Top Ten wild birds

I've been thinking about the different birds I use in my jewelry, from Quentin quail .... to Clair de Loon ...... to Orlando the swan...., and wondering what other birds I should be trying. So I thought I'd come up with a list of what seems to me to be the most popular wild birds. The list is highly unscientific - just my thoughts based on what designs we see, photographs, news....a whole variety of things. Here are the top 10 - in no particular order

• penguin
• owl
• swan
• bald eagle
• northern cardinal
• blue jay
• bluebird
• woodpecker
• hummingbird
• flamingo

So what do you think? Have I missed out something obvious? What is your favorite?

What about my runners up: ostrich...kiwi....nightingale....magpie.....mockingbird.....pelicans... herons....Should they be on there? And what about Quentin??? What about a type of duck...


From the list I've made a penguin, a woodpecker, a hummingbird, an owl and a swan..... What next?

Sip the Sweet Moments - hummingbird ring

I hadn't listed my hummingbird and flower ring as I was trying to come up with a name for it....."Hummingbird ring" didn't quite do it for me. Then last night I found this sweet little quote, about the "essence" of the hummingbird...and thus the ring is now called "Sip the sweet moments".

"Sip the sweet moments. Let your true colors glow. Don’t get your feathers ruffled over little things. Just wing it. Take yourself lightly. Keep your visits short and sweet!"
......Author Unknown

Hummingbird Ring

The hummingbirds are buzz, buzz, buzzing around, and still finding plenty of food with our flowers at the moment. Everyday we see hummingbirds. We don't have any feeders for them - only the natural ones ie flowers!


It never ceases to amaze me the loud noise that such a tiny bird can make - not just with their hovering, but their little squeaks when they chase each other!! And as I see them, I just feel they are buzzing at me, nagging me to make them in silver. I did make a hummingbird charm a few months ago, for my mum....and like the shape of it... the curled under tail....open wings...


So I've combined the "nagging" hummingbird with trying out a new style of ring. This is a simple style of sculptural ends on thick fine silver wire....a type of bypass ring with a hummingbird and flower together. What do you think?


The basic style of sculptural end I first saw from Kate McKinnon's work and she's recently been discussing it in her blog. I really enjoyed making it - and keep looking at it thinking it should be a neck wire or bangle bracelet or something like that....


And yes, if you are like my husband, your first thought is that it is dangerous!!! It is a cocktail ring - not meant to be worn when gardening etc - and definitely catches the eye - but hopefully, not literally :=D It's just a statement. Everything we wear doesn't have to be sensible!

So live out loud - like a tiny hummingbird!