One Strange Bird

I wish I could give more than 5 stars! Amanda at One Strange Bird made my life so much easier! I live out of state and my niece (who is also from out of state) had major surgery at Univ. of Chicago and has been there for a couple weeks. I wanted to send her some sort of care package but being that she is on a feeding tube, i couldn’t send chocolates or any food. She is 12 so what fun would flowers be?! After hours of searching online for something unique, this store came up. I called not sure if they would be able to help but they sure did! Amanda helped me pick out items from their store that were fun and different. Not only that bt she wrapped it up and had it delivered to the hospital. She even hand wrote out a card for me too. Thank you for making this such a great experience.

I have had a great time taking an art class here and later, signed up my daughter for a child only class as well. Not only is the pricing incredible, the staff is super attentive.
We also rented out the studio for my daughter’s birthday party. They offer drop-​off parties. We held our class in the front but the space in the back is super cute. I highly recommend.

Super cute little shop with awesome little nick-​nacks. (really cute dog too!) went here with my friend and we did paintings of our pets, pretty neat. also i might add lots of good gifts!

just did a chicago skyline paintin a few weeks ago & it was pretty cool. there were only 4 of us in the class so it was chill. i wish the teacher wouldve given a tad bit more detailed explanations or directions on how to draw the skyline & scenery cuz i cant draw for sh*t so i need more guidance. lol but they provide all the materials ur goin to need & it was quite a relaxin experience. i was actually impressed by my end product so i was happy with the end result. its kinda pricey $ 40 a person but i bought a a groupon for the same price for 2 people so its definitely worth it then.

We collaborated with One Strange Bird for a toddler craft and story class in their space this summer and it was SUCH a fun morning. The space is very creative, clean, artistic, and engaging. The room in back was organized, colorful, and overall welcoming for little ones and parents. Working with Nicole & Amanda was a dream. They were on point when it came to professionalism, accessibility, and promptness. We look forward to shopping in their store and collaborating on events in the future.

I know they have classes and parties here and though I haven’t experienced those events I always see happy smiling participants, both young and old. I love to shop here and find treasures for myself or unique gifts. I have purchased really pretty candles, bubble bath, warm comfy gloves, etc. They have cool things u found as gifts including mask on jar shot glasses, a robot can opener, light up and holiday earrings. This is a great place to shop and the owner is super friendly and happy. It’s my go-​to now for gift ideas.

We had our toddler’s birthday party at OSB. The children had a fantastic time making a mask. The owner was gifted with children and knew how to make them feel comfortable. She went out of her way to keep them engaged. For example, she read them books and offered other activities than the planned without being asked. The owner and her husband were a great team and proactively helpful. Any worries I might have had for the party melted away once I walked in to the place. They were involved and supportive: helped with decorations and setting up food/​drinks before the party; helped to attend to every detail during the party from leading/​teaching the kids, helping with serving food and cake, taking pictures, etc.; and as I was saying goodbye to the guests, they helped with packing up and cleaning after the party. It was truly a pleasant experience.

Came here for a holiday party for work and it was amazing! We all made a pair of earrings and a necklace, the woman helping us could not have been nicer!
They have a lot of cute things for sale as well, my personal favorite were the candles.
This place is a must for a fun, chill night out with some friends.

I went to my first class at one strange bird this past Sunday and it was so fun! I did the wreath making class. Nicole, the owner, is so friendly and welcoming. I plan on going back for more classes in the future!

I took hand printed fabric here with a Groupon deal and it was great. Class was 5 people and I think for this one would probably 7 or 8 max. Instructor was very helpful in explaining the process and helping us with our designs. I left with a handmade rubber stamp and a large piece of printed fabric– you would have to sew it yourself if you want finished edges. It can be heat set and is washable so you can make super adorable tea towels. Our class went over the scheduled time and they were very accommodating and patient to make sure we all finished up.
You get 10% off in the store with a class so you can buy materials to continue at home or they have small gift items and jewelry.

We went to One Strange Bird to paint one strange peacock. It was a BYOB painting class, which costs $ 40/​person and that includes all of your materials (paint, brush, canvass, apron, etc.) and I had a wonderful time here.
I consider myself a creative person, I love art and design, but I’ve never been very good at «creating.» I almost failed ceramics class in high school, and I got a ‘D’ in photography. Granted, a lot of that had to do with my work ethic and absences, but I didn’t do very well on the assignments that I DID complete.
When a friend showed me her painting of the Eiffel Tower from a similar class, I was intrigued but also doubtful that I could make anything that good.
The instructor at One Strange Bird was very helpful. She took us through every step basically by breaking down the peacock into circles and ovals. Maybe it was all of the wine and earlier drinks, but my confidence was boosted when more than one person complimented my painting including the instructor. Looking around, mine definitely wasn’t the worst. My husband was a little discouraged working on his, but if you ask him what he loves, it isn’t art and design. It’s football. He would much rather be making trades on his fantasy football team than mixing paint colors — and he definitely got frustrated making the «just right» green. Still, I think his painting also turned out really well and he said he enjoyed the class. It’s a really fun concept for couples, but it is definitely more popular for «girls’ night.»
The class size was maybe 12 – 15 people, which was just right. Some girls were really struggling, or they had too much wine, but I heard too many questions like, «how do I make green?» and «how do I make orange?» Make sure you can withstand the potentially drunk girlies here before registering for a class. The class is 2 hours long, which is just long enough to get your stuff done and leave. I was a little disappointed that they didn’t check to make sure our paintings were dry or wrap them in paper. We walked several blocks back to the Blue Line, clutching our paintings for dear life and praying they wouldn’t smack against us, or someone else, and leave wet paint behind. An extra 10 – 15 minutes of drying or wrapping it up would’ve been much appreciated.
One Strange Bird is also a shop, and several accessories and items here caught my eye when we walked in. I would highly recommend One Strange Bird for their classes or just as a shop when in Wicker Park.

