Spring Fling

So I had a fling with spring today. It was warmer then it's been yet (mid 50's= t-shirt weather here) and I spent a little bit of time outside. The tulips are starting to poke out of the ground and the trees have buds. Spring is truly on it's way. At LAST!!! So to urge it on a little I decided to make a couple of spring-y pieces of wire wall art for my etsy shop. I just listed two of the items, the third is still in the works.

Here they are- a flower,

 

and a little bitty bird on a branch- So Sweet!

 

 Happy Spring Everyone!!!

'Tis the Season Kick Off Post

'Tis the Season to be Merry and to kick off the season I thought I'd do a week of decorating ideas and tutorials.Today I've got a few decorating trends to tell you about and then throughout the week I'll have tutorials that will illustrate fun ways that you can incorporate these trends into your holiday decor this year. SO if you're looking for some seasonal inspiration I'd love to have you follow along this week. I've also a secret surprise for my blog and facebook fans at the end of today's post- just to say thank you and to help kick off the merriness!


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Seasonal Inspirations: Trend Report

Trend #1:Woodland Wonderland
Forest inspired decor has been huge this last year or so. Now, birch branches, birds, mushrooms, owls, and fawns, among other things have all found their way into seasonal decor as well. This is a natural look that makes the most of the simple beauty and colors inherent in natural objects. It's also all about textures; and twiggy nests or branches are a sweet detail to add to your tree or wreath. If you decide to add some of this trend to your decorating this year you might want to go foraging for birch branches, mixed greens, and pick up some permanent accessories like red berry branches and maybe a couple of cardinal's. I particularly like the bright red of these accessories when they are coupled with flocked branches and white birch. The red and white against the dark green of the Christmas tree or Christmas wreaths create a beautiful contrast.

Trend #2: Go Green
Chartreuse green! Green on green with a little extra gold to accent are a classy take on the monochromatic craze. Keep the color palette simple and the shapes and textures take center stage. It works in mixed media and it works here too. I've decorated in this style in the past and I really do love how elegant it is. It really doesn't take much either, a few chartreuse ball ornaments tucked here or there, some green-gold berry branches, look great with variegated garlands and wreaths.

Trend #3: Poinsettia Power
The red and green combination just screams Christmas and can be kitschy or artsy depending on how you spin it. The poinsettia trend makes the most of this complementary color combo by placing big leafy red flowers against a background of deep green. It draws attention while still seeming fairly natural and not overdone at all. If I were to go this route this year I might pick up a few permanent poinsettia sprays from my local craft store and simply insert the sprays into the tree here or there. Poinsettias are so large that they can be seen from a distance and still identified so I might incorporate a few of these into my front door wreath to great effect. There's a lot of bang for your buck here.

Trend #4: Fabulous Flocked
Personally this is the trend that I'm loving the most right now. Last year I added icicle ornaments to my tree and hung crystal snowflakes in my front window. The white is taking the ice trend just a little bit further by focusing on heaps of snow, fresh fallen flakes, and snowballs. Lots and lots of snowballs! The flocked look can also be incorporated into the woodland trend as fresh fallen snow weighing down your tree's branches. Or you can couple it with the Peppermint Candy trend that's next!

Trend #5 Peppermint Candy Cute
I took my son with me to the wholesaler and this is the tree vignette he loved the most. Really it's fun, whimsical, red and white, and so so sweet- what's not to love about it? It's really easy to try this trend this year since Martha Stewart came out with a line of really affordable ornaments that come by the 50, 75, or 100 count that fit in perfectly with this trend. She even has cute little wrapped candy ornaments, and oversized candy canes to push your wreath or tree over that line of way too cute. Most of the items in this line are also shatter-proof (i.e. plastic) so they make the perfect addition to your outdoor decor. I mean who wouldn't love a pot of spruce tips with a big ol' candy cane or two sticking out of it?

