Secret Holiday

*In the Thick of Summer* Sale!

I forgot to mention to all of you faithful blog readers that I am currently having a sale in my Etsy Shop! Through August 1st - - 15% off everything!

I named it as I did because it has been so hot and sticky and gross in my studio, but it feels a little silly today because it's raining again, and the weather has cooled down. It seems like it has literally been raining every other day this summer!

Anyways! I've gotten some new materials to work with and am excited about getting started on some new animals, but I want to clear out my shop a bit first - like a little spring cleaning in late July! I've recently had a couple new shops inquire about consignment, so any animals that are left come August 2nd may be shipped off. I like actually having something to offer when a shop approaches me about consignment or wholesale!

For Melanie:

Custom Order / Completed July 2009 / made using Danielle Smeets Protea fabric, yellow on birch (I love it!!)

Willard & Lena

These two little birdies flew into my shop this morning and I think they make handsome couple!

What colors should I try to use for my next bird? I keep trying to switch it up, but when I look at my shop it looks like I end up using the same few colors, just in different shades! I would love some suggestions!

Enid and Charlotte and a super cute Etsy Ad!

Despite being suddenly sick last week, I did manage to make some new birds (some of my favorite so far!) Two of them are close to completion, just needing legs, but Enid and Charlotte are all finished up, photographed, and posted in my shop today! 

I can't tell if they are best friends, or completely in love. What do you think? I think it will be hard for them to part...

On another note, my friend Peter made a great video for the Etsy Handmade Moment contest and I think you should check it out! (And vote for it too!) If you click on the image below it will lead you to the website where the video is posted. I'm pretty sure the contest is based on views and ratings and I think the video has to be viewed on the official page to count. Please take a minute to visit - the video is only 15 seconds long! 

http://etsy.tv/video/Etsy-Handmade-Moment

Now I better get around to uploading photos from Amelia's birthday party! Hope you have a nice day!

Busy busy!

This past week was full of family time and out door adventures - which was great! I have to run this morning, but I will be sure to add some photos soon - including some more of this special little birthday girl:

Too bad my camera was on the wrong setting all day and I couldn't figure out how to fix it until I got home (after the party!) Sorry for the grainy photos!

On another note, I just added a couple new animals to my shop - made from cute vintage and japanese fabrics! I found the material last week at Osgood's, and couldn't help but make some little animals right away! (There's nothing like new fabric to motivate you into creating something!)

Have a great day!

August and Sofia

These new birdies are in my shop tonight! (I'm still having a difficult time taking decent photos in my new apartment... shoot.) 

I'm hanging out with family this week. Tomorrow we're going to hike to the top of Mt. Skinner - the one we usually drive up. I think the view will be even more amazing after the walk! 

Julia and James

All I want to as of late is make birds. Birds birds and more birds. I think it's the some what sunny weather (with bouts of rain of course) and day dreaming a bit about my spring wedding, and day dreaming about making little birds as decorations for the tables. Yes, I don't want to make just two birds to sit on our cake, I want three or four or five at each table! Now, if we could only find a beautiful yet affordable place to hold our wedding... then we could figure out how many guests and tables we will have, and then I can figure out how crazy I am for thinking I can make that many birds for one event! Hmmm..... I think I could do it!

Julia and James are gracing my shop now, along with a couple other ladies who are still available. I think Julia and James make a nice couple. I bet the other girls are jealous. (I need to make some more birds who speak to me in a mans voice.)

Also! I saw Pheobe in Wonderland last night (which caused me to immediately find and purchase a used copy of Alice's Adventure in Wonderland on Amazon because I ashamedly have never read the original story) and I fell completely in love with Patricia Clarkson's hair. This is exactly how I want my hair to be for my wedding. Now I just have to manage to grow it super duper long by next spring! It is so beautiful. I was so happy that she wore her hair exactly the same throughout the whole film so I could continue to admire it. I also really enjoyed the movie itself. You should see it. 

These were the best photos of her hair I could find on the internet. Beautiful beautiful hair. Speaking of braids, have you ever heard of Carol Rama? She is one of my favorite artists, and is always pictured with this incredible braid crowning her head like a sweat band. Amazing. You should check her out too. I should really devote an entire post to her. 

For Margie

Custom Order / Completed July 2009

Patchwork fawn made from Margie's favorite Liberty fabrics.

She also requested branch antlers, and I couldn't stop thinking of these. Mine are very much inspired by Nicole's, though perhaps simplified. Maybe that's were Margie's idea came from too? 

Of all the animals I have made, this fawn is easily one of my all-time favorites. Thanks for the materials and direction Margie!

The most beautiful weekend

Justin came out to visit this weekend, and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. He brought birthday presents and cooked me a delicious curry stir-fry dinner. We sat down to eat just at magic hour and it felt like we were away on vacation somewhere, a cabin hidden in the woods. There were fresh flowers on the table, Billy Holiday in the air, and the most romantic golden light shining through the open door. It was perfect, and just exactly what I have been needing after all those lonely stormy days and nights. 

On top of getting to spend a lovely weekend with Justin, Bill and Jessica and Lincoln were in town again for a couple days. On Saturday afternoon we all went strawberry picking. It is pretty silly how much I am completely in love with this area. I can just go on and on about how beautiful it is, and every time we go to do something out of doors, I manage to find a new spot to fall in love with. 

On Sunday Peter and Rhea and little Edie came to visit for the day and the sun stayed out so we were able to have a picnic on the green grass of the Smith Campus. In the afternoon we all went for a walk, and Carrie took us to a beautiful trail that happens to be right behind our house. You have to walk on this little path, and under a cavern of trees, and suddenly it pops you out on a raised path way overlooking fields, with the big green mountains in the not so distant distance (does that make sense?).

These photos really do not do the scene justice. You'll have to come visit and see for yourself!

Craft Talk

Rhea sent me this video today. Amazing! (Thanks Rhea!)