Moving and Shaking Going on Over Here!!

Hey guys! You know when you have been stuck in a bit of a rut and you just know it is time for a change? Well, I am there! It is time for me to change things around a bit and do some reorganizing. I have decided ( with a little helpful prodding from a friend) to build my own website! Have I built a website- no. Do I know how to- no. But now is the time and I am an eager learner and self starter! I want a place for me and Bird in a Tree. Everything in one place, streamlined. I am creating a site that will contain my blog, my shop and all things Bird in a Tree in one place. I am super excited and ready to take this new path. I'm letting you all know that I won't be blogging as much in the meantime. I am aiming to have it up and running by November 1st. This will be a challenge as I am also preparing for an art bazaar Dec 1st. I will let everyone know when my new home is ready. XOXO

Until next time- never stop growing, changing and evolving!

Messy Studio = Stuff Getting Finished!

Hey Y'all! Been very busy making cool stuff, sorting out costumes for the kids and stressing about the messy house yet doing nothing about it! I feel as if I am getting sick to boot! I'm keeping this post short and sweet so I can paint a little then hit the sack early. I'm posting pictures of my "Very Used" studio- ahem- and one of the items that are fully created. The rest are in various stages of finish which I will share as soon as they reach that point.

Yes, the floor is totally covered with papers, scissors, trinkets etc. Oh, and my Ipod- I love to listen to books while I make cool stuff! That table is where I mold and sculpt with my paperclay.

Paints of every color, glues, adhesives, Liquid Pearls- You name it! I actually know where everything is here!

Here is a box of completed ornaments. I am very pleased with how they tuned out. They are made out of Paperclay, which is a very light weight clay, so they are not very heavy at all!!! Decorated and embellished with paint, papers, liquid pearls, Stickles and drum roll please- GLITTER!!!! I will have to say, I am not a snobby creator and will add glitter wherever I see fit. Me love glitter! LOL!

Until next time- sometimes it's ok to rest- give yourself a break!

Pumpkin Patch!

Wren went on her first field trip yesterday- to the Pumpkin Patch!!! Of course I went along, one of the many reasons I chose to be a stay at home mom so that I could always participate in their lives. She was very excited to ride in the van with all her classmates! Here are some pics of the adventure!

Getting ready to leave with the class

Listening to a story

Ms. Kim reading a story

Cool pumpkin

Another cool pumpkin

Spotted this cute flower amongst the pumpkins

Wrennie's class

This guy was about an inch long !

Wren and her scarecrow buddy

Until next time- enjoy every moment, they are gone before you know it!

Move it Monday Part 6

Hey Guys! I believe I am on week 7 of my get fit journey and loving to see and feel all the changes in my body. I feel better and have much more energy. I have been working out 3 days a week but this week I am uping it to 4! I have lost 7lbs and now my size 11's are too big! Woot Woot! I continue with the clean eating- well, except every now and then! Once in a while a girl just has to have and ice cream sandwiched in between 2 chocolate chip cookies- YUM!  I think I might even see enough difference to start showing Y'all some progress pics!

Me- in all my work out glory! LMAO!

Until next time- If you want to make a change in your life, you can do it!!

I Have been a Busy Beaver!

Missed a couple of days blogging! I have been hard at work! Making birds and ornaments- I love paperclay!!! So much fun!

Steampunk ornament! Going to make a set of  these!

Almost finished with this blue set.

Hanging out with my favorite girls!

Sharkey lounging!!

Back to work! I will keep you all updated on the ornaments.
Until next time- Love, Create and Love some more!!!

A Week of Tests

This week has definitely tested me! Just when I think I am on a roll and am on top of everything- The Universe humbly reminds me who is in control- not me!!! LOL! Willow was very sick with an ear infection and missed 3 days of school. Wren missed these 3 as well because Willow was just too sick to drag around.    Then the night before Willow was going back to school, something went terribly wrong with my back! I think I injured it at the gym and then made it worse working out at home with the sick kids. I can barely walk and the pain is horrible. I have not made it to the gym in a week and this makes me mad!! Another lesson in slowing down and letting things that are out of my control go. I have not been able to work on my art either which makes me mad. LOL Yet another lesson in letting go. Things will return to normal and I know this. So, I am releasing this anger. Willow feels better and I will too- that is what is most important and everything else will fall into place. I was very busy with birds until this happened- check out my desk- it looks kinda scary!!

Until next time, let go and roll with it!

