New Guys.....

I just wanted to take the time to introduce you to a few New Guy's that I've been creating here over in my little world. I love to play around with new ideas and patterns.... that's why I like it when people request guys that I haven't made yet. It always pushes me to do more and I do love a good challenge.

I made an Orange Hippo for a lovely couple and followed up with this guy. I dare say....this is cuter than my previous Hippo pattern!

This little dude is one of my new favorites. He is a Platypus with a blue bill. Awwwww! Ive made a few Plytapi before in the past but I'm pretty sure I've perfected the pattern now.

I have a new duckie to offer customers now. Before I have offered Mallard Ducks but this is your "classic" yellow and orange duck. I find it's more "recognizable" to people.

Lastly, I have Mr. Skunk. He's a little bigger than the mouse pattern and comes with a white Mohawk of course!!! That about wraps it up for my new items I'm offering on ETSY. Hope you've all enjoyed seeing my little buddies.

xoxo

Nothing but a Pigeon

Instagram lately....

This October has been awesomely pleasant! As some of you may already know I have decided to give my business Nothing but a Pigeon a go! I officially put in my two week notice at the city and said goodbye to taking calls from unhappy citizen's. I've never felt so happy or more relieved then I do right now. Although I will miss my cubicle buddies I know this is the right thing for me and for my business! In other news.... the weather has been very fine this October. The sun has been shining and sweater weather is kept to a strict schedule of "only in the early mornings and late at night." 

Happy news! Our baby Betty (from our first batch) is all grown up and has started to lay eggs. We get about one egg every other day from her. I do love my chickens!! 

Here's Molly (left) and Lola (on the right). They are growing up so fast! Sometimes I feel that they are growing up "too fast" and then other times it's no "fast enough." They are finally out of the house and are currently living in a separate coop from Betty until they get older and become accustomed to on another.

Even though it's the end of October everything seems to be in full bloom. We have many beautiful wild flowers surrounding our neighborhood and home. Must be from all that rain we had one week.

I also ventured to Columbus, Ohio to see my beautiful sister and her handsome Bee Keeper of a husbear (Brian) tie the knot. It was a wonderful ceremony full of laughter and tears.

While I was at home I found some old relic's of mine from back in the day. 

My first "Commissioned piece."

More wild flowers.....

Betty getting introduced to the young ones.

It rained cat's and dog's for a week straight here in Austin and everything flooded.

A happy Selfie. I can't help but smile now that I'm no longer working for the city.

You know what Fall weather means..... tights!

Our Trumpet Vine decided it wanted to bloom one last time.

I no longer dread getting up in the mornings to start my work day.

Some beautiful findings on my daily walk.

More blooms!

I can never turn down a visit to Callahan's. Even if it is just to purchase seeds and hay.

I bought this delicious "Unicorn Puke" candle from The Burlap Bag. I never knew how wonderful Unicorn Puke could smell. Mmmmmmm.

Matt and I took some time out of the day to drink some Pumpkin Spiced Coffee at The Spiderhouse. I do love me some pumpkin spice.

My Husbear makes the best BBQ sauce! Recipe to come.....

The Spiderhouse.

Texas Blooms.

We've been enjoying yummy Autumn food. 

My little Bear Head made it in to the display window at A-Town. 

Last day of work at the team meeting we played Mexican Bingo. 

and this new guy......

There were plenty of other delightful things that have happened anlong the way as well. Stay tuned for more fall findings ..... I hope you all enjoyed my October Instagram Pics. Follow along on @nothingbutapigeon.

xoxo

The 2013 Blue Genie Art Bazaar!!!

      

Hey everyone! I'm proud to announce that I will be a Vendor in The 2013 Blue Genie Art Bazaar!! Last year was so much fun! I met so many wonderful and fabulous people and made loads of new friends! Eeeeeep! This year I have a 4x8 wall instead of a few shelves so I'm working overtime to keep my "little guys" stocked up! I can't wait to share with everyone my new designs and pattern's that I've been working on all year. I have way more selection of sizes as well as more choice in colors than I did in the past. My "little guy's" just keep getting better and better. Let's just say my skill has become more refined and I'm making smaller pieces that are affordable for any Christmas budget! I hope you all will joining me again this year!! 

P.S. If you wanna take a gander of what I have in store for this year please visit my ETSY site here.

The Blue Genie Art Baazar

xoxo

The big decision.....

I've done it! I have finally made the move from my full time 9-5 job with the city of Austin to being a full time crafter. It's something that I've always wanted to do and having been working up towards for years now. I haven't been happy at my job in such a long time and Nothing but a Pigeon has really started to take off and is in high demand. Can you believe it? I have been nagging and nagging at my Husbear about leaving the city for a little over a year now but he was weary about it...... naturally. It wasn't till I couldn't keep up with the demand of my crochet business and a few conversations sparked by a some of my fellow small business owners (you know who you are) that we felt like the time was right to take the plunge. I think that Matt had to hear it from other small business owners as opposed to hearing it from his wife. (Thank you BTW). So we have taken the steps that were needed to make this small business possible. We attended a meeting (with Leander's) and investigated all our possible options for a small business loan.... believe me we researched and did our homework. I was lent this very awesome book called "Work Life Revolution" written by the lovely Laura E. Burns. She is the sweetest! Her book is so inspiring!!! It really helped me to digest and truly understand my "transition" from my old job into my new career/work life. Thank you so much Lisa of Feto Soap for lending me the book and helping guide me. Jodi of Art Austin Genius for being my partner in crime and for giving me tips whenever I need help. Gah! There are so many more people!!! I'm also very thankful for being accepted into Austin Craft Riot and getting introduced to this new circle of friends. They are there whenever I have a question or am lost and confused. I find that there is a tight little bond that I have formed with a few select ladies that will last a lifetime. Now I'm getting all weepy eyed and nostalgic. It really has been a long road and I don't even know whom to thank first. Oh wait! That would be my ever patient and loving Husbear Matt Hart. I love you Mattie..... without you none of this would have been possible. 

xoxo

The Ohio Wedding!

