dogs – Page 17 – Karla's Cottage

Spring Cleaning (for the dogs)

dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), yorkies

By Karla Nathan / March 27, 2014

I don't know why I don't have my dogs groomed more often. They look so cute when they get home from the doggie salon! They get their teeth brushed and nails trimmed and the stink washed away too.

We'd let the poor things get so shaggy, no one in the family could tell the little fur balls apart.

It is just really nice to have freshly groomed puppeesh around and to see their faces once more.

And they enjoyed the trip to the salon too. Our neighbor, and puppeesh litter mate, Scruffy was there on the same day, unplanned. The groomer said all the dogs seemed to be great friends, but she had no idea they were related until Scruffy's family came to pick him up. What a fun coincidence!

A new queen of the castle?

Dew Drop, dogs, kitties

By Karla Nathan / March 6, 2014

We have a new family member. Dewdrop was very sad that when her mommy moved, they left her kitty behind. I hear it was actually the neighbor's cat, but she thought it was hers. So, I dropped by the shelter to see who was there, and this little kitten (that looked just like my cat when I was a child) was waiting for me.

Plus she was wearing a collar with a name tag that said "JOY". Sugarwings' middle name and one of my favorite words.

I knew she belonged with us.

She wasn't so sure. The minute I opened her crate, she ran and hid under this wall, to a boxed off area under the porch

. For two days.

I slid her food underneath the wall until she was ready to come out and get to know us. In the meantime, we laid on our tummies and looked at her with a flashlight while talking to her softly and sweetly.

The only thing that enticed her to come out was our ancient, tough old farm cat who hates almost everyone and all animals live in fear of.

For some reason, he adores her. She rubs all over him, purring and happy. Once he got her to come out, she started becoming our friend too.

But not the dogs' friend. That might take time. We hold her and let them observe. She will curl up and sleep, completely ignoring them but they remain hyper-vigilant, ears cocked, eyes staring.

For now, she seems quite content with living in the breezeway and coming in when we can hold her and protect her from the dorkies. But poor Dorothy Rosebud, she can't seem to realize that non-stop barking out the window at her is NOT required.

Joy Joy Angel Joy Nathan (named by Sugarwings) doesn't seem to mind the barking. In one week, she has gone from terror filled and hiding, to taming the meanest cat on the block and dismissing all the yapping that comes from the dogs.

I have a feeling that she is going to rule the place soon.

I've tried putting them altogether with me, and all of a sudden, the dogs lose their bravery. See how Twinks keeps her distance? And the Puppeesh hide behind me? None of them will even look at her if she is close. But man, if she (and her hissy voice) are across the room, they are fascinated.

It's been quite the show around here lately.

Doodling a day away

dogs, drawing, paintings

By Karla Nathan / January 29, 2014

Since I've been back from my vacation, I haven't had much time to play with my finger painting watercolor ap on my old iPad (still can't get it to work on iPad Air).

But one day, when there was no one home but me, I took a sloth day. A complete and total day of doing nothing. Jammies all day long, heck, I barely left my bedroom. I doodled on the ap, watched tv (3 episodes of Downton, plus a few hours more of other things I was behind on), and took naps.

I even dug around in my purse to find a battered protein bar so I didn't have to walk to the kitchen for food.

Everyone needs one of those days sometimes, don't they? A day that just kind of drifts away as you relax.

Later, when Sugarwings saw the fairy costume on the dress form picture, she asked me to do a drawing of a fairy in it so she could color it in. I've printed it for her so she can take it to the studio to paint on. Please don't look too closely at the fingers… it's a quickie pic for a kiddo.

During my nothing day, I was lazily looking through facebook and saw a photo of a beautiful little Bichon who lives with my friend, Holly, and decided to draw her from the picture.

Soon, my doodles turned to poodles. This is Guncle Randy's pup.

And his Bichon, Bella. Funny how different two dogs of the same breed can look. Not only the hairdo that the groomer gave them but eye and nose color too. Of course, I think my 3 dorkies look nothing alike, but when visitors come over, they can't always tell them apart.

