Sugarwings – Page 18 – Karla's Cottage

More gratefulness

bird song art event, family, guncles, Sugarwings, We're having a party, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / June 14, 2013

More Birdsong photos are on their way. I'm kind of taking my time and enjoying the editing process, reliving the moments. And wishing I'd taken more. Luckily, there are pretty pics from friends too. It's always interesting to see the same event through different lenses. Tami, Mercedes, and Beth have all posted some that I've shared on Facebook.

When Picnic closed last year, I was frantic about what to do to edit my pictures. It has been replaced by many sites just as easy to use. My favorite is Picmonkey. Not free, but well worth the little bit that they charge. It's self explanatory and simple to adjust photos with. And boy, does it make a difference in a picture to take the time to edit it.

On Birdsong Eve, we had a little gathering at a restaurant downtown. All of my pictures were off color and too dark due to the lighting there. Once again, I wished I'd taken more, but I did make time to snap a few. But when I opened them, they all looked like this. Here is a before of Angie and Sugarwings.

With Picmonkey, here is the same photo. It has been cropped, lightened, sharpened, and then I used Orton Effect, and faded that.

This was a bonus gathering for our group, I asked if anyone was going to be in town the night before and wanted to meet up, and we filled the front of one of my favorite restaurants with a flock of 26 Peeps.

This photo is a bit beyond repair, but I liked it so much, I salvaged what I could of it.The evening happened to be my lovely friend, Angie's birthday and she baked cupcakes to bring. She was a vendor at our little shopping extravaganza and is always a welcome addition to any gathering. I hope she can attend classes next time.

Sugarwings passed out cupcakes to everyone, after not taking her eyes off of the beautiful display throughout her dinner. When she finally was allowed to have one, she didn't eat it, she politely asked Angie to take a bite of her own first, because the birthday girl always needs to go first.

Birdsong had ended up being a family reunion for me as well as an art gathering. Guncle Randy, Sissy, Bobbie, and Terry all came to be a part of it. For me, it was an opportunity for my family to see just what it is that I do. (I don't know if my husband has ever quite figured that out yet) It was wonderful to have them here and to meet my friends and be a part of my world.

And on the other side, it was very special to have so many friends come to see me and be a part of my family for the weekend. Birdsong is a homey, comfy event where all guests are family while they are here, not clients. I hope that they can feel that while they are here.

My family were all soooo helpful. Terry baked and baked and baked, her treats were the highlights of our meals. (and brought her husband to keep my own guy entertained on the golf course all weekend) Guncle Randy nominated himself "Parking B**ch" and directed cars, plus spread his charm around and welcomed everyone. Bobbie and Sissy were hauling trash to the curb and unloading the dishwasher non stop.

My son, Mr. Zen, cleaned up the yard and helped with a lot of prep for the weekend. Then, walked around the room to do some head and neck massage for those who were getting kinks from leaning over the tables and working on projects (and dealing with some of my not-so-great chairs).

Sugarwings had been as excited about the upcoming party as I was, and was constantly wanting to help get ready for it. She was very busy making plans for "Our Birdsong" and wondering what the "Birdsong Ladies" would be like. She was hoping they would show up in beautiful gowns, but we are a bit more casual than that.

When I took down the table that Sugarwings and Dewdrop had been working at all week to make room for the big tables for Birdsong, her little heart was broken. She'd been so sure that there was a place for her to be there and craft along with everyone else.

But, all the ladies made her feel welcome and Auntie Beth did some work with her out on the porch. She forgave me for taking her work table down.

I hope that our friends didn't mind all the family being included. It probably wasn't all that professional of me, but if anyone who knows me or reads my blog, they probably don't expect me to be all that professional.

Once again, I'll have to say how lucky I am that I was able to have the people I love here with me, along with so many kind and generous friends. I can't imagine a better weekend.

Royalty

celebrations, family, Sugarwings, Travel

By Karla Nathan / June 3, 2013

Pure bliss. Sugarwings has loved Ariel since she was barely two.

While she is enamoured of all the Disney royalty, and can insert herself into any of their stories, she has always been loyal to her first and best favorite, Ariel.

During the princess luncheon at Cinderella's castle, she was pretty much in heaven and happy to meet these people whose stories she can't get enough of.

Each princess is announced as they walk into the room, and then they make their way around to each table for photo ops and chats. As Sugarwings spoke to Snow White, Ariel's visit was announced, and poor Snow was dissed mid-sentence for a view of the most wonderful princess of them all.

Snow White was set aside like a pile of dirty socks the minute Ariel walked into the room.

