Kitchen Fixture

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Kitchen FixtureTHIS lovely thing was made by my husband. The lights are reproduction trouble lights from the Anthropologie Sale Room and the box is constructed of lath from our recent bathroom demolition. I love it for a lot of reasons but one of the best things is the cool shadow is casts across the room.

Butterjoint

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ImageImageI recently finished up a project for Butterjoint in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. I worked on the logo and illustrations for the bar signage, menus, etc. The sign out front will stand as is but the main logo is a bit different and includes more of the hand-carved elements that were not able to translate in the laser cut steel sign. The illustrations that are currently used on the menu are all inspired by elements of the bar and the menu - from bar tools to wine barrels to vegetables.ImageImageImageI had the pleasure of working with Joy Robison on the project - she is pretty much amazing at runnin' things.So, long story short: GO TO BUTTERJOINT. Delicious food, cozy atmosphere, amazing drinks and on and on. Maybe I'll see you there.

Christmas Bird Count 2012

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Yesterday I took part in the Annual Christmas Bird Count. After Friday's horrible events I especially needed and wanted a respite from my thoughts. Roaming the woods and solely focusing on one thing - flitting birds - was just what I needed. I joined Jim and Pam and tromped through four parks in our little town and this is what we saw, in no particular order:Carolina ChickadeeTufted TitmouseCardinalRobinCrowWhite-breasted nuthatchSong SparrowWhite-throated sparrowNorthern MockingbirdRuby-crowned KingletGreat Horned Owl (heard)Carolina WrenHouse FinchGoldfinchCooper's HawkMourning DoveRed-tailed hawkDowny woodpeckerHairy woodpeckerYellow-bellied sapsuckerBlue jayRed-bellied woodpeckerParks roamed: Bird Park, Twin Hills, Robb Hollow, Connor Conservation Area

Making by hand and loving it

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Handmade Arcade 2013 is only two days away and my mind is reeling with ideas and things I wish I had more time to keep making. I've got to stop and actually start packing up things and get to that Peppermint Bark I'll be giving away in my booth. Make your plans to visit the show - it's at the Convention Center from 11-7 on Saturday, December 8. And it's FREE so you can spend your money on handmade goods.Here's a sneak peek at some of my new pieces that I'll have. Also look for chalk boards and gift tags, a brand new print perfect for parents with picky eaters, bags and more.Happy Holidays!DSC_0037DSC_0040DSC_0041DSC_0039DSC_0032 WORKER BIRD

Busy as a bird

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This is it. Worker Bird. I've named it (and that's the hardest part for me); now it's time to get to work.A little housekeeping: I will debut Worker Bird at Handmade Arcade this December 8, 2012 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Until then I will be busy making things, designing the booth, doing some illustrations, sanding, painting, printing, jig-sawing, oh, and getting L2 Design Collective ready for HA:2012 as well!I will post new Worker Bird work here as it's done. In the meantime, wander over to Sweet Six to read a little about who I am and where I'm at in life. My friend, Jenny, interviewed me and it's live today.  And while you're at it, place an order for some hand-crafted candy!!

Worker Bird

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Alright ladies and gents, I've got it. I decided to name the new project "Worker Bird" (as in, busy as a bird). I'm not entirely sure how I plan to reconcile this space with the new space but I think it'll all fall into place as I go. I think this blog will be used for general posts about the chickens, illustration projects, client work, life, etc. I think Worker Bird will be solely about the products I design and make under that name. We'll see. Maybe in the end I'll fold it all together under one umbrella.Thanks to everyone for your ideas and suggestions. I need to get to work - Worker Bird will make its debut at Handmade Arcade on December 8.Lastly, please visit Sweet Six to read a little interview that my friend Jenny did with me. And order some tasty hand-crafted candy while you're at it.

