celebrations – Page 17 – Karla's Cottage

For every before and after, there is an in between

celebrations, We're having a party, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / November 20, 2013

Saturday is my party!! I feel like a kid waiting for my birthday, I'm so excited. I sincerely enjoy throwing these little arty bashes, and when you add Christmassy decor to it, I'm plain old giddy about it.

My kits are together, but the room is still a mess. I've skipped over and tripped over piles of stuff to take a break from the boring part of getting ready to do some of the fun stuff, the foofing.

And when I say "tripping" I mean it. The room is a wreck. But- it is an organized mess. Those Trader Joes bags on the table? Each one is full of 20 kits for each of the ornaments we will be working on. It might look like chaos in here, but it's all coming together, and my stacks and piles have purpose. Soon, they'll be packed up and piled elsewhere, or used, or arranged, or something, and it will all be ready for company.

But I am not the type of person who can do all the grunt work at once. I need little pick me up, fun breaks. So, I'll trim ribbons, cut paper, and print images to pack up a kit, then I'll sneak over to hang a banner or pretty up a corner of the room.

The clutter will be cleared from the tables eventually, the dog pee pads will be picked up and tossed out, and the floor mopped, but having my pretties up on the walls around me as I do the drudgery part makes it more bearable.

Although, I might be sorry I am taking my time and preparing the room in the fun way instead of the practical way. Last night, the handle snapped off of my kitchen sink faucet!

No repairing, this needs replaced. Now, I'm off to Home Depot and have to clear the whole counter top and under the sink. A bit of a time suck, when I have a lot to do in the studio. I might have to be a firmer taskmaster to myself to get the room ready for Saturday.

On the other hand, it is nice to know that a lot of the pretty part is done and waiting for guests. I can always shove a bunch of stuff in the garage and the room will pull itself together quickly if need be.

Wish me luck….

Happy Birthday Dewdrop

celebrations, Dew Drop

By Karla Nathan / November 16, 2013

Little Dewdrop is turning 3 today. Oh my!

She still lets me call her "baby" even though she insists that she is a big girl.

Here she is, only a few hours old.

And I wonder if her love for playing dress up began way back in her first week, when we played fairy with her?

She seemed to enjoy the game.

For a long time, she adored dressing in any pink dress at all.

But recently, she has become fixated on this pink "fincess" (princess) dress. It's the one that she wants to wear daily, no matter what. There have been days when it is hard to get it off of her to get into the laundry.

Of course, if you know me, you know I don't mind. I love being surrounded by pink princesses!

A Romantic Cottage Christmas

celebrations, holiday decor, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / October 30, 2013

On Saturday, November 23, I will be hosting a gathering in my Lawrence, Kansas studio to create dainty decor for your holiday home. All supplies will be included for you to finish 4 sparkling projects. A homemade lunch, and goodies will be served, as well as beverages throughout the day.

We will be working with many of my favorite, vintage supplies and of course, using The Good Stuff. You will only need to bring your tools, I'll provide the rest. You'll receive a kit for each pretty we make, plus I'll have a table of extras set up for you to personalize and embellish to your heart's content. There is no such thing as too much when the holidays roll around! Glitter and sparkle galore will be the theme of the day.

This is an all day workshop, two projects in the morning and two after lunch, from 9am-5pm.

Cost is $100 Please email me for a paypal invoice if you'd like to join us for the day. If you'd rather to pay by check, just let me know.

karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

Limited space is available, (and I will try to make up extra kits to sell online for those of you who are too far away to jump in your sleigh and come visit in person.) But I do hope to see you here at the Cottage! I'll have it all foofed and tinselled up for our special day.

ghosts and giggles

celebrations, Dew Drop, family, Food and Drink, holiday decor, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / October 30, 2013

We did some early Halloween celebrating at the county club's Ghost and Giggles event. It's such a cute evening out, they have games set up for the kids, a clown, balloon animals, and great food.

And creepy names for the foods, like Mummy Fingers, Monster Eyeballs, and Frank's Green Goo. Dewdrop was excited to get her plate till I started to recite the names for her. We call her the world's hungriest baby, but she wasn't going near her food when she thought it was really monster stuff.

The clown's show made up for the scary decor and spooky food titles. She was mesmerized.

Sguarwings was so excited by it all, she was mostly a blur, darting from one event to the next.

The club had piles of candy out for kids to help themselves, and I was pleased to see that our little fairies didn't try to load up on it. I filled my pockets with Smarties…. I didn't see the girls even go near the treats table. Maybe the spooky skeleton kept them away.

