This is Bluebird Belle, a beautiful birdie that Lesa will be crafting with us in June.
And guess what? You can transform it into a lantern if you’d like!
Lesa is a genius at design, right? If you’d like more info about the weekend and on how to sign up, please read through this post:
https://karlascottage.typepad.com/karlascottage/2020/03/bluebirds-song-sign-up-and-details.html
Twinkle came along on the Great Camping Adventure, instead of staying home with Albie and Dorothy for Ryan to watch, as she usually would have. Our 13 year old girl is blind now, and we worried she’d have trouble with the doggie door in the snow while Ry was at work. Or get lost in a corner of the fence. Or not find her water dish.
Funny, she seems to be the happiest that she has ever been, not even bothered by knowing she can’t see. Could it be that she finally let go of her hopeless cause of remaining Alpha after we brought Honey into our home?
At first, she struggled with losing her sight and was timid in her steps. Maybe the blurry shapes she saw confused or scared her?
But once her vision was completely gone, all fear was gone.
So much so, that she gleefully walks into danger. We call it, Magooing. Like Mr. Magoo.
Tinks can still find cozy spots to curl up.
This is a scene we never expected to see. These dogs were mortal enemies. We worked with Honey’s resource guarding and life became calmer and safer, but there was no love lost between them for years. They shared a home, not a pack.
Once Twinkle could no longer see, she began feeling around for a warm soft spot to nap, and didn’t even notice if it was on top of her greatest foe.
At first, Honey would bristle at the intrusion of her space. But then, she seemed to realize that the little Yorkie was harmless, and actually kind of cuddly.
Which is lucky for us, could you imagine sharing such teensy living quarters for two weeks with dogs that couldn’t stand being near each other?
Uhm, you are probably looking at this with horror in your eyes wondering how anyone could spend any time at all in such a small space.
It certainly was NOT “glamping.” And many days the weather wasn’t Florida’s finest, so we were all piled up on each other.
But it was somewhat okay.. should I say fun? Maybe not fun, maybe “enjoyable.” Or probably, “not bad.”
Did I curse at the dogs every time they tripped me? Oh yes.
Then, I got home to our 5,000 sq ft home and was still cursing as I tripped over them in the kitchen. No matter how much space we have, there they are under my feet.
Hopefully I won’t be tripping over them too much, I am having some minor knee surgery this week.
If you would like to sign up to come to Bluebird’s Song I might not be checking emails for a couple of days. But I will answer them in the order they came in when I am once again up and about.
And I hope you do sign up! It will be an intimate group, not as large as my typical gatherings. But there are some spots left.
Please check the previous post for details.
Join us in Kansas, somewhere over the rainbow, where happy little bluebirds fly, and beautiful dreams come true, for classes with Lesa Dailey and myself. Our time will include 2 lunches, lots of treats, and a happy hour party.
This class is limited in size to the amount of vintage albums I have to craft into art journals. No two books are alike, so the selecting of covers will be chosen by guests in the order of class sign ups.
We will be using The Good Stuff, lots of lovely ephemera to create a personalized, one of a kind book.
Lesa will be leading us in making one of her delightful birds. Here are photos of birds I have gotten from her, not the pictures of what she will be teaching. I will let you know as soon as she gets a sample to me.
I do not tell Lesa what to make, she is a designing genius and I leave it up to her!
This will be my project for Sunday. Although I have to warn you, all will differ, as I am using old books to build the kits.
I will provide a very, very vintage album, disassembled, painted, waxed, and buffed, ready for you to craft into a book. I have many old albums, in different styles, and choice of the books will be in order of sign ups.
Also, if you would rather have a book cover as is, no paint, please request that ahead of time, so I can leave some plain.
Each kit will be of equal value and style, but they will vary according to the book itself.
Lesa's class will be most of the day Saturday, with a break for lunch.
Then in the later part of the afternoon, we will have some fairy fun, with happy hour crafting. There will be a special Bluebird Sangria, and blue fairies with some tasty snacks.
