family – Page 50 – Karla's Cottage

Here comes Peter Cotton Tail, Hopping down the Fairy Trail

Dew Drop, family, holiday decor, Sugarwings, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / April 8, 2012

Happy Easter! We celebrated ours early by hosting an egg hunt on the Fairy Berry Trail in the woods behind our house. Our Gypsy and Dewdrop had foofed it up beautifully, and lined the whole trail with pinwheels (from the Dollar Store).

We started out letting the baby have a few minutes to gather some eggs for her basket at the top of the trail, then the race was on.

Sugarwings was ready to hit the trail in high speed as soon as she got the go-ahead to race away.

She might have been in a hurry to fill her own basket, but took time to stop and help her little sister when her eggs fell out of her basket.

The trail really looks good, better than it ever has. What a gorgeous spring we are having!

Since Sugarwings was going to be at her aunt's for Easter Sunday, she and Fin wrote the bunny a note and asked if he would hide eggs early, and left it out in the woods with a carrot as a bribe. Fin is older and knew that (spoiler alert- if you are a kid, or just a kid at heart, don't read this!) that the Easter Bunny isn't the guy who does all the eggs himself, but he got behind the idea and seemed to forget about that.

Dewdrop was pretty pleased with her first Egg Hunt too. I don't really think that the whole "give the baby a few minutes to find eggs first" was needed. She held her own with the big kids.

And was very fond of the organic jelly beans and gummi bears I'd put into the 150 eggs out in the woods. (I didn't want the parents mad at me for handing out too much candy, but had to put something in the eggs, so settled on a couple organic jelly beans in each, and made sure to have some healthy after school snacks for everyone before we cracked open the eggs and hit the sugar!)

I loved watching the different approaches to finding the eggs. Seems like the bigger you are, the faster you go.

The smallest kids ended up finding the most eggs, because they lingered.

And Dew Drop was happy just playing with the eggs themselves, but when she realized there was stuff in them, it got even more exciting.

Sugarwings must have been watching some old movies, because she was certain that white gloves were required with Easter dresses, and kept hers on the whole time.

but didn't necessarily keep them white…

This gown has been in her dress up closet, along with the garland Aunt Sissy made for her, for years and is one of her faves. Its good to have a piece in your wardrobe that is so versatile and can be worn for tea parties and fairy walks, as well as egg hunts.

I'm looking forward to garage sale season so I can replenish her dress stock. Most of them are 2nd hand to start with and are starting to show it after years of dress up play.

One thing I've noticed over the years, is that as much as the kids like princess gowns, that are meant for dress up, they seem to prefer pretty dressy-dresses. And of course, those are much sturdier than the clothes sold in the toy department too.

And Dewdrop seems to be enjoying dressing up.

In the past, she has been irritated by Grammie trying to put her in fairy clothes, but I have a feeling that its growing on her now.

Not only did our Gypsy add pretties to the trail this spring, I started some plantings out there. Around the fairy tree house, I planted some Virginia Creeper, which I hope with cover the over hanging branches eventually and make it feel more enclosed.

I also planted some variegated and plain vinca, and some ivy. We'd spent a day edging the flower beds up by the house, pulling up vines that were growing beyond their borders and straighting the rocks that lined the beds before we had new gravel delivered. Instead of tossing all those vines, I filled two wheelbarrows up with them and took them down to the Fairy Berry trail to line the walkways.

It feels good to have fresh gravel everywhere! We did the driveway and sidewalks too. And we PAID someone else to do it all. In the past, I've spent weeks with my wheelbarrow and shovel spreading gravel from the pile we had delivered. But I discovered that the labor cost of having it spread was only $250.

Seriously?

I spent weeks of back breaking labor to save $250? I know I'm cheap, but I am NOT that cheap. Its not worth my time (or back) when two guys with rakes and a bobcat can do it in one day!!

And now, everything looks so fresh and clean, like the ground does after a new snow. Of course, it will be a matter of days before weeds peek through, and I noticed this morning that we already have a gopher mound.

I hope your Easter is a blessed one and that your basket is over filled with chocolates!

Sprucing up the Fairy Trail

Dew Drop, fairies, family

By Karla Nathan / April 6, 2012

The girls pitched in to help me get ready for Birdsong. Its still early yet, but the weather was so good, we decided to spiff up the Fairy Berry Trail. I hired these two as my Fairy Designers for the job.

In the fall, I put away the decorations we use on the trail out in the woods, so the girls loaded the wheelbarrow full of pretties and head out into the woods to replace it all and foof up the trail.

Of course, they needed to be dressed properly for the job!

This will be the first year that Dewdrop is old enough to play out on the trail, I hope she likes it.