While I was still in a canine mood, I drew Karen's elegant Satine from another FB page.

Sometimes, it can be frustrating to try to get detail on this ap. I've learned that bigger, more simple things are easier to do. Tiny details are impossible. (as proved by the fairy finger scribbles)

And also, I should just consider it cartooning, not a real painting. I keep it quick, light hearted and fun.

Hmmm, I wonder when I get another sloth day? Those are few and far between, but well worth waiting for. Although I paid for my day of doing nothing. Somehow, the old barn cat got into the office and made a horrid mess while I was busy doing nothing and not leaving my bedroom. Ugh. Double ugh.

Where Women Create

dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), magazine pictures or articles, photography, studio tour

By Karla Nathan / November 4, 2013

What a fun day!

Carol came out to shoot my studio for Where Women Create. After me cancelling on her TWO times due to illnesses. One nasty sore throat bug and another was when I swallowed a string from a grilled tenderloin, and ….. well, it's an odd story and ended up with my esophagus being scratched, then irritated, then dilated at the hospital through a scope… but anyway, finally, I was able to reshedule Carol's visit to Lawrence.

It wasn't easy, she is a busy lady (and rightfully so). And the editors gave us a deadline extension, so all should be set for the January edition.

Unless I broke Carol's camera. She did her best to get some portraits of me for the article. But posing isn't my strong suit. She had great directions for me to follow, but when I am told to do something with my body, I seem to be totally incapable of doing it, and do the opposite instead. You should see me in something like aerobics. I'm the one turning right instead of left and hopping back or into the next person. No grace, no skill. Kind of the way I dance.

Which is about as good as my singing…

When she asked me to drop my shoulders, lean forward, cross your legs, put your weight on your back foot, relax my forehead, lower my chin, all it sounded like to me was, "pretend that you are Quasimodo."

Carol had me laughing, so most looked like this, or if it was any good at all, my eyes were closed, of course.

I watch America's Next Top Model, but it didn't seem to help. To "smize", you need your eyes open.

I offered to throw in a few booty tooches.

But do you know who is a good poser? Tinks.

That dog was a real ham, and a hard worker too. Whenever there was a "hole" that needed a styling fix, we plopped in the dog. And she was pleased a punch to help out.

When we tried to get photos of the two of us together, Twinkle followed Carol's direction, cocked her head, smiled, kept her eyes open. Too bad she had eaten a pile of cat poo earlier, her breath wasn't too sweet when we were up close and personal for the shots.

By the end of the day, she was worn out from all the hard work and was done with helping out. She'd filled holes in several shots and I think made for some really cute vignettes.

We were all tuckered out at the end of the day, and finally stopped for a lunch break about 3. I picked a couple handfuls of greens from the garden and warmed up some soup I'd made for Sunday dinner. It had started out as vegetarian chilli, but I kept adding to it. Our garden had too many goodies still growing in it that I wanted to use. I even added pureed pumpkin, and it was pretty durn tasty.

Isn't soup always better the second day?

I've got a billion or so photos that I took with my camera, but I feel like I've shown my studio a billion or so times. You might think they are all kinda redundant. I guess if I don't get any other pictures taken this week, I'll show them. I mean, these are new and different angles and not boring at all….

Details about the winter workshop, Romantic Cottage Christmas, here at the studio are on my side bar.

If you'd rather come to see the room in person, I'd love to have you join us!

True Eye Candy

dogs, parties, Travel, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / October 17, 2013

Yep, believe it or not, this is REAL. A real life home, filled with kids, dogs, and love. As well as some of the prettiest collections you'll ever find.

Jenn's house is pretty as pretty can be.

A sweet confection of frothiness and pastel beauties.

With a fair share of whimsy too.

And attention to detail throughout.

And a home with a Yorkshire Terrier in it, is a very special home to me.

Throw in a second one and I'm a happy house guest.

