From Tiki with Love

It's a BOY!

2010-10-20T21:24:00.002-05:00

Hello all! It's been a while since I posted, but I have been busy... we're expecting our first baby! The home office, where all my creative bird prints and creations occur, is being half converted into a baby-friendly zone. I still need the office to work from home during the early months, so it is not a full nursery. But most of my supplies, including my archival printer, is temporarily being moved. My store will be on hiatus for a short while, but it will be back with new prints, new products, a new name, new blog, and even a new consignment location in Long Grove, Illinois!

Meanwhile, I have kept myself busy crocheting little gifts for my baby boy, including booties, hats, and this cute bunny. The pattern is by LuvlyGurumi.

Vegas Fun

2010-04-05T20:53:00.002-05:00

I just got back from Las Vegas for a little getaway with my husband. We had to check out the new City Center and Aria Casino. Wow! It was amazing, and my favorite spot was the Jean Phillip Patisserie. The pastries were delectably perfect and delicious to top it off! I had a triple chocolate creme flourless cake for my breakfast. Oops, that's vacation for you!

Tea Time

2010-02-16T21:34:00.006-06:00

I am a huge tea drinker! Mostly green and herbal teas. I just had to share these wonderful tea finds with you.

Preening Teapot from Anthropologie

Origami shaped tea bag and packaging by Russian designer Natalia Ponomareva

Charley Harper porcelain tea cup and saucer

Free Valentines from Ollibird

2010-02-14T16:05:00.000-06:00

Wow! Looks at these cute valentine drawings by Alma over at Ollibird.com. Their blog features this free valentine download. You know I will be printing these out! Happy Valentine's Day!

A Place for Delicate Things

2010-01-19T19:03:00.001-06:00

Some lovely little ring holders to display your treasures.

1. Birdie Looking in White Porcelain Dish by JMR Pottery

2. Bird and Nest ring holder by Rain's End

3. Maple Leaf Bird Bath Dish by Urban Outfitters

4. JOY dove tiny text bowl by Paloma's Nest

Sweet dreams...

2010-01-03T19:50:00.005-06:00

As the sharp bite of winter air and early setting sun causes you to turn in early, think about the sweet dreams you will have in these lovely beds. Chinoiserie duvet cover (above) from Dwell Home Furnishings and Cardinal Tree throw (below) from Urban Outfitters.

© 2008 Dwell Home Furnishings
© 2010 Urban Outfitters Direct

Alice's Aviary

2009-12-30T13:32:00.001-06:00

Alice Melvin is an extraordinary illustrator and children's author. I came across this gem of a poster, Alice's Aviary, while reading the blog, The Baking Bird. One of Alice's children's book, titled "Counting Birds," is such a cute idea and beautifully drawn.

© Alice Melvin, www.alicemelvin.com

Happy Holidays

2009-12-14T17:30:00.001-06:00

Hope your holiday season is going well so far. And may it be filled with hot cocoa and buri fiber bird ornaments.

Wedding Bells & Birds

2009-11-12T20:14:00.006-06:00

Wow, I have been on a long hiatus. I have an excuse though, I was getting married. Any bride can agree that it is the most busy and stressful time of your life, at least until you get pregnant. :-) It feels great to be finished with all the wedding planning. Being the crafty girl, I took it upon myself to DIY and make my own invitations, cake topper (needle-felted birds!), centerpieces, ring bearer pillow, table luminaries, and engagement photo guest book. It was a spectacular day, but I am looking forward to my simple life again... crafting, blogging, TV dates with my new hubby.

The photo guestbook was a big hit. We had some terrific engagement photos. I could look at our wedding photos all day long and relive the wonderful memories.

Martha Stewart DIY Bird Wedding

2009-08-12T13:55:00.008-05:00

Songbird Cake

Thank you cards

Ring pillow

Somebody must have told Martha Stewart that I love birds. She has a whole gallery of DIY bird decor, treats, favors, and accessories on her weddings website. I love all the ideas. And I want to do them all, but I have to pick and choose, because time is running out and I can only produce a limited amount of crafts in one day. Thanks for bird love, Martha!

© Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc 2009

Andy Birch

2009-08-06T10:30:00.001-05:00

Andy Birch has illustrated birds for international bird identification guides and journals. He has some original works available online, including these beautiful watercolor creations.

© Andy Birch 2008

Red Hot Pottery - Stoneware Vase

2009-07-29T15:14:00.003-05:00

Ooh, lovely bird vase in a great robin's egg blue color! This handcrafted stoneware is from the sculptor, Christine Tenenholtz, of Red Hot Pottery. I found this on Something Old, Something New blog.

© Red Hot Pottery 2009

New Zazzle Designs

2009-06-24T13:58:00.005-05:00

I just wanted to share some of my new designs for zazzle. These are so much fun to create! I have too much "wedding" on my mind and my doodles flow easily.

Desktop Wallpaper

2009-06-18T15:51:00.004-05:00

There are some cute wallpaper images available for download at Pixelgirl Presents. This one is by Tabatha Alcina, called Gloomy Morning.

© 2009 Tabatha Alcina

While She Naps

2009-06-05T11:34:00.002-05:00

Abby Glassenberg makes these amazing soft fabric bird toys. I had trouble deciding which one to feature because she has so many wonderful toys in her shop, While She Naps. I love her blog too, to see her new creations!

