Visual Treats- Art Journaling

I can blame my friend Jamie Berry of http://www.jamieberry.com/ fame for the idea which got me into this art journal retrospective in the first place. He had posted a "Day in the Life" feature that i thought was a very cool idea. I started thinking about

what my life might look like in pictures, and while contemplating the new art journal I had started, i began paging through much older visual journals from 3 or 4 years back. It was really interesting to me to see how my ideas and thoughts had changed, and to remind myself of ideas that i still want to develop and explore.

So here it is, no major art, and certainly not edited, but a quick peek into the row of fat, painted, glued, punched, sewn and tied books which haunt the middle shelf in my studio. I find that this is my way of spilling my ideas out into the world, a melting pot of thoughts...

As for a "Day in the Life"-i'm still working on it :)

Creating Unique Jewelry- Video from B'Sue of B'SuesBoutiques.com

via youtube.com

A quick and interesting look at some jewelry techniques and introduction to creating unique pieces using beads, brass, etc.

Posted via web from Firebirdhouse 's Nest

The Hair has it- At least for Today

I know, they say the eyes have it. But for me today, its all about hair. Specifically hair accessories made with some truly great vintage cabs. I have been on a creating binge lately and these are just some of the new spring line. Listed and ready to offer a pop of color or a little cheer after a long winter :)

Want to see a special flower or need multiples for a bridal or birthday party? Email me and I will see what I can do!

See the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Firebirdhouse 's Nest

Inspired

While I haven't had time to post all the beauties from the last few days of creating a Thing a Day, i have found myself bubbling over with ideas for new pieces. Most of these will soon be in my shop, if they aren't already, while a few will be heading for Chicago and Necessary ExTravagance-

I have found the challenge of creating something every day has given me a real boost, creativity-wise, which is NOT what I expected :) I am going to continue doing it thru the end of the month, and then I guess we'll see... Hope you all are having a relaxing weekend :)

See the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Firebirdhouse 's Nest

Great Teesha Moore Art Journaling Video

via youtube.com

I thought it was really interesting watching some of the techniques that Teesha uses to begin her art journals.

Posted via web from Firebirdhouse 's Nest

My Facebook Fan Giveaway

I am giving away this lovely bracelet to a random fan of my Facebook Page on Friday, March 19, 2010. I will be using randomizer.com to choose the winner, so become a fan and don’t miss out!

http://www.facebook.com/firebirdhousedesigns

Posted via email from Firebirdhouse 's Nest

Handmade Weddings Guide

Having a wedding, in a wedding or just need a great gift for a wedding? Check out the IndieSpotting Handmade Weddings Guide! I so wish I had access to the great handmade items out there now for brides when I got married 10 years ago!

I definitely have bride envy :) And giving a handmade, one of a kind gift is a very special way to celebrate.

Check it out here-

http://www.myshoppingconnection.com/indiespotting/current-features/weddings-2010.php

Posted via email from Firebirdhouse 's Nest

The LXD: In the Internet age, dance evolves ...

via ted.com

so cool and unusual! I love dance and these guys do the incredible-

Posted via web from firebirdhouse

Treasure Hunting

This weekend started out with some rare ( at least lately :)) sunshine, so we decided on the spur of the moment to visit some favorite treasure hunting spots in Dillard, GA, a small town nestled in the Southern end of the Appalachian mountains, about an hour and 45 minutes from Atlanta. The people in Dillard are always so nice and the scenery is beautiful. Unfortunately, by the time we got there, it was overcast and raining, so I didn’t take any pictures. There are several antique malls and shops on both sides of 441, and they are usually stuffed full of all kinds of great finds.  

And wow, did we find!

From some awesome feedsacks to a couple of blooming hankies, foreign coins, and a watch key fit for the White Rabbit, I found all kinds of treasures just waiting to be altered and upcycled into new creations. I think treasure hunting is one of the things I love most about what I do!  There’s just something really special about seeing all the work that has gone into an old quilt, or wondering what the woman was like who’s delicate initial “S” was so intricately embroidered on a silk handkerchief.

Finding new, cool stuff always sends my passion for creating and designing into overdrive, so I am sure there will be a bunch of new goodies this week to see and enjoy in store. I have several more quilt remnant pillows to share, and a couple of great wedding gift ideas for the spring weddings no doubt popping up on your calendar the way they are popping up on mine.

Hope you had a great weekend!

 

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from firebirdhouse

Sneak Peek- Vintage Home Accessories

About a month ago, I was contacted by a soon to be open eco-friendly, luxury homegoods store called Necessary ExTRAVagance in Chicago's trendy Andersonville neighborhood and asked if I would be willing to provide vintage quilt and hanky pillows for them. I am thrilled to be a part of this, and am so excited at the timing, as I am getting ready to launch my new line of home accessories soon!


I hope to actually move all of my home line to a new Etsy store called FirebirdhouseHome by the end of this month, but until then, I have snuck in a couple at Firebirdhouse so I could share.


