family – Page 46 – Karla's Cottage

There is only so much time in the day, so I try to make the most of it!

Books, Dew Drop, fairies, family, Snow White, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / March 7, 2013

There is not much new around here, I'm still wading through piles of Snow White books and items to stuff into the kits.

See what I mean? Every table in the studio is heaped up with carefully sorted (even though it doesn't look like it) goodies to do with the kits. I even set up two extra tables, and also filled tubs.

But hey, there is HOPE! Look at the stack of wrapped kits on the far table, in front of the window. Yep, the packaging is almost done. The rest of the room is just littered with the detritis of making the kits.

Those stacks of cut wallpaper on the table? Some of those are sorted into piles, ready to photograph and add to the shop. My son and I got just a tad carried away on those chopping and ironing days we had.

But the truth about why nothing else is happening around here, is that I am soooo hooked on the books themselves. I've made up four examples for the class, including one that I'm am keeping for myself and personalizing with family fairy tale photos.

On this page, I've taken a page from one of the children's story books, and cut Black Beauty from it, with another page behind the horse as I cut it out so that I ended up with a second animal shape. (it was an accident, but one that I am glad that I did!) I added a unicorn horn to each, flipped one over, layered them on the paper, and tinted them with glitter markers.

Dewdrop adores "honies" above all things. She is a "My Little Pony" addict, and calls them honies. So, this page is for her.

There are other things I could be doing, but this is more fun. Plus, I thought the students might appreciate having samples in different stages to look through. This one will be almost complete, but I am saving space in it to add pictures from the event itself.

There has also been some Birdsong3 behind the scenes details to tend to. It's funny how much time such things take up, even when the event in months away. Oh, but how worth it! I'm really excited to know that I have both of these fun weekends to look forward to.

Hopefully, once I get all of these kits boxed and ready to mail, I can concentrate on making Birdsong projects and kits. And selling that pile of wallpaper. And doing my taxes (Beth offered to help!! Yay, there is nothing better than having an accountant buddy at tax time. And all I have to do for her is redo her antique mall booth. Heck, that is a pleasure to do, not a hair pulling, tear inducing, fork in the eye, task like tax prep).

There are also extra kits from last year's Birdsong that I forgot about. And need to add to the Boutique. I'd planned on listing them last year and haven't yet. I also found a stack of surplus Fairy Book covers that I'd planned to sell too.

But there is only so much time in the day. You know what I have noticed? I can keep going full tilt and workiing my backside off (not really, it actually seems to grow, not diminish) and never really get ahead. Because there is always more to do, and only so much time in a day.

I've noticed that my income seems to level out, no matter what I am working on, because nothing is "extra", it ends up taking the place of something else. So, if I do shows, I am ignoring my shop. If I concentrate on the shops, I am not having time to make things. And on and on.

You just can't do it all. At least not at the same time. But that is what is such fun about my so called job.

I can switch it up, go from classes, events, creating, selling, shows, one to the next. It certainly never gets boring! When I focus on one area, it does very well, especially the Boutique. But my life would be very dull if all I did was photograph and list and ship every day. So, I'm glad I can stretch out and try different venues and take breaks from the online shop. It's still there, still selling, but not as much when I'm not adding to it reguarly.

Yes, changing my focus might not be getting me ahead financially, but it sure keeps me hopping and happy!

Sugar and Spice

Dew Drop, family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / March 3, 2013

As I sat through endless episodes of The Dukes of Hazard, stepped on Hot Wheels cars left everywhere, or listened to fart jokes, I used to wonder how I'd survive raising Boys. That is Boys with a captial B. They were as rough and tumble, as wild and crazy, as little Boys can be. It was a rolicking, good time, and while they didn't always have the same interests as I did, we found lots of fun together.

And now they are two grown men that I'm proud to call family.

Then, along came two grand daughters! Who are every bit as rough and
tumble, wild, and crazy as their dad.

Now, we watch My Little Pony or Ariel, and I step on doll parts, and still listen to fart jokes. But from small people dressed as fairies this time.

Yep, I know, I'm pretty lucky. It's been good.

ps- Anne has asked me to tell you about Magnolia Pearl's $2,000 giveaway. Woo Hoo, that is a GOOD one, huh? Check it out at Fiona and Twig.

A birthday balloon suprise at the door.

collections, Dew Drop, family

By Karla Nathan / February 13, 2013

Fin and Clover had birthdays recently, so I decided to surprise them
after school one day with a face full of balloons. My son and I blew up a few, and taped a bagful of them to the door frame. The plastic bag only covers the outside of the balloons, they are sandwiched between it and the door.