© Abby Glassenberg 2009

Chicago Botanical Gardens

2009-05-31T14:27:00.006-05:00

What a lovely weekend at the Chicago Botanical Gardens. Everything smells wonderful, the air is so fresh. It is such a nice alternative to polluted city air. My fiance and I love nature and our little inside joke is that we use that term to describe everything. When there is a caterpillar on the path, I scream "Don't step on nature!"

A happy little purple martin pair at the colony.

Pretty forget-me-nots. They are really tiny, this shot was taken with a macro lens about an inch away.

MNH Photography

2009-05-28T20:37:00.002-05:00

I love the birdy prints of MNH Photography. And if you love them too, take advantage of the sale going on through the end of this week, 50% all prints! Woohoo! Great deal.

© MNH Photography 2009

Joojoo's Colorful Cactus

2009-05-27T19:46:00.004-05:00

I stumbled across this print on Etsy, and I was like "Wow!" This lovely design is by artist Afsaneh, of Joojoo. Check out her blog too. She makes cute polymer figurines, but Afsaneh, you need to get into those watercolors more often, this is wonderful!

© Joojoo 2009

Li'l Tweet

2009-05-19T09:11:00.001-05:00

How cute is this? Stitch your own li'l tweet, from Twig and Thistle. I love do-it-yourself projects. Add a ribbon and make it an ornament or add potpourri and make it smell yummy. Hoot hoot!

© Twig and Thistle 2009

Zand2ohs

2009-05-13T09:25:00.000-05:00

Quack quack. I love the work of Zand2ohs. They specialize in stylized graphic artwork of animals!

Image © Zand2ohs.com

Save the Date

2009-05-08T09:33:00.000-05:00

Ooh. The save-the-date postcards came in, they look great! I illustrated my own design and had them printed at gotprint.com. Great quality, I highly recommend them!

Snuggling Ducklings

2009-05-05T10:38:00.001-05:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year... No, not Christmas. Springtime! I love watching the little ducklings at the pond. Look at them snuggling! So cute.

Lovebirds Invitation

2009-04-10T09:44:00.002-05:00

From Cherry Lane Stationery, these lovebird invitations close by overlapping the birds and making them snuggle. I love the teal and neutral brown color combo too.

© Cherry Lane Stationery

Cupcake Liner

2009-04-06T15:03:00.000-05:00

Wedding cupcakes - not so fancy. Laser cut bird cupcake liners - FANCY! You can find them here at Estilo weddings.

Lenox "Chirp" Fine China

2009-03-29T14:48:00.003-05:00

Should I register for it? I am in love with the Lenox "Chirp" line. They have place settings, serving ware, and even etched bird glasses. I love the tiffany-blue color as well.

Brooches for Spring Jackets

2009-03-09T21:09:00.006-05:00

I recently saw these lovely upcycled wallpaper bird brooches over at Haute Nature blog.

Flamingo, Las Vegas

2009-03-09T21:01:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone! Sorry I have been on a hiatus. My hunny surprised me with a trip to Vegas and an engagement! I must start designing my bird-themed wedding invitations. Haha. I won't go overboard. I promise no craft birds in my hair or bouquet.

I always stop at the Flamingo's wildlife habitat every time I am in Vegas to say hello to the birds.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T13:50:00.007-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day to you! Have a lovely day! Tell your friends, family, and loved ones how much they mean to you.

Ooh yummy. I received Shari's Berries from my hunny. It is suggested that the berries should be eaten within 48 hours. No problem!

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings...

2009-01-31T10:46:00.009-06:00

We see many images of caged birds in the art community. Some are quite lovely, striking, and powerful. In the famous poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou, she expresses that "the caged bird sings for freedom." So does an image of a caged bird stir up feelings of entrapment and sadness? Or does a cage represent home? A little bird all snug and secure in his home, singing his song because that is what he knows best.

Here are some beautiful caged pieces.

Birds, Cages, and Roses by Liza Corbett

Growth and Tribulation by Cordial Kitten

Bird in a Cage (Green) by Naoko's Stoop

Painting for Grandma

2009-01-21T19:48:00.004-06:00

I painted this little european robin for my grandma. It is always easy to create artwork for grandmothers, they always love and appreciate everything.

"Just as the bird sings or the butterfly soars, because it is his natural characteristic, so the artist works." - Alma Gluck

Bird Wedding Designs on Zazzle

2009-01-17T16:08:00.001-06:00

Here are some of my bird-themed wedding illustrations available as postage, magnets, and stickers in my Zazzle shop, Birdique.

Let me know what you think!

Little Bird By the Sea

2009-01-13T20:35:00.001-06:00

These bird paintings by Dennis Witnauer are exquisitely beautiful! His shop, Little Bird By the Sea, also sells baby clothes with his bird silk screen designs. It is my dream to live by the ocean and paint birds full-time as well. Kudos to you Dennis!

© Dennis Witnauer

New Year - New Birds

2009-01-07T21:16:00.003-06:00

Ahh, the holidays have come and gone. Everyone deserves a break from all the shopping and gift-giving. As others try to hold onto their new year's resolutions, I will work on one of my own - 'be more productive'. I am busy at my doodling desk, brainstorming more bird ideas. There are more prints to come, as well as some needle-felted birds. I am also working on some bird wedding postage for my zazzle shop.

There is so much to do, and so many birds to be drawn!

