Creating Beautiful Homes For Christmas
The creative juices flow and the possibilities are endless when Karla Kopsas makes wreaths. A mason by day and wreath-maker by night, this successful businesswoman loves her creative outlet at her shop along Highway 86.
The idea behind Little Greek Girl Wreaths was born in 2016, when Karla was shopping with her mother Elodis at Hobby Lobby.
"I remember thinking I could make something like that, which turned into gifts for family and friends for every holiday!" Karla remembered. "With encouragement, they suggested I needed to start selling them."
In 2019, Karla opened Little Greek Girl Wreaths, and since then, she has transformed homes with beautiful wreaths and swags to garlands and table centerpieces. From glam to simplistic, she has something for everyone.
“I really love making homes beautiful, whether it’s through K&K Masonry, Inc. or Little Greek Girl Wreaths,” she shared. “I love making people smile and I really enjoy the relationships I make with customers.”
Karla offers all sorts of inventory at her shop, but also specializes in custom orders and working with the customer throughout the process.
“A customer can tell me a theme or if they have a specific item they’d like to use and I will craft whatever their home needs,” Karla shared. “I can even make a variety of matching items that go together, whether it’s a centerpiece, wreaths, and garland, etc.”
Creative Design
When making a wreath, Karla gets inspiration from a sign or a piece of ribbon and selects accessories that match. With that in hand, she picks a base from a large array of deco mesh, grapevine, greenery, pine or evergreen.
"There are all sorts of sizes and shapes I have available to choose from," Karla explained. "It really depends on what space you want to fill."
Whether the base is formed upon a swag, tear drop, or oval base, Karla enhances her focal piece with corresponding elements, textures and colors, creating depth and dimension with the variety of accessories selected.
She said that artificial flowers have come a long way through the years.
“They look so real, which makes it so fun to create with, and the possibilities are endless,” Karla added.
Supplies are ordered through several wholesalers within the wreath community. She also values other wreath makers around the country who get together to create several times a year and provide feedback when one needs help.
Once Karla has the wreath arranged, she glues or wires the pieces into place. The back is cleaned up and felt is placed behind to prevent a door from being scratched. For custom orders, there is a nonrefundable $75 that goes towards the final cost and wreaths range from $75 to $350. In the shop, prices average between $75 and $100.
This Christmas season, Karla said whimsical and Bono are popular, as well as farmhouse and red trucks. Simplistic and glam are some customers’ favorites, as well as Buffalo check. She can create lantern swags, bicycle rims, trees, and birdhouses.
Last year, Karla also started decorating people’s homes for Christmas, which she really enjoyed.
She offers private classes for interested groups and enjoys sharing her love of creating with other people.
“I’m most thankful that my mother was a part of the process at the beginning; now, I feel like she’s there with me as I design,” she said.
Karla will have a Christmas Open House at her shop, 1941 Highway IA-86, Milford, from Nov. 30-Dec. 3. She will be open Wednesday-Friday 2-8p and Saturday-Sunday 11a-4p. She can be contacted at (712) 320-2951 or littlegreekkopsasgirlwreaths@gmail.com. More information and regular hours can be found at littlegreekgirlwreaths.com or on her Facebook page.