Sugarwings – Page 15 – Karla's Cottage

Easter tree

By Karla Nathan / April 14, 2014

We dyed eggs last week, a bit early for Easter, but we'll do more closer to the holiday.

And while we had the dye out, we had a great idea to dye lace too.

After Easter last year, I bought a few boxes of Paas for 10 cents each, figuring that stuff is fine to save till the next year. Well, it's not. We had to grind the tablets up, we couldn't get them to disolve. And the colors never really took off, they stayed pastel. Which is fine for me, but Sugarwings like a blast of color in everything she does.

We'll buy some fresher dye for more eggs later on, but this batch was excellent for making ribbons to hang plastic eggs from.

And Joy Joy Angel Joy Nathan thinks that makes the best cat toys she has ever seen.

I wonder how many will still be hung from the tree by the time Easter arrives?

Chances are they will be all over the farm. Dew drop has already plucked the few within her reach.

But there is no way that Dewdrop and Joy Joy can reach them all. We have some pretty high up there.

A new view

sewing?, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / April 7, 2014

Before I put away my sewing machine after making hundreds of feet of ruffled, dyed crepe paper, I stitched up some curtains for the studio. I'm not much of a sewer, and don't enjoy doing it. I don't like to pin things, or iron them like you should before sewing. I don't measure. I just wing it. And this was such a simple project, winging it was just fine.

Although, from looking at my table, you'll have to wonder how I ever had space to sew these.

Basically, it is a table topper almost as wide as the window, a square shape that has cut up doilies patched onto it. The bottom is two ends cut off a runner and sewed to the bottom of the table topper, and a few other doilies were chopped up to add on.

I thought it would be much more elaborate, but when I got to this point, I kind of liked it and stopped. There was a big pile of doilies on the table waiting to be added, but I'll save those for something else. I'd thought I'd have more of a patchwork, all over design, but I'm happy with just a few small added bits over one big piece.

The curtain was too short, so I hung the rod lower, making the bottom of the curtain hit the sill. The panel wasn't wide enough, so I hung a vintage, white cotton, ruffle curtain on each side.

Above it, hangs a tea cup lamp made by Shanna Wagner, two hearts and a kite by Andrea Singarella and Lori Oles. and a pink dotted swiss ruffle valance.

But I don't want you to think I did this all alone. I had a helper.

Sugarwings came by to visit and offered to cut up and stitch doilies together. She likes hand sewing, unlike me. I don't do it unless forced. But she is pretty happy sewing together anything on her desk. When given some embroidered pieces to work with, she really had a blast.

Especially since it was her first day with her new glasses. These are reading glasses, the same type of drugstore magnifying lenses that I use.

She has constantly tried to sneak my glasses away from me when she is in the studio. I honestly thought it was just part of her 'artist costume'. Because for this kid, it's all about the costume for what ever you are doing.

I'd always told her that wearing other people's glasses could give you a headache and she had to take them off. Who knew that these were exactly what she needed and she wasn't just play acting when she wore mine?

St Paddy’s Day Parade

Dew Drop, family, holiday decor, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / March 24, 2014

We had a perfect day downtown Lawrence for the St Patrick's Day parade. Sugarwings danced the day away, awash in the joy of it all.

And with her brushes with princesses and beauty queens. Who knew Kansas was so chock full of royalty?

We had all of the parade court go by, one at a time, Miss Kansas, Mrs. Kansas, Miss Lawrence, Miss Douglas Co., Miss Topeka, Miss Johnson Co. and more.

Sugarwing's own crown broke early in the day, but she had to have it on every time a princess came by. Her grandfather was happy to hold it in place for her so she could greet her fellow royal friends. And so many of them were so sweet to her, making sure to greet her, eye to eye and say something.

My husband had the brilliant idea to go downtown early and park our truck so we could have a base to hang out in. We picked up a bag of green crap beautiful holiday decor, to deck out the truck and make it festive.

I let the girls do all the decorating themselves. We had green tinsel and leprechaun window clings everywhere.

Being there early, turned it into an almost all day adventure. We had a picnic, did some decorating, went for a walk, but mostly just hung out and had fun together.