Cinnamon Bird Ornaments - Part II

2008-12-21T21:15:00.010-06:00

I recently posted a link to Martha Stewart's cinnamon bird ornaments, but I decided to design my own! Follow the instructions on the Martha Stewart website and download my bird ornament sheet for additional designs.

Christmas is approaching fast, but for those of you with some free time, this is a great holiday craft and they smell delicious!

Free Downloadable Bird Ornament Template (For personal non-comercial use only.) © CG Arts 2008

Shop Update

2008-12-10T08:43:00.001-06:00

Three new mini paintings have been added to my shop, including this one, "Vegetable Garden."

Some More Lovely Wreaths

2008-12-09T12:03:00.002-06:00

Pretty Swank has this Turquoise Green and Gold Yarn Wreath available in their shop, along with other yarn wreaths. I love the colors in this one.

© Pretty Swank 2008

Owl and Yarn Wreath

2008-12-09T12:00:00.002-06:00

Owl and Yarn Wreath
Originally uploaded by Katie Runnels

What a lovely alternative to the evergreen wreath for your door. No pine needles to clean up! This is one of my favorites from the Constant Gatherer (Katie Runnels). See her Etsy shop, for other great wreaths!

PikaPackage

2008-12-05T09:14:00.001-06:00

I was a participant in the October PikaPackage, a collection of artists' goodies put together by Amy Ng over at the Pikaland blog. (Great blog, by the way). A perk of being a participant is receiving your very own PikaPackage. Here are the goodies included in mine. You can buy your own and receive 3, 5 or 10 -item goodie bags.

1. Sarah Harvey - Rose 3 & Gnome Badges
2. The Lapwing Printworks - Letterpress Pemberly Card
3. Oh Bara - Hive Etching
4. Cori Dantini - Rx flyer Aceo
5. Cate Anevski - Strawberry Panda Hat

DIY Cinnamon Bird Ornaments

2008-12-03T09:40:00.001-06:00

Take a look over at Martha Stewart.com, for instructions on how to make your own cinnamon bird ornaments, from 3 simple ingredients - cinnamon, applesauce, and glue! They smell delicious. I made cinnamon gift tags last year. I will be sure to make some of these ornaments.

Image © 2008 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc

O Christmas Tree, O Birds!

2008-11-30T17:04:00.001-06:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, but now with Christmas less than 4 weeks away, it is time to start shopping for gifts and decorations! Here are some fun bird ornaments to decorate the tree.

1. Painted Glass Santa Claus Tropical Birds available at Laraine's.
2. Hand Knit Alpaca Penguin Ornaments available at Crate and Barrrel.
3. Textured Glass Bird Ornaments at Gifts.com.
4. Porcelain Bird Ornaments available at the Smithsonian Store.

1. Birds N Birdcages by Olive.

Birdy Suds

2008-11-24T10:05:00.000-06:00

These bird soaps are almost too cute to use.

1. Renbird soap by Renbird
2. Sweet Tweet Bird Soaps by LoveLeeSoaps
3. Anne's Sophisticated Egg Soap by Annie's Powder Room
4. Sparrow Goat's Milk Soap by Crazy K Bath and Body

Ceramic Bird Vases

2008-11-16T11:24:00.004-06:00

These cute little ceramic bird vases are a stylish addition to any room. Toss in a poinsettia stem or some holly and you have a holiday centerpiece. Available at Lavish.

Image © Lavish 2008

Yummy Bird Cookies!

2008-11-15T11:40:00.004-06:00

Eleni's New York sells sweets, cupcakes, and adorable frosted cookies for all occasions. I love their "Bird Sanctuary" collection, and they have a variety of great thanksgiving themed cookies, including turkeys, pilgrims, squirrels, and fall foliage. If you can't bake, bring some of these to your Thanksgiving gathering to be the talk of the dessert table!

Images © Eleni's New York 2008

Excuse me - Is that a bird on your head?

2008-11-09T20:48:00.008-06:00

Although I am normally shy and like to blend into the crowd, I would love to be the attention grabber with this fabulous bird headband. Charm School Design consists of three artists, Alita, Dana, and Benjamin, living in Brooklyn and making jewelry and accessories. Their top-selling designs are feathered headbands. I love the peacock ones!

Check out their etsy shop and their blog!

Images © Charm School Design 2008

Birdhouse Gourds

2008-10-29T13:11:00.002-05:00

Many of you are visiting local pumpkin patches for decorative mini gourds, jack o'lanterns, and cider doughnuts. Make sure to pick up some larger gourds (Ornamental or hard-shell) to get an early start on making gourd birdhouses for next spring. They take about 4-6 months to fully dry and harden. Here is a full set of instructions for making Birdhouse Gourds.

Image © Colin Purrington 2008

Flock Boxed Notecards - Eleanor Grosch

2008-10-26T10:30:00.005-05:00

These gorgeous bird notecards are created by designer Eleanor Grosch of Pushmepullyou Design. The set includes vibrant, stylized designs of a snowy egret, peacock, california quail, bird of paradise, pheasant, and crowned pigeon. You can find them here at Bas Blue.

Image © Bas Blue

Biscuits and tea?

2008-10-24T11:20:00.004-05:00

This cute serving tray is by the french design studio ibride, and available at Kir DeVires. Hang it on the wall or use it to serve tea or breakfast in bed.

Image © Kir Devires LLC

Wowwee - Zazzle Shoes!