Trend #6: Handmade Happiness
This is the trend I love the most and the trend that my ornaments seem to fit the best. It's whimsical, lovely, and one of a kind. This is another trend that kids love. Especially since the ornaments they've handmade over the years fit in perfectly on this tree. God's eyes from camp experiences past, school projects, they all enrich this look. Last year all the Starbuck's had wreaths made of yarn balls, this is a great example of the handmade trend.
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These are the trends I've been spotting this season and this next week I'll show you some ideas for making affordable and homemade accents and ornaments. I SO can't wait!! I'd also LOVE to hear which of the trends above appeals to YOU the most. What color combination's are you drawn to? Are you classic or whimsical in your seasonal design? Please leave a comment!

OK- Ready for the big secret? To help Celebrate the Christmas Season I've a coupon for my etsy shop, Bird From a Wire, good for 20% off any item in my shop this week. To take advantage of this just type in the coupon code CHRISTMASFUN1010 at checkout. Enjoy!!!

My Reindeer, Christmas Birds, and Ornaments- Oh, My!

I've been hard at work trying to finish up some of my Christmas projects and last night I listed most of them! Wow does that deserve a Whoo-hoo. It's been so difficult this year to motivate myself to craft Christmas. I could blame it on all the warm weather, but there is something in my psyche that doesn't want to think Christmas until it's after Halloween. What's a girl to do? It was Moda to the rescue! I love all their lovely lovely Christmas fabrics and once I had a stash I was ready to go.  
So first, I did this-

Then I finished a few of these-

Next I did one of these cute little Christmas Brooches-

And then just because did six of these-

I finished up with the little birdie at top. I think I've got a groove now. What are you working on? I'd love to know if you have any Christmas projects planned ! :)

Functional Art

Type in "functional art" on etsy and you'll find everything from night lights, to wall switch plates, to clocks to teapots, and guitar straps. That's a huge gamut of items. You really have to wonder what functional art means. To me, functional art means the opposite of ornamental. It's something that can be used and yet still looks fabulous. It's a sculpture that tells you the time, or a handprinted set of post it notes, or that amazing set of dinnerware that was hand thrown. It could be something you wear to keep your hair up or it could be a tool or piece of furniture. I even look at my sofa pillows as functional art. They serve a purpose that's other than just looking pretty. But it's the looking pretty or interesting part that makes it art. Instead of just considering function, the person who created this piece thought about it's appearance as well.

By Jersey Maids

- Clock by MB Art Studios on Etsy 

I love functional art because I've found in my home that there's only so much space that I feel I can give to the ornamental. I don't have a large home and to have a ton of stuff that's only for display just doesn't fit our lifestyle. So I started to look at the other things I have on my counter, or my refrigerator, or my floor and shelving. What other things take up my space? What I found is that there are things I feel I need to keep out because they're necessary to living. My fruit bowl for instance. I keep fruit in it. It's something I feel I need to have on my counter. SO I pulled a piece of pottery off one of my shelves and put it to use. It seems really simplistic, I know, but think about how many other things you can do this with. Your coat rack, your floor coverings, your switchplates, your lighting, your jewelry displays, your mail organizer, your calendar area, your collection of photographs. There are things that you use that could be prettier, or more sculptural. Even if it's just a soap dish or a soap dispenser. Or a place to store your ribbons :).

By Terraworks

Here's where it gets fun though. Instead of heading off to the store to find a nicer ______ look on etsy or head to your thrift store instead. Is there something you could create that would make your space more inviting? Is there a handmade item you could find that would just be killer in that spot? How about an item you could repurpose or upcycle to fit your needs?

Whoo-hooo! New Listings in My Etsy Shop!

So my Etsy shop has been taking the backseat to this blog, my family, my book, my life, my everything for quite a while now and I have to say it's been really getting to me. The shop just didn't look like I wanted it to, it's been seemingly forever since I've posted anything new, and my numbers were down because of it. But we can't focus on everything all at once right? So for the last few days I've concentrated on photographing, listing, and getting new things up and I'm super excited to say I have some really good stuff in the shop now. 

