Bird Song

Registration is open for Bluebird's Song, Birdsong 8!

Ready for Springtime at the cottage? After a few snowy weekends of peep visits, I thought a workshop during nice weather was due.  Info can be found here:  https://karlascottage.typepad.com/karlascottage/2020/03/bluebirds-song-sign-up-and-details.html

 

A Snow Bird's Song- Birdsong 7 Is Open for Registration!

Our previous, holiday themed Birdsong was so much fun, I just have to do it again!  What is better than mingling with creative friends at the prettiest, most magical time of the year? We will be getting an early start on holiday decor by kicking off the season during Veteran's Day weekend, and you will go home bubbling over with cheer and ready to display your festive creations and get the holidays rolling in your own home.

This year, we are doing something a little different.  "Birdsong Eve" has always been a bonus to the event, not technically included. But since so many of our "Peeps" enjoy participating, we will add the evening as part of the party.

Here is what our line up will include:

Friday, November 8 (6:30-9:30pm) Birdsong Eve Welcome Night, with Swaps, Sangria, and Pizza

We will meet at my cottage to greet old and new friends, sip some sangria and trade our festive swaps.  Jennifer Hayslip will lead us in a make and take and you know that with her charming style, our weekend will be starting off the event with whimsical, lighthearted flare!

Saturday, November 9 (All day and into the evening) Classes/Vendor Night

We will start the day by crafting with Lesa Dailey

Beverages, treats, and lunch are included. After lunch, we will take a bit more time to work with Lesa, to give everyone a chance to finish up their sweet tweet of a project.  The afternoon will also feature a project from me. (Photos and details of the class to come).

Saturday evening, join us for vendor night shopping, along with wine, dinner, and dessert.

Sunday, November 10 (all day) Ornament Day

This day will be filled with ornaments to hang on your tree, add to a banner, or use as a wall hanging once you place them in your own home.  The morning will be filled with mini classes by Lori Oles and Beth Leintz

Beverages, treats, and lunch are included. After our luncheon, I will lead more mini classes in ornament making, and will provide a plethora of ephemera and sparkling Christmas goodies for you to embellish and create with.  We will have a relaxed, informal afternoon of creating together.

At 6, we will wrap up and give hugs good-bye til next time.  For many people, Monday is a day off work (Veteran's Day), so if you are free Sunday night, please make sure you join in on our group dinner, where quite a few of the Peeps get together for one last meal (Dutch Treat) at a tasty, Lawrence restaurant after our gathering ends.

The Classes

Kits with full instructions, and all of the supplies you require will be included for each project.  You will be asked to bring tools, glues, etc.  Personal items can also be brought to change your piece up a bit, but are not necessary if you'd like to finish the kit as the instructor has finished hers.

Full photos of the classes will be available soon.  Sorry they are not ready yet. I have been redoing my studio with fresh paint and a new look, and while working on that, I was overcome with the idea that I just had to invite Peeps to the new studio to play in it with me! So, while I have ideas on what the classes will be, I do not have finished examples. And the teachers also have had no notice to make their examples.  But I wanted to let all of you know that the classes are coming and open registration now instead of waiting a month to give the teachers time to make their plans.

Thank you for understanding.

I can assure you that I will be using "The Good Stuff" as I build my kits, and take pride in pulling together pretty items for you to work with.

 

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Registration

You can email me at:

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[email protected]

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for a PayPal invoice, or set up payments by check

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Cost

$475 

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Refund Policy:

If there is someone on the waiting list to take your place when you need to drop out, I will refund all but 10% of your payment up till four weeks before the party. If a replacement cannot be found, you will be charged $65 per large class kit and $25 for the mini kits (which will be mailed to you) plus postage and refunded the rest of your payment. After October 11th (the four week point), no refunds can be offered. At that point, you will receive your kits, but no partial refunds if you can’t attend. But please, don’t cancel!! We love our peeps!!

 

Payment schedule:

To hold your spot for Birdsong, a $150 down payment is due at signups.

A second payment of $162.50 is due Wednesday July 31st.

Wednesday October 11, the remainder of $162.50 is due.

Please help me out by alerting me if a check has been mailed, so I will be expecting it.    And by following this timeline.   Thanks! I appreciate it.

Registration for "A Snowbird's Song"- aka Birdsong SIX

Birdsong is BACK!

I sure missed hosting it in 2016, and was afraid that this year would zoom by and I would miss seeing my Peeps yet again.  So, I decided to make it work for later in the year. And my very, very, very favorite season is Christmas, soooooo, we are having a Holiday version of our gathering, with lots of sparkle to kick the season off.

The party will begin Friday morning, November 10, 2017 (Veteran's Day) with classes again on Saturday the 11th at my cottage studio in Lawrence, KS.  (We are about 50 minutes from the Kansas City airport.)

The weekend will include two days of classes, with lunch (and plenty of treats) served both days, and a dinner party with wine on Friday night.