Jenn graciously invited us to stay with her in her Georgia mansion and it was our home base for a couple of nights on our trip.

There was something breathtaking to see, everywhere I looked. But the loveliest item off all, was this photo that Jenn took of her daughter, Vivian.

She is beginning a new photography business called Pink Ellie

From the examples she has posted, I can see that she will do well. Oh my! She has captured some beautiful moments.

Jenn opened up her equally frothilly sweet studio to us too. I brought charms and glaze, Lori and Hope provided old papers, so we could all have some creating time.

The room is Jenn from floor to ceiling.

Pictured: Jennifer Hayslip

Hope Wallace Kearny

We had decided not to do a whole craft day, or any big projects. This little one was just right, to satisfy the creative urge but still leave plenty of time for just relaxing.

Pictured:

Suzanne Duda and Lori Oles

And of course, was a great excuse to soak up Jenn's stellar studio. And pose. We did a lot of posing.

d And smiling. Tons of smiling.

A Romantic Country Photo Shoot with Fifi, or the Adventures of the Pink Flowered Rug

cottage, dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), flowers, magazine pictures or articles

By Karla Nathan / August 11, 2013

Last week, Fifi came to my home to do an article for Romantic Country magazine. We had worked together in the past on a few small projects but I'd only met her briefly at our friend, Carol's home. It was a joy to spend the day with her and I was happy to have her come and visit the Cottage. She's cute as a bug and filled with interesting stories. Accompanying her was photographer, Mark Lohman, who was witty as well as talented. He made me giggle quite a few times during the day, with his teasing comments.

He also showed me a photo he had taken of his dogs, that has to be the most beautiful pet portrait I have ever seen. His two Shih Tzus are running toward the camera, with their hair flying in the wind, happy looks on their little turned up nose faces, and a blurred out, elegant garden behind them. That guy is an artist. What a picture.

Fifi and Mark made my home look lovely, I was impressed with their work. And I enjoyed not working on the story myself, just stepping back and letting the pros do it. In the past, with numerous articles, I've been the stylist or was writing the story. This time, I was just the home owner, and that was nice.

I never really considered myself a professional, even though I was involved in dozens of published articles. It was all a bit of a lark, and I like having it on my resume (if I actually had a resume, which I don't), but I never considered it a real job.

Since I have worked on past stories, I did know how to be prepared for the chaos of styling and how to be ready when Fifi and Mark arrived.

If you are going to have your home photographed, here are a few suggestions:

1- Don't try to pre-style it, you don't know what the camera angles will be.

2- Don't have your heart set on a certain look. Things WILL be moved, rearranged, shuffled, changed, and might even be a totally different take on the room than you'd ever thought of.

3- Have fresh fruit and flowers ready to go, but don't put too much time into flower arrangements, chances are they will be redone more than once throughout the day. Have extra vessels handy for switching blossoms around to reuse in different rooms. You don't need a ton of flowers, because they can be recycled from room to room. (and save your receipt, the flowers are usually reimbursed)

4- If you own extra pillows, throws, rugs, china, etc, have them handy. The stylist will have ideas on making the house fit the magazine, and a color theme she has planned, and it helps if she has access to your extras to bring her ideas to life.

5- Have a place to stash the coffee maker, toothbruses, and other mundane, daily used, objects. But don't put it away too soon, you might want to offer a pot of coffee while everyone is working.

6- Clean up as you go, because the messes just get worse from photo to photo, as things get pulled out of cabinets to be used, or items get stored to one side of the room to be out of a shot. If you save all of the pick up for the end of the day, it will be too much to handle!! But do be careful not to put away things that might be used again. Like the pink flowered rug I brought down from the girl's room, it ended up in almost every shot, all around the house.

7- Don't be insulted or hurt if your home doesn't look like your version of your home in the pictures!! Its all your stuff, just rearranged. You might even pick up some good design tips from the experts and leave your new look in place.

Here is my bedroom after some of Fifi's redos.

