What I'm Working On Lately

I've been doing a lot more painting lately.  I have been focusing on wooden boxes and jewelry, you know, the usual :)  Here's some of my pieces.

I made this box with peacocks in love.  The male has a nice long tail stretching around the box.

I am also working on these earrings.  My plan is to accent them with some crystals.  I never use crystals but sometimes you just gotta sparkle.

In other news, I now have a neon green cast on my ankle.  It's VERY bright green.

IC#9- Owl Patterned Jewelry Box

This week on Iron Craft, we were challenged to "Think Inside the Box" and create something out of a box.  I puzzled over this for awhile and then realized all I have been doing lately is making things out of boxes.  I have been taking plain, wooden cigar boxes and turning them into jewelry boxes for my etsy shop.  Although I don't normally use my Iron Craft projects to make items to sell, I went with it this week.

etsy listing

This is my first one done.  It is green with blue owls.  You may recognize the owl stamp from my fabric stamping tutorial.

etsy listing

Inside, I added wooden dividers that I cut with my new scroll saw (swoon!).  I also used foam and fabric to add a ring holder.

etsy listing

Do you like it?  I'm working on two more that are pink with green turtles.  I hope to have those in my shop later this week.

etsy listing

Want to see more Iron Craft pieces?  Check out the flickr group here.  Want to join in the fun?  Check out the blog here.

Birthday Giveaway!!!

Big news!  It's my birthday today.  I'm going to celebrate by getting my hair cut and a cup of coffee.  Maybe a stop in a thrift store.  Man, do I know how to party.

BUT, the big news for you is that I am hosting a giveaway.  To give a gift to you!  I recently made some small fabric bags using an owl stamp (tutorial coming tomorrow) and decided I didn't need two new bags.  So I am going to give one away! 

*****GIVEAWAY CLOSED*****

TO ENTER:  

Leave a comment on this post telling me which bag you would like, the red or the tan. 

BONUS ENTRIES (LEAVE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH):

1. Like A Bird In The Hand Art on Facebook

2. Follow A Bird In The Hand Art on Twitter

3. Spread the word!  Post about this giveaway anywhere on the web.

4. Make up a poem and post it here.  This is just because I like silly poems.

Contest closes on Tuesday April 10 at noon.  I will announce the winner here on April 11.  If you don't regularly check this blog, make sure you leave an email address so I can get in touch with you.

New Hand Painted Clutches

I recently finished a few more of my hand painted clutches.  As you may remember, I enjoy finding clutches at thrift stores and then giving them a fresh new looks.  Here is what I have done lately.

The first is blue and a bit more subtle than some of my previous ones.  I decided to go with a blue jay and add some hints of purples.  I also added black outlines to some of the fabric details to help tie the whole piece together.  I'm really pleased with the result.

Blue Jay Clutch on etsy

Blue Jay Clutch on etsy

The second is an experiment that resulted in success.  I tried covering the clutch with two different fabrics this time and liked the added detail this gave.  I kept my painting simple and did a flower rather than my traditional bird.  It's definitely a bold look but would be a great gift for anyone who loves color.

Orange Flower Clutch on etsy

Orange Flower Clutch on etsy

You can see all of my clutches here in my etsy shop.  I'm hoping to add some more over the next few months.

Chimpanzee Painting Take 2

Remember last week when I showed you a painting of a chimpanzee I was working on?  Well, I finished it.  It sat out on a counter for several days.  I told myself it was done, but I just couldn't bring myself to accept it.  I realized I had to try again.  Yesterday I created this:

I am so glad I tried again.  This painting is much more my style and I am much happier with it.  I feel like it reflects my style and my best work.

I tried to represent the joy of free-living chimpanzees.  When I had finished my scene, I had quite a bit of empty space so I added a quote by Henry David Thorough.

Have you ever had to start over like that?  Make something over even when others tell you it is good enough?

Chimpanzee in Progress

I was recently asked to donate a piece of art to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.  They will be hosting a fundraising event on March 24th called Sippin' for the Seven; this includes an art auction!  I was happy to donate to this event because I have spent a little bit of time volunteering with this group and am so happy to help provide for these chimpanzees.  These seven chimpanzees came from horrible living conditions in biomedical research and now live in an enriching enclosure, complete with access to the outdoors.

I have been trying my hand at drawing chimpanzees, but it definitely is a challenge.  My first attempts at detailed drawings did not go so well so I decided to do a simple sketch in watercolors.  I'm just about done.

I chose to draw a chimpanzee smiling in a characteristic chimpanzee play face.  Unlike chimpanzees you may have seen in media, chimpanzees actually smile by covering their top teeth with their lip and showing only their bottom teeth (I recommend trying to smile like this right now; it's pretty fun).  Unlike us, chimpanzees grin with both sets of teeth when they are scared.  Sadly, many chimpanzees are trained by fear in order to produce the smiles used in media.  Hopefully, this painting can help show what chimpanzee joy really looks like.

To learn more about the sanctuary and these awesome animals, visit their blog here.

Bridal Shower Gift

I'm going to a bridal shower today and I wanted to show you the gift I made.  I always like to give something special when I give a gift, usually handmade.  (Although I admit I also gave them a target gift card because as a newlywed, you really just want to be able to buy the stuff you need).