This was the only door in my house that opened the right direction to make the trick work, so I asked them to go in the studio to get something for me when we parked in the garage. The door has to open toward the surprisee for the balloons to properly cascade down onto them.

It was a fun surprise, and I think Sugarwings enjoyed planning it and keeping the secret as much as I did.

Afterwards, we took the whole family to TRex, the dino restaurant to celebrate the two birthdays. We have been going there for special occasions since Sugarwings was tiny, and this is the FIRST time we saw that there was a huge play area with dinosaur video games, and crystal caves in the back! I'd seen the sand pit with fossils, but thought that was all there was to it. There is a ton of fun waiting in the back for only $2.50 per kid!

My big kid loved it too. He is our Mr. Zen the Crystal Guy, so he was wallowing in all the chakra glory.

The kids loved exploring the caves so much, we barely visited the Roars. Which is what Dewdrop calls anything a little scary like the animatronic dinosaurs there.

The other day, when I was singing to her in what I thought was a very fun way, she held up a hand to stop me, and said,

"Uhm, Grammie?"

I said, "yes dear?"

She answered, "Roar" and pointed to me.

Apparently, my singing voice is lumped in the same category as scary, giant, prehistoric beasts.

Maui dreams

family, Travel

By Karla Nathan / January 28, 2013

We had a welcoming committee waiting when we got back from Hawaii. Sweet Sweet Sweety was happy to see us and was perched by the door asking for attention as we pulled up. (my porch needs some attention too, huh? Christmas branches? Let's just pretend they are "winter decorations" not holiday ones, okay?)

The grand fairies liked the souvenir tees they got, but I think what they really liked was the boxes and bags of macadamia nut and chocolate candies we filled a carry on up with.

Our trip was the best ever. Terry and Dale, my in-laws, were there for 3 weeks (lucky ducks) and greeted us at the airport with leis. I wore mine till it was brown and limp, and still the scent lingered on, so I kept it draped across the lamp shade in our room.

I hope we get to go back again some day. It could very well be the prettiest place in the world. Even the overly populated and tourist areas are lovely.

Its definitely varied, from dessert, to bamboo, to ocean, to rain forest. All of that on a single polka dot in the middle of the Pacific.

We participated in lots of tourist activities. Our travel buddies had been there a week before us and knew all the best places to go ahead of time, not just from that week, but from years of experience. It was nice to let go and let them plan. They were kind enough to haul us from one fantastic place to another.

Terry even took me to a swap meet for some cute little ticky tackys to take home as remembrances. And she isn't a swap meet type shopper. I think she enjoyed it too, we both made a good haul there.

The swap meet had lots of $4 tee shirts, plenty of junk, but also some nice things made by local artists, farmer's market goods, and a few vintage things. Terry surprised me with this necklace from a jewelry vendor whose work I admired. I don't know how she managed to sneak buying it with me standing right next to her! It was a sweet surprise. The stone is larimar, and it will always remind me of the ocean in Maui.

My favorite part of the whole trip was just simply being there, soaking it all in, listening to the ocean outside the balcony of our hotel.

I almost admitted to you that my most favorite part was sleeping, but I don't want everyone to know just how boring I really am.

But, dang! That was the BEST sleep of my life! Not only was the weather perfect, and the air bug free so that we could leave the sliding doors open all week, but we could listen to this fountain as well as the ocean in our dreams.

I slept 8-10 hours, and while it felt like a deep, deep, restful snoozefest, I still was aware of the sounds of the water. So soothing.

My body stayed on Kansas time, and I was up before the sun every day about 5 or 6 am. For those of you who did the math, yes, I was in bed by 8 some nights. I never see the sunrise around here, I'm never up that early on Central Time, so it was quite a treat. My mornings over looking the ocean and drinking Kona coffee were highlights of my trip. Waking up was as much fun as going to sleep.

Oh my, I am a little old lady, aren't I???? Who goes to Hawaii then talks about how good the sleepin weather is there???

The food wasn't bad either. I loaded up at a local fruit stand a couple of times.

The same fruit I buy in Kansas, was sooooo different there. The pineapples were beyond juicy and ripe, so much so that there was no core at all, we ate the whole thing. No fibery center like we have in the ones at home.

Funny, though. Roadside, the pineapples were $10, and at the Safeway they were $7. Today at Walmart in KS they were only $2. Now I have to say, the fresh in Maui ones were so good, they were worth ten bucks, but it confuses me that its cheaper to ship them across the world than to buy them straight off the bushes.

Everything there was pricey. Beyond pricey.