As she waited nervously for her special princess to come around to our table, she clutched her chest and told me, "I just don't know what I'm going to say to her when she comes here!!". Which is completely unlike our little chatterbox who is never at a loss for words.

This is a little girl who lives more in her imagination than in the real world around her, to her, this was all 100% real. So, after meeting Jasmine at lunch, she was not surprised to see a look alike of her, in a waitress uniform at a different restaurant that evening.

Our supper waitress was named Jasmine and Sugarwings was as happy to meet her that night as she had been earlier in the day. Jasmine told us that most little girls dismiss her when they don't see a fancy gown, but Sugarwings is a girl who knows that princesses don't always have to wear a dress to be royal through and through. (My husband preferred the lunchtime Jasmine's costume)
It was all quite special, but anytime we can watch our little grand fairy indulge her imagination is wonderful to us. And it was fun to be able to give her mommy a first time visit here and to watch her become a little girl again too.

PS- If you are going to Disneyworld, I highy reccommend the food and everything about the meal at the castle. And any food at all you get at the California park.

The Florida one, on the other hand, seems to have a lower standard for Food and Beverage, at least on the few trips I've been to it. And it is hard to get into a restaurant without reservations. Unless you want to eat hot dogs or other fast food, make a reservation or pack a picnic. Next time I go, I'm taking a cooler and a picnic lunch. We rented a double stroller to haul our stuff and to keep Sugarwings where we could find her, so it would have been easy to put a cooler in there too.

Disney Hollywood Studios

family, Sugarwings, Travel

By Karla Nathan / May 30, 2013

When we planned the trip to Florida, we had some other ideas for the week than what we actually ended up doing. My husband had a chance to go on a bucket list, lifetime dream, golf trip to Scotland and it overlapped our existing family jaunt to Disney.

Luckily, we were using Southwest to get to Orlando and could shuffle his flights around. He was able to meet us in FL a day late, with no penalties.

And our hotel in Cocoa Beach wasn't too far from Orlando to return to fetch him at the airport the next evening. I was glad we'd settled on staying there, and not going to the Gulf coast like we'd thought about.That drive would've been too much out of the day.

The girls and I spent a fun day at the beach, but decided the next morning to head out to Orlando early and hang out at Disney Hollywood Studios before heading to the airport to pick him up. It wasn't in the budget, and it wasn't in the plans, but we decided Budget Smudget and went anyway.

Our Hippy Chick is a Star Wars fan and it was the theme of the weekend there. And I'd never been to that park, so was curious.

We saw that it had a Little Mermaid show, so that was the clincher. There was also a Disney Jr. show that included Sofia the First, which was really important to someone in our group.

I'm not sure if I'd recommend that park to everyone. It isn't any cheaper than the big parks there, and doesn't have as much to do. If you are buying a Park Hopper pass, it would be good to stop there and visit, but a ticket to just that one park is kind of pricey for what you get, at least compared to the other places to see at Disney.

Although, Sugarwings wouldn't say that. She loved it. It's smaller and less crowded, even with the Star Wars hullabaloo going on. She isn't into the rides as much anyway and is happy wandering around.

Trading character pins was something she got a real kick out of. Aunt Terry had sent her a dozen or so to get started and we found a princess lanyard to stick them on. She was ready to roll. And her eagle eye could spot a princess pin on a Disney employee from 20 feet. By the end of the weekend, her collection was pretty much all royalty.

It was a good activity for a little girl like her. She enjoyed the personal attention from the park employees she traded with and made a lot of friends by approaching them to offer her trades.

The one big ride there, at least that we found, was the movie tour. We got seats in the front of the train, and Sugarwings, of course, made instant best friends with the driver, Amber.

The ride started out lovely, with a greeting from Mary Poppins. But things went downhill fast when 1930s gangsters attacked the train and abducted Amber from the driver's seat. Then, a Bad Guy took over the steering wheel.

To make matters worse, he took us through outer space where an Alien popped down from the ceiling at our heads. Remember how ugly that guy Sigourney Weaver battled was? I don't think Sugarwings expected that after the trauma of losing Amber.

Soon, Amber was back and good as new and the Bad Guy was blown up by Indiana Jones or something like that. The rest of the ride included a visit to Oz, so our little Dorothy would have forgiven anything and rode it over and over.

As we started to leave, she ran back to hug Amber because she was so happy her friend was okay. I think it made Amber's day, she seemed genuinely touched. Sugarwings has that hugging skill that makes a lot of people feel special, and we got a lot of "awwwwws" that trip.