Please scroll down through previous posts to see photos about past Birdsong events, if you'd like to see some of the fun we've had. Or feel free to email me:

[email protected]

Classes will once again be taught by Lesa Daily, Lori Oles, and myself.

Lesa will be showing us how to make a cute, lil candy box with a Snowbird and Angel.  (photos to come later, but here is an example of her beautiful work)

And Lori will be decking us out in this elegant necklace, perfect to wear to any holiday occasion.  

As for me, I'll have two classes.

The first is this "Sugarplum Fairy" banner.  With kits available in blush or ivory, both with accents of gold.

I'll be pulling out some of my treasured vintage wallpapers for these, you know my motto- "Use the Good Stuff- your work deserves the Best!"

The last class of the weekend will be mine also, we will make a selection of ornaments for the tree. I'll have a couple of kits to pass out and explain, plus a table of supplies to use for free time. You can spend it making ornies, or maybe a Christmas card for somebody special?  Or continue foofing up that banner, or adding last minute details to one of the other projects.  We will eat cake, chat, relax, create, and think about how hard it will be to say goodbye to friends at the end of the day.

Unofficially, those who are in town gather for "Birdsong Eve" on Thursday night before our party starts.  And we try to get a group together for dinner Sunday night after it ends, to put those good byes off just a little while longer.  

I'll have photos of some of my ornament ideas soon.  But I've already starting pulling kits together for the banners.  The wallpaper and millinery are piled up in my studio, and I've been sorting through my vintage tinsel collection too.

But please don't be on the fence long, while making plans to come!  Since the weather will be cool, we will be downsizing our group a bit. There aren't as many seats available as there are for the spring time parties, where we can sit in the garden for meals.

If you have attended any of my events in the past (including the Halloween or Valentine ones) or have sponsored one of these, you can sign up today through Tuesday.  Also, you can have a pal who is new to the cottage retreats register with you, I know it is much more fun to travel and room with a buddy.

Tuesday at 5pm, we will open up registration for new friends to join us.

The cost for the event is  $395.  This can be broken up into 3 payments with $150 due at sign up.  Please email me ([email protected]) for a paypal invoice, or for an address to mail a check to. 

I hope to see you here at the Cottage!

 

 

Lesa's class Miss Juniper June

Here is our sweet class from Lesa!  "Miss Juniper June".

 Adorable!

Karla's classes at Birdsong 5

For quite a while, I've known what my 2 Birdsong classes will be, but I have had to wait till I pulled together all my materials before I could finish the examples for the class.

When I take a class, I like to see a full photo of what I'll be doing, not just a snippet of a corner.  It's good to plan for variations and extras that I'll want to pack to personalize the project.

And when I teach a class, I have to know that the examples are accurate. That I'll be able to find enough of each item needed to make sure every kit is equal and of the same quality as every other kit.

But while I do want the kits equal, I do like them to have some flexibility and choice. So, I've got options for the students.  These books can be made with the canvas as the outside cover, or as the lining.  I've got a few selections of vintage fabric to use along with the canvas.

And I have been hand dying velvet ribbons to coordinate with the vintage curtain fabric and barkcloth that I've purchased to create the covers.

As well as hand painting little charms to dangle from the ribbons of each book.

 

(back of the book)

There was no problem with finding plenty of old lace, I have it by the bucket load out in the studio. I'll be measuring and cutting it to stuff the kits with, and since it is vintage and the velvet is hand dyed, no two books will turn out exactly the same.

That is my favorite part of a class! I adore looking around the room and seeing all the individual takes on the project.

(backs again)

This class will show step by step how to create a journal from a provided pattern based on an old cabinet card photo folder.

And will include some old photos to add to the books.

After we have assembled the books made of old, floral fabrics and canvas (no sew), the foofing will begin, with lace, velvet, millinery, ribbons, charms, and a vintage picture.

This book has the floral fabric used on the inside cover, instead of on the exterior of the book.  All the books will tie shut with soft ribbons topped with sparkly bits of rhinestones.

On day two, for my second class, we will fill the pages up.  I have pages of tips on doodles, lots of vintagey goods, and plenty of images and wallpaper to provide to make each book a work of art.  

 

But that isn't all! Beth and Hope will each pitch in for part of the class with their favorite tips on art journalling.  It's a three for one class!

Each student should be able to leave the weekend classes with a completed book, some finished pages, and lots of ideas on how to complete the journal at home, as well as a fun bag of supplies to work on the rest of the pages with.

Classes are at my Lawrence, KS studio, here at my cottage on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6.  More about the event can be found here and here.

The other two classes will be taught by Lori Oles and Lesa Dailey.  How lucky am I to snag this magnitude of talent to come to teach here???

A Pocket full of Posies

What is Lori Oles making for her Birdsong class? This wallpocket, layered with loveliness!

Vintage lace, old papers,  all gathered up in a pretty, peek-a-boo pile, where you can see through from layer to to layer of vintage goodness under the (pre-sewn) pocket to be filled with Nature's bounty.  