Any other name

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I love to name things - Christmas trees, cars, plants, animals - but not anything of my own.I am taking a leap this Fall. I am going to start - FOR REAL - making and trying to get an audience for all sorts of art and craft-related things that float around in my head but never see the light of day.So I need a name. What should I call this venture? I welcome any ideas and thoughts and suggestions. The name I'm mulling over is "Beehive Crafted." I love bees and their unwavering industriousness. Someone opined that this is a forgettable name (JERK) and someone else said it might be "too cutesy" (DOUBLE JERK) for the things I make. So...back to square one? Or not.The first step in my giant leap was to apply to vend my wares at Handmade Arcade. I've done this show in years' past at the L2 Design Collective table and I love every second of it. It draws a huge, selective crowd with great taste and to be accepted to exhibit is a pretty big deal. Fingers crossed.I'll be posting more in the coming weeks about the products I'll be making. Of course I will feature my Love Letter to Pittsburgh series of prints on wood (along with bees, chickens, etc). But there will be other new things in the works. Standby.And do let me know if you come up with anything magical.

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**UPDATE: My dear, sweet, best big brother pointed out that by calling people JERK and DOUBLE JERK for giving feedback might dissuade others from offering their thoughts. He's so right. He's always right about everything.

Chicken Love

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Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello and meet the girls at today's Mt. Lebanon Earth Day Festival. I loved seeing so much excitement over keeping backyard chickens. Also wanted to show everyone the three gorgeous eggs that the girls laid as soon as we got home. It was hysterical to see them dart from the crate, across the yard, into the hen house and up the ramp into their coop. And then, like, magic, these:ImagePlease don't hesitate to contact me with questions about chickens. I will do my best to answer or direct you to great resources. Email foxbury [at] mac dot com.

Before + After: Back of House

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It is a slow process, this current renovation. If I'm being honest with myself I will admit that we'll never actually be "done" and that's fine. What would we do with ourselves if we finished? Start over somewhere else, I guess. And I'm not remotely interested in moving again so I plan to draw out this renovation for our eternity. Today happens to be a gorgeous one so I thought it was high time to show a before + after of what we've done to the back of the manse.Way back in the olden days:ImageStep one was to remove the crazy arborvitae that was glomming onto the house.ImageStep two: blow a big hole in the back of the house.ImageStep Three: Have Bradley and Bradley Jr from Decks Decks Decks come out and work their magic.ImageStep Four: make a margarita and then another and then another.And just like that (2.5 years later) we have a great space to live in and hang out and watch the hens doing their thing in the yard below.ImageHappy Spring!

Handmade pewter loveliness

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OK - I am NOT tooting my own horn, here. I don't like to do that and I cringe when other people do it. What I'm talking about here is the loveliness in something - anything - that is so clearly made by hand. Yes, I did some illustrations for Wendell August but their artisans turned them into something really worth putting on your tree. I was happy with the photos I saw in their catalog and online but when I received the samples in the mail this past week, I loved what I saw. You can tell, looking at each ornament, that someone - a real, live person, touched every piece of pewter and softened the rough spots and polished the surfaces. Each piece is stamped on the back and - gasp - the stamps aren't uniform! I love it. I am so thrilled to be a part of this great group of people in Western PA that appreciate the value of the handmade.

Love letter to Pittsburgh

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I have started my second love letter to Pittsburgh. (The first love letter was a project for Wendell August Forge and I'll certainly shout from the rooftops when it's complete.)It is no secret that I am in love with this place. I love most everything about it and I think it's absolutely gorgeous and, more importantly, filled with some of the nicest people I've ever met.So I've had this idea flitting around in my head ever since I was lucky enough to have an exhibit at Wildcard (awesome shop if you haven't been there - and if you have, you know of what I speak!) and since I'm an ace procrastinator it's taken me this long to get on it. But I did get on it. Today. And I think I'll even have a few pieces done in time for Handmade Arcade this weekend. Stop by the L2 Design Collective table and say hello, will you?     