Cocoa Beach

family, Food and Drink, guncles, Sugarwings, Travel

By Karla Nathan / May 24, 2013

We had the best trip! I wish we had the whole family there, missing them was the only bad part of the week. The rest was just plain delightful.

The Guncles even drove down from Jacksonville to visit.

We were celebrating the Hippy Chick's graduation from nursing school, and the guys joined us for dinner on the pier in Cocoa Beach.

Guncle Randy surprised Sugarwings with a pink rose, which in her mind, instantly turned her into a fairy tale princess, and she had to go lay down on the floor with it on her chest, awaiting her prince to bring true love's kiss to wake her up. This reaction is pretty common with her, for many items. When biting into a carmel apple at Disney World, she collapsed in a dramatic swoon.

I'd never stayed at Cocoa Beach before. We chose to be there a few days before our Disney adventure since it was so nearby. And we were very happy with that choice, good restaurants, nice beaches, affordable hotel, and lots of big cruise ships to watch as they left Port Canaveral.

This little one grinned most of the trip.

And played nonstop.

Till one point where she just fell sound asleep right in the sand, and couldn't go on another moment. I don't think I'd ever seen her this worn out. She is quite the whirlwind of a kid.

But even the most energy packed person in the world can be done in by fun in the sun!

And boy, was there a LOT of fun.

It’s always good to be home!

Dew Drop, family, Nathan Family Fairy Food Forest, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / May 4, 2013

It's great to be home from my trip! I always miss my family when I am away, no matter how much fun I am having.

I'll have some photos of my time in fairy tale land as soon as I get them edited. Tomorrow is my 55th birthday, so I doubt if I'll get to them for a couple of days. I'd like to think that I'll be too busy celebrating… hint, hint, family!!!

These pics are a few of my favorite bright spots from this long, never ending cold spring that had a hard time sprunging itself out of winter.

Along with this video of my son explaining a little bit about companion planting out in the Nathan Family Fairy Food Forest:

Waiting for Spring

family, Hens, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / May 3, 2013

Hope you had a happy May Day! It's one of my favorite days of the year. As a kid, it meant it was almost my birthday. So, that is always nice, but it also means SPRING! At least it should, but this year, I don't know if Spring will ever get here.

Before going out of town, my husband and I had nice day out at the Topeka Zoo with Sugarwing's class. It was soooo chilly, we had to bundle up in lots of layers. I thought I'd be peeling off layers throughout the day, but instead, I was wishing I'd piled on a few more.

We also made a trip out to the country to pick up some new ladies to join the Coop Group.

We aren't sure what kind of hens they are, only that they produce a pink, a brown and a blue egg. And that they are very pretty chickens.

Yes, I did say PINK!!!!!!!!

One of those new ladies is laying pink eggs. What a delightful surprise! We also picked up 6 little red hens who lay brown eggs. It's a full coop now.

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I've been working on this wire birdcage tutorial, and now have it ready to send to you! You can get the details here.

Collage filled lockets for Snow White

Dew Drop, jewelry, Snow White, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / May 1, 2013

Earlier I showed you these lockets from Victorian Trading Co. that I foofed up with some Snow White themed collages inside. I didn't mention what they were for though. These were packed to take to CA with me to use as table mate gifts. They can be added to a ribbon or chain to wear, or tied to the journal we are making.

I made one for myself too, using a copy of the image I had painted for the event.

The little door lockets came with a key on a chain, but I changed that and added a few more trinkets.

Then tied it to a red silk ribbon. While working with the locket and trying to bend a crooked door, I broke the door in half. ( Hence, me keeping one for myself) I tried to repair it with metal glue, but honestly, I don't trust the stuff. I hope it holds. I added a mini strand of rhinestones to help keep it together too.

It's been a bit of a locket kick for me lately. I also joined the swap hostessed by Terry Frias. I made one of the door pieces up as a hostess gift for her.

My swap partner was my husband's sister, Terry Neibaur.

We had a questionnaire to fill out about styles and preferences. Terry said her birthstone was garnet, and she liked gems but not bright colors, and wanted something more delicate, but steam punk or fantasy.

I was able to find garnet beads in some pretty colors of green and gold, and a teensy locket. The larger beads on it are bronze colored pearls which I thought would be pretty with her red hair.

This photo (taken earlier) shows a key, but it was only temporary till I could find something steampunky or fairyish.

Here it is after I fantasied it up. And added a gear with a rhinestone to the center of the pendant. I'm not a steampunker normally, but I think the gear is at least a nod to the genre.