Since she has spent a big chunk of her life living in a yirt in a woodland, so playing outside in the trees has been an every day thing for her!

The trail is looking prety, lined with pinwheels down its whole length. We are hoping to plant some vines and flowers out there this year too. And spiff up the tree house (to the left).

A nice nest full of fairies and a nasty nest full of squirrels

Dew Drop, fairies, family, Sugarwings, Tutorials

By Karla Nathan / April 1, 2012

As promised, I added directions and pictures to download to create this fairy nest to my 3 Wire Workshop tutorial.

If you've already bought the tutorial, just scroll down and you'll find these directions added to the end of the nest and egg how to's. No additional charges, its a bonus! Included is a sepia photo of this family and a hand tinted one with my wings attached. Plus a couple more vintage pictures you could use in the nest instead if you'd rather.

I hope to add some holiday decor ideas and more wreaths in the fall too.

This workshop comes with directions for a wreath, nests, and crowns, all made from wire, with ideas for embellishments. I've added some instructions for decorated eggs too.

Speaking of nests, we had some uninvited guests build a nest in our dryer vent! I heard scampering in my laundry room every morning this week, and it took me a while to figure it out. Squirrels had gotten into the vent pipe from the outside and made themselves at home!

We had to take the cover off, reach in and pull out the nesting materials and replace the cover with one that has a cage over it. They had done a bit of damage, so I'm glad I had a sweet, grown up son around to take care of it for me and get the varmits out of there.

It was a nice day to be out in the yard, and Little Dewdrop kept us company.

Who would have thought that we'd be outside splashing and playing in the water in March? What beautiful weather!

Sugarwings took advantage of the 80 degree day to do some planting and finger painting.

I think she painted the dirt and herself more than her paper.

And these pictures were taken before she even got very messy. (and no, the paint did NOT come out of her pink clothes, no matter how much I soaked and sprayed it.)

Yep, a perfect day to be outside, we turned on the garden hose and let her play in that afterwards- yay, Spring!!

Galentines Day with the Gal Pals

family, Food and Drink

By Karla Nathan / February 18, 2012

My husband was out of town for Valentine's Day, but I kept myself busy by planning THREE parties in one day. The dogs were my official greeters when guests came to the door, and I needed their help. When I opened the door to say hi, I realized that I had laryngitis!

Luckily, it wasn't an all day thing, my voice has been coming and going a lot since then, but I manage to keep talking no matter what.

I had one group of friends over for brunch, and another for afternoon crafting in the studio. We called it Galentines Day, had some goodies, and a lot of fun.

These little Valenine treats were simple to make, by the way. I like to serve easy things that look a lot more complicated to make than they really are.

For these, I cut puff pastry with a heart shaped cookie cutter, and baked them ahead of time.

After they cooled, I spread a bit of cream cheese onto them, topped it with a slice of fruit and drizzled melted chocolate over it all.

That evening, I got to spend with the kiddos. Any day I hang with them is one jam packed with lots of love!

Craft day was good for me. I'd lacked time or oppurtunity to be creative for a while and had hit a dry spell. so, a day in the studio with gal pals and time to just make stuff was exaclty what I needed. And I cranked stuff out, after I loosened up and got going.

First I started with something really simple, these vintage ceramic shoes were already cute to start with, and I just glued some crap to them to foof 'em up a bit. These kind of are along the style of Lisa's wonderful tutorial, but there isn't nearly as much to these little ceramic shoes.

Then, I moved on to something a little more complicated. It was nice just to be gluing and thinking about where things go. This is a teensy little box that a bar of hotel soap came in. The legs are bingo tiles and the Charlotte fairy is only 1" tall. (she is in the Boutique now)

I made a few more things that day too, but haven't got photos of them yet. I did get some pics of some things to add to the shop, I'll leave you with a selection of whats new. I hope you are having a great weekend and still enjoying your Valentine goodies.

Mothers and Daughters

dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family

By Karla Nathan / February 16, 2012

Today is my Mom's birthday and like always, she has been on my mind a lot. I learned a lot from her, and wish that I'd learned more. We were very much alike, yet oh, soooo different in many ways.

She was a sewer and for a while owned an upholstery shop. I can't stitch a straight line, but at least I absorbed a lot of knowelgdge about how it was done by sitting under her sewing table for hours as she worked when I was a kid. I know the basics on how to do any of it, but its the actual needle and thread work that stumps me.

She took pride in perfect stitches and even knew exactly how many per inch she hand sewed into her quilting or upholstering.

But me? If I pick up a piece of thread, it automatically starts twirling itself into a million knots. So, I transferred her love of creating to paint and other craftiness. Sewing has always eluded me.