If you prefer to make a fairy from a picture of someone you love or of yourself, I can edit a photo for you. Or you can choose from a collage sheet that I will provide. Your fairy can hang, or be used in your book.
Your art journal kit will include pre-folded and prepped pages, ready to tie in, and vintage mats to use for collage or to frame a picture. I'm doing the boring part ahead for you, so you will have all the pieces ready to assemble, and have time left over to decorate interior pages.
You will get:
I am cutting apart a treasured, hand pieced tablecloth of netting and old lace, everyone will get a section of this to use.
As well as gorgeous bridal lace with sparkling sequins and beads.
Cost will be $350 and can be split into two payments completed by May 1.
I will keep track of the order in which you respond, and that will determine who gets which album to work with.
Please email at
Karlanathan@sbcglobal.net
to ask for a paypal invoice or an address to mail a check.
Refund policy- Kits will be sent to you at a cost of $65 for Lesa's, $80 for the book, and $25 for the fairy plus postage, and the rest refunded in full. I know that many are worried about upcoming travel restrictions and wanted to make sure you were covered if that occurs. If you can't come to the class, you will at least have a project mailed to you to work on at home.
Our gathering is held during KCMO’s First Friday weekends, so you might want to treat yourself to shopping at the fabulous Old West Bottoms Antique District on Friday while in the area.
PS- I will be having surgery on Friday March 6, so please understand if I don't get back to you right away. Emails will be answered in the order they come in for sign ups. Thank you!!
Here are some of the albums I have that are in the original condition.
There are various colors and styles, all quite lovely. Some are velvet, some celluloid, some leather.
When I paint the red velvet ones, they turn a pretty color of pink.
This is Lesa's project from A Snowbird's Song last November.
I will leave you with some close ups of the album covers.
Here is one that I turned into an updated photo album that was left as is.
And this one was painted.
All are slightly damaged and tattered due to age. I look at that as an opportunity to use more lace on them!
Lesa Dailey’s class project at a Snowbird’s Song was a feat of engineering, and an object of beauty. I was thrilled when she gave the original to me!
Especially since she had already given me this sweet snowgal riding a swan. It was way too generous of her. I will treasure them, as I do anything she has made.
The tags she used on the packaging were equally adorable. I thought about putting mine onto my tree, but instead, I am using it here with my newfound, swan collection. 
The teachers at my arty weekends gift a kit to each other. We don’t always get to craft them during the event, personally, I try to save mine to savor later when I have more time.
And it makes me feel better when I am missing my Peeps!
Since I was lucky enough to have the original, I wanted to make my kit in a different way, not try to match it. Instead of adding the darling swan boat hat, I used the sail material to make a crown.
I changed the beak to pink, and used faceted beads for the eyes. I also tilted the neck and head, but maybe she just looks crooked…
I made the ruffle into a double layer, added lace, strands of pearls, and millinery blooms. Then, I glued her to a candlestick for height.
Of course, I HAD to use to wonderful, white ruffle she provided. But I kept the rest of the back simple, since I loved the soft, blue velvet and wanted that to show.
Thank you, Lesa! We love your classes here at the cottage, not only for the challenging way they stretch our skills, but for the pure loveliness you create and the personality you infuse in each of your characters.
If you are interested in some of the items from A Snowbird's Song, I have listed a few of the pieces in my Boutique. There are kits for Angelique the Aviary Queen as well as the completed projects.
The kits come with a collage sheet, so you can make the angel with your preferred lady. That leaves you with a page filled with other images to use for other crafting plans. Pink and white are available. There are some holiday ornaments for sale too. And thank you to those who have already shopped with me!
You can find them here.
The Peeps visiting me for a Snowbird’s Song, came bearing gifts. Lori Oles created this gem for me from rough cut garnets and vintage treasures.
For the tweets and gifts , I hand dyed fabric bags, and placed them out on the seats the night before the party like hanging stockings on the mantel on Christmas Eve.
Just like dozens of jolly St Nicks working their magic, the joyful Peeps over-stuffed the bags with delightful gifts.
