Workshops – Page 8 – Karla's Cottage

Just another reason why its a good idea to purchase someone’s tutorial

holiday decor, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, Tutorials, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / November 7, 2012

Don't you just love tutorials to stimulate your creativity?

My pal, Dawn, has a good one going right now. But I have a confession to make.

My BFF, Beth, came over for craft day after purchasing Dawn's tutorial and was making wings while I worked on other things. I kept watching her and was intrigued. I thought I'd whip up a pair myself.

No, I didn't purchase the tutorial.

I kind of glanced at what Beth was doing and "winged" it myself.

Well, I learned a lesson. The reason you PAY for a tutorial is because the person who wrote it, already worked out all of the kinks and came up with the best way to make the project. She includes tips and tricks that she has learned along the way.

Mine were a mess. I didn't follow the steps and when I got them put together, they were a floppy, sad, droopy pile of wrongness.

I ended up having to redo them and go through a lot more steps (in the wrong order) to figure out how to fix them so that they didn't look like they were made of wilted lettuce.

My plan was to do something inspired by Dawn, but not by copying her. I used different materials and my own patterns. And I wasn't even thinking that it might not be the polite thing to do.

If I was smart, I'd have paid the $5 and did it correctly the first time.

Not only did I make them wrong, I started to feel bad, like I had been stealing from a freind. She did all the work to create the art, and the instructions. I sell tutorials myself, so I would be sad if I saw a friend's blog filled with projects she had taken from my offerings.

I didn't mean to be dishonest, I was just tempted by how pretty Beth's turned out and started to make some myself. But, its a tough art world out there and we should support each other, not take advantage.

So, I've paid for the class now and feel much better. $5 isn't much to spend to ease my conscience and do right by a friend.

That said, I want to say that if you purchase one of my online classes, I don't mind if you make projects with a friend. I would hope that you wouldn't pass the codes on to others, I do want to sell the tutorials. But it is reasonable to expect that you might share with your pal if you guys are working together. I wouldn't be upset.

Still, I felt like I owed Dawn the five bucks and I was happy to send it to her. I'll be making more of these pretty sets of wings, but I'll be doing the framework HER way, to save some time in making them sturdy! I can still add my own flair and design style to her pattern. That is the fun part of having a set of instructions to use as guidelines.

This set of angel wings is going to Kim's as a door prize for her Winter Wonderland workshop.

This piece, "Visions of Sugar Plums", is on its way to another friend, Karen, who is hosting a holiday workshop too. I've also included a few packs of old millinery for her to raffle off.

I've got a few packs of flowers added to my Boutique now, these are Nice November Neutrals. But I think they'd be pretty year round, don't you?

And I've been busy adding mini, dyed and glittered trees to my Etsy shop.

This year, I've got some new colors, the previous one is a Peppermint Trio, and this one is Gumdrop.

Of course, I'll always have white!

Here is another new one, Winter Sky Blue.

I've been in front of the computer listing away. Thank you to all who came by and shopped with me! I am going to make more trees, there are still some in the shop, but there will be more coming. Contact me if you have a custom color in mind.

Ps- I will be at my friend, Angie's, open house at her shop, My Father's Daughter- 646 Locust Street Lawrence, KS 66044

I'll be doing a make and take using one of my own tutorials. Its a holiday star, and I will provide all materials if you want to make a glittery ornament and do some shopping.

Back to the Beautiful Belamar

holiday decor, Snow White, Sugarwings, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / November 1, 2012

Did you hear the news about the Snow White bash that Kim is throwing? Due to some unsurmountable issues, she has had to change the venue, which also meant changing the date.

We will be leaving the Disney location and going back to the beautiful Belamar, which is a place I just love.

It's imtimate, boutique hotel lay out makes it ideal for meeting and mingling at an arty gathering. I always know that if I have a few spare moments, that I can wander out to the courtyard, lobby, or lounge and find a friend around the corner to sit and talk to.

