From Chick to Hen

Here's my Mabel!

The girls are growing at such a rapid speed, I can hardly keep up!

I truly am amazed at how beautiful the Cochin breed is.

Compared to all of the other hens I've had,

the Cochin has been the sweetest,

 most docile breed we've raised.

Our girls love to be held and always come over for a chest scratch.

Our "Whites" are the creamiest cream.

Our "Buffs" are equivelent to a super soft chamois (in color).

Writing this reminds me of my girlfriend, Shannan, and her little Frizzle.

What is a Frizzle?

A super cute little Bantam (miniature) chicken whose feathers curl outward.

Google Frizzle, you'll crack up!

Anyway, this little hen used to peck at her back door, come into the house, jump up on the couch and lay her daily egg, then off she'd go!

Talk about service!

She was our chicken that we took to our Pony Party Petting Zoo, too.

Such the sweet little lady.

I'll have to call Shan tomorrow and ask what her name was

 because it's completely escaped me.

Tigger, her name was Tigger.

(I just texted her at 10:30pm because I couldn't wait)

I look forward to having the small acreage we are working towards to expand

the brood. I definately will add different breeds to the mix!

I still gotta have my Black Sumatra Rooster! :)

I've been having FUN with the camera.

I'll leave you with these night shots of the coop....

Until next time.

xo, Amber



Chandeliers and Tea!

Pink...

So many shades of this beautiful hue.

To me, though, the softest shades are my favorite.

Don't get me wrong! I grew up in the 80's so back then

it was Neon, all the way!

 

I must be settling down in my old age. :)

I'm going to share my technique of Tea dying with a hint of Rit.

Tea dying is no new thing, but it's fun (for me) to see how other people do it.

As I was working on my shades, I was thinking about Organic dye. I think I am going to experiment with plants and flowers, later in the Spring. I wonder if my gorgeous Red Roses will or could produce the shade I like...

Things are just starting to bud now so we'll have to wait a few weeks.

My inspiration:

White Shades:

A Teapot:

Some Raspberry Tea (for a hint of pink):

Petal Pink Rit Dye:

Voila!

 

Slowly rotate:

 

I lined a roasting pan with paper towels this time.

The second time, the boys were sleeping so I could

 set them outside on the lawn to dry

~ Pink vs. White~

After:

 

Embellished with Silk Rosettes:

These embellished shades were lacking.

The Chandelier was adorned with beautiful Pink
 Irridescent Glass Pearls.... 

After:

I made a new dye bath with a tad more pink added

It made all the difference in the world!

My mixture:

4 cups boiling water

4 Tea Bags

Rit Dye

(for lighter shades, I used a teaspoon. For darker, I used

1 tablespoon)

**Dip a white paper towel (just a corner, folded over) to test your shade.

Adjust as needed: Add more water for lighter or more dye for darker.

Remember, it will dry just  a tad lighter.

I dry on either a baking sheet lined with paper towels or outside on the lawn.

~*~*~

I'm looking forward to making more of these Chandeliers
 in more vibrant colors as well as Black and White.

I love making them!

On this weeks agenda:
Fancy Burlap and Tulle pillows
and
Treasure Hunting!

Happy Monday to you!!

xo, Amber

le poulailler

le poulailler

(The Chicken Coop)

It's about 80% done but close enough to share some pictures.

I first must confess, I am not proud of these pictures.

Too sunny and hard to capture the way I would like for it to be viewed

(wow! I sound like a photographer!).

I plan on finishing up the last 20% before Sunday (forecast:rain) and taking some fabulous pictures in cloud cover.

I'm still thinking about details... painting a sign, faux trim, ???

Mabel, Annabelle, Chickie-Poo, and Birdie love their new home.

Well, and so do the boys.... (thinking in my head: and there is a latch on the outside...hmm...)

I'm still not ready for them (the chicks) to leave the nest yet so they come in the house at night.

Maybe next week....

Wishing you a weekend of FANTASTIC Junque Sales!

xo, Amber

Next visit: Custom Chandeliers and Tea Dying!



A Little Bit of Knowledge...

Yesterday, I took my very first Photography class at Crescendoh with Cynthia Shaffer.

I was kinda worried because, having our Rebel XT for a few years,

 I have never moved the settings to Manual.

HOLY COW!!!!

K, I'm not saying I'm some great photographer but, hells bells,

 after taking this class, I feel like one compared to before!

I'm sure anyone with more camera time will look at these and say,

"OMG, she's insane".

 These are random shots of lots of different things, some of the same subject but just fiddling with the buttons and manipulating the camera.

I am in LOVE with photography!

I want to learn more.

I can't wait to play!

Sitting at my kitchen table and looking outside,

 I now look at things in a whole different light.

 At this exact moment, I'm looking at the cottonwood in the creek and the hawk up in it trying to break off big twigs for her nest.

Damn! I wish I had a zoom lens..... on the list for next purchase.

None of these have been touched up in Photoshop or anything else.

Fresh from camera to here, other than blackroostercottage.com.

Random, random, random...

From this moment on, my photos will tell a story (I hope).

I am excited about my new found Art!

Can't wait to share more with you!

XO, Amber