shop update tomorrow

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All the little birds in the photo will be available at 2 PM EST tomorrow. Since most of what I make is one of a kind or in tiny quantities I’ve had problems with over-selling which is frustrating for everybody. I’m having a new shop built that can accommodate one of a kind things and will hopefully make shop updates far less of a pain in the ass in general but it won’t be ready till mid December. For now I’ll be listing little birds ( and some other things) at etsy. You will need to register with etsy to make a purchase – it’s quick and easy – just a user name and password. I’ll still be accepting credit cards through Paypal ( no account necessary ). The cake toppers are still here and I’ll be adding a couple new bride and groom sets on Friday November 2nd at 2PM.

So new birds, tomorrow, Tuesday the 30th, at my etsy shop. I’ll start loading them at 2PM EST.

chuzzlewit

Here he is coming

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and going.

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And something I got at the flea market.

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The lower half of a metal naked lady statue; it’s currently the best thing I ever got for a buck.

* shop update! Monday October 29th Tuesday October 30th- more info to come *

army owl

I’m working on a mini version of my owl. Part of the plan was to simplify him a little but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

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I’m making him from a quilt I got at the fleamarket here in Park Slope a couple weeks ago ( I’ve been getting tons of good stuff lately and will post more soon). The nice lady I bought the quilt from said it’s made from WW1 army blankets. It has a beautiful indigo edge that I’m using for his legs and wing linings and probably his beak. I love the colors of the quilt and the check pattern; it is all hand sewn and must have been an immense amount of work. I didn’t buy it with the intention of taking it apart and would not be ( I feel a little badly about doing it) but it has some issues that make it unusable as a quilt.

Thanks very much to everyone who commented and offered advise on the bird rip-off post. I’ll let you know what, if anything, happens and I’ll probably have a tiny bit more to say about the situation in a little while – if you visit here regularly you know that that’s pretty much the most I’ve had to say about anything ever and it kind of wore me out. There is also a lot going on in my terrarium and I’ll be sharing that as well as the date of the long overdue shop update that I am working furiously towards later this week.

something old

Newly acquired, for bird and ship and owl making.

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This is one of two very similar antique handmade bodices, the other is all ivory. It has beautiful tiny green glass buttons and really interesting lace.

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The silk chiffon lining is shattered – perfect for miss havisham birds.

organization

It’s not something I’m good at but I’m trying to cut down on the time I waste looking for stuff. This shelf is an effort in that direction and it’s working out – plus, I just plain like putting little things in little boxes.

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I’m even worse at organizing my time and tasks and feel almost constantly overwhelmed or, no matter what I am doing, guilty or anxious about what I’m not doing. I’m going to try the Alice list/category system.

Despite the chronic mental disarray there is a lot of stuff getting accomplished; just not as fast or as much as I would like and not as efficiently as I think is possible. There are lots and lots of birds in progress ( if you’re on the bird waiting list you’ll be hearing from me soon). Here are a few doing their synchronized swimming routine.

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Filed under WIP

2008

I posted some experiments and failures over the summer but never the final product – a holiday card, boxed set, that (thanks to lorena, check out her new collages) will be published by Galison for the 2008 season. This was my first experience of this sort and Galison was great.

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The birds are Martin and Catherine- something about the way the red bird is standing reminds me of my sister Catherine. I’m going to use this image and some others for gift tags and maybe some other stuff for the 2007 season.

it’s easy not to

It’s easy not to post. Especially when I get a little busier than is comfortable, but my whole life goes better if I post here regularly and make my bed. So, a post everyday this week to get back in the swing of it. I’ll also be making my bed but not reporting on it unless something note worthy occurs.

For today a photo of part my bulletin board .
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p.s. The Ballerina on the little pink stand is for you freda – I’ll email photos of the rest later today.

another shore bird in progress

An american avocet still in the sculpting stage.

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And later on getting her feathers.

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Just like her friend the willet her feathers are made from the skirt of a thread bare, swiss dot, edwardian lawn gown. She’s lying on a piece of it here.