2008-10-15T19:55:00.006-05:00

I have been very intrigued and impressed with www.zazzle.com that I decided I would customize some of my own products! I made some keds shoes featuring my bird illustrations and I already won a "Today's Best" Award for Oct 15, 2008 for my goldfinch shoe! I am so pleased and excited! It makes me want to make more! My store's name is Birdique (A Bird Boutique). Hmm, maybe I should switch my etsy shop name to Birdique too.

Birdmail!

2008-10-12T10:10:00.004-05:00

Want to make mail more fun? Buy some bird stamps! Zazzle.com is a great site to upload your own photos and designs or choose from thousands of sellers' designs. You can even sell yours! They have a wide assortment of products from t-shirts, buttons, mousepads, mugs, hats, the list goes on and on! I am loving the postage category! You can make custom stamps for weddings, announcements, or holidays. Create postcards of your new pet bird, using sites like overnightprints.com or gotprint.net, and send them with $.27 stamps, featuring your pet bird!

Here are some designs I like,
Birds in Love by MarbiaStudios
Peep by HeatherReMix
I Love You by Brooklyn parrots

Relax with Bird Pillows

2008-10-08T21:12:00.007-05:00

Kick up your feet and relax with these cute bird pillows.

1. Areaware Mini Chat Pillow at Velocity
2. Clacket Lane Cushion by Mibo at Hiddent Art
3. Cardinal on Agapanthus Rectangle Pillow by Joom
4. Alone With My Thoughts Bird Pillow by Olive

New Prints Available!

2008-10-07T12:20:00.000-05:00

I have two new prints available in my store, Wren's Song and Downright Downy! I am also working out the production details for making 8 x 8" (1 1/2" thick!) gallery wrapped canvas prints. Coming soon!

Bird Fashion Finds

2008-10-01T14:56:00.004-05:00

Here are some great fashion finds to display your love of birds.

1. Fauna Magpie Necklace from Paraphernalia.
2. Museum of Modern Birds Dress from Anthropologie.
3. Colbalt blue pelican dress from the Full Spectrum.

Poor Dog Farm - Birds and Shoes

2008-09-28T09:33:00.000-05:00

Sam Georgieff, of Poor Dog Farm, is the illustrator behind this lovely print, Songbirds and Shoes No. 1. I am also excited to see more of his new series of birds in hats! Birds are so fashionable!

See more of Sam's work at his website,
www.sgeorgieff.com

Image © Sam Georgieff

Birds and Merlot?

2008-09-21T11:28:00.008-05:00

What do birds have in common with wine? I have noticed many Illinois wineries chose to brand themselves with their prairie state avian friends. Some wineries include,
•Cooper's Hawk Winery
•Pheasant Hollow Winery
•Owl Creek Vineyard
•White Owl Winery - they have an unbelievable Spiced Pear wine with hints of cloves and cinnamon! AND they are located on Birds Rd. in Birds, IL!

I went to the Vintage Illinois Wine Festival at Starved Rock in Utica this weekend. I had a lovely hike through the Starved Rock trails in the morning and enjoyed some wine tasting in the afternoon. I love going to this wine fest because of the unique flavors offered! Where else can you sample pumpkin wine or chocolate-infused raspberry port? And of course, many award winning wines were available to sample.

I bought some delicious wines,
•River Road Red from Piasa Winery - awarded Best Red at the 2007 Illinois State Fair
•Almond Champagne from The Village Vintner - some sparkling wine with a hint of amaretto
•Hallowine from Illinois River Winery - a spiced apple wine
•Honey Raspberry from Von Jakob Vineyard - a Honey mead wine!

World Market - Bird Cage Decor

2008-09-17T08:26:00.002-05:00

I hope you have a World Market near your home. I usually go there to buy chocolate and wine. I like my chocolate 90% dark and World Market has a great international selection! Look at these adorable decorative bird cages too!

Image © World Market

PaPaYa! - Birdie Art Panel Print

2008-09-14T14:55:00.009-05:00

This mother and daughter team have some amazing paper goods over in their shop, PaPaYa! They work primarily with mixed media and collage. Their work is brilliantly colored, eye-catching, and full of global influence. They even hold mixed media workshops in exotic places like Bali. Forget vacations where you sit on the beach, let the creativity flow and learn how to make wallpaper panels!
Woodland Forest - Wrapping paper

Images © PaPaYa! 2008

Renegade Craft Fair Chicago

2008-09-13T10:01:00.005-05:00

The Renegade Craft Fair is this weekend Sept 13-14. Unfortunately, it's been raining non stop. I really hope it clears up for them. I stilll hope to make it out there, maybe tomorrow. At least most vendors have an online shop. But it's definitely not the same. Walking through rows of craft booths is a fun way to discover something you may have not found online.

Image © Renegade Craft Fair 2008 (I added the blue clouds)

Snow & Graham - Wrapping Paper

2008-09-08T20:15:00.001-05:00

I am loving this wrapping paper from Snow & Graham, and you can find it locally here in Chicago at a store Virtu: A Curious Collection of Fine Craft on Damen Ave. You can always order online too. They have a great Snow & Graham collection of gift wrap, notebooks, calenders, and cards. Here are some of the fabulous bird designs, perfect for wrapping my (upcoming) birthday present in.

