Easter mantel in green and yellow

I designed this brand-new Easter mantel by "shopping the house" and making use of the chalkboard frames I originally intended for a gallery* (another project started before baby dude was born and just finished!). So I started out with using an old window frame, draped some fabric across it, added the metal cross I love but haven't found the perfect spot for. Then I filled things in with my beloved milk glass plus some other glass from my collection. And a nest! What would spring decorating be without nests! Hee. This particular nest was green grass when my mom found it but now it has dried to a pretty butter yellow shade. You might not be able to see it well in this photo, but there's a vintage mustard jar on the far right that has a smiling yellow sunshine on the lid. So cute!

Speaking of nests, they of course pop up over on my shelves. As does the milk glass and the color yellow to keep the the spring theme going. Now, something funny for you, doesn't the nest perched on the one lower vase look like hair? Hee!

*I am having second thoughts about where I intended to hang these. I think they would have gotten knocked off the wall by kids busting in with backpacks. So for now, they are going to be mine all mine for decorating here and there as I wish. Discussion has begun afresh about painting various wall(s) with chalkboard paint! The kids are all about it!

squirrel nests are nice too!

 
If you've read this blog in the past then you already know I kind of have a thing for nests. And for decorating with them. They are my favorite natural treasure.

We were lucky enough to have a squirrel nest break loose and land on our garage roof. I am impressed with the craftsmanship, I must say. Or would that craftsquirrelship?

show me some spring…

…on your shelf, that is!

Simple collection of yellow and Easter themed items – saved cards, my silly ceramic chicks, a stuffed bunny, and a bit of a bird's nest.

And of course a whole shelf devoted to my nest collection – hee!

I'm curious about bird nests

If you've been reading the blog awhile, you may have figured this out. I collect the ones I find on the ground and keep them. They appear on display in various places – perched on candlesticks or tucked into a wall display.

Here's the newest additions to my collection:

My mom found this in the parking lot of the bank where she works. She actually watched sparrows building it. I like that it is made of fresh green grass clippings. I've had it about a month and it has retained its green color.

I found this one while out on a run. And I picked it up. And I kept running. Yes, I am crazy like that. Had to have it though. It is a nice size.

To satisfy my curiosity about bird nests, I headed to the library (but of course!). I am happy to report there are books written just about nests. And you can get nest guidebooks for your area to help you identify what species of bird built the nest you are studying.

My very favorite book was called Avian Architecture: How Birds Design, Engineer, and Build by Peter Goodfellow. I read it cover to cover. There is a chapter on each type of nest birds build along with case studies of specific birds. And lots of great photographs. I enjoyed it immensely.

beautiful bits for the birdies

Once upon a library book I read about using a suet feeder to fill with nesting materials and hang it out for birds to shop from come springtime. We don't have a suet feeder but in the spirit of "use what you have" my dear husband crafted this holder out of a bit of fencing, some zip ties, and some rope. A "love letter" for me and for our feathered friends!

Fingers crossed that a lovely nest lined with my favorite fabrics presents itself on the ground sometime this summer or fall! Wouldn't that be a find?

B is for birds & butterflies: a wall collage

A recent visit to a friend's house inspired me to get going with my vision for hanging a grouping of items together on a dining room wall.

First step was to take the stack of dusty picture frames that had been sitting around since my discovery of spray paint back in the fall and decide what art to put in them. I framed a page from a paper brochure, a page from an old Picasso calendar, ordered an old photo off of Snapfish, and designed a piece with a few favorite Bible verses. Then I gathered together bits and pieces from other rooms of the house.

Next was the arranging. I laid everything out on the dining room table, parallel to the wall it would hang on so I could easily envision the space I had available and how things would look next to the butterfly print I already had hanging. After a week and four or five arrangements I was ready to go at it with a hammer and nails. Actually, to be honest, I have my husband do that part for me! I just art direct!

Once everything was up a few days passed and I had the inspiration to tuck in my favorite bird nest (sideways so you can see the different layers within) and a few feathers. It was just the textural and sculptural touch it needed. Voila!

nests

I really adored the January cover of On-the-Town magazine. It featured a nest woven from bits of paper upon which children had written statements. The artist is Elaine Tolsma Harlow.

I am rather inspired by nests in general, and all the symbolism they can carry about home and nature and nurturing and safety. It's a visual image I hope to explore further in other art forms some time in the future.