For instance, for the first time I've listed one of my wire angels. I've also listed a stitched canvas piece, some of my published art, another version of my favorite mini art quilt- Believe, and the Butterfly Lamp. It made a short appearance over a year ago but was pulled because it's in my book. One of the absolutely cutest designs in there too! I've also re listed my 2 Birds on a Branch jewelry display- this design is on the cover of my book. I have more art waiting in the wings as well, another angel, an embellished scribble heart with wings that's really just beautiful, some wire words, a wreath, and of course- my jewelry. SO I hope you're sitting there at the very edge of your seat and will now pop right over and check it all out. Thank you!!!

Happy 2nd Etsy-versary!

Last year's Birthday Cake :)

Earlier this week my Etsy shop, Bird From A Wire, turned 2! It's a momentous milestone for me because, well, I've been on Etsy 2 whole years! The time has flown but I feel good about this. My shop has really grown even since last year and I've had such a great time. I love my etsy friends and my etsy shop and I'm so very very glad I took this leap.

Last year I ran through some statistics with you on my one year anniversary. I had a chance to look back at those and I feel grateful. Grateful that I've had this time with you all, and grateful at the encouragement and kindness I've received.

But for the fun of it, here's some of this year's coolness~

• My etsy shop reached 1000+ hearts.
• It received over 14,000 visitors
• Over 50,000 page views
• My work made the front page several times
• I'm up to 148 sales
• Met lots and lots of amazing people
• Was able to give lots of money to Mercy Orphanage (thank you!)
• Took the show on the road with my first art fair

Best of all, I really enjoyed myself! I love getting to know you, love finding kindred spirits, love all the fabulous fabulous convo's I've had. It's been wonderful and and enriching experience! If any of you have been thinking of taking the leap I really want to encourage you. AND I look forward to saying all this again next year. This really is such an amazing experience and I am so so excited! So Happy 2nd Etsy-versary to my shop!

How not to appear Crazy Obsessed with your Art and Etsy-

Before you check out the How Not to Appear Crazy Obsessed tips below take a moment to read the description that follows and see if it fits you.

Are you obsessed? Is there a subject that you have to mentally tell yourself to calm down and don't go on about or else potentially lose whoever you're chatting with? For me, it's always been art, and in the last few years that generalized "art" has morphed to include my etsy shop, my blog, my wire and fabric art, my magazine submissions, and my BOOK! Very cool but I'm afraid it's made me completely unintelligible to a goodly amount of the people I meet. When you have to back up a conversation and spell "etsy" (it's betsy without the "b"), or replace the name of the magazines you love with the more non-descript "art magazines", or start referencing your own blog posts in conversations... well, it's easy to see that your world has narrowed slightly in it's focus.

If I didn't care about how I come off to others than none of this would matter. But I do. It's not nice. When we're focused and engrossed so exclusively on our own interests we lose that ability to make small talk and relate well with others. SO it is important to give time to all your interests, like I'm interested in cooking, decorating, travel, motherhood, books, and of course, my kid. If you don't remember what those interests are then do a little brainstorming. :)

Here's Some More Tips for Appearing Well-Rounded and not Crazy Obsessed:

1. Limit how often you allow yourself to say "Etsy" in a conversation. I think twice is nice.
2. Always ask about something the other person has been doing or common interests you have.
3. Vary your media inputs. By this I mean toss in an hour of public radio into your self imposed diet of crafty podcasts while working.
4. Follow a blog or two about something other than art. Again, reference your list of other interests.
5.Don't ramble without a preamble. If someone in the course of a conversation asks about your shop, or your art, then don't go off and spend the next 10 minutes monopolizing the conversation. Odds are they were just looking for a "it's good". If after the "good" they inquire further you can take that as a sign of actual interest and then it's ok to let them in a little on the latest.
6. Find others like you. If you have friends who are just as crazy obsessed as you are then you can all chat about an obscure thread in the Etsy forums and no one will feel left out. They'll actually thank you for sharing valuable information. Spending time online or chatting with these friends helps you spill out your thoughts and allows you to then greet your husband with a "how was your day honey?" instead of the "YOU WON'T BELIEVE what I saw on Etsy today." Good for your marriage- good for you.