They were much more interested in the bowls of toys that were also self serve. Sugarwings treated us to a puppet show with her loot.

I went as a witch. My son said I looked so good that someone might just drop a house on me.

He didn't go with us, he had a DJ job that night, and went as Thoth and fabricated this mask for his costume.

Sugarwings wanted to wear the Halloween costume that her mommy bought for her, but I asked her to save it for her school party and trick or treating, so it would be special then. I didn't tell her that I wanted her to wear the princess gown I'd bought for the Renfest so I could get some of my money's worth out of it.

Not that it was too pricey, TJ Max and Marshalls have elaborate, well made costumes for a decent price, her gorgeous, velvet dress was $32. It was a very good quality. So was Dewdrop's and hers came with a cloak too.

But even at only thirty bucks each, I felt like I needed to get two events out of the dresses!

This year's party seemed a bit subdued. When I mentioned it to my husband later, he said it was because of the KU game that night, not a lot of people made reservations.

A game instead of dressing up like a witch, and watching a magic show with a couple of pink princesses? What was everyone thinking? That never would have occurred to me.

A royal visit to the Renfest

celebrations, Dew Drop, fairies, family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / September 23, 2013

Last weekend, we made our annual trip to the Rennesaince Festival. We always love going, and since Sugarwings was born, I rarely miss it. Before that, it had probably been 7-8 years between visits. But seeing it with my very own little fairy by my side, has made the experience very special.

This year, I had both girls with me. They decided they wanted to be princesses, not fairies, so I created some gowns for them. We had some ivory satin dresses in the play cabinet, but they'd seen better days. Around here, dress up clothes get a heavy duty workout.

So, I stitched bundles of white tulle around the waists, and took the plastic innards out of silk roses, and sewed them on the bodices. It's not a great sewing job, I just bunched up the tulle and pushed it through the machine. I was pretty pleased with myself for not sewing the back of the dress to its own front, with so many layers of bunched up fabric in those full skirts, I was impressed that I could do it. And I ran the pedal right over the silk rose and leaves, no careful hand stitching here.

After that, we threw them both in the washer with a half bottle each of pale pink and fuchsia Rit dye (because that is what I had), along with a few stained tee shirts, hoping to salvage the shirts by hiding the stain under a coat of pink. Anytime I dye stuff, I fill up the machine with as many things as I can find, kind of to see what can be repaired that is stained, but also just because it's fun to see a new color emerge.

Dewdrop and I sat in front of the washer and watched the clothes spin as the color sunk in. I'd say we watched it at least 10 minutes, until I started to wonder exactly what had become of my life, that sitting in front of a washing machine was now entertainment…

We arrived at the festival just in time for the beginning of the Dance of the Fairies going on right inside the gate. It's always the highlight of our day there. I was glad we started with that, I had my hands full with these guys, so it was nice that I didn't have to keep my eye on the clock to make it across the park to get to a showtime for the dance later in the day.

Uncle Ryan came along to help me out, he hadn't been to the festival since he was in high school. Ry has some social phobias and doesn't enjoy crowded places. But his near death experience seems to be opening him up to new adventures.

And I needed the backup. My husband was out of town, all the parents were working, it was just us.

While these princesses are adorable, lovable, and the lights of my life, they are still not easy for me to handle alone with all the crowds and excitement. Sugarwings especially thrives with one on one attention, and that isn't possible, when there is a two year old who needs caring for. Usually, my husband and I "divide and conquer" on outings.

Ryan was handy to have, although, he has his own issues, and needs tending also. He has to be cajoled and joked with, to keep his mood up and his mind calm.

I'm glad he came, we had some laughs, and even when one little girl would get distracted by something shiny and the other one would be angered by something not quite going her way, he managed to hold it together despite the crowds that bother him so much. I was proud of him and thankful to have his help.

I might have been even more impressed with his attitude than with my ability not to sew the bunches of skirts into a big wad.

I recommend this event so highly.

It is set in a lovely, wooded park and has permanent buildings that are as cute as can be. A pretty little fantasy to join in on.

This wasn't my favorite visit there, but it wasn't the fault of the park, it was me trying to juggle too many special needs at once. I'd like to take each girl on her own, to really enjoy the days with them. Plus, going to that festival is always such a special time for me, that I feel like I missed out on some of the joy this year, our trip wasn't a typical one for us, it had it's stressed moments.

