Twit Twoo!

I have always had a grá for Owls...
 

 

Our house has an owl window; it perfectly frames a beautiful horse chestnut tree to the front of the house...

 

 While on honeymoon in Bali, we went to a craft village where one of the villagers carved this little guy from wood...

 

It's even creeping into my clothes from Swamp...
 

 

 I think they are such amazing creatures. 

I have only ever seen a real life owl once. It flew over my head one evening at dusk in the middle of a woodland area. It was an amazing sight.
 

 

Sadly, my husband recently informed me that their numbers are dwindling. In fact barn owl numbers have plummeted by 50% in the last 25 years. There may be just 450 pairs left in Ireland. The severe winter weather hasn't helped in recent years. Also their natural habitats are disappearing and the use of rodenticides has increased.

 

For the last number of weeks I have been following a series called Living The Wildlife which follows Emmy award winning cinematographer Colin Stafford-Johnson as he travels across Ireland in search of our most fascinating fauna. Episode 5 featured the barn owl. Colin travelled around Ireland with owl expert John Lusby who each summer monitors the barn owl chick population.

Look at Colin with this beautiful baby barn owl...

So I thought, what can I do to help this precious creature??

Well, it seems I could sponsor a Barn Owl Nest Box here...

 

Or as that costs €200, maybe I could make my own???

From what I read, it seems nest boxes should be erected around mid-March to allow for the nesting season to take place from April to July. Maybe I am too late for this year but I could be early for next year! Watch this space!

Have you ever erected a nest box?
Or are you lucky enough to have these beauties nesting nearby?
 

Easter Eggcessories!

Well, I made it, just in time! The Easter decorating ran a little late this year. I just finished last night!

 

 

This was because I have been a little under the weather but also as some of my new decorations were handmade. Most of my new tree decorations were made using my craft du jour...Decoupage!

 

It sure is time consuming. I'm a newbie and self-thought so please be kind!

First off, I decoupaged some eggs...

 

 

These were made from Polystyrene. The one on the left was decoupaged using old stamps, the other two with paper napkins. To finish, I added a ribbon from my stash using a pearl topped straight pin.
 

Then, I decoupaged some cute little paper mache bird houses...

 

 

These were made using a combination of coloured paper and little flowers cut from paper napkins.
 

These decorations went on my Easter tree...

 

 As Mr. Auburn was away, I had to call on my father-in-law for assistance. I had more a branch in mind but this is what I got and now it's in I really like it!

 

Of course I had to do an egg and a birdhouse to match the downstairs loo...
 

 

It took all I had to cut up this vintage sheet music! It was 'The Seasons' by Haydn too!!

I think they look nice though with the cream and black decor, as does this birdhouse; quite fitting with my wallpaper...

 

Then I made some nests; this one with the help of a tutorial from Perpetual Plum.

It was made using a wire coat hanger and the offcuts from my Easter tree. The moss and feathers I gathered on a walk, the quail eggs; I blew out a couple of years back. This was a little fiddly but the most natural looking nest I think.
 

 

This one in the fishbowl; I made using just moss and little pieces of hay and leaves...

 

 

 This one I made using shredded paper and some more of that moss...

 

 

 I then popped it inside the birdcage, added some hen eggs, some feathers and this little straw chick...

 

This chalk egg I got from the Euro shop, I sprayed it gold and aged it a bit with some antique brown...

 

 

It accompanies these gold fellows on my mantle...

 

 

I made some little pics for my kitchen notice board with some die cuts I had left over from an Easter project a couple of years back...

 

 

I think the vintage bunny scenes are really cute...

 

 

You've already met the March Hare...who dressed up for Easter...

 

 

He has joined old favourites like Rascally Rabbit who came all the way from America...

 

 

Here are some more old reliables from around the house...

 

To welcome you in; a Gisela Graham egg wreath embellished with a little chick...

 

 

Some Peter Rabbit Wedgewood...

 

 

An Easter postcard from 1909...
 

 

Some painted eggs with more of those die cuts...

 

 

Don't these look like bunnies??

 

The goose that laid the golden egg??

 

More birds' nests...

 

A lovely hare painted by my mother...

 

 

An old Easter project inspired by Bhg...

 

 

Some ceramic chicks painted in eau de nil to match the kitchen...

I love hyacinths and tulips for Easter...

 

A little gift from my mother...

Eggs, eggs, eggs...

 

Well, it wouldn't be Easter without some chocolate ones too...

Hope you're having an eggcellent Easter!!!

 

An Eclectic Mix!

As last Sunday was St. Patrick's Day; Monday was a bank holiday which meant we had a nice long weekend here in Ireland. My husband and I went to a car boot which is held on bank holidays in a neighbouring county. There was a really good turnout despite the bitterly cold weather.  

What can I say, the items that made it home are an eclectic mix!

 From an old toolbox; came an old carpenter's ruler...

This also came from the carpenter's toolbox,

I have something in mind for it...

An old flour sieve...



A cattle/horse trimmer... This was a freebie from the same seller! The jury is still out!!

A cute little egg storage box which is going to get a face lift...



And this lovely carriage lamp...

This is the piece de résistance on a recent outdoor project (and upcoming post!).

Oh, I almost forgot this fine fellow...

 He wasn't at the car boot. We found him elsewhere and he practically begged us to take him home for Easter....