Now, I'm batty about Disney and loved the idea of visiting there, but I think that for one of these events, a place like the Belamar is much more convenient and cozier.

Plus quite a bit cheaper!! The classes themselves have been lowered $44 dollars and the hotel rooms are about that much less per night. So for a 4 night stay with classes you save $204 over what you would have spent at the original location.

You know that I'm cheap, so savings are great- but the best part is the smaller gathering place. I go to these events to mingle and meet other people who "get" me and my style. Ladies that I know I will have so much in common with, because we have so many loves in common.

At the Belamar, we are in a spot that is perfect for hanging with friends. We have our very own building with a lovely courtyard to spend time in, and are able to work late into the night if we want to finish projects started during class. Kim sets up a sweet and treats buffet and we can wear our jammies and have a slumber party while we chat.

Of course, I always learn some tricks from the classes, and come home with some nice pieces to treasure, but for me, that is a side benefit from the weekend. I'll be teaching at this one, so I hope that the ladies get something they love out of my class, but I know that its the camaraderie that takes the cake.

That said, the other teachers are amazing artists and I have already signed up to take the classes myself! I wouldn't miss them.

(feel free to click on this vintage image to save to your computer and print to use)

Will I be seeing you there next spring? I have to say, I love these events. Kim is a detail oriented person and spares no expense at making every inch of the room something beautiful to behold, and portrays the theme perfectly.

She transports everyone to a magic location with her decor and attention to all the little things. Plus, she is a thoughtful, caring hostess.

Now, don't be misled by this vintage page I just added, her Snow White will not be the typical Disney fluff of an endangered princess, we are going darker and deeper, more like the heroines portrayed on Once Upon a Time and Snow White and the Huntsman.

And please don't feel like you have to spend a fortune on an over the top outfit to wear. While we get a rare opportunity as grown ups to play dress up and TONS of photo ops, not everyone goes all out with the theme. For Breakfast at Tiffany's last spring, I simply wore a borrowed black dress, in a more modern style. I didn't go all out Audry. But it sure was fun to see all those who did!!!

Feel free to email me, karlanathan@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions about attending. I've been to 3 of Kim's workshops at the Belamar and would be happy to help out any newbies who might be going. My husband's sister, Terry, who came to visit me for Romantic Gothic Ghosts is also a first time attendee at one of Kim's parties, and I will be big-sissing her for the weekend. I'd be thrilled to add you to our group. Kim lets us asks ahead who we want to sit with, and we can request a "newbie" table together if you want.

While this photo of Calliope is more Halloween fairy than fairy princess, its still more the "feeling" of a darker princess that we will be having next spring.

We attended "Ghosts and Giggles" at Lions Gate Country Club over the weekend, and it was the cutest little Halloween party.

Sugarwings was Ariel (as usual!)

And Little Love was a Puppy Dr.

We had a grown up Ariel too.

There was dancing, games, balloons and a clown. Plus a great dinner complete with ice cream served in tombstones and topped with Oreo dirt and gummy worms.

I hope your Halloween Holiday was a fun one too!

Now that Halloween is respectfully over, I'm going to join in on the Christmas Retail Rush and start listing some yuletide items in my Boutique.

As well as a whole new catagory, Vintage Garments.

I'll be adding even more to it soon. I've been collecting vintage dresses for little girls just so I could dress Sugarwings in them for me to Ooh and Awe over. Once they are outgrown, I'm ready to pass them along.

Plus some doll dresses, and millinery pretties.

I'll leave you with a few more pics of what's new.

A puppy dilema and some holiday Shine

dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), holiday decor, puppies!, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / October 23, 2012

Before the babies started to leave us, Aunt Sandy and I took them all outside on a pretty day to get some last pictures of them all together.

She bought them each a colorful, embellished tee shirt from the Dollar Store to pose in.

The trouble was, they wiggled out of the shirts as fast as we wiggled them in.

And corralling them in one spot wasn't easy either. The swing was a good place to hold them captive for a bit.

