Handmade Artists Forum - This Weeks Feature

This week I have a very special place to tell you about Handmade Artist's Forum (HAF for short). To start off here is a littler history. Andrew and Kimberly Kitchen a husband and wife team and lovers of the handmade are the creators of HAF. One of their crafting loves is Chainmaille which lead them to join a team to talk about the craft. Andrew and Kimberly offered to start a forum on one of the sites to make communication easier. After the idea being turned down by these sites Andrew decided to go ahead and set up a forum anyway. The original Forum was just a page on ChainmailleByMBOI Andrews Chainmaille site. They did not want to limit the forum to chainmaillers, so they opened it up to anyone who created, loved and sold handmade. they encouraged people to share the links to their shops and blogs and promoted the members on social media. Before they knew it the membership had grown to include people from all over the world. Now it has grown to include a blog and a place to set up a shop.

One of the special things about Handmade Artist Forum is the friendly people you meet here. In the forum there are all kinds of  discussions going on. We talk about what we are crafting, business issues, what's going on in life. Sharing what you have created, and supporting each other in what every way is needed. The forum  supports and promotes handmade and handmade artists. It is a great place to make new friends. I invite you to stop in and have a look around and feel the warm, friendly atmosphere. General Discussion is a great place to start.

Gourd Birdhouse A Natural Choice

With the increase in building and logging, natural nesting sites such as holes in trees, are disappearing. As a result we are seeing a dwindling of beneficial birds. Replacing these nesting sites with humane supplies natural housing is becoming important.

Birds will use the same nesting site year after year once they find a nice place to nest. Keep the birdhouse in good shape and cleaned out after the season, and your feathered friend will return to raise another family.

Gourds make excellent natural homes and are more likely to attract birds than manufactured birdhouses. It is also helpful if you provide some nesting material near by. Corn fodder, string, long grasses, twigs, mud and even hair make great nesting materials. With the right size hole and proper placement you should be able to attract and provide a lovely home for your feathered friends. Gourds hung in the early spring will fill up fast.
I have been watching them bring nesting materials to one I have hanging off the end of my awning.

This chart give the hole size and ground height for cavity nesting birds

Bird Species	Diameter of Hole	Height above Ground
	(inches)	(feet)
Bluebird	1-1/2"	5-10
Chickadee	1-1/8"	6-15
Titmouse	1-1/4"	6-15
Nuthatch	1" - 1-1/4"	6-10
Bewick's Wren	1-1/4"	6-10
Carolina Wren	1-1/2"	6-10
Swallow	1-1/2"	10-15
Downy Woodpecker	1-1/4"	6-20
Hairy Woodpecker	1-1/2"	12-20
Purple Martin	special crescent	12-20
Crested Flycatcher	2"	8-20
Flicker	2-1/2"	6-20
Red-Headed Woodpecker	2"	12-20
Barn Swallow	OPEN SIDES	8-12
Phoebe	OPEN SIDES	8-12
Robin	OPEN SIDES	6-15

Information from Amishgourds

The following are some of the gourds I decorated and are available in my Handmade Artists Shop.

BirdHouse with Large Eagle Feathers

Gourd Birdhouse with eagle feathers wood burned on it.

Any bird would be proud to call this gourd birdhouse home. The entrance hole is 1 1/4 inches. Sealed for outdoor use, with drainage holes and ready to hang with a Copper hanger.

Approximate size: 11 1/2 inches tall by 5 inches wide

                                                

BirdHouse with Feathers Burned Around the Hole

Gourd birdhouse with copper hanger and decorated with wood burned feathers circling th hole.

Any bird would be proud to call this gourd birdhouse home. The entrance hole is 1 1/2 inches. Sealed for outdoor use, with drainage holes and ready to hang with a Copper hanger.

Approximate size: 10 inches tall by 5 1/2 inches wide


                                     

                                           Gourd BirdHouse with Butterfly Dragonfly and Bee

Gourd birdhouse with wood burned butterfly, dragonfly and bee.

Any bird would be proud to call this gourd birdhouse home. A butterfly,The entrance hole is 1 1/4 inches. Sealed for outdoor use, with drainage holes and ready to hang with a Copper hanger.