Thanks for reading and if you have any tips to share- please do!!! We could all use the help!

Look What Found Me- Etsy's New Suggested Shops Feature

Perhaps you've noticed, perhaps not, but if you check out your favorites on Etsy you'll notice you now have a tab that says "suggested shops". Etsy generates them based on your previous chosen favorites. I was curious to see how much of these shops I'd a)heard of and b)had things I liked. I did recognize a few of the shops but with 200 to choose from many were new to me. As for the liking things, I think I spent a good hour paging through and looking at all the lovely lovely suggestions. But there were a lot that I glossed over, so it was all in all pretty hit or miss. Still, it's a great way to find some new shops.

Here are a few of the things I found:

Ranunculus Freeform Beaded Necklace

Bib necklaces and fiber are a combination I'm completely loving right now. How amazing is this necklace with just a simple black dress? This comes from a shop that was new to me, Irregular Expressions, but I am now completely in love with. Their entire inventory is not to be believed beautiful.

Tree Silhouette Leather Cuff

Another shop that caught my eye was Holly Hawk's, I love this leather cuff. The trees are beautifully done and I think I could wear this with anything I own.

Feathered Friends Art Print

Love this print of an original painting by Blenda Studios on Etsy. I think it's the bright/dark contrast that I'm really enjoying!

Sisters at Heart- Embroidered Mixed Media

After a bit more browsing I found this bit of art by Mary's Granddaughter which I really like. It makes me think of a good friend.

Looking at the selections I'd say Etsy thinks I like fiber, jewelry, birds, and mixed media. I can live with that.:)

So check out the new feature and see what your suggested shops might reveal to (or about) you!

Tin Can Inspirations

Soda Can Flower Pendant

What to do with tin? Shape it? Cover it? Cut it? Stack it? The artist behind the flower pendant at left tried it all when she created this mini work of art. I stumbled on Monica Marie's shop when searching for tin can creations on Etsy. I've been playing around with a few myself and wanted to see what others are doing. Here's some of the crafty goodness I found....

The Bird and Nest embellished tin can below was created by Faith Meadows' Designs and is part of what she terms her new "tin treasures" line of items. While this can was covered, painted, and embellished it's actual shape wasn't re ally altered.


Then there are the tin tops. What to do with them once you've opened the can and cut them off? I toss them into the recycling with this reluctant "I should be able to do something with this...." feeling. They seem a little large for pendants (although I suppose I could use the tomato paste lids in that way).

But I LOVE the solution picardcreative on Etsy came up with. She creates these outrageous, "sassy girl" MAGNETS out of them. How super clever is that??

So there's a few ideas to get both of our minds whirling... what would you do? Would you create a curtain of tin can lids? Would you stack the cans, make little banks, or planters of them?

 Edit: I'm at my mom's and showed her the tin can from Faith Meadows and she loved it and bought it! Thanks Mom for supporting handmade!

The Luck of the Irish

Found a few things on etsy this morning that had me Irish eyes a-smiling: leprechauns, rainbows, and of course, todays' favorite beverage of choice, BEER!

This lovely shirt with the faux shirt front is by E W McCall, you can see more of their line here. I also spotted a lovely green plaid coat....


As a child of the '70s I have to admit I've had my eye on this pendant from Block Party Press for a long long time. It would match the rainbow belt with my name on it I wore every single day in 2nd grade.


This little Leprechaun sculpture has a giant personality. I saw him here, and had to include him. He's just so Irish-y. :)





If you feel like spreading a little Irish luck around the office (maybe around promotion time) try handing out these cute little magnets as gifts!
You could even package them with a lottery ticket. ;) You never know!


Made with Guiness Beer (yes I did say, GUINESS), this soap is sure to please the manliest of men. It also has a blend of patchouli, clove, and oakmoss, along with a pinch of cocoa powder to help the color along. YUM!!








Had to add this last photo of the Just My Luck shamrock pendant by Beads in the Belfry. It's actually just MY luck.... but here's hoping that today's your lucky day!