Terry's favorite princess fairy tale is Sleeping Beauty, and even once named her shop, Briar Rose. When I found this page in a vintage storybook, I knew I had to save it to make something for her. Terry even has the same hair as the lovely princess on the page.

So, I created this box to wrap her necklace in. The text on the outside is from the Sleeping Beauty story, and the inside is covered in vintage velvet.

Hope she likes it!

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I've been working on this wire birdcage tutorial, and now have it ready to send to you! You can get the details here.

Hoppy Easter

Dew Drop, family, holiday decor, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / April 3, 2013

Did you have a good Easter? Ours was unexpectedly really nice.From no plans at all to a small family dinner and egg hunt in a matter of an afternoon.

Sugarwing's mom ended up switching her plans, so we had our fairy grand child over night and all day. Dewdrop came over with her mom at dinner time, and we were able to find buckets full of eggs on the Fairy Berry Trail as the sun was setting.

And what beautiful weather we had! I'd thought I'd finish the banner I am working on for the Snow White blast coming up way too soon, but instead, I ran and played with Sugarwings all day and enjoyed the sunshine.

I was able to do some yard clean up too, and foofed the Fairy Berry Trail up for the season. Easter seems to be the time that we whip it into shape, just in time for hunting eggs the bunny left there.

Funny, how fast two little girls can find over 50 eggs. This was a quick run through the forest, with lots of squealing along the way. Dewdrop let out a yelp every time she spied an egg. And everything is a squealfest around Sugarwings anyway.

Luckily, I had plenty of plastic eggs up in the closet and could find packets of tiny toys and junky fun crap to stuff in them for our impromtu hunt.

Although, the few pieces of chocolate I had on hand were the biggest hits when the eggs were open, of course. But, I do think that if there was nothing in them at all, it wouldn't have dampened the fun.

The thrill of the hunt was the best part.

Dewdrop loved every minute of it. She is a cute age to be out in the woods gathering eggs.

She enjoyed the dying too, although it didn't last long because she thought it was just as much fun to pour the dye out on the ground as it was to dip the eggs in. But they had plenty of glitter paints to add to the eggs once the dirt under the table was dyed.

We sat up the mini picnic table in the gazebo and I turned the kids loose with dyes and glitters.

Which was a great plan, considering that everyone had been playing outside and there was a bit of mud from the gardening project clinging to them. Plus, Dewdrop's fascination with pouring out the dye worked better out doors than it would have inside.

I'll have more photos from the Mt. Dora trip after this little break for some Happy Easter wishes.

Progress despite the Kansas weather

Nathan Family Fairy Food Forest, Snow White, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / March 20, 2013

We have had some spotty weather this week while we've rented the backhoe to prep the field for it's transformation to a food forest.

But between cold and rain, there have been enough days to get some work done. On the nice days, I've been slathering paint onto a 15' canvas for An Enchanted Affaire.

It's progressing, but still needs a lot of work. I was hoping to get it done before my trip this week, but that is not happening. At first, I thought I'd only work on it during nice days so I could open the garage door for good lighting.

But since there are so few of those, I'm going to have to plug in a space heater and keep the door shut.

As the work progresses on the Nathan Family Fairy Food Forest, we've all juggled turns watching Dewdrop. This was Albie's turn.

As long as the weather cooperates, the kids are having a blast playing while the parents work on the garden landscaping and Grammie paints in the garage.

But we only have the backhoe for a week, and we've had as many bad days as good days. It has a heated cab, so my son can keep going, but not during the deluge of rains or the snow that we have had. The weather has been so sucky, that the rental company is giving us an extra day for free, which helps a lot.

There has been a lot of progress, whether it looks like it or not, even with the bad weather.

We even have the beginnings of a crop! Our Gypsy planted potatoes for St. Pat's Day. She has taken a wire tomato cage, lined it with straw, and filled it with dirt and tater eyes. The theory is that the plants will poke out through the holes of the cage, and when the crop is ready to harvest, you just remove the cage, let the tower of dirt topple over, and pick through it to gather your potatoes.

Genius!

Speaking of St. Patty's, Sugarwings and her Hippy Chick mommy were both in the parade this year. Here is her mom hooping it up, on the left. Our little leprechaun was in the bus. That is good, because it was COLD.

I'll be away for a few days, seeing the Guncles in Florida and visiting some friends. (details later, it's a surprise visit for someone) I could use some Florida Sunshine!!!

I've prewritten some posts, so please keep coming by to visit.

A barrel of monkeys

Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / March 10, 2013

What is more fun than a Kindergarten music program?

Going to a double header and having a First Grade music program right after!