holiday decor – Page 4 – Karla's Cottage

My dolly redo obsession has GROWN (to about 4’ high)

antiques/junking, holiday decor, how-to projects

By Karla Nathan / July 16, 2023

I have remade many, many old dolls into fairies, angels, witches, and zombies. I can’t help it, I see a doll that needs a makeover and I’m itching to start gluing things all over her and giving her a new look.

St Nick, here, is my latest and my biggest. And while he might not be a fairy, he is a jolly old elf.

He was at a garage sale where everything was a dollar.

(Including a dining room table with six chairs. Seriously, every single item was $1. The same day, I was at a sale where everything was 50 cents. You just gotta love garage sailing, you never know what you’ll find. Even if it is something you do not need. I’m very proud of myself for not coming home with a dining room set.)

He caught my eye, because I knew he deserved better than a felt suit. Poor guy. I’m sure he was fine as is, but he was not living up to his full potential.

I had no idea what was lurking beneath, or how I was going to redo him, so I just started pulling him apart and taking it as I found it.

My best surprise was that under the fake fur covers, he had nice boots. All they needed was a shine in the form of some high gloss spray paint.

His rubber face needed paint too, and a lot of it. I primed that first thing, to let it dry while I worked on other elements.

There, that new face is better!

The painting part was easy, but the clothing? That gave me some issues, I am not a seamstress. And the heavy, cut velvet fabric (it used to be my old sofa’s slipcover) was pretty thick. I envisioned many broken needles if I attempted getting the sewing machine out.

So, first I tried staples, and discovered that they sorta worked. At least a couple could hold material in place while the glue dried. So with a combo of hot glue and The Ultimate, I started sticking the fabric to the plastic and gluing seams in the clothes. Since I wasn’t using a needle and thread, I carefully cut the velvet to make sure that finished edges made up my hemmed areas.

But then, I started to fret about the pants. His previous britches were real pants, with an elastic waist. As I tried to figure out how to replicate that, I realized that he was not going to be pulling them off and on, and I did not need anything that complicated.

So I made two legs out of rectangles glued them to his thighs.

While they already had a finished edge from the hem of the slipcover, I still covered that with fur. Because, well, dur, Santa! Of course his trousers are fur trimmed.

And not just any old, fake fur this time. I used strips cut from a vintage, white mink pillow.

Next, I covered up my most hideous glued together seams with trim and old lace, then added more mink in appropriate places. I did not have quite enough to go around the bottom of his jacket, like a traditional Santa suit, but did what I could and made it go as far as I could by using thin strips.

I knew that my husband had the world’s rattiest belt in his closet, one that should’ve been thrown away years ago. It was practically in shreds. I cut the buckle off, glued it together where I could, peeled off the worst straggles and spray painted it like the boots.

The buckle is an antique, mother of pearl one that I slid in place and glued on. But first, I tucked a couple handfuls of stuffing under the jacket. I thought this guy was looking too slim.

Originally, Santa had a bag of badly wrapped gifts (more felt) and cheapo plastic garland. No kid wants that delivered down the chimney.

So I lined the bag with a pretty doily and added a fluffy teddy and an old doll (she had no legs, and was scheduled to become a zombie, I’m sure she prefers this life).

The bag is glued, stapled and pinned into place, and the rope to it is glued to his mitten.

I left the mittens as is, they are the only part that did not get a makeover.

His too shiny glasses got a little tarnish with paint and I made his beard, mustache, and eyebrows from curly locks goat hair.

The hat is pretty simple, it’s from another fabric, but with a similar look, and is also trimmed in mink and glued together.

All in, it took me almost five hours on a day that I should’ve been working on something else. But I could not help myself, it had to be done. And everything I used was stuff that was repurposed and hanging around in the studio.

And speaking of hanging around in the studio, I have nowhere to put this guy til Christmas. I have a feeling he will become my loyal companion while I work out there.

Springtime work for Autumn pieces

holiday decor, redos

By Karla Nathan / June 4, 2023

It might seem early, but if I don’t start on Halloween crafts now, and Christmas ones by mid summer, I won’t be ready. Last year, I got a very late start, and was getting up at 5am to put in such long hours that I hardly had time to enjoy the holidays myself.

