Steampunk Birdhouse In Your Soul ATB

I recently participated in the Artist Trading Block Swap.  For those of you who are wondering, an ATB, is basically a 3-D version of an ATC (Artist Trading Card).  A small work of art, to be given away and shared.  While stalking my partner's Pinterest I noticed she had pinned an altered art tag, which had the lyric "Make a little birdhouse in your soul" on it.  If you are unfamiliar with this brilliant song by They Might Be Giants, you can watch the video on Youtube.  A brief explanation is that the song tells the story of a nightlight, which watches over its owner while they sleep.  The night light tells the listener to make a birdhouse (being a safe place for something small and vulnerable) for the light it creates in their mind and soul.

And after seeing noodle-bug's amazing hand stitched Birdhouse for Your Soul, I knew I had to completely steal ahem, take inspiration from her example and create a Steampunk Birdhouse for amaryllisroze's Soul. 

The front contains an antiqued blue bird in a frame, as a reference to the lyric "Bluebird of friendliness", and a set of antiqued chipboard letters.

The first narrow side includes a window looking onto an Edwardian lady, and a metal bee, as a reference to the lyric "Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet."

The back contains a 3-D metal birdcage with a delicate Swarovski crystal heart dangling from it, in reference to the vulnerable parts of ourselves which we try to sheild.

The final side contains a bit of ruler, with a tiny hinged tin box that says "passion", and a light bulb full of glitter which is a reference to the fact that the song is told from the point of view of a nightlight.  Below that is a "Cherish" token, a clock, and the symbol for infinity, which references the line "My story's infinite".  While I was working on it, I searched high and low for a picture or embellishment with a lighthouse on it for this side, but seemed to be thwarted at every turn.  Of course I found the perfect one 2 days after shipping it.   :P

And finally, the whole thing is topped with a small bird's nest, which contains the Ace of Hearts, a gear, watch hand, a button, and freshwater pearl "eggs".  I had a devil of a time getting the nest to stay on top, so I ended up using a Vintaj brass embellishment, bent up into the shape of a bowl to support the nest.

Shakespeare Shrine

This is another shrine I made for pinkleo in the Shrine Swap, and was based off her request for “anything Shakespeare related”. 

The base is an ATC Shrine Kit from Tiny Things are Cute, along with the tiny books and tiny tankard.  I painted, stamped, and “shimmered” the shrine base pieces before assembly.  (I have to say that Linda Cain's tutorial over on FRIENDS in Art was incredibly helpful!)  The image of Shakespeare himself is actually a vintage cigarette card from 1924.  Yep, it’s just about 90 years old! The crown on Shakespeare and the one on the skull, as well as the “play” charm, pawn, heart lock, stone owl, letter beads and skull bead all came out of my stash. The scroll of paper at the top reads, “He was not of an age, but for all time,” which is a quote about Shakespeare by fellow playwright Ben Johnson. 

Many of the items in the shrine are references to famous lines from Shakespeare’s plays.

Crown on Shakespeare:
“My crown is in my heart, not on my head;
Not decked with diamonds and Indian stones,
Nor to be seen: my crown is called content:
A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy. – Henry IV

Crown on skull:
“Give me my robe. Put on my crown. I have
Immortal longings in me. Now no more
The juice of Egypt’s grape shall moist this lip.” – Cleopatra, Antony and Cleopatra

Heart: “A heart to love, and in that heart, Courage, to make love known” – Macbeth

Skull: “Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him.” - Hamlet

Pawn: "My life I never held but as a pawn to wage against thy enemies” – Kent, King Lear

Tankard: “I would give my fame for a pot of ale and safety” – King Henry V (my very favorite Shakespeare play)

Shell: “My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite” – Juliet, Romeo & Juliet

Owl: “Believe me love it was the owl,” which is actually from the film Shakespeare in Love ;)