The Artful Bird

The Artful Bird - Feathered Friends To Make And Sew
Abigail Patner Glassenberg

So how many of you bird folks out there are crafters? How many like to sew? How many would like to try their hand at something like that? Well here is your opportunity. I was asked to participate in a blog tour and review this book. What a privilege! I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and sincerely admire many of the Artful Birds I find in it.. Below are a trio of delightful Wrens.
This bird is my favorite hands down. And since I have a piece of wood with a woodpecker hole in it, I think I'll have to give this bird a try. I have been sewing for many years, although it's come in and out of my life depending on my time and interests. I made a Christmas goose once.The photographs and how the finished birds are displayed are most enjoyable. I could collect them all.. thing is, could I make them all?
I love the fabric style she chose for the birds main body. I have been known to have a pretty good sized fabric stash - this new hobby could take that to new heights for sure.
The book has fabulous instructions, illustrated every step of the way. A very complete needs list, including tools, fabric and other necessities for making these birds. There are even a couple of interviews with other soft sculpture artists at the end of the book which I really enjoyed. Although at first the birds looked difficult to make, upon reading the instructions, I am sure I could tackle one and come out with a masterpiece!

I included this beautiful Flamingo for my sister Lauren. She is also handy with a sewing machine, and I'm sure could turn out a bird as lovely as this.
I'm always on the lookout for interesting bird art, and I love quality hand made products. This book would give the serious crafter a great foundation for making Artful Birds, but also has the ability to sensibly guide the newbie crafter into being a successful Soft Sculptor.

For more information and where to purchase this delightful book go here and check it out.

To see what other bloggers have to say, visit the Blog Tour:

14-Feb While She Naps (Wellesley, MA)

15-Feb Swallowfield (Northeast Harbor, ME)

16-Feb Checkout Girl Crafts (Portland, ME)

17-Feb MummySam (Niskayuna, NY)

18-Feb Little Love Blue (Atlanta, GA)

19-Feb iheartlinen (Stone Mountain, GA)

21-Feb ClothPaperScissors.com (Stowe, MA)

22-Feb Elsie Marley (Madison, WI)

23-Feb Birds O' The Morning (Loveland, CO)

24-Feb Shiso Mama (Berkeley, CA)

25-Feb Craftsanity (Grand Rapids, MI)

26-Feb Geninne's Art Blog (Queretaro, Mexico)

1-Mar One Red Robin (Australia)

2-Mar WhipUp.net (Australia)

3-Mar Handmade Crafternoon at NYPL (New York, NY)

4-Mar Facebook @IWBooks (Loveland, CO)

5-Mar MimiKirchner (Arlington, MA)


(Interweave Press provided me with a book to review)

And The Lucky Winner IS....

Number THREE

Bosque Bill!!

Congratulations Bill! My daughter Maggie made the numbers and I shook the bowl good before she drew. Email me your mailing address and I will get the book shipped out.
Thank you all for participating, and check back for our March giveaway!

Below is Bill's answer to the question:

What was the first bird you remember identifying all by your self?

A surprisingly difficult question :) When I was a kid my mom identified the common birds in the yard or mountains and taught them to me. When I started birding as an adult, it was with the local Audubon Society and they identified what we were seeing until I got my metaphorical feet under me.

But in between, after I first moved to the SF Bay Area I became interested in the birds flying above the lagoon next to my apartment. I bought the Audubon Society Field Guide, the one with all the photographs, and identified a Caspian Turn. So I'll call that as the first one I did on my own.

I'm sure Donald & Lillian's book is much better and hope I'm lucky ;)

Surviving Spinach

Seriously, I planted this spinach on December 2nd last year. Look at it!

Mini-Dachshunds - Best Dogs Ever

Aslan's Own Dachshunds: Announcing a pending litter between:

IABCA INT'L CH UKC CH Doxikota's Winifred Foster MW (AKC pointed) and

GCH INT'L CH UKC CH Rumor's Leon's Last Wish v Ruger MW

We expect a litter with exceptional conformation, temperaments, gameness, and wonderful wire coats. There is also the possibility of smooth coats from this breeding. If you would like more information, please email me.

Tucker has exceptional movement and a rock-solid topline. He has multiple AKC group placements, multiple IABCA International Best In Show wins, and multiple UKC Best In Show wins. He was also the National Miniature Dachshund Club's 2009 Best of Variety winner.