There was an array of hand made gifts, treats, mini kits, art supplies and more. Generosity times ten.
Gail made these itsy bitsy stocking brooches.
Terri made multiple versions of this cottage tree ornament for everyone. This is the one I received.
Our Southern belle friend, Lulu gifted everyone with jewels and beautiful baubles.
This is the special one she made for me.
My Sis, Terry also brought jewelry. Hers was sterling with genuine stones, Nora chose moonstone earrings that matched a necklace she had brought with her.
Terry brought a special gift for me, my favorite chocolates, from See’s.
She also brought a gift for my husband, a wooden golf cart handcrafted by her husband, Dale. The tiny wheels actually turn, this is adorable.
I was blessed to get many special treats myself. Like this nest filled with felted eggs from Kim.
There was so much generosity flowing my way that I wanted to savor the packages, and waited to open them after everyone had left. This sachet and bird are from Maggie.
When the guests were gone, the house was feeling empty and lonely. I cheered myself up by going through the thoughtful gifts and finding the perfect spots to use them in my home. This pearl encrusted nest from Suzanne went with my nature inspired tree.
The chocolate bar shaped Oklahoma was a perfect fit for my belly… and the ornie that Teresa gave to me with it went on the tree in my studio.
Jeannie gave me this hat that fits like a warm glove, ideal for cold, Kansas winters.
Jane knows my love of hats, and brought a bag filled with vintagey floral ones to play with.
Carol gave me luscious supplies to play with too. And European chocolates.
Connie and Nancy brought a pumpkin festival of bath products that I am working my way through and enjoying this autumn.
Linda gifted me with lavender honey products that look really pretty in my guest bath, but I think I will set them aside to use in late February when I need to remember that winter is not forever.
And was gifted with vanilla scented creams to brighten the holidays.
Tami crafted this pink reindeer diorama that now sits on the table next to my cozy chair that I watch tv from.
Across from me on the coffee table, I keep this creation from Lesa.
Seriously, the generosity the group showed to each other and to me was over the top. I did not get photos of everything, and hope that I don’t offend anyone by not posting photos of the bounty they provided.
But after seeing the warm hearted sharing, I do not think that they are the types who would be upset. These gifts were given for heartfelt reasons, not done to show off.
Nora hand wove this bracelet, and every time I wear it, it will feel like an embrace from my friends.
All of the presents, for the group, for the door prizes, and the personal ones for myself were greatly appreciated.
We had enough door prize donations for everyone to get one, plus grand prizes, and a few more rounds of gifts from the prize table, so that some people got more than one.
Beth’s traditional needlework apron is always a coveted prize.
The excitement from the Peeps who give the presents is equal to those who get them. I love the ones they give to me, but the biggest gift of all is the generosity I see them sharing with each other. I am quite appreciative with the jovial atmosphere and happy gift giving between them.
Thank you, all!
This is Lori Oles’ take on our first class of the weekend, Lesa Dailey’s “Seven Swans A Swimming”. And as With all of her projects, it has her own spin on it.
Here is how Lisa Phillipi finished hers, it is tucked away with her other completed projects and they all look so pretty together!
This swan was not easy. I did see some struggles in the early stages, but it looked like everyone got through it, at least to the point where the decorating could be finished at home.
As I watched them work, I was struck with what a feat of engineering this was for Lesa to create. It was not top heavy, it stood up nice and tall, and there were many steps to get through.
Seriously, that woman goes beyond artist, to designer, and creative engineer.
I find her extremely impressive.
Thank you for the challenging, gorgeous class, Lesa!
A Snowbird’s Song isn’t all gluing and foofing.
We had a couple of parties too.
The first night, we gathered for homemade, French bread pizza, cupcakes and caramel apple sangria.
Terry made the cupcakes and people were still talking about them days later, they were so good.
Jenn Hayslip led us in an adorable make and take.
Darling!
Terry and Lori made up some appetizer trays while I baked Brie.
Good friends who help out over and above what was asked for are a rare blessing, aren’t they?
After eating and make’n take’n, we had a diorama Swap hosted by Tami.
