What a surprise, I am still giggling over this! My "Bird Poop Jewelry" was chosen to be featured in a slideshow on the Fox Small Business website, with the topic of Bizarre Business Ideas. You can take a look at the slideshow through the following link: http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/slideshow/entrepreneurs/2011/08/09/eight-bizarre-business-ideas

To celebrate, I've made a new batch of "bird poop jewelry", and have put them for sale on eBay this week! Buy It Now options are available on each piece, so you don't have to wait until the auctions are over to snap one up. There is a bracelet charm (not shown), a pin, a pendant, a pendant on cord and a magnet. The auctions end next Saturday, take a look and have a laugh! :)

Also, I had some colorful scrap clay this month, so I've whipped up a few pretty pendants! Each one-of-a-kind bird has a glossy finish. The first bird is a smaller parrot with a charm that says "Laugh", and the second is a macaw type of parrot, with the species up to your imagination, holding a charm that says "Follow your dreams"! Both necklaces have a Buy It Now option, and are on auction until next Saturday, unless the Buy It Now option is used!

Summer greetings, I hope you and your flocks are staying cool in the heatwaves! I've got a lot of news to tell you about! It's been a few months since I've updated my blog, and it's great to be back in touch with you all! Due to some health challenges, I had to take a break from creating the monthly newsletter and Bird of the Month collections, which you can read more about below.

BIRD OF THE MONTH COLLECTIONS

As you probably know, for quite a few years I have offered a collection of new jewelry in a different species, for auction on eBay at sale prices, every month. It's become a bit too much for me to continue doing this each month, while still keeping up with custom orders through my website. So, at least for now, the Bird of the Month will change from being a collection of items to just a single item auctioned on eBay.

"VIP" CUSTOM ORDERS STARTING AUGUST 1!

As mentioned a few months ago, I had planned to have the "VIP Custom Order" option going by now, for those of you who wanted to be able to place rush/confirmed orders for a higher fee. There were some delays, but I have good news for you! On August 1st, I will be putting the form up, and will begin accepting a couple of VIP orders each month. To read more about it, please go to the new VIP Custom Order page.

For those of you wanting a "regular" custom order, I'm continuing to do monthly drawings from the custom order requests that I receive, on the first day of each month. If you haven't had your order drawn yet, please keep trying and know that I appreciate your interest. When I have cancellations, I generally pick a replacement from those of you that have been entering the longest.

WHITE BELLIED CAIQUE & BARE EYED COCKATOO ON AUCTION

The Bird of the Month is the White Bellied Caique and this Glass Beaded Necklace and Earring set shown above is currently on auction. I have also listed a Bare Eyed Cockatoo Charm Choker necklace, shown below. They are on auction on eBay until July 27th.

Since I have so little inventory left, I will be closing my eBay Store within the next few days. I will be using my Etsy shop to stock new inventory in the future: http://www.aliciascreations.etsy.com

The remaining inventory of jewelry from my eBay Store is currently being auctioned off at low starting bid prices (with Buy It Now options) ending on July 27th, so pop over and take a look!

Please note that although I am closing my eBay Store (for non-auction items) I will continue to list pieces on auction on eBay once in a while. You can always find my listings by searching for my eBay seller name (parrotjewelry) or looking at the bottom of this page: http://myworld.ebay.com/parrotjewelry/

Besides parrot jewelry, I have a few other things listed on eBay this week!

Did you know that I used to sculpt humans before parrot jewelry took over? :) Here is one of my pieces, which I originally sculpted in clay, and then had cast in resin. I hand painted the features, and each one is unique in the limited edition.

This striking Phantom of the Opera face is on auction on eBay, and will be made into the winning bidder's choice of a pin or a decorative magnet!

In case you missed them the first time around, I've re-listed these gorgeous green jasper and feather earrings, with dragonfly charms, on auction until July 27! Killian donated the feathers, and these earrings have a very eye-catching look!

I hope you are having a lovely Spring, and have had a wonderful Easter and Passover! I've been enjoying the jonquils outside my window next to my sculpting table, as well as watching the beauty of the trees starting to bud with leaves. Each day brings something new to enjoy outside at this time of the year!

I was not able to make a Bird of the Month collection for sale this month, however, I do have a new "scrap clay" necklace for you! It is on auction on eBay for the next week. A portion of the final sale price will be donated to the Oasis Sanctuary Foundation.

For those of you interested in placing a Custom Order Request, the entry form is on my website here: http://www.parrotjewelry.com/orderform.html I draw a limited number of custom orders on the first day of each month. (You can read the full details about the current system of placing custom orders on my website.)

Also, some of you have been asking about the "VIP Custom Order" option, as I had planned to have it set up this month. Due to some health issues that came up this month, I wasn't able to work on it, so this addition will be postponed until next month.

In honor of Mother's Day just around the corner, I'm having a sale of 5% off through May 31st, on all eBay Store items! There are still several unique pieces available for immediate purchase in my eBay store, including this Congo African Grey face charm necklace. To see all items that are available, visit my eBay Store.

I have also listed a whimsical blue African Grey necklace & earring set in my Flights of Fancy style, from my own personal jewelry collection, on eBay. The bird holds a charm with the word "Believe", and is beaded up with some gorgeous glass beads in periwinkle blue, silver, grey and black. The set is on auction for the next week, with a low starting bid!

Kilian and Kaleena (pictured) and I wish you a Valentine's Day that is absolutely overflowing with love!

To celebrate Valentine's Day, from now until the end of the month, all of the items in my eBay store are on sale! Below are some of the birds currently available - the birds shown here happened to be sold, with non-paying bidders, so are now back for sale! If you missed them earlier, here is your chance to snap them up at a discount.

Female Eclectus Necklace

Red Lory Earrings