I'm so excited that my sister Taryn Heldenbrand has officially tied the knot with her long term, bee keeping boyfriend Brian Erchenbrecher! I flew back to Columbus, Ohio last weekend to join in the celebration of this very awesome couple. It was such a gorgeous Autumn weekend on The Erchenbrecher Farm. I didn't realize how much I missed Ohio weather in the Fall. The last few Falls that I had while living in Ohio were wet and cold. This felt like an Indian Summer. 

I also got to meet all of Brian's side of the family..... they are sooooo sweet! I'm so glad Taryn has them in her life. They truly care for her and Brian so much it's adorable. Martha (Brian's Mother) baked all the pie's for their Farm wedding and even took the time to make sure to plant Sunflowers at just the right time so that they would bloom during her wedding! Everyone from his side of the family pitched in. There was even a painting (American Gothic) created/painted by Brian's cousin specifically for photo booth style pictures.... you know where the heads are cut out and you stick your noggin' in there and snap a picture. It was great! I even did my little part by helping make photo booth props such as beards, mustaches etc.....

Here is a sweet little photo of Hunter (Taryn and Brian's puppy) well, one of them. They also have a mixed terrier breed named Max. Hunter has some issues with his Thyroid which causes hair loss..... but we still love him just the same! Isn't he cute?

This is the funniest and cutest thing ever! Taryn and Brian had succulents in teacups 

(among other arrangements) around the tables and as center pieces. Brian specifically requested Dinosaurs. Taryn said: "If my baby wants Dinosaurs.... my baby gets Dinosaurs." I love their awesome relationship...they just "get each other".

There were mixed pumpkins and gourds all around as well. I wish Pinterest existed when I was getting married. Sheesh.

A vintage typewriter along with cigar boxes, succulents, old bottles and sunflowers adorned the tables. It makes me want to go back and re-do my whole wedding theme. Isn't it just spectacular???

Here are some of the beautiful Sunflowers that were in bloom all along the barn. There were various shades and colors.

They had chairs set up for the wedding but also threw in some bails of hay with adorable fabric and baby pumpkins to keep the sheets from blowing away. They literally thought of everything.... thank Gawd Taryn was an event planner. Lol.

Here's the other photo booth that they set up in the corner with a little bench and props made by yours truly. Adorableness provided by Taryn and Brian.

That night all their friends and family camped out on their property and woke up to a delicious Keish and bacon breakfast! I was just in awe how wonderful Brian and Taryn's friends and family made their day. Everyone worked so hard. Have I said that enough?? Ha!

Taryn and Taylor in "American Gothic"

Meet the Newlyweds Taryn and Brian! Aren't they a handsome couple?

The Heldenbrand sister's at The wedding. Taryn made such a lovely Bride. Her dress was amazeballs! The Bridal Party wore Maroon and wine colored frocks while the Boys wore similar colored button downs and suspenders. More images to come! It was the best weekend ever! I miss my Ohio friends and Family dearly. I'm was so grateful to meet all of Taryn and Brian's friends and was very comforted to know that they both have a great support system there in case they ever need anything. Sometimes it's hard living so far away from family....it's nice to know there are "good people" in their lives. Hope you have enjoyed these Instagram Images. You can follow along with me @nothingbutapigeon.

xoxo

The Tinderbox

The Husbear and I made a day trip to Houston a few weekends ago to drop off some product to 

Ren Mitchell owner of the lovely Tinderbox Craft Collective..... a very adorable boutique and studio work shop. Ren and I found eachother through Instagram. You gotta love social media.... it has played a huge role in my businesses success. I'm obsessed with Instagram. Ha! Here are some images that I snapped with my 

i phone while we were there. 

Ren and her Husbear opened The Tinderbox a little over 6 months ago. There was a lot of hard work and dedication involved but it has definatly paid off. Ren is such an inspiration to me!! I have been dreaming of starting my own business for what seems like forever now! Nothing but a Pigeon has really started to take off and many doors are beginning to open up. We shall see what happens. Wink wink!

Some of my favorite ladies sell here too! There is Lisa Chow of Lisa Chow Art  and Jessica Lopez of 

Tiny Deer Studio as well. Eeeeeeep! I love these girls and have a bunch of their art work hanging in our home. If you haven't checked them out you must! Not only are they super talented but are both also sweet as pie!

Look at this adorable set up!! I want this table set in my kitchen. Yellow makes me soooo happy!

I saw this and instantly thought of my good friend Jodi Hopper's little baby boy Jax Thor. Ha! Jodi and I have been sharing a booth at events for quite awhile now. If you don't already know...Jodi owns her own business as well. It's called Art Austin Genius. She makes up-cycled Lego jewelry that is pretty clever.

Look! Other crocheted goodies.

I love the set up in the store...it's so welcoming and inviting. If you are ever in the Houston area you must stop by. Look how adorable these little painted plaques are!

I wanted to buy this little bow necklace but the Mister wouldn't let me. 

Tiny terrarium necklaces. 

H-Town!!

I want all of these dish towels for my kitchen...... here's a closer detail below.

We didn't get to hang out that much and see everything that we wanted to see in H-Town but we will definitely be back to have more adventures. Stay tuned for some very interesting and exciting future posts!

xoxo