Move it Monday Part 5

I was contemplating what to write today, what can I share about my journey to get fit. I am still so much in the beginning. I officially started September 1st. Within this time I have lost 6lbs and 4% of my body fat. I started at 142 lbs( I am only 5ft tall!) and 36% body fat. I think most of this is due to my clean eating for I don't feel as if I have been pushing myself hard enough at the gym! Time to amp it up for sure!
Today my daughter was very sick so I had to keep both of them home from school. That is when I usually go to the gym. Sometimes life gets in the way of your routine and you just have to work around it if you really want it. After I write this, I am going to the living room and do some crunches, push-ups, and lunges. It is not the workout I would normally do- but it is something!
I guess that  the point of this whole post- life will throw you curve balls- but if you really want something you will find a way to work it!

In other news- I listed one of my birdies in my shop!!! Whoo hoo! More to come! I am surrounded by birds in all states of completion!

New Birdie!

This little guy Is almost finished!

Until next time- it does not matter how slow you move, as long as you are moving!

Wisdom From Wren

The other morning the girls were getting ready for school and I went in their room to make sure they were staying on task. Wren, my 4 year old, was looking out the window. She turned around and said, "Mommy, this is going to be the best day!" Why is that I replied. "Because, I just saw 3 birds and a squirrel" she said with a big ole smile. I thought to myself, wow, how true. Everyday should be greeted this way, with appreciation, joy and the affirmation that it will be a great day! Every time I see birds and squirrels now I think of that morning and how we can create our own "Great Day"

On the way to school I snapped these great cloud photos. (of course, while I was at stoplights!!!)

Until next time, Create your own great day by appreciating all that surrounds you!

Move it Monday (well, Tuesday!) Part 4

Well, I want to share with you one of my favorite go to recipes from Jaime Eason's Recipies. When I first started "Clean" eating I thought this recipe sounded pretty gross! However, I was willing to try anything so I mixed it up, tried it and was totally, pleasantly surprised! It is low in fat and high in protein and quite yummy. Sometimes to change it up a bit, I use different seasonings to give it a whole new flavor! I even enlisted the help of my little Wrennie to help! She love to get her hands in there and mix it around!

My assistant- Wren

Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

2lbs ground turkey or chicken

3 egg whites

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp dried thyme

2 tsp dry mustard

2 tsp black pepper

2 tsp chipotle pepper spice (I use blackend season)

1 tsp salt

2 tbsp garlic powder ( 2 cloves minced garlic)

1 small onion finely charged

2 celery stalks finely chopped

Directions-

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. Spray muffin tin with with canola or olive oil

3. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl

4. Roll mixture into balls and place in muffin pan. The balls should be about the size of a racquetball

5. Bake for 40 minutes

Makes 12 muffins

Serving size- 2 muffins for woman

                     4 muffins for man

Calories- 80
Fats- 3 grams
Carbs- 4 grams
Protein- 11 grams

*** Just want to reiterate- this is not my recipe. You can find Jaime Eason and her recipes HERE!

Until next time, bake it, try it, you might just like it!!

Steampunk Style Box- Tutorial

Howdy folks!!! Today I am going to show you how to make a cute little Steampunk style box. I just love decorating all kinds of boxes- new, old, cigar boxes- you name it! Now, if steampunk isn't your bag baby- that's ok! Use this same concept with different colors and papers and it will still be fab! I like to think of all my projects as recipes and they all need different ingredients!

Here is a list of the ingredients you need for this little gem!


Folkart  metallic sequin black and metallic antique copper
Helmar 450 quick dry adhesive
A box- any kind you choose- I have a 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 wood box that I scored at the dollar store
Tattered Angels glimmer mist
Ranger liquid pearls copper and black
Graphic 45  Steampunk Debutante papers
Tim Holtz/ Ranger Cogs and wheels
Tim Holtz/ Ranger Distress ink- vintage photo
Little bottle
Micro beads
ribbons/fiber/lace




First, paint the box black on the outside and copper on the inside.

I really love distressing items and making them look old! So, next I distress all the edges of my papers.

After the distress ink has dried , adhere them with your Helmar adhesive.

Fill your little bottle with micro beads and tie a fiber around the top. Also tie fiber onto the key.

Using your Helmar 450, adhere the bottle, paper and key to the inside lid of the box.
Next, glue your paper and lace into the bottom of the box.

Last step is to embellish by gluing on your cogs and wheels and making dots with your liquid pearls!
Bada Bing- you are finished!!!