Before + After House (a million years later)

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Contrary to what this blog would make you think about our lack of progress on the house we have been working like crazy. Our recent big project was a hen house for our girls, Chunky Penny, Lady Whistle and Ms Jackson.Naturally before building a hen house we thought we should go ahead and tear out the non-retaining retaining wall that the previous owners "built" out of broken bricks and concrete blocks. Here's a quick BEFORE shot to make you see just how heavenly our back yard looked when we moved in:FULL DISCLOSURE: the yard didn't look this nice when we moved in. I took this the morning we started the new retaining wall which was just a couple of months ago. Since we moved in we added the butterfly bush and the rain barrel that will eventually catch the run off from the garage.Anyhow - after a day of building the wall and learning that our next-door neighbors are really amazing, wonderful and generous (even moreso than we previously suspected) this is what we had to look at:  The next step was to build the hen house. Little Brother Anthony arrived (in jorts) to aid in the construction.  We made a ton of progress that weekend and then promptly walked away from the project for awhile due to work, travel, etc. You can see by the change in attire and the leaves on the trees how much time passed.TIME WARP:This is much nicer to look at, no?Now the girls live out there as happy as can be. I love to look it every day as more leaves fall and it settles in to look like part of the landscape.This project would not have been possible without the help of friends and family who donated time, supplies and food. I feel like I'm dedicating a book. Huge thanks go out to Anthony for jumping in and getting us moving on the construction; to Sierra and Tommy for helping to engineer and build the wall; to Ton and Sonja for lunch, tea service, gravel and dirt moving and all around moral support (and for giving birth to Sierra all those years ago); to Tammy, Barbara, John, Eric and Jan - neighbors who donated scrap lumber, chicken wire, shovels, etc.; to Dad, Kate L, Terry, Natalie, Cliff M and Janice D for donating license plates; to Mom for hanging out with Whistle and most of all, to Steve, who continues to indulge every crazy whim I get.I am so happy to have built something for the hens to live in that makes our home a more interesting, fun place to live, with the generosity and kindness of so many people involved. My heart swells.  

Chicken farmers!

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And just like that, with a call from the post office, we became chicken farmers this morning. It was like Christmas around here  - for all of us. I remember getting chicks at Easter as a kid but I did not remember just how dang charming they are. I know we are supposed to be giving them some peace and quiet for awhile to adjust to their new surroundings but we are doing poorly in that regard. They're too cute to ignore.What is cuter than chubby kid-fingers reaching for baby chicks? NOTHING. End of discussion.I am surely not going to get any work done today.

Little Suburban Farm Life

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The chicks should be arriving next week and we're so excited to see the wee things. Fingers crossed that they arrive safely. We're busy prepping for their arrival and also planning the large outdoor "Chicken CUBE" that we're building. We have pretty much decided to build a fully enclosed space and then site the coop - and all other hen-related things - inside the cube.First we have to relocate the castle: Then try to build something a lot like this:Then put this little guy into the "CUBE" (and finish staining the deck and rebuild the retaining wall and stack the firewood and and and)This past weekend we took a quick trip to Chadds Ford, PA and spent a few hours roaming around Terrain at Styer's in absolute awe of it all. I know where I want to be buried. Hope the fine folks at Terrain won't mind. Every square inch was inspiring. Maybe we will face one side of the CUBE in funnels? More on Terrain later. Headed to the incredible Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. 

First collection!

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Wendell August Forge is America’s oldest and largest forge, producing hand-wrought ornamental metalware and elegant giftware in aluminum and other metals since 1923.It's here! I've been working with Wendell August since early this year and I'm excited and proud to announce the first launch: Gifts from the Sea. A hearty thanks goes out to Hilary Meurer for hooking me up with the great team at Wendell August and making this collaboration possible.The first step was to create a thumbnail sketch for a 9x12 piece of art featuring shells and their names. Below is my sketch.And here is the final illustration:From there the craftsmen at Wendell August made their magic happen and hand-hammered the design to create a mold from which to cast the products in the collection. I am going to head up north soon and take the tour of the factory and learn more about the production but in the meantime their website says this: "This process includes Die Engraving by a master engraver, Material Selection and Cutting, Repousse (Hammering), Surface Anvilling, Edging, Carbon Coloring, a three step polishing process, and Forming. "I am thankful for the opportunity to work with Wendell August as so few things seem to be made in America anymore, let alone made with care by artists and craftsmen who love what they do and take pride in it.Today feels good.