Wreath Addiction

I only have one door in  my house, the front door.  No back door. No side door.  But I will say I have 13 wreaths in my house.  I love making wreaths.  So yes, it's an addiction.  I have had a wreath on my front door for several years.  I bought the wreath frame at the Dollar Store and it was a "spring" themed wreath.  It had colorful blooms, colorfully painted mini bird houses and colorfully painted mini terra cotta pots. Then one day....I got sick of it.  I needed a change and I came up with this:

I am very pleased with the result.  Once again, it cost NO money, just my time. And since I love to make wreaths, it was time well spent.

I removed everything from the existing wreath and painted everything with 2 coats of Gesso. Then I wrapped the wreath in burlap ribbon.  I knew there were going to be a lot of gaps, since I decided to forgo faux flowers or foliage. So I decided to make a 'ribbon'  I cut a narrow piece of thin muslin and then used a $1 music sheet stamp that I got at Michaels. I then wrapped the 'ribbon' around the wreath.

after the Gesso dried I painted the pots and the birdhouses with Folk Art Vintage White and Americana Slate Green. after they dried, I sanded with sandpaper to distress and then added 'stuff'. The 'stuff' included Graphic's Fairy ephemera, scrapbook paper tidbits and I also used 7 Gypsies "conservatory" stamps and stamped onto some plain canvas fabric.

this little metal pitcher used to have a fall themed sticker, I whitewashed and then added a bird image, some jute twine and a key. The feather's were courtesy of the Canada Geese at Lindo Lake. Sometimes they leave a feather behind and I am more than willing to make use of it :)

I had one 'open' space and no more do dads to add, so I took a bottle cap, cut out a bird image and glued it down

this little bird was one of the spring items at Michaels that I had to have and then didn't use right away.  I painted him Slate Green, dry brushed some white paint and added two little gems to make him stand out

Each little terra cotta pot was transformed into little 'nests'  I filled each one with Spanish Moss and placed two or three eggs in each one.

the butterflies were on the original wreath as well, but they too were brightly colored.  After several coats of Gesso and white paint, I then added Tim Holtz Tissue tape to each one.

 

I will say I am in LOVE with this wreath!  I really wish I had taken a 'before' photo.  It was a complete transformation and sometimes when I finish a product, I'll say to myself, "I'm good"  not in a cocky way or anything, just a patting myself on the back for a job well done

99 cent Store Re-Do

                                     I love birds!  and I really love when I see cute little ceramic birds for 99cents!

                                                     OK so they're Salt and Pepper Shakers.  I can fix that!

I decoupaged them with 'newspaper print' paper. Mainly to cover the holes and just to give them texture

 

Next up....

 

I LOVE these faux finish kits!  However I am a little concerned because I got both of these on clearance at Michaels and now they no longer carry them, BUT they have not replaced them with any other version.  I will continue to keep and eye out. I'm sure Martha Stewart will come out with something

 

so the result is below. forgive the not so great photos, no matter what I did I could not get a photo to really show the texture and colors.

 

(side note this little birdhouse is a work in progress)

 

for the blue patina bird I also dry brushed some copper acrylic paint.  the blue patina is really cool, however no matter how many times I do it, there are always patches that just don't age.  I am very pleased how these little guys turned out.  99cents and a little time and I have two more birds to add to my menagerie.

 

 

IT ALL BEGAN WITH A PIECE OF TRASH....

                                           

one man's trash is another man's treasure?  It can be.  I park my car in the alley behind my house and people tend to put potential treasures out by the dumpsters.  I still feel weird taking someone's trash, so I always do it on the sly.  Anyhoo, I found this box yesterday morning:

 

Ugly?  Yes!  But what struck me was it was wood.  I love wood and I love wood boxes.  I actually saw it and almost walked away, but something drew me to this BRIGHT yellow and blue box.

First thing was first, CLEAN IT!  once cleaned I painted the whole thing dark brown. It took about three coats to fully cover it.  I let it set overnight and my PLAN was to paint it white , then sand and distress and go from there. I used the following "OOPS" paint from  Home Depot.  It appeared to be a creamy white....

 

 

 

normally I use Folk Art, Americana and/or Martha Stewart paint, but I knew this box would really soak up the paint and I figured this 'off white' paint would cover better.  well it did, however once it dried and I started to sand it, the oddest thing happened, the true color of the paint came out.  And what was the color?  The one color I was trying to avoid; YELLOW!  a bright yellow?  No.  it was more of creamy butter yellow.  it was very subtle, but it was there. and considering I was covering yellow to begin with....well you see my dilemma. I could have painted the whole thing again, but I decided to  press on and see what happens. I distressed the whole thing a bit and the yellow really started to come out. Grrr!!  I had purchased some decorative napkins some time ago.  They are a French Theme, Eiffel tower, Paris postage and French writing, all for $1.99.  I bought them strictly to use for decoupage which is what I did in this case. I also took several images from the Graphics Fairy, Antique Mod Podge and this is what I got:

 

Front

 

Top

 

