Karla's Cottage – Page 66 – by Karla Nathan

Happy Valentine’s Day!

By Karla Nathan / February 14, 2020

We are spending our Valentine’s Day in the tiny trailer at St Augustine Beach. But before I left, I enjoyed the holiday pretties that I’d made at my friend’s valentine get together and had them on display out in the studio.

I’d crafted this pipe cleaner heart from the inspiration of Lori Oles’ Christmas project during A Snowbird’s Song.

Hers was a ball made from pipe cleaners and filled with flowers. I reshaped the ball into a heart.

At the craft day, Tami provided furry pipe cleaners and printed faces for us to make dolls.

I made a white kitty.

And a little girl.

While my home was light on the displays of holiday pretties, what I did have out was special to me.

Baby Bro, Guncle Randy, surprised me with this gorgeousness more than a week before the trip, so I had time to enjoy them before our adventure. And the few tidbits that I’d made with friends were filled with memories of a fun day.

A Galantine Gathering

friends, holiday decor

By Karla Nathan / February 11, 2020

My pal, Tami, invited a group of us over for a Valentine Craft Day.

I enjoyed the ambience of all of the decor even more than usual since I am not doing anything for the holiday myself. I will be in the camper in Florida for Valentine’s, and there isn’t a spare inch in it for any decoration at all.

When I return, I will be having knee surgery, so I was afraid I would not feel up to clearing hearts and roses from my home after our trip.

Tami transforms her home for each holiday or season and I am always impressed with her displays.

And her hospitality!

Thank you for the beautiful, eye candy, Tami!

And for the actual peanut butter heart shaped candy too- Yum!

A “Charming” Make and Take

Workshops

By Karla Nathan / February 8, 2020

My southern belle friend, Miss Lulu Kellog, is doing a make and take for Randy’s Parisian arty weekend.

Ooh La La, Lulu!

I have spent the last week building kits for the event and am pleased as punch to say they are complete. We are pulling the teensy camper filled with giant dogs to Florida for a couple of weeks, so I shoe horned a big ole box of kits in there to drop off with the Guncles.

Not only does it feel good to be done early, it is great to avoid shipping costs.

And even better? Guncle time! See you soon, bros!

Jenn Hayslip’s project at Midnight in Paris

Workshops

By Karla Nathan / February 5, 2020

Delightful, isn’t it? Yet another gorgeous bit of sweet whimsy from Jenn.

Please contact me if you would like more info about how to join us.

Randy has arranged $79 hotel suites with free breakfast. Two lunches, two evening parties with lots of fancy deliciousness, two days of classes, all with a French flair are included with the event cost of $375.

Karen Hillman’s class at Midnight in Paris

Workshops

By Karla Nathan / February 2, 2020

My friend, Karen Hillman, makes lovely things.

And oh my goodness! This project is quite something!

I cannot wait to make one at Guncle Randy’s event.

If you want to also, contact me for more info.

Black dogs sure are hard to photograph!

dogs, Goldendoodle Puppies

By Karla Nathan / January 30, 2020

My grand puppy, Alfie, came to visit.

Besides being black, he is also busy. Which meant he was quite the fuzzy blur in most photos!

Honestly, in all of the photos.

But you know how grandmas are. To me, all of the photos of him are beautiful because I love my baby.

he looks a lot like his mom, doesn’t he? She is more mature, so holds still for posing better. Therefore, isn’t always a blur. But still, black dogs are simply hard to get good pictures of.

If you know any tricks, I’d love to hear them.

A Parisian Travel Journal

Books, guncles, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / January 27, 2020

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

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

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

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

I would love to have you join us!

January Decorating

cottage, dogs, flowers

By Karla Nathan / January 24, 2020

After all of the glorious, gaudiness of the Christmas decor at my house, I kind of like my Januaries to be low key. It is a good time to dust, and shuffle things around, and to leave some things simply put away, not even used.

And to add some natural elements to remind me that spring and growing things will have to return someday, and that winter won't last forever.

Even if the icy cold feels like it is a life sentence…

Last fall, I bought some succulents at a garden center clearance for 99 cents a pot. After stashing them in my husband's office for the holidays, I was happy to see the cheerful greenery and bring it back into the house to brighten up a cold winter day.

This is where we spend way too much time since my husband retired and it has gotten so cold out. He builds a fire, we pile dogs on our laps and drink coffee every morning in front of the fire before we get on with our days.

Part of my move for simplicity, is leaving this table bare and functional for books and newspapers.

The mantle is kinda halfway simple, well for me at least. It seems full, but usually is has a lot more going on. I leave the angel wings up through Valentine's Day and keep the colors mostly muted. But I did add one little, oval painting that reminds me that springtime is real, and that I will get through this freezing season.

Winter is just not my deal. I make up all sorts of excuses to not leave the house and keep errands to a minimum. Now that I have a house husband, it is even more tempting to sit by a fire and ignore the rest of the world. I might even be growing to like winter.

Well, maybe just this cozy aspect of winter. Not the howling Kansas winds and ice. I will never, ever be able to enjoy that.

Hope you are staying warm and coping too!

Listen to Your Heart Kits and Project Available- The Ultimate in Good Stuff!!

holiday decor, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage

By Karla Nathan / January 21, 2020

Thank you for all of the inquiries about the Listen to Your Heart class. Since I had so many people ask about it, I decided to make up a few extra kits.

The amount of kits is very limited, since I am using the trim from a vintage bridal gown. I wanted each set to have an equally lovely selection of lace, including the neckline and hems. Too bad the dress didn't have a big full skirt so I could get more out of it!! The skirt was slightly narrow, so… limited kits.

There are step by step, hand illustrated instructions that suggest you can use glue, light sewing, or go all out and be a rock star seamstress if you have the skills.

(Personally, I used a mix of glue with thread and needle for my own.)

My finished piece is also available.

I especially enjoyed making this little accent heart and once I got started on it, I made a bunch of them as Valentine gifts.

The kits contain everything you need to complete the project as pictured. Or to change it up and select a different image from the collage sheet printed on fabric to add to your own creation.

You can find the kits and the finished project in my Boutique now.

Taking a break to paint

flowers, paintings

By Karla Nathan / January 18, 2020

Do you ever just make something for the pure joy of making it? In the past, I’ve operated that way, made what I wanted, then found a purpose for it, or not.
But it seems like my life as an artist had mostly dissolved into taking care of the house, the family, the dogs, upcoming classes, or gathering things to sell.

Then, the other day, I decided to paint some flowers.

For no reason, and I had other things to do, too.

It was a nice reminder to stay in contact with my inner artist. So I framed and hung it where it would keep reminding me to take breaks from too much to do, and just create for the plain, old love of creating.