Who Wants to Go Out when You can Just Nest?

I'm nesting when I should be flying. Something like that. I have to go to St. Louis Monday for a three-day trip for work, and instead of packing, or even making list, all I can think about is making nests. That, and finishing about a gazillion other art projects by Sunday night, or at least before my plane takes off Monday morning.

I did devote some time to shopping Friday night and Saturday, which is one of the first times I have ventured to a mall, or a non artsy-store since well before Christmas. I think my last clothes shopping adventure was October in Myrtle Beach. I've just been nesting throughout this relentless Midwest winter- which makes that first spring shopping trip that much more difficult. But enough about that- (I could have once had a shopping blog!)- now, back to nesting.

The pink birdie in the photo second from the top started my obsession. This one was actually made on the same Myrtle Beach vacation as the aforementioned shopping trip. I just recently sold it on ebay, and discovering other people liked little birdies in little nesties spurred me on to make more. So, The Little Love Bird above has been sent to my etsy site http://www.hpsgsmith.etsy.com/.

Heather of Speckled Egg's Sweet Little Nest Swap http://speckled-egg.blogspot.com/ encouraged me further with her swap, and the darling nest I got from Sarah of http://gypsymermaidlife.blogspot.com/ just added to the frenzy of hunting and gathering. So, If course one assignment was to make Sarah a nest in return (green birdie above). You can't see it, but it has a great rhinestone brooch to add sparkle to the front.

Then, I spied a darling paper clay Easter chickie paper box made by Vivian of http://vivs-whimsy.blogspot.com/ and I asked her if she would like to trade for something. Sure enough, she asked for one of my pink curly bird nests, so that's her nest above also, "Little Miss Whimsy," with her "sneak peek" being the first photo. Vivian! Stop reading, and close your eyes!

I have two birdies and nests left to do- a yellow bird and a tan one, that one of my cats had a little fun with when I wasn't looking. That one will need a lot of vintage baubles added!

I'd keep going, but I have yet to make a handmade poetry journal for fellow ZNE Artists and Poets member Allison Berringer, http://musingsofnosilla.blogspot.com/ in our journal swap. This, too, needs to go out Monday, flying off to Canada and not to Missouri with me. A couple last packages have to be done up by tomorrow night-western US ephemera for ARTchick Jeri of http://artfulgathering.typepad.com/ and an ephemera and supply goody box for Teri aka pumpkinseedmama on Flickr, and ebay and etsy and swapbot and ZNE and wherever else we all hang out~ another great reason to nest ~ the internet art and blogging and buying/selling communities!