guncles – Page 3 – Karla's Cottage

Sneaking in an itsy bitsy, teensy weensy amount of crafting, Guncle Time, and Freddy

By Karla Nathan / November 6, 2020

Guncle Randy came to visit last week and we had big plans for crafting every day in the studio while puppies ran around our feet.

Then this happened. Poor, little Freddy got sick. And the weather turned snowy, so the other pups were cooped up indoors. Not only was I up with Freddy throughout the night, holding him, medicating him and getting him to the vet, I had major cleanup to do nonstop with 15 other pups who couldn’t go outside to play.

16 pups are a ton of work on a good day, if you want to do it right. It’s important to keep them and their area clean, if you want to housebreak them. They need to know that pottying just anywhere isn’t allowed, so if they do, it needs mopped up. And the scent needs to be removed so they learn that isn’t the spot to go in.

Oh, they got fleas too. And were too young for chemicals. They had to be bathed and gone over with a flea comb, it was the only treatment I could do. Sixteen little wrigglers who needed to be gone over with a fine tooth comb multiple times isn’t a speedy activity.

And with new families being far away, or not able to visit due to covid, I want lots of photos to send to them. Plus, the dogs need to learn manners, I have to de-worm them, do their shots, make special food, and most of all, snuggle them, of course.

(Videos of the babies can be found on Instagram at Cottage Doodles, and a few are on my FB page)

They also needed their fluffy butts shaved for sanitary reasons. Which reminds me, I think they are due for another shave before they go home next week…

But we did not give up. We might not have done all the fun plans we had (face painting for Halloween, working in the studio, watching horror movies all week) but we did squeeze in an hour of air dry clay crafts in front of The Witches.

I made this doodle out of clay, Guncle Randy whipped up some pumpkins. But I was too tired to stay up for the end of the movie. I knew I’d be up taking care of my little buddy, Fred during the night, and needed at least a bit of sleep.

Since Randy has gone, the weather cleared so the babies are running (and pooping) outdoors, and Freddy Puppy is doing better.

I had time to paint the clay piece to look like a Bernadoodle for a friend (she raises those) and make some doodle face cupcakes for her birthday too.

What a relief to have this sick boy feeling like himself again!

What a darling guy he is. After having him inside with me all week, and watching him struggle to survive, while staying soooooo sweet and loving, it will be hard to say goodbye next week.

Even at his sickest, he tried to drag himself to his pee pads, and now that he is running around, he is extra good at hitting them. What a good boy.

He is able to go on walks with the other pups, but mostly lives inside with us. He has this playpen to sleep in, and it is so handy. Huge and ugly, but handy.

We will use it in hotel rooms when we deliver puppies to the east coast, it folds up in seconds.

Thank you for all of your well wishes for this pup.

And thank you, Randy for your support. Sorry it was such a hectic, stressful visit.

Guncle Time

family, Food and Drink, guncles

By Karla Nathan / September 22, 2020

The Guncles came to visit for three days, and we were so busy, and had such a good time together, (Plus packing the camper for a trip to NC) that I wasn’t taking photos.

We cooked, went boating, set up a puppy nursery, crafted, and laughed throughout.

My husband wanted his grandma’s recipe for pickles, and Randy is the keeper of her boxful of treasures. Grandma Nathan was most known for her German Pancakes, and there have been family debates on how she made them. When I found this, I photographed it and sent it out to sisters.

The next morning we tried it out. Actually, I tried making them, and am not a recipe person.

When I cook, I kind of make things up as I go along and eyeball measurements. But these needed to taste EXACTLY LIKE GRANDMA NATHAN’S.

So I got out my measuring cups, that family often tease me about because they have no markings to say what size they are.

And of course, I screwed it up by using a full cup of milk and water instead of a half, so I had to start dumping more ingredients in to make up for it.

Nope, mine were not EXACTLY LIKE GRANDMA NATHAN’S.

