It's Starting To Feel Like Fall

It's starting to feel like fall here so I decided to make some little beaded acorns. This is my favorite time of year and I realized I don't really make much autumn beaded decor. I can't wait to put some of these on my Thanksgiving table this year. I would like to put one on each place setting for my guests to take home. I made them in a variety of festive fall colors so they'll add a little sparkle to any autumn decor. I have several parties coming up this fall and I think these little acorns would be a great hostess gift too!

To Labor Is To Pray

I've been asked more and more lately to make one-of-a-kind custom pieces and I have to say I absolutely love this part of my job. The inspiration I get from these requests is priceless and it fuels my creative fires like nothing else. Sometimes it's a new bird that I haven't made yet or a beaded piece with symbolic meaning for my customer and often it is both. Sometimes what I make serves as a happy reminder for someone. I recently had a request for a baby quail because this customer has moved to a new home and misses the quail that used to run around in her backyard. Sometimes the requests are very personal, very emotional and the stories I hear behind the piece they want often bring me to tears. I have had requests for a particular bird because that person's family member loved that bird and they recently passed away. Or a request for a sunflower bowl because the sunflower holds a special meaning for them personally. I am so honored that I am allowed to hear these stories and that I am asked to make something that brings a bit of happiness or comfort to that person. They think they are purchasing a gift for themselves or someone they love, but they are really giving me the gift. I know am not going to make the beaded bird that changes the world, but these pieces remind me that what I am doing is important even if it's on a very small level. While I'm working I often think of the saying "To labor is to pray". I hope these pieces I am putting out there into the world hold my prayers and that the energy and love I put into everything I make gets passed on in some way.

A New Year

It is a new year and I feel busier than ever! My last post was during the calm before the storm. The holiday rush came late October and I did not come up for air until after the New Year. I am truly thankful for all of my wonderful customers who made my holiday season so busy and exciting. I did sell out of my entire inventory and I am still playing catch-up. I decided to list all of my work as made to order in my Etsy shop, making things available to order while I try to build things back up. I now have several pieces ready to ship and I keep adding more almost daily. I am also working on new pieces this year. I have a pretty dragonfly ornament and new owls a tiny figurine and a clip-on ornament as you see above. I'm also planning many more wedding cake topper birds, and I have a blue jay in the works as well! So keep an eye on my shop for new items in the future, I have a feeling 2013 is going to be fabulous!