Rare Bird Finds

Sale Alert: Wry Baby

Today only!  Save 50% off of everything* at Wry Baby.

*With a few tiny exceptions

Stackable Number Cup

Need to keep track of your cups of coffee? Day of the week? Number of kids you have? Get one of these cool stackable number cups.  Choose from number 0 - 8 (4&5 are sold out) $16 at Fly Bird

Petit Pan Dragonfly Kite

These dragonfly kites are gorgeous.  I want one of these for me!  Forget the kids!  $33 at Rose and Radish

Mix Tape Tee

A mixed tape tee for all of our children of the 80's readers out there.  $19.95 at Thriving Ink

Sandbox Salt and Pepper Set

I love this sandbox salt and pepper cellar set.  The only problem would be getting your guests to stop playing with it.   $38 at the Merry Martini.

***Use code NEST08 for 10% off***

Theme Sunday: My Current Favorite Tees

Hungry, Hungry Hippo T-shirt - $17.99



I Love the (Eighteen) 80's - $20
Be sure to request a reprint if they're out of your size


I Choo Choo Choose You - $17.99


Nunchucks - $20


8-Bit Dynamic Life Shirt - $11.99 - $24.99

New Contest: J Mundo Designs

LAST DAY TO ENTER!!

This week you have the chance to win your choice of jewelry from J Mundo Designs.  J Mundo is one of a kind jewelry created from beautiful vintage and new materials. .  The winner will get to pick from anything at J Mundo (under $55) 

To enter: 

• Go to J Mundo Designs and find your favorite piece of jewelry 
• Then come back to Rare Bird Finds, and leave a blog comment for this post with your favorite piece (either a link or the title is fine).  Make sure you put your email address on the line for email address.  Although we publish comments your email address will not be shown
  
• How do you leave a comment for this post?  Below this post you'll see the word "Comments (0)" (yep, it's blue).  Click on that link.  If you came here from a link it will just say comments.  It doesn't say confirmed when you post your comment but we will get it.
• Do not send emails to J Mundo Designs to enter.

Winners will be chosen on March 30th.

Congratulations to Jen H for winning the Vol 25 Contest!

Etsy Saturday!

Mushroom Hair Pins $4.75 at Green Thumb Designs

Handmade Gift Boxes 4 for $5 at Field and Sea

Flower Earrings $14 at Tiger Lilly Shop

Baby Binky Bib $18 at Q Bu Baby

Thank You for Being a Friend Necklace $20 at Trashed Clothing

Bird Card $6.50 at Belly Button Industries

 

Fab 5 Friday, Issue 26 - April Sytsma

If someone told April that she'd have two retail stores, a wholesale paper design studio and a shopping website by her early thirties, she'd never have believed them.  "I was planning on being a special education teacher and ended up graduating with that degree, but I got a little side tracked along the way," says April. 

It all started when she decided to rent a table for $8 at the local Ann Arbor Artisan Market to sell her handmade paper books, frames and cards. Before long she started participating in local art and craft fairs and soon found out that she could make decent money peddling her handmade wares.  A few years of retail fairs led to doing wholesale trade shows and before she knew it, "my little paper business out grew our house."

April ended up renting a space where she produced the art wares in the back half and set up a small retail gift gallery in the front.  As time passed, her wholesale accounts grew as well as the shoppers at her store. She expanded the retail space and moved her design studio to another location.  With the success of her original shop she proceeded to open another location and an online store.

"Needless to say I've been and continue to be a very busy girl, but I couldn't have imagined a better way to live my life," she says.

Visit April's fabulous online shop, Catching Fireflies, for unique and whimsical goodies.

Devo Finger Puppets

Who knew there were finger puppets for Devo fans?  These quirky characters can't help but to warm your heart.  The detail on them is delightful.  I can't wait to add another one to my collection.  $20 Megan Jeffery

Picked by April Sytsma, Guest Editor for Fab 5 Friday

Matilde Sac

I first spotted this oh-so-hip bag in a fabulous little store in Northern Michigan. Its price tag was a little too much to splurge on just because, so I heavily hinted to my husband that it'd make a fantastic gift.  Lucky for me he listened and I'm now the proud owner of a one-of-a-kind Rebe bag that I get compliments on all the time.  They use a large variety of vintage fabrics and offer many different styles of bags, cosmetic cases and wallets.  $225 My Rebe

Picked by April Sytsma, Guest Editor for Fab 5 Friday

Sterling Silver Custom Dog Tags

Two of my mangers adopted pooches this past year so as part of their Christmas present I gave them these very stylish customizeable dog tags.  Now Queen Gretchen and Miss Lucy have the finest bling in Metro Detroit.  $30 at bynicola

Picked by April Sytsma, Guest Editor for Fab 5 Friday

Porcelain Circle Earrings

Whenever I wear these pretties, people always comment on them.  I love the way they feel and look.  Since they're porcelain, you can select from 6 different glaze colors.  $48 H.B. Jewelry

Picked by April Sytsma, Guest Editor for Fab 5 Friday

I Love My Dog Fabric Art

I've admired Chris' amazing fabric pictures since the first time I saw them at the Ann Arbor Art Fair.  Being a college student at the time, I only could dream about owning one.  But eventually I splurged on a piece titled catching fireflies and as fate would have it... it inspired my current gift gallery's name.  Chris is always creating new and fabulous art work.  I wouldn't mind adding I love my dog to my collection(not that I'm partial to bulldogs or anything).  $550 at Chris Roberts-Antieau.com

Picked by April Sytsma, Guest Editor for Fab 5 Friday

Hans Guitar Solo

Ha ha, this Hans Guitar Solo t-shirt makes me laugh. Perfect for the Star Wars fan who is also a guitar hero.  $17.99 at Busted Tees.

Bunny Baby Doll Dress Top

Cute baby doll tank top for warmer days.  Aside from giant bunnies, the shop also carries a cool octopus design.  $30 at Deadworry.

Polar Bears in Love Wallet

Aww, too cute!  This pink polar bears in love wallet is adorable.  I love how the inside of the wallet looks, too! $26 at Orange Button.

Batimamzelle Earrings

I love dragonflies and these dragonfly earrings look so pretty and cool.  Perfect for Spring!  $26 at Stars + Infinite Darkness.

Don't miss the

click here!

Review: Maryink

Want a cute lightweight long sleeve shirt that's perfect for layering?  Head over to Marink on Etsy and take advantage of the deal they have right now.  But 1 long sleeve shirt and get one free.  I am actually wearing the one pictured above right now and I love it.  Between that one and the other one I got (FOR FREE) I could wear these shirts everyday.  They are super comfortable.  They are perfect for these kinda chilly spring days.

The sale has been going on for awhile so they have limited sizes but if they do have yours snap some up!