"Go green" custom decorative birdhouse

Wow it's been a while since I’ve posted anything new huh? Well going back to my last post, I chose a winner of one of my custom made birdhouses. She was thrilled! and I...well I was a nervous wreck. I did NOT want to disappoint especially when she told me she was giving it as a gift to a good friend of hers for Christmas. She told me a little about her friend and her ideas for the birdhouse. I immediately went to work as I was filled with tons of ideas, which in one aspect is fantastic but in another, it isn’t. I had to pick and choose which one of my ideas to use and which ones I was going to let go of. I sketched all my ideas out and all versions of the birdhouse I could go with and then I chose one. It took me a little more than two weeks to finish it because I did not work on it everyday, only during the times when I was feeling inspired, or maybe it was the fact that I didn’t want to mess this up. I finally finished it, keeping my customer informed with pictures every step of the way, as I always do with custom made orders and I am happy (and relieved) to say that she LOVED it! She was so fantastic to work with. I have some wonderful and kind hearted customers which I am so very grateful for. Well, Christmas is right around the corner and her friend will be receiving it soon. I hope she loves it too.

My instructions were, two shades of green, a recycle logo somewhere in there because her friend is very into recycling and helping the environment. She suggested trees or branches, and her friends name wood burned on it. This was what I came up with, and although I have no pictures of it, I ended up writing the words reduce reuse recycle along the edge of the roof top in white letters. The branches and leaves wrapping around the sides of the birdhouse are also wood burned. 

My experience at the Sneak Peak at Freshkills event

I was fortunate enough to be asked to take part in this year’s Sneak Peak at Freshkills park event in Staten Island yesterday October 02, 2011. There were lots of other talented vendors, delicious food, and even several awesome live bands!

I had some fantastic customers stop by my table with wonderful and encouraging things to say about my work which is always a great feeling and very much appreciated. Lots of admirers left their name and email for a chance to win a custom made birdhouse from woody woodworks. I will be choosing a winner and contacting them later on today.   I can’t wait to see what the winner will have me do to it! I will be posting pictures of the finished product on my Facebook page and blog at www.woodywoodworksblog.blogspot.com

I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to show my wooden birdhouses, jewelry boxes and Halloween signs.  I was even given a free unfinished birdhouse by the nice people from the Home Depot kids’ workshop which I can’t wait to start working on. My friends and I had a blast!

Heres my sister in law helping to set up my table

The dude all the way on the left is my little brother, the geatest brother ever helping with the display for my wooden Halloween signs

Ta Da!

I think my sister in law really likes Frankie, and why wouldnt she, he's adorable if I do say so myself

Us girls just chit chatting before the guests arrive

In deep thought, no wait I was just dreaming of the Brick oven pizza being made a few feet from my table

Thats my honey in the back working on someething

blog spot should really include the option to rotate pics

Sneak Peak at Freshkills Park

I am so excited to be part of the FREE Sneak Peak at Freshkills Park Event on October 2nd from 11am-4pm. They have asked me to set up a table and sell my birdhouses!! Check out the link below and try to come down for a day of fun!!

Sneak Peak at Freshkills Park

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2^nd, 2011 | 11am-4pm

FREE EVENT | more info at nyc.gov/sneakpeak

 The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation is excited to invite you to the second annual preview of Freshkills Park! Autumn is the  to see the hills and creeks of the closed 2,200-acre Fresh Kills Landfill, on Staten Island’s west shore, now being transformed into the City’s biggest and most fascinating new park. After the huge turnout and great success of last year’s event, we have expanded the scope and the offerings of what you will be able to do and see at Sneak Peak.

 This year’s event offers nearly three miles of path to walk and explore by foot and over two miles by bike, more kayak tours, numerous public artworks and performances, more food trucks, a full craft market, a smartphone self-guide app and free water taxi and shuttle bus service to and from the St. George Ferry Terminal. Join us for a preview of what the park will have to offer!

KAYAK TOURS | WALKING TOURS | BIKING | KITE MAKING | KITE FLYING | COMPOSTING & REUSE WORKSHOPS | GAMES | CRAFT MARKET | BIRDHOUSE BUILDING | LIVE MUSIC | PUBLIC ART | GIVEAWAYS | FOOD TRUCKS | MUCH MORE!

 The Lower East Side Ecology Center will also be running an e-waste collection event in the parking area of the event!

We are fine tuning the schedule of programs and will post it soon on the event’s web site, nyc.gov/sneakpeak. For more information on Freshkills Park, visit the project’s home page or the Freshkills Park Blog.

HOW TO GET THERE (more info at nyc.gov/sneakpeak):
FREE WATER TAXI SERVICE and FREE SHUTTLE BUSES will operate regularly between the St. George Ferry Terminal and the event site. A full schedule of ferries, water taxis and shuttle buses is available online.

BY PUBLIC TRANSIT Take S62 Bus to Victory Blvd and Glen St. Walk down Beresford Ave to Wild Ave.

BY BIKE Enter at the corner of Wild Ave and West Shore Expressway East Service Rd.

BY CAR Parking is available at Wild and Beresford Aves, near the Victory Blvd Exit of the West Shore Expressway and south of the Showplace Entertainment Center.

http://www.nycgovparks.org/festivals/freshkills_sneak_peak.html

Winifred the Halloween Witch

I just posted another item to my etsy shop. It's a Halloween sign. I've posted a couple Halloween things already. I know it seems a little early to be doing so, but before you know it Halloween will be here, and i just didnt want be late in posting any Halloween decor like I usually am.

