Little Roosters

Anybody out there need some little roosters to add to their flock???  I have 4 available; all black--2 fancy frizzles, & 2 regular--all bantams: little crows (more like sqwaks at the moment, lol)

In the pic; the black ones with the fat combs are the roos...  One of the frizzles has really pretty gold tips on his feathers: so cute!

They were all hatched this spring & are just starting to crow (squeak).  So funny to hear them try to crow like the older rooster; they try but so far, not even close, lol: their little voices are changing & all they can manage is a squeaky sqwak; hillarious!  

 Bantams are 1/2 (or less) the size of normal chickens---I had a mixed flock earlier this spring, but decided to go with all bantams & I'm so happy with the decision :)  They are much less destructive in the garden (my chickens free range all day), they don't wander near as far, & the rooster is not nearly as loud.

My full grown roo is the goldy-red one in the center of the pic above: I never had roosters until this year.  The full-sized roo we had was gorgeous, but huge!  He could dig up any plant in my little garden & was so loud when he crowed: also led the hens way too far on daily walkabouts.  When he started getting aggressive, we decided to let him go.  He & his harem of 4 full sized hens went to live with a lady that also lets her chickens free range: I'm sure they are happy there :)

If you let your chickens free range & have the space, I would totally recommend trying a roo in the mix; they watch for predators & will protect the flock, give the hens the best treats, & their crazy antics are a crack-up :)  Plus: you will have a self sustaining flock; the broody hens will sit on the eggs & hatch out cute little fuzz-balls each year!  We got 11 this spring; & will keep the hens & hopefully re-home 4 of the 5 roos :)  

The bantam sized roosters think they are 10 feet tall, but aren't nearly as intimidating as a full sized rooster.  At only about 6-8 inches tall, their presence is not much of a threat.  Although, my little gold roo does chase my cats, lol

 So: if you want to take home a pocket-rooster, let me know; I would let them go to a good home for free.  I might even be willing to sell a few of the young hens too; email me if interested :)  The small eggs are so cute!  The most charming deviled eggs ever....

Amber

I AM FUSION Awards

This is the 2nd year I have created the I AM FUSION Awards for Boise's Fusion Magazine.

Boise's only red-carpet celebration of local talent & business: & I am honored to be able to create the trophies that are presented to the winners :)

 The big event was tonight at the Egyptian Theater: I was not able to attend this year due to other commitments, but from the buzz on Facebook, it sounds like it was a great success again :)

36 trophies were delivered this afternoon for the event; & I must say: I really like the design this year; polished aluminum for lots of sparkle, steel, & copper: simple & elegant...

Thanks so much to Rogue Graphics for the help, along with Blake Trailers & Idaho Custom IronWorks--could not have done this without you :)  

Even though I already know who won, it's fun to see the winner's comments coming in on Facebook.

Congrats to everyone who was nominated & to the winners---I'm jealous, lol: wish I could keep one of my trophies ; )   Maybe someday, lol; but seriously; love being a part of this event!  I hope everyone likes the trophy design---this is one of my favs of all-time :)

Amber

Steampunk Wedding Bouquet-show & tell

Just wanted to share the latest custom wedding bouquet--a steampunk bouquet with little gears, crystals, & pearls :)

Too much fun!

 The little gears came out of old-style power meters; I have used them before for jewelry, but this is the first time I''ve put them on a bouquet: love the look!

Accented with copper, white & cream pearls, & crystals in champagne & clear for lots of sparkle--I can't wait to see the wedding pics.  Also making a matching pomander for the flower girl :)

Amber

Trophies Week

This week, we will be cutting, polishing, & assembling over 50 trophies---I'm a bit freaked out about it, but it will happen, of that I'm sure....

38 of these; complete with custom plaques, including the category & name of the winner; Thursday is the big day to clean, polish & assemble; hoping we have the plaques done by then.  If not, I might be bolting on plaques Friday night---the event is on Saturday!

Plus this custom trophy: commissioned by a copper mine in Nevada; I still need to fabricate a wood base for it & get the plaques completed & mounted....

And 8, similar to this that are being shipped to Japan....

Plus 3 custom designs that I have not drawn up yet; for a Harley rider, a golfer, & a tree... & a few others.

Holy cows; add that to over 100 degree temps for the week, plus other custom commissions & the WTC project, & family in town for the week=yikes! 

Good thing the chickens & Skwishy Cat are a big help, lol ;)

Seriously: I'm really grateful for the work; just hope I can deliver everything on schedule!