But we still couldn't get all 9 to look at us at the same time. Even with Aunt Sandy holding their mom above my head as I kneeled in front of them.

At first, they were just too excited. But of course, that means, that soon, they all tuckered themselves out with the excitement.

So, we took advantage of their exhaustion and got some close ups.

Not everyone was worn out, these guys are little bundles of curiousity.

And snuggles.

This is our forever baby. The New Agnes Rosebud, as Sugarwings insists on calling her. I keep reminding her that the name is Dorothy Rosebud, but she likes T.N.A.R.

I have a major decision to make on pup #2

First of all, I don't know if I am up to the task of taking on two.

Second, if I do, how can I chose? These little boys are as sweet as can be.

One baby might be all I can properly tend. Of course, after weeks of bottle feeding and care-taking 9, 2 or 3 should seem like a piece of cake!

Twinkle still is tending to them too, so she'd be a help. But Aunt Sandy is back to work as an RN and has some long days, so I can't count on her for puppy wrangling with me as much as she did when they were tiny. She was a huge help. I don't think one person could have raised all nine and gotten any sleep at all.

While Sandy lives with us, we have her two Yorkies too. We can not convince them to use the doggy door, so I'll be taking them out for potty breaks while Sandy is gone on her long 12-14 hour nursing shifts. Maybe I should take advantage of that and haul pups out at the same time. (yes, we'd be a FIVE dorkie household if I kept two!)

But its not the housebreaking that worries me. Even though that is a concern.

Its the attention. I want to be able to nurture the babies and spend lots of time with them. I'm not sure that I want to divide up my time between two pups at once. Will I be able to raise two at a time to be wonderful companions?

On the other hand, these might be the last puppies we ever have! And I have to admit, without bragging, that I raise good pups! I've only kept two dogs from previous litters and they were the best dogs ever. Attention from the minute they are born, lots of cuddling and exposure to various experiences makes for a confident and good natured adult dog.

So, I hate to miss out on keeping another one like that!

Well, I still have some time to think.

Not everyone is gone yet. And not all are spoken for. Maybe once the herd is thinned down a bit, and I'm left with a couple of babies, I'll find it impossible to part with the last little boy.

I've bonded with this little snippet, and am just afraid that I won't be able to give enough of myself to one of her brothers too. And these guys are all sooooo special, that I want them to have the very best home.

And this might not be the best home for him, if I give my time to his sister first.

But, if my husband bonds with one, then it could be his dog, that could work…

Thanks for listening to me muse out loud about my dilema. Its a small problem to have, and I shouldn't even call it a problem, how many people would be complaining about whether or not they should adopt one or two of the worlds cutest puppies? I'm pretty lucky if this is all I have to ponder and worry about!

I know how lucky I am, and I am so thankful that good things have come my way.

I've already gushed about how excited I am to be one of Kim's Fairytale instructors at the Enchanted Affaire in April, and you'll probably for sure hear more gushing about how much I am looking forward to that as the months go by.

Now, I've got something equally wonderful to tide me over a bit- Carol Spinski

and I had lunch last week and she was brainstorming some ideas about a get together at her home for the holidays.

I'm so glad the details worked out for her and its a go, and I get to be a part of it along with Amy Barrickman and Debbie Dousenberry.

These three are in the latest issue of Matthew Mead's Holiday magazine together in a Christmas spread shot at Carol's farmhouse. If you'd like to see her magnificent home in person, and get tips from these three pros, as well as make a sparkly tree ornament with me, here is the info:

Contact Carol Spinski for reservations.

This will be a one day, interactive workshop for entrepreneurs, business
and creative types filled with ideas and inspiration provided by our
featured guests, all with amazing backgrounds and talents.

