‘It’s all for the Birds’

I’m feeling a bit silly about this project. Yes, It’s odd, but I have quite an admiration for birds and their nests. I guess it could be called a ‘collection’ of sorts…

My real birds’ nests may seem somewhat unhygienic so I have figured out a better way to make some nests and display our feathered friends.  No, don’t think I’m crazy; it’s all in good fun! Let the kids join in.

The Nests:

I get all excited when I find a tiny fallen bird nest; maybe it’s the fact that tiny little ones were raised in there (there goes the sentimental me). Sooooo, now I’ll be mamma-bird and I can also use these for the birds that I make.

Sisal grass is found at the dollar store, however I wanted it a bit darker colour so I dyed it with a mix of tea and vinegar. I pulled some sisal fibres out and twisted it into little shapes. Let it soak in the tea mix for a while in the mason jar.

Pull them out and let dry. I’m impressed at how real they already look, but I had to think like a bird and add more stuff. They like to gather some branches and string. Twist them in and wrap in the jute string.

To make them stay together I sewed them up a bit, round and round. Brown thread does not show at all.

To make them less crumbly and bits falling off I sprayed them with hair spray (or you could use a clear spray varnish). Hmmm, these look so good that maybe I could be the ‘Habitat for Aviary’?! I’ve had some of my real birds nests in the honeysuckle be reused subsequent years.

Fun fact;

Birds don’t have a sense of smell so if a baby falls out of the nest just gently put him/her back in. The mother won’t be able to tell by the smell. You may get your head pecked though! Ask me how I know… Sometimes they have way too many babies for the size of nest!

Well, obviously these need some tiny little eggs (yup, dollar store). ‘Which also needed a bit of speckling. Call me crazy; I sat around making nests and speckling tiny eggs… relaxation.

More Birds:

At my place I like decor under glass. Why? It’s sparkly, it’s versatile, and it doesn’t get dusty in there – bonus! You can use the large lidded glass containers in every room, move them around, kitchen (biscotti ) living room (terrarium) and so on… My bathroom got it’s theme from the towels.

Yup, you guessed it! Birds! So it made sense to create a ‘terrarium’ of birds. Tiny mushroom birds and little nests on branches set in pea-gravel. It makes me smile… even though they aren’t real. My handmade soap blocks also look awesome in the other glass jar. They are very vertical so little counter space taken up.

Under Glass:

It did start when I had made all those cloches & domes which just seemed to ‘call’ to the birds…

You can even fool people with those ones made from soda bottles. Cut the top and bottom with scissors or a serrated knife. To firm up the bottom stand it in a pan on the stove until it starts to curl under. Ta-da, as easy as that!

I had some fun setting the tiny nests in the ‘Y’ of a branch (oasis foam in pot) and then running a clothes line for the sweet birdie… haha… (no stopping me now)

This a cute decoration for Easter as well. Place a few along the center of the dining table… cheap and cheerful.

DIY Domes:

Better yet… make some pedestal glass domes. Find a few containers that can be inverted, add a handle on top, and candle holder as a base. The handles are some ‘blingy’ beads. Be creative, even check your old necklaces. Thrift and dollar stores have cheap glass ware and it takes on a new look when combined.

When I need a strong instant bond I go for 5-minute epoxy.

Add some gold leaf gilded eggs and reindeer moss (no deer were harmed; dollar store). So cute a bird could hardly resist. I see you smiling!

A little over $2 each. Do I see wedding decor? House warming? It’s so gratifying to make something…

These will look wonderful on a table setting with a few of my denim birds. Why not inject an easy way to create a smile… Making these Birds is pretty simple with my detailed pattern and instructions.