Dewdrop didn't get the whole Irish concept, and insisted on wearing pink. But did consent to wear a green mermaid tale costume. And every once in a while would put on a hat. But mostly, she was enthralled by green moustaches and beards on the guys. And thought that leprechauns were Santas.

Personally, I was into the green thing. I got a hat from the dollar store and spent a couple minutes glittering it up and added some old millinery flowers with a couple safety pins.

And my witchy socks were called leprechaun socks for the day.

Sugarwings was all rainbows and green sparkles from head to toe. And used one of the dollar store hats to gather tons of candy that was being passed out.

She was very good about not eating it, and when Fin came by from one of the floats, she gave most of it to him. And that guy tossed it to the crowds when he got back on his bus. I was proud of them all for being good sharers. For them, it was more about the collecting and tossing than about a sweet tooth.

Our favorite entry in the parade, was of course, the Hoop Mamas. Sugarwing's Hippy Chick mommy and all of their friends ran over to give hugs.

They won 3rd place this year. Not bad, considering how much time and effort went into so many floats. These girls won with their dance routines.

We thought this garden center float filled up with baby fairies, was adorable.

That one got Dewdrop's vote. I think she appreciated that the fairies also preferred pink.

Downtown was pretty crazy and the traffic was bumper to bumper after it was over, but I don't think I'd ever want to go to this parade without the pickup again. We loved having a home base, and seats.

We were up high and had a great view from the tailgate. And when our friends came right up to the truck with their horses, Dewdrop had plenty of space to run away from them.

Funny, that kid loves "My Little Pony" more than anything, but when a real horse came up to see her, I practically had to peel her off the roof of the truck cab.

Downtown Lawrence is such a pretty place to spend a day. No matter what day of the year you go. But St Pat's is a big deal around here and they sure know how to celebrate it.

This year it was even better, with the weather cooperating, and the 17th fell during Spring Break for all the local kids.

I hope we have the luck of the Irish again next year! I already can't wait. What fun.

What A Wonderful, Wonderful, Day It Was

celebrations, family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / March 9, 2014

If you have a little Oz fan (or a big one like me) in your family, she will need to get to Crown Center in Kansas City to see the 75th anniversary celebration display. And on different weekends, you can meet some of the characters.

We were lucky to be there on Glenda's day to visit.

Her costume was perfect in every detail! I really wanted this necklace she had on.

While standing in the (very short) line to meet the Good Witch, Sugarwings confessed that she was getting nervous and didn't know what to say to her.

But it didn't take her long to get over her nerves. She was thrilled to meet the gracious witch who took plenty of time to greet and visit with each kid.

Down the hall, was the Oz playground. Every single inch of the space was hand painted.

Starting with Auntie Em's old house, all at a crazy tilted angle from the twister.

Complete with the Wicked Witch's feet sticking out from underneath.

If you press the red button and look through the window, you can watch Miss Gulch fly through the storm on her bike. Throughout the exhibit, there were lots of interactive things like that for the kids.

We were some of the biggest kids there. I wore my striped socks and witch hat, but didn't go all out witchy. I still made a friend who believed I was the real thing, though. A little boy followed me around throwing pretend buckets of water at me, so that I'd do a lot of melting. And more than one itty bitty girl thought that Sugarwings was really Dorothy.

I was impressed with Wizard's giant head, and all the details of the Emerald City, from the green lighting to the floor painted with emeralds.

And behind the curtain, the mechanics of making the giant head come alive, with buttons, levers, and pumps for the kids to control.

I've been to Crown Center for a kid event one other time and this same room was all hand painted every bit as cool and done up as a fairy tale land.

It's been too long since I revisited, I need to become a regular there with my girls, this place is so cute. We want to go back on the weekend that Dorothy is there to greet everyone, and I hope that Dewdrop gets to come along then.

We missed her this trip, I know she'd love it as much as we did.

And did I mention it was all free? This is set up in a downtown mall, owned by Hallmark (headquartered in KC) and there are lots of other attractions there for kids, plus shopping, movies, and food.