Hurry! Only 15 openings available. $125 for the day

Schedule:

9 – 9:30 am   Morning coffee, muffins and introductions.
9:30 – 11:00   Carol Spinski: Tips and resources to help your creative business sparkle.
11 – 12:00   Karla Nathan: Make and take ornament. Topic: Blogging and how to do online classes/tutorials.
12 – 1:00   Lunch
1 – 2:30   Amy Barickman- Expanding your creative business.
2:30 – 4:00   Deb Dusenberry- Making your brand shine; display, graphics, store front, web presence.
4:00-
5:00   Carol Spinski- Photography tips for marketing and web. Stylized
photo shoot using the make and take ornament from Karla and other props.

Romantic Gothic Ghost Weekend part Boo, I mean Two

Romantic Gothic Ghosts, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / October 18, 2012

Have you seen those cute little velvet pumpkins every where this season? I'm not a sewer, but I thought I'd give it a try. This one is cut from a skirt of a vintage black velvet dress. Its tiny, and the black doesn't show up as well as the other colors I've seen. If I make another one, I think I'd do it a little differently. But this one satisfied my urge to own one and I didn't spend $25 on it, I used what was around the studio.

Hmm, looks a bit like an apple, though, doesn't it?

My studio seems lonely now that Romantic Gothic Ghost workshop is over!

I'm enjoying all the decorations and will leave those up for a while.

They remind me of all the fun we had.

Too bad I can't have a roomful of friends and family more often! What a great way to spend a day.

The pups were extra needy after everyone left, they had gotten lots of attention for a few days while we had company, then all of a sudden, they were left with just me trying to keep 9 babies attended to!

Laurie has a world record set in holding all 9 at once!

I usually balance one at a time.

Sissy made votives for everyone, with images printed on velum. I found the spider web bags full of gummy candies at Victorian Trading Co.

There were lots of gifties to go around.

For the door prizes, I drew names and let each person come up to the table to chose a pressie.

I think that worked out well, hopefully everyone got something they liked.

I hope they enjoyed the classes too. I know I did. Beth's class was one of those where you could just keep going and going on the pages. I ended up working on mine for days, adding more and more to it.

That is kind of what my wishes for the class at Kim's to turn out like. Students will make a basic book, and I'll be giving them directions, plus Good Stuff to work with, and they can be as creative and inventive as they like with it. Books are perfect for exploration.

I liked the variations on my Raven class too.

By the way, I have a few extra kits. Please email me:

karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

if you'd like one for $25 plus postage.

Dewdrop's mommy, our Gypsy, came to the classes, and also volunteered to give readings. She is skilled with the Tarot cards, and it fit right in with our theme for the day.

The room was decorated in past projects I'd done for demos for the Romantic Gothic Ghost online class.

I used the free images provided in that class for the Ghosts hanging around the room too.

They are printed on transparency, then blotted and cut out and hung with cheesecloth and tulle.

I've used them here, there and everywhere, from the ceiling as well as in apothecary jars and frames.

Something tells me that it was more fun getting all this stuff set up in the studio than it will be to put it all away…

So, I'm going to enjoy it while its here! I'll tell myself not to grumble as I pack it up after Halloween, and try to just remember how much I loved having everyone here with me instead.

Maybe I should have a box of Xmas goodies out and ready to swap when I take the Ghostly decor down. I might just skip over Thanksgiving.

Or maybe I'll do a big short cut and tell everyone that those are not ghosts, they are angels. Pull them out of the jars, slap some wings on them and put them back…

Tie a jingle bell around the black cat's neck and slip a halo on the devil…

Oh, my, I think I'm more tired than I realized! I should go snuggle some puppies and take a nap.

I'll leave you with some photos of the weekend. I wish I had taken more! Beth has some on her blog too.

And I wish I'd had more time to mingle!

There just wasn't enough time to visit. A two day workshop is better for hanging out.

But on the other hand, this one was such fun, and so much easier to pull off. I could probably juggle more workshops if they were one day only.

What do you think?

An Enchanted Affaire

Snow White, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / October 16, 2012

Its such an honor to be a part of Kim's spring time event in California! Her parties are intricately planned and gorgeous down to the smallest of details.