But the beauty was free. I loved the little touches I found, like this painted weed outside a store.

And the floral message left in the banyan tree courtyard.

Little details kept catching my eye, like this recycled glass used in planters of a parking lot. It sparkled so bright, I was drawn right to it. We were hunting back and forth, up and down for a parking spot, but instead of watching out for one and being a helpful passenger, I kept saying, "Is that GLASS?" "That is so sparkly, what on earth do you think it is?" "Maybe that is glass!"

Parking is not easy on Maui. Lot of cars and not enough spaces to put them. Plus the spots are tiny. Who drew the parking lot lines anyway? Some one who only drives a moped?

I have more photos and more to say, but I have a grand fairy visiting now and need to go scoop up my hugs. I have ten days of lost huggin time to make up for.

To be continued…..

ps- last day to enter the drawing for one of Amy's books!

Our Christmas

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

By Karla Nathan / December 30, 2012

It's hard to say goodbye to Christmas this year, but on the other hand, on the 26th, I was itching to take down the tree. I wasn't able to, due to other goings on, but I was ready to see it go. I think its because the lights all went out on the tree the minute the last gift was opened! That was some sort of sign. Plus, I feel like a dark tree is a bit sad. So, into the closet it goes, and I'll deal with the kaput lights next year.

We had an extended Christmas celebration, with all the kids over on the 24th for brunch and gifts, with a hot cocoa and cookie party afterwards.

Dewdrop came over with her parents on Christmas morning to see what Santa left under Grammie's tree while all the rest of the family visited other relatives. I think it was special for the youngest of 7 to have a whole morning of being the center of it all and opening gifts just for her. She was pretty excited, and a joy to watch.

We spent a lazy day, watching our littlest fairy play. My son, Mr. Zen and his Gypsy cooked a great meal for us all. Broiled lobster with seafood pasta.

YUM! The only thing better than having someone cook a meal for you, is if the meal is lobster.

Sugarwings had a sleepover on Christmas night, so Santa could bring some gifts to Grammie's tree for her too. She loves the whole spectacle of Santa, Christmas, and the arrival of gifts, but I think the stories and ambiance are what she appreciates even more than the presents. We decided that if we didn't buy a thing for her, and told her that the Grinch had come and taken everything out from under the tree, she would have been so excited, she would have popped.

That kid lives for fantasies and her imaginary world. She'd love to be plopped into the middle of the Grinch story and wouldn't think twice about not getting a present.

On the other hand, she was in heaven with the magic of everyone's gifts.

Many of the photos I tried to take look like this. She is darting about from one person to the next, excited to see what is under the wrappings. When I'd snap the picture, I'd get a blurry image of Sugarwings racing in to check out the latest, greatest gift her siblings got to open.

Yet, in the middle of all the gifting frenzy, she did the sweetest thing ever. We had 14 people squeezed into this little living room, along with three Christmas trees. So, Aunt Sandy made herself comfortable on the stairs.

When Sandy got a gift, Sugarwings would take it to her and sit to watch while she opened it. And finally, took her by the hand and led her to the center of the room and told her that she was "part of the group" and shouldn't be sitting by herself.

I was so proud of our little angel, who was caring about her great aunt during all of the hullabaloo, and not wanting her to feel left out of all the joy.

And joy there was. Plenty of it!

I think the dogs had a good time too. With so many kids around, there were plenty of crumbs. Twinkle tends to park herself under the highchair at most gatherings.

We kept the meal simple, honey baked ham, French toast and hashbrown casseroles made the night before, sweet corn frozen from last summer's farmer's market with some peas added for color, and scrambled eggs straight from the hen house, with chopped spinach and red peppers to be festive.

Paper plates, plastic forks, and foil pans made it all even easier. There was minimal clean up time, so we could get right to the fun stuff and gather around the tree! For some of us, it was hard to wait for that part.

I'll leave you with some photos of our day and I hope that yours was joyful as well.

The Merriest!

celebrations, Dew Drop, dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / December 28, 2012

We had the BEST Christmas! This is a little video of our gift from our littlest fairy, Dewdrop. She practiced a dance and gave us a performance. The non-stop giggling you hear is me, she had me laughing through the whole show.

The video is pretty short, because she kept slipping and falling since her tights were slippery on the wood floor. A lot of the video was filled with mooning. Her little bottom was the star of the show. While I think itsy bitsy baby bottoms are adorable, maybe the internet is not the best place for them, so here is the edited version.

Our whole holiday was filled with laughter.

And a few tears too. I got a hand made stocking from our Gypsy and it was filled to the brim with sweet notes from all of the kids. I grinned and cried as I read each one.