I want a do-over!!

Isn't this entrance to the play area cute? I wouldn't mind taking ONE girl at a time there, just to hang out at the play place for a couple hours. Their father is selling his jewelry and managing a booth there this season, so we have free passes for his kids to go.

He is also helping a friend build a castle there. The guy my son is working for, is a talented stone mason. This is an ongoing project, in it's third year, and still has a few years ahead of it till it is completed.

Here he is, his name is Forrest. I'm not sure you can see all the detail of his work from my photos, but it's quite intricate and arty.

Cool, huh? At this point, it is more like a courtyard than a castle, very open. I think it's magical as it is, but am looking forward to watching it grow.

That column and window are fantastic.

I'll leave you with some more photos of our trip.

PS- Thank you for all of your enquiries about Ryan. He is doing well, is working at the new job while still going to cardiac rehab. That job is kicking his butt, it is very hard work, but he is happy to be there.

Happy 7th Birthday Sugarwings!

celebrations, Dew Drop, family, Food and Drink, games, Sugarwings, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / August 16, 2013

Sugarwings turned 7, lost a front tooth, and started first grade. It has been a VERY exciting week.

Her mom threw her a party over the weekend, so she could celebrate with a few friends.

She had asked for a pinata, and I thought we'd make one together, but time was short, so we enhanced one instead. I found a colorful donkey at Walmart, trimmed its long ears, and used one ear to create a horn.

And of course, it needed glitter. Who doesn't? We spritzed it with glitter spray and while wet, doused it with even more flakes of glitter. Then, a mane and tail were created from curled ribbons.

Much more fitting for the Princess Party than a plain, old donkey! And with every whack, a cloud of glitter floated down onto the kids below.

And I think it was more fun than the one I would have made. This was sturdy cardboard and held up through a ton of whackings. I'd have made paper mache and it would have met an early death.

Her mom proved that you can go gluten, food coloring, and dairy free and still have the most wonderful birthday cake ever. It was rich, moist and wonderful.

The guests loved it.

After cake, there was some fun with a colorful parachute, and then they were off to the park pool.

It was a sweet, little party. Nothing elaborate or expensive. Just plain old fashioned fun.

I think our fairy girl was pretty happy with it.

I know I was!

Hoppity Hearts and Whammy Time

celebrations, Dew Drop, family, Hens, Nathan Family Fairy Food Forest, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / July 15, 2013

We've been spending a lot of time outdoors this summer. Breakfast in the fairy play yard, bubbles in the Food Forest, swimming at the lake, and just plain soaking up some daylight and goofing off.

There has been a lot of side walk chalk involved in our summer fun too. We have always liked hopscotch, but around here, everything needs to be cranked up a notch. So, we came up with Hoppity Hearts. It's like hopscotch, but with heart shaped steps. That go on and on and on across the drive way.

And leave it to Sugarwings to add yet another element to a game. If she isn't making up guidelines, she isn't happy. So, soon a dress code was added. Although Dewdrop refused to submit to the dress code, which is why there are no photos of her. All she was wearing was mud. And lots of it. While that was pretty cute, I didn't think a totally naked baby was blog material.

Boxes full of blueberry plants had arrived for the Food Forest, and Sugarwings gloms onto any empty box to transform it into part of her games. And these seemed to be a perfect fit.

The weather has been perfect too. The forest and the work my son and our Gypsy have done is just blowing me away.

There is something tasty to add to our dinner every night, as well as a garden so pretty that I just want to go out and stand there and daydream instead of work.

I love the mix of wildflower seeds in with the veggies. We have done pretty well bugwise, with the good bugs to eat the bad, and with flowers that keep the nasties away. It seems to work much better than I'd thought, but we are having trouble now with some squash vine borers. But pesticides don't work on those anyway, you have to do surgery on the joints of the vine to cut the varmits out.

I've decided that I'm soaking up the fun, the beauty, and the opportunities around me this summer. I'm taking some time off and saying YES to adventure. Even if it is as simple as laying on our backs and seeing fluffy shapes in clouds. I'm also planning on taking the girls out at least once a week for a field trip. And I'm going to try to travel with my husband more too.

I swear, that little break from work while my wireless was wonky and my hard drive died, has given me a new outlook. I'm all in for summer now! A little taste of leisure and I'm hooked. I tend to be a bit of a work-a-holic, but that is on hold for a while.