We ate at the Crayola Cafe, and surprisingly, had a very good meal. I was especially glad to see the heathy eating tips aimed at kids on the menu. And a side of "apple fries" which was an apple cut up like french fries and flavored with cinnamon, crispy and fresh, not fried at all.

There was also a lot of activities (free) in the Crayola gift shop.

As well as art supplies to buy. We got a couple little things, and also bought this Dorothy dress and ruby slippers at a shop there, but if you don't want to spend money, they even provide a place for you to eat a bagged lunch you can bring for yourself.

We were glad to see that there were dresses to buy, because we'd had a Dorothy emergency that morning. Sugarwings has had a progression of Dorothy dresses from infant size to 5, and we realized that she'd outgrown her latest one. I looked everywhere downtown Lawrence to get one for the day, with no luck. She had to wear a Toto tee shirt and a gingham apron.

But being the sunny child she is, she was fine with it.

My husband said she looked like a laundress.

The dress was a big improvement and she was thrilled to get it. But she is pretty much thrilled with anything and everything.

Which is why every day is an adventure with her, no matter where we are heading.

Explorations

cottage, family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / February 27, 2014

It's been a long, long, coooooold winter. But before the last big blast of unrelenting cold, we had a break, one beautiful day not only above freezing, but NICE. Sunshiny and warm. Springlike! So nice that Sugarwings and I stepped outside to take a peek at the sunshine and never went back in the house. We were still wearing jammies and didn't even care.

We decided to explore the back part of our land, we have about 10 acres, but only use about a third of it. The rest is hard to get to. requiring us to cross a couple of creeks and I don't like battling the weeds and underbrush during the summer growing season. In the winter, the brush has all died back and it's possible to walk through the woods without getting all tangled up but it's usually too cold for me to want to check it out.

But on this warm, winter day we could also walk right across the frozen creeks. It was an odd feeling to be outside on a day toasty enough to not need a jacket, but still walking on solid ice.

In the first photo, you can see the log that makes the bridge over the creek, which is how we usually cross. I'm not a fan of it, so was glad to slip and slide across the ice instead of dangling over the water on that log. As a person with no sense of balance at all, walking on ice isn't easy, but it's easier than clinging to that dead tree and scooting along it an inch at a time.

Sugarwings found lots of club houses out there. Here is a ring of trees on a hill that we are sure that the fairies planted just for us to play in.

Now that we have a John Deere Gator, my husband has major plans to drive across the creek, harvest firewood to bring back, and also clear some trails. I hope that we'll be spending more time back there as the seasons turn, now that we will have better access.

I love that we "reclaimed" part of our land to create our Fairy Berry Trail. Especially as the girls get older. They will enjoy exploring out there.

It would feel good to have use of the whole property. Sometimes there have been years when we haven't even crossed the creek to visit our own land.

The winner of a copy of Where Women Create is

Pallas.

Please send me your address, Pallas, and I'll get it out in the mail. Thank you to everyone for taking the time to enter. I enjoyed your comments.

Sweethearts and some card making tips

celebrations, Dew Drop, family, holiday decor, how to's, Sugarwings, Valentine's Day, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / February 21, 2014

I hope you had a good Valentines Day? We sure did. Actually, a week of it! My Handsome Husband took me out to dinner one night, then the next, we all got dressed up and went out for a fancy meal with Sugarwings, her mommy and her mommy's sweetheart. And this was all before Valentines ever arrived. On the day of, I had the grand fairies and we decided to play with food coloring out in the snow.

Of course, not all of the artwork can be hearts and love notes when you are creating with a 3 year old, and most of it all got trampled. When Ryan came down his stairs later as it was starting to get dark out, he thought there had been some sort of massacre in the snow from all the red squirted everywhere.

Sugarwings took off for a weekend with her mommy while Dewdrop spent some time with us. We got all dressed up with her and went out on the town again, to do a little dining and dancing while a friend's band played.

Then, and yes there is MORE. My husband and I went out to dinner AGAIN with some friends. I think I might just forget how to cook. I could get used to this life of restaurants and celebrations.