Approximate size: 6 1/2 inches tall by 5 1/2 inches wide

                                    

                                       Gourd Birdhouse with Butterflies Dragonflies and Bees

Gourd Birdhouse with wood burning.

Any bird would be proud to call this gourd birdhouse home. Butterflies, dragonflies and bees are burned on this lovely gourd bird house. The entrance hole is 1 3/4 inches. Sealed for outdoor use, with drainage holes and ready to hang with a wire hanger. 

Approximate size: 8 1/2 inches tall by 10 inches wide




Thank you for reading my post about gourd birdhouses. I hope you will invite some feathered friends into your world this spring. Please feel free to leave a comment below.

We Are the Featured Artist

This week we are the featured artists for the Blog ring at Handmade Artists Forum. I would like to take this opportinity to thank all these bloggers who have written such wonderful posts for us.

John from Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry wrote this wonderful post  Wyndwalker Creations- Featured Artist for us.

Debbie and Roger from Thunder Rose Leather wrote this beautiful post Featured Artist Karen Wheeler From Wyndwalker Creations for us.

Alix from The Alchemists Vessel wrote this amazing post Featured Artists - Wyndwalker Creations for us.

Sarah from Finding Charm wrote this fabulous post Handmade Artist: Wyndwalk Creations for us.

Pam from A Bead Thing wrote this marvelous post Wyndwalker Creations for us.

Debbie from Yankee Burrow Creations wrote this terrific post Handmade Artists Feature...Wyndwalker for us.

April from Brooklyn Bead Goddess wrote this great post Featuring This Week Feb 17-24 Wyndwalker Creations for us.

Thunder Rose Leather - Featured Artist

This weeks featured artist from Handmade Artists Shop is Debbie and John Rogers of Thunder Rose Leather. They are buckskin and beadwork artists living outside Sedona Az. In their shop you will find custom leather handbags and beadwork. Everything in their shop at HandmadeArtists is made to order. They have twenty years of leather and beadwork experience. Their joy of making beautiful pieces of functional art for their customers is seen in the beautiful products they produce.

Newborn baby moccasins

 These little beaded baby moccasins are so cute

Beaded dragonfly on leather smartphone bag

Such a lovely beaded dragonfly on this fringed smartphone bag.

Beaded two tone leather bag

Thier are so many lovely bags to choose from.
They can also be found at the following locations
http://www.thunderrose.etsy.com/
http://www.facebook.com/thunderrosecreations
http://www.thunderroseleather.blogspot.com/
http://www.thunderroseleather.com/

Best of all they have A sale going on right now  <<Winter Sale>> Use coupon code THUNDERROSE at checkout for  20% off.

Thank you for stopping by. Please leave your comment below and share this post.

Featured Artist The Alchemists Vessel

This weeks article is about Alixandra, or as I know her Alix. She is the designer and owner of The Alchemists Vessel on Handmade Artist's Shop. She handcrafts with meticulous and loving care, Chainmaille, Sterling Silver ans Semi-precious Gemstone Jewelry. Specializing in unique handcrafted collectible artisan creations. Her creations speak for themselves.

Monochromatic Gunmetal and Silver Glass Bead Necklace Set

Gunmetal wire and matching Silver matte glass beads complete this Chain Maille parure, or matching set of jewelry.  Woven in the European pattern, this collar has matching earrings.  Would look simply smashing with that Little Black Cocktail dress!  Lacey, Light and airy, easy to wear!

16" long, it rests along the decollete (decolletage), accentuating the lovely curve of neck and shoulders.  These are fabulous when worn, pictures just do not do them justice!

Dragon Tears Micro Maille Earrings

3/4" Long.  In Chinese mythology, Pearls are thought to be "Dragon's Tears" they represent light and purity.  In Eygptian culture only Royalty were allowed to wear them, as they were a symbol of the power and purity of the Gods.  Today they still represent Light, and purity and are worn by young women when getting married, or as a gift meant as a symbol of growing up.