Image © Virtu 2004 (of Snow & Graham)

Yellow Monday - Bird Sampler

2008-09-05T00:38:00.003-05:00

Here is a print of fun, whimsical, colorful birds, "bird sampler", by yellow monday. She is a video producer and artist living in Sydney, Australia. This color palette is great, it will be easy to match up with other decor.

Check out her blog, as well.

Image © yellow monday 2008

Block print towels from artgoodies

2008-09-02T20:57:00.001-05:00

Imagine smiling while doing dirty dishes. I would if I had these birdy kitchen towels from artgoodies! She offers block printed towels, aprons, totes, and pillows. And although there are also squirrel, deer, and other cute forrest friend designs, I love the bird set. She will also be in the upcoming Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago on Sept 13-14.

I am so excited about the Craft Fair! I am just shopping this year, hopefully I will get a booth next time around. To get a complete list of crafters go here and click on vendors in the top navigation.

Image © Lisa Price - artgoodies 2008

Threadless Back to School Sale!

2008-09-01T14:29:00.011-05:00

Threadless is having a back to school sale! All tees are either $9 or $12! Go check it out before your size is gone!

Here are some birdy tees I have selected for you!
Top - Patchwork
Bottom Left - Byebi
Bottom Right - Field Study 01

All designs © by owner

Anna Ruby King - ACEO The Bleeding Hearts

2008-08-28T09:02:00.000-05:00

Anna Ruby King has great birdy illustrations in her etsy shop. She lives in Athens, Greece and draws birds. What a wonderful life! I studied abroad in Athens during undergrad and I absolutely fell in love with the city, and the souvlaki.

Anna is a participant in the August Pika Package. I have lately been loving the Pikaland blog and reading the pika zine that features mini interviews with all the great artists.

Image © Lila Ruby King 2008

New - Sour Bird

2008-08-26T09:31:00.001-05:00

"Sour Bird" is my newest mini 3 x 3 painting, another addition to the fruity birds series.

Cabbages and Kings - Ostrich Notecards

2008-08-24T15:38:00.007-05:00

My prize has arrived! Hooray for me, I won second place on a Cabbages and Kings blog birthday giveaway, and I received these two ostrich notecards. Thank you Stephanie, and Happy Birthday! See more of her artwork at her etsy shop, Cabbages and Kings and get your very own ostrich notecards here.

Check out her blog too!

Photograph (mine) of © Cabbages and Kings

Birdcage Bedding - Urban Outfitters

2008-08-22T09:27:00.001-05:00

I have seen this adorable birdcage fabric in many etsy shops as either totes or pillows. And I LOVE this fabric. I came across it on Urbanoutfitters.com as a bedspread. I don't know if people buy this bedsheet and cut it up into their various craft projects, or if this fabric exists somewhere mysterious and is available by the yard. All I know is that I love it, and I will check out the UO in Woodfield Shopping center close by to me. I am not sure if my boyfriend will go for this bedspread though. I am officially becoming a bird nerd and I don't know if he wants to express that in every decorative aspect of every room.

If anyone knows where else to find this fabric, please leave a comment!

Image © Urban Outfitters Direct 2008

Thailand Handicraft

2008-08-20T19:11:00.005-05:00

Look at these cute artificial birds for crafting! You can find them at Clickhandicrafts.com, a crafting shopping site based in Thailand. Their bird collections are currently 20% off and range in sized from 2 " - 13". Check them out, they are cute!

Image © Clickhandcrafts.com 2008

Little Sheep Felt - Tea Birds

2008-08-18T10:02:00.000-05:00

I have been getting into needle-felting recently and it gives me more appreciation for the art. I found this cute little tea bird at the LittleSheepFelt etsy shop. This one is called "Olive Visits for Tea," the tea cup is included. Amy Plew, the person behind LittleSheepFelt, also makes cute owls with a barn gift box.

But what makes these gifts truly unique is that they are made from wool from her very own sheep farm. Now that's cute. Check out her site as well, www.littlesheepfelt.com

Image © Little Sheep Felt Company 2008

New - Red Makes Me Happy

2008-08-15T21:41:00.005-05:00

Finally, the top requested bird at the craft fair, the cardinal. It is the state bird (here in Illinois) and so easily recognizable. When I look out in the backyard in the dead of winter at a sheet of white snow, I smile when I see this little guy at my feeder. So appropriately, I named this piece, "Red Makes Me Happy." He is not shy at all, how can he be with his bright red plumage. I will look out through the snowflakes and count as many little red poofs throughout the trees as I can. And he patiently waits in a nearby branch while his girlfriend visits the seed, such a good guy.

New - Pingy on Ice

2008-08-13T21:40:00.000-05:00

Here's another new painting. A baby penguin keeping cool on a block of ice. I call him "Pingy."

New - An Owl a Day

2008-08-10T16:03:00.000-05:00

An Owl a Day! I have various "fruity birds" paintings, and at the last craft fair someone asked "Do you have one with apples?" Well I do now! His white face is supposed to resemble the shape of an apple. It's not as obvious as some of my other fruity bird paintings, but I love him anyway. He is a smart (and sleepy) little owl. Literally, the teacher's pet.

Porridge Papers

2008-08-08T09:38:00.000-05:00

These cards are gorgeous, handmade, affordable, and... plantable?! Yes, Porridge Papers sells plantable seed cards. There are wildflower seeds embedded in the handmade paper. So the person reads their greeting, admires the beautiful artwork, then recycles the card by planting it in the ground! Such an eco-friendly card for your plant and bird lover. Check out their website too, www.porridgepapers.com , they feature more than just plantable papers; they have glitter paper and food-based paper. Coffee-grind or parsley paper? I don't think it is meant to be eaten but I am sure it smells wonderful!