Until next time,

Move it Monday- Part 3

Well, I have joined a gym, what next? I really wanted a trainer but that wasn't in the cards so I thought to myself what is the next best thing? We have access to all sorts of information online. Sweet! I wanted to find something that would work for me that had everything in one, nutrition and exercise. My eating is not that bad but definitely needed a change. I obviously did not get so out of shape by just not exercising- my eating needed to be tweaked as well. I found Jamie Eason on Bodybuilding.com.

Jaime Eason

I like her personality, her plan and would love to look like her! LOL!!! Baby steps Kelly, Baby steps.
I have cut out all  white devils- that's what I call bread, white rice, and white flour. I totally love me some bread, especially sourdough, so this was difficult. Now I only eat lean meats, vegetables and whole grains. I have about 5 meals a day to get my metabolism rolling. I try to follow her workout plan as much as possible. I can't really go to the gym everyday so I combine workouts. I figure as long as I am going and moving it is better than sitting around telling myself I don't have time!

Next time I will talk about some of my favorite recipes. My whole reasoning behind Move it Monday is to hopefully give inspiration to those of you who want to make a change and think you can't! I will be posting the good, the bad and the ugly of my get fit journey! I will even post pics of me along the way which is very scary to me and putting it all out on front street! All to inspire you!!! If I, a busy mom with a dream of a creative business, a family and all that entails ( you moms know how hard it can be!) can bang it out and get fit- you can too!!!

Until next time- keep changing, evolving and always look for ways to be a better YOU!!!

Messages From the Universe

In the past couple of weeks I have saved 2 turtles. Both were in the middle of the road so I stopped my car, put on my hazards, picked them up and put them in the grass. The second one was a pretty hairy rescue! I don't really know that much about turtles and which ones might bite. This guy looked strange to me! I picked him up near the back so that if he tried to bite me, my hands would be farther away. This was a rascally fellow! He jumped out of my hands and scurried further into the road. Cars stopped and probably wondered who the crazy lady was chasing a turtle around! It took about 3 times until I was able to carry him into the grass to safety, laughing the entire time! I went home and searched out what kind of turtle he was- a Florida Softshell.

This is not the actual turtle but the same type.

Any who- I thought to myself the other day- is the Universe sending me messages through these critters? What is the meaning of turtles? So, I did a little research. I found a pretty interesting site called- What's Your Sign. It has all kinds of interesting information on animal symbolism and totem animals.
Turtles are a powerful symbol of protection, order, creation, patience, strength, stability and endurance. I believe the Universe is sending me a message that I am not in a race. My creative endeavors must be met with patience and persistence. No matter how slow I move, I am still getting somewhere. Patience is the key!
Do you have any animals in nature that seem to be crossing your path? Maybe the Universe is sending you a message!

Until next time- keep your eyes and mind open for what the Universe maybe trying to tell you!

Move it Monday Part 2

Last Monday I told you all that I would be posting on Mondays about my journey to get fit! So now that I made this decision- what next?  Figuring that I could not afford to join a gym, I started working out at home. This did not work very long for me at all!!! Too many distractions, kids needing things, seeing dusty corners that have not been cleaned in a very long time all of the sudden needed cleaning! LOL! Any excuse. I needed more motivation. When I was out and about running errands I ended up next to my local gym. I thought- check it out, you never know. I walked in there feeling like such a nerd and so out of place- but did it anyway. I talked to the dude, found out some numbers and thought to myself- we can totally afford this! I am definitely worth $1 a day to feel better about myself!!! So- I joined!!! A big leap for me. 39 and joining a gym to workout when I have not in about 20 years. What next...  Join me next Monday to see what steps I took next.

Until next time- You are worth it!

Follow Your Heart

I have a brain that moves a zillion miles an hour. Sometimes this is good and sometimes it is crippling. When I take a shower in the morning one of two things happen- 1. I get lots of amazing, creative ideas or 2. My brain is invaded with the minutia of the upcoming day. Today, it was the latter! The stream went something like this-
1. have to get the kids ready for school
2. Willow is buying lunch for the first time, will she be ok?
3. I hope Wren doesn't cry again when I drop her off
4. Should I work out today?
5. I still feel sick
6. What will I make for dinner tonight?
7. I really want to make art
The list of invading thoughts goes on!!!!
When this train starts moving in my brain I try to slow it down and focus on the now. I went outside on the porch to get fresh air and there was the most amazing sunrise. I felt a warmth run over me and thought, Kelly, just follow your heart! I ran to get my camera and take pics. The perfect moment had passed but this is what I snapped!

Until next time- JUST FOLLOW YOUR HEART!!!