This is my favorite place to get creative in Chicago. The owner, Nicole, is the nicest and sweetest person you will ever meet. I’ve gone here for a bachelorette party to make tote bags stamped with our own designs (look for my Eiffel Tower stamp!) and I’ve taken the girls I work with here for a BYOB painting night. I’ve never considered myself to be very talented in the art department. But Nicole really knows how to bring it out of people (or maybe it’s the wine). Either way, I look forward to going back and checking out a mixed media class to make a collage painting. I’d highly recommend this place if you’re in the mood to get creative!

I called ahead to see what painting would be used for the byob class and was told it would be an owl painting. I was really excited & told my friend because I know she likes owls too. However, when we got there is was a simple beach scene. That was kind of a disappointment. Overall, it was an ok experience.
The shop itself has a lot of cute unique items.

Amazing !!! Got a recommendation from a friend and sent my daughter to one week of summer camp it was such a positive experience that she asked me to sign her up for the following week. What a lovely place! The staff is so kind and patient with the kids, we love Jessica and Ashley! The projects were great and I’m loving the art my daughter is bringing home! It was an wonderful way to ease into our summer and I’m looking into classes year round!
Thanks One Strange Bird! We Love You!!!

I have taken WAY too long to write this review. I give One Strange Bird and its owner Nicole my highest recommendation.
The shop itself is full of cute, local wares from soap to necklaces to screen printed shirts and bags.
Plus, if you want an entertaining evening, sign up for ANY of the classes. Seriously an excellent time.
I also held the beginning of my bachelorette party at the store when it was at the old location. I ordered in pizza, brought plenty of booze, and even my most Type A friends has a fantastic time making handmade jewelry. I would recommend them for any event and I will definitely be back often.

One Strange Bird is one of my favorite finds in Chicago so far. We just happened upon it walking by with our dogs — who were welcomed into the store! There are all sorts of one-​of-​a-​kind things great for gifts for others, or (if you’re like me) for yourself. From what I can tell, almost everything is handmade and many support local artists. You can find jewelry, candles, onesies, tshirts, cards, artwork, etc. Someone else made the comment that’s it like Etsy — exactly so. And prices are very reasonable.
And that’s only the retail part of it! Another aspect that makes this shop so awesome is that it doubles as a studio and you can take a whole assortment of different classes from the owner, Nicole. (Who is amazing by the way.) Anything from painting classes, to mixed media, to card making (with homemade stamps). Classes are BYOB and very relaxed. Nicole is incredibly talented, but equally warm and inviting. It’s a nonjudgemental space where you can just relax, have fun and geek out on arts & crafts. I’ve always left with something nifty; earrings made of old bicycle tires, a vintage ashtray, my very own artwork or even just the recommendation for a cool band to check out.
Exactly the kind of business/​people I am happy to support!

Did you ever walk through a store, pick up something artsy and say, «I should totally do this home?» If you answered yes, this probably the place for you. The art they sell is super cool and a lot of it is Chicago-​centric, but the real beauty of this place is in the learning aspect of things. They offer affordable classes where you can learn to make some really cool things. Step by step painting instruction was a blast. I took a collage class that covered a lot of advanced techniques. This place has a lot going for it. After the classes, you can purchase the materials you need to work on art at home. Oh, and did I mention that they let you bring your own wine. It’s a store like no other. Please check it out. It’s amazing!

What a great experience. I came here for an art class last night — mixed media collage. Nicole and Jess are not only good instructors, but they make you feel welcome as soon as you walk in the door. These ladies are two incredible artists who make art accessible and do-​able for all of us. The collage I made had a happy ending. I wasn’t thrilled with my piece so when I got home I stood it on my kitchen counter against the backsplash. I walked away and when I came back I realized it was upside down, and I loved it! It took on a whole new dimension. The techniques they taught were easy and impactful. Thanks, girls! You’re awesome! Love the store, too!

I love everything about this place! The whole concept is really neat– handmade, crafty items, and they offer classes. It’s a great place to wander around in and you can definitely find something nifty to buy as a gift for someone, or yourself. The prices are very reasonable considering most (all?) of the items are hand made and unique. It’s like Etsy jumped out of the internet and landed in Humboldt park, right by my house! I’ve been driving by every day and finally decided to come in. I’m glad I did because I bought a cute necklace for a friend of mine for her birthday.
I plan on checking out the classes as well.

I wandered in yesterday and was blown away by how warm and friendly the store and it’s owner/​artists are. They’re cheerful and bubbly and fun to talk to and so sweet and I’m beyond excited about the classes I signed up for in November.
The selection of jewelry/​shirts/​bags/​birdhouses/​art/​etc was impressive– well chosen, reasonably priced, and oh so appealing. I’ll be back to let you know how the classes go, but I’m pretty sure these folks are a great addition to North Ave.