Here is how it looked when they arrived.

bedroom BEFORE

My home was a little too neutral for what Fifi wanted, but it was easily fixed with throw pillows from the sofa, and the studio along with a pink rug and quilt from the girl's room.

bedroom AFTER

I love this look, but couldn't leave it this way, or my sofa would not have any cushions…. And in "real life" if the chair was in the middle of the room, you couldn't walk through to the bathroom. Or see the TV, which is high on my list of importance.

AFTER

My two footstools got a work out, as well as the chippy chairs that the kids use, all were used in other areas too. And see the pink rug again? Like I said, it made it into almost all the shots. The floral can filled with lilies was the bedroom trash can.

The surprise lilies are growing in abundance right now, and we could gather an armload for her to use in this shot. They were plopped right on top of the remnants of trash in the bottom of the can. Glamorous, huh?

Kitchen BEFORE

living room AFTER

There is that pink rug again!

In "real life", if you had that many pillows on a sofa, there would be no room for your backside. But it looks nice for the magazine, doesn't it? I could be tempted to leave it this way, but I think I'd get too many complaints from the family.

I didn't hear the dogs complaining about too many pillows, though. They'd be happy if I left all of those on the couch.

living room BEFORE

This isn't quite my "real life" look. Because the pupeesh think that rugs are pee pads, I don't usually have one on the living room floor. I swiped this one from the upstairs. And that half wall is actually a dog pen. I keep a gate across it, and the dorkies have access to the fenced in yard through a pet door in the corner. For the occaision, I took down the gate and put away all the dog bedding.

The pupeesh were also banished for the day, but forgave me when they got plenty of snuggles when Fifi and Mark finished.

I'm afraid I didn't get photos of the styling upstairs. Sugarwings will be sooooo thrilled to see her room in a magazine. She was counting on them taking pictures of it, even though I told her that it wasn't a done deal, we'd have to see what Fifi chose to feature. Plus, I'm not sure she even knows what a magazine is, but she was excited about it anyway.

A photo shoot ain't for sissies, that's for durn tootin. After a day of housework to prep, and a day of pictures, plus the clean up that goes along with it, I was beat.

But no matter how exhausting it can be, it sure is fun to see the spread when it's published. Plus, Fifi and Mark make the experience delightful, they are such nice people to spend a day with.

Sewing a vintage slipcover

cottage, dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers)

By Karla Nathan / July 21, 2013

Lately, I've been on a home fix up kick. Just little things, like new pillows and touching up paint. (yes, those a doggie pee pads on the other side of the couch, those little brats are hard to train! They'd rather use a pad than go out their dog door. And they think rugs are pads… so no rugs)

Sometimes cleaning up means more messing up. I could go out to the studio to sew, but since I was making sofa cushions, it was more convenient to bring the sewing machine into the kitchen.

I'd been collecting old drapes and fabric for years and finally got around to redoing my couch cushions with them. I'm not a big fan of sewing, but I can make a simple pillow case for my cushions and pillows, and get a whole new look for the room with some garage sale fabric and a straight stitch.

I don't really measure, I just lay out the fabric, put the pillow on it, cut around, then turn the fabric inside out, pin together and run it through the machine, hoping the bobbin lasts through the session. I use whatever color of thread was last put on because I am a total loser at changing threads and bobbins.

It's far from a pro job, but I'm usually okay with the results. The whole job took me a couple of hours and less than $60 in materials.

Some of the fabric was too bright, even though it had to have been at least 50 years old, so I flipped it over and used the backside for a more faded look. I also bought pieces that were far from perfect, and just cut around the holes or stains and used only the good parts.

The pink silk brocade on the seat cushion is from an entire roll of old fabric that I'd found at an antique mall for $9. I doubt if I could buy a yard of cloth that nice for that kind of price at JoAnn's or any where else, brand new. The roll was in good shape too.

And funny, after I found this, I ran across a half roll of a slightly darker version of the same cloth at the Salvation Army ($5)! So, I used it to coordinate with the lighter brocade and the different floral pattern curtains I'd been gathering. I used it on the backside of all the pillows.

