a trio of birds for a little one

Apparently I still have birds on my mind. It's no wonder with the way my sweet babes are so bird focused - this summer we started a family project of photographing, drawing and learning about each bird that visits our backyard feeders. Now, several months into it (and countless drawings and photographs later), they still get just as excited each time a bird comes, begging me to get the camera "with the YellaPhoto lens!". And I have to very gently say, "honey. we have 25 photos of the robin. Really - we've got the robin covered".

So I suppose it was only natural that birds would work their way in when I was thinking about what I'd most like to make for Eireann's auction for her sweet Mama - one in ten. A trio of birds for a little one - a linen smock (in a larger size than I usually make - this one is 3 to 6 yrs), a felt crown, and a linen tote bag. The auction will be on Ebay, and will begin August 19th. I'll remind you when it starts (or you can visit one in ten for details).

I haven't sold this style of smock on Etsy before - they've always gone to friends or Edith & Edna. It's a traditional pattern - this one is reversible, and crosses over in the back to attach with snaps. (As a completely random aside, when I was putting the snaps on the smock last night, I had a little moment of thanks for my snap press. When I bought it, I wasn't sure I would ever use it enough to justify the cost. But just a year and a half later, I can say that it has already been worth it. Between cloth diapers and pads, and smocks and bibs, it has more than earned it's keep around here, and makes the little end detail of putting a snap on a breeze. So yes, a little moment of love for the snap press.)

I had such fun putting this set together, it got my brain spinning with fall-time goodness for the shop. It feels like my Etsy 'summer vacation' might be nearing an end!

Comments

[leslie]

i love the yellow/blue combo. smocks are the coolest, don't stop with the birds they are sweet.

[Susanna]

I think you should come out with your own bird line!! You do a wonderful job incorporating birds into clothes and bags.

[shannon]

loving the birds, as that is my nickname for my little one. And I love my snap press too! It makes things so easy and professional looking.

[Stefani]

Fantastic idea with the birds in the backyard! We're going to have 125 pictures of cardinals, I'm sure! Your work is beautiful. Really beautiful.

[Julie]

The beauty of homeschooling...taking photos of the birds & naming them. How lovely!

[Visty]

So beautiful!! I think I remember you saying your birthday crown will be in your book...but my baby turns one in January! I think I will have to wing it, it's so adorable.

[eireann]

I love their enthusiasm for cataloging the (same) birds. Sweet.

And the set is sweet, too, Amanda. Thank you.

xo

[Le Anne Bull]

OK I sooo would love to purchase a little one smock - my little on is 8 though. please let me know when you put some on etsy!
Love Them
Le Anne Bull

[Stacy]

Those little birds are so sweet. What a nice contribution.

[julia]

these are beautiful amanda! what a wonderful idea to have this auction. i was glad to learn that eireann is my neighbor (well- we're in the same city), i'll have to check her out locally.

[Melissa!]

Oooo...also love the munkimunki caterpillar goodness!
The facination of bird may just not ever go away - my late-father-in-law knew all the nuances & habits of the birds on his property...was like a little boy w/ the yellaphoto lens. :)

[erin]

amanda, they are so precious!

[melanie]

these are adorable!!!

[Grace]

the colors are so sweet! the top photo of the three together is really pretty.

[Amber]

I absolutely love those creations! I think I must have birds on the brain, too, for I'm always paying attention to their calls and their carrying-on in the bushes. I think it must be that they remind me during my day to stop & focus on something more simple yet wonderful. I'm glad your children are enjoying them, too...

[Tuesday]

Ohhhhh I'm in LOVE with them.. They are so perfect.

[joy]

i love how they look so timeless-good luck!!
i love your work

[brandie]

oh! they are really lovely amanda! and such a good cause...you know we had someone close to us die from a brain aneurysm. it's incredible how many people are affected by them.

[heather]

i love the orange and blue... i also love the idea of your etsy hiatus coming to an end. ;)

[Melissa R. Garrett]

Oh these are so lovely! I am *loving* those birds. Sweet!

[diana]

Ha! I knew it...the pretty skirts make place for lovely new things!

[littledresses]

Hey, just stopping in to see your new projects. I like the birds too! I have a new tutorial on my blog for girls sundress if you are interested. Cant wait to see your Etsy!

[cyndi]

such CUTE stuff, soulemama. you are my hero!

[erica]

we listen to audioclips of the birdcalls in our area each morning, then listen to identify the bird of the week each day. my kids love it! our cds were free from the dept of natural resources in ohio, along with photo booklets of the birds and other wildlife. maybe yours does the same..if not, i have extra copies (owl sounds, too) i'd be happy to send you. love your blog, esp today's photo with the green and wrought iron coat rack!***

[Shannon]

If you discover one artist this summer, let it be Elizabeth Mitchell. You would *love* her You Are My Little Bird album from Smithsonian Folkways. She is my current new fav, and her Little Bird album is such a hit. Song #4 incorporates bird calls and singing for a charming song. We are hot on birds right now in my house! Shannon

[Madeline R]

Drawing birds was what got my (now almost 10yo) son into birding and he led the rest of us into it as well. Now, 5 years or so since his first drawing, he is not excited any more by the "seen it a thousand times" birds. It has to be a bird he doesn't have on his list yet. But when we aren't looking, I see him in the mornings in his bird garden, staring at the hummingbirds, tit-mouses and even teh same old cardinals, peacefully. : ) I love your smocks.

[Dacia]

that is a lovely trio. great work!

[shari]

such loveliness as always amanda. xox

[Sharon]

The birds smocks are so sweet!
I didn't realize until recently how much I really love birds. We just had a hawk visit our back yard. Very exciting! And a sweet family of goldfinches stopped for a snack at the sunflowers growing on my porch! I remember the same couple this spring, and they were flying their little fledgling around our back yard!

[molly]

these are beautiful, amanda. I love the inspiration behind them. I can't wait to see the other beautiful things that come together for 'one in ten'.

[Les in NE]

I know exactly how your kiddos feel about bird pictures. I haven't counted yet, but I'm fairly certain that I took over 50 pictures of bald eagles while vacationing last week! What a thrill!