Except it all came to a crashing end when I had more gum surgery on Monday morning. No more dining for me for a while, it's jello time now.

Between galas and bashes and dinners and celebrating, I made up some cards to send out. These are a little different for me, not all elements are pure vintage. I had this rose print paper, and thought it was perfect for the holiday.

To start, I folded a chocolate brown sheet of card stock to make the card, and inked all the edges inside and out. Next, I cut out the rose paper to fit on the card, and with an exacto blade, cut slits in the faux picture frame on the paper, to slide in a Victorian die cut cherub.

To make the frame a bit more 3d, I used a soft brown marker to outline the inside of the frame and create shadows.

Around the card, I doodled with a metallic gold ink pen. The message inside the card is with the same ink.

To finish, I glued two sets of millinery petals, and added a red rhinestone to the center.

This card was made in much the same way, then I added velvet ribbon, a crepe paper ruffle, a painted brass piece and a millinery leaf to the edge.

For the brass, I used Martha Stewart craft paint that is made for metal, painted it on and wiped it off.

This time, the card also features a painted metal piece, that I've tied ribbons to. On top of it, I glued some vintage butterfly wings and on those, a pink cake topper lady, who is now a fairy.

I had another pink lady, and used her over some die cut butterfly wings that my friend, Hope, had given me. I layered her over another painted brass piece and some lace.

This one was made after I ran out of the pretty rose paper but was still in a card making mood. I cut sheet music into a heart, inked the edges and added a crepe paper ruffle to the back.

Onto the card, I added a Victorian die cut lady. Her dress had been baby blue, but I changed that with markers for a more Valentiney look. Her wings are two different butterflies printed onto vellum paper, and slid under her shoulders.

I added some millinery and a touch of sparkle with Stickles glitter.

I just love the way vellum paper looks with images printed on it. This photo is on vellum, and I cut a heart out of sparkly, white scrap book paper to layer underneath, then put both over a tan mat for contrast. It went into a frame, not onto a card.

If you'd like to try the snow painting, it is simple as can be. A small amount of food coloring in a jug of water is all it takes to make the paint. Then, put it into squirt bottles. It is surprising how fast it goes, though, so be prepared for a lot of refilling.

PS- if you'd like to sign up for a chance to win a copy of Where Women Create, please leave a comment on my previous post, or on FB.

Blizzards and bliss

Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / February 5, 2014

It's cold in Kansas! And staying that way for a while, it looks like.

The newspaper says we got 12", but it seemed like a lot more at our house. These photos were near the beginning of the storm, another forty or fifty feet (or so it feels) fell throughout the day.

When my husband bought this toy tool, to haul firewood, I thought it was a bit extravagant and it would be cheaper to just buy wood. But after seeing it keep our driveway cleared, I kind of love it myself.

I suggested we name her Ally Gator (she is a John Deere Gator), Sugarwings said she liked Emily better. So, Emily Gator, it is.

My husband would rather have a more macho name for his machine, but I sure get a kick out of calling it Emily.

While I was in Indy for my neice's birthday, Sugarwings met a new friend at the shoe store and her Pop Pop invited her over for a play date. School was cancelled due to the blizzard, and our little one was heart broken that she wasn't going to see her new pal due to bad weather.

So, after Emily plowed out the drive, my husband got out the big old truck and drove through the snow to pick up the whole family to come over to play in the snow.

There were plenty of giggles and fun, it was worth getting out to go and get them. No matter what my worries were about the whole situation. First of all, I had no idea what this family, met in the shoe store was like. And what if they got here but couldn't get out again? Were we going to be snowed in for days with the shoe store people??? What would I talk to them about while the girls played? (I'm a notoriously bad small talker)

But they were really, really nice people, and even if they weren't, Sugarwings was so excited to have a friend come over, that we would have welcomed ogres if necessary. She even cleaned her room. And fretted over which pretty tea cups to set out for a cocoa party after sledding. I let her count the forks, get out the plates, chose the table cloths, and plan the whole party.

And I tell you, when you are snowed in with a bundle of energy like Sugarwings, it takes a lot of activities and planning to get through the days! I was happy that she had such a good time planning her party and then looking out the window for her friend to arrive.