Image © Porridge Papers Inc 2008

New - Chickie Dees

2008-08-06T11:51:00.004-05:00

New Print! "Chickie Dees" is now available in my etsy shop. I am very excited because I am now printing with my new Epson R1900 printer using Ultra Chrome Inks, which are archival quality and shown to withstand fading for up to 100 years! It looks so beautiful printed out, these online images don't do it justice. The green is a beautiful pale yellow-green. The birds were easy to draw, it's always the design elements and colors that take the longest to get just right.

Bird Villas

2008-08-05T12:09:00.002-05:00

These are cute birdhouses for the birdie divas out there, whom refuse to live in a gourd. Actually, these are so gorgeous I cannot imagine leaving it outside to become weathered down.

These cute little villas can be bought online at
http://www.birdvillas.com. They have beach houses, diners, chapels, lodges, cabins, just to name a few.

I have an uninhabited bird house this year. I heard the male house wren singing his song up until a few weeks ago. I guess he couldn't find a girlfriend to accept his plain cedar house.

© Bird Villas.com

Tabitha Emma

2008-08-03T16:08:00.002-05:00

This ACEO, "Caged Bird," is the lovely work of Tabitha Emma, a designer living in Sydney Australia. This is a small ACEO piece, meaning it is 2.5 x 3.5 ", like a mini artwork trading card. ACEOs are great for collecting art from different designers without needing to dedicate much wallspace or cash to establish your collection.

Tabitha has a cute blog, tabithaemma.blogspot.com, with cute sketches, fashion finds and birdie products. She also has a website, www.tabithaemma.com

© Image Tabitha Emma Patterson 2008

New - In the Trees

2008-07-30T17:00:00.007-05:00

Brand new - "In the Trees" - mini 3 x 3 inch painting! So simple yet so elegant. I may have to make this one larger for myself.

$1.25 - Weekend Project

2008-07-28T09:20:00.000-05:00

I was at IKEA this weekend buying a computer table for my new printer and saw these cardboard magazine holders for $0.49 a sheet (which contained 2). I am strapped for cash these days, so I decided to make these cardboard magazine holders into decorative organizers with some simple supplies; scrapbook paper, circle punch, and rubber cement.

I cut 3.25 x 12 " strips of scrapbook paper and punched a circle punch where the cardboard magazine holder's hole would be. Then, simply glued them on.

Because these will be on my bookshelf, you won't see the side panels so the cardboard is hidden. Now I can clean up that stack of magazines off the floor! These were so easy, and at $.25 a pop plus a $.50 scrapbook paper sheet, I have myself some nice magazine holders for only $1.25!

Kate Wilson

2008-07-26T23:21:00.000-05:00

I cannot get enough of Kate Wilson! She brings together birds and sweets, two of my favorite things! (She does much more than that, but those are my particular favorites.) Her prints are for sale in her Etsy shop, kwilson544, aka Little Doodles. And be sure to check out her blog too www.little-doodles.blogspot.com, which showcases recent doodles. Her stipple pen & ink style is really beautiful work and it's not easy to achieve with out a good eye and steady hand. Keep doodling more birds, Kate!

© Kate Wilson 2008

New - Black Bubble Tree

2008-07-23T21:02:00.005-05:00

Here is another new painting, called "Black Bubble Tree". Enjoy!

Mini Painting - Swirly Bird

2008-07-20T22:18:00.004-05:00

Here is my new mini painting, ,"Swirly bird." It's a 4 x 4 inch painting. I am really enjoying adding fun design elements to my paintings. It makes birds more art chic. Landscapes and lifescapes can be so ho-hum, why not display art that is a little more modish?

Single Stone Studio - Bird wall decals

2008-07-15T10:02:00.002-05:00

Vinyl wall decals have been the hot craze recently. These are some great ones for bird lovers. These are "Birds in a Birdcage" by Single Stone Studios. The best feature is that you get to chose your colors so it will match to any room. They have 27 colors to choose from.

Visit their blog too, Single Stone Studios Blog, for the latest designs, info, and customer photos of decals in their homes.

Image © Single Stone Studios 2008

Fat Finch - Online Store

2008-07-12T11:11:00.003-05:00

If you love bird gifts, surely you have already come across this site. Just in case you haven't, you must visit the Fat Finch - Boutique for Birders. You have all your birding supplies like seed, feeders, and birdhouses; but in addition to making your backyard birds happy, you can make yourself happy with bird notecards, dinnerware, clothing, address books, etc. So after you finishing shopping you can read more tidbits about birds and birding in the Fat Finch Bird Brain Blog.

Image © Fat Finch 2007

Closest Friends Cards

2008-07-10T21:19:00.004-05:00

My Closest Friends cards are now available for sale in my etsy store. I absolutely love the way they turned out. I have many more "close" friends, but I picked out four of my favorites for the first round of printing. They are standard A2 card size, 4.25 x 5.5 inches and blank inside.

Geninne's 20 Birds series

2008-07-08T22:24:00.002-05:00

I am loving Geninne's work, 20 Birds. These are limited edition prints from her watercolor series. She has such creative style and I love her use of postcards and unique paper appliques in her artwork.

