Karla's Cottage

More mushies

Well, as I mentioned with my last post, and as you might have noticed if you have ever read my blog over the last 16 years- I tend to get obsessions.

I have been making these fabric, no sew fungi since Guncle Randy and I came up with the simple design last summer.  

And I love making them so much, I just don’t burn out.

See what I mean?  I sat down and whipped up 75 in a couple days.  I just get too excited about trying different fabrics and want to keep making more!

If you’d like to go schroomie crazy too, the tutorial is only $9 and the materials are cheap to get.  You can find it here:

http://www.karlascottage.com/category_59/Online-Tutorials.htm

ps- new tips have been added to the instructions if you already purchased it, make sure you check back!

 

 

Back in business

This week, I am in the process of reopening my Etsy shop and Boutique.

It never officially closed.  But in 2019, I was busy with my art event and lots of travel.  In March of 2020 I had surgery and then Covid hit.  Everyone else with online shops sold tons of stuff, but between surgery recovery, home schooling, and just keeping our family together (plus horror stories about the PO), I didn’t even try to stock up.

Just as things were improving, we lost Ryan.  I did not care about anything after that.

It has been a couple of years now, and getting the booth at Good Juju has been helpful for my creativity.  

So much so, that I over produced.  As I tend to do anyway.  When I saw that there were unsold items after the two day sale, I realized I’d made enough to stock a booth for a month, not two days.

I also realized that I missed my online stores.  I cannot say that the tedious parts are enjoyable, the hours of computer time that it takes to fill the pages.  But I do love the packaging and wrapping of the items and sending them out to their new homes across the country.


In my time away, technology left me behind.  There were some re-learning curves and some changes. That took me a bit of figuring out, but once I got into the groove, I started listing items like I hadn’t even had a break from doing it.  

This old dog learned new tricks!

Basically, it was the same thing, there were just some improvements here and there, some buttons were in a different place, or had been replaced by newer processes.  But I have it down now and hope to keep both spaces up to date with new inventory.  
I have already had the pleasure of wrapping up pretties to send out! Thank you to my shoppers.

Tutorials in the Boutique

It had been a while since I cleaned things up.  Both my Etsy shop and the Boutique were sadly neglected.  When I made my Velvet mushroom tutorial, I did a little rearranging.  I also marked some of my previous tutorials down. 

So if you’d like to learn how to assemble an art journal, craft a mini dress form, create a cuff bracelet (all no sew, by the way) plus a few more- all classes are available at their new, lower prices.  

And you can find them all here: http://www.karlascottage.com/category_15/All-items.htm

And thank you to those who have purchased my mushroom tutorial!  I love those little cuties and hope you do too.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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.

In case you are running low on fairies, I know where you can find some. And here is some info on upcoming classes

There are plans in the works to do more tutorials, foof up and add to existing ones, and get my Boutique filled to the brim once again.

But I can't quite get to it yet.

For now, there are more fairies and books in the Boutique.

Because I simply could not help myself, I love making them too much.

But before I go restocking even more, I have a list a mile long of things to do, plus we are filling up our camper with three of the dogs, the two of us and heading to Florida for a 3 week trip.

The Boutique will be closed while I am away, but when I get back? I will be restocking and let you know when it is filled up.

A couple of things on my to do list before heading south, are: making kits for Karen Hillan's get together in Deland, "Listen to Your Heart".  Spaces are still available for that party.

I also need to get samples ready for a class at the Guncles in April. 

  He has a few spots left. And there are also a couple of seats available for Karen's other gathering in Texas, "Beauty in Blue."

I am excited to have three upcoming teaching gigs coming up, and with some of my favorite people!

And I would love to see you at them too. 

Here is how to find out more about all three:

Randy's "I Lourve Jacksonville"- https://www.facebook.com/randyspups  Contact Randy for info, you can reach him here.

"Listen to Your Heart" in Deland, FL just in time for Valentine's Day- https://www.facebook.com/events/509270499709448/

"Beauty in Blue" celebrating the Texas bluebells- https://www.facebook.com/groups/2445165192414985/

And here is where you can find some fairies- http://www.karlascottage.com/category_15/All-items.htm

Valentine Fairies and more

Thank you so much to everyone who purchased fairies from me for their Christmas tree!

I loved making each and every one.

But just  because Christmas season has passed, that doesn't have to mean that fairy season is over.

These sprites are lovely for Valentines Day too.

Especially this gal.

She wants to be your Galentine.

I have given many of them  hand drawn roses or hearts on their clothes.

While they look extra cute in pink for the holiday, they aren't necessarily just for Valentines.

Although they would make nice gifts for someone you love.

And the fairies, with or without a book are sweet as candy year round.

I love any excuse to make one.

There are more to come too.  I have more to get pics of.

It is much more fun to make them than it is to photograph them, edit the pictures and list them in the Boutique. 

I adore making books, and making fairies, so I figured I would combine my loves and put them together.  Maybe I will make some sweet banners also since I love those too...

The books are 100% handmade, cover to cover.  I used acrylic pour paint canvases, cut up to cover chipboard to hand craft them.  Cut and tied the pages in, lined the covers with vintage wallpaper, created ties to hold the books closed, then decorated them.

If you would like one, you can find them here in my Boutique.

 

 

The last Sugarplum fairies of the decade, a look back at the year, and a giveaway

Oh my, that is true, we are not just near the end of the year, it is the end of a decade!