It doesn't show much, but looks nice when you sit on the couch and it peeks out when the pillows are mussed around. Which, with two little girls and three dogs in the house, they usually are.

While I was at it, I moved the furniture around. Then a week later, I put it right back where it used to be.

I think the new pillows look better with the bark cloth drapes behind them than with the emphemera covered wall.

The dogs don't care, as long as I point a camera in their direction, they are happy. Especially if it involves being on a soft pillow.

Do you ever have little things around the house that bug you, but you try to ignore? Since I hung these curtains (years ago), I'd been irritated that some of the clips were dark brass and some were painted cream. I finally grabbed a brush, and stood on the buffet with a capful of paint and quickly made them all match.

It only took a couple of minutes. Now, why did it take years to do??

A yorkie transformation

Dew Drop, dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), puppies!, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / July 17, 2013

If you are visiting for the Where Bloggers Create Studio Tour, you can find my pictures here.

If My puppeesh are grown up. At least they look it now, with their new hair cuts. I avoided the first grooming for as long as I could, so they'd keep their fuzzy puppy look.

They left that morning as fluffy, black pups and came home as silver dogs.

Who were a little angry at me and refused to look at the camera. I don't think they enjoyed their day at the spa.

But they forgave us soon, and were happy to be cuddled. They got lots of extra hugs since their newly trimmed hair was so silky soft.

It's kind of hard to tell them apart now, Twinkle has the exact same cut. Unless they are all together and you can compare sizes, people confuse them with each other.

At least they will be cooler for the summer. And all that hair won't be blowing in their eyes out on the boat.

Hugelkultur food forest update

dogs, family, flowers, Food and Drink, Nathan Family Fairy Food Forest, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / June 23, 2013

When my son and our Gypsy started the landscaping, we trusted them to grow some tasty, organic meals for us. We provided the land and the financing, and turned them loose.

What I didn't expect was the pure beauty that was created out there.

I have to admit, I didn't really get the concept of sustainable gardening. Well, I knew what they meant and it sounded great, but when it came to grass or weeds popping up in the middle of the veggies, I really didn't get the need to leave them as is.

Or the vast mix of plants together. I was raised by an avid gardner, and my dad was concise on his measured rows and spaced plants. Of course, he also used lots of Sevin Dust, Miracle Gro, and weed preventer.

This way of gardening by passes all of that. There are flowers scattered throughout that repel bad bugs or draw good ones.

Food, flowers, herbs, all sorts of plants are grouped in "guilds" of related vegetation and the ground is completely covered to prevent erosion and to attract the right bugs, and lots of other jobs that they are busy doing.

It would never have occurred to me to plant a ton of clover around the baby perennials to feed the soil and keep the ground covered.

Or to add Borage to the melon patch. It does something or another. But mostly is plain old pretty.

My son has collected exotic and heirloom varieties of plants, including this curly stick tree that will produce magic wands. And the whole thing is irrigated by swales and trenches that are filled with gravel and look like trails.

They are lined with the daintiest little wildflowers I have ever seen. As well as some grass that apparently should be left to protect the earth there until the trees grow more and create shade, then the grass will naturally die out, along with the other ground covers he has added to keep the dirt safe till things start to take off.

Until the trees get big enough to block some sun and the area truly becomes a forest, we are using the beds for our regular garden too. Tomatoes, peas, beans, heck, just about everything, is growing among the perennials.

In a few years, we won't be able to use this space for our annual plantings, because by then, it will be all fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, vines and other food producing vegetation.

This archway of branches will soon be covered in kiwi vines and grapes, but for now, I'm enjoying the stark beauty of it as it is. And at night it is lit with twinkling solar lights.

The produce is beginning to come in, this year, just a few handfuls of berries, but next year, and the year after there will be more and more.

This is a garden that will grow over time, bigger and better. It will not need to be tilled in the spring like my Dad would have, it will develop and change, but once established will take care of itself, with plantings that cooperate and take care of each other.