Check out her etsy store, Geninne's Art Store and her cute blog too, http://www.geninne.com

Image © Geninne Zlatkis

Frontier Days Marketplace

2008-07-05T22:29:00.004-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Frontier Days craft fair in Arlington Heights. It was a great first show and a great experience meeting all the bird lovers out there. I loved all your suggestions and I definitely have my list of "most wanted birds." You should see coming soon...

Cardinal
Downy Woodpecker
Bluebird
Wren
Chickadee

...just to name a few! Check back soon to both my website cgartsonline.com/birdart where you will be able to shop online via paypal checkout (without signing up for an etsy account), and check back to the blog to see my newest work completed. Also, I should be getting a wide format printer soon, so I will be offering 11 x 14 inch prints and 8 x 10 inch gallery wrapped prints. If you saw something at the show that you don't see in my shop you can always send me an email at carol@cgartsonline.com.

Mr. Robin is here.

2008-07-04T21:05:00.003-05:00

"Hello, Mister Robin"! My previous print, "Bonjour, Lil Robin" features a European robin. I love robins and I see them bouncing around the lawn everyday and so I had to make a tribute to my little bouncy friends. So I drew an American Robin for this print. He will be available on blue and green backgrounds. But not until after the fourth of July weekend. I will be at the Arlington Heights IL, Frontier Days Marketplace this year, and I have been busy making inventory for the show. It's my first craft fair so I don't know what to expect! Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Bird (Craft) Watcher

2008-06-26T21:38:00.006-05:00

I feel some crafters and buyers are getting fed up with the bird trend. Some blogs lately stated "[at the National Stationery Show] there was an aviary design around every corner (if not every single booth!)*" or " [at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn] if I saw one more screen-printed organic cotton t-shirt with a silhouette of a bird I was gonna scream.*" I am sorry you feel that way. I personally believe bird motifs fit right in, especially in the crafting world. If you do a tag search for "bird" on etsy you get 1847 pages for your results, while you type in "dog" and only get 1291. While the majority of pet owners, 79% are dog owners, compared to the small 13% of pet owners that own birds**.

Birds are fascinating and beautiful. They conjure feelings of awe, peace, and freeness. Birds are hopeless romantics, with their dances, displays, love songs, and gifts of sticks and twigs. Many are monogamous and stay with their lover for a lifetime. They are not needy or dependent. And you can tell by their mannerisms, they are smart and proud, yet still introverted. If you think about it, birds are very much like your average crafter/artist.

I hope the bird trend doesn't die. I want to see bird motifs everywhere I go. I want every shirt to be a screen-print shirt of a bird.

*www.goodyblog.com
** http://www.cyberpet.com/cyberdog/articles/general/crawford.htm

Free Tutorial - How to Make an URL Icon

2008-06-25T21:58:00.001-05:00

Free Tutorial - How to Make an URL Icon! (Some basic html knowledge and your own web domain/hosting is needed)

Aren't you sick of this little icon? Your URL icon is everywhere, in your tabs, in your bookmark links, in your URL bar! You can personalize your website and blog with an EASY html tag and your very own icon.gif.

1). Make your icon. Open photoshop or your photo/painting program and create a new document 16 pixels x 16 pixels, and 72 pixels per inch resolution. Copy and paste in the image you want to use and scale it down to fit in the little 16 x16 viewfinder.

2.) Save as .GIF (If you have Photoshop you can "...Save for Web" and optimize your gif even smaller by selecting less colors.) Name it "icon.gif"

3.) Upload your .GIF. If you have a web domain, you should have info such as host name, user name, password and you can upload your GIF using an FTP connection. Drop it in your designated images folder.

4.) Type the following text right before your head tag closes, right before you see this, < /head>

For your personal website you need to add the code for each .html page. For your blog, go to the Edit HTML section and paste the code in there. Here is my icon.gif, !!

TADworks Chicky Puppet

2008-06-24T20:36:00.003-05:00

Look at this Chicky Finger Puppet by TADworks.
I like his little smirk and beady eyes. I would definitely not be able to say "no" to anything someone asked me with a Chicky puppet on their finger.

TADworks has a cute blog too.

Image © TADworks 2008

San Diego Zoo - Birds Galore

2008-06-23T21:49:00.003-05:00

I just got back from my weekend trip to San Diego. I had to visit the San Diego Zoo after hearing about their walk-in aviaries! Here is a picture of the Magnificent Fruit Dove, and magnificent he is! I have plenty of photos for inspiration for new bird prints. I love how the zoo's top attractions were the koalas and pandas, which left me plenty of space in the bird exhibit while the rest of the crowds were elsewhere. The aviaries are a must visit for any bird lover in the San Diego area. They also have a Micronesian Kingfisher which is unfortunately extinct in the wild. I spent a lot of time at his enclosure listening to his sweet call, because someday it may not be heard again. Brookfield Zoo, near Chicago, also has Micronesian Kingfishers (not all on display). They currently have 13 of the 60 left in zoos around the world.

Lauren Alane's Felted Birdies!

2008-06-17T20:35:00.002-05:00

These cute little needle felted birds are handmade by Lauren Alane. She was recently at the Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair July 14-15th, and from the looks of her blog photos, it looks like it was a great turn out!

Be sure to check out her Etsy shop, LaurenAlane.etsy.com to buy the felted birds, notepads, postcards, and prints.