And what a great theme!! Snow White is a lifetime fave of mine. When I was little, I re-read Snow White and Rose Red over and over. And of course, Sugarwings and I love the Disney version, we often re-enact the apple poisoning part of the story. She is always the heroine, I am the cackling witch. The dogs play the part of all the dwarfs, because they rush to her side and circle around her when she lays on the floor. Whoever is the first to lick her face is the handsome prince who awakens her.

When she was three or four, we could play this game for hours on end.(oh my gosh, i can't believe she is SIX now!! The time has flown!!)

We love the story so much, I made a magic mirror for her room. I have a tutorial for it here.

The last year in media was filled with Snow White fun too. Two movies that I adored, plus a TV show that I can't get enough of. I'd have to say that this is my favorite fairy tale character. Maybe its the house she moves into in the woods? That little cottage is my dream home.

So, I was beyond thrilled when Kim asked me to paint a portrait of the fairest of them all for her button to advertise the Enchanted party she was throwing.

Then, later when she asked me to be a teacher?!? Woo hoo! I was dancing a jig and singing around the room like my favorite dwarf, Dopey. (yes, I know, he is silent in the movie, but I am sure he whoops it up when the cameras aren't on him)

For the class, we will be making a book of enchantments, filled to the brim with the old wallpapers that I love best. I've been buying tons of OLD, OLD fairy tale books to (eeks) rip apart to use the pages of too. If you are a librarian, please avert your eyes, because I am about to confess to chopping up a beautiful book more than 120 years old.

Ooooh, but it was so fun to tear up!! There is something about old papers that you can't replicate with the new stuff. It just feels better. Even when its crumbling.

Since my papers are all vintage, and not just something I can order more of, my kits will all be individual and unique. We will be using lots of millinery blooms too.

Only The Good Stuff.

And did I mention that the classes would be at the Happiest Place on Earth? I am such a fan of Disneyland. I went for the first time last spring, and fell hard for it. I've always enjoyed Disneyworld down in Orlando, but there was something more intimate about the original California park that drew me in.

Sign ups begin Monday for her past guest list and Wednesday for newcomers. The other teachers are people I greatly admire, and can't wait to spend time with.

Kim's events are always the most fun. I've been to a few and loved every one. Great times, great friends, great projects, oh, I could go on and on. Please just tell me to shut up if I gush too much as I make plans over the next few months.

I hope to see you there!

Romantic Gothic Ghost Weekend

family, flowers, holiday decor, Romantic Gothic Ghosts, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / October 10, 2012

Our ghostly weekend was a real treat. I just hope my guests enjoyed it half as much as I did! We had such a lovely group, and it was so fun to have a family reunion along with the class, I'm thrilled that my family got to meet some of my friends and see what I do.

This envelope was in a scrap pack of ephemera that Pam won as a door prize, and look at the date! Our class was exactly 103 years from the day this was written.

Another ghostly oddity of the day, was that every single picture that I took of a person had a glowy smudge look to it. At first I thought all my photos were ruined, then I decided to just go with it and enjoy the ghostly effect, and edit them even more ghostly.

I looked on my lens and saw that there was a real life smudge, not a ghost doing it. I'm lucky that I got any photos at all from the weekend!

The close ups of things around the room weren't too bad.

And except for some halo around the lights, the whole room shots weren't either.

But portraits sure had some spookiness to them.

I loved every minute of the classes. Beth's was so much fun, I had to drag myself away to make lunch.

I served quiche that day, instead of making it up ahead of time, I wanted it fresh as can be, with eggs just gathered, so waited till it was time to go into the oven to make it up.

We also had green salad with cranberries and candied pecans, and a fall veggie mix of squash and sweet potatoes.

And of course, way, way too many desserts! Carmel apple cupcakes, lots of brownies, and these white chocolate witch hat cookies.

I set up an extra table for seating in the living room.

And decorated it with a 25 cent black lace shawl from a garage sale, and $2 bunches of roses that were marked down at the grocery store. I cut them short, and made an arrangement with the stems too. Remember how Morticia and Gomez from the Adam's Family always put the stems in the vase and threw away the flowers? I wasn't up to tossing the roses, but I did arrange the stems.