And my worries about what the heck I'd do with the parents while the girls played left as soon as I spoke to them. We chatted away for a couple of hours while the kids had a giggle fest blast. These two girls were like two peas in a pod.

Even their names matched, Lee Lee and La La. Cute!

Sometimes, you just need to get out of your comfort zone, bundle up and do something different, huh?

A Gingerbread Dream House for the fairies

holiday decor, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / January 21, 2014

Last week, Sugarwings and I took advantage of the warmer weather and took our Gingerbread Dreamhouse out to the Fairy Berry Trail for the fairies to move into.

(after cutting out a doorway, so they could walk into it)

I asked her why she was sitting it on a table instead of under a tree on the ground and she looked at me like I was dense and reminded me that fairies can fly.

Then, she took the Santa out of the chimney and added a sparkly, blue fairy to greet the new occupants.

I'm sure the little people will be thrilled with their Dreamhouse.

Unless it is devoured by wildlife before the little Dorkies discover it in the woods. Albie Brave and Strong has had his eyes on the tasty looking home since we first started smearing icing on it.

In case Sugarwings goes out to check on how her fairies are liking the new abode and instead of housing sprites, it has been eaten by woodland creatures, I explained to her that as soon as the fae folk move in, it disappears into the magic fairy realm and becomes invisible.

Which means, I'd better go out and check to see if there are remnants of it lying around before she finds those, huh?

Birdsong 4 is now open for registration to new attendees. There might be an opening or two, I'm holding a couple of spots for past sponsors and guests who are checking dates and info, but these seats might be up for grabs. I'm starting a waiting list just in case. Please let me know if you are interested in coming or being a sponsor.

karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

What a year, wowzers!

cottage, Dew Drop, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, guncles, magazine pictures or articles, Nathan Family Fairy Food Forest, parties, Sugarwings, Travel

By Karla Nathan / January 1, 2014

For 2014's shiny new beginning, I thought I'd look back at 2013's biggest events for me, and show you some of my favorite photos.

Sugarwings starting first grade was major stepping stone in our lives last year.

In my mind, I always picture her like this. Darn the calendar! The pages flip too fast.

I think the biggest event of 2013 for Dewdrop was the day she received this "fincess" dress. She has hardly taken it off since October.

(we love that she calls 'princess' 'fincess', because her brother is named, Fin)

Of course, starting a sustainable food forest with a fairy playground on our land was a HUGE move.

When it was in full bloom, and veggies were popping up everywhere, it was the prettiest garden I've ever seen. And to know that this is only the first year, of a lifetime plan, fills me with excitement.

The year began with a longed for trip to Hawaii with my husband's sister, Terry and her husband. It was the first of many visits with her. I had a GREAT year of trips and visits with family and friends.

Wow, I'd say it was a record setting year for sistering. My sisters came here to see me twice, and I went to Indy to see them.

I got to visit darling Guncles, seeing my little bro, Randy FOUR times.

Starting with the pure fabulousness of going to Karen Hillman's Cozy Cottage to teach a class as a surprise birthday gift for her friend.

I got to introduce Fabulous Karen to Fabulous Randy, and it all led to a Fabulous Black Velvet Christmas party in Jacksonville.

And seriously, I probably didn't say the word fabulous enough, that word was written just for Karen and Randy. It should never be used to describe anything else, it belongs to them.

I saw Terry again in California when I taught at Kim's Enchanted Affaire, where I met up with good friends that I love like family too.

Painting the mural for the event was a biggie, I loved working on it so much, that I really put myself into it, and every day that I painted was like a little trip to a fairy tale forest. After the workshop, Kim mailed it back to me and it is now chopped up and stapled in the fairy girls' room

Before it was sliced up, I also used it at Birdsong 3.

Which was another big highlight of my year. Oh my, sooooo many nice people came to play at the cottage. I can't wait for BS4. Yep, 4, I can't believe it is coming up. I'd better get to planning, huh?