The Guncles did the rest of the cooking while they were here and even brought fresh seafood packed on ice all the way from Florida.

oh my

It was the best!

The visit went by way too quickly. It had been ages since Kevin had been here with us and I wish they could have stayed longer.

I love those guys.

The Great Camping Adventure

Dew Drop, family, guncles, Travel

By Karla Nathan / February 24, 2020

We have only had minimal beach time so far, but when we made it to the shore, it was the best!

Some trips required jackets and were quite short.

But even a chilly, brisk walk on the beach is uplifting to the soul.

The dogs agree.

And so did Dewdrop. She and her dad drove down from North Carolina to see us, and get a bit of Florida sunshine.

Uhm, at least that was the plan…

Our camper is TINY.

Or should I say tiny?

We have two adults, two big dogs and one little Twinkle living in it. Add a cold, relentless rain and two more people? Since one was a little fairy with a bad cough, it simply wouldn’t work.

The solution? We found the only hotel with an indoor pool that had a single room left (it was Daytona 500 weekend, and not only were the hotels full, they were doubled in price).

And we could check in at 9am so we had a place to get the kiddo out of the rain and take advantage of the free breakfast that morning as well as check out day. (Two free breakfasts that I didn’t have to make in the camper took away some of the ouchiness of paying twice the cost of a room that night.)

Did I mention how teensy weensy the camper is?

A meal outdoors is nice, but indoors, impossible. it was even nicer after Guncle Randy gave me a box of lace curtains from an estate sale, and our “dining room” had a bit of privacy.

I have never done anything interesting to the interior of the camper, it is not only on the extra small side, it is dark and gloomy too.

If we decide to do more of this, I see a makeover coming.

And do I think I want to do this again?

Yes, I think I do…

Camping is a affordable way to travel with our dogs. Bad weather complicates things, but that can happen on any trip. You just have to adjust and make the most of it, and I feel like we have made this work.

After being here almost two weeks, I’ve got lots of ideas on how to do it better next time.

Such as not bringing as many clothes with me. Traveling with dogs means hitting the washer and dryer a lot, so I shouldn’t need to bring that much along and take up valuable packing space.

I was doing laundry quite often. (Thanks, Guncles! They live near by and welcomed the whole crew, dogs, laundry and all.)

And feeding us royally!

While the kids were here, we stayed in Guncleland a few days and helped rebuild their deck.

The family bonded over hard labor, good food, laughter and togetherness.
And it was a welcome break from what I was calling, “The Crappy Camper”

So was exploring old town St Augustine.

It hasn’t been a perfect trip, but there have been moments of perfection.

Yes, I’d do it again.

A Parisian Travel Journal

Books, guncles, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / January 27, 2020

I am very happy to be teaching at Randy Nathan’s first event!

The theme is A Midnight in Paris, so I have crafted a travel journal that is all frenchied up for us to make there.

And of course, it comes with a collage sheet of French images so you can personalize your book by choosing which pictures you want to use.

I have used Toile de Joie wallpaper, Fleur de lis charms, silk ribbon, and a metal spine inspired by the Eiffel Tower.

I would love to have you join us!

Updates to repurpose a canvas

flowers, Garden, guncles, Hand painted, hand painted signs

By Karla Nathan / August 3, 2019

Years ago, I had painted a canvas with a French market scene to use as a backdrop/divider for a booth at a show. It was a quickie, and not meant to be too detailed.

Here is the original. I have had it hanging in my garage, but have never really liked it. When Guncle Randy needed a French themed mural, I offered to give it to him.

But of course, that meant that I wouldn’t like it any better when I saw it at his house.

So, I spent an afternoon brightening it and adding details.

Including his Bichon, Bella, peeking out of the window.

And his address in French, on the wall.

(the sign isn’t really crooked, the canvas has a few billows, here and there that throw off the perspective in photos)

I like it better now. I think he will use it in his patio tent for a French themed dinner party or maybe to hang on the garden fence?