Even this crazy quilt that she made is not as random as it seems. I remember her showing me the individual blocks that she was putting together with mathematical precision.

She taught me to take joy in hard work. That a job worth doing is worth doing right. That a clean house feels, and smells good and is worth the effort it takes. Now, I certainly don't take it to the levels she used to, this is a lady who used to vacuum under the bird feeder out in the yard. I've never gone so far as to vacuum the grass, but I do like my home tidy and comfortable.

Mom taught me never to be afraid to tackle anything. Any big job can be broken down into smaller parts, tackled one at a time, just like her quilts were patched together square by square.

Twinkle thinks this picture is about her, like every photo I take. Even if I'm taking a close up of something on a table, she is posing under the table thinking that the camera must be about her.

Mom made this quilt for me too. Its one of my favorite patterns, Log Cabin. You can't see the detail in the center, but its a hand stitched drawing of iris. In person, it shows up nicely, but the camera doesn't do it justice.

In honor of my mom's birthday, I put this quilt on Sugarwing's new Big Girl Bed. Maybe she'll feel my mom's love wrapped around her the next time she crawls in.

I chose this bed because of the ovals. Don't they look like frames, just waiting for a painting? I have plans to add some pictures soon. Lately, there has been too much going on and I think I might have mentioned, and maybe whined a bit about the fact that I am NOT caught up.

Hopefully, Sugarwings and Dewdrop will learn from me, just as I learned from Mom, to love having a pretty home around them, and taking joy in making it that way. Whatever talents they have as they grow up, I want them to know that you can tackle any job if you do it one block at a time and that nothing is too big to face if you are willing to do the hard work to achieve it.

And that hard work is much easier to face if you find something to laugh about while you are at it!

My mom was FUN. I hope all of my kids and grands think I am too.

A Heartful of Blathering and Babbling

family, kitties

By Karla Nathan / February 14, 2012

We finally got a snow this year. Not that I missed the cold, bad roads, and frozen toes that come along with it. But I do know my garden needs the moisture for a healthy spring, and we need the hard freeze for a bug free season ahead.

But the white stuff came as a surprise to Panda Bear and Rainbow Bright Joy Nathan. Sister wasn't quite sure if she should head out the door to see what it was about or not.

But Brother took a running leap right into it and soon she joined him, and my snowy, pristine, backyard wonderland was turned into a scene of mangled carnage. There wasn't a drift or smooth spot left. You'd think they'd been huffing cat nip, not snow flakes, they went crazy playing out there.

Too bad they only get one day of winter. For Valentines Day, we warm up again. Not quite to the level of the false spring we've had most of this winter, but not bad.

I can live with a One Snow Winter. It wouldn't be terrible if this is all we get for this season!

Valentines Day is special to me. Well, I do tend to LOVE most holidays and get sentimental about them all. But this date is even more important because its the anniversary of my sons' adoption.

And the anniversary of the beginning of my blog. I had friends over for brunch the morning of my first blog post,and I took a tiny, little, dark photo of the table and wrote about it. Wondering if anyone would ever see it or find me in my little corner of the internet.

(these pictures are all new stuff in my shop, and in the Etsy store,)

And no, I don't think anyone did. But I'd taken the first step and put myself out there. Months later, I'd made lots of blogging friends, and I can't imagine not having this blog to blabber and blather on in.

Sadly, we weren't able to have our big, family adoption celebration on Sunday night, our littlest fairy was so ill that she had to go to the ER for re-hydration. Dewdrop is better now, but it sure was sad to see someone soooo tiny, feel so bad. She was pale and fragile, not her normal bouncy, in charge self.

Dewdrop is doing fine today, and we'll do some sort of celebration when we can. In the meantime, I'm hosting another little Valentine's Day brunch just like I did 5 years ago. Then, in the afternoon, is a craft day with Beth and Mary. I think that I'll take a trick from one of my favorite characters, Leslie Knope, and call it, "Galentines Day".

A festive day of treats and fun with the gals!

I'm counting my blessings this year and am enjoying all the loves in my life.

My handsome, hardworking husband who sweeps me off my feet and leaves me breathless, and who surprised me with flowers on Sunday

My cute little fairy grand babies who I can giggle and be silly with.

My sweet boys, who I love so much and who were lucky to have such a great dad come into their lives.

My girls who are loving mothers to those sweet fairies I adore.

My gal friends who keep me sane, friends I can share both woes and laughter with.

My blog buddies who have given me a place to blather and babble, for 5 years now and who have visited me over a million and a half times. I tell ya, when I wrote that first little, dark post without much to say, I had no idea I'd be talking online years later to bunches and gobs of people, and to actually get to make great friends online and in person with so many of them.