This year, I’ll be ahead of the game!

Here is the before picture of this wedding couple. The first picture posted is the after, with them transformed into two ghost brides wearing vintage finery.

I just wasn’t feeling the groom. But I did like the idea of doing one bride in black.

Each have a bat charm on their bodice, curly, white angora hair, and some of my favorite, old lace.

Easter morning

cottage, holiday decor

By Karla Nathan / April 9, 2023

Happy Easter!

I hope your day is filled with blessings.

We have a quiet day planned, I’ll mostly be resting up from my Good Juju event. I am blessed by good friends who helped me out and covered my shift so I could leave early.

We will have a mini egg hunt tonight and a simple dinner. Till then I am going to be taking it easy and resting up from yesterday’s festivities and be ready to enjoy tonight’s get together.

Part Three of March’s Good Juju Set Up- the Easter Explosion

antiques/junking, Good JuJu, holiday decor

By Karla Nathan / March 1, 2023

Decorating for holidays makes me so happy!

Because before decorating with the stuff, I have to make it all.

And I really, really love making holiday goodies.

The sale at Good Juju in the Old West Bottoms of KC is always the first Fri & Sat of each month.

Two days every month that I look forward to so much.

At the last sale, I got to meet two friends from online. It’s good to put a name and face together in real life.

Although it is embarrassing to admit this, but I am very bad with names. So if we meet, please don’t be offended if I don’t remember your name, because it seems to be some sort of issue that I can’t quite get over.

Sometimes I feel like Dory in Finding Nemo. I’m lucky to remember anything, and not just because I hit my head on a regular basis. Although that most likely can’t help. I’ve always been this way.

It could be that my head is too full of pretty colors, possible projects, snippets of songs, scenes from shows, a few fairies flying around knocking into stuff, and random nonsense.

It probably looks a bit like this in there.

Holiday Decor is My Fave!

antiques/junking, Good JuJu, Hand painted, Hearts, holiday decor, jewelry

By Karla Nathan / January 28, 2023

Lately, I have been leaving jewelry making supplies out on one studio table. That way, when I feel the whim, I can quickly make a piece without dragging out boxes. The room is a wreck anyway from using a chunk of it as storage, so I have kind of given up on keeping my poor studio tidy.

My most recent creations have been Valentine themed. Either with hearts, or just an air of dress up and romance.

The last few months at Good Juju have been absolutely delightful for me. I simply adore decorating for Christmas, Valentine’s, and Halloween. I tend to be into flowery and over the top, romantic, even gaudy stuff that isn’t exactly what the crowd there loves on a regular basis. The venue leans toward rustic or primitive and my corner screams “fussy” to a lot of the shoppers.

I do throw in lots of neutrals and even natural woods and browns, but they end up buried under my foofiness. And holidays were a good reason to have the exception.

I guess I still have Easter to look forward to…. But after that, it will be a long stretch til fall when I have an excuse to make things my way. Till then, I’ll try to reign myself in a little and focus more on neutrals.

A buddy day

friends, holiday decor, paintings

By Karla Nathan / January 15, 2023

A dear and talented friend has art hanging at the Sabatini Gallery in Topeka, so we planned a day out to go see it.

Between my husband traveling for business, missing our annual RV/dog adventure to the beach, and plain old having a case of the I Hate Januaries, I was ready for fixing up and getting out! I even polished my nails - all of them! Including the ones buried in wool socks inside Ugg boots. (Except they aren’t really Ugg boots, Costco has their own version for a fraction of the cost that I like even better than the high dollar ones)

Our first stop was meeting at Jen’s. She still had her Christmas goodies up and we hadn’t seen them. She wanted to show us her friend and family display.

There were handmade ornies from her artist friends, things she or her daughter made, and pieces created at our holiday craft days over the decades.

This is one I’d painted of her dog, Cage, after he passed.

And one from the year I was a featured artist at the Festival of Trees. It was special to see decorations I’d made so long ago, lots of happy memories were tied up in them.