I had a wooden box in my craft supply stock that I just didn't know what to do with.  I bought it over a year ago thinking I would use it and it just hasn't happened yet.  The problem was it had a picture frame on the top and normally when I paint boxes, I paint a bird image right on the top.  But this gave me an idea...

I took part of the wedding invitation and put it in the frame and then painted the box to match!  As you can see, the invitation was black with a yellow, flowery design.  I painted the box black and added a few simple designs.  I also painted the inside yellow because I like a bold inside. 

Now it is a nice little keepsake of the wedding and can be used to hold mementos, jewelry, or whatever.

I was also proud of my wrapping job so I wanted to show that off.  Instead of paper or a bag, I found a pretty scarf at a thrift store and just tied it around.  I added a ribbon and a tag and it was all done, easy-peasy!

Song Sparrow Recipe Box

I just listed this box in the shop yesterday.  It's a recipe card holder that I painted.  I decided to do the song sparrow because I just think they are so cute.  I love their mix of brown and white.

Song Sparrow Box on etsy

Do you like to collect recipes?  I usually tear them out of magazines, but also have some hand-written ones on note-cards.  I even have one for chocolate bread pudding that my mom gave me at my wedding shower; it's a family recipe :)

I did a bit of searching and found some cute recipe cards you could use to complete the set.  Check them out:

Bird Recipe Card

Funny Recipe Cards

Personalized Recipe Cards

New Painted Pendants

I've been evolving my style quite a bit as time goes by.  My most recent project is painted pendants.  I'm using fabric and wood like before, but I'm adding in some of my bird images and more painting. 

I've done both sides with different images/patterns so the necklaces are reversible.  Now I just need to add a chain and photograph so I can get them listed in my shop.

Wooden Transfers

Lately I've been experimenting with some image transfer paper.  You can print or color on this paper and then iron it on to different surfaces.  So far, I've tried printing out some of my painted bird images and then ironing them onto wood.

I'm still experimenting, but I'd like to turn them into necklaces.  What do you guys think?  Has anyone else tried a product like this?

New in the Shop: Songbird Ornaments

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I'm starting to shift my focus away from jewelry.  As part of that, here are some new bird ornaments I have made.  Christmas is just around the corner and these would make a sweet addition to any Christmas tree.

Blue Jay Ornament

I bought the plain wooden birds and then painted them to match real species of birds.  It's a really fun challenge to figure out how to bring a real species to life on a simple wooden bird form.

Cardinal Ornament

Finally, I added some little wooden heart as wings because these birdies just LOVE to fly. 

Goldfinch Ornament

More Shop Changes In The Works

Does anyone else feel like the first year of your business is filled with constant change and learning?  Oh wait, that's just life in general.

Vermilion Flycatcher Box

I have been thinking a lot about my shop and talking with some awesome crafty people and have decided to spend more time focusing on my decorative painting pieces.  Which means less time on jewelry. 
 

Cecilia the Painted Bunting

This change will most likely involved splitting my etsy shop into two separate shops (cue vision of mad scientist laughing).  One shop will be painted objects and one will be jewelry.  Nothing is final yet, but look for these changes in the near future. 

New Clutch, Complete with Goofy Photo Session

I painted another clutch.  This time it has a song sparrow and says "make a joyful noise."  I was inspired by both Psalm 100 and a song by The String Cheese Incident.  Random I know.  My husband helped me take pictures this time and we had some fun.

Finished Clutch

Remember my work in progress?  Well, it is no longer in progress.  Check out the finished piece.

I thought the cardinals were in love so I added the phrase "Love is in the air."  It is listed on etsy and you can view it here.

Work In Progress

Remember awhile ago when I made this business card holder?  Well I enjoyed it so much that I decided to make a clutch.  I covered it with fabric and now I'm painting some cardinals in it.  I think I may list it in my shop when I'm done.  What do you think?

Freezer Paper Stencil- Smokin' Dreams

While visiting family in KS, I had the fun of helping my brother out with an art project.  He and his friends have a BBQ team called Smokin' Dreams.  They make pretty awesome food and will be cooking at some local events in Kansas City.  The only thing missing, team shirts!  They already had a logo which you can see here on a drink coozy (is there a correct way to spell that?) 

We decided to put the logo on the front corner of the shirt and then add a dreaming pig on the back.  I found a pig image online and then edited it a bit to get the dream bubble and simplify some of the lines.  Then we used this tutorial to do a freezer paper stencil.  It was my first time doing it!

It actually turned out really well.  There are a few smudges which makes me think I may have to be more careful around some of the delicate parts of the stencil.  We're hoping to make a few more so I'm excited. 

New Postcards

I needed some more bird images to create shrinky-dink tags so I decided to make a few more postcards.  I don't have anyone to send them to yet, but I'm sure I can find a friend.  Here they are!

Card Case Makeover

A while ago, I saw this clutch makeover and have been itching to try it myself.  But I had to bide my time until I found the right clutch.  I've scoured thrift stores for weeks.  Finally, I found this little gem. 

It's not really a purse (I think it may have actually been a manicure kit) but I thought it would be perfect for holding business cards.  I had made a case previously, but still wasn't quite happy with it.  It tended to get a bit bent up in my purse so I thought this sturdy little case would do the trick.

I used mod podge to adhere fabric to the inside and out.  Once this was done, I painted a little birdy on the outside with acrylic paint.  A few sharpie details and another coat of mod podge and I was done!

I'm really happy with the way it turned out.  Hopefully this case can handle the chaos that is my purse.