These are cute, fun and may be made in a vareity of metal choices and semi-precious gemstones.  Try pairing them with the bracelet "Golden Thread"

Crafted from 24kt Colored Copper jewelery wire, the wire contains no gold content whatsoever.  Fresh Water Pearls are A grade from White Lotus Pearl Farm.

Kissed Fresh Water Pearl and Garnet Set

Suspended from a short length of Sterling Silver chain with a Lobster Claw clasp, and strung on Sterling Silver beading wire, Fresh Water Pearls are interrupted by Genuine Garnet beads, and three (3) Genuine Garnets that drip from the side on the end of Sterling Silver chain.  Makes a fabulous present for the avid Ttwilight Fan.

Matching earrings are inlcluded.

Star Bright Mini Chainmaille Earrings
Not quite small enough to be Micro Maille, these fabulous and feminine Mini Chainmaille earrings are sure to add a little starshine to your outfit.  Perfect for the office, an evening out on the town, or that casual outfit that wants some dressing up.  A single Emerald glass bead is suspended from  a star point creating a pretty accent.  Would make a great gift for a May Birthday or terrific for a little Holiday flare.
Alix has just opened a new shop Blackbird Metalworks on Handmade Artist's Shop where she has her Original Fine Jewelry Designs.

Filigree Leaf Motif Sterling Silver Ring
This lovely one of a kind Fliigree design Leaf motif ring is hand cast, sanded and polished.  US size 8.  Perfect for nature admirers or those that don't want a large heavy piece on the finger.  Delicate and feminine in appeal, the band is handstamped 925.The ring is slightly domed at the top where the filigree design is located. 

She can also be found at these following locations.

https://handmadeartists.com/shop/BlackbirdMetalworks

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheAlchemistsVessel
http://handmadeartists.com/shop/TheAlchemistsVessel
http://www.linkedin.com/in/alchemistsvessel
http://www.facebook.com/alchemistsvessel
http://pinterest.com/chainedup/
http://alchemistsvessel.blogspot.com/

I invite you to take a look at all the wonderful shops on Handmade Artist's Shop .Thank you stopping by and reading this post. Please leave a comment below.

Featured Artist Shop Reef Botanicals

This week I would like to tell you about a couple of very talented people. Eric and Larissa are a husband and wife team with a mutual love for making things from scratch. They cook, bake, brew, pain, photograph, make candles and soaps, knit, work with fabric and list goes on.



Eric and Larissa

They have two shops on Handmade Artists Shop. The first one I am going to tell you about is ReefBotanicals

This is where you will find their high quality, all natural handcrafted soaps and other indulgences. From the finest all natural ingredients and their own recipes they make bath and beauty products to give you a luxurious experience.

Honey Chocolate Soap

Smooth Operator Shaving and Bath Soap

Chocolate Decadence Votives

These are just a few of the wonderful items they have in this shop. I just want to eat them up.

Now let me tell you about their shop Fabric Of My Mind


Here you will find hand-knitted items, photography and other handmade things that come across the Fabric of their Mind.

Freddy the Fancy Fish

Deep Blue Celtic Knot Hand Knitted Scarf

Dinosaur Puzzle

And here is some examples of the photography you can find in their shop.








You can find more on this talented couple at the following links.

http://www.reefbotanicals.com/
http://www.fabricofmymind.com/
http://www.reefbotanicals.blogspot.com/
http://www.njfacepainter.blogspot.com/
http://www.njbodyart.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/ReefBotanicals
http://www.twitter.com/ReefBotanicals
http://www.facebook.com/faceandbodyart


Please stop buy and see them at Handmade Artists Shop. And while you are there check out some of the other very talented artists.

Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry Feature of the Week

This week I would like to tell you about a very talented couple, John and Debora Rasmussen. They have a shop full of lovely jewelry. John does lapidary to cut gemstones, metalsmithing in silver and copper to make jewelry and wire wrapping. Debora does beading to design and fabricate necklaces, anklets, bracelets, ear rings, and key chains. You will find beautiful stones and jewelry in their shop Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry LLC. They can also be found on their Blog and on Facebook.

This Unakite Pendant has beautiful colors.