My year is ending with a blast, I have loved hunkering down in the studio and making Sugarplum Fairy after fairy after fairy.

And I am thankful for all of the people who bought them for me so that I could indulge in my love of crafting these gals.

It has been a mixed year for me.  Lots of wonderful moments and people, lots of injury and heartache and worry.

It is odd that a year can be soooo good, but yet so bad at the same time.  

Teaching at Karen's Cozy Castle, and at Jenn Hayslip's retreat, seeing family members from far away, and having a studio full of Peeps come to see me a couple of times this year made up for a lot of the problems I have had.

It is hard to be too down about a minor skull fracture, multiple concussions, and other aches and pains when I have so many positives in my life too.

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The break up of my son's family and the draining work of getting their house on the market was heart wrenching.  But having little Dewdrop come back for Christmas eases that pain. And while my son and his littlest girl now live across the country, I am adjusting. And still have the other 3 grand fairies with me.  We are trying to get back to family dinners with the group, and while it is a change to not have two of our people, there is still a lot of love on those nights.

And seriously, how lucky and blessed were we to have an uptick in the local real estate market just as we finished the remodelling of the house we had bought for my son's family and to get out from under that mortgage in less than a week? We worked our asses off to make it happen for weeks, but yes, it did work out. 

We could have been stuck with an empty house to take care of and keep up all winter.

My husband's early retirement also threw me for a loop. But we are adjusting and he is the happiest he has ever been in his life.

Life is all about changes and how you deal with them.  Honestly, I did NOT deal well with having to do so much to that house to get it sold, and with the family splitting up.

Did I mention that my husband unexpectedly retired that week and that I also had my hormones cut in half at the same time? But I got through it, and did what was needed to make things work. 

(I have since found out that my rotator cuff was torn and my bicep tendon was ruptured at the time, so that makes me feel better now about being so whiny while painting ceilings then! I am now in PT for those injuries.)

I have had beautiful trips with people I love (even though I came home with a concussion twice).

I have had dozens of fun and caring Peeps here at the cottage.

I have had a nest full of puppies to cheer me up with snuggles at the end of a long day of repainting a house we were afraid we were stuck with, but were not.

I had the joy of running through the waves with Sugarwings, splashing through Disney in the rain and laughing with all four girls, making seashell fairies on 4 beaches to leave as thank yous for the beauty of the trip.

I have had people let me down, but others show so much caring that I could get past the hurt of the let downs.

And I have had the joy of making all of these Sugarplum fairies. What a happy way to end the year.  I was so thrilled to see that they sold so quickly, and while this is kind of late to be adding more to the Boutique, I had a lot of happiness go into making each and every one whether they sell or not.  

2019 has been eventful.

These fairies might seem like a silly little thing to be so emotional about, but a lot of healing went into the creation of them. 

I would like to share the cheer.  Please leave a comment if you want to be entered to win a fairy of your own.  

(You can also enter on FB and IG)

 

Sugarplum Fairies

I had such a nice day at my friend, Tami's house.

She generously invites a group of us for craft parties and supplies lots of fun things to make.

While I was tempted by her table of goodies and the projects she had prepared, I had "homework" to do.

I wanted to finish up another flock of fairies to add to the Boutique.

So I brought my own items to work on, and managed to get about 10 fairies done that day between chatting, visiting with friends, and visiting the kitchen for magnificent, tasty treats.

I am blessed with good friends, the ladies from this group are Birdsong Peeps that are somewhat local, and who try to get together on a regular basis.

Thank you, Tami, for arranging these dates to enjoy our friends!

And thank you to everyone who has bought Sugarplum fairies from me this holiday season, so I could indulge myself in making so many of them!

I am rather fond of these little darlings!

If you would like one, they are $12 and you can find them in the Boutique.

A tree filled with Sugarplum fairies

I have been having waaayyyy too much fun!

These are addictive, I order making them.

There are so many ways to create them, and I find it hard to stop.

If you would like one, they are available in the Boutique.

Aren't they sweet?

They range in price from $9- $16 depending on size, materials. and time put into them.

They are all done from prints of vintage photos, hand tinted and embellished with as many foofy, vintagey goodies I could put on them.

They have been a delight to work on, even though the heat has been out in the studio.  I've had a space heater blasting on my toes, but these sweeties have taken my mind off of the cold room.

I find them "heart warming".  

 

New in the Boutique, Christmas pretties!!

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving? Mine was quiet, but that was nice, I had time to create, photograph a variety of Christmassy goodies, and get things listed in the Boutique!

(I do have kits from the birdcage angel available. Please contact me if interested, they are not in the Boutique yet)

I am pretty proud of myself, even though I am bordering on being too late for holiday sales.

Most of the creations are examples for A Snowbird Song. 

Class samples, as well as ideas for using the supply table to make things during free time.

I also made some collages and ornies using the images from the collage sheets for the classes. 

Those images were so lovely, I was happy to have a few pages of them to work with.

Not everything is adorned with a hand made Sugarplum Fairy or an angel, tho.

There are a few other ornies too. 

And yet to come? Sugarplum Fairy Banners, always a favorite of mine.

There is more to list, and I hope to get to it soon.  I've had a ton of fun making things. You can find these festive, holiday creations here:

CHRISTMAS IN THE BOUTIQUE