His CHIC #44967

Tucker taking a BIS win at a UKC show.

Tucker's Sire is: DC Sunrise Maximus V Ruger MW. Bred and owned by Dawn-Reneé Mack of Ruger Dachshunds.

His Dam is: Moriah's Rumor's Oopsy-Do MW

Winnie - Best In Sweeps, Columbine Dachshund Club August of 2008.

Winnie's sire is: DC Doxikota Brick Beachhouse MS.

Her dam is: DC Doxikota Deja Pooh MW SE.

Both bred and owned by Pam Bethke at Doxikota.

Winnie had a fabulous weekend at her first UKC shows. Out of 5 shows she went Reserve Best In Show twice and Best In Show once - finishing her UKC Championship out of the Best In Show classes!

She also completed her IABCA International Championship.

She is pointed in AKC - we will resume working toward her AKC championship later this summer.

We also intend on working towards her Earthdog Title this year. Winnie shows much gameness, and no squirrel is safe in her presence.

Winnie LOVES snow!

Winnie at one year took Best Of Variety and went on to win a Puppy Group Three, her first weekend out showing. Her BOV would have been her first Major - except a dog was excused for snapping at the judge making the potential 3 point major to a 2 point win.

Monthly Bird Book Giveaway - February!

The Stoke's Field Guide To The Birds Of North America

This month's Book Giveaway is courtesy of Don & Lillian Stokes.
When I wrote to them asking about using their book and getting a signed copy, next thing I knew a book was in my mailbox. I was fully prepared and expecting to pay for this book, but after several emails, finally got the message.

So thank you Don & Lillian!

I received my personal copy from one of my daughters for Christmas and I love this book. Tons of great photographs, maps and text. This is one you want for sure. Go here for a nice review by 10,000 Birds.

So you wanna win this SIGNED by the authors book? Leave a comment here on my blog in answer to this question:

What was the first bird you remember identifying all by your self?

Comments MUST be posted by Friday February, 18th at 6:00 PM Mountain time. If you must sign in as anonymous - I MUST have your name or a way to contact you.
If you are having difficulty in leaving a comment.. please email me zblueheron AT Gmail DOT Com. I will add you to the mix.

Winner will be randomly chosen.. the numbers in the hat thing, OK?

Swans Up Close And Personal

Found this through BirdChick. It is awesome.

So I like birds, OK?

Not to long ago, some friends I know were giving away a pair of Parakeets. "Sure" I said, "We'll take them." So Draco (normal green) and Marley (white w/blue) came into our home.

They were in a ridiculously small cage, so of course I hit Craigslist and cruised the ads for a decent cage. Found one all right. It happened to come with two more Parakeets, but heck it was only $50 and quite nice. These two beautiful yellow pied birds joined our clan - I named them Wesley and Buttercup.

Wesley, Draco, Buttercup and Marley

Then they did something I did not expect. They wife swapped. Guess it wasn't true love for Wesley and Buttercup after all.

So I had to get nest boxes, and had to set up their cage for it. Next thing I knew I was spending hours watching bird behavior right in my office. The reactions to putting the nest boxes up were immediate. Mine! Mine! Marley claimed the first box and defended it from Buttercups advances.

Then Buttercup found the other box and peace was restored.

Well, until the boys got involved. Anyhow, long story short, we have two nests with 5 babies total. What a fascinating thing to watch.

We had eggs..Then we had babies..
And now they are growing so fast..
(check out the full yellow crop of the baby on the left)
I found this sight one early morning. For a split second I thought they were DEAD. Nope, just totally crashed out sleeping.. I've never seen anything like this..
Ugly or cute?
Definitely cute.
Marley's babies are a beautiful pale yellow. Their skin is much lighter than Buttercup's batch. They look lighter than their father, too.
Somebody's growing up.
(he teetered and plopped into my lap immediately after this photo was taken!)
I didn't realize how interesting it would be to have birds in my house. I've had pet birds before, but this time their life and behavior really grabbed me.

I may have a couple of these babies available if anyone is interested. We're handling them a lot so they should be great pets.

I wonder, do any of you have pet birds? Now or in the past? How do or did they help you learn more about the incredible life of birds? Tell me!