it looked better after a second.

The finish isn't perfect, but perfect is over rated. I like things to look aged and worn. So, some spotty varnish is okay with me. I also didn't try to replace the few places where the beaded trim was missing, that sort of thing happens over time on vintage pieces.

If you are not a painter, you could still use this technique on old wood, without the flowers I added. It was all pretty quick and easy.

My friends Queenie and Beth, at Beth’s Booth

antiques/junking

By Karla Nathan / January 27, 2017

A couple times a year, Beth participates at the Old Summit Country Antique Show in Lees Summit. She and I used to do shows together and I sure miss it sometimes. So, to get my fix of junk stylin', I help her set up her wares.

She always has pretty stuff to work with. Displays almost create themselves, she has coordinated her inventory so well.

Unless I start picking through it, that is. The ribbon flowers? I snagged 'em.

While unpacking boxes, we had a visitor.

I did say COUNTRY SHOW, right?

Well, even though that is the name of the event, it doesn't mean that you are guaranteed a chance to snuggle farm animals.

Queenie was only 4 days old, too little to be left at home while her adopted family set up their own space at the show. She was pretty dang adorable and I was tempted to go pig shopping on my way home.

I've heard they are good pets.

But after more than a year and a half, we are still adjusting to owning a large dog. The mix with Honey the golden retriever with three goofy, little dorkies, has not been easy.

After considering just how much a piglet could complicate the already precarious union of those four dogs, I came to my senses. Plus, my studio already smells bad enough. Ugh- I think there is a dead mouse in the wall. It has been too awful to go in there to get any work done.

Oh, but wasn't Queenie a cutey????

Little Decor Details- adding age to a new room

antiques/junking, cottage, Hearth Room, Kitchen remodel

By Karla Nathan / September 12, 2016

Beth gave a brass door knocker to me for my birthday last May, and I had not used it yet. When I was finishing up little things for the new room, and painting outlet covers and switch plates to match the walls, I decided to paint this too. It is now on the bathroom door, and gives the little grand fairies a lot of pleasure in BANGING it when the room is occupied by one of the sisters.

On it, and on the vintage brass outlet covers, I used a spray bonding primer in white, let it dry, and then washed the pieces with the "sandcliff beige" color I'd used on accent walls. Afterwards, all got a spritz of clear polyurethane.

Nowhere I looked had a vintage 3 toggle switch plate. So, I glued a little bit of old, metal trim onto a wooden plate, and painted it in the same way. Not many of my electrical covers match, I have a few different styles, so it seems to fit in just fine. I think it looks much better than the white plastic one that came from the electrician. That was way, way too shiny and new in our old house. I did what I could to make the new addition look like it belonged with original the house.

Like using vintage curtain fabric on the windows.

And re-using this old, iron shelf that had previously been in the kitchen. I debated hanging it up again (it is made from a chippy, iron porch rail and two rusty brackets, the rail is probably from the 40s and the brackets are new, but look old- plus they are birdies!!). It had been over the dining room window for ten years or so, and I thought maybe I was over it. But I realized that I'd enjoyed it for that long and still did, I was glad to add it back into the new room.

When I was a full time, antique dealer, my home felt like it had a revolving door on it. Things were constantly changing and I was always finding something better than what I had before. Stuff had stopped moving around as much as it used to, mostly it gets shuffled, not replaced anymore.

I figured I might be getting boring. And I shouldn't just reuse the same stuff over and over.

Then, it dawned on me that I'd found pieces that I really liked keeping and there was nothing wrong with having some forever pieces. Why get rid of them for the sake of change? I think I'd settled on these items because I loved them. And they all mix and match with other things I love in my cottage.

Also, as I unpack belongings, I am being picky about setting things out. Just because I own it, doesn't mean it needs to be out, right? I can have goodies stored away to play switcheroo with when I feel like a change. There still is a revolving door with stuff moving in and out, but now it is into a storage cabinet, not gone forever.

It was meant to be

antiques/junking, celebrations, family

By Karla Nathan / April 3, 2016

When I started beading wrap bracelets, out of the blue and obsessively, I had no plan for them, other than I simply wanted to learn how to make them, then couldn't stop.

My dining table (for some odd reason, I wasn't working in the studio, maybe because I kept saying, "just one more, then I'll put this mess away") was filled with beads and supplies. Even all day on Easter, before we set the piles aside to sit down and enjoy our family dinner.

(It was all swept aside and we had dinner with no beads on the table for the first time in two weeks)

I was really into the beading process. It was nothing I'd done before, and I was happy to learn a new skill. But like I said, I had no plans, no rhyme or reason for the new obsession.

Then, my soon to be daughter-in-law asked for help with her bridal headpiece. And from her description of what she wanted, I thought my new beading talents would be ideal. Having the boxes of trinkets and beads on the table in front of us inspired the design of the creation too.

I wonder if any of this would have occurred to me if I hadn't had beading on my mind and in front of me while we talked about it?

Heck, I didn't even own super glue or beading glue until I started doing those bracelets, and then it was right there at my fingertips when I was ready to start on this piece for her.

I had happened to buy some bridal floral picks while in California, because I was in the middle of doing journal pages and hadn't brought enough flowers with me. (is there such a thing as enough flowers????)

While I was able to find a couple of vintage floral hats, I didn't think it was enough (see what I mean, there are never enough flowers!) and I bought some of those white picks with the pearls too, even though they are not my typical style. I coffee dyed them to lose that bright, bright white sheen, and to vintage them up a bit.

Funny, I didn't end up using the bridal picks in CA after all. And they were exactly what I needed to build a base for this. I tied them together with silk ribbons, and used some of that super glue that I had in front of me to secure them.

After that, I snipped many of the existing pearl strands that were on loops of fishing line stuff, and changed them out for my own sparkling beads instead then glued those in place. We placed more flowers, snips of sik, a few rhinestones, and lots of feathers throughout.

Now, the hard part comes. Miss Tree is an aerialist and will be doing her act right after the ceremony, so will be wearing this hat while being upside down. We have to make it stay on her head, plus she is wanting her hair styled into two buns with trailing tails and tidbits of wildness. We made a few from wool roving and she is working on more.

Since everything for her headpiece just kind of came together for me with stuff on hand, that I just happened to have, but normally would not, I have a feeling that the rest of the piece will work out beautifully too.

It was just meant to be.

Like having Miss Tree and her two girls as family.

ABOUT THIS all inclusive Art Retreat gathering FOR creative women

Registration Information

Beauty In Blue Art RetreatScurry, Texas (near Dallas)April 1-5th 2020$775—all Inclusive!

Three published artists will lead you in creating special keepsake projects

Beauty In Blue Art Retreat
Scurry, Texas (near Dallas)
April 1-5th 2020
$775—all Inclusive!