We even had Randy play Santa so the Peeps could whisper what they wanted for Christmas into his ear.
Saturday night was dinner, shopping, and sparkly wine.
Dessert was cake truffle eggs and white chocolate, coconut nests.
After that was some shopping.
My garage got a makeover for that night.
It was festive and full of good deals, pretty things, and vintagey wonderfulness.
I will miss having the room this pretty.
No worries about that yet, for now it is still set up…
Which maybe was not the best thing on a snowy day when my car probably would’ve enjoyed being tucked into a warm garage.
Oh well, sooner or later, the carriage will turn back into a pumpkin.
Next time, I will have photos from the classes.
Our gathering last weekend was so much fun. I hope the Peeps enjoyed it as much as I did!
My studio was all gussied up in advance, happily awaiting everyone’s arrival.
Instead of tablecloths, this year I use brown paper and painted on swirls of blizzardly snow with white birds.
I don’t do centerpieces, the tables are full enough with lamps and supplies. I did add some birdies wherever I could and tucked the washy wipes into pretty containers.
The name tags were hung on a straw wreath, wrapped in batting and lace. It was hung on the treat cabinet door and did double duty, as a way to hand out the tags and a decoration.
The tags themselves were a two-fer. Once the event was over, the name could be removed and the wreath brooch could be worn as a festive lapel pin during the holidays. It was made from a 1950s tinsel garland, a bit of the “good stuff”.
While the end of October is pretty early to decorate for Christmas, I was happy I had done it early.
I have never been a procrastinator, but this year I was even more on the ball than usual.
Which was very lucky because I was hit with a stomach bug that knocked m flat on my back before the event. Maybe it was more like a bug hitting a windshield and I was the bug.
Knowing that the rooms were ready, the food was prepped, Randy and Terry were on the way, I told myself to not worry, just sleep it off and quarantine myself for 24 hours. I made all sorts of plans for the worst case scenario.
If I didn’t get better in time, my friends could teach my classes, my family could feed everyone, I could go to a hotel to keep anyone else from getting sick.
I was able to relax and rest knowing that not only was I prepared for guests, I had the world’s best helpers to take over for me if needed!
The rest helped, I was out of bed and back to myself in no time. No one else caught it, so it must have been something I ate.
Building my kits and making examples early in the summer was a blessing too. With all that happened to our family in the last few months, I could never have been ready in time if all of that was still waiting to be done.
My world is much more serene if I plan ahead and am ready before scheduled. I was able to not only have the unexpected recovery time that I needed, I was able to look forward to welcoming everyone instead of running myself ragged until they got here.
Also, I owe a big thanks to my teachers and helpers who I knew I could count on to be wonderful!
And they were, I was thrilled with the whole weekend. With their help, it was the best!
Also, a big thanks to my Peeps, It was lovely to have them come to visit me in Kansas. I’ll have more photos of the event itself next.
It is exciting to announce that I will be teaching at Karen Hillman’s Beauty in Blue event at Stacy Seely’s ranch in Texas!
Crafting these birdcage angels for the holiday themed Snowbird’s Song has been so much fun, that I thought I’d use the idea to make a springtime, fairy version in shades of blue for Karen’s gathering.
She is now “Blue Bonnet Belle”.
A few years ago, my Sissy, Randy, and I were lucky enough to be invited to an event at Stacy’s with Karen. Oh my, what a lovely spot! And amazing food! It is a big slumber party, with gourmet food and lots of special attention, plus shopping at the Canton Flea AND crafting?
Yee haw, what a shindig! (Hopefully that sounded Texan?)
If you would like to join us in April, here is Karen’s info about the party. See you there?
Karen Hillman of Cozy Castle Events invites you to join her, deep in the heart of Texas for this all-inclusive, creative, and inspiring weekend. This will be the third “Beauty in Blue” retreat presented by Karen at Whitworth Ranch Retreat. It is a celebration of Spring themed in shades of blue, inspired by the Texas state flower, the Bluebonnet. Karen strives to make each class or event a beautiful, detailed, and unforgettable experience.