With a family reunion going on this week too, it was handy to have that table in the living room, I left it up the whole time, and it got used a lot.

Normally, the studio is where we have our family dinners when a big group is here, but this time, the studio was occupied with all of the set up for my Ghoul Friends and the classes.

Sugarwings came to spend the day too, her mom was studying and our fairy girl kept herself entertained while we all worked in the studio. She is getting so grown up!

Before our guests arrived, she wanted to get all dressed up in her wings and her new fairy dress from Aunt Bobbie, because she said, "Grammie's friends think I am a real fairy, so I'd better wear my wings!"

The puppies joined the party too. They missed all the attention after everyone left! I miss all of our friends and family as much as they do. The house seems so empty now that its over.

Time to plan another party…. While the studio is decked out I think I'll throw another Halloween bash and have my buddies bring their kids over for a craft day to make masks.

Anything to avoid cleaning…

Romantic Gothic Ghosts, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / September 25, 2012

The studio clean up is progressing. Kinda. If I just wouldn't let the mess pile up in the first place, it wouldn't be as hard. If I could concentrate on cleaning instead of getting side tracked with little projects and decor ideas, that would help too.

I can be elbow deep in clearing off a table and all of a sudden, an idea pops into my head and off I go, to work on that.

Like this witchy hat. The dress form in the corner looked like it needed to be dressed up a bit for the weekend, so I added a black lace jacket and skirt, then decided I needed to whip up a hat to match. Of course, I didn't really NEED one.

It was easy and fast, using the steps from the Romantic Gothic Ghost online class. This hat is a "bonus" class that I added to the existing lessons.

The witch's hat was last year's bonus class, and the BOO tussie mussie is this year's. I added a few new images too, for downloading and printing.

If you have paid for the class when it first came out, and forgot the password, let me know. Its worth a second look, and there are new things too.

We made this site two years ago, and every fall, I have revisited it and found things I'd forgotten about from the past. There is a lot of info, plenty of projects, and files and files of images, patterns, and backgrounds to print and use. (the alphabet cards spelling boo and ghost are new additions)

This isn't one of the projects, but is a FAST and easy one that really needs no instructions. I used the spider and web image in our files, printed onto a transparency, layered it over a cut out "ghost" girl, and popped them into a frame.

To be honest, I did it in such a quickie, short cut way, that i taped the picture to the wall, and hung the spider and frame on the same nail. Something that is only hung up seasonally doesn't need to be done perfectly.

Another quickie decorating job to save me from cleaning was adding construction paper masks to some of my ladies.

I just might go and make some more of these. It sure beats sweeping….

You can tell from this photo that I'm desperate to avoid making kits and cleaning. Yes, I have covered the hand wipe cannisters in ghostly papers. I came across a file folder filled with printed images I'd made up from the online class and never used. So, of course, I quickly found some where to glue them.

I hope someone stops me before I start decopauging my broom. Its so much more temtping that actually using it.

And hey! Don't you think that it would look cute next to the witch in the corner!!?? I was making a joke, but now, I think I might go and do it.

oooh, I think I need help

Bye Bye Fairies, Hello Ghosts!

dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), fairies, family, free images, holiday decor, Romantic Gothic Ghosts, swaps, Tutorials, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops, yorkies

By Karla Nathan / September 23, 2012

Isn't this fairy from Linda sweet as can be?

It's sad that the Faery Book Swap is over! I made a couple more pages, as thank yous to some sweet people. And I have extra covers that I hope to list on Etsy or in the Boutique. If I ever get a spare minute to do it!

In the fairy frenzy, I'd made up about 16 pages for the swap, and didn't need them all of course, so I'll have a few of those to list too. But I didn't want to use any of those as thank yous. I thought "thanks" deserved something made special just for it.

I still have my family's books, they weren't mailed because we are going to open them all together when everyone gets here to visit for Romantic Gothic Ghosts.