Image © Lauren Alane 2008

Happy Bird Day!

2008-06-14T20:12:00.004-05:00

Happy bird day to you! Technically, these handmade cards are meant for birthdays but any day could be a happy bird day! I just posted these new cards in my shop, FromTikiwithLove.

These are square 5 x 5" cards with handmade colorful vellum envelopes. I see these cards more as hand-given rather than mailed, especially since they are partially see-through from the vellum. You won't see the personal hand written message, but you can see the card itself. And don't forget a square envelope costs an additional $.20 to mail!

© CG Arts 2008

Biscotti con le Mandorle

2008-06-14T17:03:00.005-05:00

I happened to stumble upon this great original oil pastel artwork, and I absolutely love it! It has that vintage 1920's liquor poster feeling to it, like those Porto and Absinthe posters. I love the plethora of birds and woodland creatures gathering around a simple cookie. "Biscotti con le Mandorle" is created by Suzanne Frie. The original is still available, but you can also get a print! See her other artwork on Fine Art America, and check out her etsy store Brite Ideas too!

Image © Suzanne Frie 2007

Cicada Studio

2008-06-11T21:39:00.006-05:00

Image © Cicada Studio 2008

Wow! This dandy fabric, "Feeding the birds", is part of Cicada Studios' original textile designs! There is even a Flickr group, Cicada Studio Textiles, for members to post photos of items they make using the fabrics. I would love to see this fabric as a pillow or tote bag.

Ann Wood Handmade

2008-06-11T20:15:00.004-05:00

Image © Ann Wood Handmade 2008

Here comes the bird, all dressed in white! Ann Wood makes these great little antique fabric one-of-a-kind birds! Her caketoppers are very popular, and I can see why. Birds symbolize a committed and lovely pair, and Ann's birds are dressed so elegantly! She has plenty of birds to spend your day browsing, just visit www.annwoodhandmade.com

Bionic Beak

2008-06-11T19:42:00.003-05:00

Beauty - a gorgeous American bald eagle - had her upper beak torn off by gunshot from poachers. Her tongue and sinuses were exposed, and she was barely getting by with food by scrounging at a landfill. Rescuers found her and took her to the Birds of Prey Northwest Ranch in Anchorage, where she has been recovering since. Now a team fitted her to an artificial beak made of polymer plastic, and this temporary beak will be replaced with a titanium one in the near future. She most likely will not be able to return to the wild because her dependence on hand-feeding. Her beak can never be strong enough to rip flesh from prey. At least Beauty can now more easily grasp food, drink, and preen herself.

I am glad we are taking action to help animals, especially those who have been hurt by humans. I also saw on the news this morning, a dolphin being fitted with a prosthetic fluke to replace the one he lost in a crab trap.

See more pictures here
http://birdsofpreynorthwest.org/

Read the full article here
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/bionic_beak

Image © Associated Press 2008

Sneak Peek

2008-06-10T20:33:00.003-05:00

Here is a special sneak peek at some fun images that will be featured on my new upcoming notecards. These are little glass figurines I have collected from the street markets in Poland from over 10 years ago! I took pictures of them with my macro lens. They are my "close bird friends." This little cockatoo is only 1 1/2 inches tall.

Website Up, Finally

2008-06-10T20:25:00.004-05:00

Finally! My website is up and running. I've had a place holder splash page for quite a while, and I am sorry to keep you waiting. I will eventually have multiple galleries, showing my original art and cards too. But for now I only have my bird prints set, and I need a desperate break because my carpal tunnel symptoms are flaring up. I spend a full day at work drawing anatomy and then come home and work on bird drawings, websites, and blogging! There are many new bird prints on the way, I am currently working on an American robin so check back soon!

Nut and Bee

2008-06-10T11:38:00.000-05:00

Extra Fancy Hat (May 31 2008) © Nut and Bee 2008

One of my absolute favorite stores on Etsy is NutandBee. These cute prints are designed by Annette Lauder. She is constantly creating new designs so check out the website www.nutandbee.com for weekly posts under Sketchbook Sweeties . The sweeties can be ordered as prints, notepads, labels, buttons, rubber stamps, magnets, letterhead, and stickers. She can make anything look cute, even a carton of milk! Nut and Bee is a constant source of cute-spiration for me.

Poor Pierre

2008-06-10T11:25:00.000-05:00

This 25 yr old penguin, named Pierre, started balding (losing his feathers), and he was too cold to join his penguin friends in the water at the California Academy of Sciences penguin tank. So biologists and staff members of Oceanic Worldwide, a supplier of dive gear, teamed together to make Pierre a wetsuit out of the same material used in human diving wetsuits. Pierre can now swim with his friends and has already started gaining weight and growing back some feathers. Yay!

Read the full article here on msnbc.msn.com.

Image © California Academy of Sciences 2008

PinkSpiderwebs

2008-06-09T22:11:00.000-05:00

I must promote PinkSpiderwebs' shop. PinkSpiderwebs, run by my sister, sells handmade kawaii jewelry. I didn't even know what "kawaii" meant. It sounds like something my bird would say, he slurs the phrase "How are you" into a one word jumble "Hawwwaauuu". Kawaii means cute in Japanese. Super cute jewerly, cell phone charms, earrings, bracelets. Check it out. Maybe we will do a craft show together soon.

Image © Pinkspiderwebs 2008