Bird Nesting Material Update...

Remember the tutorial for this bird nesting material cage? (Click HERE to go to that post.)

Well, look what I found in the tree not far away from the cage...

I'm not saying all the fluffy stuff in that bird's nest is from my nesting cage, but...

my crafting heart hopes it is!!

Save some of your crafting, sewing, knitting scraps and make a nesting cage for your feathered friends.

Happy Friday,
~Karen~

11:20 AM | 0 comments | Read More

Tool Time Tuesday...Homemade Bird Feeder and For Us Too!!

Spring is trying so hard to come around here at Sew Many Ways...the birds are chirping, but the temperature isn't quite there yet. Well, the birds are going to be singing more after this Tool Time, even if it isn't warm outside.

All you need for this project is a threaded rod, (I found it at Home Depot for a $1.75), 2 washers and 2 nuts that fit over the rod, one plastic bowl and a drill with a bit that matches the size of your rod.

One tip for the bowls...you only need one bowl, but I bought the larger ones on the left for 60 cents a piece and the smaller green ones came in a package of 4 for $1.00 at Walmart. The 4 for a $1.00 worked out, because I cracked the first 2!!

Here's a close up of the threaded rod label.

2 washers and 2 nuts.

This is my block of wood that I drill on.

Place the bowl, bottom side down, on your drilling surface (my block)

Drill in the center of the bowl, on the inside. Start slowly or you'll crack the first 2 like I did! (update...thanks to 2 great readers...make sure you drill a few small holes for water drainage. Placing a small piece of screen over it will keep the seeds in, but the water out. Thanks ladies)

and here you have it...

Take your threaded rod and screw on one of the nuts then one of the washers.

Now, place the bottom of the bowl on top of that washer, leaving just about 1/2 inch of the rod on inside of the bowl.

Inside the bowl, place the second washer over the rod then...

screw on the nut.

Here's the bottom.

Here's the inside.

Now take your favorite bird seed...

and fill her up. The rod is sturdy, so it's easy to stick in the ground.

Don't forget to place it next to your nesting cage. Click here for that tutorial.

It will be like a Bed and Breakfast for the birds!!

This bird food may be yummy for our feathered friends, but I'm also thinking this idea would be great for human treats too. How about...

• snacks...popcorn, candy, pretzels etc
• hand sewing, eye glasses, cell phone etc
• use the bowl for picnics, camping or at the beach next to your chair
• stick easily into the ground or the sand

I was going to say this project is "for the birds", but I guess it's for us too!!

Happy Tuesday,

~Karen~

Don't forget to link up any of your projects at my Sew Darn Crafty Party...so many wonderful links there already.

9:01 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Tool Time Tuesday...Bird Nest Material

Happy Tuesday everyone! Today's Tool Time encompasses many things...hardware store finds, scrap fabric, thread, yarn, batting, dog hair (yes, I said dog hair), recycling, nature and helping little birdies. Wow, that's a lot in one post, but this is an easy one.

This is a mesh "purse" I made for all the birds who are starting to chirp away now that spring is just around the corner. All the goodies in the mesh purse are there to help the birds build their nests. There are many sites out there that will explain the items birds need to build their nest, but I found one link that was helpful. Click here for the link. Scroll down on that page until you reach the Nest Material section.



Here are the items you'll need...

• wire mesh or chicken wire...found in hardware store or in my father-in-law's garage!
• 2 pieces of thin wire to "sew" the edges closed
• wire cutters
• and all your scrap sewing items...thread, yarn, fabric strips, batting
• I also added our dog Annie's hair (which they recommend). It all came out of the dryer vent after I washed her cotton blanket. I know dryer lint is not recommended, but this is seriously just all her hair because that's all I washed. Dye free detergent and no dryer sheets were used
  

The edges of the wire mesh had sharp points...

just snip those off with your wire cutters.

Now they're nice and smooth. Sand if necessary.

You can make your scrap bag in any shape, so the starting measurements can be any thing. This is just a rectangle piece that I had.

First, I folded up the bottom to form the purse.

Next, fold over the top flap, like an envelope.

This is the thin wire I used to "sew" up the side seams.

Start at the bottom corner.

Twist the wire to attach it to the mesh.

Just weave the wire in and out through the mesh and pull tight as you go along.

Here is the whole side sewn up. Repeat on the other side as well to form the "purse".

This is the view from the top with the flap open, looking in with both sides sewn up.

I looked through all my old buttons for a closure.

Wire the button to the front.

and add a ribbon to wrap around the button to keep the pouch closed.

Now fill it up with all your sewing scraps!

Twist the ribbon around the button.

Add another ribbon to hang the pouch from the tree.

I also added a stick and cotton batting which I forget in the original list of materials needed.

I poked the stick through the mesh. It's the perfect perch for the birds to rest on while they are taking out the materials they need to build their nest.

Now it's all set to hang outside for our feathered friends.

Don't forget to add all your beautiful cotton quilting scraps. With all that fabric, you'll have the prettiest bird's nest around!

This area of our yard is always full of bird's nest, so I hope these little bird purses filled with their building materials will help.

The temperature is in the 20's tonight! This post is one more way to...

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Think Spring, Think Spring, Think Spring!!

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Dont' forget to join the Sew Darn Crafty Link Party...show off YOUR projects and there's a give away too. Click here to join in on the fun!

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Have a wonderful Tuesday,

~Karen~

9:01 PM | 0 comments | Read More