I'm so glad that Guncle Randy, Sissy, Bobbie Sue and Terry can come out to play with us for the classes! We hope to go to see the annual Lawrence Zombie walk if everyone arrives in time, it will be on Thurs. the 4th and family is flying/driving in from Utah, Florida and Indiana.

Then, Friday is shopping at the West Bottoms district, with all the once a month junk and antique stores, as well as Bottoms Up.

Saturday the 6th will be our ghost filled craft day, with Gypsy spells and ravens. Sunday we plan on hitting the Renfest, all decked out in our fairy attire. A perfect little reunion!! Plus I get to have my blog friends meet my family, that will be nice. I'm glad that we are having a workshop while the relatives are in town.

Along with the thank you pages, I mailed out hand made envelopes stuffed with tidbits. To make these, I looked at a regular envelope to get an idea for the pattern, cut it out from an old book page, folded it up and glued the edges. Simple, and kinda cute. I might need to do more of these!

I've gone straight from sweet fairies to gothic ghosts.

These images (provided in the online Romantic Gothic Ghost class) are printed on transparencies and hung around the room.

And the room is a WRECK! I've started cleaning and decorating, but need to get all the chaos and clutter out too.

I started decorating at the ceiling first, then the cabinet tops around the room. I'm sure most people would have cleaned the whole room, put away the mess and then started fixing up. But I got too excited about making the ghosts and had to do the fun parts first!

See how they are hung from tattered tulle on the ceiling? (I'll have more photos later)

**********

Speaking of photos, I've noticed that no matter how good my camera is, and how well I edit pictures, they NEVER look as good on my blog as they do on my computer files.

I wish I could fix this…. I also noticed that if you click on one to open it in a bigger window, its sharper.

**************

Another instance of backward preparedness- instead of cleaning and making kits, I wanted to make some ghostly images to set around the room. This collage is an old trinket box with a glass lid that Beth gave me. I took out the image that came it in, turned it on its side and made it a shadow box.

A transparency spider image is across the glass, and a ghostly girl is layered over a gothic arch (from the albums full of pictures and images and backgrounds and patterns that were scanned and added to the online class) and glued to the back of the box. I then added some tatted trim and some very old, beat up flowers.

Its very small, and I seriously doubt that it adds a lot to the over all decor of the room. But it was something I really wanted to do.

We had lots of projects made up for the online class that I pulled out to use around the room too. This tag is pinned to my new curtains, hung just for the occasion. The tag is one of the "ready to go" bonus images from the class. All you do is print it and cut it out.

The curtains are from the Sparks Flea, and were $1. When I bought them, they were a hideous, fleshy peach. But I liked the over all pattern and the flocking was cool, so I gambled that dollar and bought them any way, hoping a bowl of dye would take.

It did and now I just love them.! Thing is, though, I bought them thinking I'd cut them apart to use in projects, and to test the dye, I cut a hunk off the bottom of one to dip. I loved it so much, that I dyed the rest of the panels and hung them up, even with a hunk missing at the bottom of one.

In the window, is a banner also made from the Romantic Gothic Ghost online classes. There are tons of projects, decorating ideas, and printable images in the class. I'd forgotten how much there was in it, and had a lot of fun looking through it with fresh eyes.

Everyone coming to the class at the studio gets the online class free too. We still have a couple spots open for our one day party in the studio if you'd like to join us.

You could hold a puppy on your lap while you work…..

Gatherings and Ghosts

celebrations, holiday decor, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / August 27, 2012

Last week at garage sales, there was a lady selling tons of holiday decor. I bought a few punkin things for about 25 to 50 cents each. They were the typical bright orange that you see, with some warm autumn tones, but not my style.

So, I sprayed them with white primer, let them dry, brushed on Elmer's Glue, and sprinkled glitter on them.

The tea cup was from the same day of garage sailing, and I thought it was just perfect to use together with the glitzed pumpkin as a centerpiece for Romantic Gothic Ghosts. (there are a few seats left if you would like to come to the party too!)

