The Opulent Swan

Here is one of the pieces I've recently reworked. She was much simpler before, with just a rose in her hair but I decided to give her a decidedly more Elizabethan/ Renaissance look with an ornate neck collar and beaded hairnet.
My inspiration? I blame my recent devouring of the BBC's, "Robin Hood" as well as my summer trip to London for this :)

That bend in the beak lends itself perfectly to a regal profile, don't you think?

The body and collar are composed of 3 different types of silk.

"Charmed, I'm sure." Haha, jk.

She is available at: https://www.etsy.com/listing/168370929/the-opulent-swan

Come to the Greenpointers Love Birds Valentine's Market

Perhaps some of you have noticed the inactivity in my Etsy shop these days, this is mainly due to my preparation for The Greenpointers "Love Birds Valentine's Market". It's going to be my first public appearance as a shop so spread the word and come on by!

 

I'll be spliting a table with my Bf & his sister's company, Shooting Stars Weddings, the wedding offshoot of his photo and video agency which I work with occasionally. Here is an example of a Super 8mm movie in case you're in the Tri-state area and are looking for a videographer ;).

I'll be making an Etsy update after the fair.  I know that cuts me out of the Valentine's Etsy hype but my pieces take so much time and effort I wasn't about to attempt to double up quantities or risk a double sale, (plus,  I thought I'd offer first dibs to the market). Besides stitched work, I will also have some trinkets and the postcard packs I had printed up a few weeks ago,

And of course I reserved some of the stickers for decorative use for my materials,

Besides the other recent pieces I blogged, I figured I had to make at least one red-rose adorned rococo swan,

And a black lace, lingerie inspired bird too,

The lace motif in the tail is extended onto the body with embroidery

Holiday Ornaments

I made a few ornaments for the holiday season and put them up in my shop as a "choose one" listing, what do you think, tree worthy?

Vintage rhinestones

Vintage rhinestones

Hand burned flower

I thought the last one would make a good little "French Hen" (as in "3 French hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree",) but Will said it looked like a shrimp x_x .


If you'd like to get one, they're available here, (if you don't mind shrimp on your tree *rolls eyes*):

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88072191/one-silk-bird-ornament-of-your-choice




I've also been busy gift searching for the holiday and found so many adorable/ pretty things, I was inspired to make a couple treasuries to share my findings, click them and look around!:

Treasury: "Super Sweet Cookie Jars" by me

Treasury: "Snow Princess, Dreaming" by me

The Birds That Were Reserved

Spent the earlier part of the week (or the later part of the weekend) getting orders together. Besides the birds I've featured and distributed to Etsy, here are pictures of the rest of the flock minus two.
These have all been reserved, either from in-progress shot inquiries or for consignment.

Possibly my most classically pretty bird, she's on the big side. Makes me think I should range size more often.

The dupioni silk really made a difference with this one, so shiny, quite different.

Coincidentally, I started this one around St. Patrick's day.

A little less slick than my crowned swan but I think the ostentatious air lends itself to the extra stitches, folds & leaves

Of all of them, this one gets the title of "Miss Congeniality"

Right now there are just two birds left from my sewing spree, one that will make it's debut by the end of the week (the little one with pearls) and one I'll be releasing around my birthday (the 29th). That one is a mystery bird I haven't shown any photos of, the theme is "gilded". It was kind of an afterthought, a last minute add on but it definitely stands out and makes a good finishing piece for this flock.

I'm curious to know if there were any stand-outs or favorites from the past month of birds cause I definitely feel I went in a few different directions and developed my sewing too.

Oh, p.s. no, I'm not done with birds for the rest of my life but I could definitely use a break to work on my other projects :X

Etsy Shop Update: The Easter Bird

Available now,

What do you think?

Also, I was featured in this lovely treasury:

"Muddy Springtime" treasury by valerie72molnar

I love that there are a lot of usable items in this one. Terrariums, cat toys, the bird nesting ball is one of my faves for concept.

Oh yeah, and happy April Fools Day!
I don't really celebrate it but maybe some of you do, in which case "go get um!" (unless you planned on getting me, in which case "don't.")