This Carnelian and Copper Pendant has some lovely wire work

Chinese Bead Ladder Earrings

Amazonite Cabochon

Please take a moment and look around Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry LLC and the other great shops at Handmade Artists' Shop.

2013 Wyndwalker Creations Year To Build A Better Creative Business

I have dedicated 2013 as my year to take our creative business to the next level. I have been searching the internet for tools to help with this process. I would like to share some of these with you in this post. But first a little about us and our creative business.

I have always had a love of creating and crafting. My mother taught me to sew when I was 10 years old. Before that I had been playing around with all kinds of crafts, mostly beads and wire. Making clothes and furniture for my Barbie dolls. I learned to crochet while crossing the Atlantic ocean on our way to live in Australia. My mother-in-law and I shared a love of cross stitching and ceramics. I taught myself to weave on the inkle loom and tri loom after having build to looms myself. This love of crafting evolved into a desire to share and teach others.

After working in the Medical field, managing a Land Surveying office, driving a semi truck with my husband and selling flower pots at home and garden shows, I found what I love to do most. Selling the thing I create.
In 2002 my husband and I fell in love with Pre 1840's Living History Events also called Rendezvous. These events demonstrated the way of live during the fur trade time period here in the United States. At these event  we lived as they did during this time period. I made all our clothes, both leather and cloth. We made the wares we sold. This included antler or bone handled knives, antler pipes, atlatls and darts, bows and arrow, leather bags, beaded items, inkle woven sashes and garters, and shawls made on my tri loom. We also demonstrated at these events. My husband demonstrated the use of the atlatl and dart and I demonstrated the inkle loom. We loved sharing with the public.

Inside our tent at one of the events

We are no longer able to travel to these events due to health issues. That brings us to building my creative business. A whole new world, the age of the internet and selling online. For this I needed to learn some new skills, how to use social media, take pictures, write product descriptions and promote my business via the world wide web.

I started this year using Leonie Dawson's Business Workbook and Planner. This has helped me focus, organize and plan for 2013. It has shown me how I can take my Creative Business to the next level.

Andreea at Launch Grow Joy has great information on promoting and getting your product to the market. Handmade Success has all kinds of tips and information on writing shop profiles and tuning up your Etsy shop. Tiffany Han, CPCC  is a life and business coach for highly-creative people who aren't living the highly-creative lives they want. Brendan Baker at Start of Happiness will help you put happiness back into your life, one smile at a time. At Handmade Artist's I have found a community of  handmade artists who have banded together in an effort to support each other and handmade. Lisa Jacobs at Market Your Creativity has a wealth of information on build a handmade business. These are just a few of the wonderful resources I have found and plan to use this year.

To help you get started on building your Better Creative Business Lisa Jacobs at Market Your Creativity has a tremendous Give-Away you should check out. Build A Better Business Give-Away.

My hope for the new years it that all my handmade artist friends will have a successful and creative year.

If you found this post helpful please leave a comment below and follow this blog the see how Wyndwalker Creations grows in 2013.

Featured Artist Kris from Handmade Artist's Shop

This week I would like to tell you about Kris from Handmade Artist's Shop. She is a very talented artist with two shops on Handmade Artist's Shop. In her shop lisianblue you will find an assortment of knitted and crochet items. Her well made items include hats, scarves, wash clothes, bibs, baby booties and much more. Through your purchase she able to donate hats and scarves for the less fortunate. In her other shop Reflections you will fins very lovely and unique stained glass creations, painted glass, stained glass and  hand pendants. Her glass wind chimes and hand painted ornaments are one of a kind creations.

You can also find Kris on Twitter and her Blog

I invite your to check out her unique creations in  lisianblue 

Womens Green Winter Cloche with Flower

Knit Sweetheart Cap Pink and Wine

Hair Flower Hair Clips Yellow and Purple

And form Reflections

Hummingbird Ornament

Almost White Black Bear Stained Glass Wind Chime

Stained Glass Pendant White Butterfly Wing

Thank you for stopping by and don't forget to check out all the wonderful shops at Handmade Artist's Shop