I can't wait to make one myself!!!!!!!!

If you'd like to make one, and join us for the weekend, the info is here.

Our Teacher Line Up

 Lately, I've been obsessed with creating art journals.  I can't get enough of making books. My Friday afternoon class at Birdsong will simply just have to be about how to make a book from scratch. We will create the covers, add signatures of pages, and decorate the exterior, all using "The Good Stuff".

 Pictures to come, soon.  

On Saturday afternoon, I'll provide a packet of great old papers, pictures, and embellishments to start in on making some pages.   You will get tips and ideas on using your hand made book, as well as "Good Stuff" to finish it with.  Vintage wallpaper and millinery blooms are definitely going to be in the kit, as well as photos, pictures, old text, ribbons, lace, rhinestones, all my faves- YUM!  

Along with the class at Birdsong, all guests will get my online class, "Creating an Art Journal" in case they would like some further inspiration once they get home.

Beth Leintz will chime in with some of her favorite journalling how-to's also.  She will join me in tag-team teaching.  You can find Beth in many issues of Sew Somerset magazines, with her stitchery, and she is every bit as handy with a glue bottle.

I'm lucky to have such talented friends willing to share their skills!

But wait, that isn't all!  We also get to learn some decorative handwriting skills from Hope!  These two experts are going to be part of the last class of the day, when we delve into filling up the books we made.

Hope Wallace is a self taught artist and designer living outside of Baltimore. Hope is known for mixing old elements with modern principles to create unique and whimsical designs. Her work has been featured in several national magazines, including Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion and Country Living.  Hope also has a love for art journaling and enjoys sharing her pages with others to inspire them to start a journal of their own.

 

Lesa Dailey has joined us for the weekend to teach one of her whimsical creatures that are featured by Bethany Lowe.  If you haven't met Lesa herself, I'll bet that you have met one of her delightful characters at your favorite boutique.

Here is an example of some of Lesa's expressive little cuties.

And Lori Oles will be creating layers of loveliness with a "Pocket full of Posies" wall hanging, featuring vintage lace and ephemera.  

Lori's work has graced the pages of what seems like 99% of the Stampington publications for years.  She was considered one of their "go to" gals for many projects. 

 

If you are interested in joining us, Friday June 5th and Saturday June 6th, at my cottage (featured last year in Where Women Create and Romantic Country magazines) in Lawrence, KS, or would like more info, please contact me at:

[email protected]

For more information,and pictures from past events, please scroll down.  

Birdsong FIVE is now open for registration!

Wow, five years??? How lucky am I to have such a great group of friends come to Kansas each spring to visit me and be a part of Birdsong?

We will be having 2 classes, plus lunch on Friday June 5th, with dinner, wine, shopping and swapping that night.  On Saturday, there will be two more classes, with lunch.  Coffee, tea, and plenty of goodies will be served throughout.

The airport is 50 minutes away, in Kansas City, MO.  It's good to arrive on Thursday, classes begin Friday morning. My home is in Lawrence, Kansas, and sits on ten acres right off I70.

 

 

 

Teachers this year are myself, Lesa Dailey, and Lori Oles.

Beth Leintz and Hope Wallace Karney will each help out with mini classes inside of my Saturday class.

 

Cost is $395 and can be broken up into 3 payments.

Registration is now open.

  If you are interested, please contact me for an invoice at:

[email protected]

I hope to see you here!  

ps- if you got here through the button link on my blog and would like to see more photos from past Birdsong events, please click on "main" at the top of the page, under the banner to get to the full site with all of the previous posts.

PS- I just saw this USA Today post about top ten cities that make a good day trip. How nice to see Lawrence, KS on it!  
And is is on this list too.  Yep, a "cool town" indeed.

Birdsong 4 was such fun!

This Spring's Birdsong was so special to me!  I really enjoyed it, and can only hope that my Peeps, had as good of a time as I did. 

Our teachers were Lori Oles, Andrea Singarella, and myself. (I'm the one who can't seem to keep her eyes open in a photo)

And Beth did a vintagey make and take the night before.

My dear friend, Angie, hosted a Birdsong Eve party at her shop, to celebrate her birthday.

I couldn't pull off the event without the help of friends and family. Thank you to everyone who helped, and a huge thanks to those of you who attended!

Here are a few more snippets from our weekend:

 

4 Projects for Birdsong 4

After seeing what Andrea and Lori are planning for our Birdsong weekend, I've gotten even more impatient for June to arrive!  Here is Andrea's bracelet project which she calls Stella Songbird.  

Lori will be leading us in a Shadow Box class, with layers of old papers, paint, items from nature and flowers.

One of my classes will be wool roving fairies in peat pot swings.  The fairies will be in different colors,  Pastel Pixies, Bright Sprites, and Woodland Fay.

I've made up a few extra kits, so after our "Peeps" chose the ones they want, I'll have some extras to sale.