Back

 

 

Front and Upper/Under

 

I am rather pleased how it turned out.  Normally when I Decoupage I don't like wrinkles, but since I was going for the distressed, old and worn look, wrinkles were not something I was adamant about getting rid of.  I think they add character. I have already put this box to use.  I have a few craft projects going on and this box is holding the spare parts and tools.  Not only does it look nice, it serves a purpose as well :)

 

 

 

The Lone Goose

 

I go to Lindo Lake every week.  During baby season, several times a week. I wish I could go daily, but I live about 20 miles away, so 40 miles round trip.  Not far, but during week days and San Diego traffic…eeek!  Plus I’m not a Rockefeller and at gas being over $4.00 a gallon, well let’s just say I WISH I could go every day, but I go whenever I can (at lease once a week).

 I love all the birds I encounter there.  But as I mentioned before the Canada Geese are my favorite, maybe because they know me and fly over to me, maybe because they’re just so beautiful and elegant, I’m not sure, but they are the ones I always seek out.  Several things have changed over the years.  They used to be one big flock, now they’re separated into groups and sometimes geese within these groups do not get along, but still they stick together.

 Which is why, when I see a lone goose, I get concerned.  They are never alone. Maybe not side by side of one another, but if there’s a goose, odds are their counterpart, mate, friend, sibling is near by.  Several weeks ago I saw a lone goose. Not only was he alone, but he was in an odd location.  He was at the far end of the small lake near the parking lot.  The Canada geese rarely venture over there and they sure don’t lie down and rest there.  I was about a hundred feet away when I saw him and I kept scanning for another one.  As I got closer I realized, not only was he alone, but he did not get up and walk towards me.  Now this is not my ego talking here. It’s not like I was thinking, “how dare he ignore me??!?”  All the Canada Geese walk, run, swim or fly over to me when they see me.  If they don’t do that, they at least give a half honk and their cute little grunt and look over at me.  But this loner, nothing.  I actually sat right in front of him, maybe two feet away and I as usual as I always do, started talking to him.  He looked at me, but once again, I got nothing as a response.  When I reached into my backpack for cracked corn he was not even fazed.  I knew something was wrong.  I continued to watch him and I saw his tired little eyes blink open and shut and then he stood up and reached his neck down and that’s when I saw it.  He had fishing line rapped around both legs and he was more or less hobbled.  By heart started pounding, I couldn’t leave him this way.  He couldn’t walk, he couldn’t swim. I had to help him.  I always carry scissors just for reasons like this.  Normally I see fishing line on one leg and that’s easy to cut away without the goose even noticing, but this was going to be more challenging.  I started looking around; I needed someone to help me.  I couldn’t hold him and cut the fishing line alone.  It was pretty early in the morning, but the usual dog walkers and walkers were always there, until now. There was no one to be seen.  I made an attempt to reach out and touch him and he jumped/half flew and landed in a thump. His tail end was near me and his legs were almost outstretched. I was thinking I could do it alone, but then I saw the blood all over his feathers.  There was a hook embedded in his foot and all his struggling had caused it to bleed.   I stood up frantically looking for someone and off in the distance I saw a man and woman walking their dog.  They were going to be my saviors.  (Well "Ricky's" saviors) 

  I asked them if they would help and the husband was more than willing.  I offered to hold the goose. I figured there’s a good chance this goose will bite when we hold him and I cannot ask a stranger to take the chance of getting bit.  I have never touched a goose before.  When I knelt down next to him, I reached out and put my hand on the center of his back and slowly rolled him towards me and then I slowly ran my hand down the front of his neck to hold him still.  Even in this moment, I could not help but notice; he was the softest thing I have ever touched.  He was softer than silk in my hands.  And at this point, he gave up fighting. I tucked him to my chest and he just laid there.  We got the fishing line and lure off his legs, but that darn hook was embedded.  The nice man helping tried to remove it but he was having no luck so we switched jobs and he held the goose while I tried to remove the hook.  By this time we had drawn quite a crowd, people were so happy we were helping the poor fellow.  Try as I might, the hook would not budge, blood was running down my hands and onto my arms and I had to stop.  Not that the sight of blood bothers me, I was hurting him and not making any progress.  Fortunately one of the spectators had some wire cutters in his trunk and he jumped into the fray.  Within moments the hook was out, we stepped back and gave him some room.  He took a deep breath, ruffled his feathers and just sat there.  I stepped further back and he stood up and started to walk.  He was limping of course, but he was heading to the water.  It was a good sign. I felt so good after that. Sure I was covered in blood and dirt, but if I had not walked that particular way (which normally I don’t) I never would have seen him and known something was wrong.  Most people would walk by and probably think he was fine, but me being hyper aware of their behavior, I knew something was wrong.

 The next day I had to check on him.  I wanted to make sure he was fairing well.  I walked around both lakes and saw no sign of the lone goose (or a limping goose)  and then I did see him, he was on a small little island by himself (meaning no other Canada Geese) he was with the Pelicans and Cormorants and he had his own little corner, right by the water and plenty of grass nearby.  I wasn’t concerned that he was alone; I figured it was a good place for him to re-hab.  He couldn’t very well run with an injured foot.  I went to check on him several more times after work and the small little group of three became four again and Ricky had re-joined his comrades.  

