Bird's Nest Pendant

I love birds, bird's nest and nature in general. I found this little pendant very appealing and, guess what!? I think I can make one of these. Great instructions at livelaughphotograph. You could also make this into a brooch.

Paper Wreath

How pretty! Love this paper wreath found on Flickr.

How To: Make a Zippered Pouch

Syko (one of my absolute favorite artists!) has provided a neat tutorial on how to make a zippered pouch like this one.

Link: How to make a zippered pouch.

Paper Sculpture: Helen Musselwhite

Beautiful paper sculpture from Helen Musselwhite.
Helen, from the UK, uses bright colors and strong lines in each wonderful piece of her highly-individual paper sculptures.
I can't even imagine the patience one must have to do something like this.
But I do love paper and I think I might try my hand at this sort of thing - on a much, less detailed scale to start with.
Here - enjoy some of Helen's ab fab work. (By the way, notice the Janet Bell influence in that Harbour Tide piece. LOVE Janet Bell!)

Critters

Sleepy birds and wide-awake birds. I love them all.
Melissa Sue Stanley, from the Chicago area, designs and makes critters like these birds and lots of others. She also crochets and her amigurumi critters are just adorable.
I found these on Melissa Sue's blog, art = love = life. She sells her items in a couple of places but you can find the "wide awake" bird in her Etsy shop here ($45).

Chick Pops

Bakerella is a daily blog read for me. Not that I'm into cooking that much but her photos you could eat! Plus she has really, really great ideas and includes recipes and instructions for most everything she posts.
These Chick Pops are typical of the kinds of things she writes about.
Right now you can vote on which version of these Chick Pops you like the best - Big Head? Big Bottom?All Body? No Body? Or even...No Stick.
Full post, pictures, recipe and instructions on Bakerella.

Spilling Beauty: Paloma Pendants

I just found Jennifer Morris' new blog, Spilling Beauty, and it's just lovely. I plan on visiting her often. Here I'm showing her Paloma Bird pendants just in time for spring.
Jennifer says that Palomas represents hope and new life. Isn't that what spring is all about?
Pendants found here.
Spilling Beauty blog.

 

  

 

Spring Has Sprung

Apparently everyone's more than ready to welcome Spring. Here are some inspiring images I wanted to share with you:
From Ciel D'Orage

 

From Fils et Ficellles

From Fantastic Toys with downloadable pdf file

 

Spring Colors from Fee un Voeu

Fleur Fatale

 

Spring is the time of year when everyone starts to feel hopeful again. Flowers blooming, warm breezes, promise of warmer breezes, getting outside, knowing Summer is coming, seedlings bursting open, birds nesting and Spring Cleaning. Sorry, had to throw that one in there. We are doing some major spring cleaning around here and I will feel so much better when it's finished.

Do you have any spring projects? We'd love to know about them. Send me a link or leave me a comment; I love hearing about what you're doing.

Little Spring Basket

I just saw this little basket made of felt on Maya Made, a favorite blog of mine.
Maya has instructions on how to make one here.

Blumshen's Easter Shop

I just love visiting Blumshen. They always have great things for the holidays and this year's Easter goodies are no exception.
They have a wide range of decorations and supplies. Easter grass (real paper) in several different colors, papier mache eggs, dye kits and lots of other cool stuff.

The Spring Hare's Special Delivery is a candy container. The rabbit's head comes off, the cart is a container and the little chick is also a container.

 Aren't the little animal picks cute? They come 144 to a pack.

The chick cut-outs are lacquer-painted cardboard with hand-painted details. Made from German molds from the 1930s.

If you've found some Easter items or crafts you would like to share with my readers leave me a comment!

Blumshen's Easter Shop
The Spring Hare's Special Delivery Candy Container: $194
Animal Party Picks - 144 pieces: $13.50
Chick Cut-Outs - Pkg of 8: $30

Fils et Ficelles

Fils et Ficelles is a blog I follow regularly and here's one of the reasons why. This very, very sweet necklace she made.

Little felted birdies. Love the soft Spring colors...gives me hope that Spring will soon come.

Speaking of birds...we have some nesters in our transom window at the front door again this year. I'll try to see if I can get some pictures.

Fils et Ficelles

Dreamiest Dream Catchers Ever!

I just had to show a picture of this dream catcher made by Lulu Carter. Just gorgeous! She calls this one "Little Boy Dreaming". Love the bird, the butterflies, the buttons, the colors, everything! This is one she made with a boy in mind but she has some other colors with names like "Sweet Dreaming", "Pretty Bird" and "Butterfly Wishes". Too sweet!
Lulu's blog is one I follow because she has such great ideas - like this one!
Little Boy Dreaming Dreamcatcher: $65 at Lulu's shop at Big Cartel

Children's Book Plates

Aren't these sweet?
On page 38 of the latest Small Magazine. I love this magazine. The way they lay out their pages makes you want to buy everything just because it looks so cool. It always gives me good ideas as wel Take a look if you get a chance. By the way, all of the book plates are made by Etsy sellers.
Have a good evening.

Happy Friday and I'm Off for a Few Days

I will be traveling for a few days so I may or may not get a chance to update.
In the meantime please enjoy these lovelies...

Adorable Halloween art doll with a vintage look from Garb-oodles Soup

Birdcage with fabric birds. Found on Charlie Pop & Bubbles blog, but made by the talented Alicia Paulson.

Sweet animal softy from Lalootka's Attic

and vintage bird collageprint (what is it with me and birds?) from Geninne's Art Blog

Gallery: Birds, Babies and Other Pretties

Hope you'll enjoy looking at these images of some things that caught my eye. Like this cute, hand made top sewn for a baby girl from Danish Casalinga



Very sweetly decorated children's bedroom for two from Katarina's World.



Interesting wood and metal hand made bird house from Harmony.



What kid wouldn't love these adorable animal utensils for children from Huset.





It's a clock; it's a birdhouse. "Klokke" birdhouse from DesignTorget.



A couple of adorable handmade mobiles. This cute bunny softy fabric one from Milda Maranger...





...and this cute bird softy, recycled fabric one from ReFound Objects.



Love the expressions on the faces and bold colors of this fun baby animal toy from Sprell.

Tamar Mogendorff

These artful birdhouses are among the many beautiful fabric and paper items made by Tamar Mogendorff.
Peacocks, pearls, coral, bird cages and much more. Beautifully photographed and well worth a visit.

Handmade Cards by Pepperina Press

I just love the cards in this shop.

These Bird Notes thank-you cards are from original artwork.

It's worth the trip to their shop just to look, but their prices are so reasonable you may not be able to resist the temptation to purchase!

Pepperina Press
Bird Note Thank You Cards: Package of 8 cards & envelopes: $8