I really love old fabrics, linens, quilts, lace. And oftentimes, I think there is so much work and history in a piece that it would be a shame not to find a way to use it. Even the most humble things like dishtowels were made prettier with embroidered initials or herb pots, and that inspires me :) The idea of reusing these vintage finds seems even more important now, as I try to be more eco-friendly when I create, plus I really love trying to figure out just how to use a piece, or work around stains or damage.


So this is the first of what I hope to be a long line of pillows, tea towels, sheet sets, etc :) This is from my "wedding" line and is one of a kind, as most of them will be. Its Irish linen front and back, with vintage drawn thread and embroidery work, and has the words faith, hope, love on the front separated by vintage pearl buttons.

And I will definitely be sharing more info about the store as it gets closer to opening day in May! For a look at all the really fabulous things that will be in the store, you can find them on Facebook.

Thing a Day x 3

The creating continues! Today I am playing catch up, blogging the past three days of new creations and enjoying the amazing, 69 degree weather we are having here in Atlanta :)

I think the warmer weather has inspired my designs the last few days, with tons of flowers and spring-y colors.

This ring, with its domed turquoise top and warm brass base might be my favorite. I genuinely love using authentic vintage in a new way. The history in the piece makes them extra special to me.

But then again... these hairpins rank pretty high in the favorites list, thanks to the fresh faced vintage Japanese flower cabs. I admit it- I am totally obsessed with flowers!

Last but not least I gave my Irish roots a nod ( and St Paddy's Day, too!) with these vintage-inspired Celtic flower heart earrings. They are made from very old dies (molds) that are still in use, and the plating on them is called silverware silverplate by the supplier because it has the warm glow of antique silverware. I love using this finish, although its more expensive than some of the others I use because of its higher sterling content. I did the handpainting myself, inspired by a vintage bracelet I had seen not long ago.

Tomorrow I am planning to finish some new pieces for the launch of my 2nd etsy store, FirebirdhouseHome, which will feature vintage and vintage-inspired home accessories. I am SO excited to be expanding into this area, and have lots of new ideas coming to share with all of you!

Mikiye- The Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week

I admit to being a flower in the hair kind of girl, in my mind, at least ;) I mean, who doesn't wish she could be glamorous and wear stunning jewels once in awhile, even if (like me) you spend most of your time in ripped jeans with paint in your hair?


Everytime I visit Mikiye Creations, I find myself in princess mode among the amazing flowers, beautiful sparkly jewels and gorgeous accessories in this shop!


Even better, everything she creates, even when its a similar design, is one of a kind, so you get to be the belle of the ball, without running into Belle #2 ;) Her designs are classic and timeless, the kind you can pass down to your daughter to wear in HER hair on her wedding day, ( or prom or confirmation- you get the idea ;) ) and she is always happy to create something custom for you as well.

She says "It's so fantastic to always be striving to be the best I can be and creating heirloom pieces that my clients will cherish forever."

An avid twitterati, Mikiye loves getting to know her followers. "Definitely take the time to get to know who's on there because it is amazing the tight knit family that can develop when you really pay attention to who's doing what. Frankly, it's just A LOT of FUN!"

As Shop of the Week, Mikiye is offering the following special deals for readers:
FREE U.S. SHIPPING on all purchases. Please add SOTW in notes to seller to redeem this. Shipping will be refunded through Paypal.

To find out more about Mikiye and her work, follow her on twitter or visit her page on Facebook!

Thing a Day- The Three Sisters Bracelet

Day 2 of creating a new thing every day, and today I found myself inspired by my friend Suzanne, the brains and creativity behind Threepeats Jewelry. She makes wonderful jewelry from all kinds of vintage hoops and rings, and I definitely took a cue from her when I created this Three Sisters Bracelet.

These etched floral raw, red brass rings had been on my studio table for the last month, while I applied the patina, then polished and sealed them, but I hadn't originally planned on combining them.

The butterfly is a sly nod to the garden of flowers and leaves etched onto the rings- after all, what's a garden without butterflies?

To see the bracelet up close, click here or on the picture above!

30 Things in 30 Days for Spring!

My friend Amanda, over at GeekDetails, gave me an awesome idea to jumpstart Spring: create a new thing every day for an entire month. I thought this was a great way to introduce new items for spring line, as well as get my creative juices flowing!

So naturally I started with my favorite thing- vintage glass. I am always collecting more jewels and keeping an eyes out for unique beauties, cause I think they make simple pieces I design extra special.

So I sat down at my studio table, covered with all kinds of charms and chain, and found myself working on this delicate vintage flower bracelet. Nestled into the filigree flower is a gorgeous, old, two-color watermelon and icy green stone that has amazing fire. It carries this piece all by itself, which is one of the great things about old glass jewels. To complete it, I used long and short oval brass chain and one of the new vintage-inspired clasps I just got that I am really excited about.

I am thrilled with this first creation, and can't wait to see what new things pop up tomorrow :) To see the bracelet up close and personal, click here, or on the picture.

Serenity- Wordless Wednesday