It is canvas and acrylic, so would be fine outdoors. But over time, could cause moisture to be trapped behind it and the fence would rot, so that couldn’t be permanent.

Magical Mermaids

celebrations, family, guncles, Travel

By Karla Nathan / July 10, 2019

While absolutely EVERYTHING about our trip to Utah was wonderfully fun, there were some extra special moments.

Like when cousins and cousins of cousins got to know each other and spend a whole day together as magical creatures.

The Park City Marriott had an atrium and pool that was inviting, spacious, just made for gathering a flock (or pod?) of merfolk together.

It was ideal for gathering family members too. We had our luncheons there, our gossip sessions, and our wine sipping by the pool when we weren’t out exploring the city.

Terry and Guncle Kevin even threw a poolside birthday party for Guncle Randy in the space. And what kind of cake do you get for a Pet Butler?

A pupcake!

We even used the area for our prepping spot to get ready for the costume ball, with the girls doing each other’s makeup.

Me too, I was going for raven eyes.

The hotel itself was just what we needed for a family reunion. There were tables to play cards, lounging areas, a bonfire pit with s’mores, and an ATM that the grand fairies decided to use to play banker. I think I saw some playing cards inserted into it at one point.

ps- while the kiddos had a blast with these $39 Amazon tails, this is what Sugarwings’ looked like after one hour. They are hard to put on, hard to keep on, and easy to rip. Too bad, because they were beautiful and fun!

Crafting the Bunny’s Chapeau

family, flowers, guncles, how to's

By Karla Nathan / April 26, 2019

Although Easter has passed, I still have more to show you from the holiday. I thought I'd tell you how we created Guncle Randy's bunny hat.

We started with a magnificent, pink, wool top hat. Which would have been great as is!

But we wanted it to be even more bunnified. So I tucked Easter grass under the band.

Over the band, I wrapped a white velvet ribbon and pinned it in place, then glued one end of the white ribbon to the other end of the ribbon, overlapping a bit. Our issue was, that we didn't know if the hat would need to be returned to its original glory. I don't sew, I am a die hard glue-er. But- we were not sure if we should let any glue touch the already pretty pink hat.

The white velvet ribbon became the new hat band, placed over the existing band and everything was glued to the white one.

Including the wired ears.

Using The Ultimate Glue, I layered vintage millinery flowers to the ribbon, then to each other, building a full bouquet to add more grass, eggs, and bugs to.

My plan had been to use brighter, less tattered flowers….

But the ones I had packed were lost on the flight, due to a broken zipper on my suitcase!!!! (Along with a crop-o-dile, lace, ribbons, rhinestones, Tim Holtz scissors, more flowers, gel pens, and a bottle of glue)

Well, at least it was a good excuse to buy a new suitcase for the trip home! And a much prettier one at that.

Funny, for a person who lost most of her flowers, I seemed to have plenty left. These were packed elsewhere for me to use in the classes I was going to take at the event. I had forgotten that I had a ton of vintage floral packets with me that I had planned on selling on Vendor Night, so there was no shortage of flowers that weekend. I just didn't get to use the ones I had planned on using on the hat.

But I like the way these look, so it all turned out fine.

The sides and back were decorated too. But less heavily than the front.

It was clumsy to try to glue things to the new band and to each other, not to the hat itself, and it is all put together like a house of cards. But this way, if Randy ever wants to wear a plain, pink top hat, all he needs to do is pull off that white ribbon. Everything will come off in a big bundle.

Luckily, this wire and bead posy was not lost in the luggage fiasco, because it fit perfectly into this old knife handle transformed into a boutonniere holder.

My baby bro and I had a blast making these together. Our collaborated projects are always so much fun!

Guncle Randy’s Fairy King Crown

fairies, family, guncles

By Karla Nathan / April 24, 2019

While in Florida, I helped my baby bro complete his crown for a masked ball coming up on mid-summer’s eve. Terry is making his costume, and he has been working on a “crowning glory” to top it off.