Yep. My heart is full.

Thanks everyone, for five fun filled years of blathering!

Oh, and the winner of my chalk board topped heart shaped box is:

Judi Storm

New skills

Dew Drop, dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, paper cowgirl, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / February 4, 2012

Congratulations to Agnes Rosebud for catching her first mouse! She might end up being as talented as her mom, who has a voracious appetite for chasing varmits.

Agnes Rosebud isn't the only one learning new skills. Dewdrop got a painting lesson from her big sis this week.

Sugarwings is a bit of an unconventional artist. She is always ready to set the paper aside and try something new. She likes to paint all of her small toys, and anything else that she can get a hold of. I figure, as long as its just watercolors and she is painting her own belongings, that is fine. I'll wash them down and she can paint them again later. She;d rather paint her toys than play with them.

She knows to ask before she starts painting any of my stuff that is within her reach.

Well, most of the time. Every once in a while she needs a reminder. I've not had anything too important turned pink yet, just a few tidbits and supplies.

We bought some markers for window panes, and she has this big window by my garden door that she likes to work on. I can see why she enjoys this canvas, I like to draw on the window with her.

Their father is a bit worried that Dewdrop will take this idea and redecorate the world with it. My thoughts are to teach them when they are little where they can paint and where they can't, but give them some interesting options. He's afraid that she is way too little to know the difference and might just color all of the walls she sees now.

But as a person who used to paint murals for a living, and who painted that faux brick floor that the girls are pictured on, its hard for me to limit them to just paper. Its good to see them coloring outside of the lines and being individuals.

When I teach a class, its hard for me to limit the kits to just exactly what is needed. I like to have a pile of extras for the students to pick through, so they can create a one of a kind piece, and do their own version of "coloring outside of the lines".

So, I'm gathering up a nice selection of goodies for the Paper Cowgirl class I'll be teaching in March, down in Texas. The class isn't full yet, if you'd like to dig through the pile of pretties and make a wreath with me.

Surfaces

family

By Karla Nathan / January 29, 2012

My oldest son had a birthday this week. I realized that I rarely get photos of him, so when the family took him out to celebrate at his favorite restaurant, I made sure to bring my camera.

He always chooses this Japanese steak house on his birthday for Sugarwings because he knows she has so much fun there.

He's a loving uncle, a handsome guy, a hard worker, a sweet man, and I'm proud to have his as a son.

He has a strong work ethic and has been working 2 part time jobs for years, but just recently went full time at one of them.

He goes to the gym almost everyday, takes care of himself, saved up for and bought his own car, does his own laundry, and is a good cook.

He lost about 100 pounds and has kept it off for years and years.

Ryan has never had it easy. He has to try a lot harder than other people, but he never gives up. He has excelled in his life and when I tell people that my son works full time at a convenience store, I say it with a big glob of pride, every bit as much pride as the mother of a gifted student who becomes a rocket scientist would have.

Probably more pride because I know how he has struggled to get so far.

When customers are rude to him and tell him to hurry, I wonder if they realize how hurtful that is? That they are being cruel to someone who always tries his hardest and has accomplished more than anyone ever thought he would?

They don't see past the surface.

I think people see his blue eyes, handsome face, and 6 pack abs, and don't even realize that he has learning difficulties. They might see how shy and quiet he is and not realize that he has a speech problem, they will just think he isn't friendly, or has little to say. He has also been called stoned or drunk when people hear his speech or see that he is slow at times when trying to do something.

Ryan has been taken advantage of by some bad people in the past. Low lifes who used his sweet nature against him, so now he lives with us, in an apartment we built over my studio. Its important for him to have his independence, but also to be near family.

But we are lucky to have him here. He helps around the kitchen, mows our acreage, carries in groceries, and never, ever leaves a room without saying "I love you". And that is usually accompanied by me getting a kiss on the top of my head.

Is my family as perfect as it looks on the surface? Oh heavens no.

When you look past the surface you see something better than perfection.

You can see what caring, love, and strength built by adversity and a determination to make it all work better than it should, can do for a circle of people who need each other in their lives.

Patches

family

By Karla Nathan / January 26, 2012

Thanks for all your kind comments, but I'm not about to fall to pieces. I'm just a bit blue and slightly overwhelmed at the moment, but things get better. Life is an up and down thing.

When things go wrong, you fix what you can, patch up the messy spots and keep your eye on the happy shiny stuff ahead!

So, please don't think I'm in bad shape, I hope I wasn't complaining too much. Sometimes I over share on this blog…

Maybe to even out my negative post about being down I should print a happy list?