So here she is...
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80786329/wooden-trick-or-treat-halloween-witch

Milestones and Memories

I am the mother of three great kids and from the moment I found out I was carrying my first child nearly 14 years ago I have kept a journal for each one of them. It is a personal documentation, my own account of milestones and funny moments. I began these journals with the intentions of giving it to them one day when they had children of their own but I think I just might keep them instead and I’ll tell you why.

Every so often after completing an entry in their journals I like to browse through the pages and go back in time if only for a brief moment. A quick second when something triggers a memory in me and I can recall so vividly the smell in the air that  particular day, or the exact emotions that were going through me all because this little person, my child was in my life.

Being able to remember such memories in such a detailed way has sometimes made me cry. Not necessarily from sadness, but more at the fact that time truly does pass us by so quickly.  However having these journals to go back to and read has mostly made me literally laugh out loud a huge hardy laugh at all the funny things that my kids have said or done throughout the years, things that I have completely forgotten about.  And oh boy, kids really say AND do the darnedest things.

 I’ll of course share these memories with my kids and grandkids, but it will be something that I can look back to whenever I want. When they’re all grown up and living lives of their own and I’m no longer needed as often as I am now.

I so recommend that anyone with children keep such journals and take a minute or two every now and again to write in them. I promise you will be so happy that you did.

Happy Halloween Wooden Sign

I carved this Jack O Lantern myself on a wooden oval plaque. I painted it, crackled and distressed it to LOOK worn, and weathered. The Happy Halloween sign attached above is also made of wood.

This whimsical little sign hangs from a purple ribbon to match the inside of its mouth,eyes and nose. Hang it from a tree branch, or display it on your front door.

Absolutely ideal for the Halloween and fall season.       

Seaside Park

My family and I went to the beach this weekend. As usual it was beautiful and the weather was just perfect for splashing in the water, building sand castles, and laying out in the sun. I even managed to take a picture or two.

Here are a few of those pictures I took while there. Enjoy!

This little Seagull loved to be photographed. I have several of him.

Calming Waves

Ripples in the sand

Sandy toes

I can stare at this view for hours

I wonder whats inside this shell?

The sun was playing hide and seek

This is whats inside the shell!  I can't believe I got this close to it

Fall is in the air!

What a beautiful day here in Connecticut. I can smell and feel fall in the air. The fall is my absolute favorite time of year. The leaves change into warm beautiful colors like deep red, orange and brown.  It’s neither too hot nor too cold. Children and adults alike begin to anticipate Halloween.  Mother Nature is given a breath taking makeover and I am inspired by every last bit of it.

Frankie was the first fruit of my inspiration, and now I have a collection of Halloween decor that I started posting on my shop www.woodywoodworks.etsy.com

I am so excited about them. I so enjoyed making each one and I hope they receive positive feedback.

There were times I didn’t even want to sleep. I just wanted to work on them all night. BUT I know from experience that patience is key if you want your vision to come to fruition.  Hey that rhymes! LOL anyway please check out my shop and tell me what you think!

Aaaaahhhhh

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79662066/decoupaged-scream-image-on-a-9x9-wooden?ref=pr_shop

Frankenstein Halloween Decoration

All supplies can be found at Michaels:

• wooden square plaque (6"x6")
• sand paper
• 2 sponge brushes
• size 0 liner brush
• size 6 shader brush
• light green, black, and red acrylic paint
• Gloss Mod Podge
• black, red, white stiff felt
• big googly eyes
• 2 screws (3/4" long)
• frame hook

Step 1: The first thing you’re going to want to do is lightly sand the wooden square plaque on all sides. You’re going to do this because you will end up with a much smoother surface once your project is completely finished, and so that you do not get any splinters while working on it. Don’t forget to dust off any loose particles before you begin painting.

Step 2: With the sponge brush you’re going to apply the MEADOW GREEN acrylic paint on the raised flat side of the wooden square and you’re also going to want to paint half of each side of the wooden square (left, right) and also the entire bottom part. Let this dry completely (about 20 minutes) before you begin step 3.

Step 3: With the size 6 shader paint brush (flat/wide tip) paint the left, right and top half of Frankenstein’s head in BLACK. When that dries up, turn the wooden square over to the side that is still unfinished and paint the back of his head entirely in black.

Step 4: Once the black paint has completely dried, you will cover the entire wooden square with Mod Podge GLOSS. Mod Podge does dry clear.

Step 5: Take your stiff black felt and Cut a 2inch strip with a wavy pattern on one side. Spread some E6000 glue on one side with your finger and place it on the top of his head

Step 6: Use your red paint to draw the stitches on the upper left hand corner of Frankie’s face

Step 7: Place his googly eyes by dabbing on a little E6000 glue on the back of them and placing them on his face 

Step 8: cut a thin strip of the black felt for his eye brows, spread a little E6000 glue on the back and place it over his eyes.

Step 9: Cut a strip of red felt for the mouth

Step 10: cut a small square for the tooth with the white felt and then attach the screws on each side

Step 11: Turn Frankie over and attach the frame hook to the back of his head and voile, you’re done! That wasn’t so hard was it? Now go ahead and hang him up!