All better now!

I have recently become aware of a teeny tiny glitch on my website that was preventing anyone from outside of Illinois to purchase from The Little Brown Bird. I'm very sorry for the inconvenience! Be assured, the problem has now been fixed and once again, all items from The Little Brown Bird can be purchased by anyone on the planet!

I hope you will stop back soon and take a browse through all the new items that I will be posting from my upcoming Spring 2011 collection.

As always, thank you all for supporting me and my hopeless addiction to all things shiny. I'd love to know what items strike your fancy the most, please comment. And I hope you take the time to share links to your favorite items from the site with your friends, or build your own wish list. Spread the love!

Love to all!

XOXO

Mary

Lost in Transition

There will be no pictures with this post. LOL! You do NOT want to see my studio right now!

For the past few weeks, I've been moving my studio and reorganizing everthing. You know, so I can work faster, find everything easier. I'm in the process of moving my studio to another space and, well, I can't find anything!

I have been organizing tools and supplies into drawers to make the space a bit cleaner. Each drawer set is designated for a specific technique or craft. Sounds like a really organized operation, doesn't it?

However, as an artist, I believe in a different sort of "organization system". I've been so used to my stacks of very highly "organized" piles. I'm definately one of those out of sight, out of mind people.

I will soon have the cleanest, most organized studio in which not a single thing can be found!

LOL!!!!!!!

(sound familiar to any of my artist friends?)

Experimenting with Metal Etching

I'm always looking for new techniques to try out, stretching my imagination, and pushing the boundaries of what I think I'm capable.

This time I wanted to experiment with etching metal.

There are a few techniques that can be used to etch metals such as copper, brass, or bronze.
For this first try, I used an etching solution. (Next time I will try a less toxic form of etching)


I started with a small piece of scrap copper sheet and sanded it with 600 grit sand paper.
Then I cleaned the copper off using an acetone solution to make sure any film, grit, or coating was removed.

Next, I needed a "resist" with which to apply my design on the metal. There are other methods that will allow me to produce my own unique designs, but for this project I used an ink stamp pad to stamp a design onto my piece of copper and let it dry for about 5 to 10 minutes. I laid the copper down on a large piece of tape, covering the back side so the etchant would not effect it, and left a long piece of tape extending so that I could retrieve the piece from the solution more easily.

After submerging the copper into the etchant solution, I used a small air bubbler to agitate the liquid, constantly exposing new metal to the etchant. (Keep a cover over the container to prevent splashing!)

As the etchant wears away at the copper piece, the areas covered with the resist will remain untouched.

After about 20-30 minutes, the design was etched into the metal. I used acetone to remove the remaining resist.

After a bit of sanding, cleaning, and applying a heat patina, I think I ended up with a pretty cool test piece! I can't wait to get started on one of my original designs!

By Little Brown Bird

New Year, New Metal

It's a new year so I thought I would challenge myself by working with a new metal (for me). I have been dying to try using bronze metal clay. It's a totally different texture than the silver that I'm used to, making it a bit different to work with. But so far, I'm hooked. I've done a few trial and error (mostly error) pieces so far. But with practice, I think this will be a medium I will keep using for a long time.






This is one of my first pieces. I call it Archeology for obvious reasons. This piece was probably over heated to achieve the affect, but I kind of like it. It's rustic, interesting, and it looks like it has a story that's dying to be told. One of a kind, of course.

This piece will be listed soon in my shop LittleBrownBird on Etsy, and on my website The Little Brown Bird.

Buy Handmade for the Holidays

In a time when people are feeling the pinch from the economy, it's important to remember the things for which we are thankful. Family, friends, furbabies; these are the things that make our lives rich.

Yet, it's also at this time of year that we want to show our appreciation to those loved ones. Sure, we could camp out in line for the all early bird deals at the big box stores, or spend hard earned cash on the latest video game or "Tickle Me Elmo". But do those things really mean something? Will that gift that they begged for be sitting in a closet somewhere in a month, a week, by the end of the day?

"I like the idea of the handmade Christmas...shopping not just to consume, but to get gifts that are more unique and special because they're handmade. Supporting individuals rather than large companies feels much more meaningful in this economy, when everyone is having a hard time financially."~ Julia from Juliaa

ITS aMAZEing Topaz Teardrop Garnet and Tanzanite Pendant

by JewelrybySolange

Let me suggest getting them something that will be treasured long after the holidays are over.

When you invest in a gift that is carefully and skillfully handcrafted by an artisan, you are investing in something that may become a treasured heirloom. Artists take great pride in the work they create. Ask any artisan, no matter what their genre, and they will tell you that it is the love of their art, their heart and soul that is within every piece they create.

Bali Style Lampwork and Sterling Silver Bracelet

by stoutdg2

"I love the look and feel of homemade products. They just feel like more love and care has been put into them for the most part. There are so many unique things that people make. I love unique, colorful and different things."~ Judy from jemsbyjbandcompany

"Hands down, the handcrafted items are superior in construction, design, and spirit. And I speak about ALL types of items from paper goods to scarves, clothing, bird houses, etc., not just jewelry. The inherent care and pride cannot be purchased over the counter – unless, of course, it’s handmade!"~ Pam from cooljewelrydesign

Many artisans will even create custom works just for you. These are truly unique, one of a kind pieces that will hold a special place in the heart of its recipient.

Three Tags Custom Name or Number Nephrite Jade Silver Necklace

by ovgilliesdesigns

"I like to support small businesses by buying something personally handmade directly from the artist. Cut out the big box stores and get something special, direct from the artist's hands to you."~ Mary from LittleBrownBird

The holidays are upon us and I haven't even begun thinking about what gifts I might be giving the loved ones in my life. Whatever those gifts will be I know three things: that they will be special, they will be made with love, and they will be handmade.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

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All of the pieces shown above and many others from the Jewelry on Etsy Team can be found by searching JETTEAM in the search box on Etsy's home page.

Jewelry on Etsy Team Trunk Show

The Jewelry on Etsy Team will be having a team-wide on line Trunk Show on Sunday, November 21, 2010.

Come meet this wonderful team of talented jewelry artisans, share some laughs, and view the collections. It's a fantastic way to interact with the artists while checking off items for that ever growing holiday gift list. The show will be at 8pm EST in the Virtual Labs on Etsy. Team members will be featuring some of their favorite works, tell us how they were made, and ready to answer any questions LIVE!

This show was a huge hit last year so come early and grab a seat in the virtual lab. You don't want to miss a thing! You must be a registered Etsy user to participate. It only takes a minute to register, but then you can come join the fun, mark your favorites, and purchase on the spot during the show!

And, as always, you can view beautiful handmade jewelry from the entire Jewelry on Etsy Team by searching JETTEAM in the search box on Etsy's home page.

Spotlight On: JemsByJBandCompany

Judy and Bill of Jems by JB and Company have a fine eye for detail. I love the mix of gemstones and silver in their wonderful bracelets, necklaces and earrings.

The use of color in this Etsy shop is so refreshing! Isn't this bracelet just yummy for summer?

Looking through JemsbyJBandCompany is like walking through a candy shop and you just can't help but want to sample everything!

I encourage you to check out this shop full of wonders.

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Jemsbyjbandcompany is a fellow member of the Jewelry on Etsy Team (JET). You can find more items from talented JET members by searching JETTEAM in the search box at the top of Etsy's home page.