Summertime, LOOK OUT! Here comes Whammy!! (Dewdrop can't say Grammie, she calls me Whammy, and I kind of like it, it sounds much more adventuresome than Grams)

A Fairy Tea Breakfast

celebrations, Dew Drop, fairies, family, Food and Drink, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / July 5, 2013

When someone wanders down the stairs first thing in the morning wearing a vintage nightgown and wings, there is only one thing you can do.

Have a breakfast tea party!

Royalty

celebrations, family, Sugarwings, Travel

By Karla Nathan / June 3, 2013

Pure bliss. Sugarwings has loved Ariel since she was barely two.

While she is enamoured of all the Disney royalty, and can insert herself into any of their stories, she has always been loyal to her first and best favorite, Ariel.

During the princess luncheon at Cinderella's castle, she was pretty much in heaven and happy to meet these people whose stories she can't get enough of.

Each princess is announced as they walk into the room, and then they make their way around to each table for photo ops and chats. As Sugarwings spoke to Snow White, Ariel's visit was announced, and poor Snow was dissed mid-sentence for a view of the most wonderful princess of them all.

Snow White was set aside like a pile of dirty socks the minute Ariel walked into the room.

As she waited nervously for her special princess to come around to our table, she clutched her chest and told me, "I just don't know what I'm going to say to her when she comes here!!". Which is completely unlike our little chatterbox who is never at a loss for words.

This is a little girl who lives more in her imagination than in the real world around her, to her, this was all 100% real. So, after meeting Jasmine at lunch, she was not surprised to see a look alike of her, in a waitress uniform at a different restaurant that evening.

Our supper waitress was named Jasmine and Sugarwings was as happy to meet her that night as she had been earlier in the day. Jasmine told us that most little girls dismiss her when they don't see a fancy gown, but Sugarwings is a girl who knows that princesses don't always have to wear a dress to be royal through and through. (My husband preferred the lunchtime Jasmine's costume)
It was all quite special, but anytime we can watch our little grand fairy indulge her imagination is wonderful to us. And it was fun to be able to give her mommy a first time visit here and to watch her become a little girl again too.

PS- If you are going to Disneyworld, I highy reccommend the food and everything about the meal at the castle. And any food at all you get at the California park.

The Florida one, on the other hand, seems to have a lower standard for Food and Beverage, at least on the few trips I've been to it. And it is hard to get into a restaurant without reservations. Unless you want to eat hot dogs or other fast food, make a reservation or pack a picnic. Next time I go, I'm taking a cooler and a picnic lunch. We rented a double stroller to haul our stuff and to keep Sugarwings where we could find her, so it would have been easy to put a cooler in there too.

Mt. Dora

celebrations, guncles, Travel

By Karla Nathan / April 5, 2013

What is more fun than a barrel of monkeys? A weekend with a guncle! Throw in some talented crafty friends, a trip to a favorite city and nothing can compare.

Our craft day was Friday, and all day Saturday was shopping at a downtown art and antique fair. Sadly, it didn't measure up to our expectations, but we had a blast anyway.

And our first stop was a good one. Judy, the Birthday Girl, had a booth at Annabelle's. This is her fairy crown and it was lovely.

We all found something we wanted to buy at Annabelle's.

Karen has a booth there and at a glance you know exactly whose spot it is. You can see her touch on everything.

Before shopping, we checked out a fruit laden tree growing by Karen's porch. I didn't know what it was, but it smelled and looked tasty. I broke one open and tried it, probably not a smart thing to do, not knowing what it was. I guessed kumquat, but Randy told us it was a loquat, so I was close. And man, was it delicious. Kind of peachy.

Before Randy let us know it was safe, I asked everyone to watch me for signs of poisoning. But I was fine, of course, just a little sticky.

I'm very impatient for our Food Forest to start producing. I adore all the fresh fruit growing in Florida and can't resist picking it any time I can. At the Guncle's they have lemon and oranges too. But there were only a few oranges left at the top of the tree and shaking it did no good.

I was able to get some French lemons from Karen and some non French, regular lemons from Randy. I'm not sure what the diff is. But all will soon be lemonade and pie.

We ate lunch at a tea room in Mt Dora that I thought was pretty durn good until we went for a walk and visited THIS tea room.

WOW.

(yep, my eyes are closed in the photo)

I was ready to make myself at home and stay there forever. But of course, I was going to the Guncle's that night, so I was ok about leaving after all. They are wonderful hosts, just like Karen was. I'll have pics of their warm, welcoming home next.