I have nice kids to worry about.
Sugarwings' elbow will heal.
My husband is buying chain saw pants to wear for the next time he cuts wood!
Sparkle was the sweetest puppy mama and lap dog EVER, and we were lucky to have her for as long as we did.
Winter might suck, but this one has not been very cold, and I've not got snowed in once. I've not even slid across the driveway and fallen on my butt yet. NO ICE!!!
Grandfairies are pretty cool to have around.
Our Hippy Chick is academically gifted and doing great in nursing school
Our Gypsy is starting at KU this week and loves her classes, and both girls will pass on the love of learning to the grandfairies.
My husband makes me laugh. A lot. He's fun to live with.
Agnes Rosebud could possibly grow up to be as sweet as Sparkle was.
My studio is a wonderful retreat, even when I am not feeling arty, its a beautiful place to be and I'm lucky to have it.
I have a new kitchen. A perfectly vintage, brand new, big kitchen.
All of our cars are repaired and back on the road and hopefully will go on for a long time before they need replaced.
American Idol is back and better than ever.
I sure enjoyed baking all those Christmas cookies that are stuck to my backside. Sugarwings and I love to bake together. Dewdrop has decided she wants to help in the kitchen and likes to stir the batters with us.
My shop is practically empty, and needs restocked.
People from last year's Birdsong are signing up to come back again and bring friends. That must mean that they liked it here at my cottage with me. That is a lovely compliment that so many are returning. And I look forward to seeing them again!
My friends are some of the funnest and caring people around.
I'm at a place in my life where if I want to take a couple of days off to feel blue, I can. My home won't be taken from me, my family won't go hungry, no one will even notice if I am not working a couple of days. I'm my own boss. That is a big plus right there.
You guys cared when I was a little down, even though it was just a little down. Thanks!

(3 kinds of new rhinestone chain is available in the Boutique, $3.50 a foot)

Thoughfulness

bird song art event, fairies, family

By Karla Nathan / January 20, 2012

My friend, Meleen, sent me a nice surprise this week. A beautiful box full of boxes! And not just any boxes, very vintage, never used, bird seed packaging.

Meleen is from Oyster Bay and embellished the gift with this cute idea.

These boxes will be IDEAL for Birdsong Two. I already have something in mind for them. And I will be adding Meleen's blog to my side bar as an official sponsor for the weekend.

If you would like to sponsor the event, please contact me. All you do is donate something that the ladies will enjoy. Most of the gifties will go into the goodie bags they will be receiving. Hmmmm….. that reminds me…. I need to brainstorm some goodie bag design ideas…….. heck, I don't even have my project done for you to see, let alone details like goodie bags pulled together yet.

I could be behind due to the fact that I have spent a lot of time here, in the "force field", which is what Sugarwings has been calling her clubhouse/fort under the dining room table.

Its a cozy spot, with an assortment of fluffy pillows- a soft, princess pillows, a tooth fairy pillow (a gift from Cindy), and a unicorn Pillow Pet/ Plus, handmade afghan from our Gypsy, a DVD player with a stack of movies, some fairy friends dangling from the bottom of the table as well as some drawn underneath the table top.

What more do you need? She slipped into her princess gown, and slung on her decorated sling, grabbed a dog and settled in for a few movies. I curled up next to her with a good book, and didn't want to come out.

Yesterday Dr. Pretty Boy (the resident at Children's Mercy that took care of our little broken wing fairy was quite beautiful to see, her mom and I really enjoyed his visits) gave her the go-ahead to return to school, with limited activities. Over protective Grams didn't take her first thing this morning, I thought a half day was a good transition after being hurt and out of class for a while.

But, now she is back to pre-K and my time is my own again. Hopefully there will soon be a necklace to show you for Birdsong, and my mind can start percolating on some goodie bag ideas.

More gifts came recent;y too. Beth had a tattered lace table cloth for me, just perfect for turning into leaves for my Song Of Spring wreath class for Paper Cowgirls, and a pretty water jug to serve tea in at Birdsong Two.

Beth brought all these to me on our last craft day, as a bereavement gift for losing poor little Sparkle. Although, Beth never really needs a reason to bring gifts, she finds things for me at auctions and estate sales and picks up little tidbits all the time.

Another bag full of lace was delivered in person to my front door by a new friend who read my blog and knew I'd give her grandma's lace a good home. She happened to be in town having a girl's day out with her quiliting buddies and they all came by to see me. It was so nice to have company, and so thoughtful of her to bring me the pretties. How sweet!

PS- Beth will be at the Old Summit Antique Show this weekend. Will I see you there?