We are a sentimental bunch. The calendar that the Hippy Chick and Sugarwings filled with family photos was a hit too.

Sweet is a good word for our
Christmas. Very, very, very sweet.

Breakfast with Santa

celebrations, Dew Drop, family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / December 21, 2012

We had the best time at our breakfast with Santa at Lion's Gate Coutnry Club. The club is part of the company my husband works for so we have a membership, but if you know me at all, you will know that we are not a "clubby" sort of family. My Handsome Husband takes a chance every time he invites us in to see how his side of the world operates. We are all kind of arty and down to earth. He travels with the club set.

It was fun to have a reason to get dressed up, and have a fancy place to go, that was still kid friendly. I think its important for the little grand fairies to see both sides and experience some more formal places.

On the drive there, the kids told us how they had been practicing their manners. And there was a lot of talk about Santa and just how old he might be, if he was strong enough to chase down reindeer to catch them, and a few other curious aspects of the jolly old elf's life.

Fin was wondering if Santa lived there at the club, or did he just work there. And if Pop Pop worked there too, did that make him an elf?

Dewdrop didn't get the whole part about asking for presents, but she has been very good, so I'm sure he will bring her some ponies.

Everyone was at their country club best, manners were ideal and we all had fun. The only hitch in the whole day of us pretending that we fit in, was when my husband carried the baby around, accidentally bunching up her dress over his arm, as her little panties slid down, so that she mooned the whole dining room.

Her teensy weensy little baby butt was paraded all across the restaurant.

Aren't their dress up clothes cute? I found the girl's clothes at Salvation Army, for $2 each.

I'm quite happy to let someone else pay 50 bucks for a dress that gets worn for only one occasion, then donate it for me to buy cheap. Plus, my girls will wear them over and over as dress up clothes in their play closet.

I can just picture them all as winter fairies in their velvet and lace.

I wasn't so lucky finding something there for Mr. Fin, but he had this outfit already and looked extra cute. They did all get brand new shoes for the party, but that I don't mind spending on, since that is such a practical thing.

We were very proud of the kiddos, and they all said thank you to the manager and to Santa as they left.

The food was amazing. For Christmas Eve dinner, we are doing brunch instead of a big evening meal because Ryan has to work at 4pm. So, I was inspired by some of the tasty brunchy items on the buffet.

How are the plans for your holiday meals going?

It can be a lot of work, but when we all sit down together to eat, talk and be together, its worth every bit of the trouble of pulling it together. Moms and grammies tend to be overworked during the season with a heavy load of shopping, wrapping, grocery buying and cooking. So, days out like this are especially appreciated by me amidst all the rush and work of putting a holiday together.

I
will be away from my computer till Sat. the 22nd. Sorry, I can't get
new orders from the Boutique or Etsy out in time for Christmas. Next
shipping date is Dec. 27th. Wishing the happiest of holidays to you!!

Holiday parties galore!

celebrations, family, holiday decor, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / December 19, 2012

We had a big weekend, with lots of holiday fun. Friday night, our Hippy Chick and the two little grand fairies went with us to dinner and to see "Rise of the Guardians". Dewdrop loved it, because the "night mares" that the Boogey Man created were horses. She is a huge pony fan, and yelled out "go Honies!!" every time she saw one of these spooky creatures in the movie. To her, they were the heros.

Afterwards, we drove around to look at Christmas lights. One home here in Lawrence had an elaborate display set to music, complete with a video of a life size Santa eating milk and cookies in the upstairs window. At first, we thought they actually had Santa up there, it was realistic as can be. Then, the video started to loop and we started to clue in on what was going on. All of a sudden, the size of the picture changed and his whole head filled the window, that part was a bit creepy and unexpected.

Then, on Saturday, we had a holiday pitch in dinner and craft party. And on Sunday, we had breakfast with Santa at one of the clubs my husband works at.

For the craft party, a friend had a bagful of clear glass balls she wanted to use up and we were challenged to find ways to create with them. So, I experimented with a few ideas, and filled a couple of tabletops with supplies for everyone to play with.

Some became snowmen, some had fairies or family member's photos inside.

I also had boxes that everyone could decorate and either top with a snowman head, or leave as is.

Another friend brought clothespins for the kids to make into toy soldiers.

Here is a snowman that Addie made.

Everyone's projects turned out quite different, which is one of the fun things about these kinds of parties.

Dinner was great too, pitch ins are my favorite. Every time I look into a pot or bowl someone else brought, it's like a little surprise party for my tummy. I love food that I didn't fix myself!