Our home for the weekend is The Whitworth Ranch Retreat, a full service shabby chic art retreat located about 45 minutes outside of Dallas. (book your air travel into Dallas Fort Worth Airport). Stacy Seely is our chef and hostess at this wonderful retreat, which is a working Texas cattle ranch! Visit Whitworth Ranch Retreat to learn more about this exclusive retreat.
This event includes your accommodations, ten meals, three gorgeous art projects, Champagne party and personal portrait in the bluebonnets, Canton Flea market and Mineola shopping adventures, and more.
This is a weekend escape for creative-minded women who enjoy and thrive being in a group setting. The only rules are to leave the real world behind you and relax, escape, and create in this positive and upbeat atmosphere. The meals have been chosen according to the theme of this weekend, and we will have salad options available, but food selections have been pre planned therefore we can not accommodate dietary restrictions.
This is an all-inclusive event, and the cost covers your accommodations, meals, and instructed art projects.
The total cost is $775; at least half must be paid to reserve your spot with the remaining balance due by March 1st, 2020. PLEASE NOTE: A deposit secures your spot for this event and is NON-REFUNDABLE. Should you need to cancel, an effort will be made to find a replacement to fill your spot, but we cannot guarantee this. Once you are registered, you will receive paperwork to complete and return to Karen by email.
Click here to register on-line!
If you wish to pay by check, make checks payable to Karen Hillman Designs and mail to:
233 West Rich Avenue
DeLand, FL 32720
Look what we’ve got planned! Attendees will
receive a detailed itinerary and supply list
once registered.
Wednesday, April 1st Arrival 4 PM
6:30 Dinner
7:30 Hand Coloring Portrait Demonstration
with Karen Hillman
Thursday, April 2nd
Continental Breakfast
Canton Flea Market Shopping Adventure
Dinner
Chambray Shirt Design Class with Karen Hillman
Friday, April 3rd
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the retreat
Happy Hour Champagne Party in the
bluebonnet field and portraits
with Jennifer Hayslip
Completion of Chambray Shirt
“All that Glitters” embellished picture frame
with Karen Hillman
Saturday, April 4th
Breakfast
Town of Minneola shopping day
Lunch at Southern Fried Restaurant
Dinner
“Blue Bonnet Belle “Class with Karla Nathan
Sunday, April 5th
Farewell Breakfast
Karen Paige Hillman will give a demonstration of the timeless art of hand-colored black and white portraits. Also, bring along a blue chambray shirt, and Karen will help you design and embellish it into a whole new creation using lace, trims, and unique textiles. Each attendee will also create an “All That Glitters” 5×7 picture frame using rhinestone findings, vintage bling, and Swarovski crystals. Learn more about Karen’s art, classes, and events on her website, thecozycastle.com
Published photographer and artist Jennifer Hayslip will work her portrait magic among the Texas Bluebonnets! Bring along a special outfit for your personal photo. Check out Jennifer’s fanciful website, jenniferhayslip.com
And the amazing Karla Nathan of Karla’s Cottage will help you bring to life your own beautiful Bluebonnet Belle in shades of blue and white! View Karla’s incredible studio and art on her website, karlascottage.typepad.com
Having never taught watercolors before and being extremely overworked, overwrought, and tired, recently- I was worried about this bluebird class.
But I shouldn't have been! The attendees did a wonderful job. I was so proud of them and very impressed. They each got a hand drawn page to paint after we used a big, blank page to get some practice done on.
Everyone's turned out just lovely. And after painting them, they popped the pictures into mini frames to embellish with a rhinestone cluster.
Nora even "branched out" and painted this sweet bluebird.
Honestly, it was one of my favorite classes. I had a wonderful time showing some painting tricks to friends. And it made me wish I had more time to paint. It was a lot of fun.
I'll leave you with some photos of the studio, all spiffed up and ready for company.
By the way, if you would like to see puppy pictures, please check them out here: https://karlascottage.typepad.com/cottage_doodles/