Work in Progress: more from the flock of birds

Before all the birds are fully photographed and decidedly distributed, here's a little backtrack to a growing flock:

Amusing myself while making legs

The most birds I've ever queued to date (also: see cat in window)

Thought these three looked particularly good together, like a Cream Court

Once I've photographed them all (for details and etc), it will be decided if any make it to consignment and the rest will be released incrementally, (primarily via my Etsy). I *might* end up adding a couple more to the group because after this spree, I'm going to take a break from individually sold birds (includes bird pairs) and work on some unfinished dolls and longer term projects so if anyone was interested in birds, now is the time to keep an eye out.


On another note, I was also featured in a few treasuries :)  :



"echos of nature" treasury by Ampaden


 "Birds of a Feather a pif treasury" treasury by my4sisters






"On The Bonnie Bonnie Banks" treasury by KogoShuko

Shop Update: The Swans + special free offer

I've listed this in my shop, a mother and baby swan.
They're available here in my Etsy shop: Swan Pair listing on Etsy

But not only that!
I wanted to offer a special free gift for blog followers:

Purchase this swan duo and receive:

My tiniest little rococo bird!
(Approx 1 inch tall x 2 inches from beak to tail)

Just enter the code: sacrab1 in the msg/notes to seller at checkout and I will include this tiny little silk and beaded bird in your package for free with no additional shipping fees.

Only applicable for purchase of "The Swans" and you must enter the code, this offer is not advertised through the listing, it's exclusive only to blog viewers ;)



I can't make these deals available for all listings (obviously, my fingers would fall off!) but keep an eye out for: first dibs sales via the blog, exclusive blog purchase items, special previews with release dates for my Etsy shop and other give aways such as this. I definitely want to spice it up a little, as well as thank you all for being fantastic!

New Rococo Bird- Etsy Shop Updates

I made a new Rococo bird and "made-over" another. I'll be focusing on some consignment pieces for a while so shop updates will be slowed till March.

But you can get these, annnd there's a felt sale in  my Etsy shop too, so go and pick out something nice for yourself, be it silk or felt ;)

Looking wistful (can you tell I'm having fun with the wigs?)

The coloring reminds me of the flat, creamy "Barry Lyndon" look

Ruffle Tailed Rococo Bird on Etsy

Marie Antoinette wig makeover

Pink Hearts Rococo Bird on Etsy


Ah and check out the Etsy Treasury my cake topper was featured in:

"Regency Wedding" by bubbletime

Valentine's Day Sneakpeek/ Presale

Before I make listings for these birds (and other goods) in my shop, I'm offering them for presale here on a first come, first serve basis. They will be listed on Saturday (1/22) on Etsy and will be a slightly higher price to reflect fees (so get them now hehe).

White bird w/ flowers: 64 + shipping SOLD
Pink bird w/ hearts: *must now be purchased via etsy at a later date*


Shipping is  $3.5 u.s.a.   |    $4.5 international
Payment must be made via PayPal or personal check. Shipping within 3 days of cleared payment.
Please direct questions and orders to: crystalasuh@gmail.com

The Rococo Bird

Sold before I got a chance to blog- but that's fine by me ;p

Silk puffy wig, mix-matched feet and slippers.

holding a lace mask

mixmatched legs

indecent!

Original Etsy Listing: Rococo Bird

This post is brought to you by the letter "A"

Adorable, agreeable, amiable, "A"































"A"vailable on Etsy: Alphabet Bird "A"

Pink Bird- with a tail like a peony

 

Here's one of my latest- she already has a home! I made the bow front first and wanted to mimic the same with the tail but as it was forming, I let it get tighter, more circular and it turned out like a peony. This got me thinking, I'd like to make a small garden of birds as well as a formal bow-tail bird. So much to do!

This Post Is Brought To You By The Letter "E"

I hope to eventually make an entire alphabet with each bird being an individiual with their own personality. 



As you can see, this one is a little self-important.





Get this on Etsy: Eloquent "E"