I should’ve gotten a photo of the whole display. She has them tied to a lit garland above a window seat.

Our friend, Shan, whose work we were going to Topeka to see, also hosts craft days in her studio. Every Thursday she invites us to do mosaics with her. This is a little house Jen made at one of those get togethers.

The gallery show was impressive, and I thought Shanna’s piece was just plain old delightful. Not only was I proud to see a good friend’s work hanging in a show that was filled with glass artists from all over the country (including Dale Chihuly!) I thought her piece really stood out in its dual design, the glass itself and the wall behind it.

Our day in Topeka included more than just Art. We went for a drive in the country to see the old farmstead where Jen spent her childhood, went out for lunch, and did some junking. Even with the bleak, washed out, Kansas in January scenes around us, it was a warm and colorful day.

I love my friends and the years we have had together!

My January Set Up for Good Juju

family, Good JuJu, holiday decor, jewelry

By Karla Nathan / January 3, 2023

My booth this month is all about winter, and a bright spot in the cold months, Valentine's Day.

One wall is all hearts, roses, with pink mushrooms and wings. I'd hoped to put up cabbage rose wallpaper, but ran into a snag. Oh well, next month.

But honestly, you don't really see much of the wall anyway, huh?

Another areas are neutral and white.

Which is always a favorite of mine to do.

Well, the roses make me happy too, but I think that the neutral tones are more popular at this venue.

But I can't always just stick to neutrals, there are other cool items that I find that I know there is a market for. Luckily, my space can be chopped up into chunks where I can do different themes.

And my new, tiny, wing wall is a great place to highlight a grouping. Here are examples of the ruffled wings (also for sale) and kits to make your own.

Over the holiday, I did some kitchen table crafting. We had supplies out for decorating gingerbread houses, cookies, Sugarwings had polymer clay, Dewdrop had bracelet, and I made dozens of wings and hearts from wire and lace. The family was coming and going, but mostly staying put because of the bone chilling cold. I wasn't caring about clutter or mess, I just enjoyed the big group and spent time crafting away in the middle of them.

I had the best of both worlds. Time with family and time to make things!

I don't even know how many I churned out. After wings, I started on pink and red mushrooms. As a person who typically spends a lot of time alone in the studio, I sure was happy to have so much company while working. My son even joined in and bent wire for me. It has been sad to go from a bustling houseful of loved ones to me in my studio alone again. Sugarwings is still on winter break, so I am not totally alone, I've got my buddy.

A Family Together Christmas

celebrations, family, holiday decor

By Karla Nathan / December 27, 2022

Like it was for so many of the people across the country, the weather was a big challenge this holiday. Luckily, we did fine, unlike so many stranded at airports, stuck on icy roads, or barricaded up in cold houses with no heat.

Our discomforts were minor. My husband’s flight home was cancelled, but he was able to drive. Our pipes froze, but only the kitchen. After some insulating and blasting a space heater toward them, 24 hours later, we had water.

I’ve been horrified thinking about all the people stranded at airports. And even worse, on the snowy highways.

I feel so blessed to have had my people with me, all cozied up in our warm house.

We made bath products, gingerbread houses, sugar cookies and SO MANY DINNERS.

Sugarwings made sculpy characters like this gruesome zombie gingerbread guy. Dewdrop made bracelets. I made lace Angel wings.

There was snuggling.

Laughing, lots of laughing with the little ones

We decorated the dogs for the holiday too.

Dewdrop decorated herself.

None of the hats or antlers fit little Dorothy, so she was slipped into an elf hat.

My favorite part, though? The two littlest grand fairies, who are not so little any more, put on swimsuits and had a pool party in the jacuzzi tub. With rubber ducks, while singing Christmas carols. It made me so happy to hear their giggles and songs.

With the family spread across the country, and the littles growing up, I know that these big gatherings have a shelf life.

I count my blessings every time my house fills up.

Glass ornaments as mini carafes

celebrations, cottage, Food and Drink, friends, holiday decor, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / December 20, 2022

We had our annual holiday bookclub dinner at the cottage last week.