My studio didn't get much in the way of decor for the holidays this year. I set out some of the things that I'd made for sale, which is an excellent way to decorate, because hopefully, when the season is over, the stuff is gone and there is nothing to put away.

Well, that is if things go as planned. But, these wings will still be in vogue for Valentine's Day, so I'm not worried if I have a couple left.

Our weather is once again freakishly un-winterlike this year. So after making their projects, most of the kids played outside. Sugarwings soon turned her princess gown into something that looked like it had been dipped in Hershey's syrup, she had so much wet, gooey mud on herself.

After she and her little friend got cleaned up, we settled them in front of Frosty the Snowman on TV and gave them some hot chocolate to warm themselves up. It might have been warm outside for winter, but not really warm enough to play in the water and mud.

The husbands watched the KU game and played pool, we made things in the studio, and kids divided up their evening by crafting and playing outdoors. I think they even explored the Fairy Berry Trail in the dark.

Yep, it was a good weekend! I even managed to get about 75% of my Christmas shopping done.

But please, don't mention wrapping. ugh.

I will be away from my computer till Sat. the 22nd. Sorry, I can't get new orders from the Boutique or Etsy out in time for Christmas. Next shipping date is Dec. 27th. Wishing the happiest of holidays to you!!

Looking away, but always remembering

family

By Karla Nathan / December 18, 2012

My heart is with all the families who lost their loved ones in the unimaginable school shooting.

I don't need to know the details, and I am respecting the privacy and grief that the people involved are facing by not watching the endless TV coverage. The media is so invasive and I hate that something like this becomes a spectacle for the country to watch.

I don't need to hear the shooter's story to know that our mental health services are lacking.

I don't have to watch interviews with people who knew these children to know that a tiny little grade school child is adorable, full of life, and adorable to be around, or that the parents and siblings are crushed.

I don't have to hear about the death of the adults who gave their lives to know that our schools are full of amazing people who take excellent care of our little ones.

What can I personally do? Not be one of those people craning their neck to see a traffic accident along the road, and look away from the circus the media wants us to watch for ratings. Donate to a local mental health facility. Use my vote to support any legislation that can help prevent future events like this. Treat the people around me with love and caring, and appreciate them, knowing that life is precious and our time here is fleeting.

Say a prayer, and remember.

Over the river and through the woods

cottage, dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, holiday decor, puppies!

By Karla Nathan / December 11, 2012

Its been much more fallish than wintery around here lately and we've been taking advantage of that weather. Last week, we crossed the creek and went out in the woods to cut down a tree for the Hippy Chick and her roomies. They wanted to set up a nature tree outdoors for the birds and animals and are going to garland it with popcorn and berries, and make birdseed ornies to hang on it.

We've got tons of scrub cedars, that it never hurts to clear out a bit, so we all trouped off into the woods to pick a pretty one for them.

Dorothy Rosebud was a big chicken, and had to be carried across the creek, and through most of the underbrush. Twinkle and Albie Brave and Strong ran off ahead were so busy that all the pictures I tried to get of them were just blurs. They ran non-stop and explored every fallen leaf.

Cedars aren't the best trees for indoors, but I think it will be a good one for the birdies to have their snacks arranged on outside. I hear that it was a bit sappy, the girls had a Griswald-ish time getting the sticky off of themselves!

While it was nice outside, I took some time to clean up the yard and move furniture into the shed.

These chairs are brand new from an estate sale, I'm looking forward to figuring out where to use them next spring. I got 4 chairs and a table for $20. They are meant for indoors, but have metal frames, so I'm thinking that if I cover the seats in something waterproof, they will be good in the yard.

Some day, I'll do something fun with this shed. It used to be my antique store, now the other half of it is the chicken coop. It might be nice to turn this half into a play house for the fairy grand babies. The new estate sale table is not going to be good for outdoors, even though the chairs can work outside. So, leaving it in the shed can be a start for making the play area next year.

Well, at least its something to day dream about once the long, cold winter hits!

I've added some neutral toned mini wreaths with millinery to my Etsy shop.

As well as a few more trees.

Some not so neutral pretties too!

The last couple of weeks, I've been trying to accommodate as many special orders as I could, but I'm now officially out of stock, after what is listed is gone. So, what is pictured is all that there is.

Sorry I can't do any special packages for you now, but I can't even find any dark trees to fix up, the stores all sold out early this year, so I am too! I made quite a few tree runs this season, and now its time to move on.

At the time I am writing this, there is still a good selection in the shop, especially the ones that I have decorated.

Thanks to everyone who shopped with me this year, I appreciate all the tree sales!