Tomorrow; downtown retail development site visit to discuss a custom public art piece, then floating the river---it's predicted 113 temps in the afternoon; which means my little shop will be a hot-box until later when it cools off.  Wednesday we are cutting pieces all day, Thursday assemble, clean & polish--hopefully in full.  If plaques are not done; Friday we will bolt them on to deliver to downtown Boise on Saturday for the Fusion Awards.   The other trophies: hopefully we will be able to ship out before then...

Cheers to a busy summer season!

Planning a break in August to camp, explore, & recharge :)

Happy Summer :)

-Amber-

Summer Sunset

Tonight, while putting the chickies & goosey-poodles to bed, the sky was so pretty; I couldn't help but take a few pics :) Love the evening sky!

The sculpture is about 8 feet tall; one of my absolute favorites; I would only consider selling to to someone very special: it was one of the first large scale pieces I made, & I love it!  Stainless steel, concrete, cable, & a purple crystal on top: when you look through the crystal, everything is upside down.  

Anyway; I resides in front of my little studio these days, & the chickens love to scratch around it for bugs, lol

I'm so thankful to have a studio out in the "country": still in Boise, but an older neighborhood--big lots-no rules (pretty much)  I can garden & have a herd of chickens & geese, play my music loud & work whenever I want to.  My only close neighbors are a couple of elderly horses & a pair of cows, lol :)

Happy Thursday!

-Amber-

new Postcards

New postcards on the way; whatcha think??

These are just for give-away at shows & the like; trying to be a bit more clear in all the stuffs we have to offer :) 

Looking forward to next week--it's going to be busy: WTC fabrication, possible tv interview, lots of design work on the table, & of course keeping track of the bird herd...  Tonight the other Canadian goose decided she was grown up & flew away; I was expecting it, but still sad; she was so sweet.  Might have to bring home another Pilgrim this week to keep the other company ;)

Alarm is set for 6; first on the agenda is a nice long walk/run; then juice for breakfast!  Then it's phone calls & out to the shop for some good cleaning, organizing, & laying out trophies.

Have a good week!

Amber

The Bird Herd--Updates

Earlier this spring, 3 of my bantam hens decided to go broody & sat on a pile of eggs: all smooshed into one nesting box, lol.  We got 11 tiny puffballs hatched out, & they are about half grown now :)

Even though the mommies were white, grey, & black, all but one of the chicks are black.  3 frizzles in the mix; they crack me up--looks like they stuck their little beaks in a light socket :)  

They spend their days free-ranging the property, eating bugs, digging up my garden, & begging for treats at the door :)  I think they are very happy chickens...  When the chicks get old enough to tell hens from roos, I think we will keep one roo & sell the others: hoping for more hens in the mix.

And then there's the geese---so cute!  We rescued 2 Canadian geese a few months back (thought they were ducks back then, lol)  Last week one of them flew away, but the other seems content to stay.  She (I think its a she) was very lonely, though, so we did a quick search on Craigslist & found her a friend : )

This proper lady is a Pilgrim Goose: almost the same age as the Canadian.  She is very sweet & docile; so far I am enjoying the geese even more than ducks; who knew!?   They have the same cute antics in the pond; splashing & diving & being happy; but they are much calmer than duckies.  They wander around the property like a couple of Victorian ladies; always prim & proper, with a slow, deliberate gait.

It's quite the herd of birds: I'm so glad we have such a large lot for them to wander.  They do like to sneak into the shop & hang out when I'm not looking, but otherwise they help out with bug control & fresh eggs.

I started the coop makeover last weekend; this is just a small section, but it's a start :)  Need to trim out the windows, but otherwise I think it looks great!  The wood came from an old fence that was replaced at my parent's place; Dad brought me a pile of "firewood", but I love the aged look of the wood & couldn't just burn it.    So, I will continue around the other sides of the coop as I find more old wood : )

I wandered around this morning for about an hour & took pics: as I was going through them on the computer I noticed that grey chicken is a bit of a camera whore; I have at least twice as many pics of her than any of the other chickens.   She is very pretty, though; so I don't blame her for strutting her stuff ; )

One would think that being a creative person, I could come up with better names than gold chicken, grey chicken, white chicken, rooster, & goosey-poodles...  And, with 10 more mini black chickens in the mix, I'm going to have to come up with another method, hahaha : )

Any ideas?  Send them my way....maybe I should have a chicken naming contest when the chicks get older. Could give away a set of chicken garden stakes as the grand prize, hmmmm...

Skwishy-Cat says "have a great 4th of July!"

Enjoy the long weekend--more updates to come!

Amber