The mounds are known as hugelkultur, and make for a beautiful layout, as well as a healthy growing space.

Our regular garden is a masterpiece this year too.

It's lush, full, and delicious.

Daily, we have been eating every variety of lettuce you can grow, plus kale, chard, spinach, herbs, and other things that my son sneaks into salads. He is quite a cook and also has been foraging in fields for wild thistle to saute as a side dish. It is every bit as good as asparagus (which we also have growing).

My Dad would be fascinated, I wish he was here to see it. He'd wonder about the lack of rows, but I know he'd love the vast harvest we've been picking! I do too.

PS- Don't forget that Google Reader is closing soon! If you are
reading this from that site, you need to make a change real quick or
your list of blogs will be gone.

I've tried Feedly myself and basically all you do is sign up and it
will import all your Google Reader sites in the click of a mouse. Very,
very, very simple.Bloglovin is another good one.

You can also follow my blog through Networked Blogs and read it on
FaceBook that way. There is a list of different reader site buttons on
my sidebar that you can click on to follow me in.

Hope I'll still be seeing you around!

Hiding instead of repairing damaged dry wall and a rosey outlook for springtime

antiques/junking, cottage, dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, puppies!, redos, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / May 21, 2013

A bit ago, we redid a wall in the living room with ceiling tin. These were 8' strips, and were ideal for where I needed them, they seem to look nicer on a wall than the squares would have.

And after purchasing them, I happened to find the border at another shop and it is exactly what I needed! I'd planned on using wood trim and this is so much better. How lucky to find just the right amount of border.

The wall panels are from Nook and Cranny. When I drove around to the back of the shop to load the pieces, I happened to see the tin crown molding on the sidewalk in front of another store in the West Bottoms. I bought all the border, but there is a truckload of the wall panels left. ($40 each, but ask for a volume discount if you buy more than a couple)

The room didn't look bad before, I liked the faux finish. Until you got up close.

My old house settles, and the shape of a doorway kept popping through the drywall. Years ago, during a remodel, we'd covered up a hallway and this door shape would NOT go away no matter how many times I'd patched it.

I don't mind cracks, old houses have lots of them. But not door shaped!

(and yes, you are seeing nasty cobwebs in this photo, not just faux paint treatments and cracks in the wall)

SInce I have tins on the kitchen ceiling, I thought it would look good to also have the wall at the far end of the living room covered in them too. (this is before)

Luckily, I have a very handy son, who installed them for me. He ripped off the baseboard, and I squirted a ton of caulking back under the wall to help with drafts before he put up the tin.

We decided not to put up more baseboard over it, I like the look as it ended up without it.

The panels plus the crown were just the right size for the wall! My son wanted to cut the tins and line them up perfectly, but I told him not to. It went against his nature as a carpenter to not have the lines on the tin exact, but I like it as it is.

(the purple marks show the door outline we were covering up)

I promised him I would tell everyone that, because the lines bother him. Not me, I'm soooo happy with the whole project!! He had them up in a couple hours.

The lines that might bother me are the ones between each panel. They need to be caulked and sealed so they aren't as prominent.

But I haven't made up my mind about painting yet. I did paint over the rust on the crown, but only because it was too regular and stripey looking. Random rust makes me happy, but this was not that kind.

For now, I figure I'll leave the chippiness as is, I can always paint later. But I do think I need to caulk the seams….

The dogs always think each photo is about them.

So, I indulged the little hams and let them pose.

They love to be in pictures.

For springtime, I hung some rose pattern bark cloth drapes and wrapped the sofa cushion in another bark cloth piece. It has come untucked on the edges a bit. I guess that is the sort of thing you should straighten before a photo, huh?

My living room stays cream and white most of the year, and I love that combo, it makes seasonal changes so simple. A few pillows, a couple curtain panels and a switcheroo of some knick knacks and I've got a new look for a new season.

And the dogs love the BARK cloth.