As I usually do, I set the table with a hodge podge of mismatched pieces, but with kind of a theme. And I tried a cute trick I’d seen at another party, using a clear glass ball as a mini carafe.

The way I’d seen it done was at a wine tasting and they used small, plastic ornaments. I really don’t know if those are food safe. So, I bought the big glass ones (at Hobby Lobby on clearance for 60% off), washed them well, and glued on roses that I’d painted onto old sheet music.

At our party, I make the food and friends bring the wine, so I couldn’t pre-fill the balls with wine like the previous way I’d seen them used. So I decided to use them for water, sitting on a glass of ice.

Before everyone arrived, I poured one into a cup, to see if it really was a good idea or was just messy.

Well, so so.

I had over filled the balls, and when pouring the water over the ice I realized that there was just too much in them. And no where to set the balls down except right back on top of the glass, or they would roll away and flood the table.

Oops!

I quickly poured some water out of each ball, leaving just the right amount for the glass. Ha, I’m glad I checked!

After dinner, the ornaments were party favors to take home.

I should’ve made everyone take food home too, I made way, way too much. As usual. I ended up putting this pie in the freezer for when the family comes home for Christmas. And I served some of the cupcakes at another party. Oh, and I did manage to take care of the rest of the extra cupcakes.

Somebody had to, right?

A few days after the book club bash, I was hosting a craft day get together. And the day after that, Sugarwings was supposed to have a cocoa party, but it was cancelled due to an ear infection, poor kid.

Typically, I like to have all of my parties in the same week, so I only have to clean the house once. And as I take plates out of the dishwasher, I reset the table so it’s ready to go for the next event. The cottage has a festive feel all week when it is party time.

For the craft day party, I did use wine in the Christmas balls.

Which, come to think of it, probably makes them harder to rinse out if they are meant to be keepsakes. I am not sure if I’ll do this party trick again or not. I enjoyed it, and thought it made the table festive. I hope the guests enjoyed it too.

Bad Girls Christmas

family, friends, holiday decor, jewelry, Ryan

By Karla Nathan / December 14, 2022

Our annual Bad Girls’ Christmas was again hosted by Angie, in her serene palace in the sky. It’s on the 8th floor and overlooks the KC Plaza, a wonderful view.

She is a caring hostess with attention to every detail. Everything there is always just perfect there. Well, everything but my blurry photos.

This one was a bit blurry too, but you can still see the fun!

She lives near Kaufman Gardens so we walk over to see the holiday displays. It feels good to be surrounded by blooms on a chilly, winter day.

I brought gifts, Beth loves buttons.

Angie always picks up autumn leaves.

She went all Julia Childs on us and served Beef Bourgignon, and oh man, it was good. But I’m afraid everyone had to listen to me do my (very poor) Julia imitation too many times.

I am blessed with the friends I have. And I know how lucky I am. When Rich and I were first married, his job uprooted us a lot. And I had two small boys, one who struggled pretty severely with some disabilities. Those guys both kept me busy, and between always being new in town, and needing to be with the kids, I didn’t meet many people.

Ryan grew into a delightful, caring, witty man, but his childhood was not easy for him. I think that his little body could not keep up with his mind, and his frustration about making himself understood, or to do what he wanted caused a lot of turmoil.

Speaking of Ryan, I felt like I had a surprise visit from him! An article I was reading mentioned street view on Google maps, and I’d never looked at our home there. So I pulled it up, and there he was- mowing the field and getting some sunshine.

At first it was shock to see him, but after a moment, I felt a warmth of happiness, almost as if I’d looked out the window and caught a glimpse of him.

After finishing a scrapbook of my pictures of Ryan, I came across something I wanted to add to it with another photo on it. Then it hit me.

I would never take another picture of my boy.

So finding this one online was a Christmas gift!

He is always with me, and in my heart. But I sure miss seeing him on that mower. Or walking down the sidewalk. Or gleefully throwing his head back in laughter.

Losing a loved one, plus having had those early years of struggle, and loneliness without close friends, makes me even more appreciative of having good friends now.

I treasure our times together.