A New Birdhouse

Tom and I prototyped this little hanging birdhouse this week.....and I rather like it. It will be a second attempt to use reclaimed corrugated roofing steel for a birdhouse roof. Our first attempt failed as each time we tried to bend the metal to make a peak it snapped. Since the angle is shallower on this birdhouse we are hoping it will work. I painted it with layers of dribbles, swirls and drops. My favorite way to paint lately.

We've been making a few mirrors this winter. They take a little time but I love them! The flowers are made of salvaged roofing tin, ceiling tin, and embellished with reclaimed copper grounding wire and chunky ceramic beads that I found in a St. Vincent de Paul resale shop several years ago. I bought a big box full of them (they are vintage beads made for macrame projects. Flash from the past). Sometimes it takes a while to find just the right application for something like that. This funky lime green one will be shipped to Eureka Springs, Arkansas in a couple of weeks. You can see it at Wilson and Wilson Folk Art.

Here's another picture of the new gift shop.

It doesn't have a name yet........I love the

name Higgledy Piggledy but I'm getting

pushback from Tom. I don't think he can

imagine himself saying it!

Who can resist a little green tree frog? Thanks to my friend Blakeley Wilson at Wilson & Wilson Folk Art in Arkansas for this idea. She has a fantastic funky store in Eureka Springs and does amazing artwork with her Mother. A must-see shop if you're in the area! (She is also a great customer and carries a wide selection of our stuff). wilsonandwilsonfolkart.com

Winter's the time to create for the spring and summer seasons. It's hard to get in the mood for summer when there's 10-foot piles of snow in the parking lot and I'm wearing layers and layers of turtlenecks, fleece and down to stay warm! Temps are in the low 30's here this week (HEAT WAVE!). It gives us all hope that Spring could indeed arrive.

I am working on a display area in my studio this winter. Hours will be by chance or by appointment for now but perhaps before too long I can keep some regular hours. I hope to have an open house in the spring for my local fans.

Steel Hearts on a 4-foot tall stake, lovely in a garden or clustered with a birdhouse or flowers.

Corrugated Hearts

Our whimsical hearts are made from recycled corrugated roofing tin and painted with abandon....drizzles, spatters and swirls. My shop floor and shoes look the same after a few batches of these!