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.