This little bit of pretty illustrates what I mean when I say you can decorate for Halloween and not go garish. I love to set out holiday themed things, but just am not a fan of the tradtional purple, orange, and neon colors that you usually see.

This glittered candle ring is another one that I changed, and I can see myself using it all fall, not just at Halloween. I'll show it in action when I get around to setting out my fall pretties.

I found all of these dishes while out garage sailing too. For pennies apiece. I was thrilled with them! It was a joy to find some decent sales, this summer I have been disapointed in the caliber and amount of sales to go to. I hope I find some fun bargains while on my trip too, my sisses and I usually have a junking day together.

And this looks like it will be good shopping, have you heard about "The Gathering"? Its a shopping/crafting day in St Joe hosted by my new blog friend, Jennifer.

She had asked me to teach that day, but I had too much going on, with trips, puppies, Fairy book pages, etc. I hope to run up and explore for the day, it sounds interesting. Carol is speaking! And my pals, Nora, and Sheila will be teaching. Claudia will be selling her vintage wares, among others too- it should be fun.

Jennifer was kind enough to swap gifts for the events. She sent one of her delectable candles to me so I can give it away at Romantic Gothic Ghosts, and I sent her a gift for the Gathering.

For her party, I sent one of my Wire Workshop nests, along with a code for the online class. I don't know if she will give them away as a set or as two gifts.

At Romantic Gothic Ghosts, I'll have a few door prizes to give away, but it will be a pretty laid back affair. I'm not asking for sponsors. I'll probably make a few little gifties as door prizes, and was thrilled that Jennifer offered a gift.

Birdsong is an easy going event too, but this one will be even more so. I'll be cooking for the group, but am planning do ahead meals, so that I can relax and have fun and be part of the party myself.

Beth and I brainstormed about some treats to serve. Pumpkin cheesecake and carmel apple cake both came to mind as delicious fall desserts. Once we started thinking about desserts, it was hard to make our minds go to the main dish. Is there a meal that says "Fall" to you?

She came to spend a day with me while I was on puppy watch (this was written back on 8/20, so at that point I have no puppy info yet, Twinkle is still a roly poly girl)

Beth put on her nurse's hat to help deliver just in case she was needed. I have no idea why she had a vintage nurse cap handy. But then, she has everything and anything vintage, so I am not surprised. And doesn't she inspire confidence while wearing it?

We had a great craft day, but no puppies.
My crafting was more prep work. This is a dress that I'd purchased the last time Beth adn I went shopping together.

It's made up of row after row of beautiful old lace! So I spent the afternoon cutting it up, into strips to pack into kits for upcoming classes. I also packed up stuffing and millinery flowers for the ravens we will be making for Romantic Gothic Ghosts.

I kind of enjoy making kits. Its just plain fun to play with the vintagey supplies that go into them. Expecially when I have a good friend around for laughs.

An Enchanted Affaire

paintings, Snow White, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / August 13, 2012

I'm just about so excited that I could POP-

Lookee here at this!!!!!!! Yippee! If you've read my blog, you know how I love arty getaways. And Kim's are to die for. What an honor for her to ask me to TEACH at one!!

And to create the artwork for the button too?? How did I get to be so lucky?

And did I mention that it is a fairy tale/Snow White theme? AT DISNEYLAND???

Pinch me.

I've already started buying supplies for the 70 kits for the class and a couple dozen examples and practice kits.

Actually, I think I am already done with the shopping part and after my little Ghostly Gathering here at the studio in October, I can start assembling the kits. It pays to be ahead! The classes in CA will be very close to Birdsong 3, so I'll have to be super organized to pull it off.

(There is still space for Romantic Gothic Ghosts if you'd like to join us for a day of elegant, spooky fun)

I wanted some colored rhinestone chains for the class I'll be teaching, so while I was buying, I bought plenty of extra for the Boutique too.

I have peridot, ruby, silvery gray, topaz, and baby blue.