Bottles Nests & More Bottles

                                                       BOTTLES, NESTS, & MORE BOTTLES

i have an addiction...altering bottles, jars, cans, but mostly, bottles.

but it's not just bottles.  i have a thing about nests.  not just during the spring. All the time

needless to say....I'm running out of room.

this was green with pink eggs 99cent store purchase, i think i looks much better now...

who doesn't love reindeer moss and eggs?

this was glass heart shaped candy dish...i just saw another excuse for a nest

a birdhouse without a nest and egg?  Nonsense

can you tell i have a thing for birds?

The Salton Sea

Back in March i took a three hour drive to the Salton Sea.  I had never been there, but a friend had recently

gone and commented on "All the Birds" there.  I became intrigued and figured, I've never been and it was

about time.

Some people refer to the Salton Sea as a "birder's paradise" or "an ocean in the desert?" or

a "wasteland"  or "ecological disaster"

Is the Salton Sea deserted? Perhaps by people (in some areas) but there are people that do

live near and around this enormous sea in the desert, BUT the birds are everywhere.  I cannot

look at a location and see so much wildlife and consider said place "deserted" or "dead"

But there was death, A LOT OF IT!!  from a distance as you walk up you see what appear

to be white beaches.  As you start walking on the shore you realize this is not sand at all...

What is it then?  Well, crushed barnacle shells, salt, some sand, but mostly and abundantly, Dead fish :(

i was surrounded by thousands upon thousands of dead fish, most were skeleton, bleached by the

hot desert sun, but there were  a few "fresher"ones.  I had no idea this was here and i wanted to

know why.  well, since i was the only one there, this data was going to have to wait until i got home.

so i tried to focus on the beautiful living creatures who were not only there, but seemingly flourishing

all the birds did not seem to like my presence, so i had to keep my distance, but they were

all a sight to see.

later that night when i got home, i found there was no huge fish massacre, there was no plague, the Salton

Sea is simply too salty for the fish to survive and something to do with the algae taking all the oxygen and the fish suffocating. Sad indeed. Upon my research i found many a website and

chat room where people feel the Salton Sea should be destroyed or filled in. That it serves no purpose.  Look above at those birds, do you think they believe their home serves no purpose?  I doubt it.

On the way home i stopped off at Anza Borrego, i just did a short walkabout, but managed

to get a photo of this little California Gnatcatcher.

All the animals & beauty i saw this day made the 7+ hours of driving (and almost a tank of gas) well worth it.  Unfortunately, the desert is the place you go to in the winter or early spring, NO other time. Unless of course you don't mind 115-120+ degrees, which i admit I'm a wuss and i do.

Canada Geese

 

I LOVE Canada Geese!  many people call them "mean" or a "nuisance"  i say, you're crazy!  I love these beautiful creatures.  When i was about 10 years old, my mom would take my sister and I to Lindo Lake to feed the ducks.  About 5 years ago, i got this idea to see if Lindo Lake still had birds.  I hadn't been there in over 25 years and i found it simply by memory and  i will say, i have been back every weekend since then.  No matter how i feel, sad, sick, just blahhh, i can go to Lindo Lake and just feel peace and happiness.  They are not the only lovely birds there, but i have a special affection for them.  I learned the hard way do not approach a Canada Goose during nesting season.  I simply didn't understand the fellow's body language.  I in turn was bit twice in the legs.  Not just a little nibble mind you, i had two gaping wounds on both legs, but i learned my lesson.  I couldn't be angry at him (who would later be known to me a "Sid") He was protecting his mate and there future offspring.  But now i just know their body language and i haven't been bit since :)
 

when i started going there, there were 12 geese, now (with this year's babies, so far) there is 23.  A few have left with a visiting winter flock.  I love these geese, I've named many (and can usually only tell them apart by their personality) I love the fact that they know me as well.  I can be on the other side of the lake and they'll see me and they'll start honking and either swim, fly or run over to me.  It's really hard to try and hide while trying to get a picture of a hawk or Mandarin Duck because those Canada geese will see me and start making a whole lot of noise and scare my potential photo subject away.  I do not mind,  my babies know me and  know that i have cracked corn in my backpack.

The first babies arrived on 4/16/13 (earlier than usual)

i was lucky enough to come on the day that they hatched. This is Nancy (Sid's mate) and her little brood.  Sid was to my right and allowed me to sit with the babies for some time.  Sadly there are only 3 babies now. That always seems to happen :(  One little one won't survive the first week.

This lovely lady (Lucia) just laid her eggs on 4/20.  i was lucky enough to see her actually lay an egg.

She and her mate Ezra are very protective of their nest and i cannot wait to see those babies hatch in approx 30 days.

Soon there should be baby mallards and baby wood ducks....i cannot wait!!