After the CA trip, I went to Disneyland with Terry. Then, for the Hippy Chick's college graduation, we took her and Sugarwings to Disneyworld in Florida. It was a Disney-rific year.

But I have to say that one of the best things I did all year, or maybe in the last ten years, was to take a summer off to be with the kids.

We went to zoos, parks, carnivals, boating, beaches, all sort of things.

We played dress up.

We blew bubbles.

We had craft days. Lots of craft days.

We invented a new game, called "Hoppity Hearts". It is a bit like Hopscotch without the boring squares.

Summer spilled over into fall, and we kept on playing. We saw the Renfest twice.

Even Uncle Ryan came along, just two weeks after his heart attack. His illness was the bad spot of the year, but I have to say, it brought us closer together.

I also got to see good friends again in October on a trip to Georgia. (and yes, that same shirt I'm wearing has been in three other of these photos,I'm surprised it isn't in more. Looks like I got as much use from that shirt as I did from the Enchanted Forest mural)

It was also a year of parties and more classes. I had a small, Valentine workshop in the studio.

And then another group of friends came by for a Christmas ornament making workshop.

I was in a few publications too. My Tiffany's mural from Kim's Affaire at Tiffany's the year before was in Mingle. I wasn't named as the artist, but I still think it counts, don't you?

And it was so special to me to see my Birdsong projects in Jewelry Affaire. I was in that one earlier in the year for another project too.

Fifi came out to shoot my cottage for Romantic Country.

And my pal, Carol was here to shoot the studio for Where Women Create.

I must have made hundreds of little birdcages prepping for two classes and an online class I have offered.

And I even did some redos on the house this year. I made new slip covers for the sofa and pillows for the bedroom. Spiffed up, repainted, rearranged rooms, and recovered a wall.

Yep, 2013 was one for the record books.

No wonder I'm tired…

Sometimes holidays aren’t what you planned, are they?

celebrations, Dew Drop, family, holiday decor, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / December 30, 2013

Oh, we pulled Christmas off wonderfully, after all, but it was a bit of a bumpy ride.

First, Sugarwings came down with an upper respiratory bug and fever that made her miss the last day of school, with its big holiday bash, and then our annual ornament making party too. As she started to get better, her mommy got a stomach bug, and Ryan got the head cold thing and high fever. Then, shifts at work started shifting for the other parents, and all of our plans were topsy turvy.

We were back and forth on what day, what time, when to celebrate, but it all worked out with all of us feeling healthy on the same day and off work at the same time. For one, beautiful, sparkly evening Christmas night, no one was sick. We had a lovely party, with lots of happy giggles.

And Santa was able to find the girls at our house on the morning after Christmas.

But then, people started to trade bugs back and forth and before you know it, we had all succumbed to one or the other.

Lucky me, I had both at once. I can't even remember how long I was in bed, it felt like years. And my selfish family refused to put a pillow over my head and smother me to put me out of my snotty, nauseating misery. Even when I assured them that I was too weak to struggle and would go quickly.

Our littlest fairy has the feverish bug now, along with both of her parents. Hopefully, her brothers and sisters won't get it too, because we are still trying to find a day when we can bring them an armload of gifts.

On Christmas Eve, when the parents were at work or sick, Sugarwings was feeling better, so we took the girls to the restaurant her Daddy was working at. I almost felt guilty about enjoying it so much with most of the family either sick or at work on the holiday, but man, it was a beautiful thing to have someone else cook a great meal on Christmas Eve.

Years ago. before we had the Fairy Granddaughters, we used to eat Christmas dinner with Ryan at a bar and grill where he was employed as a cook. There are few things as sad as bar food and listening to drunks cry into their beers over not seeing their kids on Christmas while we ate chicken strips and buffalo wings. But hey, you do your best to be with family and keep them company on the holidays. And we did our best to make it fun.

It was a whole different thing to get fancied up really nice and put red, velvety dresses on the girls to go out for an Italian meal at my favorite restaurant.

We have aimed at traditions over the years and sometimes succeed. But, we've discovered that it doesn't always matter if you have a certain meal on a certain night.

As long as we can find a day to be together, we are pretty happy.